Supreme Golden Palace

Chapter 222 Half-Demon (Part 1)

Faced with the ancestor's stern rebuke, the Qiang people, who were prostrate on the ground, kept kowtowing, making loud thuds on the ground, and blood was drawn from their foreheads.

After a moment, the Qiang man, steeling himself, explained in a trembling voice, "Grandfather, it's not that we're bold, it's just that this opportunity is too rare to come."

"Opportunity? You even know what opportunity is? What kind of opportunity do you know?"

The old man's voice grew cold as he said, "Do you think I don't know your little schemes?"

"stupid!"

The old man coldly looked at the Qiang people kowtowing and said, "You think you can take advantage of the Sui Dynasty's weakness and put the title of 'Qiang King' on your own heads? A bunch of shallow-minded fools!"

"If there were a real chance to occupy Longyou, would I not take action? They're about to die and they still don't realize it, what a bunch of fools!"

As they were talking, the eerie blue light in the cave suddenly flickered violently, casting shadows on the cave walls that looked like demons and monsters.

The old man slowly emerged from the shadows. Although he was slightly hunched over, he was half a head taller than the average Qiang person.

His forehead was unusually prominent, his nose was flat and wide, and short gray-brown hairs could be faintly seen on both sides of his cheeks.

"Grandfather, great-grandfather,"

Seeing the gloomy look on this living ancestor's face, Yao Li, who was lying on the ground, felt a tremor in his heart and whispered.

Yao Li was genuinely afraid of this ancestor. As the chieftain of the Shaodang Qiang tribe, he had a lineage of ancient texts and knew the origins of his ancestor.

This is a demonic offspring born from the union of a human and an ape, half-human and half-demon, naturally ferocious.

Once the thought of killing arises, let alone his descendant who is separated by countless generations, even his own son and grandson would not escape death.

Do you think this is still the time two hundred years ago, when various states rose up and heroes vied for supremacy?

Yao Mao said quietly, "The time is not right. No matter how hard you try, it's all in vain. Fate is not on the Qiang side; you can't force it."

Unlike the Qiang chieftains who were clueless about destiny, Yao Mao truly understood the awe-inspiring and terrifying nature of destiny.

After all, he, a half-demon, was of noble birth; in terms of family background alone, even the offspring of ordinary immortals could not compare to him.

Yao Mao's bloodline originates from Shenshui Ape, one of the Twenty-Eight Mansions. He is a half-demon born from Shenshui Ape and a Qiang woman during Shenshui Ape's tribulations in the human world.

It was because of this relationship that Yao Mao knew that the Mandate of Heaven was with the Sui Dynasty, and that anyone who tried to stop the Sui Dynasty from unifying the North and South was going against the will of Heaven.

At the beginning of his cultivation, his master told Yao Mao to remember that Heaven is impartial, good and evil are rewarded accordingly, those who follow it will be blessed, and those who go against it will be cursed.

Moreover, this is no longer the era of the Five Barbarian Invasions and rampant chaos two hundred years ago. For the Qiang people to imagine that they could once again seize control of Longyou as they did two hundred years ago is nothing but wishful thinking.

Thinking back to two hundred years ago, Yao Mao sighed inwardly. Two hundred years ago, Yao Chang of the Qiang people established the Later Qin, which was also a powerful force for a time. At its strongest, the Later Qin wiped out the remnants of the Former Qin, conquered the Eastern Jin in the south, and attacked the Western Qin and Later Liang in the west. That was the most glorious time for the Qiang people.

Unfortunately, the dynasty's rise and fall were inevitable. The Later Qin dynasty lasted only thirty-four years before its demise after three generations.

For more than a hundred years after that, the Qiang people, though they fluctuated, never gained significant power.

Now that destiny has been decided, the Qiang people's uprising at this time can only be described as Yao Mao courting death. Before Yang Jian unifies the north and south and pacifies the world, anyone who dares to block his way should be prepared to be crushed.

Yao Li stammered, "Grandfather, does this mean we have absolutely no chance?"

"If there's even the slightest chance, I'll do my best to seize it without you having to tell me,"

Yao Mao sighed and said, "But such are the circumstances; what can I do?"

Yao Li said in a low voice, "But the seven Qiang tribes have already gathered nearly 50,000 strong men, and their swords and bows are ready. They are just waiting for orders. How can they be willing to give up now?"

"Being unwilling is better than being rejected by heaven and earth,"

Yao Mao's voice was as deep and cold as a rock at the bottom of a cave as he said, "Tell them to know when to stop and not to let things get out of control. If necessary, they can sacrifice some Qiang chieftains."

"Yes,"

Yao Li thought for a moment, and finally agreed.
Seeing that Yao Li agreed, Yao Mao shook his head, his tone softening, and raised his hand, saying, "Go."

"Grandpa, your grandson is leaving."

Yao Li kowtowed three more times, then rose, trembling all over, and bowed as he backed out of the cave. As soon as he stepped out of the cave, he was enveloped by miasma and couldn't help but shiver.

"Destiny!"

Inside the cave, Yao Mao watched Yao Li leave, his hunched body slowly straightening up slightly.

------

West bank of the Wei River

A strong wind carrying sand and gravel swept past the large banner bearing the character "吕" (Lü), making a fluttering sound.

Three thousand elite soldiers advanced in formation along the riverbank, their hooves pounding the morning dew, the sound of their armor clashing echoing through the valley.

Ling Yue led his infantry into a shield formation, the shields joined together like an iron wall, with long spears pointing diagonally out from the gaps between the shields.

Yan Rui and Xiao Ji's cavalry on the left and right flanks controlled their horses' speed, their hooves lightly pawing the ground, awaiting orders.

"My lord, Qiyun Village is three miles ahead. Scouts report that there are about five hundred Qiang soldiers inside, and the riverbank is fortified with chevaux-de-frise and rolling stones."

The left-wing scout reined in his horse and rode up to Lü Shang's side, reporting in a low voice.

Lu Shang raised his hand to press the bamboo whip at his waist, his gaze passing over the grassy slope to the Qiang village built against the slope.

The stockade wall was built of rammed earth mixed with gravel, and Qiang soldiers could be vaguely seen peeking out from the top of the wall, their blades gleaming coldly in the morning light.

Holding a bamboo whip, Lü Shang pointed at Qiyun Village and said, "Ling Yue, you lead the infantry in a frontal formation, using arrows to cover the vanguard. Yan Rui and Xiao Ji, you two follow me and charge straight through the village gates."

"No prisoners in this battle!"

"Here!"

The three generals accepted the order in unison.

Ling Yue immediately waved his hand, and the crossbowmen behind the shield formation stepped forward, nocking armor-piercing arrows from their quivers onto the crossbows.

"put!"

With a shout, hundreds of crossbow bolts shot into the air like locusts, whistling as they hurtled towards the stockade wall.

"kill!"

The instant the arrow was released, Lü Shang spurred his horse's flanks, and his warhorse neighed loudly, charging forward first.

"kill!"

Xiao Ji led his left-wing cavalry closely behind, the dust kicked up by their hooves sweeping like a storm.

Before the barricades in front of the Qiang village could be reinforced, they were smashed to pieces by the cavalry.

Bang!
Lu Shang swung his bamboo whip, unleashing a burst of lightning as it struck the gate. The moment the gate was smashed open, shouts of battle erupted from behind it as Qiang soldiers swarmed out, hacking and slashing wildly with their weapons.

"kill!"

The elite soldiers from Liangzhou behind Lü Shang quickly charged towards the Qiang soldiers. These Liangzhou soldiers were all veterans with extensive combat experience.

First, the infantry formed a shield formation to withstand the attack, while the long spears thrust straight in. The cavalry then maneuvered through the camp, dividing the Qiang soldiers into several groups.

Even without Lü Shang's intervention, the Qiang people of Qiyun Village were almost instantly routed by the elite Liangzhou soldiers, a border force.

As the shouts of battle within the stronghold gradually subsided, Lü Shang stood on the earthen platform in the center of the stronghold.

Ling Yue stepped forward and reported, "My lord, all the Qiang people in the village have been slaughtered; no one has been spared."

Lü Shang nodded, his gaze fixed on the upper reaches of the Wei River, and said, "Send down the order: rest for half an hour, take stock of casualties, and replenish supplies."

"Continue upstream in half an hour!"

(End of this chapter)