Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 121 Langya Tenderness and Changing Winds
The sword light faded, but the wind and snow continued.

Heavy snow continued to fall, gradually covering the traces of the great battle on the clear, icy river.

Eight burly men came out of the Shangmu camp and carried the four experts from the Coffin Palace onto the door panel. The four men were motionless, presumably dead.

Looking up, the Jiangbei warriors saw a huge ice hole opening in the river, with ice shards scattered around the crack.

The Chu River bubbled and churned, and the silt at the bottom of the river was stirred up.

The fish, large and small, that had fainted floated to the surface one after another, their white bellies turned up.

This was all caused by the force of the palm strikes just now. The experts from the Coffin Palace lived up to their reputation, and Grand Commander Zhou's methods were even more remarkable.

The first true disciple of the Demonic Sect's ancestor, and one of the four great demonic masters of the Coffin Palace, entered the Gates of Hell in a short time.

The martial artists who came to watch the battle had their own speculations and guesses before they arrived, but none of them expected this scene.

For a moment, I didn't know what to say.

The disciples of the Daoist Ancestor were terrified and fled. Some spectators looked grave and hurriedly returned to Jiangdu.

They were men sent by Yuchi Sheng, the governor of Yangzhou, and some were from the Yuwen clan.

The fact that the Demonic Sect Master killed the Grand Commander of Jianghuai was exactly what they wanted to see, and the current outcome was truly unacceptable to them.

With the addition of a figure even more ferocious than Du Fuwei, the Jianghuai Army is bound to gain even greater strength.

All eyes were on the Grand Commander, who was dressed in white and blended into the snowy world.

He first broke the sword energy, then fought against the demonic energy; the danger was self-evident.

At this moment, he stopped by the Chu River to regulate his breathing and calm his blood and qi. When the others saw this, they thought it was normal and their expressions relaxed.

He sheathed his sword in a moment, gazed at the Chu River glacier, and watched the clear stream flow back; it was all over in just a few breaths.

Snowflakes swirled, white robes billowed, a lone figure stood between heaven and earth, sword in hand.
Such a scene is destined to be unforgettable for many martial artists for a lifetime.

Some martial artists from Jiangbei felt excited:
"The Grand Commander is so young yet already possesses such skill, making him the foremost among the younger generation. I never expected such a talented individual to emerge in the Jianghuai region."

A person speaking with a Guanzhong accent said:
"I have seen masters of the Guanzhong Sword School fight with others, but they are far inferior to the Grand Commander."

Some people say:

"It is said that the Martial Venerable's Blazing Sun Technique has the true yang energy of raging fire. When Grand Commander Zhou draws his sword, the snow melts and water flows, which seems to be a Blazing Sun spectacle as well."

"inappropriate!"

A swordsman's voice was serious:
"The Grand Commander uses swordsmanship, and compared to Master Yi Jian Fu Cailin, I look forward to the day when the Grand Commander draws his sword, defeats Master Yi Jian, and takes the title of the world's number one swordsman back to the Central Plains!"

An old man from the martial arts world watched the white-clad figure disappear through the city gate, a look of sadness on his face. He sighed and said:

"Time waits for no one, and the younger generation surpasses the older. Seeing such young people makes me feel much older."

……

While the entire city of Qingliu was celebrating, Old Zhou was carrying his coffin westward.

He traveled without stopping, heading straight for Dingyuan.

Noticing the unusual movement inside the coffin, they found a mass grave and sat down to rest on the grave.

Zuo Youxian truly deserves to be called a master of the demonic sect.

After being given a breather by Old Zhou, he managed to stabilize his injuries. However, he had a gruesome sword wound on his chest, and wrinkles appeared on his baby-like skin, making him look decades older.

"Brother Zuo Dao, it's good that you're not dead."

Old Zhou wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking like he was still shaken.

“That guy surnamed Zhou is really not easy to mess with. My brother dislikes experts who know Taoist mystic arts the most. Brother Zuo, you really don’t listen to advice. If I hadn’t been lying low for so long, you would have been captured and taken to Qingliu City a little later.”

By then, it would be too late for me to save you.

Zuo Youxian regained his energy and was actually able to speak.

But lying in the coffin, he only glanced at Old Zhou and ignored him; the expression on his face was truly indescribable.

Old Zhou said:
"Brother Zuo's reputation has been ruined in this battle, and he has become a stepping stone. This Zhou fellow has benefited from your fame, and it won't be long before he becomes famous throughout the world."

"However, it's also your fault, Brother Zuo, for being too..."

His fat face was plastered with an barely suppressed smile:

"You were defeated in one move, which really surprised me."

"you--!"

Zuo Youxian finally spoke, his goat-like eyes wide open as if they were about to burst.

Old Zhou wasn't afraid of angering him to death, and continued, "My brother often says that we should be as realistic as Ban Gu said. I saw you lose in one move with my own eyes, so what's there to be angry about?"

"Even if Ning Daoqi were here, he couldn't defeat me in one move!"

Zuo Youxian was furious, and even more blood gushed from his chest:
"This kid also knows sword qi and is familiar with the secrets of the Louguan Sect. Although I, the patriarch, had noticed it, I never expected that he would actually see through the secrets of my Ziwu Gang and be able to calculate the time."

"He must have obtained the secret manual from my worthless disciple to understand it."

"But how is that possible? How could one possibly determine Zhou Youzhi Gang in such a short time? Did his father recite the Louguan ancestral records to him while his mother was pregnant with him? Or is he the reincarnation of the Dao Ancestor?"

"Even if the Long-Browed Ancestor, who created the true lineage of the Dao Ancestor, were here, he couldn't have done it."

Zuo Youxian couldn't understand it at all.

Old Zhou, lying beside the coffin, listened and then repeatedly laughed:

"You keep saying 'impossible,' how can you possibly master a peerless martial art with such a mindset, let alone seek the ultimate in martial arts?"

"If my brother were like you, how could there be the famous Coffin Palace, and how could he have cultivated the supreme Dao Heart Seed of the Heavenly Demon? Anyone who practices martial arts will only become stagnant and inferior to the previous generation if they do not have a spirit of relentless pursuit of knowledge."

“Your Changmei Ancestor isn’t invincible. That Zhou guy from Jianghuai is more talented than him, so what’s so special about him?”

Old Zhou acted as if he had never seen the world, which enraged Zuo Youxian.

However, after his initial anger subsided, he quickly calmed down and repeatedly pondered Zhou Laofang's words.

The mass grave remained quiet for a long time.

After a moment of silence, Zuo Youxian's voice suddenly came from the coffin:

"When I was eight years old, I showed my talent and crushed a thousand people in my sect. Only then did I receive the secrets of the Gangfa from my master. Later, I studied the sundial and star numbers every day, recited the Louguan classics, and read through the methods of the Taoist patriarch. I never put down my books and carried my sword every day."
Now, after sixty-nine years of practicing sword qi, his skill has reached the eighteenth level, second only to the Long-Browed Ancestor.

Every year during the Qingming Festival, when I pay respects to my teachers, I am filled with pride and recount my progress. I only hope to climb one more level, for the sword and energy to merge, and to fulfill my teachers' wishes.”

At this point, I let out a long sigh.

"A junior colleague, in the blink of an eye, has ruined all my efforts in this lifetime."

Zuo Laoguai said this calmly, which made Zhou Laofang put away his mocking expression.

Zuo Youxian's temperament seemed to have suddenly changed.

Old Zhou leaned back onto the coffin: "Fellow Daoist Zuo, is there anything else you'd like to say?"

"I have only one thought: to fight him again. This will be my last belief."

Zuo Youxian lay motionless in the coffin like an old corpse, only his two eyes moving towards Zhou Laofang:

"Fellow Daoist Zhou is right. His talent surpasses that of the Long-Browed Ancestor. To defeat him, one must surpass the founder of the sect."

"Take me to see Sect Master Zhou. I want to comprehend the highest secret."

This should have been a happy event, but Zhou Laofang suddenly wanted to abandon Zuo Youxian's mass grave.

He thought of one person: Qiu Qianbo.

Moreover, Zuo Laoguai is even more different.

He was a practitioner of Taoist arts, and having died once, he gave people a strange feeling of being completely renewed and full of vitality.

Never mind, anyway, it was my older brothers who told me to do it.

"Alright, come with me to the coffin palace."

Zuo Youxian's vision went dark as the coffin lid closed again.

He closed his eyes, and the swaying of the coffin gave him a very comfortable feeling.

Everything from the outside world cannot be heard from inside this coffin, so there's no need to pay attention to it.

It was like a small world where his shattered Dao heart was slowly repaired.

A white shadow still lingers in my mind, impossible to shake off.

The white figure turned its head, opened its mouth but made no sound, yet Zuo Youxian seemed to have heard its words clearly:
"I'll give you the initiative to strike first; otherwise, once I make my move, you won't even have a chance to attack."

At this moment, Zhou Laofang's voice from outside the coffin drowned out the voice in his mind.

"Hey hey hey"

He gave a sinister smile: "Fellow Daoist Zuo, I will be your guide on the path to the pinnacle of martial arts."

"Raise the coffin, set off on the journey."

……

Four days after Zuo Youxian was placed in his coffin, the fervent atmosphere in Qingliu City continued.

Especially as the year draws to a close, the atmosphere becomes even more lively.

Even at night, many people are walking on the streets.

Located near the city's inner river, the long street is brightly lit, offering a level of prosperity and tranquility rarely seen in the past.

The people of Qingliu felt this deeply.

When people in the martial arts world discussed the battle in the west of the city, they were praying for lasting peace.

The name of Grand Commander Zhou has already spread like wildfire north of the Yangtze River.

The number of martial artists from all over the country is countless. In just a few days, the Jianghuai Army's most elite Shangmu Battalion gained two thousand more men, and the influx continues unabated.

The speed at which they recruited strong soldiers stunned both Li Jing and Xu Xingzhi.

The impact of this great battle extends far beyond the martial arts world.

Having witnessed the might of the Qingliu army and the stability within the city, how could they not notice the difference in this righteous army?
Furthermore, the Grand Commander's prestige over Jiangbei attracted a large following.

At the Jianghuai naval camp, Fan Wenchu ​​was writing a letter at his desk, while Li Jing and Xu Xingzhi stood by his side offering advice. At the same time, they kept breaking open the sealing wax to see the sincerity sent by some families from Lujiang County.

Both men showed delight: "Prefect Fan, I never imagined that you had such deep roots in Lujiang."

Fan Wenchu ​​quickly waved his hand, "I dare not accept such praise."

"It's all thanks to the Grand Commander's power; otherwise, who would listen to me now?"

Zhou Yi leaned closer:

"Is the matter in Lujiang Prefecture going smoothly?"

"Exactly."

Xu Xingzhi laughed and said, "Our army is powerful, but we have not made contact with the forces in Lujiang County. They are afraid that their property will be confiscated and dare not surrender. If we launch a strong attack, we can take it, but Luzhou is an important city and casualties are inevitable."

“Now that Brother Wen Chu is contacting his old subordinates and appeasing the families, he is well-known and has a strong foundation in Luzhou, so he can naturally appease people’s hearts.”

"Once the year is over, the Pharmacist will lead his army on a westward expedition, and we will be able to take Luzhou. With the Huai River under our control and General Du guarding Liuhe, our foundation in Jiangbei will be unshakeable."

Li Jing nodded and said:
"There is only one problem: there are still a few groups in Luzhou who belong to Zhang Shan'an's old forces. I'm afraid they will take advantage of this lull to cause trouble in the area."

Zhou Yi clutched a letter from Lujiang: "We can't let these people throw Luzhou into chaos."

He looked at Fan Wenchu ​​as he spoke.

How could Fan Wenchu ​​not understand?
He hurriedly put down his pen and inkstone, bowed deeply and said, "I, Fan, humbly request to return to Luzhou. With just five hundred followers, I am confident I can relieve the Grand Commander's worries!"

"it is good."

Zhou Yi shoved the letter in his hand into Fan Wenzhu's hand as if it were an imperial edict:

"I'll give you a thousand elite troops. Go back to Luzhou immediately for the New Year, and let the people in the city have a peaceful New Year."

"Yes!" Fan Wenchu ​​replied excitedly.

"Ximen Junyi and Wang Lanfang."

"Yes!"

The couple responded and stepped forward together.

"You should accompany Magistrate Fan on this trip."

"The last general takes command!"

Having fought alongside Du Fuwei for a long time, the two were efficient and quick to act. They left the main tent first to prepare a thousand soldiers and summon experts to accompany them.

With both Zuo Youxian and Zhang Shan'an fallen, Luzhou City posed little threat to them.

Although Lujiang County has a large number of martial arts forces, Zhou Yi just killed Zuo Youxian and is close to Qingliu, so no one dares to provoke him at this time.

It didn't take long.

Fan Wenchu ​​left the main tent and returned to his temporary residence, where he saw his wife and children again.

He then explained his intention to return to Luzhou, hoping to keep the two of them in Qingliu, but his wife disagreed and insisted on going with him.

However, Fan Wenzhu stood up for himself this time.

"This place is safe. With you all here, I have no worries and can serve the Grand Commander well."

Upon hearing the title of Grand Commander, the woman fell silent.

Fan Wenchu ​​sat down, poured tea, and said:
"The forces in Luzhou are not united and are connected with several surrounding factions. Not everyone is on the side of the Grand Commander, so fighting and killing are inevitable. But I cannot be distracted this time and must get things done."

"I was blind before. How could the Grand Commander be a henchman of the Demonic Sect?"

He gave a self-deprecating laugh, then switched to a serious face that terrified his son into silence.
"I want to follow in my father's footsteps and guard Luzhou for the Grand Commander. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I must not miss."

"You should have felt it during your time in Qingliu."

His wife nodded upon hearing this: "This is not something an ordinary rebel army could do."

As she spoke, the sounds of children playing and elders scolding could be heard from the street outside.

“A few months ago, Qingliu was a city plagued by bandits, but now it has changed dramatically. The Grand Commander is benevolent and treats the people of the city very well. The people of Qingliu are very grateful to him.”

The woman was very knowledgeable, and she added:

"The world is in chaos right now, and it's rare to find such a benevolent ruler. My husband should indeed cherish him."

That's exactly right.

Fan Wenzhu drank several bowls of water, and finally, holding the teapot, he drank all the water from the spout, but even that couldn't extinguish the excitement in his heart.

The woman could sense that he hadn't been this excited in a very long time.

"The New Year is almost here, and I need to write a letter to Jiangdu. What kind of reputation can you possibly achieve under Yuwen Huaji? You might as well abandon the darkness and join the light sooner rather than later."

"I will set off tomorrow morning. This time I am determined to make a contribution to the foundation of Jiangbei."

The woman held her son and nodded silently.

The following day, Fan Wenchu ​​led the troops, who were called the Prefectural Governor's Army of Lujiang County.

They went straight into Luzhou, and although there were some obstacles, they still managed to reach the gate of the Fan family mansion.

Looking at the house that had already been emptied, Fan Wenchu ​​didn't care about feeling sorry for it.

He did not come here to stay, but to find the county official's seal that he had hidden before and exchange it for the status of a county official.

At this moment, accompanied by Ximen Junyi and others, they headed straight for the government office under the most legitimate pretext.
……

Before the end of the year, Zhou Yi had another drink with Lao Du.

At the same time, we discussed something very important for the Jianghuai Army.

I didn't want to put him in a difficult position.

But Lao Du patted his chest and said he could handle it.

Fu Gongshi was, after all, a friend of Du Fuwei. If it weren't for considering Du's feelings, Zhou Yi would have already taken action.

This fellow came from the same Demonic Sect as Zuo Youxian, and they were old acquaintances.

He was the one who leaked the information before the attack on Qingliu.

Firstly, he didn't want to see Zhou Yi's power grow stronger, and secondly, he could curry favor with Zuo Youxian.

The reason Zuo Youxian dared to issue a challenge this time was because Fu Gongshi sent the message from Yongfu to Luzhou, letting Zuo Youxian know that he was not some old monster, but just a young upstart.

Zhou Yi knew the truth perfectly well, and kept the matter quiet after receiving the news.

Du Fuwei had been good enough to Fu Gongshi, yet Fu Gongshi was still ungrateful and betrayed him without mercy.

Zhou Yi couldn't be bothered to deal with this kind of person.

On the fourth day before the end of the year, he had dinner with Wang Xiongdan, Kan Leng and others.

In the evening, Bu Tianzhi came over to offer his New Year's greetings.

Zhou Yi pulled him aside, and together with Xu Xingzhi and Li Jing, they had a late-night chat.

They talked until very late. When Zhou Yi returned to his courtyard, Little Phoenix was already asleep in the next room.

She must have heard footsteps.

But since he didn't want to wake up, Zhou Yi didn't disturb him.

Ever since Zuo Laoguai was put into his coffin, Dugu Feng has stayed in Qingliu to accompany him.

These past few days have been filled with mundane affairs, and Xu Xingzhi, Li Jing, and others have already taken on a large part of them, but many renowned figures from Jiangbei have still come to visit them.

When they returned in the evening, the two chatted about trivial matters, discussed martial arts, and then sat around the lamplight, each reading classic texts.

Zhou Yi really enjoyed this companionship.

I plan to return to Nanyang before the end of the year.

It seems we'll have to wait until after the new year.

Moreover, he didn't plan to spend the New Year in the city.

After his battle with Zuo Youxian, he was deeply moved and pondered for several days. One morning, he went out of the city to practice his sword.
As winter deepens and the snow clears, the sky brightens.

The peaks of Langya are shrouded in mist, remnants of ice adorn pine branches, and a thin haze drifts through the mountain streams.

Many passersby who were traveling west along the Qingliu River would encounter the two men on the left side of the road.

The young man in white was exceptionally handsome, his wide sleeves fluttering in the wind.

The girl beside her had skin as smooth as jade and lips as red as cherries. She wore a black dress with a flowing ribbon, and carried a long sword with black patterns.

As they walked, they attracted a lot of attention.

Only by approaching the Langya Mountain Road can one find peace.

As the two climbed the steps, suddenly some pine branches, unable to withstand the weight of the snow, began to shed snowflakes.

The young girl wielded her sword with slender hands, traversing the mortal world. With a flash of sword energy, snowflakes danced like butterflies. The young man's robes billowed as he unleashed a palm strike, turning the dancing snowflakes into a misty spray. When the sunlight shone through, it formed a rainbow, arching over the mountain stream.

"Times have changed. Your skill has long surpassed mine."

Dugu Feng smiled as she sheathed her sword, and she didn't seem discouraged at all when she said this.

"Actually, there is another difference between today and the past, but I have not yet revealed it."

"Is it a surprise?"

"of course."

Hearing him say that, the girl's face lit up with anticipation.

Zhou Yi gestured towards Jiangdu: "If you don't go back, will your uncle send someone looking for you?"

"Definitely, but it's okay."

Dugu Feng tugged at his sleeve and walked up the mountain. "The end of the year is just around the corner. These last few days don't matter. Next year, Yang Guang will probably head south, and there will be even more things to do at home, so I won't be able to leave."

"If you want to practice swordsmanship, I'll keep you company."

"Although my swordsmanship is inferior to yours, I will never be defeated with a single sword like Zuo Youxian."

"Okay," Zhou Yi replied with a smile.

They hadn't walked far when they came to a wooden pavilion.

This pavilion was newly built and is located above the pass of the notorious bandit leader Langya.

Below is a trestle bridge chain spanning the mountain stream, where unfrozen water is still flowing.

There were originally many stockades around, but most of them were demolished, leaving only the foundations, which turned the area into an empty space.

You don't need to climb to the top; you can enjoy the snow-covered mountain scenery and the magnificent Langya landscape from the mountainside.

Because Zhou Yi had given prior instructions, daily necessities were left here.

There are also people waiting at the foot of the mountain, ready to be summoned at any time.

Zhou Yi created a temporary retreat, which, though simple, is quiet.

For the first two days, sword energy flew across Langya Mountain.

After several battles, Zhou Yi had a pretty good grasp of the Dugu family's Azure Cloud Red Dust Sword Technique.

After Dugu Feng fought with him, she told him all the remaining bits and pieces.

The Azure Sky and Mortal Dust Sword Technique held no secrets from Zhou Yi.

Although not as useful as Grandma Dugu's notes, they still added to his swordsmanship foundation.

The girl's talent was indeed remarkable; she had mastered the essence of the Celestial Master's Random Thoughts.

Perhaps because it's an incomplete version, there's still a sense of incompleteness, hence the slow progress.

But this is already quite remarkable.
It was the eleventh year of the Daye era, the year was drawing to a close.

Zhou Yi did not continue the swordplay competition, but instead searched the mountains and hunted two wild pheasants.

As dusk approached, Dugu Feng went to light a campfire.

Zhou Yi then broke the ice in the mountain stream and cleaned it by plucking the feathers.

Once skewered with a bamboo stick, it's all ready.

By the time the sun had completely set, the pheasant was roasted until it was glistening with oil.

Zhou Yi picked up the chicken and inspected it, and was very satisfied.

"You didn't get to enjoy the food back at Cangyan Mountain, so how about this surprise?"

"Yes, I didn't expect you to remember it so clearly." The girl moved closer to the campfire, a smile on her face.

How could I not understand?

Zhou Yi recalled, "Didn't I burn the chicken and scare you away?"

"No."

Dugu Feng glanced at him, then looked back at the campfire:

“When we were at Cangyan Mountain, you were injured, and I wanted to make sure you ate more. Also, we weren’t familiar with each other back then, and it was getting dark, so how could I stay and face you?”

"Oh I got it."

Zhou Yi laughed: "I was thinking at the time that although you are a nice person, you are very picky and must be spoiled."

"No way."

She puffed out her cheeks, glanced at him with a disgruntled look, and said in a drawn-out tone, "Don't misunderstand me."

Zhou Yi moved the bamboo stool closer to her, and the girl moved further away from the campfire.

Zhou Yi moved over again, and she stopped moving.

However, she turned her head and gestured for him to be quiet.

She reached out and took the wine jug from beside the campfire, and Zhou Yi received another cup of warm wine.

Thinking back to the night before he beheaded Old Monster Zuo, he asked with a touch of heroic spirit:

"Whom do you want me to kill?"

"I won't kill anyone, I just want to have a drink with you."

The young woman poured herself another cup, turned her head, and although her gaze was somewhat evasive, it was full of affection.

Speak in a gentle tone, very seriously:

"This is the third year since I met Master Zhou."

As she thought of something, a smile appeared on her pretty face: "The first time I saw you, you were still in the Eagle Banner Army Camp, and you were a portrait that couldn't speak."

Zhou Yi's eyes also softened: "I want to thank that painter, even though his technique wasn't very good."

The two clinked their glasses lightly.

After drinking it all in one gulp, Zhou Yi took the wine pot, refilled it, and drank again.

Soon, the entire pot of wine was finished.

The temperature of the drinks reached my heart.

The girl's face was flushed with a captivating blush, and her eyes sparkled with a gentle light, making even the snowy night of Langya pale in comparison; her beauty was breathtaking.

Zhou Yi put down his cup and casually took the white jade cup from the little phoenix's hand as well.

She was slightly lost in thought when she felt her hand being grasped, followed by a subtle, gentle touch.

Her pretty face flushed red, but she did not break free.

In the firelight, the shadow flickered.

Zhou Yi smelled a faint fragrance of a young girl, and realized that there was someone else in his arms.

"Master Zhou, you..."

Dugu Feng braced her hands against his chest, her cheeks flushed, her eyes filled with shyness, yet also with a hint of reproach.

At this moment, her back was wrapped with his arms, and she felt the slight pressure, but she was unwilling to resist, so she obediently pressed her face against his chest.

"Xiao Feng, the night is cool and the mountain wind is strong. I'm afraid you'll catch a cold."

The girl looked up and saw him smiling, and couldn't help but laugh and spit lightly.

She raised her hand to tap him, but then hugged him instead.

She pressed her burning cheek even closer, creating a small indentation, feeling infinitely at ease.

"Once things are settled in Jiangdu, I'll take you to see your grandmother."

"No need to wait, let's set off tomorrow morning."

"don't want."

Although Dugu Feng was pleased, she still refused.

She didn't have time to leave Jiangdu in the first place, but came to check on things out of concern. This time, she even delayed until the end of the year. Her uncles are currently fighting with the Yuwen family, and they are probably already searching for her everywhere.

Thinking about them makes me feel annoyed, so I tilted my head slightly.

Unexpectedly, a gaze fell down from above.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she lowered her head: "If you keep looking at me like that, I'm going to run away."

"Why are you running away? Stay with me to celebrate the New Year."

Zhou Yi said softly, "This is the first time we've celebrated the New Year together in the Sui Dynasty."

Upon hearing this, the girl, still in his arms, shifted up slightly to find a more comfortable position.

This was the first time she had been so close to someone, and her heart was pounding.

After calming down, she leaned against him and talked to him.

Gradually, I felt more at ease this way.

The campfire grew dimmer and dimmer, the pheasant became increasingly charred, and a burnt smell wafted from it.

However, at this moment, I felt sweet inside.

Then I realized how delicious the chicken was.
……

At the end of the eleventh year of the Daye era, Zhou Yi and Xiao Fenghuang talked about the past on Langya Mountain, expressing their tender feelings for each other.

It was also New Year's Eve.
On the other hand, things were in a terrible state for Master Mu.

“Ding! Ding! Ding!”

On Ryukyu Island, the sound of hammering echoed continuously from the largest weapon forge of the Dongming faction.

The Dongming Sect is best known for crafting high-quality weapons and is extremely famous in the martial arts world. Three of the most famous divine weapons in the world are their creations.

The three dragons of Yangzhou and the wooden Taoist priest set sail together on the large ship.

They were originally to be taken to Goguryeo.

Unexpectedly, the large ship encountered three groups at sea: the South China Sea Faction, the Sea Sand Gang, and the East Sea Faction.

A fierce battle suddenly broke out, and they fell into the sea.

They boarded a large ship belonging to the Dongming faction and were taken back to Ryukyu.

The sea was vast, and the ships were controlled by the Dongming Sect. They couldn't leave even if they wanted to, and they were also wary of the sect leader, Shan Meixian, so they dared not forcibly seize them.

Kou Zhong had a sudden inspiration and discovered a group of foundry apprentices, both old and young, selected by the Dongming Sect.

So, on his advice, the four of them sneaked in and were taught by the master blacksmith how to forge iron.

All four were highly talented and learned quickly.

He quickly went from a novice to a master.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling even comprehended the "fire in the furnace" in the boiler room of the Dongming Sect.

Only through constant, focused refinement can one forge superior weapons.

They applied this principle to their martial arts.

They practiced their skills while forging iron.

The Wood Daoist knew the Heavenly Frost Condensation Technique, and by using the cold air to quench iron, he could occasionally forge icy blades.

As instructed by the foundry, Master Mu is forging a unique weapon, the Nine-Toothed Rake, based on a template.

Like Shi Long, he honed his mindset through blacksmithing.

So, they stayed there for several months.

Finally, none of the four of them could stay still any longer.

Lately, Shan Wanjing of the Dongming faction has been using various excuses to order them around, and the four of them have noticed that something is wrong.

During the Sui Dynasty, war raged everywhere, so the foundries were doing very well.

The buyer was urging him to hurry, but the blacksmith was still forging iron on New Year's Eve.

"Boss Mu, can you grant me one wish?"

"speak."

Kou Zhong chuckled and said, "After the New Year, we'll be leaving on a large ship with favorable winds. Boss Mu, could you take this opportunity to forge me a Frost Blade?"

"can."

Master Mu readily agreed: "But once we get ashore, we'll immediately sever ties. I'm going to find Zhou Yi and never want to be with you three plague gods again."

Shi Long remained silent.

Xu Ziling chuckled to himself.

“It’s your Boss Mu’s Taoist name that’s the problem. If you change your name to Dragon Taoist, we will become the Four Dragons of Yangzhou, which will be enough to turn our bad luck around.”

"Pah!"

The wooden Taoist ignored him and continued hammering away.
……

It was also New Year's Eve, downstream of the Tongji Canal.

Xucheng.

"Meng Rang and his two disciples are putting up a final stand. Once the New Year is over, we must defeat them!"

You Hongda ate a piece of duck butt and took a big gulp of wine.

"We will never let the general down!"

Cheng Yaojin and Qin Shubao spoke in unison.

The two looked at You Hongda, their eyes filled with gratitude.

Originally, they were worried about being overlooked when they were transferred from Zhang Xutuo's direct command to General Zhenkou's command. Unexpectedly, they were given important responsibilities by General You!
At that moment, they divided their troops into three routes, with each of them leading one army.

Such trust is truly touching.

You Hongda drank one bowl of wine, and the two of them drank three bowls in succession to express their gratitude for this kindness.

"it is good!"

You Hongda stood up, walked down, and put his arms around the shoulders of the two generals like a good brother, saying:

"Next, the three of us brothers will face off against Meng Rang and his two disciples."

"With all three armies advancing, I will inflict a crushing defeat on Meng Rang!"

"Not bad!"

"A crushing defeat for Meng Rang!"

"Dry!"

……

The 13th day of the first month of the 12th year of the Daye era.

While Lai Zheng and Yuchi Sheng were still discussing how to attack the Jianghuai Army, General You Hongda, who was in charge of suppressing bandits, sent troops to Xuyi.

He led his army to launch a fierce attack on Meng Rang's main force from Xucheng.

Cheng Yaojin and Qin Shubao each led an army, one sailing east down the Huai River and the other circling around the east of Xuyi, forming a three-pronged attack on Meng Rang.

Although Meng Rang's remaining 50,000 troops were not strong in combat, they were capable of holding the Huai River.

However.
Banners fluttered on all three sides; the number of enemies approaching was unknown.

Someone in the ranks shouted that Lai Zheng and Yuchi Sheng had disregarded the threat from the Jianghuai Army and were launching a full-scale attack.

Meng Rang was suspicious and fell for the trap, moving his main force to the vicinity of the Tongji Canal in an attempt to escape northward.

Having lost the Huai River, they were immediately pursued by three armies.

Once the army was thrown into chaos, there was no way to reverse the situation, and Meng Rang suffered a great defeat!
Two of his disciples were killed by Qin Shubao and Cheng Yaojin. He then led his followers northward along the Tongji Canal to seek refuge with Wagangzhai.

Meng Rang's army was routed; apart from those who were killed,
Some fled to Hailing to join Li Zitong, some went to Yancheng to join Wei Che, and the majority went straight down to the Jianghuai region.

You Hongda defeated Meng Rang in one battle, further enhancing the reputation of the General Who Suppresses Bandits.

After the battle, Cheng Yaojin and Qin Shubao proposed that they should cooperate with Lai Zheng to attack Yongfu, the capital of Fu Gongshi, and then attack the Jianghuai army.

You Hongda said, "Fu Gongshi is just a skeleton in a tomb, there's no need to worry about him."

Hongda added, "We should head north and relentlessly pursue Meng Rang."

Cheng and Qin, puzzled, sought clarification.

You Hongda said:

"Yang Yichen destroyed Gao Shida, but did not wipe out Dou Jiande. Dou Jiande, with a thousand or so remaining troops, barely survived, but within ten months, the number of rebels increased by 100,000. Therefore, Meng Rang should not be let go. He should be pursued and joined forces with General Zhang to fight against the Wagang rebels."

Cheng Yaojin and Qin Shubao initially did not believe it.

Just five days later, news was rushed into the army.

Fu Gongshi abandoned Yongfu and suddenly fled, then went to Xiangyang at the invitation of Wen Caiting.

Seize this opportunity and launch a fierce attack on Yongfu.

Little did they expect that Du Fuwei was already prepared.

Li Jing sent troops to threaten Yuchi Sheng, preventing him from moving in Yangzi County. Under the instigation of the strategist Xu, Du Fuwei used Fu Gongshi as bait to flank the Sui army and break through their rear lines, resulting in a great defeat for the Sui army!

Lai Zheng retreated to Xuyi and entered the north of the Huai River.

Yuchi Sheng was left isolated, and to ensure safety, he abandoned Yangzi County and returned to Jiangdu.

He waited in the city for news of the fall of Yangzi County.

However, the news came seven days late.

The governor of Yangzhou was horrified when he saw the latest intelligence.

Li Jing led his army on a westward expedition, and the gates of Lujiang County were wide open, Luzhou fell, and the Jianghuai army advanced westward to Kaihua, and southwestward to Tong'an. Xiang'an City, east of Chaohu Lake, surrendered after only three days.

The governor of Yangzhou, Yuchi Sheng, was in a great hurry and spoke with Yuwen Huaji overnight.

The two conferred secretly all night, and after Yuwen Huaji gave some instructions, he and a mysterious man in black headed north to Luoyang.
"Grand Governor!"

At the foot of Langya Mountain, seven or eight experts from the recruitment camp shouted in unison.

Zhou Yi nodded.

He ignored the prevailing trends and remained in seclusion in Langya until today, when he finally found inspiration.
……

(End of this chapter)