Chapter 429: Leading the Charge, Standing Alone at the Pass

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He Xinliang

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The heavy snow in Jiangnan finally began to lessen and stop. Two carriages slowly traveled along the post road. Along the way, many Sophora and willow trees by the roadside had broken under the heavy burden of snow. After entering Jiangnan, even the lively and unrestrained young Dead Soldier Wu gradually became quieter. According to the geographical records and maps, the city ahead was already over eight hundred *li* from the capital. Everyone knew what this meant.

At dusk, the carriages, which had found no resting stops since setting out that morning, pulled over. It was a grand temple that looked quite new. Despite the freezing weather, pilgrims were still arriving in an endless stream. Those in the carriages decided to ask for a vegetarian meal to fill their stomachs. After dismounting, the middle-aged Taoist priest carrying three long swords on his back smiled knowingly upon seeing the plaque. Between Mount Longhu and Mount Wudang, in the dispute over the ancestral home of Taoism, the latter was undoubtedly at a disadvantage. Unexpectedly, in Jiangnan, there was a grand Taoist temple dedicated to Emperor Zhenwu.

After entering the temple and taking their seats, perhaps because the Taoist priests in the temple saw that the visitors were wearing Wudang Mountain robes and possessed extraordinary bearing, it quickly caught the attention of a distinguished elder Taoist priest within the Zhenwu Temple. He personally received these honored guests. Upon inquiry, when he learned that Wang Xiaoping, one of the most senior figures of Mount Wudang, had personally arrived, his old face burst into a smile after the initial shock, repeatedly muttering "what an honor." Although Mount Longhu overshadowed all other famous mountains and caves in the world, with its foundation of sharing the emperor's surname and the influence of several high-ranking Taoist officials, projecting an air of supreme authority, in the eyes of the common folk, the approachable Mount Wudang, especially the few true masters on Dalianhua Peak who rarely descended the mountain, also possessed the demeanor of enlightened immortals. Wang Xiaoping's travels through the martial arts world, where he wielded a Divine Tu Talisman Sword to slay countless demons and monsters, were already widely known.

While Xu Fengnian and his group dined, they chatted with the Taoist priest. Only then did they learn that this Zhenwu Temple had been destroyed during the Spring and Autumn Wars. It was later rebuilt by local gentry and wealthy merchants, costing tens of thousands of taels of silver. Covering eight *mu*, it was actually a violation of regulations. However, due to the widespread devotion of Shenwu City's inhabitants to the old temple's incense, the local officials were pleased with its success and therefore turned a blind eye.

After finishing the vegetarian meal, the old Taoist priest personally led the visitors to the Grand Zhenwu Hall. There were side halls to the east and west, and in the main hall, Emperor Zhenwu stood atop a tortoise and snake. The walls on both sides were adorned with patterns of swirling clouds. Before entering the hall, Xu Fengnian had intended to follow local custom and light an incense stick, but he was stopped by Wang Xiaoping. The old Taoist priest glanced at them but didn't give it much thought. Standing before the prayer mat, Xu Fengnian recalled the time when he and his three siblings ascended Wudang Mountain. His eldest sister wandered around, while his second sister stealthily pulled him behind the Zhenwu statue, where he saw her use a dagger from her sleeve to carve the small words "exiled three thousand *li*." At the time, with a child's mindset, he only felt that his second sister was incredibly rebellious and found it exciting and satisfying. Xu Fengnian looked up at the statue and exhaled slowly.

It was the first time the old Taoist priest had seen such a young pilgrim with white hair. For some reason, the other pilgrims were all clustered outside, and the hall was unusually quiet. In his eyes, the young master, with his frost-white hair, white clothes, and white shoes, made the main hall seem as if a deity was momentarily present. It was as if the statue of Emperor Zhenwu himself possessed an inexplicable divine aura. The weathered Taoist priest, whose curiosity had always been drawn towards Wang Xiaoping, the Wudang Sword-Idiot, couldn't help but exclaim silently, "How strange!"

Xu Fengnian, Xuanyuan Qingfeng in her purple robes from Huishan, Wang Xiaoping with three swords on his back, Qingniao whose Momentary Spear was quietly stored as an axle under the carriage, young Wu, and Liu Wenbao, who was full of zeal to achieve his ambitions in Beiliang – these six individuals emerged from the incense-filled Zhenwu Temple and walked towards the carriages. Before getting into the carriage, Xu Fengnian suddenly said to Xuanyuan Qingfeng, "Stop here. Liu Haoshi has secretly moved his Liu clan descendants south to the capital. Go intercept and kill them. Kill as many as you can, but don't overexert yourself. It's best if you don't reveal your identity, and don't wear your purple robes, after all, your foundation is still in Huishan within the Guangling Dao jurisdiction."

Xuanyuan Qingfeng faced him with a cold expression. Her long, limpid eyes were filled with unconcealed anger.

Xu Fengnian said nonchalantly, "Since you've decided not to act, then let's go our separate ways for now. It's better than you distracting me later."

Xuanyuan Qingfeng scoffed directly, asking, "Are you resentful that I didn't help you intercept Han Diaosi? Or are you afraid I'll turn around and stab you in the back?"

Xu Fengnian cast a detached glance at her. "Both."

Xuanyuan Qingfeng stared intently at Xu Fengnian. She uttered "good" three times in succession. Then, she swept away.

Xu Fengnian looked at Qingniao and asked softly, "Is everything arranged?"

She nodded slightly. Xu Fengnian lowered his head, bent down, and entered the carriage, sitting cross-legged against the wall. On his two long journeys, Lu Qiu'er had always been like his shadow. This "dead fatty" was naturally not just following him to eat dust or to mock the Prince. Beiliang's old guard had been scattered across various regions back then, and the Battle of Iron Gate Pass alone was enough to reveal the grand strategy of the strategist Li Yishan. More similar arrangements were clearly not confined to a specific time or place. Most of these valiant former generals and soldiers from the Spring and Autumn periods had indeed left military service for various reasons. However, many elites had, by unspoken agreement, chosen to lie low, each with their own objectives, hiding in both the imperial court and the common markets. Beiliang had now completely severed its last pretense of cordiality with the emperor. Since it was a foregone conclusion that Xu Fengnian would successfully become the next King of Beiliang, it was time for these "chess pieces" to actively emerge and converge towards that barren land of Beiliang. All of this was proceeding methodically, as per one of Li Yishan's strategies. Yet, one hidden force was specifically gathering to target only Han Diaosi!

A unit of six hundred light cavalry.

A contingent of three hundred armored cavalry.

A mountain band of two hundred desperate outlaws, the smallest in number but the strongest in combat power, as they included nearly eighty "hawks and hounds" that Beiliang had recruited and cultivated from the martial arts world.

Aside from the last hidden force tasked with intercepting and killing Han Diaosi, the emergency deployment of the first two, which was not in accordance with military law, completely surfaced and caught the local authorities off guard. Officials from various prefectures and counties were dumbfounded and dared not make any rash moves. They only rushed to send military intelligence upwards via couriers, each like an ant on a hot pan, terrified that such a large number of elite soldiers collectively mutinying would cost them their official positions. In contrast, in the capital, the chief eunuch of the Directorate of Palace Servants, Song Tanglu, had suddenly leaped to become the seal-holder of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and Han Diaosi, the foremost eunuch in the world, had "died of old age" in the palace for no apparent reason. To local officials, these were merely shocking tidings from afar. The great ripple, after successive attenuations, did not reach the four levels of local administration: circuit, prefecture, commandery, and county.

Wang Xiaoping, for the first time, sat in Xu Fengnian's carriage and asked, "Do you really intend to sacrifice hundreds, or even thousands, of lives to fill that bottomless pit?"

Xu Fengnian calmly replied, "There's no other way. As long as Han Diaosi lives, I won't have a moment's peace. Since he dared to openly intercept me, I naturally must do my best to make him remember this."

Wang Xiaoping said nothing more, his expression far from pleased.

Xu Fengnian placed the Beiliang saber, which had accompanied Xu Xiao throughout his military life, on his knees and said softly, "Since I've come this far, there's no turning back. I won't utter nonsense like 'a benevolent ruler doesn't command armies.' But I truly don't have the energy to get entangled with others outside Beiliang anymore. Let's just make it a clean sweep, like the scene outside the curtain—a vast expanse of white. Those who seek death shall die; those who shouldn't, try your best to survive."

Xu Fengnian mumbled to himself, "Xu Xiao once said that unless absolutely necessary, Beiliang's three hundred thousand iron cavalry would never march into the Central Plains. Otherwise, for the past twenty years, if Beiliang had allied with Beimang and marched south together, life would certainly have been better than it is now. But as a person, one must ultimately have some bottom lines. In Xu Xiao's words, if there are grievances within a family, they should be resolved behind closed doors, with bumps and scrapes. If an agreement is reached, that's best. Even if not, it's just a matter of setting up one's own household, at most building a small courtyard, and the family never interacting again until they die of old age. Whether there are petty thieves or bandits outside the door, as long as Xu Xiao stood guard at the entrance, there was absolutely no reason to open the door to welcome robbers."

Wang Xiaoping remained silent.

They were getting closer to Shenwu City.

The hooves of six hundred cavalry pounded like thunder.

Xu Fengnian dismounted from the carriage. The opposing cavalry general dismounted his horse and knelt to greet him respectfully.

Subsequently, three hundred cavalry and two hundred foot soldiers arrived almost simultaneously.

Xu Fengnian rode alone on an unridden warhorse. He led the charge.

Amidst the wind and snow, a figure in black was faintly visible, guarding the pass alone.

The next scene was chilling.

It was only at this moment that Wang Xiaoping truly became willing to unsheathe his three swords.

Han Diaosi, the tenth greatest martial artist in the world, stood blocking their path.

Upon seeing the white horse leading the charge, they began to rush towards each other for a collision.

Xu Fengnian, alone on his horse, showed no hesitation. He accelerated, galloping wildly.

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