Chapter 436: Hurrying to Reincarnate

If a typical wealthy young master were traveling with servants and his master was so insulted, the idlers would quickly become accomplices, teaching the outspoken girl a harsh lesson. What made Ning Zong increasingly uneasy was that not only did the main person involved simply smile it off, but the men at both tables seemed unconcerned. Especially the two next to the white-haired young man, they looked at Hu Chunya with a hint of undisguised admiration, as if the little girl's harsh words had made her a top-tier female knight-errant in the martial world. Ning Zong had originally hoped that both groups would fly into a rage, allowing him to mediate. As long as the situation could be resolved peacefully, it would indicate they weren't targeting Master Huang. For Ning Zong, who only sought peace, he was willing to suffer any humiliation, apologize profusely, or even completely debase himself, if it meant avoiding trouble.

The situation developed unexpectedly well. The group showed no sign of wanting to cause trouble; perhaps they considered Hu Chunya's words harmless childish banter. The white-haired young master also did not insist on selling the half-jar of wine. Huang Shang quickly finished his meal, Ning Zong paid promptly, and the group left the inn. Like duckweed meeting on water, they swirled past each other and then had no further interaction. This lifted a huge weight from Ning Zong's mind as he mounted his horse to depart. He couldn't help but glance back at the inn's entrance, faintly seeing the handsome young man with early graying hair pouring a drink for the imposing man beside him. Despite several stern glares from her long-time companions, Hu Chunya remained indignant, forcefully whipping her horse's flank.

Wang Lin, who had inherited his father's command of three hundred iron cavalry, was severely wounded, having lost an arm, yet he remained optimistic and content. Unlike Lu Song, who was meticulously cautious during their journey south, Wang Lin was quite unrestrained and lacked propriety in front of Xu Fengnian. As soon as Huang Shang and his group left the inn, he shamelessly sat down next to young Wu with a bowl, hoping for some wine. Xu Fengnian had just poured wine for Yuan Zuozong, and then casually filled Wang Lin's bowl. The young man, with a playful smile, spoke flattery that no one took seriously. He sat impolitely cross-legged on the bench and said, "That sharp-tongued girl definitely doesn't know she just walked around the gates of hell. Young Master, your drinking capacity is great, but your tolerance is even greater."

Xu Fengnian smiled, not responding to the comment. He looked at Yuan Zuozong and asked, "Second Brother Yuan, shall we go out and admire the mountain scenery for a while?"

Yuan Zuozong nodded, and the two walked out of the inn. Outside the inn, there was a simple thatched shed, its roof heavily laden with snow, making the structure seem precarious. Xu Fengnian stamped his feet, shaking off snow and mud, and gazed into the distance towards Longwei Slope. Further south lay the former territory of Southern Tang. The Emperor of Great Qin once relocated 400,000 refugees to guard the Six Ridges. Surrounded by mountains on three sides and bordered by a great river to the north, the terrain gently sloped downwards from south to north. This large, gourd-shaped region, tucked away in a corner, became a strategic battleground, easy to attack but difficult to defend. During the Spring and Autumn Period, wars raged. Gu Dazu, the Great General of Southern Tang, proposed that Southern Tang absolutely could not merely defend a small area. There were over fourteen routes for enemy incursions, and with limited resources on all sides, stubbornly defending the strategic choke points of Jiujiang and the capital Luzhou would inevitably lead to a weakness. He argued that to defend Southern Tang, they must fight outside its borders. Unfortunately, his advice was not adopted by the Southern Tang ruler. Although they had 300,000 elite soldiers confined to Jiujiang and Luzhou, they surrendered without a fight after being besieged. Even during this time, Gu Dazu personally led the Southern Tang navy on Botao Lake, feigning a retreat to reinforce Jiujiang, luring the enemy deeper. He nearly annihilated the 100,000-strong Liyang navy, which had been hastily assembled. Yet, such a localized gain or loss on the "chessboard" had no bearing on the overall situation. After the fall of Southern Tang, Gu Dazu, who had achieved remarkable feats in both land and naval battles, vanished without a trace. People often said that Gu Dazu was born at the right time but in the wrong place – Southern Tang. Had he been a citizen of Liyang, with his achievements and contributions, he might well have been able to rival Xu Xiao and Gu Jiantang today.

Xu Fengnian shook his head slightly and said softly, "Han Shengxuan was waiting at Shenwu City like a rabbit for a trap, with the intention of dying. Having risen through the ranks as an eunuch to become a 'Diao Si' and the head of the Directorate of Ceremonial, he was still an eunuch with no offspring. I've never understood why he chose Prince Zhao Kai as his object of loyalty. Pledging allegiance to the then-powerful First Prince Zhao Wu, or even Prince Zhao Zhuan (the Crown Prince), would have been a safe bet. Since both princes shared the same parents, keeping power within the family, Han Diaosi wouldn't have needed to take such risks regardless of who became the heir apparent. I once had Yin make a round trip carrying the Spring and Autumn sword, to humbly request the sword-eating elder ancestor surnamed Sui to leave a wisp of his sword intent on it. I also had a vague idea of when that elder would lend his sword to go to Wudi City in the East Sea. If I hadn't put on a convincing show of 'suffering for a cause,' even if Wang Lin and Lu Song's eight hundred cavalry had submitted to Beiliang, they would still have harbored resentment. More critically, Han Diaosi would have become wary. In the end, Renmao (Han Shengxuan) was too overconfident, relying on his Finger-Profound realm to kill a Heavenly Elephant realm master. A single sword from the East Sea is far more than just a Heavenly Elephant realm. Still, looking back now, I feel a bit of lingering fear."

Yuan Zuozong asked with a smile, "The sword immortal surnamed Sui?"

Xu Fengnian laughed, "I only just found out. Li Chungang once said that when he descended from Zhanmo Platform back then, his cultivation realm had greatly fallen. This reclusive elder went to spar, unwilling to take any advantage. Although old Li's realm had dropped, the power of his 'Two Sleeves Green Snake' was still at its peak. The sword challenge from the ancestor surnamed Sui always targeted the opponent's strongest move, so they exchanged an arm for an arm, effectively resulting in no clear victor. In today's world, perhaps besides Tuoba Pusa, the God of War of Beiliang, only this ancestor could truly have an exhilarating fight with Wang Xianzhi. However, I don't know why there's been no news from Wudi City. Given the ancestor Sui's style, he has always disdained doing things that are all talk and no action; it should be the other way around: little talk and great action."

As he spoke, Xu Fengnian suddenly recalled, for some reason, Deng Tai'a's breathtaking sword duel outside Dunhuang City in Beiliang with that white-clad demonic figure. The latter's style was similar to the elder surnamed Sui, or even more profound. She clearly didn't use a sword, yet she "challenged" Deng Tai'a with a sword, which showed her immense arrogance. Outside the Yellow River Dragon Wall, did she truly die in the raging river currents?

Yuan Zuozong sighed, "Counting it up, during Your Highness's second journey, you attracted the attention of the Sword Crown and Sword Servants of the Wu Family Sword Mound, as well as Wang Mingyin, the eleventh greatest swordsman under heaven. Later, venturing alone deep into Beiliang territory, you first killed the demonic Xie Ling, then fought Tuoba Chunshun, and subsequently even brought back the head of Fifth He of Tibing Mountain. This time, you also slew Han Diaosi. You've never been idle. Among the hundreds of Liyang imperial descendants, whether legitimate or illegitimate, probably none are as hardworking and dedicated as Your Highness."

A cold wind brushed his face, carrying the unique earthy scent of the wilderness, refreshing and invigorating. Xu Fengnian smiled faintly, "Perhaps a field of watermelons attracts melon thieves of a commensurate size. A lame man and an ugly wife, or a talented scholar and a beautiful lady—they all find their proper matches. To have such renowned adversaries and mortal enemies in both martial worlds, I should feel honored. Second Brother Yuan, you've kept a low profile all these years. Chen Zhibao has already reached the Saint realm; it wouldn't make sense if you didn't reach the Heavenly Elephant realm."

Yuan Zuozong chuckled loudly, "In single combat, I'm far from Gu Jiantang, who commands 'square-inch heavenly thunder,' or Chen Zhibao, who favors 'plum wine.' However, I excel at charging into battle. I wonder when I'll be able to ride alongside Your Highness on the battlefield?"

Xu Fengnian sighed, his hands tucked into his sleeves, "In Beiliang, I heard an old Beiliang veteran say that for years, 'iron horses and icy rivers' have often appeared in his dreams."

Yuan Zuozong gazed into the distance and said softly, "I don't have high hopes for the restoration of Western Chu."

Xu Fengnian nodded, "It's like how Xu Xiao didn't rebel back then. It might have seemed disheartening to many soldiers, but he simply didn't do what he knew couldn't be done. After finally bringing peace to the world, why become an emperor? As he put it, 'If I become emperor, can I have three thousand concubines in my three palaces and six courtyards? Or eat a few more bowls of meat per meal?' Conquering the realm relies on strong men, swift horses, and sharp blades, but governing it requires countless scholars from powerful families, working together to build a strong foundation. Since the people's hearts were never truly with Xu Xiao, if he had become a short-lived emperor ruling across the river, I would surely not be alive today."

Yuan Zuozong smiled sincerely, "Godfather never resorted to petty tricks; that was great wisdom."

Xu Fengnian turned his head and said, "In the past, Fengnian was a dissolute good-for-nothing. Second Brother Yuan must have found it amusing."

Yuan Zuozong did not meet the young master's gaze, looking instead at the vast white mountain scenery. "Yuan Zuozong's loyalty, though perhaps foolish, is no less than Han Shengxuan's."

The terrain of Longwei Slope began to descend. Inside the carriage, the old master shook his head and chuckled, "Huang Shang truly judged a gentleman by his own petty standards. What a shame about that half-jar of wine."

Besides Huang Shang, who was soon to assume an important post, Li Huai'er was also in the carriage. The old man knew the boy's poor riding skills, so he simply had him abandon his horse and travel by carriage instead. That night, during a street fight in the city, Huang Shang had been saved by the boy. Though he said little, Huang Shang felt a profound debt of gratitude. However, as Huang Shang himself was still in a precarious position, he couldn't promise anything. He only hoped to keep young Li Huai'er away from trouble. If the boy could establish himself in the capital and his dream of the martial world didn't die, Huang Shang might humble himself to acquire a martial arts manual for him, which he would secretly pass on to Li Huai'er in the future. The boy was now trembling. He had never sat alone face-to-face with an official before. In previous years, loafing around in Tielu City, he would avoid armored patrol soldiers by a wide margin, feeling intense envy for their ability to wear armor and carry iron spears. Noticing the boy's uneasiness, the old master, highly respected by both court and public, smiled knowingly. He initiated conversation, asking the boy about trivial matters. Just as Huang Shang was asking how much Li Huai'er's uncle earned from teaching at a private school for a year, an arrow soared through the air from deep within the dense forest. The old servant, who was focused on driving the horse, was struck through the head by the arrow and silently fell backward. His body pulled at the carriage curtain, and the quick-witted Li Huai'er immediately pulled the old master down to the floor.

When Ning Zong saw a homing pigeon soar past nearby, he immediately spurred his horse into a furious gallop. This time, escorting Master Huang to Tai'an City had provoked not only dozens of insignificant civilian officials in western Guangling Province but also over a dozen military officers and generals. One of these, a valiant general who had emerged unscathed from the Spring and Autumn conflicts, was far beyond comparison with ordinary generals. He commanded two thousand elite soldiers, nearly four hundred of whom were cavalry. If it weren't for his abysmal reputation in official circles, his arrogant behavior, and his frequent clashes with other influential generals in neighboring prefectures, several generals along the route, who were pleased by this commotion, would have spread word that if a large force dared to openly cross their jurisdiction, they would ensure he paid dearly. However, Ning Zong had still anticipated the worst-case scenario. Besides having thick, joined sandalwood planks added to the three walls of the carriage beforehand to prevent arrows from piercing through, he also assigned two skilled martial artists, known for their agility, to act as scouts, with their five riders coordinating from front to back.

Under the dense volley, most arrows penetrated the outer carriage wall but were ultimately halted by the expensive purple sandalwood. However, a few stubbornly showed their arrowheads, indicating the immense strength of these assassins. Two waves of arrows failed to achieve their objective. A moment later, only one arrow cut through the air.

With a loud bang!

It not only pierced through the double-layered carriage wall but also exploded, creating an orange-sized hole.

It was undoubtedly Ding Ce, the top divine archer from Tielu Military Outpost!

The feathered arrow was embedded in the purple sandalwood of the back wall, its fletching still trembling. It hung there, a defiant display, just above Li Huai'er's head.

The boy's heart turned to ash.

Although the old military horse's leg strength was weak, it had an advantage: even without a driver, after a brief moment of panicked hoofbeats, it quickly stopped on its own, not bolting and running wild. Otherwise, given the narrow mountain path with a cliff just a zhang to the right, disaster could easily have struck amid the chaos.

Ning Zong knew that the temporary scout martial artists had met with misfortune. Approaching the carriage, he didn't expect to break through the arrow rain in one go. He made a swift decision, telling Xu Zhan and Miss Zhou to do their best to fend off the coming torrent of arrows, while he and the militarily ordinary Hu Chunya helped the old man and the young boy mount horses and turn back.

Huang Shang rode with Ning Zong, and Li Huai'er rode with Hu Chunya, each sharing a horse. The girl was pale with fear, disregarding the impropriety of men and women sharing a horse. She spurred her horse into a furious gallop, forcing the messy fellow she always disliked to bend low, as they sped together towards the inn at the top of Longwei Slope.

Ding Ce shot an arrow towards Huang Shang's back, but Xu Zhan deflected it with his staff, causing it to miss. However, the arrow's momentum was so immense that Xu Zhan almost lost his grip on the wrapped silk staff. Ding Ce then fired two arrows simultaneously a second time: one continued to target the elder Huang Shang, while the other pursued the boy. This rapid-fire archery technique was incredibly skillful.

In the middle of the mountain path, a woman, her figure like a dark swallow, floated onto a horse's back, moving backward. With one sword stroke, she split an arrow, but her palm instantly sustained a deep gash. Using the recoil, she floated back onto the horse, lightly touching down on one foot, then lunged towards the second arrow, which was dangerously close to the boy's back. Seeing she couldn't save him in time, she threw her sword, hitting the arrow's fletching and forcing it off target. But before the woman, graceful as a flying immortal, could catch her breath, Ding Ce in the distance drew his bow again and shot an arrow that, in a blink, was aimed at her forehead. If she had sidestepped to dodge, the arrow would surely have killed the red-brown horse the boy and girl were riding. The woman gritted her teeth, lowered her head, but extended a pair of slender hands, fingers like spring onions, and gripped the arrow tightly. An excruciating pain shot through her, as if her fingers were connected to her heart. The woman, refusing to let go, was dragged several yards backward by the arrow's force. Constantly leaning backward, she could almost feel the horse's thrashing tail striking her face. Her feet dug deep into the mud to absorb the arrow's power. When she finally managed to discard the bloodied arrow, her body swayed, and she almost fell to the ground, potentially getting trampled by the horse's hooves.

With a hawk-like flip, the woman floated onto the red-brown horse's back and steadied herself. She saw that Xu Zhan's fine horse had been killed, leaving him to fight on foot, retreating as he fought. Fortunately, Xu Zhan's staff techniques complemented his internal energy, so even in his forced retreat, he showed little sign of weakness, moving so swiftly that he almost matched a galloping horse.

Ning Zong sighed inwardly. This forced retreat carried the suspicion of diverting trouble to others. He truly felt bad for the unknown diners at the inn earlier, only hoping they wouldn't get too involved.

The path ran between the thatched shed and the inn. Xu Fengnian and Yuan Zuozong were just walking towards the inn when Ning Zong came galloping wildly on his horse, crashing towards them. Ning Zong was greatly alarmed and shouted, "Get out of the way!"

Xu Fengnian gave Yuan Zuozong, whose eyes narrowed with a murderous glint, a look that signaled him to avoid trouble. Almost simultaneously, both men retreated towards the thatched shed. In just two light and agile steps, they dodged Ning Zong's charging horse.

Soon after, Hu Chunya's horse also just brushed past them.

Young Wu had heard the thud of hooves earlier and stepped out to see the commotion. The young man certainly didn't have a good temper. Seeing such an annoying scene disturbing his young master, he grinned sinisterly, then sprinted forward, ducked under the horse's belly, suddenly stood up, and continued running forward, carrying the entire horse. In an instant, he even surpassed Ning Zong's horse.

The strong young man still laughed heartily, "This horse is too slow! Young Master here will give you a ride!"

On Longwei Slope, a young man was seen carrying a horse and running.

At the doorway, Lu Song smiled without speaking, while Wang Lin sat on the threshold, rolling his eyes.

The woman in black, standing on horseback, hesitated for a moment, then floated to the ground to assist Xu Zhan, who had fallen slightly behind. Xu Zhan had already leaped past the line of the inn's thatched shed. Seeing her stop, he also paused to intercept the assassins, who were clearly elite soldiers from the Tielu army.

Over thirty cavalrymen followed fiercely. All rode snow-white warhorses with hooves wrapped in cotton cloth, and the soldiers wore the once-popular white paper armor of old Southern Tang, blending in perfectly with the heavy snow.

The burly man leading the charge carried a large bow.

Perhaps under military orders, and unwilling to create complications or waste time before killing Huang Shang, the general charged forward. He merely gave a cold glance at the white-haired young man standing annoyingly in front of the thatched shed, then turned his attention to the accursed woman who had thwarted his plans several times.

Yuan Zuozong asked with a smile, "What do you say?"

Xu Fengnian shook his head, saying, "If we can avoid getting involved, we should."

Divine archer Ding Ce did not want to be distracted. He only wanted Huang Shang's head to claim a major military reward that guaranteed a promotion. Some of his arrogant subordinates, eager for action, had no qualms about warming up. Almost simultaneously, two volleys of arrows, from left and right, shot towards Xu Fengnian, Yuan Zuozong, Lu Song, and Wang Lin.

Lu Song shook his head and swatted away the arrows with one hand.

Wang Lin, full and idle, grasped an arrow with one hand, deliberately let out a cry, and fell backward.

Lu Song's eyes showed a hint of pity as he looked at these ruthless soldiers.