Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 192 Evening View of Mangshan: The Feud Between Yanshi and Others
The first day after the Nine-Headed Insect was beheaded.

As the sun sets, travelers from the Eastern Capital outside Dingding Gate eagerly await the dawn moon over the Luo River in Tianjin.

The vast twilight enveloped the Beiman Mountain.

At this time, ten thousand lanterns were lit in the eastern capital, and wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys. Standing on Mangshan Mountain and looking out at dusk, the city walls and palaces presented a magnificent scene.

As the saying goes, a few names are recorded in the annals of history, while countless desolate mounds lie in the northern hills.

They should have been filled with awe at the magnificence, but the group of people on Mount Beiman did not share that sentiment.

They were each lost in their own thoughts, their gazes shifting uncertainly.

The Demon General narrowed his eyes into slits, glanced around, and then walked toward the Faceless Man.

His master was Changsun Sheng, the previous sect leader of the Demonic Image Sect, and the man in front of him had a significant connection with his master.

He once had his face burned in a fire, but later he practiced martial arts and melted his entire face into the flames, thus mastering a unique martial art.

The Demon Form Technique was transformed into the Formless Technique.

Now, the unpredictable martial arts world has given him a new opportunity, allowing him to find inspiration to improve his skills and discover the Formless Divine Skill.

This battle should have been a sure thing, but it turned out to be so dangerous that we almost lost our lives.

"Uncle-Master, was your secret technique broken by that Taoist master?"

The faceless man's expressionless face exuded a melancholy air.

Changsun Chang said, "It's not that my secret method is wrong, but that it's the Great Venerable One. Otherwise, how could Wang Shichong have rebelled? How could the army have sided with the palace?"

Changsun Chang was the younger brother of Changsun Sheng, the previous leader of the Demonic Image Sect. During Yang Guang's reign, he also served as the Left Guard General.

Their Demonic Image Sect has always been secretive and has never revealed their identity.

Aside from their own lineage, even close relatives within their families were unaware that this was closely related to their martial arts.

Everyone turned to look at the Great Venerable.

The Great Ming Sect hunts geese every day, yet the geese themselves have become the target of their own wrath. It's truly unacceptable that they've been countered in their own area of ​​expertise.

Zhu Faming fiddled with the string of Buddhist beads made of 108 steel balls and said in a deep voice, "May I ask, Your Excellency, what level has the Celestial Master's spiritual realm reached? Why did your secret technique collapse at the slightest touch?"

Xu Kaishan stood with his feet on the mound of earth that resembled a grave, completely unconcerned about the two men's impolite tone.

Looking towards Dongdu, he held a strange admiration in his eyes: "If this Celestial Master were to join our sect, he might truly have the opportunity to comprehend the origin of all laws."

"In a full-fledged fight, I am indeed no match for him, but I cannot be defeated so quickly. The situation just now cannot be delayed. He swung his sword three times, and I was at a disadvantage in all three exchanges. Wouldn't it be foolish to hold onto illusions and fight to the death?"

Cinnaya chimed in from the side:
"This person's troublesome nature is beyond our expectations; don't blame the Great One. If you had foreseen this and given us a warning, how could the Good Mother have ended up in the Eastern Capital?"

Zhu Faming's eyes were filled with anger: "If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have offended him."

"Isn't it too late for the master to say all this now?"

The Demon General smiled sinisterly: "What are your plans next?"

The Great Venerable ignored his words and turned to look at the black-clad man who had remained silent in front of the cliff of Beiman Mountain. He could no longer see through this Venerable Atom.

"What's going on at the Rong residence?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Xuyan recounted the events that had occurred at the Rong family's birthday banquet.

The group of experts paled upon hearing this.

Yang Xuyan said sincerely, "I tried to make a move, but his perception of killing intent is far more acute than that of ordinary people. The assassination attempt failed, and I am not capable of fighting him head-on."

Zhao Deyan sensed something was wrong and said coldly, "You chose the wrong time. You should have waited until he was surrounded before making your move."

Yang Xuyan shook his head: "You don't know that the Empress Yin was at the birthday banquet."

"what?"

Zhao Deyan's narrowed eyes widened involuntarily: "Zhu Yuyan watched Wen Caiting and Bi Shouxuan being killed without lifting a finger?"

“Bi Shouxuan, relying on his seniority, has long been disliked by the Empress. Now that the Yin Gui faction has produced Lin Shihong, the internal strife within the faction has become even more intense. The Empress can eliminate dissidents without intervening, and at the same time, give face to the Celestial Master, killing two birds with one stone.”

The Demon General's expression changed, but Yang Xuyan continued speaking: "The Empress of Yin no longer intends to make an enemy of this great one, and it is even possible that she will become his ally."

"This person's talent for martial arts is one in a thousand years. His progress is rapid. Given time, he will probably become the number one person in the world."

"In addition, he hates evil and seeks revenge. If we become enemies with him, the consequences are predictable."

Yang Xuyan's words put immense pressure on everyone.

A strange look appeared in the Great Venerable's eyes: "What countermeasures does Xu Yan have?"

Yang Xuyan gave a wry smile: "If he gains control of the world, he will have spies everywhere. We will have no choice but to live in seclusion in the deep mountains and avoid the world."

Changsun Chang remained unfazed: "Why joke around?"

Yang Xuyan regained his composure and stared intently at Xu Kaishan: "Great Venerable, I need the last three pages of the Scripture of Wisdom that Controls All Laws and Their Roots."

The last three pages of the Wisdom Sutra are the most secret of secrets, not even the atom is taught to them, and only the Great Venerable can cultivate them.

The Great One did not immediately object, but listened quietly to what he had to say next.

Yang Xuyan cupped his hands and said, "I can produce a secret manual that is by no means inferior to the Zhijing. This method is extremely profound, and I have not yet fully comprehended it. If it were not for a formidable enemy at hand, anyone who obtained it would treasure it and keep it secret."

"If the Great Venerable takes out these three pages of the Wisdom Scripture, I can give him another secret technique related to Xi Tianjun's Purple Qi Heavenly Net, which is the result of my communication with him. The spiritual framework of the Taoist Celestial Master is closely related to it."

Upon hearing this, everyone's spirits lifted.

The power of the methods used by the Celestial Master is evident to all; who wouldn't be envious and tempted by them?

To show his sincerity, Yang Xuyan took the initiative to suggest, "I can present the secret technique first, and the Great Venerable can make a decision after reviewing it."

The Demon General still harbored a sliver of doubt: "You really want to be so kind?"

"It wasn't out of kindness, but out of a sense of shared destiny."

Yang Xuyan's eyebrows were sharply arched, and his strong face carried a resolute air.

"If you all practice the technique together, your progress will be several times faster. The next time we encounter this Taoist master, our chances of killing him will be greatly increased."

Zhu Faming clasped his hands together and was the first to respond: "Excellent, excellent. This humble monk is very curious about this Dharma."

"I won't let the master down."

Yang Xuyan smiled, and then heard Xin Naya ask, "So where do we go now?"

"Li Mi is about to attack Luoyang. If the mad monk Fu Nanda from India makes a move, we will still have a chance to fish in troubled waters."

Yang Xuyan, however, said:
"I don't think Li Mi has a chance of winning; relying on him would be too passive. We should hurry and head to Guanzhong ahead of time."

Zhao Deyan murmured, "Chang'an."

"Indeed, this is Chang'an."

Yang Xuyan looked at Zhao Deyan, as if he had guessed what Zhao Deyan was thinking:
"Chang'an is the last line of defense. Once Chang'an falls, the next unfortunate one will be Jieli Khan. For someone who has the opportunity to break through to the peak of martial arts, even if 100,000 Golden Wolf soldiers charged at once, they would not be able to stop him from rushing into the Great Khan's tent."

Zhao Deyan focused his eyes and gave him a deep look.

"Does the Demon Commander think I'm exaggerating?"

Zhao Deyan chuckled dryly, "I underestimated you."

Then put your thumb and forefinger into your mouth and blow a whistle.

The cry of a psychic hawk circling in the distant sky answered, and it flew straight over.

"I will inform Jieli Khan about what happened in Dongdu, and I will also let Wuzun know."

……

"What identity do you want to live under?"

Inside the Ziwei Palace, upon hearing this, Wang Shichong cautiously replied, "I will live according to whatever the Celestial Master arranges."

Zhou Yi waved his hand and smiled: "Don't be nervous, tell me your thoughts."

"Yes."

Wang Shichong responded and recounted:
"My original name was Le Zhuo. I was a general under the Duke of Zheng. Later, a faceless man changed my appearance and made me look like Wang Shichong. The evil cult in the northern desert then used a secret technique on me, causing me to lose my mind and become confused, believing myself to be the real Wang Shichong."

“It wasn’t until I met the Celestial Master that I was awakened. After that, I understood the whole story and realized that my life was in danger. Once the Eastern Capital was stable, Wang Shichong would kill me first.”

"These people had anticipated that the Celestial Master would come to Luoyang. In order to protect Wang Shichong, and feeling that the Duke's mansion was not well-defended, they came up with this idea."

"After learning of their plan, I transferred Xiang Siren and Yang Qing away. As long as the Celestial Master kills them, Wang Shichong will lose his most trusted subordinates. When the Celestial Master arrives, I will directly stand up and side with you. The other generals have grudges against Wang Shichong, so even if he stands up himself, I still have a chance to succeed."

He took a deep breath: "I had no other choice. I thought that you were the one who could wake me up, so I had to take this gamble."

Zhou Yi did have some appreciation for it.

Yang Tong, standing to the side, looked Wang Shichong up and down: "I remember now, you used to follow General Liu Changgong, the Tiger General."

"Exactly!"

Le Zhuo was overjoyed that the Emperor Tai still remembered him.

The boy explained to Zhou Yi:

"He was defeated by Li Mi along with Liu Changgong, and fled by diving. Later he joined Wang Shichong's camp. I heard the general tell me about this."

Wang Shichong was greatly embarrassed upon hearing this.

Zhou Yi then said, "So, you want to revert to your original identity? You must understand that I cannot change your appearance."

Wang Shichong was somewhat embarrassed and quickly said, "I dare not ask for anything. I am just a junior officer and cannot bear such a high status."

It turned out to be the case.

Zhou Yi nodded:

"Whether Wang Shichong lives or dies is no longer of great importance. Those generals know the truth, but they just keep it to themselves. Since you have no objection to this identity, then continue to be Wang Shichong."

"Keep the people of the Duke of Zheng's mansion in check and prevent any trouble. Once the Nine Provinces are at peace, I will give you another chance to choose. At that time, you must return to your original self, and I will vindicate you."

Upon hearing this, Wang Shichong's heart trembled, overwhelmed with mixed feelings of sorrow and joy. He hadn't expected this man to be so considerate of him, and he immediately bowed down in reverence.
"Thank you so much, Celestial Master, for saving my life!"

"Go."

Zhou Yi waved his hand, and Wang Shichong bowed again, then paid his respects to Emperor Tai, before leaving the Ziwei Palace.

It was dark outside, but it was dawn for him.

Yang Tong saw that Wang Shichong was being treated well and kept watching his retreating figure until he disappeared.

Then he turned his head and said:
“Uncle, I can write a letter for you to Grandmother and then to General Zhang Xutuo.”

Zhou Yi smiled and said, "You don't need to worry about things in Jiangdu. If you have any requests, you can tell me."

He asked with a thirst for knowledge, "There are some scriptures I don't understand, and I don't know how they are related to martial arts."

After speaking, he moved the lamp over and took out the scriptures, clearly having been prepared beforehand.

Zhou Yi pointed out the points one by one, and for those he didn't understand, he told him to write them down and think about them slowly. Then he said, "Renjin, you should go and rest."

Looking out the window at the sky, isn't it too early to rest?

Yang Tong thought again that perhaps his presence was disturbing his uncle's practice.

Even if he doesn't speak, he still needs to breathe.

Top experts have extremely keen senses; even their own breathing sounds are probably considered background noise.

Yang Tong took the opportunity to leave, giving up the quiet study.

The moment he stepped out the door, he knew he had misunderstood.

Dugu Feng strolled over, greeted him, and then, without stopping, went straight into the house to talk to Zhou Yi.

By the time the voices rang out, Yang Tong had already walked far away.

"Fighting has already broken out in the East City area."

Zhou Yi perked up: "Have you seen Li Mi?"

"No."

"Is this guy still holed up in Xingyang?"

Dugu Feng leaned closer to him: "That's normal. He knows that such a big enemy of yours is in Dongdu, so why would he take the risk?"

"Who is leading the team this time?"

"Shen Luoyan of Pushan State-owned Enterprise".

"Okay, that's fine too."

Zhou Yi rose from his seated position, and Little Phoenix grabbed him, saying softly, "You don't need to worry about the war in the east of the city."

"I should at least see some old friends."

Little Phoenix smiled and said, "I didn't say I couldn't see her. I'll just wait until the army enters Yanshi, then I'll go and capture this pretty strategist for you to punish as you please."

Zhou Yi turned to look at her and clearly heard her emphasize the last four words.

"You don't think I have any improper thoughts about her, do you?"

"Xiao Feng, stereotypes are unacceptable."

A smile appeared on Dugu Feng's beautiful face: "No, I just heard that the pretty strategist of Pushan Public Camp back then seemed to want to use his beauty to seduce you."

Zhou Yi smiled confidently: "That trick of hers won't work on me."

"However, if it were Xiaofeng, I would fall for the trap."

Dugu Feng smiled gently, reached out and hugged him, and whispered, "Don't push yourself so hard next time, I'm worried about you."

Zhou Yi patted her on the back.

"Don't worry, I won't risk my life. My purpose in coming to Dongdu this time is to see you and treat my grandmother's illness. I'll take the He Shi Bi if I can. After that, I'll go to Lingnan to find Song Que, and after pacifying the south, I'll plan to take over Dongdu."

"It's clear that plans can't keep up with changes, so taking a little risk is worthwhile."

"By the way, where is Grandma?"

Zhou Yi changed the subject, and Dugu Feng replied, "I took her back, and my grandmother praised you the whole way."

She said a few words and then got up from his embrace.

"You've been through so many battles, go back to meditation and regulate your breathing."

“I’ll go to the East City to keep an eye on things for you. As long as that pretty strategist shows up, she won’t be able to escape.”

Before Zhou Yi could reply, footsteps sounded outside again.

As I approached the library, I deliberately slowed my footsteps and stomped heavily so he could hear me.

Knowing that a guest had arrived, the two went out to see that it was their old acquaintance, Hou Xibai.

However, at this moment, Young Master Hou's expression was slightly pale.

"Brother Hou, what happened?"

Meeting Zhou Yi's solemn gaze, Hou Xibai sighed with emotion and said, "I almost never saw Brother Zhou again."

"When I was investigating the whereabouts of Yang Xuyan and the others, I ran into Master Shi."

"Furthermore, Master Shi attacked me."

Zhou Yi asked, "Did you use the Twelve Branches of Flowers?"

"Exactly."

"Aren't you under twenty-eight? But the fact that you're alive means he didn't use his full strength."

Hou Xibai said:

"I don't know why, but this time it was very dangerous. If it weren't for the fact that my new Undying Seal technique has greatly improved my skills, I would never have been able to survive Master Shi's Flower Secret Technique."

He then recounted to Zhou Yi how he had encountered his master in the north of the Eastern Capital.

Zhou Yi initially suspected that Shi Zhixuan was involved in the chaos in Dongdu, but from Hou Xibai's words, it seemed that Shi Zhixuan was also chasing Yang Xuyan and his group.

On second thought, he said to Hou Xibai, "Congratulations, you don't have to worry about your master attacking you again. He intentionally let you go this time."

Hou Xibai was both surprised and delighted: "Why do you say that?"

"Since you are not yet twenty-eight years old, your master made his move ahead of time, so he does not have to use his full strength as agreed. Moreover, your senior brothers have most likely betrayed him, and now that he only has you as his disciple, he has no reason to kill you."

Hou Xibai nodded first, then shook his head and smiled bitterly:
"Whether or not there is a successor is something Master Shi probably doesn't care about; it's mostly because of you. Master Shi asked me to pass on a message: if I become a dead man, then I can't be this messenger."

Zhou Yi comforted him, "No matter the reason, it's a good thing for you."

What message did your master ask you to deliver?

Hou Xibai said solemnly, "There is still half a month before the lecture at Jingnian Zen Temple begins, but Master Shi invites you to the south of the city in seven days."

Seven days later?
Zhou Yi pondered for a moment.

Shi Zhixuan was quite temperamental and ignored the head monk's rules.

The He Shi Bi jade was obtained through robbery, just like it was a few days ago.

The martial arts holy land has already made its statement: if it can't produce anything on the day of the lecture, it will lose face big time.

It also saves us from wasting time arguing with them about fate or anything like that.

Although Shi Zhixuan may have his own motives, Zhou Yi did not object to his arrangement.

"Anything else?"

"That's all. If you want to know the reason, you'll have to ask Master Shi in person."

As Hou Xibai spoke these words, he unconsciously fanned himself with his fan, his heart filled with emotion.

How long has it been? Brother Zhou is already able to have a dialogue with Master Shi on equal terms.

Just then, people rushed in from outside. They were men from the Right Feather Guard camp, who were considered the emperor's personal guards and were Dugu Feng's most trusted men.

The military situation was urgent, and the leading guard, clad in light armor, spoke clearly and quickly:

"Master, the Yanshi army has mobilized and is attacking the city gate. General Song Mengqiu allowed a portion of the rebels to open the city gate, allowing them to attack from the inside and outside. As expected, Li Mi's vanguard has penetrated deep into the city and is being surrounded and killed by Yang Gongqing and his men."

"The number of troops being reinforced in the Yanshi direction is constantly increasing, and the battle line has been extended to the Yishui Wharf."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi realized that Li Mi had fallen into a trap.

Once the vanguard forces break through and reinforcements arrive from the rear, it will be difficult for Li Mi to retreat.

"How many people came?"

"There are at least 30,000 troops."

"go!"

Zhou Yi's spirits lifted, and seeing his enthusiasm, Dugu Feng stopped trying to stop him and went with him.

Hou Xibai followed, with the Imperial Guard close behind.
……

"Kill! Kill!"

"Kill them all!!"

As night fell, a crescent moon hung in the sky, its pale light now tinged with blood.

East of Luoyang, shouts of battle shook the heavens.

A fierce battle was raging both inside and outside the city, and the commotion was growing louder and louder, with the flags of the Duke of Pushan's camp constantly falling to the ground.

Only half an hour into the battle, Fang Yanzhao, whom Shen Luoyan had assigned to lead the troops at the front, noticed something was amiss.

More and more people rushed in, and the casualties became increasingly severe.

The gates of the Eastern Capital were like the gaping maw of a monster, as if any soldiers thrown inside would be devoured.

Following Shen Junshi's signal, Fang Yanzhao lit a three-colored lantern on a tall pole. When the captains and centurions in front saw this, they all ordered a retreat.

As soon as the Pusan ​​public camp was withdrawn, Zhang Zhenzhou, Song Mengqiu, Yang Qing and others immediately rushed out of the city.

Fang Yanzhao ordered the messenger to continuously flash the signal lights.

Shen Luoyan's move was very effective; the army was able to maintain its formation during the retreat.

"Where are you going?!"

Just then, a loud roar came from the flank.

Fang Yanzhao heard the approaching sound of a large army, and the captain beside him exclaimed, "Left flank! There's an ambush on the left flank!"

It was Huangfu Wuyi and Dugu Feng who led their troops to attack.

With a series of whistling arrows, the three-colored lanterns used for signaling were extinguished.

Immediately, chaos erupted in the army formation.

As the left-wing army approached, shouts of battle erupted, and the Pushan public camp was thrown into chaos!

Finished!

Fang Yanzhao's expression changed drastically.

"Back off! Back off!"

His throat screamed out in an almost tearing manner, the sound as grating as the friction of gravel.

However, the army's defeat was irreversible, and orders were as fragile as paper in the face of this massive, collapsing tide.

The crowd jostled and trampled each other; the living stepped on the dead, and the dead tripped over the living—it was complete chaos.

The city's garrison, including Yang Gongqing and Zhang Zhenzhou, surged out like a raging torrent bursting its banks.

The dull thuds of armor clashing together rapidly engulfed the soldiers who lagged behind and couldn't escape, their low growls swiftly swallowing them up.

"boom!"

The ambush troops crashed into the weakest and most chaotic flank of the fleeing troops.

Fang Yanzhao's ears were filled with the cries of people fleeing for their lives.

Not far from him, a guard's helmet was missing. A spear thrust from the side pierced his chest, and the force of the impact sent him flying off his horse and disappearing into the chaotic crowd of men and horses.

Seeing this, Fang Yanzhao paid no heed to those around him and fled on horseback.

The voices behind him gradually faded, and he began to feel safer.

Finally, on the banks of the Yi River, Fang Yanzhao spotted a woman in white with long hair reaching her waist in the distance.

Beside the woman was a second large army.

Before Shen Luoyan could ask, Fang Yanzhao shouted from across the room, "Strategist, leave quickly! Strategist, leave quickly!"

"what happened?!"

Shen Luoyan already had a bad feeling, but she still patiently asked, "Where are your men?"

Fang Yanzhao looked regretful and heartbroken: "I, Fang, have barely escaped with my life."

"Retreat immediately!!"

"Hurry back to defend Yanshi!"

Without saying a word, Shen Luoyan gave the order directly, which affected the morale of the soldiers to some extent.

But the army formation remained perfectly orderly.

How it came from, it should be taken back.

As they sped up their march, Shen Luoyan inquired about Fang Yanzhao's specific battle situation. If he wasn't lying, the number of troops Wang Shichong could muster was far less than expected.

The people inside the city were also wiped out.

Shen Luoyan returned to Yanshi late at night with a heavy heart.

The sounds of pursuit from behind could not be heard for the time being.

but
A commotion arose within Yanshi City.

"quick!"

Shen Luoyan's expression changed drastically. There were only two thousand soldiers guarding Yanshi City. The location of this place was quite crucial. It was adjacent to the north bank of the Luo River and controlled the land and water routes from the east to Luoyang.

This last crucial outer defensive line protecting the Eastern Capital must never be returned.

Holding Yanshi would effectively delay the enemy's advance on Luoyang from the east.

It will be difficult to plan for the Eastern Capital again in the future!
However, as they approached, a burly man with a face as red as a jujube and holding a horse spear was already standing on the city wall.

It was Shan Xiongxin.

Beside Shan Xiongxin was a man who looked very old-fashioned, with a domineering smile on his lips.

Du Fuwei crossed his arms and could already see the tens of thousands of troops below the city.

“Military Advisor Shen, you are quite clever, but unfortunately you are far from being a Celestial Master. Every move of the Pushan Public Camp is under our control.”

Shan Xiongxin laughed heartily.

Du Fuwei, who was standing to the side, said, "Most of the garrison in this city has already surrendered. You should quickly lay down your weapons, lest I ruthlessly destroy you."

His voice came from the eight-zhang-high city wall, carrying a sense of oppression.

The lights on the city wall illuminated his face.

Shen Luoyan realized that he was Du Fuwei!

Today, his fame is ten times greater than before, not only because of his outstanding military achievements, but also because of his amazing insight.

As a regional hegemon, he submitted to the Celestial Master early on, providing the Jianghuai region with its basic territory.

At first, some people couldn't understand his moves, but now they can't help but admire them.

Shen Luoyan's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly calmed down and accepted the fact that she had lost the puppet master.

"Until we meet again, gentlemen!"

She was extremely adept at making strategic choices and deploying troops.

Upon seeing these two men, they knew that there was no hope of attacking the city, and that if the pursuing troops came from behind, they would be attacked from both sides, leaving them with no way out.

She abandoned Yanshi and led her army eastward.

The destination was naturally Hulao Pass, the central hub of the Heavenly Lock and the four border regions of the Earth.

Before she had gone three miles, Shen Luoyan heard the sound of horses' hooves coming from the opposite direction.

Someone laughed and shouted:

"Hahaha, Mrs. Shen, we've been waiting for you for so long!"

The voice was instantly recognizable as Kou Zhong's.

"Shen Luoyan, you have nowhere to escape, surrender now."

This voice touched Shen Luoyan even more; it was Xu Ziling, whom she could never forget.

Joining forces with Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were not only Du Fuwei and Shan Xiongxin's men, but also the followers brought by Miss Zhai for revenge.

The Wood Taoist and the Crow Taoist were right beside Kou Zhong.

Mu Daoren had met with Shan Xiongxin before and knew the Jianghuai Army's objectives.

Yanshi, Hulao Pass, and then Li Mi's stronghold, Xingyang.

The two sides clashed, and Shan Xiongxin and Du Fuwei instantly led their men to attack from the rear.

This put Li Mi's forces in an encirclement.

Knowing the strategy of capturing the leader first, everyone charged towards Shen Luoyan's direction.

Fang Yanzhao, who had escaped from the Eastern Capital, was not so lucky this time.

Several of Zhai Jiao's top fighters kept a close eye on him, shouting "Fang Yanzhao" as they chopped off his head in the chaos of battle.

Fang Yanzhao was Fang Xuanling's uncle and also a participant in Yang Xuangan's rebellion.

He became Li Mi's confidant and actively plotted the Hongmen Banquet for Wagangzhai.

At that moment, Zhai Rang's men killed him, picked up his head, and laughed heartily.

This scene further spurred on Shen Luoyan's soldiers.

Many people were protecting the strategist, but there were too many experts rushing towards Shen Luoyan.

Finally, covered in blood, they reached the banks of the Luo River.

Shen Luoyan was experiencing the most desperate moment of her life. With nowhere to escape, she jumped into the water, which was shimmering with faint light.

Just then, a ship sailed downstream.

A white shadow flashed by under the moonlight, stepping on the water. Shen Luoyan, who had disappeared into the water, suddenly felt her clothes tighten and was pulled out of the water by her back.

He tried to break free.

Suddenly, he realized that his internal energy had been blocked.

The newcomer's martial arts skills were beyond imagination.

The scenery changed rapidly, and the light and shadow on the shore receded quickly. With a sway, my back was pressed against the deck, and I was on the boat.

Shen Luoyan glanced to the side and saw a white figure radiating a clear light, and a chill ran through her heart.

She no longer held any hope of escaping.

Turning my head, I saw another person strolling over, gently waving a folding fan.

"Young Master Hou, I didn't expect to see you here."

"Luo Yan, it's been a long time."

On Hou Xibai's fan, one of the portraits is of the beautiful strategist before him.

Hou Xibai's face showed regret, and he sighed slightly. He had no doubt that a ruthless act of destroying a flower was about to unfold.

"Military Advisor Shen, how have you been?"

Shen Luoyan's gaze skipped over Hou Xibai and then shifted away from Dugu Feng. She wiped the water off her face and looked at Zhou Yi.

“Master Zhou, the changes that have taken place in you in just a few years are truly incredible.”

"Why, do you regret it?"

Shen Luoyan's eyes darkened: "If anyone knew you had achieved what you have today, they would regret it. If Lord Mi had sincerely invited you back then, would you have joined the Pushan Public Camp?"

Zhou Yi bluntly stated:
"Don't be upset. His sincere invitation is useless. I don't like him. But if you don't force me, I won't care about your life or death."

"Where is Li Mi? Why isn't he in Yanshi?"

“Master Mi is in Xingyang. Yanshi is too close to the Eastern Capital, so he is not here. Naturally, he is wary of the Celestial Master.”

Zhou Yi was speechless: "His decision to send you all to your deaths in front of him does fit my impression of him."

"And what about Vonganda?"

"He's also in Xingyang."

Zhou Yi pointed downstream: "We'll go to Hulao Pass together. You go down to the city gate and knock on the door to get it opened. If the gate is opened, I'll spare your life."

Little Phoenix chuckled to herself, knowing he was up to a prank and wanted her to be his door-knocking strategist.

With a hint of sadness in her eyes, Shen Luoyan shook her head and said, "Why must the Celestial Master treat me so cruelly? Just do it."

She gave a self-deprecating laugh, her expression far more poignant than that on Hou Xibai's fan:

“Your news keeps reaching Xingyang, causing us worry day and night. Since you gained power, I have hardly slept soundly. Master Mi has arranged for a large number of people to protect you, to go out secretly, and to make friends with your enemies everywhere, preparing to deal with you together, but there is never any good news.”

"It's like having a nightmare, and when you wake up you find yourself still in the nightmare, with no idea when it will end."

"To die now would be a relief."

Zhou Yi gave a cold laugh: "You all brought this on yourselves. But you won't have it so easy if you think it'll be that simple."

"I'm going to sell you to a brothel so you can slowly pay off your debts."

Shen Luoyan's face turned pale, her eyes pleading as she said to Dugu Feng, "Young lady, please help me by stabbing me to death with your sword."

Dugu Feng gently nudged him with her arm.

Zhou Yi snorted: "With such a cowardly attitude, what kind of strategist are you? Do you think I'm as shameless as Li Mi?"

“I was going to kill you, but you’re lucky, someone is paying off your debts.”

Shen Luoyan was stunned for a moment before she reacted.

She wasn't stupid; after thinking it over, her expression became complicated, and she suddenly said, "Could it be...it's Xu Shiji?"

"It's him."

"However, someone like you who has made such a grave mistake has a debt that is hard to repay and will require a considerable amount of time for rehabilitation."

Dugu Feng was curious this time: "What kind of modification?"

"Naturally, it's labor reform."

Zhou Yi said: "For example, weeding farmland, dredging rivers, sewing clothes, diverting water for irrigation, and building river embankments."

Zhou Yi gave a long list of examples and said to Dugu Feng, "I will have someone arrange for her to undergo twenty years of reformation before she will be free."

Dugu Feng couldn't help but laugh; he hadn't expected him to come up with such an idea.

Shen Luoyan asked, "If I persuade Master Mi to abandon Xingyang and surrender to the Celestial Master, will he have a chance to reform?"

"Have."

“I’ll cremate him into ashes. When you’re building the river embankment and applying mortar, you can mix his ashes in so he can feel a sense of participation.”

Hou Xibai suppressed his smile: "Luoyan, cherish this opportunity."

Shen Luoyan had no desire to die; her survival was already beyond expectation.

She couldn't help but look south.

I never imagined that Xu Shiji would betray Li Mi for his own sake.

"Thank you, Master."

Shen Luoyan resigned herself to her fate. Hou Xibai led her ashore and stopped the people who were killing each other.

The soldiers stationed in Yanshi now faced a choice: die or surrender.

Overnight, Li Mi's side not only lost a crucial city east of Luoyang, but also suffered more than a third of its manpower losses, and its chief strategist was officially captured.

It was already past midnight when Zhou Yi entered Yanshi.

He did not leave. After meeting with Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, he took advantage of the presence of Lao Du, Shan Xiongxin, and others to arrange a small gathering in Yanshi the next day.

That night, atop the high city wall of Yanshi, Zhou Yi and Dugu Feng leisurely admired the eastward flow of the Luo River.

South of Luoyang, the tranquility of Jingnian Temple was shattered by the two corpses brought by Li Shimin. The news brought by Xue Wanche and Feng Li kept Li Jiancheng awake all night.
……

(End of this chapter)