Chapter 772: Wind Rises on the Northwest Longshan (Part Two)

Amidst the girl's teasing, the wind on Longshang grew stronger, causing everyone's robes to flutter and rustle, sounding like a mournful lament. This made the young knight appear even more strikingly handsome and clear-spirited. Perhaps calling him a "heavenly banished immortal" would not be an exaggeration. It was inherently surprising that the desolate and formidable lands of Liangzhou could nurture such a captivating individual, one who would even make the renowned scholars of Jiangnan feel overshadowed.

Even a spirited and proud woman like Jin Baoshi had to admit that this unexpected guest, regardless of his martial arts prowess, possessed an excellent appearance. If he were in the literati circles of Jiangnan, where demeanor and bearing were highly valued, he would easily become a favored guest of noble families.

The old man seemed to have recognized the young man's identity, his gaze complex—containing the benevolence of an elder, the pity of an outsider, and the satisfaction of seeing a kindred spirit.

Under numerous scrutinizing gazes, the young knight, who had vowed to fulfill his host's duty against thousands of Northern Mang cavalry, skillfully turned his horse around and extended a hand, signaling for the carriage to proceed. Han Guzi nodded. Song Xinsheng, acting as the coachman, gently flicked his whip and let out a soft "Whoa," setting the horses in motion again.

Han Guzi had a total of eight indoor disciples. His eldest disciple, Yu Songyang, was slow of speech but quick in action, a renowned "Jishang Master" at Shangyin Academy. He possessed profound annotation skills but was also "courageous in revising classics." He once had a famous philosophical debate with the Neo-Confucian master Yao Baifeng, which captivated the scholarly world. The two Confucian sages exchanged letters eighteen times each, earning Yu Songyang the nickname "Mr. Eighteen Pens," a name that evoked mixed reactions in Liyang literary circles. Next was Chang Sui, the eccentric poetic giant known as "Immortal of Wine." Following him were Xu Huang, a master of military strategy and a distant relative of General Longxiang Xu Gong; Sima Can, a diplomat from a humble family; Xu Weixiong from Beiliang; Jin Baoshi of the Langya Jin clan; Liu Duanmao, the direct descendant of the Yangling Liu clan; and finally, the relatively lesser-known Prince Zhao Kai, who traveled to the Western Regions with a silver vase and eventually died outside Iron Gate Pass. Han Guzi's disciples included both men and women: some were gentle, refined, and strictly adhered to etiquette, while others were eccentrics who disregarded conventional norms. These eight individuals represented five schools of thought: Confucianism, military strategy, yin-yang, and diplomacy. Crucially, all of Han Guzi's disciples were undisputed paragons, earning the old master the supreme reputation of "Avoid-a-Head" within the Liyang court and society. This meant that wherever Han Guzi appeared, be it before emperors, ministers, or commoners, all were expected to yield and show deference. The origin of this nickname is unverified; some claimed it was coined by either Grand Tutor Sun Xiji of Western Chu or Imperial Advisor Li Mi, while others swore it came from Huang Sanjia, an arrogant old diviner. In any case, Han Guzi's reputation in the Liyang Dynasty grew increasingly prominent, even as the Linlang Lu brothers (Lu Daolin and Lu Baixie), Yao Baifeng from Beiliang, and Qi Yanglong successively entered officialdom in the capital, while he himself remained secluded, refusing guests and political involvement. Everyone was counting the days until the old man would be summoned to the capital, where he was sure to become a Minister of Rites—a position of immense prestige and growing power.

To accommodate Han Guzi's advanced age, the convoy continued to move slowly. However, to the north, dust was already rising from the hooves of the Northern Mang cavalry, who were rapidly approaching, creating a subtle tension in the atmosphere. Even Han Guoxiu, who was fearless and carefree, began to feel flustered, turning her head northwards intermittently as if she could feel the ground trembling. Earlier, Han Guoxiu had used Sima Can to mock the young knight, but unfortunately, she received no reaction. The knight neither retorted nor showed anger, which greatly displeased the girl, who was accustomed to being formidable at Shangyin Academy. She had already prepared many clever counter-moves, but her opponent turned out to be even more boring than "Uncle Wooden" Yu Songyang, leaving her feeling frustrated to the point of internal injury.

She couldn't help but shout at the departing rider, "Those are thousands of Northern Mang barbarians coming from the north! Can you handle them or not? If not, say so quickly, don't drag us down and make us scramble later!"

The young knight turned his head, smiled, and quipped, "When a lady asks if I can do it, I always say yes."

Sima Can, understanding the implied meaning, struggled to suppress his laughter, fearing that Han Guoxiu, the unruly young lady, would take it out on him.

Jin Baoshi frowned, her impression of the man plummeted, and she quickly categorized him as an unscrupulous philanderer.

The simple-minded Han Guoxiu was somewhat skeptical. "Really? Don't bite off more than you can chew! When the Northern barbarians' cavalry attacks, no one will save you!"

The young knight, seemingly in a good mood, merely smiled it off.

Jin Baoshi turned, tapped the girl's forehead with her finger, and softly said, "Silly girl, stop talking."

Han Guoxiu, bewildered, asked, "Sister Jin, why did you hit me?"

Han Guoxiu suddenly realized, then chuckled and whispered into Jin Baoshi's ear, "Sister Jin, are you perhaps interested in this Beiliang man who looks... pretty decent? Oh, I'm not criticizing you, but while he has good looks, he's still miles away from my future husband, Xie Xichui. My mother always says you can't just look at a man's appearance or family background; character is more important than anything. Beiliang men, especially those military scions, are always fighting and killing, so their temperaments must be bad, and they're probably uncultured. Sister Jin, I'm warning you now: if you dare to marry a Beiliang man, we're cutting off all ties!"

Jin Baoshi, caught between laughter and exasperation, fiercely twisted the ear of this outspoken, foolish girl. "Is Xie Xichui *yours*? Who was it that came crying to me, saying she wrote him dozens of letters, and not a single one was returned?!"

As the two women playfully sparred, the rider had already bid farewell to Han Guzi and galloped northwards. Seeing him ride off in a cloud of dust, Han Guoxiu widened her eyes. "Is that guy crazy? Or was I right, is he in a hurry to be reborn?"

The girl clamored, "Grandpa, who exactly is he? You must know, right?"

The old man leaned leisurely against the carriage wall, smiling without a word.

Han Guoxiu grumbled, "Stingy!"

Xu Huang, beside the carriage, softly asked, "Is it him?"

The old man hummed in affirmation, squinting at the sky. He mused, "How did Chang Sui's poem go? 'When a youth of fifteen or twenty, on foot he captured a Northern barbarian's steed. Trying to brush off his iron armor, like snow in color...'"

Jin Baoshi instinctively gripped the hilt of the sword at her waist, a surge of heroic spirit rising within her. She softly recited with the old man, "'Traversing three thousand li in battle, a single sword once held back a million troops!'"

However, what happened next astonished everyone except Han Guzi. After galloping about a li, the man was vaguely seen halting his horse. Then, dozens of elite Black Fox scouts of the Northern Mang cavalry suddenly turned around. Soon after, Jin Baoshi and the others could faintly discern the main force of the Northern Mang cavalry, their iron armor gleaming. Without any apparent reason, they slowed their charge, then unhesitatingly turned in an arc and departed, vanishing completely in an instant. A force of two or three thousand cavalry simply vanished like thunder without rain, not even a drizzle, let alone a downpour.

It was Xu Fengnian, who had urgently diverted his path after receiving intelligence from the Fushui Chamber. He did not pursue them alone but reined in his horse, turned around, and rode back towards the convoy. His reasons for coming here as an escort were twofold: firstly, five hundred elite cavalry from Beiliang might not be enough to protect everyone, and as the old man was one of his second sister's revered teachers, it was right for Xu Fengnian to be present, both emotionally and logically. Secondly, he wanted to personally witness the demeanor of "Avoid-a-Head" Elder Han and see if he could recruit him to Qingliang Mountain. However, as soon as he met Han Guzi, it became clear the old man had no such intention; it was simply a scholar's journey. A forced melon isn't sweet, and given the old man's immense prestige, second only to the Chief Minister Qi Yanglong, even Xu Fengnian, one of the Four Grandmasters, could not force him. If he forcibly detained this group, then the Central Plains, which had only just begun to change its perception of Beiliang, would surely view them as enemies. Furthermore, Assistant Governor Song Dongming, Huang Shang of Qinglu Cave Academy, and the thousands of scholars who had come to Beiliang would likely revolt.

Xu Fengnian approached the carriage, cupped his hands, and said, "Elder Han, regardless, I still hope you can visit Liangzhou on your return journey. Even if you don't enter the city, people will come out to greet you."

Han Guzi shook his head and chuckled, "It took this old man a long time to finally gather the courage to travel. I want to see as many places as possible, so I won't retrace my steps. As expected, we'll continue west on this journey, visiting Qingcang City, Linyue, and Fengxiang, stopping at Lantuo Mountain. Then we'll head south to Nanzhao to see the scenery of the South Sea, then north to Xishu, and finally return by boat along the Guangling River."

Xu Fengnian nodded, smiling faintly. "Then I wish you a smooth journey, Elder."

The old man suddenly chuckled with a hint of feigned aged wisdom. "What, leaving already? This old man isn't sure if those thousands of Northern Mang cavalry have truly retreated. Won't you see us off a bit more? If we die here, it won't be a small matter. Beiliang Iron Cavalry can withstand the million-strong Northern Mang army pressing at the gates, but you might not be able to bear the infamy."

Xu Fengnian inexplicably thought of Wang Jijiu, another of his second sister's teachers, who was a terrible chess player. Were all of his second sister's teachers so irreverent in their old age? Xu Fengnian said helplessly, "Then I'll accompany you for another ten li. Any further, and I really can't."

The old man vigorously waved his hand. "That long dike along the lake, which the Great General had built so Xu Weixiong could enter Shangyin Academy, was famously called 'Ten Li Spring Dawn.' This old man, with my struggling legs, walks it every day for years, come rain or shine. So, I think your ten li escort isn't quite sincere enough. At least twenty li would be barely acceptable. Can you do that?"

Xu Fengnian gave a wry smile. "Fine, twenty li it is."

Han Guoxiu rolled her eyes and said, "You, why do you always say yes whenever someone asks if you can do something?"

Even Xu Fengnian, whose verbal skills were formidable, was left speechless.

Sima Can finally burst out laughing. This silly girl truly had an intuitive understanding; unknowingly, she had delivered a fatal blow to her opponent.

The girl, her face full of curiosity, asked a question many present wanted to know: "Why did that Northern Mang cavalry force just run away without a fight?"

Xu Fengnian replied with a straight face, "I don't know either. I just said one sentence to them."

Sima Can and Jin Baoshi, both suspecting it was a trap, blurted out almost simultaneously, "Don't ask."

But Han Guoxiu, impatient, pressed on, "What did you say?"

Xu Fengnian said, "I told them it was getting late, and Liu Gui was calling them home to light the fires and cook."

Han Guoxiu paused, then widened her eyes and asked, "Are those Northern barbarians idiots? Did they actually believe you?"

Xu Fengnian nodded with a mischievous smile. "Yes, they really did."

Sima Can reached up to cover his forehead. "This silly girl, you haven't even climbed out of one trap, and you've already leaped into a second one with lightning speed."

Jin Baoshi's dislike for this glib and pretentious man reached its peak. She coldly asked, "Is this amusing?"

Xu Fengnian simply smiled and said nothing more.

For this group to travel so calmly and effortlessly, twenty-six members of Beiliang's Fushui Chamber had already died dealing with the Zhao Gou assassins who were under strict orders, with more than half of them perishing outside Beiliang's borders.

This time, as Han Guzi led his team west into Liangzhou, Yu Songyang, being a former Beihan subject whose family had almost entirely perished in the war, naturally did not accompany them. Chang Sui, the great literary figure of the poetry world, was the only one of Han Guzi's disciples who did not enter Beiliang territory, instead traveling alone to Jibei, clad in a green robe, carrying a sword, and a wine gourd, with immense flair. Among the three martial arts experts, "Stone-splitting Hand" Song Xinsheng was Han Guzi's close friend. Qi Zihu, who carried the famous saber "Forbidden Fire," was motivated by chivalry. Lu Shouwen, the relatively younger man at the rear of the convoy, had a distinguished background: he came from the Kuaiji Lu clan, which ranked high among the third-grade families in Liyang's newly established clan hierarchy. Although Lu Shouwen was born to a concubine, the Lu family always valued both literary and martial arts, and Lu Shouwen, with his third-rank cultivation before the age of thirty, was naturally a favored and esteemed figure within his family. The Fushui Chamber's intelligence mentioned that he, like Liu Duanmao, was fond of the woman named Jin Baoshi, but this wasn't the main point. The main point was that Lu Shouwen was very likely a double agent, overtly allied with Zhao Yi's Guangling Chunxue Tower, but secretly perhaps an agent of the Southern Border region. Throughout this journey, Lu Shouwen had personally fought and killed three Zhao Gou experts, meaning he wouldn't find peace upon his return. He was truly a devoted lover, valuing beauty over power.

For some reason, Han Guzi suddenly had the whimsical idea of wanting to experience "galloping a horse in the west wind." Song Xinsheng, Xu Huang, and others tried in vain to dissuade him. Han Guoxiu, ever one to stir up trouble, applauded and cheered, much to the exasperation of the worried Jin Baoshi, who gave her a stern talking-to. The old man, with great effort and Sima Can's sweaty assistance, finally managed to mount the horse. Xu Fengnian had to move closer to prevent the old man from falling off. Fortunately, the old man had no intention of proving his vigor by vigorously spurring the horse. He rode alongside Xu Fengnian, while Xu Huang carefully guarded his other side. The old man, swaying precariously on horseback, chuckled, "It's true that this old man is experiencing a momentary youthful impulse. Unfortunately, I have neither a yellow hound on my left nor a grey falcon on my right, nor the money for a brocade cap and sable fur. With riding skills I haven't practiced in decades, I can hardly dream of 'a thousand riders sweeping across the plains.' And recalling the aggressive posture of those Northern Mang barbarians earlier, I truly feel ashamed. I've read books my whole life and taught for most of it, producing around twenty formal and informal disciples. Yet, even counting Xu Gong, the Vice Minister of War already at the Liangliao border, it seems not a single one has personally killed a Northern Mang barbarian."

The old man murmured sadly, "Not a single one."

Xu Fengnian smiled. "There is one."

The old man nodded. "Right, I'm getting muddled in my old age. That girl Xu, she led the formidable Beiliang Iron Cavalry deep into the heart of Northern Mang. Back at Shangyin Academy, her fellow students often stole jars of wine from me, and the next day they'd all reek of alcohol and be quite unruly, but I just pretended not to notice. Haha, even Yu Songyang was no exception back then; it's said he almost fell asleep during a lecture. So, what the Great General did back then was not wrong, and what you're doing is even better. Otherwise, I, with half my neck already in the grave, wouldn't have dared to undertake this journey against all odds."

Xu Fengnian said, "You are indeed acting against common sense, Elder."

The old man apologized, "Although you don't say it, I must apologize to you and to Beiliang. This old man's sudden whim ended up costing many lives. And then I just left as if I were on a spring outing, unable to help you, and even for the sake of a little reputation, I came all the way to your doorstep yet couldn't even meet the girl Xu."

Xu Fengnian softly said, "The intellectual seeds of Shangyin Academy cannot withstand the ravages of storm. You have done nothing wrong, Elder. Regardless of whether Beiliang's warriors can defend the northwest, this realm will ultimately need scholars to govern it. Perhaps one day, they will even need to step out of their libraries, put down their books, and stand forth before a flood of charging horses."

Jin Baoshi, riding just behind the three, had been listening intently. After hearing these words, she was somewhat surprised and had to admit that she regarded him in a slightly new light. She couldn't help but look up and gaze at the rider's back: dusty and travel-worn, dressed in ordinary clothes, carrying a cotton satchel, and without the standard Liangdao saber or light crossbow used by Beiliang rangers. If he were one of the countless military scions of Beiliang, he didn't quite fit the mold; although many military families' descendants in Beiliang were now enlisting in the army due to the prevailing circumstances, she couldn't think of any "unusual" young man within Liuzhou who could chat so calmly with their teacher. Could he be Chen Xiliang, the humble strategist who was obscure in Jiangnan but renowned in Beiliang?

Han Guoxiu whispered into Jin Baoshi's ear, "Sister Jin, I think this guy might be *that person*."

Jin Baoshi let out a wry chuckle and shook her head. "Impossible. You don't practice martial arts, so you don't understand the aura of the world's top grandmasters. I've met several martial arts grandmasters of the first rank..."

Han Guoxiu quickly interrupted, "How would I not know? Isn't it just like a dragon striding and a tiger pacing, or being as profound as a deep pool and as towering as a mountain? And for older ones, it should be like an immortal, with a majestic demeanor."

Then the girl murmured to herself, "Now that you mention it, this guy really isn't some great master. Especially when he smiles, he doesn't look like a good person at all; he's not even as good as Lu Shouwen, who took a knife for you."

Finally, Han Guoxiu sighed, "It's so frustrating, truly frustrating. I originally thought coming to Beiliang this time, I absolutely had to see that Xu Fengnian. So many sisters in our academy seem to have convinced themselves with their own wishful thinking. If I saw him with my own eyes, wouldn't they be green with envy when I returned? Haha! I've decided: I'll tell them I met Xu Fengnian, and then I'll tell them he's ten feet tall, with a broad back and powerful build, a full beard, and arms as thick as their legs! As for 'Dragon's Features and Phoenix's Grace, Northern Xu and Southern Song,' we've seen Song Maolin with our own eyes, and he's truly handsome. Aside from my husband Xie Xichui, I don't think anyone in this world can compare to Song Maolin. Just thinking about them crying in sadness and disappointment after hearing my description..."

The girl leaned her head against Jin Baoshi's back, laughing heartily to herself.

Jin Baoshi shook her head, chuckling softly. "You, don't be so mischievous, or you might not get married! At least leave your friends some hope."

Han Guoxiu, with a childish stubbornness, said, "I won't! Who told them to keep saying my husband is not even one ten-thousandth as good as Xu Fengnian!"

Liu Duanmao was just about to approach and interject, but unexpectedly, Lu Shouwen had already ridden forward and positioned himself beside Jin Baoshi. Liu Duanmao, whose natural appearance could ward off evil, looked forlorn and became still. The sharp-eyed Sima Can secretly sighed. He had told his junior brother countless times that Junior Sister Jin was not someone who judged people by their appearance, yet Liu Duanmao always lost his nerve whenever he saw her. Back when their junior brother Zhao Kai was still at the academy, he successfully "tricked" Liu Duanmao into confessing his feelings after getting drunk. Although Jin Baoshi wasn't swayed, it was clear she didn't dislike him. Yet, Liu Duanmao was so terrified after sobering up that his legs trembled. Zhao Kai had planned how to encourage Liu Duanmao to strike while the iron was hot, but with Zhao Kai's sudden departure from Shangyin Academy and the subsequent shocking news of his death, Liu Duanmao completely withdrew. For half a year, he drowned his sorrows in alcohol every day, until Jin Baoshi, unable to stand it anymore, severely scolded him back to his senses, making him finally let go of the wine jars and gourds that had become his constant companions, humorously referred to by outsiders as his "wine wives."

Originally, the six male disciples, excluding Xu Weixiong and Jin Baoshi, had agreed to have a massive celebratory drunk once Zhao Kai and Liu Duanmao each won the hearts of their beloveds, intending to drink all of their master's hidden wine in one go.

Sima Can, with red eyes, gazed towards the south. *Junior brother, you and I promised to become renowned monarchs and ministers together.*

Sima Can did not hate Beiliang, nor did he hate the young man who was then the Prince of Beiliang; he simply missed his cynical junior brother.

Lu Shouwen rode abreast with Jin Baoshi and Han Guoxiu, who shared a carriage. Instead of speaking to Jin Baoshi, with whom he was smitten, he looked at Han Guoxiu and gently smiled, "Are you scared, seeing those Northern Mang barbarians?"

Han Guoxiu, who in her heart was naturally closer to the timid Liu Duanmao, rolled her eyes and said, "Absolutely terrified!"

Lu Shouwen was somewhat helpless but not angry. In fact, compared to when the young girl had targeted him at every turn, his current situation was much better. He shifted his gaze slightly and softly asked, "Miss Jin, why did the Northern Mang cavalry retreat on their own?"

Jin Baoshi shook her head and smiled calmly. "I don't know. That person wouldn't say, and Master wouldn't reveal the secret."

Lu Shouwen hummed in acknowledgment and did not press the issue further, simply riding in silence.

Sima Can, having recovered his senses, couldn't help but sigh that his junior brother Liu Duanmao had met his match.

At the very front, Han Guzi knew, and Xu Huang was the first to guess Xu Fengnian's true identity.

The three casually discussed the Guanglingdao war. Han Guzi gradually spoke less, intentionally or unintentionally, while Xu Huang systematically explained his views on the situation. Xu Fengnian did not simply agree, occasionally offering blunt questions or rebuttals, which Xu Huang answered one by one. However, the two held significantly different views on the final outcome and timing of the naval battle on the river. Xu Huang believed it would be a swift victory, with Zhao Yi's navy, aided by the Qingzhou Navy, emerging triumphant. Xu Fengnian, on the other hand, thought that Western Chu, led by Cao Changqing, would win two to three months later. Han Guzi only remarked that both were half right and offered no further opinion. Xu Huang then inquired in detail about the Battle of Hulukou, and Xu Fengnian answered everything he knew without reservation. Finally, Xu Huang sighed, remarking that Beiliang had claimed they would "devour" 150,000 Northern Mang people at Hulukou, but Xu Gong, before taking office in the capital, did not believe it. He said it was not an overestimate, but an underestimate. When Xu Fengnian and Xu Huang discussed the plan to build another Hutou City in Liangzhou, the old man casually added that Xu Huang had conceived this idea three years prior during his strategic simulations. At the time, many considered it a madman's fantasy; in the entire vast academy, only two young men, Kou Jianghuai and Qi Shence, agreed.

Just as Xu Huang seemingly nonchalantly mentioned that a portion of the Northern Mang's central main force might shift to the eastern front in Liuzhou, Han Guzi, who appeared to genuinely struggle with the horse's bumps, chuckled and asked, "Have we gone ten li yet?"

Xu Huang paused, then nodded. "Almost."

The old man suddenly beamed at Xu Fengnian. "Whether it's ten li or twenty li, the thought behind it is more important than the distance. As for this old man, I won't delay your journey to Huaiyang Pass. When that girl Xu gets angry, not only do her fellow disciples tremble like mice seeing a cat, but even I am afraid."

The old man muttered, "Old, truly old," and dismounted with difficulty. After getting into the carriage, he still didn't enter the compartment, instead sitting cross-legged behind Song Xinsheng. He waved his hand and laughed heartily, "No wine to see you off. I'm old, willing but unable."

Xu Fengnian smiled and halted his horse. Riders passed him by, and he watched the group gradually disappear into the distance.

The wind on Longshang was strong, and Xu Fengnian's sleeves fluttered wildly forward.

Sima Can winked at the young girl Han Guoxiu, but unfortunately, she didn't catch on. By the time Sima Can's eyes were starting to sting from winking, she finally erupted in anger, "Spit it out!"

The old man coughed and sternly lectured, "Guoxiu, speak properly!"

The girl mumbled "Got it," then turned and made a defiant gesture to Sima Can, as if to say, "Just you wait, I'll beat you to death."

The old man looked forward and slowly said, "You all, stop guessing wildly. Just wait a little longer; if you look back, you'll know why the Northern Mang cavalry retreated on their own."

Everyone turned to look, except Xu Huang and Song Xinsheng, who needed to carefully drive the carriage.

The old man laughed heartily, "My so-called 'Avoid-a-Head' reputation, which I don't really deserve, makes me feel like I've lived all these years in vain compared to the young man who might one day make the entire Northern Mang avoid him. But even so, I am happy."

Sima Can and Liu Duanmao, Jin Baoshi and Han Guoxiu, Qi Zihu and Lu Shouwen—all turned to look in that direction, but they only saw the lone rider moving away from them, and nothing else.

The old man closed his eyes and leisurely hummed a folk song he had overheard in Youzhou market. It was sung by a young girl with pigtails who was buying green ant wine for her father. Her voice was childish and clear, perhaps from the innocent joy of being able to buy some snacks with the leftover money after buying the wine. But at this moment, amidst the yellow sands beyond the frontier and the strong winds on Longshang, the melody hummed from the old man's hoarse throat sounded particularly poignant and desolate.

"Spring after spring, orioles fly from the branches. Autumn after autumn, wild geese return to the city walls. Year after year, waiting for so many years. The Beiliang saberman, returns, his body wrapped in horse hide..."

Han Guoxiu, whose neck was aching from waiting so long for an answer, was finally about to complain that her grandpa was tricking them.

Everyone simultaneously widened their eyes in surprise.

In the distant view, an unparalleled cavalry force, like a surging tide of pure white, galloped towards them.

Sima Can exclaimed in shock, "Is that the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry?!"

Xu Huang, who had not turned around, said deeply, "It's the White Horse Vanguards!"

Han Guzi opened his eyes. "Recalling those years, the invincible Great Qin's Elite Warriors—before every major battle, two words would echo through the skies."

Xu Huang closed his eyes, seemingly imagining the tiger-wolf army sweeping through all obstacles. He softly chuckled, "Wind Rises."

Sima Can, well-versed in history, murmured, "Wind Rises."

To the astonishment of Han Guoxiu behind her, Jin Baoshi suddenly turned her horse around, her body trembling. She shouted at the departing figure, "Beiliang! Wind Rises!"

Han Guzi gently exhaled and laughed loudly, "Eight hundred years ago, the Great Qin's Wind Arose! But how could this era, where I, Han Guzi, am fortunate enough to live, be any less magnificent?!"

Because eight hundred years later, Beiliang fought to the death.