Chapter 895: Goodbye as If Meeting for the First Time

Category: Fantasy NovelAuthor:Title:

On the Dragon Eye Plain, a straight, dusty line stretched from north to south.

When a short, ape-armed middle-aged man stopped, the flying sand behind him, which resembled a yellow flood dragon, gradually dissipated. The man gazed into the distance, his demeanor remarkable and unlike that of a common spy. This was because a brilliant golden light emanated from his simple clothes, wrapping around his arms in countless shimmering threads, creating the illusion of hundreds of tiny flood dragons coiled around him.

At a critical juncture, with the second Liang-Mang War about to commence in the autumn wind, he, as the Northern Court Great King, quietly departed for the northernmost reaches of the Beiliang territory. He used an iceberg as a boat, continued north across the sea, and eventually achieved his objective. He should have been heading to the Southern Dynasty's Western Capital Imperial Court to participate in military and political discussions. Even though he had been stripped of his title as Northern Court Great King, he remained the stabilizing pillar of the entire Beiliang Dynasty. The grassland cavalry's almost blind trust in him was akin to the Liyang Imperial Court's trust in Gu Jiantang. No matter how unfavorable the previous battles in Guangling Province had been, even allowing Western Chu to briefly reach the peak of its resurgence on the battlefield, as long as Gu Jiantang had not intervened, as long as he and the Two Liaos Border Army had not moved, Liyang still had full confidence to contend with the Western Chu rebels.

After Tuoba Pusa slowly returned south, he quickly sensed the powerful surge from Beiliang pushing northward. Tuoba Pusa initially thought it was a provocative act by that young man, and being at the pinnacle of martial arts in the human world, he naturally would not retreat. However, when he subsequently became aware of a second unique energy signature on the Dragon Eye Plain, Tuoba Pusa, while still eager for battle, also felt a hint of helplessness. It turned out to be a baffling misunderstanding: Hong Jingyan had somehow angered the young Prince, prompting the latter to travel alone for a thousand miles to the battlefield. Tuoba Pusa didn't mind being used by Hong Jingyan to kill with a borrowed knife, but he was curious why Hong Jingyan, a recognized martial arts genius, suddenly showed signs of breaking through the threshold of heaven and man. Therefore, Tuoba Pusa was not in a hurry to act. A battle with Xu Fengnian, in Tuoba Pusa's eyes, could happen anytime, and arguably, the later the better. When Beiliang's 300,000 iron cavalry were dwindled, and the young man surnamed Xu was trapped in a desperate situation, he could fight him truly wholeheartedly without any distractions. Thus, he would save Hong Jingyan, who had always been revered as Tuoba Pusa's second-in-command among the Rouran Iron Cavalry. He had to save him, both for public and private reasons, but this did not prevent Tuoba Pusa from letting this calculating junior suffer a little.

Too many top experts in Beiliang had died in the past two years: Wuhe of Tibing Mountain, Huang Qing and the Bronze Man Ancestor of Chess Sword and Music Manor, Xiaoniaotou of Princess Tomb, and others. The Emperor, who always regarded the martial arts world as a maidservant to the court, was deeply worried about this. After all, no matter how worthless maids and servants in a wealthy household might be, if too many died, leaving no one to serve tea and water or clean the courtyards, it would ultimately make outsiders feel that it did not conform to the image of a prestigious clan.

But that was the extent of it. To a monarch, martial arts grandmasters were still merely carp in a pond or birds in a cage.

Tuoba Pusa slowed his pace, heading south gradually. With each step he took, his body grew larger and more imposing, and the golden light emanating from his arms became even more dazzling.

In the entire Beiliang martial arts world, those he considered worthy opponents could be counted on one hand, and Chess Sword and Music Manor happened to have two such individuals.

This generation of Chess Sword and Music Manor produced two exceptional figures. Huang Baozhuang, whose poetic name was "Mountain Gradually Green," for some reason transformed into the white-clad devil Luoyang, eventually betraying the grasslands and heading south to the Central Plains of Liyang. Rumor had it that she made a fleeting appearance in Tai'an City but did not intervene in that peak struggle where Xu Fengnian, Cao Changqing, and Deng Ta'a each fought independently. Originally, Hong Jingyan, whose poetic name was "Clepsydra" and was only ranked fourth-tier, became the undisputed leader of the sect. However, even with the presence of Imperial Commissioner serving as the Beiliang Imperial Tutor, and the Crown Princess, whose poetic name was "Cold Maiden," assisting in the royal court, Hong Jingyan, who commanded the Rouran Iron Cavalry, still failed to compete with Dong Zhuo and missed out on the title of Southern Court Great King. In the battle of Hulu Pass, he led his army to avoid the brunt of Beiliang's heavy cavalry, abandoning General Yang Yuanzan's main army to flee north alone. This allowed the Beiliang cavalry to successfully form a pincer movement, surrounding the enemy, and completely tarnished this martial arts grandmaster's reputation on the grasslands. He also lost the old woman's favor, and in the second major national southern campaign, he was only appointed as a deputy general, assisting Imperial Commissioner Murong Baoding.

Hong Jingyan retreated sixty *li* away and stopped.

Any further retreat would bring him face to face with Tuoba Pusa. Although Hong Jingyan intended for this Beiliang War God to make Xu Fengnian back down, thereby causing the young Prince's state of mind to be clouded, if Xu Fengnian truly wasn't intimidated by Tuoba Pusa and Hong Jingyan retreated to Tuoba Pusa for protection, it would be a case of shooting himself in the foot. Having just crossed the threshold of heaven and man, he would likely fall out of that mysterious state of divine communion. Moreover, when Xu Fengnian faced Wang Xianzhi, who had traveled to Beiliang, he knew he was outmatched but still chose to fight to the death, treating that old monster as a whetstone, eventually perfecting his martial arts realm. Why wouldn't Hong Jingyan hope to use Xu Fengnian, who was virtually unrivaled in the world today, as a stepping stone?

Furthermore, even if he couldn't defeat Xu Fengnian today, he could just retreat further. Tuoba Pusa's appearance on the Dragon Eye Plain was his ultimate escape route. As long as he solidified his Heaven-Man realm, Hong Jingyan believed that one day he would reach the level of the Four Great Grandmasters of Martial Arts Evaluation, and that day would come very soon. Then, he would first kill Xu Fengnian, then the Peach Blossom Sword God Deng Ta'a, lead hundreds of thousands of his iron cavalry, breach Tai'an City, cross the Guangling River, and let his warhorses rest on the coast of the Southern Sea. There could be no greater joy in life than that!

After Hong Jingyan stopped, he calmly awaited Xu Fengnian, his aura now surging like a rainbow.

This was Clepsydra of Chess Sword and Music Manor, experiencing for the first time in his life such an intense desire for an all-out battle.

Just as Hong Jingyan's aura peaked, a thunderous roar erupted in his ear again. This time, however, it wasn't Xu Fengnian, but Tuoba Pusa, who had seemed intent on observing for a moment. "Hong Jingyan! Retreat another thirty *li*!"

Hong Jingyan's mind instantly faltered. His intuition told him that Tuoba Pusa's advice was not a threat and that he should retreat quickly, but his reason, as an extremely proud martial arts grandmaster, told him he must not retreat.

Tuoba Pusa, suddenly sprinting south, roared, "Fool! A state of mind can be lost and regained, but do you have two lives?!"

In Hong Jingyan's vision, a point of light appeared, like a firefly flickering a few feet away in the summer night sky.

But by the time Hong Jingyan realized that tiny firefly had suddenly transformed into the brilliance of a full moon, it was too late to dodge.

It was Xu Fengnian; his spear arrived before he did. Thrown out, it was like a white rainbow piercing the sun over the yellow sands of the desert.

This simple spear throw was so incredibly swift that it far exceeded Hong Jingyan's imagination. His mind raced with countless calculations, only to sadly realize that there was no other option than to endure a severe injury.

Once injured in front of Xu Fengnian, Hong Jingyan knew that even Tuoba Pusa couldn't save him, unless Cao Changqing was resurrected and Deng Ta'a came here, for the three of them to join forces!

This was not to say that Xu Fengnian had reached the point where he could challenge three great martial arts grandmasters alone, but rather that martial artists of that caliber, when working together against an enemy, Cao Changqing plus Deng Ta'a did not simply equal the combat power of two great officials or two Peach Blossom Sword Gods. Therefore, Xu Fengnian fighting two people alone in the battle of Tai'an City did not mean Xu Fengnian had the strength of two Deng Ta'as. When Wang Xianzhi famously declared he would fight the whole world alone, it was based on this principle, hence it was both a boast and not a boast.

Tuoba Pusa did not directly help Hong Jingyan shatter the rainbow light. Instead, he moved to the right and slightly in front of Hong Jingyan, clenched both fists, swung them high, and smashed them heavily into the middle of the iron spear!

A violent clang vibrated like a massive bell.

Hong Jingyan watched in a daze as the rainbow light, despite Tuoba Pusa's blow, did not shatter. Instead, it bent into a half-arc in the air. At the point where Tuoba Pusa's arms met the arcing iron spear, countless brilliant white electrical currents erupted.

Tuoba Pusa stood in front of Hong Jingyan, his arms still crackling with electricity, like hundreds of silver snakes coiling.

And that iron spear, even after Tuoba Pusa's punch, did not break. It was merely deflected to Hong Jingyan's far left.

Out of the corner of Hong Jingyan's eye, the young man stood over thirty *zhang* away, one hand behind his back, the other gently gripping the iron spear extended forward.

The spear's momentum was too great; it trembled continuously in the young man's hand.

Hong Jingyan's spirit dimmed. A single step's difference, yet it was still a chasm.

He could clearly see every detail, even count how many times the iron spear vibrated after the young man caught it, but he could see it, yet couldn't catch it. The first spear was like this, and so was the second.

It was widely rumored in the world today that below the Terrestrial God realm, Xu Fengnian needed only one move to kill.

It turned out to be true.

Tuoba Pusa said calmly, "Are you, Hong Jingyan, only destined to bully opponents weaker than yourself in this life? If so, you disappoint me greatly. Even if you cross the threshold of heaven and man in the future, let alone facing Xu Fengnian, any new person who reaches the Terrestrial God realm, even if only for a day or two, will still soundly defeat you, Hong Jingyan."

Hong Jingyan had a sudden realization and said in a deep voice, "Are you saying Xu Fengnian only won because of his momentum?"

Tuoba Pusa stared intently at the young man, nodding, "This person successively fought and defeated Wang Xianzhi and me. In the battle of Tai'an City, Deng Ta'a and Cao Changqing deliberately joined forces, further boosting his morale. It can be said that his momentum is unparalleled. It's no surprise that you lost just now."

Hong Jingyan smiled understandingly, his dejection vanishing. He looked towards the young Prince, "No wonder you held back after gaining the upper hand with that first spear, instead of pressing your advantage!"

Tuoba Pusa shook his head, "You're wrong. He intentionally wants to keep you on Dragon Eye Plain. As long as I'm thinking of saving you, he has a chance to kill both of us, not just take one head!"

Hong Jingyan's face darkened. "Good! Then I'll give up this easily attainable realm! In that case, the tables will turn! Do you really intend to trade a life for a life? I don't believe it!"

Hong Jingyan, as expected of one of the world's top grandmasters, decided to flee without hesitation. More accurately, he unleashed himself to escape. As long as his opponent chose to pursue him, and Tuoba Pusa didn't have to divide his attention to save someone, then Xu Fengnian would be the one multitasking, inevitably leaving an opening for the fully focused Tuoba Pusa.

As Hong Jingyan decisively retreated, Xu Fengnian and Tuoba Pusa almost simultaneously surged northward. The three gradually formed a triangular standoff on the Dragon Eye Plain, their figures moving as swiftly as three wisps of clear wind.

Xu Fengnian was looking for an opportunity to kill Hong Jingyan.

Tuoba Pusa was patiently waiting for Xu Fengnian to make his move.

The outcome of victory or death was evident.

Therefore, Hong Jingyan did not believe Xu Fengnian would be so utterly reckless as to sacrifice his life.

But in fact, Xu Fengnian's resolve to kill him was so great that after the second spear was decisively thrown, Hong Jingyan was terrified to the core.

Tuoba Pusa's fists had already struck Xu Fengnian's back before the iron spear in Xu Fengnian's hand pierced Hong Jingyan's heart.

With the force to split mountains and cleave rivers, both fists struck Xu Fengnian's back without reservation!

This injured Xu Fengnian's internal organs and also added a tragic, relentless momentum to Xu Fengnian's forward thrust with the iron spear.

Xu Fengnian flicked his wrist, pulling out the iron spear that had pierced Hong Jingyan's chest, simultaneously tearing apart Hong Jingyan's torso, leaving him no chance of survival.

The ambitious and aspiring Clepsydra of Chess Sword and Music Manor died just like that.

The man who wanted to transform the title of "Co-Lord of the Rouran Iron Cavalry" into "Co-Lord of the World" died with his eyes wide open.

Until his death, he couldn't understand why Xu Fengnian would genuinely exchange his life for his.

He had too many plans left unexecuted. He still thought of his agreement with that ambitious Yelü Dongchuang, and of replacing Imperial Commissioner alongside Chess Sword and Music Manor and the Beiliang Imperial Court.

If he could regret it,

Hong Jingyan would definitely not have killed the Iron Pagoda general.

His last thought before death was not hatred for Xu Fengnian's madness, but hatred for Tuoba Pusa's sinister calculations.

Tuoba Pusa looked at the lonely figure who could only stand by leaning on his long spear, and sneered, "Hong Jingyan died as he should have. But is it not a pity for you, the esteemed King of Beiliang, to die here? If you don't feel pity, I feel it for you. I always thought you, Xu Fengnian, should die on the final battlefield of Jubei City, either amidst a million soldiers, or in my hands at that very moment."

The young man's back was soaked with blood, and he remained silent.

Terrestrial Gods are not true deities.

Xu Fengnian was indeed struck in the back by Tuoba Pusa's fists. Although he had factored that attack into his calculations, and thus reserved his full strength for the spear thrust at Hong Jingyan, able to kill him without it, the difference was negligible regardless of how one looked at it; it was merely a matter of dying sooner or later.

Tuoba Pusa chuckled, "If it were the me who fought you last time in the Western Regions, perhaps you could have escaped back to Beiliang with half a life."

He lowered his head to look at his hands, his arms' sleeves torn and tattered, revealing fluctuating golden veins.

In Beiming, there is a fish that feeds on dragons.

The first time he found it, Luoyang interfered, causing that divine weapon, a creation of heaven and earth, to fall into the deep sea and disappear. But what seemed like a misfortune turned into a blessing; this time, he obtained something even superior.

Tuoba Pusa raised his head and looked at the sky. "Sometimes I don't understand why you people are just unwilling to bow your heads."

Tuoba Pusa frowned. "Are you waiting for someone? Huyan Daguan? No, I felt his aura before I came; he should still be near Dunhuang City, there's no time. Xu Yanbing? His aura isn't like that. I really can't think of anyone else in Beiliang who could save you besides these two."

Xu Fengnian turned around, supporting himself with both hands on the iron spear, blood flowing from his seven orifices, a desolate sight.

A figure appeared beside him, clad in white robes, with the demeanor of an exiled immortal, a pair of swords at his waist. The contrast in their appearances was immediately obvious.

That person glanced at him and sneered, "You're still pretty much like the first time we met, both looking like beggars."

Xu Fengnian coughed and forced a smile, "I'll try not to be next time... White Fox Face."