Gate of God

Chapter 343: Every Citizen a Soldier

Fang Zhengzhi was very brave. However, he wasn’t the kind of blind idiot who asked for death. Hence, he felt that there was definitely some problem in this.

But…

What was the problem?

Fang Zhengzhi looked at Princess Shan Yu. He wanted to infer something from her expression. However, other than her delicate facial features, he couldn’t derive anything from it.

Princess Shan Yu’s expression was too calm, as if she was talking about something extremely normal. However, it was exactly because of this that Fang Zhengzhi felt that there was a plot hidden behind this.

“What is it? You aren’t satisfied with five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry soldiers?” Princess Shan Yu once again demonstrated her domineering attitude when she saw that Fang Zhengzhi remained silent for some time.

“That’s right, with five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry soldiers to protect you, your journey would definitely be very safe!”

“Shouldn’t you quickly express your gratitude?”

When the surrounding generals heard Princess Shan Yu’s words, they began to urge Fang Zhengzhi.

“Thank you princess, can… I ask another question?” Fang Zhengzhi didn’t hesitate much. He first thanked Princess Shan Yu before immediately following it with a question.

“Ask.”

“After I send the letter, do I have any other tasks?”

“Other tasks?” When Princess Shan Yu heard Fang Zhengzhi’s words, a pondering look appeared on her face. “No other tasks. You can remain in the Sagely Mountain City.”

“I understand.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded.

“Prepare to leave now, the five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries are ready.” Princess Shan Yu saw Fang Zhengzhi nod, then finally gave her last order.

“Princess.”

“What else?”

“There is one thing that I don’t know if princess will reply me. But, I still wish to ask.” Fang Zhengzhi’s expression turned slightly serious.

“You can ask it and try.”

“Is princess’s motive in setting up a camp here to await an opportunity to launch an attack on the troops of the Great Xia that participated in the examination?”

“Preposterous! You think a small centurion can ask such a question?” When a general heard Fang Zhengzhi’s words, he immediately stood out and bellowed coldly towards him without even waiting for Princess Shan Yu to reply.

“Princess, you can’t answer this?”

“What identity are you using to ask me now?” Princess Shan Yu didn’t reply Fang Zhengzhi’s words immediately. Instead, she asked a question back at him.

“My own identity.”

“Alright, I can reply this question. My answer is… no!”

“No?” Fang Zhengzhi’s expression changed slightly. He could infer from Princess Shan Yu’s eyes that she was speaking the truth.

However, he couldn’t really accept this truth.

If Princess Shan Yu wasn’t awaiting an opportunity to attack, why would she set up camp in this place?

“Alright, you have finished asking your question, and I’ve replied you. You can set off now!” The generals also began to urge at this moment.

“Yes.” Fang Zhengzhi didn’t ask any further questions.

Because, he already knew what he was supposed to know. As for what he wasn’t supposed to know, he seemed to be still in the dark, hence, there was no need to continue asking.

On the other hand, Princess Shan Yu also didn’t seem to intend to speak further. She took out a delicate animal skin and placed it in front of her, then took out a brush and began to write on it.

This caused Fang Zhengzhi to raise doubts again.

“The letter… is written on the spot?”

Initially, Fang Zhengzhi thought that it would be a letter that was already prepared beforehand, or, it would be something for him to send over. However, when he saw this, he had to cast away his previous thoughts.

Not too long later, Princess Shan Yu had finished writing.

She didn’t spend much time on it, and seemed to be consist of only a few words.

When the twenty surrounding generals saw Princess Shan Yu finish the letter so quickly, they all looked towards Fang Zhengzhi with a cold smile on their faces.

Fang Zhengzhi didn’t bother speaking further as well.

When Princess Shan Yu placed the letter she had written into a delicate leather, he immediately took a few steps forward, went in front of Princess Shan Yu and received the letter Princess Shan Yu passed to him with both hands.

He quickly swept his gaze across it. On the leather envelope wrote “Confidential for the King”, while on the bottom was Princess Shan Yu’s name.

Evidently, this envelope was addressed long ago.

Fang Zhengzhi kept the letter in his pocket, then turned around and left.

At the entrance of the tent, there was already a soldier wearing rattan armour with a piece of animal skin on his shoulder waiting for him. When he saw Fang Zhengzhi coming out, he quickly walked over.

“Guard Fang, I am the captain of the Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry. I am ‘Teng Shisheng’, mainly in charge of protecting Guard Fang along the way in your task to deliver the letter to the Sagely Mountain City!” Teng Shisheng gave Fang Zhengzhi a Southern Mountain Village military bow as he spoke.

“Yes, sorry for the trouble.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded.

Teng Shisheng wasn’t quite the same compared to the other warriors of the Southern Mountain Range. His arm wasn’t considered too muscular. However, his muscles were extremely well-defined. It was evident that this Teng Shisheng’s power wasn’t average.

Furthermore, it was likely to be someone with an extremely explosive strength.

Such a person indeed shared certain commonalities with the Silver Horned Wolf.

The armour on Teng Shisheng’s body was similarly rather different compared to that on other soldiers. Other than being more intricately designed, there was a silver illustration on the chest.

It looked just like the head of a wolf.

…

Under Teng Shisheng’s guidance, Fang Zhengzhi quickly passed through the army camp and arrived at the entrance of the camp. Beside the entrance, there were currently a few hundred densely-packed soldiers riding Silver Horned Wolves and waiting on the spot.

When they saw Teng Shisheng making his way over.

The hundreds of Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry howled, as if they were undergoing some form of rite, or maybe welcoming their leader.

Fang Zhengzhi didn’t really know what this rite represented.

However, he could faintly see that the hair of the Silver Horned Wolves who were quietly standing still on the ground slowly bristled up when they heard this sound.

Their stances changed from that of passiveness to that of activeness, as if they were about to begin their hunt.

“Shisheng, what kind of rite is this?” Fang Zhengzhi was somewhat curious.

“Guard Fang isn’t a person of our Southern Mountain Range, hence might not be able to understand. Us, the people of the Southern Mountain Range, communicate with the beasts through sounds. This is wolf language.” Teng Shisheng explained.

Wolf language?

Fang Zhengzhi somewhat understood.

Then, he recalled Shan Jia who he had met in The Vast World. When Shan Jia was commanding the Blue Fire Wolf in the battle, he didn’t produce any sound from his mouth. Instead, he depended upon a green flute for command.

“Then, can things like flutes be used to communicate with the beasts?” Fang Zhengzhi asked again.

“Flutes?” Teng Shisheng’s expression changed slightly when he heard Fang Zhengzhi’s question, then he said softly. “Flutes indeed can. However, that is control… It is not communication. The Southern Mountain Range doesn’t advocate control. People and beasts are actually equal, thus only under extremely special circumstances would such methods be used.”

“I see.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded again.

“Guard Fang, if you don’t have any further questions, let’s set off as soon as possible.” Teng Shisheng gazed at the rising sun and said to Fang Zhengzhi.

“Alright.”

…

With Teng Shisheng leading the way, Fang Zhengzhi didn’t need a map. Furthermore, from Teng Shisheng, he had learnt quite a bit of the Southern Mountain Range’s culture.

For example, the Southern Mountain Village forbade very strictly the casual destruction of rocks. They believed that rocks were Earth, providing them an environment to live in. Without the support of the rocks, they wouldn’t be able to survive here.

As for trees…

They believed that trees were their own mothers. Chopping down trees to create rattan armour and weapons represented the protection and love of their mothers. They had to pray to the trees each day to repay their mothers’ kindness.

And, every settlement had its own unique role model. Due to differing role models, their powers also differed. Furthermore, each main settlement would worship a powerful beast for protection.

The beast would ensure the safety of the settlement. The beast that each settlement worshiped was different, hence their names differed as well.

Fang Zhengzhi felt that these cultures were somewhat primitive. However, it was exactly these primitive cultures that represented the simple and pure nature of the Southern Mountain Range people.

As the sun gradually began to set, Fang Zhengzhi had officially left the boundaries of the army camp, entering into the forests and mountains of the Southern Mountain Range. As they passed through forests and climbed across mountains, their travelling speed remained fast.

“Do we have to set up camp tonight?” Fang Zhengzhi looked towards the slowly setting sun and then at the surrounding dense forests, then asked Teng Shisheng casually.

“Why would Guard Fang ask this question?” Teng Shisheng’s body trembled slightly when he heard Fang Zhengzhi’s words. However, he still decided to ask.

“I was only thinking whether you had to immediately start on your task after leaving the camp, or begin it only when nearing the Sagely Mountain City.” Fang Zhengzhi didn’t reply Teng Shisheng’s question. Instead, he spoke softly as if talking to himself.

Teng Shisheng’s expression changed at this moment. However, he quickly recovered, stretching out his hand to gently stroke the Silver Horned Wolf he sat on, as if thinking of something.

“Looks like tonight still isn’t the opportune moment.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded, then, felt the pang of hunger coming from his stomach as he listened to the surrounding sounds. “There is a river in front one mile away, let’s cross the river first before setting up camp.”

“Why don’t you choose to set up camp beside the river?” Teng Shisheng broke out of his silence at this moment. However, when he heard Fang Zhengzhi speak about the location to set up camp, his expression turned somewhat strange again.

“It would indeed be more convenient to set up camp beside the river. However, water is the source of All Creation. Especially at night, the beasts would begin their hunt and congregate at the riverside.”

“I had initially thought that you wouldn’t know about such matters regarding wilderness survival since you were born in the Great Xia. I never thought that you would actually be so familiar with the beast.” Teng Shisheng nodded lightly. The attitude with which he looked towards Fang Zhengzhi changed significantly.

“Actually, there are also beasts in the Great Xia. Furthermore, I was born within the mountains, hence, I have some understanding of them.” Fang Zhengzhi laughed gently.

Then, he instantly urged his horse forwards.

As Teng Shisheng looked at Fang Zhengzhi’s leaving figure, he bit his lips lightly with what seemed to be a tinge of regret in his eyes. “It isn’t because of tonight not being an opportune moment, instead… sigh…”

…

To the soldiers of the Southern Mountain Range, setting up camp was simply as easy as whipping up a simple home-cooked meal. The five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry soldiers quickly set up an army camp, fencing up the perimeter around the camp.

Then, they lit up a bonfire in each of the four directions – North, South, East and West.

A hundred cavalry soldiers were in charge of patrol, while the other four hundred rested in camp.

Everything seemed to be very orderly.

Fang Zhengzhi was assigned to the military tent at the center of the camp. Around it, there were eight Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry soldiers guarding it. The protection seemed very thorough, but also seemed very forbidding.

In the tent, Fang Zhengzhi casually lay on the bed.

All along, his attitude towards life was that if he could live one day happily, he would definitely not wait in misery for his death. From his probing in the day, he was almost absolutely sure about one thing.

These five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries definitely had a special task.

Was it to kill himself?

Or, did they have another objective. Fang Zhengzhi was only eighty-percent sure about this point. He couldn’t be absolutely sure.

However, there was one thing he could guess.

It definitely wasn’t something good.

Turning his body around, Fang Zhengzhi assumed another more comfortable position. At the same time, he fished out the letter from his pocket.

“Confidential for the King?” Fang Zhengzhi looked at the words on the envelope. The edges of his mouth curved into a faint smile. He had never thought that he would actually have the opportunity to become a king.

He immediately tore open the letter. As for the seal on the letter, he tore it into half unceremoniously and casually threw it on the ground.

Let’s see what Princess Shan Yu wanted to tell me now.

Looking at the letter.

Fang Zhengzhi’s eyes narrowed slightly. What the, the first sentence of the letter and you are already scolding me. Is that even acceptable?

“You stupid shameless person, you dare to peek at my letter? Do you know that this is a crime? Wash your neck clean and wait for me to chop off your head!”

“…” Fang Zhengzhi disdainfully twitched his mouth.

Then, he continued reading.

He had initially thought that it would be important military affairs, however, he was clearly somewhat disappointed by the outcome. Because, after this sentence, it was completely blank.

Except for the small row of words at the bottom of the letter.

The words were rather tiny, and the quantity was just as little. There were only four words.

“Every citizen a soldier!”

“Every citizen a soldier? What is this about?” Fang Zhengzhi twitched his mouth and began to ponder what Princess Shan Yu was trying to convey with these four words.

As for why Fang Zhengzhi knew that this letter was for himself.

This was actually extremely simple.

When Fang Zhengzhi was asking Princess Shan Yu questions, he answered “With my own identity”. What was his identity in front of Princess Shan Yu?

A spy!

Let’s think, would a great princess pass a letter containing important military matters to a spy from another country? This was simply throwing a steamed bun at a… handsome lad!

It would be gone forever!

Fang Zhengzhi wasn’t naive. Hence, he similarly didn’t expect Princess Shan Yu to be as naive as to believe that he had truly betrayed his country for glory and unswervingly become a runner to deliver letters for the Southern Mountain Range.

Hence, it was impossible for this letter to be truly meant for the king.

Furthermore…

Most importantly, Princess Shan Yu wrote this letter on the spot.

Writing the letter on the spot, then passing it to him personally for it to be delivered. Then, the contents of this letter were naturally meant for him to see.

“Every citizen a soldier… does that mean every tree and bush is an enemy soldier?” Fang Zhengzhi looked at the roof of the military tent built with trees and grass, swiftly pondering over the relationship between this sentence and his current predicament.

Chapter 344: I am Fang Zhengzhi, Number One in the Theory Examination

The Great Xia Dynasty had sent a hundred thousand soldiers into the four main settlements. Their objective was naturally to establish a foundation for future attacks or defences.

On the other hand, the Southern Mountain Range had already made deployments.

Princess Shan Yu claimed that her objective wasn’t to attack. Then, could it be to defend?

Recalling the two different voices Princess Shan Yu mentioned, that could indeed be one possibility. Setting up preventive measures in the area outside the four main settlements to guard against the unexpected.

However…

If it was what it seemed on the surface, this seemed a little too simple.

One attack, and one defence.

Was that all?

Fang Zhengzhi shook his head. He felt that the arrangements within were even more complicated than what he thought. From the start of the combat examination till now, everything was too calm.

So calm that it felt somewhat unbelievable.

When he entered Princess Shan yu’s army camp, it was also definite that he would be killed. From this, the extent of the Southern Mountain Range’s resolution could be inferred.

It was likely they wanted war.

If a war really broke out between the two countries, time was of the essence.

But, how could they just wait over here in this manner? What were they waiting for?

Fang Zhengzhi’s gaze was once again drawn to the leather with the words “Every citizen a soldier”. Above the four words, there was a huge patch of blank space.

Could words be hidden within?

Fang Zhengzhi shook his head again. This world shouldn’t have been able to master such superior ‘chemistry’ techniques. However, why must she leave such a big patch of empty space?

Furthermore, she hid the words ‘every soldier a citizen’ at the bottom of the leather, and the words were also really tiny…

Wait a moment!

Hide!

Fang Zhengzhi’s expression suddenly changed. Every soldier a citizen, a huge patch of empty space, hide! These three clues spun rapidly in his mind. He suddenly thought of something extremely scary.

“Oh no!” Fang Zhengzhi’s hand trembled. The leather envelope along with the intricately decorated animal leather fell to the ground, giving out a somewhat clear clanging sound.

Huh?

Fang Zhengzhi instinctively lowered his head and looked down. Then, he realised that there seemed to be something bulging from behind the leather. He instantly picked it up and tore the leather open.

Not too long later, something green revealed itself.

Fang Zhengzhi’s eyes completely lit up.

“Somebody come!”

“Guard Fang, what orders do you have!” A soldier quickly entered Fang Zhengzhi’s tent.

“Call Teng Shisheng over, I have something to discuss with him.” Fang Zhengzhi rapidly kept the leather envelope and letter back into his pocket as he instructed the soldier.

“Alright.” The soldier nodded and withdrew.

A moment later, the dark-skinned Teng Shisheng walked in, wearing a rattan armour on his body. His hands were empty and didn’t carry along any weapons.

“Guard Fang, what is the reason you call me here so late at night?” Teng Shisheng looked at the dim candlelight inside the tent and at the plate of roasted meat and bottle of wine in front of Fang Zhengzhi with a confused expression.

“Drink.” Fang Zhengzhi casually said.

“Drink? This… Guard Fang might not know this, but the Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry isn’t allowed to drink while on a mission.” Teng Shisheng frowned and instantly rejected when he heard Fang Zhengzhi’s words.

“What if I force you to drink?” Fang Zhengzhi pointed at the wine in front of him, as if he had already expected Teng Shisheng’s reaction.

“Cough cough… I fear that I wouldn’t be able to obey. Our task is to protect Guard Fang. All we need to do is to ensure Guard Fang’s safety. As for other matters, I fear Guard Fang is unable to force upon us.” Teng Shisheng smiled lightly and shook his head.

“However, the order I received from princess is to give me five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries. Hence, shouldn’t you listen to my orders?” Fang Zhengzhi continued to speak in a unhurried manner.

“I know, but I can’t obey!” Teng Shisheng shook his head again.

“I see… Then, what is the reason you don’t listen to my orders?”

“The three thousand Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries only listen to Princess Shan Yu in their entire lifetime. As for other people’s orders, we ignore all of them!” When Teng Shisheng said the last sentence, his tone was absolute.

“How about your Southern Mountain Range king?” Fang Zhengzhi asked back.

“We don’t listen!” Teng Shisheng replied without even thinking.

“So powerful? Then… I wonder if you would listen to this thing’s order?” The trace of a smile formed at the edges of Fang Zhengzhi’s mouth. Then, he fished out a green object and placed it on the table in front.

That was a cyan coloured stone made with a very special material. It looked like a jade stone. However, a jade stone was green, while this stone was cyan. Furthermore, it looked even more crystalline and transparent.

Most importantly, in the middle of the stone, there was a word.

“Yu!”

Teng Shisheng’s gaze was tightly fixated upon the cyan coloured stone. Then, his expression finally changed. He gritted his teeth tightly as his fists produced loud cracking sounds.

He lifted one leg slightly, as if having made a decision. However, a moment later, Teng Shisheng’s expression gradually returned back to its initial state of calm.

However…

The expression in his eyes when he looked at Fang Zhengzhi was filled with shock.

Without further hesitation, Teng Shisheng directly made his way to the table, then grabbed the bottle of wine and poured it down his mouth.

“Gulp gulp!” An entire bottle of wine entered his stomach, yet, Teng Shisheng’s face didn’t even flush the slightest bit red.

Fang Zhengzhi didn’t spend very long in Princess Shan Yu’s army camp, hence, he really didn’t expect the alcohol tolerance of the Southern Mountain Range people to be so extreme. One bottle of wine gone like that?

At least leave a little for me!

Alright…

Now wasn’t the time to be stingy about a bottle of wine.

“Tell me your mission.” Fang Zhengzhi asked the question in his mind.

“Send you safely to the Sagely Mountain City, then, personally hand you over to the King for him to deal with you himself!” Teng Shisheng replied without the slightest bit of hesitation.

“Other than handing over a person, I believe there is something else?” Fang Zhengzhi nodded.

“And a letter!” Teng Shisheng’s expression changed once again. Then, he fished out a leather envelope from his pocket with the same four words “Confidential for the King” written on it.

When Fang Zhengzhi saw this, he finally understood. The letter in his hand had always been a fake. The letter on Teng Shisheng’s hand was the real one.

“Open it.” Fang Zhengzhi didn’t seem have any intention of taking the letter from Teng Shisheng.

“This…” Teng Shisheng was somewhat hesitant.

“I said open it.”

“Roger!”

Teng Shisheng finally gritted his teeth and instantly tore open the leather envelope, taking out an intricate animal skin and handing it into Fang Zhengzhi’s hand.

Fang Zhengzhi casually took it and placed it in front of him. Instantly, a smile formed on the edges of his face.

“I see!” When Fang Zhengzhi finished reading the contents of the letter, he understood why none of the twenty generals objected in Princess Shan Yu’s tent.

Handing over a person!

Was also handing over a sword!

“Guard Fang, now that you know our mission, you should also now the aim of this journey to the Sagely Mountain City. Even though you have princess’s token in your hands, we received the orders personally from princess, hence we must hand you to the king of the Southern Mountain Range. Thus, even if you have the token, it would be futile!” Teng Shisheng waited for Fang Zhengzhi to finish reading the contents of the letter before regaining his composure and then speaking.

“I know, however, I believe princess didn’t set a clear time for you to reach, right?” Fang Zhengzhi nodded with a slight smile on his face.

“This… indeed not!” Teng Shisheng thought for a while, and then replied.

“Hence, before reaching the Sagely Mountain City, you must listen to my orders. Am I right?” Fang Zhengzhi looked at Teng Shisheng. He didn’t conceal the smile on his face.

“Yes!”

“What if I order you to turn around now?”

“That is possible. However, even if you bring us into the Great Xia Dynasty, we still must complete princess’s orders, unless you kill every single one of us.” Teng Shisheng replied with confidence.

This was the second time Fang Zhengzhi heard something like that in the Southern Mountain Range. The first time was when he was captured. This time, it was from Teng Shisheng.

The Southern Mountain Range…

Was indeed a land of warriors!

Fan Zhengzhi let out a sigh. However, the most important thing now, other than sighing, was to preserve his own life.

“Pass down my orders. Early in the morning tomorrow, the entire army will turn back!”

“Roger!” Teng Shisheng gritted his teeth. He looked at the cyan stone on the table, tightened his fist, but didn’t raise any objections.

“Get a few more bottles of wine, then sit down and eat some meat with me.”

“Roger!” Teng Shisheng gritted his teeth again. However, he didn’t exit the tent immediately. Instead, he fixed his gaze tightly upon Fang Zhengzhi’s face. His mouth opened then closed, as if wanting to say something, yet didn’t speak in the end.

“You seem to have a question for me?” Fang Zhengzhi looked at Teng Shisheng’s behaviour, the edges of his mouth curling into another smile.

“Yes, I can’t understand!” When Teng Shisheng spoke, his body instinctively gave off a powerful air, as if a beast was about to pounce out from his body.

“You don’t understand why I would possess the princess’s token?” Fang Zhengzhi looked at Teng Shisheng with a calm expression, completely unaffected by the air around Teng Shisheng’s body.

“Yes.”

“What if I said that the princess gave it to me herself?”

“Impossible!” Teng Shisheng was absolutely sure.

“Nothing is impossible. I’m sure that you know ever since yesterday night, I have been monitored by you people in the army tent and simply didn’t even have the chance to take a single step out. Even if I wanted to steal… where would I find that opportunity? Furthermore, fifteen minutes ago, I don’t even know what the token of the princess looks like.” Fang Zhengzhi casually replied.

“Why did the princess give you the token?” The air around Teng Shisheng suddenly withdrew, as if he was somewhat disheartened.

“This, I don’t know. But, I can tell you for sure that I didn’t steal it.”

“Who are you exactly? To be able to defeat General Tai and possess such a powerful sword, you definitely cannot be just an ordinary spy from the Great Xia.” Teng Shisheng finally expressed the doubt in his heart.

“Of course I am not a spy. In reality, I hadn’t even entered the army of the Great Xia.” Fang Zhengzhi replied very frankly.

“Then you are?” Teng Shisheng looked at Fang Zhengzhi.

“Fang Zhengzhi!”

“Which Fang Zhengzhi?”

“The Rank Four Sword Envoy of the Great Xia Dynasty, Double Roll Champion of the Imperial Examination and number one in the Court Theory Examination, Fang Zhengzhi!”

“You… you are really the Fang Zhengzhi who attained joint first in the theory examination with the number one scholar of the Great Xia Dynasty, Nangong Hao?!” Teng Shisheng’s expression finally changed.

“Do you have anymore questions?” Fang Zhengzhi smiled gently. He didn’t boast very often. However, these reputations did indeed belong to him. What was wrong with bringing these up once in a while to bolster his self-confidence?

“No more. I have already understood.” Teng Shisheng shook his head.

“Understand what?”

“Understood that you indeed didn’t steal it, and understood why princess would give you the ‘Cyan Stone Token'” Teng Shisheng took one more glance at the cyan stone on the table and said confidently.

“You really understand?”

“Yes.”

“Alright, then go get the wine.” Fang Zhengzhi waved his hands.

“As you command!” Teng Shisheng respectfully delivered a Southern Mountain Range bow towards Fang Zhengzhi, then slowly withdrew, walking backwards until the entrance of the tent and only then turning his body around.

When Fang Zhengzhi witnessed this scene, he blinked a few times.

As you command?

Your attitude changes really fast…

But, even though you understood, I myself still hadn’t understood.

Princess Shan Yu had told me the greatest military secret of the Southern Mountain Range, and gave me the Cyan Stone Token, then allowed me to truly have control over five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries.

But…

What was her reason?

What does she want me to do?

Fang Zhengzhi couldn’t understand this yet. However, when he saw Teng Shisheng walk in holding two barrels of wine sealed in mud, he knew that tonight, he would probably not be able to understand this.

…

The night was as silent as water. Constellations of stars filled the night sky as silver rays fell from the sky, combining with the frosted dew on the ground, causing them to flash with a faint glow.

In a huge military tent.

A wooden pail stood in the center, filled with golden coloured petals and giving off a faint heat.

Within the wooden pail, Princess Shan Yu was lying horizontally inside. Her wheat-coloured skin turned extremely smooth and delicate under the moisture of the warm water. One slender leg was propped on the wooden pail, shaking gently.

Her beautiful hair fell like a waterfall onto her shoulders as droplets of water dripped down.

Princess Shan Yu’s dark eyes were partially closed, seeming as if she was relishing in this. Her tender lips parted slightly, breathing out a misty vapour.

On her body, the red coloured cloud pattern flowed around very slowly, maintaining the temperature of the water.

“Fang Zhengzhi?”

Princess Shan Yu’s dark eyes gradually opened, as a faint smile appeared on the edges of her mouth. Immediately after, her arm moved slightly. Droplets of water flew up from the pail, landing onto her face.

“If you are really that Fang Zhengzhi, I believe five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries should be enough, right? The Great Xia Dynasty… I wonder what plans you will have after seeing my Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries?”

Princess Shan Yu closed her eyes once again. Then, she slowly stood up from the wooden pail. Water droplets rapidly scattered upwards, enveloping her entire body. The glow of the candlelight produced an elegant figure on the ground.

…

Chapter 345: Betrayed the Country?

The Thunder Light Settlement.

It wasn’t an especially impressive settlement. As a small settlement under the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement, it contained the most primitive of living conditions.

Tentages built by wood became the most iconic building of the Thunder Light Settlement. Other than that, the area surrounding the Thunder Light Settlement were densely packed with pieces of green mountain rocks stacked highly atop one another.

Living in a location like the Southern Mountain Range filled with fearsome beasts, defence was naturally a necessity.

Initially, there were defensive orders in the Thunder Light Settlement. Each day, twenty over youths armed with spears would patrol around the green mountain rocks.

However…

In this period of time, the Thunder Light Settlement didn’t continue with this.

Because, somebody else had taken over them to undergo this task. They were the soldiers from the Great Xia. Two thousand soldiers occupied the Thunder Light Settlement, taking over their defences.

On the other hand, what the Thunder Light Settlement had to do was to live a happy and peaceful life.

Of course, enthusiastic and hospitable citizens would occasionally roast a few mountain beasts and bring out homemade alcohol to give to these soldiers helping to protect the settlement, fulfilling their responsibilities as hosts.

Chen Hao, thirty-three years old.

A scholar who wasn’t very extraordinary, ranked twenty-three in the Court Theory Examination. It wasn’t very high, but it wasn’t too low either.

As for his powers, it was average.

However, this didn’t cause him too much worry. Because, he believed that he had a very smart brain. And most importantly, he knew how to adhere.

This adherence wasn’t a blind adherence. Instead, it was an adherence that changed with the wind.

Ever since the start of the combat examination, he had adhered to many scholars. Facts proved that all his decisions were extremely wise.

In this combat examination, there were three hot topics.

First, Nangong Hao. Second, Wu Feng. Third, Yan Xiu.

This was something almost everybody knew. Nangong Hao was naturally the best pick among them. Chen Hao also thought this way. However, Nangong Hao had indeed rejected the companionship of everybody.

Ever since he entered the Southern Mountain Range, he had decisively hurried off to the Icy Monkey Main Settlement. Then, he pinned himself there like a nail, not even straying an inch away from it.

This caused most of the people to give up Nangong Hao, crossing over and surrendering to the second hot topic, Wu Feng.

Chen Hao didn’t make such a decision. Because, there were too many people adhering to Wu Feng, so much so that there almost wasn’t any more space. With his abilities, it was naturally impossible for him to receive any good treatment there.

Hence, he gave up Wu Feng.

As for Yan Xiu…

He was too cold, hence, also not his choice.

Giving up the three hot topics seemed somewhat overly dumb. However, Chen Hao didn’t think so. Because, he knew very clearly that the powerful people in the ancient times had to survive when caught between gaps, suffer patiently but with a firm resolve in order to achieve success.

All he had to do was to separate himself far away from the battlefield, hiding somewhere that other people wouldn’t be able to find, then wait until the combat examination was about to end before jumping out.

That way, his ranking would naturally be above those who were eliminated earlier.

That was enough.

A perfect plan, combined with Chen Hao’s survival policy of betraying friends for glory, caused him to finally be able to find a quiet area within the gaps.

The Thunder Light Settlement was a small settlement at the very edge of the four main settlements.

The scenery was beautiful, and the beasts plentiful.

In the early morning.

The bright beautiful sunlight shone on the green grass, gradually melting the frosted dew. Wearing a black armour, Chen Hao walked out of the military tent and stretched.

“Today is a good weather, suitable for hunting in the morning!” Chen Hao was somebody who knew how to enjoy life. Coming from a noble family, he wasn’t used to eating the wild tree barks and military rations.

As for the small beasts farmed in the Thunder Light Settlement.

He couldn’t kill and roast them everyday. After all, it was a military law that if other people didn’t give it to him, he couldn’t snatch them by himself. Else, if this was caught, he would be charged.

However, this didn’t trouble him. He was self-sufficient.

He had soldiers, arrows, and power skills. Hunting and satisfying his taste buds were extremely relaxed and joyful activities for him.

“Come!” Chen Hao shouted.

“General Chen, what do you want?” An armoured middle-aged man who looked like a military commander instantly ran to Chen Hao’s side and asked respectfully.

“Make some preparations, I want to go hunting!”

“I understand.” The middle-aged man instantly understood when he heard. Casually waving his hand, almost a hundred soldiers instantly left the morning training squad and ran over.

All of these people were experts at hunting. Following Chen Hao the entire way, they could coordinate well with his hunting techniques.

Of course…

Chen Hao camped at the Thunder Light Settlement, hence naturally had made some preparations. For example, digging a few traps at areas where mountain beasts often appeared, or placing a few animals traps along paths where animals walked.

This way, he had a strong group of soldiers and sufficient arrows in addition to the occasional animal that fell into the trap. Almost every single time he went hunting, he would have a fruitful harvest.

When the hundred soldiers saw that Chen Hao called them to go hunting, they were all excited. Because, this meant that there would be another bonfire celebration tonight.

Every time there was a bonfire celebration night, young women from the Thunder Light Settlement would run to the side of the bonfire and dance around. Their dancing hola skirts had stunned the fiery hearts of many soldiers.

Not only did they have things to eat, they also had things to watch. What a great life!

Chen Hao looked towards the excited soldiers and nodded his head in satisfaction. These passionate soldiers were what he wanted.

Only by feeding them during normal times would they have the strength to battle when the fighting truly started!

“Let’s go!”

Barking out an order, Chen Hao rode on the famous stallion he brought from the Great Xia. He carried a jet-black long bow on his back and two daggers at his waist. His style was filled with elegance.

When the young women of the Thunder Light Settlement who were laboring in the morning saw the style which Chen Hao rode his horse, they covered their mouths and giggled softly, boldly shooting meaningful glances towards Chen Hao.

In certain areas, the practices of the Southern Mountain Range were much more open compared to that of the Great Xia.

As the soldiers looked at the flushed faces of the young women in the Southern Mountain Range, they all began to grow even more excited. Puffing out their chests and raising their head up high, they charged out on their battle horses behind Chen Hao.

“Kill!”

…

Half an hour later, Chen Hao gazed at the sky. Two rows of tears fell from the corners of his eyes. The black armour on his body was already badly battered, while the long bow on his back was broken into two.

The two daggers on his waist were even worse off, turning into a pile broken pieces.

“Why?” Chen Hao couldn’t accept this.

He really couldn’t understand why the trap he had set up below the tree had been shifted into the middle of the road. This caused him to fall into it directly without even being able to struggle at all.

Of course…

This wasn’t the most important thing. The most important thing was, where did all these monsters come from!

Chen Hao looked tearfully at the huge fearsome beast on top of his head, whose mouth was salivating with white foam. It was two meters high, covered in green and black fur and had a silver horn that flashed with light.

“Awoo!” The Silver Horned Wolf let out a low howl.

Chen Hao’s powers had already reached that of Heavenly Reflection Peak. Hence, he naturally didn’t fear one Silver Horned Wolf. However, it was impossible for him not to fear a few hundred Silver Horned Wolves.

Furthermore, what he feared even more was those armoured dark-skinned soldiers riding on the bodies of the Silver Horned Wolves, holding black spears in their hands.

“You are caught!” A Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry soldier looked down arrogant at Chen Hao, who was in a dishevelled state inside the pitfall, with a disdainful cold smile on his face.

“I don’t accept this. This is the territory of the four main territories. I am here to participate in the combat examination. Furthermore, I didn’t cross the territory. Your Southern Mountain Range soldiers cannot attack me, this is going against the alliance of the two countries!” Chen Hao attempted to argue strongly on basis of reason.

Of course, he couldn’t accept this. These soldiers in front of him were clearly elite forces of the Southern Mountain Range. Being defeated by soldiers from the Southern Mountain Range evidently wasn’t part of his plan.

“You are a participant of the combat examination?” When the Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry soldier heard Chen Hao’s words, he blinked a few times.

“That’s right, I am an examinee! Based on the agreement between our two countries…”

“Leader… This guy is an examinee!” After confirming Chen Hao’s identity, the Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry soldier didn’t bother waiting for Chen Hao to continue speaking, and instead immediately turned around and shouted out.

Very quickly, a Silver Horned Wolf which was even bigger in size compared to the rest appeared in front of Chen Hao. On the Silver Horned Wolf sat a dark-skinned man with extremely well-defined muscles.

“What is your name?” Teng Shisheng looked at Chen Hao.

“I am Chen Hao, a participant in this combat examination. I believe that you had made a mistake and attacked the wrong person, is that right? Quick, free me.” Chen Hao instantly explained.

“Chen Hao?” Teng Shisheng nodded. Then, he flipped open a small leather notebook, glanced at it, then recited. “Theory examination number twenty-three, with the power of Heavenly Reflection Peak.”

“That’s right, that’s right. That is me!” Chen Hao hurriedly nodded like a chicken pecking on grains.

“Alright, congratulations, you are eliminated!” When Teng Shisheng heard Chen Hao’s validation, he nodded once again and spoke with a serious expression.

“Eliminated?!” Chen Hao was completely stunned. After a moment, he regained his senses. “What rights do you have to eliminate me? You aren’t examinees from the Great Xia, this is against the rules!”

Chen Hao was outraged. If these people really dared to do so, he didn’t mind making a complaint against the barbarism of the Southern Mountain Range for destroying his young and great future.

“Hi, Young Master Chen, how are you!”

Just as Chen Hao began to raise his objections once again, another sound rang out from on top of the trap. Immediately after, a figure dressed in leopard print clothes appeared in front of his eyes.

Of course, other than that rather extreme leopard print attire, the other party also gave him an extremely bright smile.

Chen Hao was instantly stunned.

His entire body stood completely rooted to the ground, his eyes completely widened. His jaws dropped so low that a big steamed bun could be stuffed into it. His face was a deathly shade of pale.

Naturally, he recognised this face in front of him.

Or, it could be said that any person who had participated in the court examination wouldn’t be able to forget this face.

However, he didn’t believe it. He didn’t believe that he would see this face in this place. This was simply as terrifying as seeing a ghost in the broad daylight.

He was so terrified that he was left speechless for a long time.

Chen Hao’s throat quivered slightly and instinctively wanted to move backwards. He wanted to open his mouth and shout, ‘Ghost!’. But, when he felt the sunny rays of sunlight, he stopped himself from shouting this in the end.

“As the saying goes, if one ran across an old friend in a distant land, one must host a good celebration. Young Master Chen, is that right?” The youth dressed in leopard print nodded towards Teng Shisheng as he spoke.

Teng Shisheng understood and instantly passed a bottle of wine into the hand of the youth in leopard print.

The youth casually tossed the wine bottle into the trap.

“Come, Young Master Chen, congratulations on your elimination!”

“…” Chen Hao stared speechlessly at the wine bottle that was about to smash into his face.

“Young Master Chen, can you not be like this? Why the bitter face? Smile, that’s right, look at my expression. You must smile like this. Running across an old friend in a distant land, what a moment to cherish!”

“You… I am going to kill you!” Chen Hao was finally enraged. His face turned from white to red. Snatching up half of his long bow, he prepared to charge out of the trap and fight with his life.

“Huh? Young Master Chen doesn’t seem to be too convinced. Call me after you have made him convinced!” The youth was evidently taken aback by Chen Hao’s sudden movement, his entire body leaping back.

Then, he felt his hand to his chest and spoke towards Teng Shisheng.

“Roger!” Teng Shisheng nodded. Then, he glanced towards a few of the surrounding Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry soldiers.

Instantly, five or six Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries let out a howl and leapt one following another into the pitfall.

“Ah! It’s too squeezy here! Don’t jump down all at one go! Ahh, my hand… I surrender, I surrender. Quick, let go of your mouth. I really surrender!”

…

The night of the Thunder Light Settlement was a lively night.

The bonfire celebration night was being held in a grand manner. Five or six beasts were being roasted on the bonfire, giving off sizzling sounds oil dripped into the flame. A group of young women wearing in holas danced around the bonfire, swaying their waists.

Inciting waves of happy laughter.

Yet, in other times, the person who laughed the happiest was Chen Hao. Today, he shivered uncontrollably with a bitter expression. His face was very green. That was a shade of green left by punches to the face.

His arm was badly injured.

That was the teeth mark left by the bites of the Silver Horned Wolf.

If he hadn’t begged for mercy at the most critical moment, this arm wouldn’t belong to him anymore. It wouldn’t belong to him now, and it wouldn’t belong to him in the future.

Chen Hao’s injury was truly very serious.

However, his heart was the most severely injured.

Because…

When he was held hanging back to the Thunder Light Settlement, the remaining one thousand nine hundred soldiers were stupefied. Even those commanding soldiers who usually treated him with great respect were stupefied.

All the soldiers that he had been feeding made a very coordinated move.

Betrayal.

Just like the way he betrayed those scholars on the way without the slightest bit of hesitation, they didn’t even take a second glance at him before welcoming their new general.

Even till now, Chen Hao still hadn’t understood why this person would appear in this place.

“Didn’t this person miss the combat examination? Why would he appear here? Furthermore, what are those faithful and loyal Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries behind him all about? Don’t tell me… he had betrayed the country?!” Chen Hao’s eyes were tightly fixed upon the youth in leopard print not too far away, lying among the crowd with a leisurely look on his face.

Because, that youth had a name that caused him great anger…

Fang Zhengzhi!

Chapter 346: The Great Plan

Chen Hao didn’t know why Fang Zhengzhi would appear in the Thunder Light Settlement at this moment, just like how he still didn’t know why those traps would have shifted in position.

Of course, Fang Zhengzhou wouldn’t reply these meaningless questions from Chen Hao.

After being a small pawn for many days, he had once again become a general with great difficulty. His biggest priority now was naturally to eat, drink and play well.

“Guard Fang, which examinee should be attack in which settlement next?” Teng Shisheng held a bottle of wine in his hands, gazing at the young women dancing around the bonfire as he moved beside Fang Zhengzhi.

“Why must be go to settlements to attack examinees?” Fang Zhengzhi tilted his head upwards slightly, tore off a piece of roasted meat and stuffed it in his mouth, then chewing on it as oil flowed down his mouth.

“Isn’t your purpose in bringing us within the four main settlements to win the combat examination?” Teng Shisheng replied as if everything were to be expected.

“Is winning the combat examination related to going to settlements to attack examinees?” Fang Zhengzhi replied with another question of his own.

“It isn’t related?” Teng Shisheng was confused.

“No matter whether you think it is related or not, I feel that it isn’t really related.” Fang Zhengzhi smiled lightly and replied.

“Then… today, you attacked him…” Teng Shisheng pointed at Chen Hao, who was located not too far away, his body covered with injuries.

“Oh, this was purely just passing by, I guess his luck isn’t very good.” Fang Zhengzhi shook his head somewhat helplessly.

“Passing by?”

“That’s right.” Fang Zhengzhi replied confidently.

Chen Hao, who was moaning in pain not too far away, heard Fang Zhengzhi’s words. His expression instantly changed and suddenly felt a little sick. Passing by? What is this!

As he recalled the hardships he had faced all the way here.

Chen Hao almost began to cry. Going from the perimeter of the Southern Mountain Range all the way into the Thunder Light Settlement, was it easy? Just because you wanted to pass by here!

That’s why you eliminated me?

Do you dare to go and pass by other settlements…

Chen Hao was extremely gloomy. However, he didn’t have any say.

“Then, where should we go next?” Teng Shisheng also empathized somewhat with Chen Hao when he heard Fang Zhengzhi’s words. However, he still asked curiously.

“I haven’t thought of it yet.” Fang Zhengzhi replied casually.

“…” Teng Shisheng grew somewhat speechless once again.

He had initially thought that Fang Zhengzhi would do something earthshaking by bringing them into the four main settlements. However, Fang Zhengzhi actually claimed that he hadn’t thought of it yet?

This way…

Isn’t this something that shouldn’t be coming out of the number one of the Court Theory Examination in the Great Xia Dynasty?

“That’s right, I need to first go and find a person.” Fang Zhengzhi thought for a while, then finally recalled what he needed to do.

“Who?” Teng Shisheng instantly asked.

“My friend, Yan Xiu!”

“Yan Xiu? Number three in this Court Theory Examination, that Yan Xiu?” As Teng Shisheng asked, he flipped open the small leather notebook in his hand.

“That’s right.”

“I understand. Guard Fang wants to combine forces with Yan Xiu before beginning your attack?”

“No, you won’t understand this.” Fang Zhengzhi shook his head, then thought for a while and asked again. “How does the Southern Mountain Range address the leader of the settlement?”

“The Southern Mountain Range addresses them as settlement chief!”

“Settlement chief?” Fang Zhengzhi nodded. This was indeed very similar to the primitive societies of his past life.

“Why does Guard Fang wish to ask this?”

“You don’t have to bother about this. After the bonfire celebration night ends, bring the settlement chief of the Thunder Light Settlement into my tent. I have something for him.” After Fang Zhengzhi finished speaking, he immediately poured a mouthful of wine into his mouth. Then, adjusting his posture, he began to watch the dances.

“Alright.” Teng Shisheng nodded. However, his expression was still filled with confusion.

Because, he knew that based on the agreement between the Great Xia and the Southern Mountain Range, there weren’t much things that the examinees of the combat examination would need to discuss with the settlement chiefs of the various settlements about.

Could it be…

That Fang Zhengzhi wanted to stay long-term in the Thunder Light Settlement?

…

Deep into the night, inside a military tent. Two dimly lit candles radiated with faint glows under the gust of the wind, as well as producing the shadows of two people inside the tent on the ground.

Wearing a leopard print, Fang Zhengzhi sat on a chair with a blade of grass hanging from his mouth as he gazed at the Thunder Light Settlement Chief standing in front of him.

The Thunder Light Settlement Chief seemed to be around forty years of age. His attire was indeed different from that of others. At the very least, it seemed much grander compared to the people wear hula skirts outside.

He wore a piece of animal skin on his shoulder and a robe woven together with rattan. There was also a hat with a long feather sticking out of it on his head.

His dark skin gave off a faint glow under the illumination of the candle light.

“I wonder if Young Master Fang has anything you need help with by calling me in late at night?” The settlement chief looked at Fang Zhengzhi with a very humble expression. He appeared extremely kind and friendly.

“Yes, and no.” Fang Zhengzhi shook his head, and then nodded his head.

When the settlement chief heard Fang Zhengzhi’s ambiguous answer, his face appeared very blank.

“Alright, from now on, all your actions must obey my order!” Fang Zhengzhi looked at the settlement chief’s blank look and spoke with a different tone.

“Obey your order? Is there some form of misunderstanding?” The settlement chief looked at Fang Zhengzhi with a confused expression, evidently not quite understanding the meaning behind his words.

“Do I look like I misunderstand?” Fang Zhengzhi retorted.

“Ha ha… even though I am only the settlement chief of a small settlement, I listen to the order of the Southern Mountain Range King, and obey the orders of the main settlement chief of the Thunder Lion Settlement. As the examinee of the Great Xia Dynasty’s combat examination, I fear you don’t have to power to order me.” When the settlement chief heard this, the trace of a cold smile appeared on his face.

“Stop pretending. I am the personal bodyguard of Princess Shan Yu. The reason I am here at the Thunder Light Settlement today is to pass down Princess Shan Yu’s military orders. Obey my orders!”

“Pass down Princess Shan Yu’s military orders?! Young Master Fang, isn’t this joke going overboard?” The settlement chief was unmoved.

“Don’t tell me you dare to delay the military situation?”

“Young master, I really don’t understand what you mean.”

“The plan has changed. The princess ordered me to bring five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries into the Great Xia’s combat examination, you must support me from the side. Any questions?”

“If princess needs any support, she could just say so. Why would she need to scare me with a military order? I am not a soldier.” The settlement chief’s tone at this moment seemed somewhat outraged.

“Preposterous! Among the four main settlements, who isn’t a soldier? I have already made clear my purpose. If you dare to continue delaying the military situation, do you know what’s the punishment?!”

“Young Master, don’t scare me. You are the examinee of the Great Xia, you can’t say these kind of thing!” The settlement chief’s body trembled, as if he had received a huge fright.

Fang Zhengzhi looked at the settlement chief with a smile on his face. This guy really knows how to act! I had already scared him, yet he didn’t relent.

Looks like I must show him my true colours!

“Ring!”

A short blade that Fang Zhengzhi normally used to cut meat was pulled out. Immediately after, Fang Zhengzhi immediately leapt in front of the settlement chief.

“Whoever disobeys military orders would be killed!”

“Wait a minute! As the examinee of the Great Xia, I wish that you can take responsibilities for your actions. Your current actions have already went against the treaty between the two countries, I advise you to stop immediately!” As he felt the bone-chilling cold coming from the blade, the settlement chief’s expression finally darkened.

“Is it? What if I don’t stop?”

“You can kill me, but, the people of my settlement would definitely report this to the king. When that time comes, the treaty between the two countries would be destroyed because of you. I will see how you explain it then!”

“Oh… this is indeed a problem.”

“Young Master Fang, if you stop now, I can pretend that this never happened!”

“I also wish that this had never happened. However, this Cyan Stone Token in my hand cannot pretend that nothing had happened!” Fang Zhengzhi fished out a cyan coloured stone as he spoke.

This was Princess Shan Yu’s Cyan Stone Token.

“This… don’t tell me this is?” The settlement chief’s expression

“General sends his greetings to guard. If you have any orders, I will definitely carry them out!” The settlement chief at this moment finally assumed a serious expression. His body also gave off the aura of a military man.

When Fang Zhengzhi saw this, he gradually put down the dagger in his hands. At the same time, kept the Cyan Stone Tablet back in his pocket.

What the hell…

I initially wanted to depend on my acting.

Failure!

Looks like there is still more work needed to be done on my acting. Fang Zhengzhi was somewhat disappointed about. However, he very quickly felt at ease.

Every citizen a soldier!

This was indeed its meaning!

When Fang Zhengzhi saw Princess Shan Yu’s letter, he had a very brave guess. However, he didn’t dare to confirm it.

Now that he had tested it out.

It was actually exactly the same as what he guessed.

However, that meant that the combat examination was about to be in great trouble.

If he didn’t guess wrongly, the initial settlement chiefs of the four main settlements had already been swapped by generals or commanders of the Southern Mountain Range. The original citizens had also been mostly swapped out by soldiers of the Southern Mountain Range.

The four main settlements.

Just by quantity alone, it already consisted of a few hundred thousand people.

Even though it was impossible for all of them to be disguised soldiers, but, it wasn’t difficult trying to hide a hundred thousand, or even two hundred thousand soldiers.

The Great Xia Dynasty’s plan was to leverage on the opportunity of the combat examination to control the four main settlements in one move. Then, using the four main settlements as a launchpad to send their army into the Southern Mountain Range.

If they advanced, they could attack. If they retreated, they could defence.

However, the Southern Mountain Range on the other hand turned that ply for their own use.

Swapping out the people in the four main settlements in advance, then, sending in soldiers into the four main settlements disguised as citizens.

They had already made their preparations to fight.

That was the real plan of the Southern Mountain Range.

As for Princess Shan Yu, planting heavy troops outside the perimeter of the four main settlements.

There should be two layers of objectives. The first was to attract the attention of the Great Xia Dynasty, purposely putting on acts outside the perimeter. The second was to establish a second layer of defence to defend against the unexpected.

This was a perfect, grand plan.

However, he didn’t know, who was the person who planned this?

Was it the king of the Southern Mountain Range? Or was it the noblelite mentioned by Teng Shisheng?

Or was it…

Yun Qingwu!

The Demon Young Lord, Yun Qingwu!

Fang Zhengzhi didn’t know. However, after confirming the identity of the Thunder Light Settlement Chief, he had already uncovered the truth of this plan. However, it was just uncovering.

Wanting to foil this plan was another matter altogether.

So what if he knew?

Without the order of the Southern Mountain Range King, or that of the noblelite, it was simply impossible to move these troops that were sent in advance.

Now, even if he might be able to convince or suppress this “settlement chief” in front of him, once these “settlement chiefs” gathered together, things would be revealed sooner or later.

Fang Zhengzhi knew that this would be no more than an act.

The citizens of the two countries had completely different beliefs. If he dared to risk moving these Southern Mountain Range soldiers, he was almost absolutely sure that the consequences would be an honourless death.

Maybe…

This was the reason Princess Shan Yu dared to tell him the reason behind this so frankly.

Fang Zhengzhi frowned as he looked at the dancing flames in front of him. Within the flames, he seemed to have seen a face. A delicate face. However, that face seemed be mocking him.

“Fang Zhengzhi, I have told you my plan. What can you do to me?”

That’s right…

What can I do to you?

At this moment, Fang Zhengzhi indeed couldn’t do anything to Princess Shan Yu nor these Southern Mountain Range soldiers.

In reality, after he had confirmed this plan, he already had a thought. That was to immediately leave the four main settlements, then, get Teng Shisheng to bring him somewhere far away from the Southern Mountain Range.

However…

In that case, then what about Yan Xiu?

Leave Yan Xiu in the Southern Mountain Range then wait for the few hundred soldiers of the Southern Mountain Range to begin their revolution? No, before I leave, I must bring Yan Xiu with me!

Fang Zhengzhi gritted his teeth and decided upon the first step of his plan. Then, he gazed at the “settlement chief” in front of him.

“Tell me the current situation of the battle!”

“Are you asking me about the combat examination?” When the settlement chief heard Fang Zhengzhi’s words, he asked probingly.

“Yes!”

“My orders are to remain in the Thunder Light Settlement, hence I don’t know much about the combat examination. I only have some limited understanding of what is happening within the Thunder Lion Settlement.” The settlement chief nodded his head and said quickly.

“Alright, then tell me everything that you know.” Fang Zhengzhi naturally guessed that a “settlement chief” of a small settlement wouldn’t be able to have access to much intelligence.

However, it was better than nothing.

Most importantly…

Asking the “settlement chief” about the situation regarding the combat examination wouldn’t raise suspicions easily.

“Roger!” The settlement chief nodded once again, then recited everything about the situation around the Thunder Light Settlement as well as within the Thunder Light Settlement.

As Fang Zhengzhi listened, he began to plan his army’s movement path. However, the longer he listened, the more he realised that the situation now was a lot more complicated than what he had imagined.

This feeling was like dancing on a pile of swords.

It was playing with fire.

What the hell…

It really seems quite dangerous!

Fang Zhengzhi frowned slightly, then instinctively looked towards the settlement chief in front of him, looking at his dark skin and the faint light that shone onto his skin.

Finally, his eyes gradually lit up.

Chapter 347: Counterattack and Finding Treasures

…

If there was one day when you just happened to be participating in a very important fighting competition and the opponents around you were more or less equal in power, right at this moment, you suddenly realised that you had a breakthrough.

Many strange and different thoughts suddenly flooded your mind and the strength of your body suddenly surged, instantly overpowering your opponents.

Would you be very happy?

Chen Feiyu had recently been deeply stuck in this joy, almost unable to pull himself out from it. In the Court Theory Examination, his results were actually not too bad.

Ranking number twelve in the Rising Dragon Roll, he had managed to attain fifth position in the theory examination, ranked just behind Wu Feng. It was already an extraordinary feat.

However, that didn’t have any use.

Because, nobody would ever pay attention to this rank. After all, on top of him, there was Nangong Hao, there was Fang Zhengzhi, there was Yan Xiu, and there was Wu Feng.

Those that people paid attention to would always be those who had the possibility of obtaining champion.

As for what was below the champion?

They were just non-entities serving as contrasts. No matter how talented they were, they wouldn’t attract much attention from others.

Chen Feiyu’s background was naturally not lowly. He was the direct descendant of one of the thirteen constabularies. His elder sister was the dynasty’s Imperial Concubine Hua Fei, even Ping Yang had to call him uncle.

Of course, this was just as useless.

Chen Feiyu had been extremely talented all his life. There were quite many notable incidents. For example, being able to recite poems at the age of seven, and being able to write beautiful, life-like calligraphy at the age of nine.

However, very unfortunately, it was still useless.

Because, his elder sister, the current Imperial Concubine Hua Fei, could recite poems at the age of six, and had extraordinary calligraphy skills at the age of eight. Hence, when Chen Feiyu brought the first poem of his life to his father at the age of seven to seek his praise, his father had only glanced across it and sighed.

“Passable!”

Then, the rest of Chen Feiyu’s life seemed to have landed into some sort of curse.

Number twelve in the Rising Dragon Roll was already an impressive result. However, people only cared about the top ten, at the very most, they might discuss about the number eleven who had the opportunity of entering the top ten.

As for the number twelve?

Who had the time to care about that!

Not bad, manageable, passable.

These became the most common phrases Chen Feiyu heard in his life.

Not too long ago in the horseback hunting competition in the hunting grounds of the Eastern Suburbs, the same thing had happened. Chen Feiyu’s horseback skills were extremely impressive. However, nobody had paid any attention to him ever since the start of the competition.

Because, in front of him there were the number six and number seven of the Rising Dragon Roll, Xiang Tianying and Tang Zhongming. Further down, there were still Ninth Prince Lin Yun and Princess Ping Yang.

Then…

As somebody who didn’t have too much chance of entering the top three, nobody paid any attention to him.

This was something very saddening. Even more saddening was Fang Zhengzhi had gained more attention than him, riding a Mud Striped Horse! This was simply his miserable life fortune.

Nobody cared about the number five in the Court Theory Examination, nobody cared about the number four in the horseback hunting competition, ever since they had entered the Southern Mountain Range and began the combat examination, everybody’s attention were all on Nangong Hao and Wufeng.

And even when Chen Feiyu specially inquired about the intelligence sent to Ninth Prince Lin Yun.

The intelligence report only mentioned about how Wu Feng was doing, how Nangong Hao was doing, how Yan Xiu was doing. However, Chen Feiyu, who occupied the Thunder Lion Main Settlement wasn’t mentioned at all.

Why wasn’t he mentioned.

He had also occupied one of the four main settlements, how could they not report that?

Chen Feiyu was very affected by his!

To be born within the thirteen constabularies, wasn’t that noble? To be ranked twelveth in the Rising Dragon Roll, wasn’t that impressive?

However, Chen Feiyu’s life seemed to have been destined to be a black hole, going back and forth along the edges of glory, yet always existing as a black hole.

Not only couldn’t he become a main character, he wasn’t even qualified to play a supporting role. If he had to be described as something, it would be an utility man with a name.

Even then, people had to ask.

Does anybody still remember who Chen Feiyu was?

Alright…

Chen Feiyu’s destiny this entire life was a huge word, “misery”.

However, it was alright.

Chen Feiyu had a breakthrough, going from the Heavenly Reflection Peak State into the Supernatural Beginning State. Even though he had just broken through, it was definitely a path that went against his fate.

This caused Chen Feiyu to feel extremely excited, so excited that he couldn’t even contain himself.

He had full confidence that him of the Supernatural Beginning State would definitely enter the top few of the Rising Dragon Roll.

He wouldn’t think about challenging Chi Guyan and Nangong Hao yet, however, disabling Wu Feng and suppressing Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu’s arrogance would be very possible.

Leading the army and making it prosperous, strengthening the military powers, swallow humiliation and bear a heavy load upon his shoulders, and creating a great uprising in one move to become the brightest star in this combat examination, that was what Chen Feiyu currently thought.

Having taken over the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement, he had twelve thousand troops. Even though it was still some distance away from Wu Feng’s twenty thousand troops, Chen Feiyu wasn’t afraid.

As long as Wu Feng dared to come!

He dared to attack Wu Feng head on.

Hence…

Wu Feng came, advancing with his great military strength, sending troops towards him from the two directions of the Yan Ya settlement and the Shi Zun settlement in an attempt to take down the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement in one fell swoop to become his third base.

Chen Feiyu only laughed at this.

Pretense!

Let me see how long you can pretend. He could almost imagine Wu Feng’s exaggerated and shocked expression when he realised that he had entered the Supernatural State.

“Impossible, Brother Fei Yu, how could you breakthrough to the Supernatural State so quickly? This… this is simply unbelievable!”

“Ha ha ha… A person’s life would always have to change at one point. For example, now is my time!”

Every time Chen Feiyu imagined this situation, he would always tremble slightly in excitement. He wanted these people to remember very clearly that this world didn’t only consist of Nangong Hao, Wu Feng, Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu.

There was also himself, Chen Feiyu!

Come, you better come, come carefully, don’t sprain your back!

Why would the thirteen constabularies be named the thirteen constabularies? Why were the thirteen constabularies so closely united together? The reason was because the thirteen constabularies were the thirteen forces that had followed the Founding Emperor in establishing the Great Xia.

The thirteen constabularies, born in the battlefield, built upon generations of friendly settlements, bonded by the same beliefs.

There was a saying that had been running around in the Great Xia Dynasty.

“If the thirteen constabularies remain standing, the Great Xia Dynasty will never die!”

If the Great Xia Dynasty was described as a large, tall tree, then the thirteen constabularies were doubtlessly the stems of the Great Xia Dynasty, stems that extended deep into the earth.

Would the direct descendent of the thirteen constabularies, Chen Feiyu, not know military techniques?

That was simply a joke.

Commanding troops and setting formations were too easy, so much so that even Chen Feiyu had come up with his own summary. That was the experience he had gained from reading countless military books.

As well as the true knowledge he had gleaned from his countless times in the battlefield.

Vigour!

The most decisive factor in a battle between two forces was vigour. Victory came from using one’s vigour to suppress and handicap the other party.

Faced with Wu Feng’s flanking from two routes, Chen Feiyu wasn’t thinking of staying in the Thunderous Lion Settlement and guarding it. He was thinking how best to launch a head-on attack to triumph over Wu Feng.

“Twenty thousand troops, split into two? This is simply asking for death!” Chen Feiyu raised his head slightly and looked at the army of brightly-armoured soldiers with a cold smile on his face.

He could almost completely guess Wu Feng’s plan.

The lowest requirement was leaving two thousand troops in each of the two main settlements. Then, the twenty thousand troops would instantly turn into sixteen thousand. Wu Feng had been staying in the Yan Ya Settlement. Hence, the forces that came from the Yan Ya Settlement would definitely be the main force.

Calculating the army strength.

The number of people coming from the Yan Ya Settlement would be at least ten thousand, while those coming from the Shi Zun Settlement would at most be six thousand.

Wanting to combine forces then annihilating me in one fell swoop?

A dark-blue ripple-like glow lighted up on Chen Feiyu’s body, while green tree leaves began to flash faintly in the light like beads of lotus.

“Generals listen to my orders!”

“Roger!”

“General Li receive my order!”

“Roger!”

“You will personally lead two thousand fast troops, setting off at night and rush to the Thunderous Bird Settlement at the perimeter. Then, successively set up defences at the Heaven Thunder Settlement, Changxing Settlement, this position, and here, here, here… set up a camp at every step, and a pass every ten miles. Only defend, don’t attack! I wish to delay Wu Feng’s main forces for five days to reduce the loss of our soldiers!” When Chen Feiyu finished speaking, he passed a commander token into the hands of a soldier.

In a true fight.

Chen Feiyu naturally wouldn’t use those scholars participating in the examination. Because, he knew very clearly that these people’s goals were only to get a good ranking.

If the descendant of the thirteen constabularies wouldn’t even able to determine who knew how to fight and who didn’t, that was truly ruining the reputation of the thirteen constabularies.

“Roger!” A commanding soldier instantly received the token, then turned around and ran outside the tent without a second of hesitation.

“The other soldiers will all prepare to move out and follow me. I will personally command ten thousand soldiers to surround and kill the six thousand troops coming from the Shi Zun Settlement.” Chen Feiyu continued to give his orders after the commanding soldier had left the tent.

“Young Master Zhang wishes to personally lead the troops, this…”

Call me General!”

“Roger, General Zhang, if all of us leaves to attack, wouldn’t this Thunderous Lion Settlement become empty? What if General Li isn’t able to guard his side, and we are unable to take down the troops from Shi Zun in time. If at that time, Wu Feng leads his troops into the Thunderous Lion Settlement, we would face enemies on both sides.” A commander said doubtfully.

“That’s right, isn’t General Zhang’s actions a little too daring? I believe that we have the geographical advantage in this battle, defence is enough.” Another commander also suggested by the side.

“Defence? Ha ha… Do you think I am happy or worried when I heard that Wu Feng is coming to attack?” When Chen Feiyu heard these two general’s words, he didn’t express his anger immediately. Instead, he asked with a light smile on his face.

“This… Wu Feng has control over two main settlements, and has almost two times the amount of troops we have, I believe… you would naturally be a little more worried.”

“That’s right, if we have a few more days, we wouldn’t have to be afraid of him.”

When the two commanders heard Chen Feiyu’s question, they glanced at one another and replied.

“Wrong, I am happy!” Chen Feiyu shook his head.

“Happy? Where did this happiness come from?” When the other commanders heard Chen Feiyu’s words, they were also somewhat confused.

“I am happy that Heaven has given me an opportunity. And, this opportunity really came at the best possible time. I was initially thinking how I was going to defend against Wu Feng. However, now, I am at ease.”

“I don’t really understand.”

“Yes, of course you wouldn’t understand. Defence is indeed the best strategy now. All of you are extremely experienced in battle. Using the geography as an advantage to continue our defence, we indeed have an eighty percent chance of not losing! However, that is only not losing! Defence? Can we defend until we become first in the combat examination? Of course not! Defence? Can we defend until we have control over the three main settlements? Of course not! Then, let me ask you all, why must I defend?”

When Chen Feiyu said this, his body naturally gave off a powerful aura. That was a self-confidence that came from his heart.

Only one with immense self-confidence would have such a powerful aura.

“I understand!”

“We had initially thought that General Zhang wishes to remain undefeated in the combat examination. However, we never thought that General Zhang would have such ambition!”

“General Zhang is indeed the descendant of the thirteen constabularies, we are willing to follow you till death!”

“Follow General Zhang and attain first in the combat examination!”

When the commanders heard Chen Feiyu’s words and felt the powerful self-confidence and aura coming from Chen Feiyu, they were taken aback. Then, began to kneel down on one knee one by one.

…

After Fang Zhengzhi finished listening to the situation analysis of the Thunderous Lion Settlement by the settlement chief, a question had rose in his mind. Who is this Chen Feiyu?

Why did nobody ever mention him in the past?

Hmm…

This was a question, however, it wasn’t a question that bothered Fang Zhengzhi for too long. He felt at ease very quickly. Because, after looking at the dark skin of the settlement chief.

He had thought of a strategy.

A strategy he believed was rather impressive.

That was passing off the fake as real.

Since the Southern Mountain Range was able to conceal its soldiers in the four main settlements, he could also do the same by concealing his soldiers in the four main settlements.

Wasn’t it just smearing some black oil.

Bringing two thousand soldiers and five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries to rush about everywhere looking for Yan Xiu was evidently not something an intelligent person should do.

That was a headless fly.

Fang ZHengzhi naturally wouldn’t do such tedious and thankless tasks, especially in a place filled with fearsome beasts like the Southern Mountain Range. Hence, he decided to spread the news.

Then, wait for Yan Xiu to unite with himself.

The main settlements were naturally more effective in spreading news.

After gaining knowledge about the Southern Mountain Range’s “every citizen a soldier” strategy, he decided to take advantage of this strategy. He now possessed the Cyan Stone Token. As long as he was able to enter the Thunderous Lion Settlement.

Then, secretly contacting the Thunderous Lion Settlement Chief, asking him to use the natural resources of the Southern Mountain Range to spread the news and searching for Yan Xiu’s trace. This would naturally be an extremely good shortcut.

Attacking the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement?

He had never thought of that. After all, Chen Feiyu had the military strength of twelve thousand soldiers. Despite the five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries he had, it would still be an extremely arduous battle.

Causing defeat on both sides was an extremely dumb move.

That was Fang Zhengzhi’s initial thought. However, after he had found his way to the Thunderous Lion Settlement, this thought seemed to have changed somewhat. Because, he realised…

There wasn’t a single soldier in the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement.

“Huh? I seemed to have picked up an empty settlement!”

Chapter 348: A Brilliant Feat

Fang Zhengzhi had experienced walking along and finding some coins on the floor. However, walking along and finding an empty settlement…

Wasn’t this a little extreme?

Fang Zhengzhi felt that the world in front of him was filled with spinning question marks.

Is there something wrong with the intelligence given by the Thunder Light Settlement Chief?

That isn’t very possible. The settlement had seen my Cyan Stone Token. He had even admitted his own identity, wasn’t giving him false information a little too unethical?

Fang Zhengzhi felt that this possibility wasn’t very big. However, the Thunderous Lion Settlement in front of him was indeed an empty settlement. Furthermore, there wasn’t even a guard at the settlement gate in sight.

Could this be the legendary Stratagem of the Empty City?

That didn’t make sense.

He didn’t even plan to attack the settlement, what was the point of employing the Stratagem of the Empty City?

Fang Zhengzhi was very puzzled. Picking up something so beneficial to him for no reason caused him to feel a faint sense of sadness. There was completely no sense of achievement.

As the largest settlement among the six main settlements in the Southern Mountain Range other than the Sagely Mountain City, the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement wasn’t something those small settlements like the Thunder Light Settlement could compare to.

The geography of the Southern Mountain Range was extremely unique.

It was filled with dense forests, tall mountains and fearsome beasts, resulting in a huge danger – the safety of humans.

What were the consequences of a world without a sense of safety?

Naturally it would be panic and crime. However, this didn’t happen in the Southern Mountain Range. Because, the Southern Mountain Range had seven safe havens.

That was the six main settlements and the Sagely Mountain City.

These were locations that generations of Southern Mountain City kings had painstakingly built up and established, locations where the citizens of the Southern Mountain Range pinned their hopes upon.

It was because of these seven locations that the citizens of the Southern Mountain Range would be willing to live in such a densely forested and mountainous area, multiplying and thriving across generations.

If the architecture of the Thunder Light Settlement was like a small mountain village in the forests.

Then, the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement was like a humongous war fortress leaning against a towering cliff with huge chasms dug around it on the other three sides. Five meters high of green stone filled the entire area behind the chasms, with thorns sticking out everywhere on the green stones. The bottom of this formation was all stones, while on top, there were even small holes for shooting arrows.

The use of these holes naturally doesn’t require much explanation, specially designed for the archers to shoot. There were a total of three layers.

When Fang Zhengzhi saw the Thunderous Lion Settlement for the first time, he only had one thought. How was this any similar to the small mountain village he had seen. This was simply a huge metal bucket.

When he realised that he had been thinking whether to personally lead the five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries to forcefully attack the city and occupy a main settlement for the fun of it.

He felt somewhat ashamed and embarrassed.

If the five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries were used to launch an ambush in the dense forests, or charge out in a quick attack, these were definitely not a problem. Even attacking a small settlement could be accomplished with ease.

However, if it was used to attack this “huge metal bucket”, the loss would definitely be tremendous.

The Southern Mountain Range…

Fang Zhengzhi looked at the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement and suddenly felt a slight curiosity about the King’s Capital, Sagely Mountain City, for the first time. If the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement could be constructed as such, then what would the Sagely Mountain City look like?

The rest of the matter was simple.

First, Fang Zhengzhi called Teng Shisheng to enter the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement with him, then, asked Teng Shisheng to locate the main settlement chief of the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement, finding out intelligence after flashing the Cyan Stone Token.

“Sending his troops to block off Wu Feng’s two paths flanking?” After Fang Zhengzhi heard the main settlement chief’s explanation, a faint smile formed on his lips.

Not bad!

Familiar with military tactics!

If he had led the army himself, there was a fifty percent chance that he would use the same tactic. As the saying went, seeking richness and honor required dangers and risks. How could one obtain first in the combat examination without taking any risks?

A good general must have a crafty heart.

If one only waited passively and set up a formation waiting for others to attack, or one chose to attack others, then one would never be able to achieve much success in this path.

A good general subdues an enemy without fighting.

Even though this Chen Feiyu wasn’t craft enough, but, he seemed to know very well how to use vigour in battle. You dare attack me?

No problem, let me attack you first.

That was vigour!

Chen Feiyu dared to abandon this war fortress to face against an enemy attack, hence his army would definitely be highly motivated. Because, they weren’t scared, hence, they didn’t fear.

However, there was another saying on the battlefield. That was things underwent myriads of changes in the blink of an eye.

It might be that one had seen a definite advantage fifteen minutes ago, stand on the peak of the mountain and looking down at the common people below, while the next moment you were completely defeated and turning into a captive prisoner.

Chen Feiyu had neglected the biggest problem.

That was allowing others to pick up an empty settlement.

This was an error in his intelligence. Of course, this didn’t mean Chen Feiyu didn’t attach importance to intelligence. Instead, it could only be said that Fang Zhengzhi’s appearance was initially already a black hole in the intelligence reports.

With the strength of twelve thousand soldiers, this meant that Chen Feiyu had also perfect control over the examinees around the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement. As for Chen Hao in the Thunder Light Settlement.

The possibility of him daring to attack the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement was almost zero.

Chen Feiyu was very confident.

Fang Zhengzhi was also very confident. Hence, he led his army into the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement without the slightest bit of hesitation, accepting this present given to him by Heaven.

…

The battle between Wu Feng and Chen Feiyu was unexpectedly tragic.

Chen Feiyu’s boldness and strategy of splitting up his army was indeed effective at the beginning. His two thousand soldiers and multiple army camps had delayed Wu Feng’s main force in its attack.

However, the total time taken wasn’t five days. It was instead four days.

Because, after realising that Chen Feiyu was dragging time on purpose, Wu Feng really became crazy. It was a wild craziness. Ten thousand troops advanced as if they had gone crazy.

Wu Feng used the craziest, and most unreasonable form of fighting.

Splitting ten thousand troops into four teams, each team consisting of two thousand five hundred people. Then, using the military strength of four teams to take turns breaking down the battalion all day and all night.

The poor general would never expect himself to be battling against a crazy person like Wu Feng…

This was simply a desperate fight.

Two thousand troops indeed faced great difficulty in trying to delay a madman. Not mentioning that his military strength had been greatly deteriorated, he wasn’t even able to complete setting up the last pass before facing the powerful offense of Wu Feng’s army.

In order to complete Chen Feiyu’s task, the poor general ultimately had to order the entire army to put up a desperate fight. However, that only gave him one extra day at most.

The two thousand troops were finally completely captured. But, they didn’t manage to complete the delay for five days.

The time of one day for a person who only bathed, slept and ate was just another day.

However, in a battlement, it was always an important turning point.

Chen Feiyu’s ambush on Wu Feng’s second group of soldiers were smoother than expected, the six thousand soldiers had been almost completely demolished by him.

Yet…

Just as he was singing songs of victory and prepared to engage in the task of incorporating the captured troops into his own forces, an army of soldiers with bloodshot eyes suddenly charged out from his back.

“Wu Feng?!” Chen Feiyu looked at the Wu Feng, who was leading the soldiers and holding a jade flute in his hands. The shock he had received was so great that he almost fell off his horse.

He had naturally thought that Wu Feng might come faster than what he planned.

Hence, after his successful ambush, he had been rushing his orders to attack.

However, that was ultimately still the strength of six thousand soldiers.

Ten thousand against six thousand, even though the ambush was successful, to take down all of them in one fell swoop wasn’t a simple task.

Chen Feiyu felt that he was already very fast. However, he had never expected Wu Feng to be even faster.

Yet, things had already reached this point. Chen Feiyu ultimately managed to think calmly.

As the commander in chief of the battle, staying calm was the most fundamental job he had to carry out. He had always been doing this job very well. Hence, in the time of two minutes, he made a wise choice.

Give up a rook to save the king!

Leave one thousand troops to forcefully attack Wu Feng from the back. Then, leading the main force to retreat into the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement overnight.

After calculating, Chen Feiyu’s battle was still considered successful.

Losing one thousand on top of two thousand troops to take down six thousand of Wu Feng’s troops. It was still worth it, and could be considered as a classic victorious situation where he exchanged one soldier for two.

Standing at the city entrance of the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement, Chen Feiyu raised his head slightly with an evident smile on his face. After this battle, his military strength had increased instead of dropping.

After all, everybody knew that in a combat examination, people wouldn’t risk their lives and kill others. Hence, the six thousand soldiers in the battle were almost all still alive. Only slightly over three hundred people had died. Hence, Chen Feiyu was able to recruit five thousand and seven hundred people.

This had caused his total military strength to reach fourteen thousand and seven hundred people, almost fifteen thousand.

While Wu Feng’s total military strength had decreased by three thousand.

Turning from twenty thousand to seventeen thousand. Furthermore, he had left four thousand people in the main cities of the two main settlements. Hence, the amount of people he was currently left with was fourteen thousand.

Fifteen thousand against fourteen thousand, along with the advantage of the settlement. What did Chen Feiyu have to fear about Wu Feng?

Any ordinary person would definitely shout loudly at this moment. “Come, if you dare to to come, I will make you wet your pants in terror!”

However…

Chen Feiyu didn’t shout this.

The direct descendent of the thirteen constabularies had already remained silent for such a long time. How could his brilliant feat only have one part to it?

Chen Feiyu’s plan was to be completed in one fell swoop. He had indeed abandoned his rook to save the king. However, this plan concealed another plot behind it.

Usually, the one thousand soldiers were considered lost. However, Chen Feiyu didn’t think this way.

After leaving one thousand soldiers, he had left another two thousand troops. Furthermore, these two thousand troops used the technique of moving around to harass Wu Feng continuously.

The point of this naturally wasn’t to pursue a retreating enemy.

Instead, it was a lure!

He wanted to lure Wu Feng to attack the city. For that, he had already made his plans and preparations.

After consolidating his military strength, Chen Feiyu led the fifteen thousand-strong army and entered the war fortress of the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement in a grandiose manner.

After which, he similarly didn’t relax.

Instantly urging the task of setting up defences, deploying three thousand soldiers to guard the city gates, leaving the remaining twelve thousand to rest and reorganise.

After all, it still took some time to reorganize after swallowing six thousand troops at one go.

After Chen Feiyu had finished settling all these matters, it was already sunset. The sky gradually began to darken, as a powerful sense of fatigue caused this victorious returning general to finally feel somewhat sleepy.

After settling the tasks of patrolling, the finally stepped back into the comfortable stone house that the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement Chief had specially prepared for him. Gazing at the bed he was so familiar with, as well as the beautiful paintings he had brought from the Great Xia Dynasty, Chen Feiyu exhaled heavily as he removed the armour from his body.

“So what if he is Wu Feng? Number three in the Rising Dragon Roll? Your fate… had already been determined!” At this moment, Chen Feiyu’s sense of success was so full that it was about to burst.

After so many years of silence.

He had never had the same feeling as this moment.

Even though he was fatigued, he was fatigued in a happy, delighted and excited manner. Such emotions caused him to be unable to fall asleep immediately. Instead, he took out the wine bottle and poured himself another full cup.

He could already see the Wu Feng’s expression when he arrived to attack the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement. Faced with his well-guarded war fortress, he could already imagine Wu Feng’s dejected and crestfallen expression.

Yet…

Chen Feiyu’s plan wasn’t as simple as just luring Wu Feng to attack the city.

All along, he had purposely concealed the fact that he had attained Supernatural State. This point was the true origin of his plan.

He prepared to take the initiative to challenge Wu Feng to a one-to-one battle after Wu Feng was unable to get past his defences.

The third in the Rising Dragon Roll against the twelfth. Whoever lost would be eliminated and give up all his military force.

What a perfect idiotic move!

Chen Feiyu was absolutely sure that that was how Wu Feng would think.

Things would be simple from then on.

Stepping on Wu Feng beneath his feet in front of thousands of soldiers, amazing the world with a single brilliant feat using the power of the Supernatural State to shock the entire Southern Mountain Range and even the Great Xia Dynasty.

Becoming a person who truly attracted the attention of others.

When he thought of this, the edges of Chen Feiyu’s lips began to twitch uncontrollably. It was too exciting, too perfect. Only in this manner would his name truly be spread across the world.

Defeating Wu Feng in a muddled warfare?

How boring.

Challenging Wu Feng on an arena?

That was just as boring!

Using his unexpected power to step on Wu Feng beneath his feet in front of thousands of soldiers, that was the real counterattack. A perfect counterattack!

“It is too perfect! I must celebrate my success beforehand!” Chen Feiyu was restraining himself. He had to temporarily restrain himself to ensure that his powers wouldn’t be revealed in advance.

Only in this way would his success shocking enough.

Hence…

He could only drink alone, celebrate alone and wait alone.

“Isn’t it not very good to drink a celebratory wine alone?”

Just as Chen Feiyu prepared to raise his cup to himself, a voice came from outside the stone house. Immediately after, a figure appeared at the door of the stone house.

It was a person dressed in leopard print and wearing a animal skin hat, with a slight smile on his face. The classic attire of a newly rich person of the Southern Mountain Range. However, if this was in addition to his fair facial features and lanky build, it was somewhat inappropriate for a person of the Southern Mountain Range.

It seemed slightly comical.

However, Chen Feiyu’s expression very evidently froze for a while, almost dropping the cup in his hand. Because, he felt that this was the time he should be standing on the peak alone, waiting for the moment his name became famous.

However, a Fang Zhengzhi suddenly appeared.

What the heck is this about?

Chapter 349: Great Trouble

Didn’t this guy disappear in the fire incident in the Intellectual Loft?

No matter what, Chen Feiyu couldn’t understand why Fang Zhengzhi would appear in this place. Furthermore, most importantly, Fang Zhengzhi appeared in the Southern Mountain Range, at the door of his stone house.

Fang Zhengzhi, who didn’t even participate in the combat examination, appearing in the Southern Mountain Range?

This was already a very mysterious case.

Even more mysterious was that Fang Zhengzhi actually swaggered into his stone house in such an open, blatant manner. Are the guards outside the door blind?

“Why… why are you here?” It wasn’t quite possible for Chen Feiyu not to feel the slightest bit shocked. However, paralysing him with shock wasn’t quite possible as well.

As the saying went, boldness stems from superb skill.

That was Chen Feiyu’s attitude now. Not mentioning that you are Fang Zhengzhi, even if Nangong Hao came, so what? I am already of the Supernatural Beginning State.

Looking down on all the examinees in the combat examination, who do I have to fear?

“I have already said, isn’t it not very good to drink a celebratory wine alone?” Fang Zhengzhi simply didn’t know that the Chen Feiyu in front of him had attained Supernatural State.

Number twelve in the Rising Dragon Roll.

Who feared him?

Hence, as he spoke, he swaggered in and sat in front of Chen Feiyu.

“Ha ha, Young Master Fang is right, all visitors are my guests. Since Young Master Fang has already come to my territory, then let’s drink a cup together.” When Chen Feiyu finished speaking, he personally poured a glass of wine for Fang Zhengzhi to express his sincerity.

“Thank you.” Fang Zhengzhi picked up the cup and downed it in one gulp, without the slightest bit of suspicion.

Chen Feiyu frowned slightly. Fang Zhengzhi’s attitude caused him to feel somewhat unhappy. After all, this was his territory. How can you drink with me feeling so at ease?

“I wonder why Young Master Fang came here to find me?” Chen Feiyu ultimately didn’t attack immediately. After all, he was still somewhat curious as to why Fang Zhengzhi appeared here.

“Not anything important, I just want to borrow Young Master Zhang’s territory to play around a bit.” Fang Zhengzhi said frankly. He indeed prepared to seek Chen Feiyu to “borrow” this territory.

“Ha ha, borrow my territory? If I didn’t remember wrongly, Young Master Fang seems to not possess any troops, is that right? Then, if I give my territory to you, can you guard it?” Chen Feiyu smiled coldly.

“I should be able to.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded.

“Ha ha ha… Looks like Young Master Fang came prepared today. I wonder how you wish to guard?” When Chen Feiyu heard this, he began to laugh again.

“Using troops of course.” Fang Zhengzhi said calmly.

“You have soldiers?!” Chen Feiyu was clearly taken aback. Having troops and not having troops were two completely different concepts.

“Yes.”

“How many?”

“Two thousand.”

“Two thousand?” Chen Feiyu laughed again. “Fang Zhengzhi, pardon my frankness, but using two thousand soldiers to guard my Thunderous Lion Main Settlement isn’t quite enough, is that right?”

“It indeed isn’t quite enough. Hence, I also prepared to borrow some soldiers from you.” When Fang Zhengzhi heard Chen Feiyu’s words, he pondered for a moment, then looked towards Chen Feiyu with an anticipated look on his face.

“Borrowing territory and borrowing soldiers? I never thought that Fang Zhengzhi, number one of the theory examination, would also have times of such naivety?” Chen Feiyu’s smile grew wider and wider.

“Naivety is the natural quality of humans. I am always very kind and honest, hence, I am also a little kinder and more honest in my thoughts. After all, there are more good people than bad people in this world, am I right?” Fang Zhengzhi wasn’t affected by Chen Feiyu’s words at all, instead, he continued to ask in anticipation.

“Ha ha ha…” As Chen Feiyu laughed, he poured himself another glass of wine. Finishing it in one mouth, his gaze finally grew cold. “Fang Zhengzhi, do you think you can still walk out of here today?”

“I think I can!” Fang Zhengzhi’s expression remained calm.

“Is it? Why not we try it out?”

“Alright.”

“Ha ha ha… come, capture this great scholar, number one in the Court Theory Examination!” Chen Feiyu looked at the confident look on Fang Zhengzhi’s face and burst into laughter, then shouted out.

His voice was rather loud. At the very least, Chen Feiyu believed that the five hundred soldiers around the stone house would definitely be able to hear his words.

The door of the stone house moved slightly at this moment. A gust of cold, night wind blew into the stone house, causing the candlelight in the stone house to begin to dance.

However, the soldiers that Chen Feiyu expected didn’t appear. Other than the sound of the night wind, it was a complete silence inside and outside the stone house, just like the stars in the sky.

Fang Zhengzhi wasn’t affected by Chen Feiyu’s shout at all.

It was as if he had never even heard Chen Feiyu’s voice, indifferently pouring himself another cup of wine then unhurriedly drinking a mouthful and conveniently picking up some of the snacks on the table and stuffing it into his mouth.

Chewing on it, he thought, it tastes quite good.

Chen Feiyu looked at Fang Zhengzhi’s calm expression and finally understood. When he looked at Fang Zhengzhi again, his expression was clearly completely different from before.

In it, there was shock.

It was different from the shock at the beginning. This time, the shock came from Fang Zhengzhi himself, a shock produced by a form of respect deep inside his heart.

“Not bad!” Chen Feiyu lightly nodded his head. “I must admit, you indeed have some skills. You are actually able to take advantage of the time I fought with Wu Feng outside and plant an ambush in my Thunderous Lion Settlement in advance. Furthermore, you are able to maintain your patience and calm, waiting for me until I entered the stone house before springing into action.”

“Yes, you are right. That is indeed what happened.” Fang Zhengzhi also nodded at this moment. Because, Chen Feiyu was completely right.

“If I were still the Chen Feiyu from before, you might really be able to win this time. Unfortunately, Chen Feiyu isn’t the same Chen Feiyu as before. Can two thousand soldiers stop me?” A glimmer of light flashed in Chen Feiyu’s eyes.

“Two thousand soldiers aren’t able to stop you?” Fang Zhengzhi asked back.

“Ha ha ha… you can give it a try!” Chen Feiyu finally laughed. This time, his laughter was wild, and could even be described as somewhat mad.

In reality, he was indeed qualified to laugh madly. Just as he said, if he were still of the Heavenly Reflection Peak State, based on Fang Zhengzhi’s abilities and the soldiers planted around the stone house, it was impossible for him to escape.

However, he was of the Supernatural State. Then, things would be completely different.

Fighting his way out, then making a clarion call. When over ten thousand soldiers surrounded them, Fang Zhengzhi and the other two thousand soldiers wouldn’t even be able to fly out of the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement even if they had wings.

That was his confidence, a confidence that came from deep within his heart.

Initially, he wanted to see Wu Feng’s stunned expression. But now, there was Fang Zhengzhi who was asking for death, “blatantly” sending himself to his doorstep.

I am going to reveal my abilities so early?

This is actually indeed quite exciting!

Chen Feiyu laughed out loud. At the same time, a dense, dull blue glow radiated from his body. That was essentially waves of ripples, and within those ripples, there were many jade-green leaves. With his body at the center, the entire stone house was completely covered.

He looked towards Fang Zhengzhi, wanting to see the deep shock and horror Fang Zhengzhi’s face.

However…

Very disappointingly, Fang Zhengzhi seemed to have been scared dumb, continuing to sit blankly on the chair and pouring wine into his cup.

“Hey, are you blind!” Chen Feiyu finally couldn’t contain himself anymore. He had already displayed his abilities. Shouldn’t Fang Zhengzhi have some sort of reaction?

“What is it?” Fang Zhengzhi looked at Chen Feiyu innocently.

“Don’t tell me you can’t see that I’ve already had a breakthrough? A breakthrough from the Heavenly Reflection Peak State to the Supernatural Beginning State!” Chen Feiyu felt that he really had to remind Fang Zhengzhi.

“Breakthrough? That is really impressive, what should I do?” Fang Zhengzhi seemed to have finally managed to react after hearing Chen Feiyu’s words. His expression also began to seem somewhat panicked.

“Run of course!” Chen Feiyu replied without a moment of hesitation.

“Oh, then I’ll start running.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded, then gradually stood up from the chair and slowly strolled towards the outside of the stone house.

Chen Feiyu looked at Fang Zhengzhi’s foolish yet adorable expression and instinctively felt as if something wasn’t quite right. However, after thinking about his own powers.

He quickly dismissed those thoughts of something being amiss.

Is it scared dumb?

As he thought, Chen Feiyu instantly leapt up. With a “clang”, he drew out his sword and charged rapidly towards Fang Zhengzhi.

“Ha ha ha… you wish to run? The entire Thunderous Lion Settlement is mine, let me see where you…” Chen Feiyu didn’t finish his sentence. Because, after he charged outside the stone house, he was completely taken aback by the scene in front of his eyes.

The smile on his face froze like a statue.

Because, outside the stone house, there were countless densely packed dark-skinned armoured soldiers.

Of course, that wasn’t the main point. The main point was that all of those soldiers rode on a huge beast at least two meters tall.

That was a beast that looked like a wolf, its body covered completely in green and black fur with a single silver horn on its forehead. However, its build was definitely at least two to three times bigger than a wolf.

The Silver Horned Wolf!

As the descendant of the thirteen constabularies and an important member of the Great Xia Dynasty, how could Chen Feiyu not know that the Southern Mountain Range had an extremely terrifying force.

The Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry!

Every Silver Horned Wolf was comparable to a human of the Heavenly Reflection State. Adding on the mounted troops on the Silver Horned Wolf, it was definitely a terrifying existence.

The greatest reason beasts were suppressed by humans wasn’t because they weren’t powerful enough, instead, it was due to their intelligence. Even though the higher-class beasts were intelligent, it was still clearly somewhat inferior compared to that of humans.

However…

If there were mounted soldiers who could control them, then this difference would be gone.

“One, two… how many are there here!” Chen Feiyu parted his lips slightly and swept his gaze across the surrounding Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries, attempting to estimate the approximate amount in his heart.

“You don’t have to count, there are exactly five hundred!” Fang Zhengzhi opened his mouth at this moment, the edges of his mouth curling into a kind and warm smile, like that of the spring breeze.

However, Chen Feiyu’s expression had completely changed.

Five hundred?!

Five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries!

Why would this happen, how is this possible? Why would Fang Zhengzhi have the Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries? The Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry was the elite among the elite forces of the Southern Mountain Range!

“Fang Zhengzhi, you dare betray your country?!”

“I thought you were rather smart, yet why are you still like Chen Hao? Betraying my country? It isn’t very good to falsely accuse people, did I ever say that I betrayed my country?” Fang Zhengzhi replied calmly.

“Then… then what are all these Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries about?” Chen Feiyu didn’t believe that the Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries would obey Fang Zhengzhi’s orders without any good reason.

“Borrowed.” Fang Zhengzhi said frankly.

“Borrowed?!”

“That’s right, I had also prepared to borrow some soldiers from you, but you are too stingy and didn’t agree. However, the people of the Southern Mountain Range are very generous, when I said that I want to borrow troops, they lent me immediately.”

“Who are you trying to scam?”

“You!”

“You… Fang Zhengzhi, no matter what, you are still the number one in the Court Theory Examination of the Great Xia. I, Chen Feiyu, also respect you for being an honourable and forthright person. Today, I challenge you to a duel. If you defeat me, all the ten thousand troops under me would be yours. If you lose, the five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries under you would be mine. How about that?” Chen Feiyu didn’t continue arguing with Fang Zhengzhi and quickly proposed his own plan.

“Alright!”

Fang Zhengzhi nodded very quickly.

When Chen Feiyu heard this, his eyes instantly lit up. However, very quickly, his expression turned dark. Because, after Fang Zhengzhi nodded his head, he continued to say.

“I wonder whether you would choose for all of us to duel you, or would you duel all of us?”

“You… Fang Zhengzhi, you are shameless!” Chen Feiyu finally exploded. Because, this Fang Zhengzhi in front of him clearly wasn’t a “honourable and forthright” person.

“Thank you for your praise. Teng Shisheng!” Fang Zhengzhi nodded, satisfied, then shouted out towards Teng Shisheng who was standing him.

“Present!”

“I want him alive!”

“I understand!” Teng Shisheng instantly received the orders. Then, he raised his dark and muscular arm. Instantly five hundred Silver Horned Wolves let out a blood-curdling howl at the same time.

“Awoo!”

“Awoo!”

“…”

“Ah! Don’t do this… Ah! Get away from me! I… I am not satisfied, I have already attained the Supernatural State. I am going to be number one in the combat examination. I want to make a name for myself!” Chen Feiyu’s voice mixed together with the howls of the Silver Horned Wolves.

He was struggling.

He was of the Supernatural State, hence his powers were indeed very frightening.

Pieces of his flesh were torn and bitten off. However, they recovered rapidly. Terminal lucidity enabled Chen Feiyu to stand strong and firm.

However, the outcome of that was a longer period of suffering.

Two bloody streaks were slashed on his arms.

Not a problem, it could heal.

A chunk of meat was bitten off his leg. Not a problem, it still could heal.

“Ah! I cannot lose, I… don’t want to lose!” Chen Feiyu’s voice was very proud and aloof, however, it was also very tragic. Cries of pain reverberated about the entire Thunderous Lion Settlement.

This also sent chill down the hearts of the soldiers guarding the Thunderous Lion Settlement.

“This voice seemed to have come from General Zhang’s direction. Don’t tell me something happened to General Zhang?!”

“Oh no, it is definitely Wu Feng. Could he have took advantage of the time we left the Thunderous Lion Settlement to send in a group of soldiers to hide inside, waiting for an opportunity to ambush General Zhang?”

“Quick, gather as fast as possible and rush towards General Zhang’s house!”

Chapter 350: Unfortunately, the person you are facing is me

When the leaders in the army heard that blood curdling cry, they finally regained their senses. Immediately after, groups of soldiers led by their respectively leaders flooded from all directions towards the stone house.

However…

Just as they were about to near the stone house, all of them had no choice but to stop.

Because, there were countless citizens of the Southern Mountain Range densely packed in front of them. Each of them was dark-skinned and wore various kinds of rattan clothing.

“Move aside!” A leader instantly bellowed.

“Why? What do you guys want to do?” An elder around the age of fifty, dressed in rattan attire and animal leather and wearing a hat with a feather on top of it on his head walked over.

“I see it’s settlement chief. Our general had been ambushed by people, could you please tell them to excuse us!” When the leader saw the elder in front of him, he recognised that this was the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement Chief. His tone instantly turned polite.

“General Chen had been ambushed? Then you should hurry up and skirt around the East side!” When the settlement chief heard the leader’s words, he instantly became somewhat worried.

“Skirt around?!?” The leader’s expression was filled with confusion and shock.

“That’s right, I’m really sorry. We are currently holding the grand rain ceremony. This determines whether the weather will be kind to us this year, I hope you wouldn’t interrupt. You guys know as well that we have our own Southern Mountain Range customs, this grand rain…” The settlement chief explained very patiently.

“Stop! Now, we are currently rushing to save our general, would you please give way to us. I’m sure it wouldn’t be too late to continue the grand ceremony after we have passed!”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. Our ceremony has already begun, how would we know that your general would be ambushed? Once this grand ceremony had started, it cannot be stopped. The altar can’t be shifted either, else, we would be punished by Heaven. When that time comes, our Southern…” The settlement chief continued to express his stance.

“Fine fine fine, you don’t need to say anything else. Brothers, let’s detour!”

The leading generals glanced at one another and indeed couldn’t do anything about this. After all, they didn’t have much power or say in this, hence simply couldn’t incite any obvious forms of conflicts with the Southern Mountain Range.

Even though the Southern Mountain Range is only a vassal state of the Great Xia where people could only be named as Kings and not Emperors, and had to pay tribute to the Dynasty each year, it wasn’t just any ordinary vassal state.

The huge and resource-filled Southern Mountain Range, along with the brave and fearsome warriors, were definitely the best ally of the Great Xia.

Of course…

Those weren’t the most important factors. The most important thing now was that they simply didn’t have any time to argue with this settlement chief any further.

“Quick, make a detour from the East side to behind the stone house!”

“Roger!”

All of the soldiers began to move swiftly, detouring towards the East side of the stone house. However, what they didn’t know was that at the East side of the stone house, there was similarly another “important” grand ceremony going on.

…

Fang Zhengzhi gazed at Chen Feiyu, who was dodging and leaping around continuously outside the stone house with a faint smile on his lips and occasionally letting out a few cheers.

“Not bad, this is a beautiful move!”

“Careful of your left side, oh no… I have already told you to be careful of the left side!”

“The two Silver Horned Wolves behind you are about to ambush you, be careful! Sigh… what in the world are you doing? You actually believe what an enemy says? Isn’t this a little too naive?”

Fang Zhengzhi gave out instructions by the side, one following another. He wasn’t in a rush at all.

In Chen Feiyu’s heart, Fang Zhengzhi’s actions were naturally a sneak attack. However, in Fang Zhengzhi’s heart, it was a completely different opinion.

What was a sneak attack?

It is only a sneak attack when done on other people’s territory!

Was the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement Chen Feiyu’s territory? Of course not. The person who controlled the settlement chief was Fang Zhengzhi. Hence, he was the true owner of the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement.

Then…

This begs the question. Can an attack on one’s own territory be considered a sneak attack?

Of course not. At most, it was called catching a turtle in a jar – a sure catch.

Chen Feiyu truly felt very aggrieved at this moment. He gritted his teeth tightly, trying his best to persevere for as long as possible even if his entire body was in excruciating pain.

However, he still believed that his soldiers would definitely arrive on time.

After all, ever since the start of the fight, almost half an hour had passed. Yet, not a single shadow was to be seen.

Had they fallen asleep?

Chen Feiyu couldn’t accept this. He truly couldn’t accept this.

Initially, he believed that as a person who had attained the Supernatural State, he should be standing on the lone peak of a mountain, looking down at the masses below him.

However, in reality?

He didn’t even have the time to demonstrate his abilities in front of the soldiers, yet why did it seem that he was about to be captured alive? Furthermore, most importantly, he was captured in such a manner by a group of Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry Troops from the Southern Mountain Range.

“One-on-one, I want to fight one-on-one, I am of the Supernatural State!” Chen Feiyu shouted out loudly.

“Sigh… you are truly naive!” Fang Zhengzhi lightly shook his head. Then, he shot a glance towards Teng Shisheng. In an instant, the five hundred Silver Horned Wolves let out a synchronous howl.

“Ah!” A bloodcurdling scream followed.

Blood flowed uncontrollably from Chen Feiyu’s hands. Because, four Silver Horned Wolves were biting down upon his hands and legs. At the same time, black chains were being thrown up into the sky.

Having his hands tied behind his back was actually not sufficient to describe Chen Feiyu’s miserable situation.

His entire body was completely bounded by black chains. If one didn’t look carefully, nobody would realise that this was actually a live human.

“Bring him down.” Fang Zhengzhi casually waved his hand.

“No, Fang Zhengzhi, you cannot do this to me. I am of the Supernatural State, I am number one in the combat examination!” Chen Feiyu struggled with all his might. However, he knew very clearly.

Even if he mustered all his strength and managed to forcefully break out, he would still face the same outcome of being forced down onto the ground.

There was no use!

At that very moment Fang Zhengzhi gave the order for five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries to attack, he already knew that everything was over. His dream was shattered once again.

However, he truly couldn’t accept this.

Ever since young, he was never the best. Every single time, he was never able to attract the attention of others. He was miserable. After so many years of misery, he thought that this time, everything would change.

Because, he had a breakthrough, a breakthrough into the Supernatural State. This was the true moment of glory.

However…

Heaven seemed to have given him another punch in the face.

Just as he had planned everything out, swallowing humiliation while waiting to stand with honour in front of thousands of soldiers, a Fang Zhengzhi popped out from behind his back.

His dream of spreading his name across the world was shattered once again.

Falling from the peak of the mountain onto the ground. It was very painful, it was really very painful…

“Fang Zhengzhi, let’s discuss, let’s discuss please… As long as you don’t eliminate me, I can accept any conditions you want!” Chen Feiyu held on to his last strand of hope.

“Really?” Fang Zhengzhi looked at Chen Feiyu with some interest.

“Yes, as long as you return the Thunderous Lion Settlement to me and return my army to me, I will accept any conditions you give!” Chen Feiyu’s eyes instantly lit up when he realised that Fang Zhengzhi was willing to talk.

“You are indeed very naive, bring him away!”

“No! I will give you the Thunderous Lion Settlement, I don’t want it anymore. Just return me my army.” Chen Feiyu’s expression instantly changed when he heard this and instantly lightened his requests.

“Bring him away!”

“I don’t want my army either. I don’t want anything, I will find my own way again. I can rise once again. I will also give you money, don’t you like money? No matter how much you want, I will give it to you. I am a descendent of the Thirteen Constabularies, the prince’s maternal uncle. I have money, a lot of money.” Chen Feiyu’s tone at this moment seemed to become that of a besiege.

He wanted to be known by the world. He had waited for this moment, he had waited too long. Now, he had to watch this opportunity slip through his fingers right in front of his eyes.

How could he accept it!

“The prince’s maternal uncle?” When Fang Zhengzhi heard this, he finally seemed to somewhat change his attitude.

“That’s right, my elder sister is the Imperial Concubine Hua Fei, whom the Emperor is very fond of. I am the prince’s maternal uncle. Fang Zhengzhi, if you dare to eliminate me, I would make sure that I never let you off after I return to the Great Xia!” Chen Feiyu looked at Fang Zhengzhi’s expression and instantly thought of something.

“You dare threaten me? Whack him, whack him till all his teeth fall to the ground!”

“Ah… don’t, I won’t threaten you anymore. Fang Zhengzhi, let’s make an alliance. With my abilities, I would definitely be able to help you. Really, you must believe me!” Chen Feiyu had never seen a person like Fang Zhengzhi.

He dared to hit him even after knowing very clearly that he was the prince’s maternal uncle?

How could he be so fearless!

“Oh? How can you help me?” Fang Zhengzhi looked at Chen Feiyu with interest once again.

“I can challenge Wu Feng to a fight. Then, in front of the thousands of troops, make a bet that whoever loses would have to give away all his army. All you have to you will be to reap the rewards of our battle. How about that?”

“Then, after you gained all of Wu Feng’s army, you would turn around and attack me?”

“No, I will never attack you. After I gained Wu Feng’s military strength, I will retreat to the Yan Ya and Shi Zun Settlements. I will definitely not make you my enemy!” Chen Feiyu said confidently.

“I understand.” When Fang Zhengzhi heard this, he nodded his head lightly.

“You… you agree?”

“No, I only feel that your plan seems not too bad. I will accept it grudgingly.” Fang Zhengzhi’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“…” Chen Feiyu’s eyes instantly turned round and stared fixated at Fang Zhengzhi. His mouth opened and closed. However, he didn’t utter a single word.

“Bring him away and lock him up. Remember to feed him three steamed buns every meal. We cannot mistreat our guests.” Fang Zhengzhi said with a generous expression.

“Fang ZHengzhi… I, Chen Feiyu, swear that one of us will have to go!”

“The prince’s maternal uncle? How can he be so naive…” Fang Zhengzhi looked at Chen Feiyu, whose face was flushed completely red and who was struggling incessantly while screaming his lungs out. He lightly shook his head.

Now, the Thunderous Lion Settlement was completely under his control.

In addition to the ten thousand troops under Chen Feiyu’s control, after some calculation, he seemed to be able to be able to put together a formidable army. Then, what should he do next?

Should he unify the Southern Mountain Range, or gloriously return to the Yan Capital to hide?

Fang Zhengzhi began to think of a question he had never considered before. As the saying went, the bolder a man, the larger his opportunities.

However, the current problem he had to resolve was the attack of Wu Feng’s troops.

Chen Feiyu’s plan sounded rather good. Using the tactic of goading to goad Wu Feng into engaging into a one-to-one battle, then, using one fight to determine the outcome.

This was a method commonly used in the combat examination of the Great Xia Dynasty.

After all, as long as there were other possible methods, under normal circumstances, the probability of two armies engaging into a full-blown battle was extremely low.

This actually mirrored the ancient history of his previous world. When two armies fought, the commanders would engage in a one-to-one battle. The winner of the battle would greatly raise the morale of the soldiers, hence, they would win.

It was somewhat brainless.

Fang Zhengzhi actually disdained to use such a method. After all, there was a completely lack of skill and military strategy within this.

Wu Feng bringing his army to attack?

Then…

What should he do?

…

The night was a quiet night. However, it wasn’t a calm night.

This night was destined to be extremely long, so long that people were sleepless, and so long that people’s hearts trembled.

In the night, a youth rode on a horse filled with scales. The top half of the horse was jet-black while on its four hooves, there were circles of helix-shaped jade-green ripple patterns.

There was an ancient saying used to describe a certain stallion.

That was, four hooves trodding on snow.

And this horse that the youth rode on trod on jade-green ripples. Its name was Jade Ripple Stallion!

There was an exquisite jade-green armour on the youth’s body, and he held a jade flute in his hand. There was a faint glow in his eyes, while his lips always seemed to carry a self-confident smile.

After Wu Feng’s strategy of splitting his army failed, he was actually furious. He had never imagined that Chen Feiyu would have such a brilliant tactical layout.

He actually attacked instead of defended?

Wu Feng had to admit that he indeed hadn’t factored this into his plans.

Luckily, he didn’t dwell on this. After realising that something was amiss, he instantly corrected his war strategy into a full-blown offence, seizing the opportunity to successfully creep up behind Chen Feiyu’s army.

This could be considered a good save.

One wrong move led to many wrong moves. Wu Feng knew this very clearly. Under normal circumstances and normal considerations, he should be retreating to reorganise his troops during such situations.

This was very conventional strategy.

However, would Wu Feng adopt a conventional strategy?

Of course not.

Turning a disadvantaged situation into his advantage and achieving success with original ideas was the path Wu Feng walked. Moreover, his opponent was only the number twelve of the Rising Dragon Roll, Chen Feiyu.

If he wasn’t even able to defeat Chen Feiyu, he, Wu Feng, would really lose face.

Chen Feiyu sent out two thousand troops on purpose to delay and harass him along the way. Wu Feng was obviously able to guess his intentions. This was to lure him to attack the Thunderous Lion Settlement!

He knew very clearly how horrifying the defence fortresses of the four main settlements were.

Using defence against an attack.

Wu Feng was absolutely sure that if he forcefully launched an attack on the Thunderous Lion Settlement, he would definitely be defeated.

“Not a bad plan, unfortunately… the person you are facing is me!” Wu Feng gazed towards the soldiers who had just retreated not too far away with a faint smile on his face.

Barking out an order, over ten thousand troops advanced towards the Thunderous Lion Settlement with great strength and vigour, just like a huge black cloud in the night sky.

“Boom!” The sounds shook the sky.

Chapter 351: That Stunned Look

…

The second morning.

A dense white mist covered the entire Thunderous Lion Settlement. In addition to the snow-white icy fog surrounding it, it gave off the impression of a winter silvery makeup.

The dense black cloud finally arrived in front of the Thunderous Lion Settlement, stopping at an area five hundred meters away from the Thunderous Lion Settlement and quietly gazing at the heavenly scenery in front.

Wu Feng, wearing an exquisite jade coloured armour, rode on the Jade Ripple Stallion positioned at the front of the black cloud. He gazed at the Thunderous Lion Settlement which was already so close to him with a faint smile on his face.

“Reporting!”

Right at this moment, a spy riding a horse dashed over from afar, arriving in front of Wu Feng. He dismounted and knelt down on one knee.

“Speak.” Wu Feng replied blandly.

“The main gate of the Thunderous Lion Settlement is completely open. There isn’t a single soldier standing guard.” The spy quickly blurted out everything that he saw.

“There are no defences?!” The smile on Wu Feng’s face instantly froze.

Before he arrived, he had considered many possibilities. For example, Chen Feiyu would set up defences around the Thunderous Lion Settlement in advance, or, Chen Feiyu would be standing at the main gate of the Thunderous Lion Settlement waiting for him.

However…

What does not setting up any defences mean?

The stratagem of the empty city?

Wu Feng was also very well-read. Even though he didn’t have much experience leading troops in battles, he was still well-versed with some of the famous stratagems.

The eponymous stratagem of the empty city. Setting up an empty city to see if one dared to attack.

Wu Feng frowned. He wasn’t a suspicious person, however, he wasn’t a reckless person as well. He was pondering Chen Feiyu’s intentions.

This form of pondering was one in which he placed himself in the other party’s situation.

However, after a long fifteen minutes of thinking, he couldn’t understand what reasons Chen Feiyu would have to set up the stratagem of an empty city at such a time.

It was simply too unexpected.

The power of the Thunderous Lion Settlement’s defences were imaginable. It was a fortress. In addition to Chen Feiyu’s military strength, there was simply no need for him to employ such tactics.

This time, Wu Feng was truly somewhat stunned.

Giving up the fortified Thunderous Lion Settlement just to give him a scare? No matter what, such a thought process was somewhat unimaginable. It was more similar to that of a plan thought out by a kid.

But, was Chen Feiyu such a person?

Of course not.

If Wu Feng hadn’t fought with Chen Feiyu before, he might feel that this was a sign that Chen Feiyu was surrendering to him. However, Chen Feiyu left the Thunderous Lion Settlement. Instead of defending, he attacked.

Clearly, he wasn’t a person who feared a battle.

It was recorded in ancient books that the stratagem of the empty city was first employed with one’s military strength was greatly outnumbered by the enemy, with the intention of enabling one’s troops to escape and prevent the enemy from giving chase.

But now…

The settings were clearly completely different.

Chen Feiyu had the ability to fight. Wu Feng was very sure of this point.

But, what was this all about?

“General, are we attacking?” A commander was similar confused after listening to the spy’s report. However, an empty city was placed right in front of him.

Leave it?

That was simply impossible.

“Attack!” Wu Feng quickly made a decision. He had already arrived at the main gate of the Thunderous Lion Settlement. Retreating now was impossible. As for what Chen Feiyu thought, since he couldn’t understanding, there was naturally no need to continue thinking.

“Send the entire army?” The commander asked once again.

If it was a completely fortified Thunderous Lion Settlement, he would definitely not ask such a dumb question. However, the settlement in front of him had absolutely no defences. Hence, he had to voice out this question.

“No, the Thunderous Lion Settlement leans against the cliff. There are three main gates. Give the orders. Send three hundred troops split into three groups, each group entering from a different gate into the Thunderous Lion Settlement for an hour. Report back after gaining knowledge about the situation within the settlement!” Wu Feng shook his head and decided upon a more conservative strategy.

“Roger!” The commander instantly understood.

The current situation in the Thunderous Lion Settlement was still unknown. The enemy hadn’t revealed his intentions. Sending the entire army into the settlement would indeed be an extremely dangerous and risky move.

Using three hundred soldiers to test the water was also indeed an extremely wise choice.

…

The three hundred soldiers were quickly picked out, their horses galloping as fast as they could towards the three main gates of the Thunderous Lion Settlement. Not too long later, they smoothly entered the settlement.

There wasn’t the slightest bit of resistance.

This caused Wu Feng, who was standing not too far away, to frown once again.

Don’t tell me this idiot Chen Feiyu really gave up the Thunderous Lion Settlement to me? Or, could he have other plans.

Wait a moment!

Don’t tell me Chen Feiyu was raising a commotion in the East to launch an attack on the West?!

Wu Feng’s expression instantly changed. At this moment, he had over ten thousand roops. However, there were two thousand troops in his camp, the Yan Ya Settlement and the Shi Zun Settlement.

If…

Chen Feiyu gave up the Thunderous Lion Settlement and snuck around to attack the Yan Ya and the Shi Zun main settlements, it was equivalent to using one main settlement to swap for two.

It was very worth it!

Wu Feng was in a dilemma. He felt that there was a very high possibility of this happening. However, he was thinking of another plan.

What if this was what Chen Feiu wanted him to think?

Then, causing him to give up the Thunderous Lion Settlement so that he could keep it safe? If that happened, whether they fought or not wouldn’t be the problem anymore.

Instead, it would be about him being outsmarted by Chen Feiyu.

Mock and shame!

This was something Wu Feng didn’t really wish to accept, especially being played around in the hands of Chen Feiyu after almost losing on the way here.

That was worse than death.

What should I do?

Should I immediately retreat back to the two main settlements, or grit my teeth and take down the Thunderous Lion Settlement first?

Wu Feng felt extremely hesitant. However, in the end, he decided to continue waiting. One hour wasn’t too tedious to wait, hence, he decided to wait for the three hundred soldiers to return with the news.

The dense black cloud pressed down upon the Thunderous Lion Settlement five hundred meters away from the main gate.

Quietly waiting for the news from the three hundred soldiers.

The wind grazed the faces of the soldiers. It was somewhat cold, signifying that winter was truly approaching. They also knew one thing. When the winter came, the combat examination would end.

The Great Xia would never allow a hundred thousand soldiers to suffer through winter in the chilling Southern Mountain Range.

Because, the soldiers of the Great Xia Dynasty simply couldn’t withstand the icy chill of the Southern Mountain Range. Other than them not being used to it, the other factor was that the snow would be too thick, greatly hindering the movement of the soldiers.

If they were forced to stay through winter in the Southern Mountain Range.

The price to pay would be extremely huge.

As time slowly passedby, Wu Feng thought of another possibility. Would the three hundred troops be able to enter, but be unable to leave? If that was the case, should I still launch an attack?

Just as he thought…

Three groups of soldiers galloped in from afar. There were exactly three hundred.

When he saw this, Wu Feng finally heaved a light sigh of relief. Able to enter, and able to leave. The situation would at least be clearer than what he had imagined.

“Reporting to the general!”

“Speak!”

“We patrolled for one round on horseback. Other than the citizens of the Thunderous Lion Settlement, there isn’t a single soldier guarding. It really seems to be an unguarded settlement.” A commander in charge of the three hundred soldiers immediately reported everything he had seen to Wu Feng, and waited for his decision.

“You are really using the Stratagem of the Empty City against me?!” When Wu Feng heard this, he was slightly stunned.

Thee wasn’t a single person in the Thunderous Lion Settlement. The best plan for him now would naturally be to lead his army into the settlement. However, he couldn’t dismiss the feeling that there would be some traps inside waiting for him.

What was this Chen Feiyu trying to do?

Wu Feng gritted his teeth hard, giving off waves of cracking sounds. It was as if he was suffering from dental erosion.

“General, what should we do now?” The commander standing beside Wu Feng looked at Wu Feng’s slightly hesitant expression and finally decided to ask softly.

“What idea do you have?” Wu Feng rarely seeked the opinions of the commanders. However, this time, he asked. Because, he really couldn’t understand.

“Based on what I think, why not we send a part of the army into the Thunderous Lion Settlement to secure it, controlling the important areas of the settlement. After everything is secured, it wouldn’t be too late to send the entire army in!” The commander quickly replied.

“Hmm…” Wu Feng’s eyes lit up slightly.

This was indeed an excellent idea. As long as he controlled the key areas of the Thunderous Lion Settlement, even if Chen Feiyu had truly set up an ambush in the city, he would have to worry.

Military strength!

He definitely had an advantage over Chen Feiyu in that aspect.

Combat abilities!

He overpowered Chen Feiyu as well.

Since he had an advantage in both areas, what did he have to fear?

“General Wang.”

“Present!”

“You shall personally command three thousand troops into the Thunderous Lion Settlement and secure the key areas within an hour. Then, send soldiers back to report.” Wu Feng quickly gave out the order.

“Understood!” General Wang immediately nodded.

Under the command of General Wang, three thousand soldiers charged towards the Thunderous Lion Settlement once again.

On the other hand, Wu Feng continued to wait outside patiently.

As the saying went, caution is the parent of safety.

The combat examination of the Court Examination wasn’t a child’s play. One blunder could cause the entire situation to overturn. When that time came, it would be too late to regret.

As he gazed at the three thousand soldiers smoothly entering the Thunderous Lion Settlement through the main gate, Wu Feng’s previous thoughts grew stronger and stronger. That was that there was a very high possibility that Chen Feiyu had skirted around to attack his Yan Ya and Shi Zun Main Settlements.

However…

If that was truly the case, Wu Feng could only bear with it.

First, take down his Thunderous Lion Settlement, then, take back his Yan Ya and Shi Zun main settlements. That was the only way he could save the situation.

“Chen Feiyu, if you really attacked my Yan Ya and Shi Zun, I will definitely… break all your teeth!” Of course, Wu Feng couldn’t really do anything to Chen Feiyu.

Even though he was a disciple of one of the four sages, Chen Feiyu’s social status wasn’t ordinary as well.

However, after catching him, giving him a powerful beating was still alright!

…

An hour passed by very quickly.

The sky which was initially sill dark had already turned sunny. The warm sun glowed above the Thunderous Lion Settlement, causing the mist to slowly dissipate.

The frosted dew on the grassy plains had also slowly begun to melt, turning it slightly damp.

Standing in the icy cold wind for two hours was indeed a small kind of torture. The soldiers all tapped their feet uncontrollably.

After all, the commanders had horses to ride. However, they didn’t

Being punished to stand for two hours?

Only those who had stood like this before would deeply understand how torturous it was.

In reality, not only were the soldiers feeling uncomfortable, the commanders also didn’t feel very well. Even though they had horses to ride on, they didn’t mean that they weren’t tired at all.

The soldier that General Wang sent back had finally returned.

“Reporting to the general, everything had been properly arranged. We have controlled every important area of the Thunderous Lion Settlement. General Wang sent me to report back that you can send the army in.”

“Where is General Wang?” Wu Feng didn’t give the orders immediately. Instead, he asked a question in return.

“He is still in charge of deploying the soldiers in the Thunderous Lion Settlement.” The soldier instantly replied.

“Go and tell him to report back personally.” Wu Feng’s eyes narrowed slightly and gazed towards the bright sky, giving the order after a slight thought.

“Roger!” The soldier received the order, turned around, and re-entered the Thunderous Lion Settlement.

On the other hand, Wu Feng continued to wait on the spot.

A soldier reporting back wasn’t sufficient to convince him that the entire Thunderous Lion Settlement was truly under their control. Only if General Wang, who had followed beside him all along, reported back personally would he then truly dare to relax.

Not too long later, General Wang spurred his horse and rode out, and arrived in front of Wu Feng.

“General.”

“There really isn’t a single soldier in the Thunderous Lion Settlement?” Wu Feng looked at General Wang who stood in front of him, then nodded and asked.

“This… I don’t dare to confirm this. After all, there are too many citizens in the Thunderous Lion Settlement. It isn’t impossible for the enemy to hide in certain places we do not know about. However, I dare to confirm that the key areas within the Thunderous Lion Settlement are already completely under our control. It is impossible for that to go wrong.” General Wang hesitated for a moment, then replied carefully.

“I understand. Pass down my orders. The entire army shall enter the Thunderous Lion Settlement!” Wu Feng finally gritted his teeth and gave the order for the entire army to enter.

“Roger!”

As Wu Feng gave his order.

The dense black cloud finally began to move slowly, marching out step by step towards the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement. It appeared extremely cautious and alert.

Five hundred meters didn’t require too much time.

Very quickly, the army arrived in front of the main gate of the Thunderous Lion Settlement.

Wu Feng raised his head lightly and gazed at his soldiers who were already standing guard on the fortress. Yet, his frown didn’t relax one bit.

The stratagem of the empty city?

If the stratagem of the empty city was employed to such an extent.

Then, shouldn’t it not be called the stratagem of the empty city anymore? Shouldn’t it be called a strategic escape?

Wu Feng felt very uncomfortable inside his heart at this moment. Countless possibilities danced around in his mind as thoughts flooded his mind, causing him to be unable to grasp the concept behind this.

He could clearly defend!

Why would he employ a strategic escape?

Was there a need for that?

If he really didn’t dare to fight, why would he send an army to attack? After attacking, if he truly didn’t wish to fight anymore, there was clearly no need to deploy soldiers to harass them!

He sent two thousand soldiers to lure him to attack the city.

Yet, the outcome of that was losing an empty city.

No matter how he looked at the situation…

It still seemed that Chen Feiyu had something wrong with his brain!

This time, Wu Feng was truly a little disordered, so much so that he didn’t know whether he should ask Chen Feiyu.

“Chen Feiyu, what the hell, are you stupid?!”

Chapter 352: How Big is the Shadow in the Heart

Very evidently, Chen Feiyu had really been unjustly implicated this time. Because, he had been wrapped like a ‘metal dumpling’ the entire time and thrown into a cold corner.

After Wu Feng greeted Chen Feiyu, his mood seemed to have improved. Waving his hand, he led his entire army and stomped into the Thunderous Lion Settlement.

Next, he personally patrolled the various key areas of the Thunderous Lion Settlement.

After a round of patrol, Wu Feng was finally sure that Chen Feiyu had really abandoned the Thunderous Lion Settlement and instead, turned around to ambush his Yan Ya and Shi Zun settlements.

This caused him to feel extremely triggered.

After initiating an ambush and using three thousand of his troops to exchange for six thousand of Wu Feng’s, Chen Feiyu continued to use the Thunderous Lion Settlement to exchange for his Yan Ya and Shi Zun settlements.

A complete defeat!

Most importantly, he had foolishly waited at the gate of the Thunderous Lion Settlement for over two hours, giving enough time for Chen Feiyu to attack the two main settlements.

He couldn’t contain his unhappiness.

“Clang!” He threw a cup onto the ground, causing it to shatter into pieces.

Right at this moment, the Thunderous Lion Settlement Chief who had been beside Wu Feng all along ever since he entered the Thunderous Lion Settlement spoke.

“General, would you be resting in our settlement tonight?”

“Resting?” Wu Feng hadn’t actually considered this. However, after listening to the settlement chief, he gave it a thought.

Over ten thousand soldiers rushed from the Yan Ya Settlement without stopping in order to attack the Thunderous Lion Settlement.

After which, they launched attacks lasting multiple days, and stood in the cold wind ever since dawn for over two hours. If they continued to rush back to the Yan Ya and Shi Zun settlement, it would definitely affect the hearts of the soldiers.

After all, soldiers were human too. They needed rest.

“Yes, we will be resting in the Thunderous Lion Settlement tonight, I hope that Settlement Chief can make the arrangements.” After reaching this thought, Wu Feng nodded and spoke politely to the settlement chief, suppressing the anger in his heart.

“Alright, this is what we should do. When General Chen was in our Thunderous Lion Settlement, we made arrangements for him as well. However, he hadn’t returned since he left the settlement to face the enemy a few days ago.” When the settlement chief heard Wu Feng’s words, he mumbled to himself.

“Hadn’t returned? Settlement chief, are you saying that Chen Feiyu hadn’t returned since leaving the settlement?” When Wu Feng hard this, he was clearly surprised.

“That’s right.” The settlement chief replied confidently.

“Now I understand!” Wu Feng finally understood.

After gaining knowledge that Chen Feiyu hadn’t returned to the settlement, Wu Feng finally managed to link everything together.

Ever since the start, Chen Feiyu’s target had been the two main settlements – Yan Ya and Shi Zun.

Leaving the settlement to face the enemy was only a feign. It was very possible that Chen Feiyu’s initial plan was to split his army into two, sending two thousand troops to drag time on purpose.

Then, sending his main force to attack the two main settlements of Shi Zun and Yan Ya.

However, they just happened to encounter his six thousand troops, and after which encountering him. After panicking, he left two thousand troops to lead him towards the Thunderous Lion Settlement.

His purpose was only to give himself more time.

Seems like…

He is only a cowardly turtle who could only run!

Wu Feng was extremely confident in his own abilities. This confidence led him to believe that when others encountered him, they would either surrender or run.

After all, ever since he had entered the Southern Mountain Range, he hadn’t faced any form of resistance.

“Seems that I have overestimated this Chen Feiyu. He is just a person who wishes to drag time until the combat examination ends. How could I have actually considered that he was plotting against me?” Wu Feng blamed himself.

Sometimes, when one was too careful, they might actually miss out the simpler things.

After understanding this point, Wu Feng finally relaxed completely, realising that Chen Feiyu couldn’t pose any form of threat to him. Then, finishing off Chen Feiyu was only a matter of time.

“Alright, then could I trouble you to help us make arrangements!” Wu Feng’s mood lifted and a confident smile returned back to his face. He appeared extremely at ease.

The settlement chief nodded his head. Very quickly, a few citizens of the Southern Mountain Range appeared behind him, each of them leading a general behind Wu Feng to their resting area.

As for Wu Feng, the settlement chief attended to him personally.

“This is the first time you are in my Thunderous Lion Settlement. As the settlement chief, I should fulfill my role as the host and bring you over to my side to drink a few cups, I wonder if you fine with that?”

“Settlement chief, you are too kind. Alright, then I will follow your arrangements. That aside, I have some silver taels here, I hope that you will take them. If it is convenient, I wish to obtain some meat to reward the soldiers.” Wu Feng nodded, then casually reached into his pocket and took out a few silver bars, handing it over to the settlement chief.

“This… Since it is my job as the host, why not we do away with this silver?” The settlement chief appeared somewhat hesitant.

“I hope that you accept this, our Great Xia has our own military laws. Troubling you is already an inappropriate thing for us to do, if you won’t even accept this silver, then…”

“Since general insists, I express my gratitude towards you on behalf of the people of the Southern Mountain Range.”

“The Great Xia and the Southern Mountain Range had always been family, why is there a need to thank me?”

…

After a courteous conversation, Wu Feng was led by the settlement chief into a huge stone house. It was filled with the bones and skin of all kinds of beasts. It appeared extremely wild.

Glancing at the decoration inside the stone house, Wu Feng nodded lightly.

In the Southern Mountain Range, only the house of the settlement chief would contain such items. These animal bones and skin were from the hunts of the Southern Mountain Warriors after they became of age.

To be able to have them placed in the settlement chief’s house was actually a form of pride to the warriors of the Thunderous Lion Settlement.

There were a few other elderly people sitting in the stone house at this moment. Each of them had extremely dark skin and wore a hat on their head. However, compared to the settlement chief, there were no feathers in their hats.

Wu Feng knew that these were the elders of the settlement with notable statuses. Since they were setting up camp in the Thunderous Lion Settlement, it was very important to ensure a good relationship with them.

“I represent the Great Xia to express my greetings.” Right after entering the stone house, Wu Feng bowed in accordance to the Great Xia’s customs towards the elders in the house.

“General, you are too polite. We have already made preparations for your bath ceremony, please follow us in.” When the elders saw Wu Feng bow, they quickly stood up one by one and spoke.

“Bath ceremony? Alright, thank you for taking the trouble.” Wu Feng nodded once again.

The bath ceremony was indeed part of the Southern Mountain Range culture. Normally, the bath ceremony was prepared for returning warriors of the Southern Mountain Range. It was a great form of respect and honour.

The ceremony wasn’t very complicated.

It was mainly bathing and changing one’s clothes.

However, this honour was extremely great. Wu Feng had never thought that he would be treated in such a manner right after entering the Thunderous Lion Settlement.

He was somewhat hesitant, however, he had no way of rejecting.

Because, rejecting the bath ceremony meant rejecting the friendly intentions of the Southern Mountain Range. It was an extremely disrespectful act.

Seeing that Wu Feng had agreed, two elegant Southern Mountain Range ladies wearing rattan skirts entered gracefully from within the stone house.

After seeing Wu Feng, the two women flushed slightly red and discreetly lowered their heads.

“General, we are in charge of servicing you for the bath ceremony. Would you be willing?” A Southern Mountain Range lady walked in front of Wu Feng and raised her head slightly, her face filled with shyness.

“Thank you.” Wu Feng had stayed in the Southern Mountain Range for some time.

Hence, he naturally knew how daring the Southern Mountain Range were. This bath ceremony service wasn’t considered something too out of the ordinary. Of course, in the process of the ceremony, usually, nothing much would happen.

Because…

This was a holy ceremony.

…

As the settlement chief prepared the feast and wine in the living room, Wu Feng was brought by the two Southern Mountain Village ladies into the room.

A huge wooden pail was already prepared inside. Steam rose from within the pail, and inside it was filled with all kinds of specialty herbs from the Southern Mountain Range.

Wu Feng had tried such herbs before. Rubbing these herbs on one’s body would cause one to feel very refreshed. It was indeed a rather blissful experience.

Hence, he didn’t bother being too courteous.

He allowed the two Southern Mountain Range ladies to remove the armour from his body, then remove the brocade clothes he wore within, leaving him with nothing but a white pair of underwear.

At this moment, Wu Feng’s body was left with a pair of underwear and the jade flute he held on his hand.

The two Southern Mountain Range ladies glanced at one another shyly. Then, one of them prepared to remove Wu Feng’s pants, while the other reached out both of her hands above her hand, waiting for Wu Feng to pass the jade flute into her hands.

When Wu Feng saw this, he hesitated somewhat.

“Can I hold on to my jade flute?” Wu Feng asked.

“This… General, we have already prepared the weapon rack for you. The purpose of the bath ceremony is to wash away the dirt on one’s body and one’s soul. Based on our traditions, when the warriors go out for an expedition, they have to splash the blood of beasts on their bodies. When they return, they have to wash away the blood. This weapon… had been in contact with blood, hence it would naturally be better to place it at one side.” A Southern Mountain Range lady explained softly after hearing Wu Feng’s request.

“Since that is the case, let’s follow your Southern Mountain Range tradition. However, would it be possible to place the weapon rack nearer to me?” When Wu Feng heard this, he nodded once again.

“Alright, I’ll get the weapon rack.” The Southern Mountain Range lady nodded, then, turned around and left. A moment later, she returned holding the weapon rack in both hands and placed it at the door.

When Wu Feng saw that the weapon rack was just nearby, he relaxed and handed over the jade flute in his hand to the lady. Then, leapt up and entered the wooden pail.

Water splashed in all directions.

Wetting the hair of the Southern Mountain Range ladies.

However, it didn’t raise any negative reactions from the two Southern Mountain Range ladies. Instead, this caused their faces to flush completely red.

After glancing towards one another, the two of them carefully made their way to the side of the wooden pail. Their smooth arms scooped up the herbs from the wooden bucket and began to rub them over Wu Feng’s body.

Wu Feng felt the warmth from the water and the refreshing feeling that swept over him. He began to smile, allowing the two ladies to service him as they pleased.

Maybe it was because it was too comfortable, or maybe it was because the perpetually drawn bow in his heart was finally released, but Wu Feng’s eyes finally began to close slowly after taking one glance at the weapon rack at the door.

There were two steps in the bath ceremony.

The first was bathing, the second was changing.

After fifteen minutes of bathing, one of the ladies finally stopped.

“General, I will retrieve the clothes.”

“Alright…” Wu Feng nodded lightly and continued to soak his body in the warm water, enjoying the massage of the other lady.

Time flowed by very quickly.

Fifteen minutes passed…

Thirty minutes passed…

However, the lady that left never returned.

This caused Wu Feng to feel somewhat suspicious. Opening his eyes, he saw the lady standing quietly at the door.

She had a special Southern Mountain Range robe.

She must have been standing there all along, waiting for him for fear of disturbing him.

Wu Feng lightly shook his head and nodded towards the lady at the door. The panic in his heart instantly vanished.

He was still too vigilant.

Just as he prepared to announce that he was done bathing and was ready to change, he suddenly felt that something wasn’t quite right. Because, behind the Southern Mountain Range lady, there was another figure.

Due to being blocked by the body of the lady, he couldn’t discern the identity of the figure.

However…

What was strange was that the figure seemed to be sitting casually on a chair and munching on fruits. Furthermore, he even poured himself a cup of wine from time to time.

This caused Wu Feng to feel somewhat uneasy.

After all, he was completely naked at this moment.

Being serviced by two ladies while naked was something every man enjoyed. However, being admired by another man while snacking on fruits was a different feeling.

“Who are you?!” Wu Feng instinctively shouted out.

“Looks like Young Master Wu is done bathing?” When the figure heard Wu Feng’s words, he slowly placed down the wine cup in his hand and stood up from the chair.

Wu Feng heart skipped a beat.

He felt that this voice sounded somewhat familiar, as if he had heard it before somewhere. However, he wasn’t quite able to recall.

In the Southern Mountain Range…

Was there somebody he knew in the Thunderous Lion Settlement?

Wu Feng tried hard to recall, and finally realised that there wasn’t.

Right at this moment, the Southern Mountain Range lady servicing him slowly stopped. Then, she walked quietly towards the door.

As for the Southern Mountain Range lady standing at the door, she immediately turned around and left.

“They left?!” Wu Feng was slightly taken aback. After all, that lady held the clothes in her hands. Weren’t those clothes for him to wear?

Just as he thought, Wu Feng’s eyes immediately widened. The expression on his face froze completely.

Because, just as the two Southern Mountain Range ladies left, he finally recognised the figure at the door.

That was a youth dressed in leopard skin. He seemed somewhat young, around fifteen to sixteen years of age. He even carried a thin, faint smile on his face.

He had seen this faint smile before. Furthermore, his memory of it was extremely profound!

Chapter 353: Elimination

“Fang… Fang Zhengzhi?!” This time, Wu Feng was truly stunned.

After the instant when he saw the Southern Mountain Range lady leave, he had already considered many possibilities. For example, him being tricked by Chen Feiyu and falling into his trap.

Or, the person in front of him might be an envoy of the demon race.

However, he had never considered that the person who appeared would be Fang Zhengzhi.

Why would this guy be in the Thunderous Lion Settlement?

This isn’t right!

Wasn’t Fang Zhengzhi not supposed to be participating in the combat examination? Or, even if he had secretly managed to participate, it would still be impossible for him to appear in Chen Feiyu’s Thunderous Lion Settlement!

Could it be that Fang Zhengzhi had allied with Chen Feiyu?

The possibility of that is even lower.

Furthermore, even if something like that had truly occurred, Chen Feiyu had already turned around to attack his Yan Ya and Shi Zun main settlements Shouldn’t Fang Zhengzhi be following him?

Wu Feng truly couldn’t understand what was the meaning of Fang Zhengzhi’s appearance at this place.

However, not understanding was one thing.

There was one more thing that he understood very clearly.

Fang Zhengzhi’s appearance here definitely wasn’t a good thing. Hence, he instinctively wanted to leap out of the wooden pail and grab the jade flute on the weapon rack as fast as he could.

However…

Just as he prepared to leap, his expression froze once again.

“Huh? Where is… my jade flute?!”

“Young Master Wu, are you looking for this? Don’t worry, I’m only a little curious. Let me do some research before returning it to you.” Fang Zhengzhi seemed to know very clearly what Wu Feng was thinking and spoke in a calm manner.

At this moment, Wu Feng also noticed that his jade flute seemed to be…

Hanging off Fang Zhengzhi’s waist.

“You… Return my jade flute, else, don’t blame me for not giving you any face!” Wu Feng’s chest tightened. Without the jade flute, his powers fell by a huge proportion.

This was similar to the case of a swordsman without a sword.

And compared to that case of a swordless swordsman, Wu Feng’s current situation was clearly even more serious.

“Ha ha.” Fang Zhengzhi smiled faintly. After which, he turned around and disappeared outside the door.

“Fang Zhengzhi, don’t run!” Just as Wu Feng prepared to charge out of the door, he sensed the faint smell of blood coming from the door.

This caused him to feel somewhat uneasy.

Before he had the time to think through, a low animal growl came from the door.

Immediately after, a huge head popped in from the door. That was a beast with a head of a wolf, and on the forehead of that beast, there was a sharp lone silver horn.

It’s huge body squeezed into the door, almost completely blocking off the entrance.

On the back of that huge beast, there was a soldier in rattan armour. His skin was pitch-dark and his strong, defined muscles bulged.

“Silver… Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry!” Wu Feng was completely startled.

Of course, he knew what this was. One of the strongest forces of the Southern Mountain Range in which every single Silver Horned Wolf was equivalent to a human of the Heavenly Reflection State.

In addition to the cavalry riding on the Silver Horned Wolf, that was a living nightmare.

“Fang Zhengzhi, you dare to betray the country!” Wu Feng roared angrily in denial. If he still didn’t understand what was happening at this stage.

Then that could only be described as cute.

Outside the door.

Listening to Wu Feng’s hoarse screams, Fang Zhengzhi twitched his mouth spitefully.

“Why is it that every single person would say the same thing when they see me? Don’t tell me that they didn’t know how to look at faces? Which part of me looks like a betrayer of my country?”

A Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry charged into the room.

Very quickly, a second Silver Horned Wolf charged in. Not too long later, there were three wolves, four wolves…

“Boom!”

A loud explosive sound rang out.

The room began to crack apart from within. Debris and broken stones flew in all directions. Very quickly, a figure charged out from within the shattered stones, his body covered in scratches.

Of course, this wasn’t the main point.

The main point was that he was completely naked. He wasn’t even wearing his underwear!

“He he he… Look, he isn’t wearing any clothes!”

“His figure isn’t too bad!”

“Just that he is a little too white. Unlike our muscular warriors of the Southern Mountain Range, he looks like a toy boy!”

Outside the stone house, a group of Southern Mountain Range girls dressed in rattan skirts instantly covered their mouths and began to giggle when they witnessed this scene. Occasionally, there were even girls who bravely stared for a moment.

“Fang Zhengzhi, I am going to kill you!” Wu Feng’s face instantly flushed red. He would never have imagined that Fang Zhengzhi actually gathered so many girls to witness the battle outside the stone house.

Furthermore, most importantly, the settlement chief and the elders who were initially in the main room of the stone were all sitting around the perimeter of the house at this moment, each of their faces bearing a faint smile.

It was very obvious that this was all prepared.

How could one person…

Reach such levels of shamelessness!

“Young Master Wu, you are really powerful. Number three in the Rising Dragon Roll. If I don’t make proper preparations, how could I take you down in one move?” Fang Zhengzhi patiently explained with a smile on his face.

He feared that Wu Feng would not understand the trouble he went through.

Wu Feng was so filled with anger that his lips began to quiver.

His knuckles cracked under the tightening of his fist. However, he didn’t have much time to continue arguing with Fang Zhengzhi. Because, he had already discovered that other than the Southern Mountain Range women watching the fight.

There were a few hundred Silver Horned Wolves outside the stone house.

“Why would things be like this? Why are there so many Silver Horned Wolves? Didn’t the Southern Mountain Range only possess three thousand Silver Horned Wolves? There are… at least five hundred here!” Wu Feng couldn’t understand.

The Silver Horned Wolves were the creme of the Southern Mountain Range, yet why would five hundred of them listen to Fang Zhengzhi’s orders?

If there were only one or two, that could be explained as a coincidence. However, what about five hundred? No matter how he looked at the situation, it was nothing close to a coincidence.

“I want him alive!” Fang Zhengzhi casually waved his hand.

“Roger!” Teng Shisheng instantly accepted the order.

“Fang Zhengzhi, this isn’t fair. If you dare, come fight with me one to one! I don’t fear you!” Wu Feng was truly in denial upon hearing the low growls around him.

Because, he wasn’t even able to use the technique he was most skilled at!

Man can be defeated.

However, losing in such a grieved manner was a little too tragic. At the very least, Wu Feng wanted the jade flute to be returned to him so that he could display his abilities before being defeated.

“Relax, you will have the opportunity.” Fang Zhengzhi consoled in a sincere manner.

“Opportunity? I… Ah!” Wu Feng didn’t complete his sentence. A Silver Horned Wolf had already launched a sneak attack from behind his back. Its sharp claws slashed towards him, carrying along with it a force that could tear apart the air.

Wu Feng could dodge.

However, he had no way of continuing his argument with Fang Zhengzhi while dodging.

Of course..

After dodging this attack, he still had no way of focusing his attention anywhere else. Because, there were even more Silver Horned Wolves pouncing towards him one after another.

“Awoo, awoo awoo…” Howls rang out one by one from the Thunderous Lion Settlement.

At the same time, the main roads of the Thunderous Lion Settlement were piled with huge stones that appeared out of nowhere, blocking them off and causing the movement of the soldiers travelling into the Thunderous Lion Settlement to slow to a crawl.

Wu Feng actually had the heart to struggle on.

However, he didn’t have the strength. After losing the jade flute, there wasn’t much difference between him and someone of the Heavenly Reflection Peak Stage. The only difference was that his techniques and movements were a little more ingenious.

However…

He simply had no way of unleashing his strongest technique, the Dao of music.

He couldn’t be whistling in front of a group of Southern Mountain Range girls naked!

Speaking about being naked.

This was the pain that Wu Feng felt most deeply at this moment. As a man, no matter how thick his skin was, it was impossible for him to focus completely under the circumstance of being completely naked.

Fang Zhengzhi gazed at Wu Feng’s awkward movements, trying his best to cover up his body, and lightly shook his head. He was indeed a little too young. If it was Fang Zhengzhi himself.

The boldness of his execution would definitely stem from his superb skill!

Hmm…

His psychological cultivation is too weak!

Without the jade flute, and without any clothes covering up his body, Wu Feng didn’t manage to hold the Silver Horned Wolves for very long before being pinned down onto the ground by a group of howling wolves.

After which, he was naturally tied up by a metal chain.

“Fang Zhengzhi, I don’t accept this!”

“Unfortunately, you are still eliminated.” Fang Zhengzhi replied somewhat helplessly.

“Ah!” Wu Feng bellowed in anger towards the sky and let out a mournful roar. Blood rushed through his chest and finally, spurting out a mouthful of blood, he fainted on the ground.

…

In the dark basement.

Wu Feng woke up groggily. Then, he noticed another “fellow sufferer” who was also tied up like a metal dumpling.

“Chen… Chen Feiyu?!” The shock that Wu Feng received was definitely comparable to that of when he saw Fang Zhengzhi. Because, from what he imagined, Fang Zhengzhi should have taken advantage of the time Chen Feiyu gave up the Thunderous Lion Settlement to attack the Shi Zun and Yan Ya Main Settlements to set up his ambushes in the Thunderous Lion Settlement.”

“Sigh…” Chen Feiyu glanced at Wu Feng and sighed heavily.

“What are you doing here?” Wu Feng finally asked the question in his heart.

“The same reason as you of course. However… I arrived slightly earlier than you. I was already here since last night.” Chen Feiyu felt injustice, great injustice.

There was never a time before this when he felt even more grieved than his moment.

“Last night? Don’t tell me you…” Wu Feng’s expression changed once again.

“I initially wanted to fight it out one-to-one against you, Unfortunately, along the way, a Fang Zhengzhi appeared.” Chen Feiyu’s heart began to bleed upon recalling the scene in which he was captured by Fang Zhengzhi.

“Young Master Wu, Young Master Chen, this medication is specially prepared by General Fang for you two. Furthermore, General Fang had already given instructions to release both of you after news of your elimination is sent out, and then treating you with courtesy.”

Right at this moment, the door of the basement opened.

General Wang, dressed in armour, walked in with a tinkling sound. Then, he fished out two bottles of medication and two hearty plates of food.

“You? What did you just say? General Fang?! That means that you have already…” Wu Feng’s eyes instantly widened. Of course, he recognised this person in front of him. It was General Wang, the person he trusted and favoured most in his army.

“Young Master Wu, this is inevitable. Based on the rules of the Court Examination, we must follow whoever eliminates you.” General Wang nodded.

“But… Fang Zhengzhi didn’t participate in the combat examination. During the distribution of troops in the Yan Capital, he hadn’t arrived on time. Hence, you guys don’t have to follow him at all!” Of course, Wu Feng knew the rules of the combat examination. However, he was truly still somewhat in denial.

“No, you are wrong. Even though Fang Zhengzhi didn’t manage to arrive on time during the distribution of troops, the Emperor didn’t strike off Fang Zhengzhi’s name in the combat examination. Hence, his name is still among the list of people participating in the combat examination!”

“Didn’t strike off his name?!”

“Two young masters, please press your fingerprint here so that I can release both of you!” General Wang fished out a dark green paper from his pocket as he spoke.

“Yes, it is indeed time to press my fingerprint…” Wu Feng gazed at the dark green paper in front of him and the light in his eyes finally extinguished. Without much further hesitation, he finally pressed his finger onto the dark green paper.

At the instant Wu Feng pressed his finger down, a faint glow flashed across the dark green paper.

Wu Feng gazed at the faint light flashing across the paper as a look of anguish filled his eyes. Because, he knew that this time, he had truly been eliminated…

…

The afternoon sunlight was somewhat powerful. However, compared to a powerful and swift piece of news, that sunlight was clearly nothing in comparison.

In a mountain valley of the Southern Mountain Range where wild flowers bloomed.

Su Qing, dressed in a black official robe, was walking towards a large and exquisite military tent embroidered with a silver dragon. His face was ghastly pale. When he reached the entrance of the military tent.

He still stopped in his tracks.

From his expression, it could be inferred that he was extremely hesitant.

This expression was actually rather rare on Su Qing’s face. However, at this moment, this expression was clearly displayed.

“Who is outside my tent?” Within the military tent, a rather lazy voice rang out.

“Your Highness, it is Su Qing quietly waiting outside the tent!” A soldier at the entrance of the tent instantly replied Crown Prince Lin Tianrong’s question.

“Oh? Su Qing is here? Is he coming with more good news?” When Crown Prince Lin Tianrong heard this, he casually called out.

Su Qing’s expression instantly changed.

However, he still managed to pluck up his courage and enter the military tent.

Inside the tent, Crown Prince Lin Tianrong was lying on an exquisitely crafted chair, playing with a golden-yellow coloured flower in his hand.

“Crown Prince, Your Highness.” Su Qing respectively bowed towards Crown Prince Lin Tianrong.

“Su Qing, if you have anything to say, just say it.” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong didn’t even glance at Su Qing. Instead, he placed the flower in front of his nose and gently breathed in its aroma.

“The latest news of the combat examination, Chen Feiyu and Wu Feng are eliminated!” When Su Qing reached the end of his sentence, his voice clearly trembled slightly.

“Oh, I see. I already know that Chen Feiyu has some talent, however, he would ultimately still be a little weaker in comparison to others. It is normal for him to be eliminated. As for Wu Feng… Wait a minute, who did you say was eliminated along with Wu Feng?!” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong replied lazily, however, after saying the two words, Wu Feng, he seemed to have suddenly woken up.

“Chen Feiyu and Wu Feng!” Su Qing evidently knew that Crown Prince Lin Tianrong would be taken aback. Because, he was also taken aback when he heard this news.

However…

He knew one more thing. This wasn’t the truly shocking news.