Who among the gangsters wants to fall in love?

Chapter 450 Heading West to the Desert
As the sun sets, twilight descends.

Ningwu Pass, in Jin territory.

Jiang Ronggao, the last son of the Jiang family and the garrison commander of Ningwu Pass, is dressed in his general's armor and gazes out at the plains outside the city.

The first priority in building a border fortification is to erect a clear wall over the entire area, leaving no obstruction... so that he can see very, very far.

The setting sun was mostly hidden beyond the horizon, its blood-red rays falling on the scattered bones, swords, spears, and arrows strewn across the ground.

Wolves and vultures fought over the corpses on the ground in the setting sun, while countless vultures circled overhead, creating a desolate and mournful scene.

More than a year has passed since the fall of Piantou Pass and the entry of the Rong people.

In recent days, the Rong people have launched numerous attacks, including swarming out of the city, assassinating infiltrating the city, burning down granaries, and cutting off the city's supplies. They have used almost every one of the thirty-six stratagems...

Of course, Jiang Ronggao was not left behind either. The two sides pulled and tugged at each other, going back and forth, using all their skills to defend against wave after wave of Rong people's attacks.

The saying goes, "One should strike while the iron is hot, but the momentum will wane after a second attack and eventually be exhausted after a third." Recently, the frequency of the Rong people's attacks on the city has been decreasing. According to his estimate, they can only hold out for another year at most before the Rong people have to stop attacking.

When that time comes, we should find a way to fight back and reclaim the hundred-mile radius around Piantou Pass...

Thinking of this, Jiang Ronggao couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

Although he was the only son left in the Jiang family, his father always wanted to arrange for him to go to the capital to serve as an official and live a peaceful life. However, he had grown up on the battlefield since childhood, and how could he be left out of such an important matter as recovering lost territory?

Spear Master Chen Qiyuan sat cross-legged on the city wall, leaning against the battlements, holding the nine-foot-long Bloodscale Spear in his arms, and drinking wine from a wine jug in his hand. He looked slightly tired.

More than half a month has passed since Zhao Wumian and Luo Chaoyan's wedding, and Chen Qiyuan has long since returned to the front lines in Jin.

Jiang Ronggao was a talented commander, and although his martial arts skills were good, he had not yet reached the level of a martial arts champion. He had been assassinated by the Rong people many times, so guarding the generals had become a high-risk profession.

As a result, Chen Qiyuan spent most of his time protecting him, and his status was roughly equivalent to that of Chu Ruzhou, the swordsman serving the Prince of Yan.

Before the Prince of Jin died, Chen Qiyuan frequently traveled to Jin. He and Jiang Ronggao were old friends, so he had no complaints. Seeing this, he tossed a pot of wine to him, then got up and dusted off his robes.

"Stop grinning like an idiot and go back. The reason you survived the assassination attempts this past year isn't because you hid well, but because Uudam didn't make a move. Standing so openly on the city wall, with Uudam's martial arts skills, he could have taken your head from miles away."

"How many miles?" Jiang Ronggao took the wine jug, his expression intrigued. "Is that even a person?"

“In my eyes, you’re half a person, carrying a knife and you look quite respectable, but in Uudam and Zhao Wumian’s eyes, you definitely don’t count.”

Chen Qi looked out over Ningwu Pass. Countless blacksmith shops, which had been repaired in the streets and alleys, were still busily making weapons, with thick smoke and flickering firelight.

“If my life can be exchanged for Uudam’s exact location, that would be good enough for the Marquis to come and kill him,” Jiang Ronggao said with a smile as he turned his head.

"Bullshit! With Wu Kui's lightness skill, he can cover hundreds of miles in an hour. He's more than capable of guerrilla warfare. He doesn't do that simply because he's unwilling to lower himself to such a lowly position..."

"Can you imagine Zhao Wumian doing nothing all day but running around with a savage, killing Rong people everywhere? Is he bored? Has he become a heartless killing puppet?"

Jiang Ronggao pondered for a few seconds, "My lord may not know, but if I had your martial arts skills, I would definitely do the same... Wouldn't it be more satisfying to kill the Rong people?"

Chen Qiyuan chuckled, casually waved his hand, and slung the nine-foot-long spear over his shoulder.
"With martial arts skills at their level, they wouldn't do something so thankless and exhausting, especially since it can't affect the overall situation. To get them to take action, they'd at least have to kill someone like you, a general of a city... Go back now."

Jiang Ronggao caught up, his tone slightly excited.

"You don't deny that the Marquis could kill Uudam? With your martial arts skills, you're sure to see this more accurately than I am."

"Don't think that just because I'm Zhao Wumian's defeated opponent, I'll try my best to elevate him to make myself seem less weak..."

Chen Qiyuan pondered for a moment before shaking his head slightly and continuing:
"In the world of martial arts, the only way to prove yourself is through bloodshed. What's the point of just boasting about your achievements?"

"Only those idle lads who aren't involved in the underworld, after hearing a storyteller's boastful words, would naturally assume that Zhao Wumian could definitely kill Uudam..."

"You don't even have confidence in the Marquis?"

"This has nothing to do with confidence; it's just the truth. As fellow people from the Central Plains, who wouldn't want Zhao Wumian to..."

Before Chen Qiyuan could finish speaking, he suddenly heard a commotion at the city wall. Someone exclaimed, "General, to the west, to the west..."

The two looked back and saw that as the sun set behind the western mountains, beacon fires and smoke signals rose.

A faint black line bisects the setting sun.

Jiang Ronggao frowned and looked at Chen Qiyuan, while a noisy discussion broke out on the city wall.

"That place is... Xiliang... Is war breaking out in Xiliang too?"

"This must be Uudam's doing!"

“The Jin region borders the Western Liang region, yet we haven’t received any news… Uudam has been hiding for a long time.”

"It might not be Uudam; it could be that people from the Western Regions also want a piece of the pie."

"Foolish things, in the land of Yan and Yun, Goguryeo tried to interfere, but the Marquis beat the Goguryeo king to his knees. In the land of Miao, Nanzhao fared even worse, with no one from the royal family surviving... I think the Western Regions also want to be killed by the Marquis."

Jiang Ronggao, a seasoned general who grew up on the battlefield, saw things more clearly. His brows furrowed as he carefully considered his words:
"The Marquis had just achieved a great victory against the Rong and Goguryeo allied forces in Yanyun and was ready to retire, but he still headed towards Mingdu. It's obvious that he couldn't find Uudam and suspected something was amiss... But there's still no news, which means the Marquis couldn't find him in Mingdu either..."

Jiang Ronggao paused for a moment before realizing what was happening.

"From the very beginning, Uudam intended to use a feint, pretending to ally with Goguryeo while secretly leading troops to the Western Regions to join forces with the Holy Sect and directly attack Xiliang..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Qiyuan couldn't help but frown. "The Yan-Yun allied forces have long since dispersed, and they're still spouting nonsense about attacking from the east and west..."

“With one burst of energy and the arrow already on the bowstring, Uudam’s plan to feint to the east while attacking in the west was naturally something he had been preparing for since last autumn and winter. How can he just give up?” Jiang Ronggao retorted.

Chen Qiyuan was silent for a moment before asking softly:

"Whose territory is Xiliang now?"

"It used to belong to the Prince of Jin, but now the Prince of Jin has given the tiger tally to the Marquis, and the Emperor hasn't bestowed it upon anyone else. Clearly, he wants to openly or secretly secure some territory and benefits for the Marquis..."

"Zhao Wumian's Western Liang..."

As the sun rose higher and the sky was high in the sky, the doors and windows of the house were tightly closed, and wisps of dust drifted in the morning light.

Zhao Wumian changed into the brand-new blue robe that Miss Su had sewn for him in her spare time. He stood in front of the bronze mirror, looked at his white hair for a few moments, and then picked up a red rope to tie it up.

Qingyan, draped in a thin veil, her snow-white skin faintly visible, stood in front of Zhao Wumian, snatched the red rope, and tied Zhao Wumian's white hair at his waist. She then stepped forward to him and straightened his clothes.

Then Cai Ke yawned, went barefoot into the bed curtains, and quickly fell asleep again.

Zhao Wumian smiled slightly, tiptoed to the front of the curtain, gently lifted it, and looked inside.

The Empress Dowager slept on the innermost side. The Emperor was gentle by nature, and after frightening her, he didn't pursue the matter any further. As a result, the Empress Dowager became increasingly unrestrained, and whenever she felt like it, she would pull her lover along for a ride, day and night.

Unfortunately, his martial arts skills were mediocre and his physique was average. He could only withstand a few blows before collapsing against Zhao Wumian's chest, breathing heavily. Most of the time, when the doors and windows were locked, the floodwaters would overflow from the cracks in the doors, like a flood that had inundated the Dragon King Temple.

At this moment, her mature and beautiful face still had a blush on it as she slept in the arms of the little mute princess. One was charming and alluring, while the other was innocent and naive. At first glance, one might mistake them for mother and daughter.

Luo Chaoyan was also piled high with Zhao Wumian last night, but she doesn't know martial arts, is delicate and weak, yet she is extremely hardworking. She contradicts the emperor every time and almost faints every time, but she never misses the morning court session.

He had already dressed, washed, and eaten breakfast, and was going to court.

Sometimes Zhao Wumian really wanted to usurp the throne... so that his wife could have an easier time.

But he was just a wandering swordsman, not cut out to be an emperor. Worldly power was nothing compared to the carefree life he had with his wives.

Zhao Wumian often reminisced about the days when he and Jiu'er roamed the martial world together.

He shook his head slightly, clearing his mind of distractions, sat on the couch, and pinched Qingyan's soft, pretty face.

But even the three women together couldn't hold on for long, so they called Qingyan to help share the burden... But now, it's just another beauty lying paralyzed on the bed.

Qingyan, half-asleep, opened her pink lips and took Zhao Wumian's finger into her mouth, gently biting the fingertip with her pearly teeth, and then began to suck on it...

A few seconds later, she frowned, realizing the 'texture' was off. She vaguely knew it was the young master's hand, so she pressed her hands against Zhao Wumian's hands, pressing them against the curves of the thin gauze...

Zhao Wumian rested in the capital for more than two months. Counting the days, it was time to meet Meng Po... To be honest, he really missed that little Hu girl who would puff out her cheeks whenever she was sulking.

However, the Western Regions are thousands of miles away from the capital. It would take at least a month or two to go back and forth. He was a little reluctant to leave Qingyan for a while before getting up and walking towards Ziqing Palace.

As soon as you step out of the palace gate, the pale golden sunlight, high in the sky, casts dappled shadows on the branches of the palace and falls on your shoulders.

Xiao Yuanmu and the other women of the martial arts world have been busy comprehending the aura of immortals lately, and most of them have been in seclusion cultivating diligently, so Zhao Wumian didn't want to disturb them.

Sometimes, the young nun would suddenly appear at night to seek him out. Upon seeing him, she would pout her red lips and say, "I missed you. Give me a kiss quickly, and then I'll go into seclusion..."

Very cute.

When Zhao Wumian arrived at the Ziqing Palace, the furnace inside was burning brightly, and ice blocks were placed in a corner to cool the room. The little white snake was coiled on the ice, fast asleep.

Ever since Zhao Wumian cultivated the Innate Ten Thousand Poisons Body, Xiao Bai Suzhen drank some of his blood and began to feel sleepy.

According to Ji Zihuai, this is the day of transformation. At that time, the little white snake will become the number one Gu King in the world, and it can poison a martial arts master to death with one bite.

It sounds exaggerated, but upon closer reflection, she was a child who grew up drinking Zhao Wumian's blood, so it's not surprising.

Would a martial arts champion be a formidable opponent for Zhao Wumian now?
Zhao Wumian didn't care much about how powerful the little white snake was; with his strength, the little white snake wouldn't have much of a chance to grow teeth.

He simply thought that since there were immortals in this world, it was certainly not impossible for demons to transform into humans.

If Zhao Wumian were to ascend to immortality in the future, he would surely take Xiao Bai Suzhen with him. At that time...

Zhao Wumian stood in front of the ice block, looking at the little white snake's slender body and beautiful scales with a hint of curiosity... By then, Little White Snake would definitely be a great beauty.

"Don't disturb her peace, come here quickly." Ji Zihuai's pleasant voice came.

Zhao Wumian turned around. Inside the hall, the mist was hazy but not pungent. Just one breath was enough to invigorate one's spirit. In a daze, it seemed somewhat similar to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathered by the Eastern Emperor Bell.

But this mist is far purer than the energy of heaven and earth... This is genuine, dissipated immortal energy.

The pill formula left by Ji Yingshi is extremely difficult to refine. In the past two months, Ji Zihuai has been refining one batch only to have it explode, wasting at least ten thousand taels of gold.

It wasn't until Zhao Wumian tentatively added immortal energy into his body that things improved. In recent days, Ji Zihuai has been bringing good news frequently, feeding Zhao Wumian freshly made pills every day.

He didn't know what those things were, but after eating so much, Zhao Wumian felt himself becoming increasingly vigorous. Then, for the sake of the Imperial Tutor, he cultivated day and night, absorbing immortal energy...

He always felt like his wife had turned him into a furnace, a tool for her to practice her skills and have fun with...

While Zhao Luding was lost in thought, he caught a glimpse of Ji Zihuai's indistinct figure in the mist.

Dressed in purple, with her white hair piled up, she was bending over to examine the pills through her slender, snow-white neck. Her pert buttocks, encased in her dress, exuded a powerful dynamism.

Snapped--

"Holy Maiden, the furnace is here to serve you." Zhao Wumian said with a smile, raising his hand to lightly pat his wife's pert buttocks, as if a stone had stirred up a thousand waves, trembling and quite fleshy.

Ji Zihuai didn't turn around, but casually nudged him with her elbow.
"You're such a grown man, yet you still have no manners... Look, this is a newly refined elixir. It's of good quality, isn't it? Of all the elixirs I've made these past few days, this one is the best, truly the finest."

Ji Zihuai held the brocade box, and a round, pearl-like pill came into view. It even had naturally formed pill patterns on it. At a glance, even Zhao Wumian, an outsider, knew that this pill was not on the same level as the mortal pill.

This doesn't seem like something from the same world at all.

While other martial arts practitioners are still risking their lives and wandering the world for a few taels of silver, Zhao Wumian has already begun cultivating immortality...

This art style is completely off.

Zhao Wumian picked up the pill and examined it. "What's the use of this?"

"According to the prescription, these pills are merely laying the foundation for your future comprehension of the Nine Bells and your ascension to immortality," Ji Zihuai explained patiently, wiping the fine sweat from her brow with a handkerchief.
"To gather all nine bells and ascend to immortality is, as far as we know, nothing but empty talk... It's not that whoever gathers all nine bells can become an immortal, but rather that only martial artists who are just one step away from becoming immortals have the ability to gather these treasures of heaven and earth."

"Afterwards, even if one comprehends the Nine Bells and has some insights, it is impossible to suddenly achieve enlightenment and become an immortal... Perhaps one must face the Nine-Nine Thunder Tribulation as rumored to achieve the Dao, which certainly requires a strong physique."

Zhao Wumian nodded slightly, not denying it. With his martial arts skills, he knew far more about these things than his wife.

Even the prerequisite for overcoming inner demons, achieving clear thinking, and connecting with the world is having a profound foundation and reaching the threshold.

This elixir is now helping Zhao Wumian expand his foundation.

If it weren't for these elixirs, Zhao Wumian could obviously have cultivated diligently day and night for over a hundred years, just like Ji Yingshi, simply by enduring the passage of time; there would have been nothing wrong with that.

But now that this elixir has saved Zhao Wumian time, the possibilities are endless.

He took the pill, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes to digest its effects.

The acupoints throughout his body operated spontaneously, absorbing the medicinal power and even drawing in the surrounding misty immortal energy, creating several small vortexes around him without any waste.

At first glance, he really did look like a legendary cultivator, and Ji Zihuai's beautiful eyes were momentarily dazed.

If things proceed steadily like this, the legendary ascension to immortality seems to be no difficult task for Zhao Wumian.

Not only that, but the life-threatening danger that had plagued her for years was also eliminated by the man in front of her in an almost unreasonable way.

However, that method placed all the risks on himself.

Ji Zihuai gazed at Zhao Wumian, her beautiful eyes lost in thought, glistening with tears, gradually becoming hazy.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhao Wumian slightly raised his eyes, met Ji Zihuai's gaze, paused for a moment, then stood up, smiled, and leaned closer to hug his wife's slender waist.

"Now that you've taken the medicine, shouldn't the furnace cauldron be serving the Holy Maiden a little better?"

Ji Zihuai then snapped out of her daze, her pretty face slightly flushed, but since there were no sisters watching, she was quite relaxed and let out a soft hum.

"Knowing you're the furnace, why aren't you serving me?"

Zhao Wumian stroked his wife's slender waist, raised his hand to support her delicate bottom, and placed her on the table.

pat-

A pair of embroidered shoes landed on the ground. Ji Zihuai's delicate feet, clad in white socks, dangled slightly in the air, but then her arches and her beautiful legs suddenly straightened...

……

When Zhao Wumian emerged from the hall, refreshed and carrying the slightly flushed Imperial Tutor, the female official Zhongli was already waiting outside. She whispered:

"My lord, His Majesty is summoning you to the Taiji Hall to discuss important matters."

"Important matter?" Zhao Wumian and Ji Zihuai exchanged a glance.

Ji Zihuai, who was about to ask Zhao Wumian to take turns with her master, blushed and was too weak to continue. So she quickly retreated back into the hall and let Zhao Wumian go by himself.

Zhao Wumian didn't force him, and arrived at the Taiji Hall in a few leaps.

It was already past the time for the court session to end, but some officials were still in the main hall, engaged in a lively discussion.

Luo Chaoyan, dressed in a dragon robe, looked slightly tired as she sat on the dragon throne. Upon seeing Zhao Wumian, her weary expression immediately brightened. Forgetting about maintaining the emperor's dignity in front of the court officials, she gave him a sweet smile, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling, looking charming and adorable.

The hall quieted down, and after a few brief greetings such as "Good day, Your Highness" and "Hello, Your Majesty," he spoke to Zhao Wumian about the Western Liang's entry into the pass.

When news arrived, it was learned that the Yumen Pass in Xiliang had been breached. According to the news from the front, the invaders were a coalition of the Rong people and the Western Regions. Their aggressive approach caught the court off guard, clearly indicating that they had been plotting for a long time. Even Uudam had made a rare appearance at the front.

However, even if Yumen Pass falls, Yangguan Pass can still hold out, so Xiliang will not fall in the short term. But the troops and supplies that the Xiliang garrison has invested are definitely not as good as those in Jin, and they cannot hold out for long.

However, since the fall of Pian Tou Pass, the Jin region and the Rong people have been locked in a stalemate. Nanzhao and Goguryeo have surrendered, and the emperor married Zhao Wumian half a month ago. Good news has been frequently reported.

Now that they have suddenly suffered such a huge loss, people from all walks of life are understandably furious.

Zhao Wumian frowned slightly. Uudam had been keeping a low profile, and even the Khan of the grasslands didn't know where he was... So he was allied with the Western Regions, plotting against Xiliang.

No wonder Meng Po was puzzled as to why Shen Tu Bu Zui was so certain that Uudam was not in Mingdu, and sent her and Ding Jingcheng to plot against the Imperial Seal of the State...

Shen Tu Bu Zui knew that Uudam was in the Western Regions, so he pretended to be allied with him, but secretly sent people to steal Uudam's hometown...

This approach perfectly aligns with Zhao Wumian's impression of Shen Tu Buzui.

During the discussion, the ministers began to discuss, from which place to send troops to aid Xiliang.

Zhao Wumian looked at Luo Chaoyan. The couple, who had been married for less than a month, stared at each other for a few seconds before Zhao Wumian spoke loudly:

"I'll go."

The court fell silent.

Zhao Wumian looked around and then smiled.

“If I go to the Western Regions to settle this matter, and mobilize troops from various places, including logistics, it will take at least three months to reach Xiliang.”

"But if I go, it won't take three months..."

“One month to travel, one month to kill… I’ll settle the war in the Western Regions in two months,” he said softly.

The court was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Luo Chaoyan looked at her husband with gentle eyes. Upon hearing this, she didn't say much, only saying:
"Hmm... Be careful when you're out and about."

(End of this chapter)