Playing with fantasy beasts in the martial arts world

Chapter 77 Returns, Enters Again

Having spent over a month in the fantasy world, returning to the martial arts world felt like returning at the same time. In the front yard, the wounded soldiers were chatting idly, but their voices were somewhat subdued. Although yesterday's battle in Xiangyang City did not bring any advantage to the Mongols, there was nothing to relax about. After all, everyone knew that unless divine intervention occurred, the fall of Xiangyang City was practically a foregone conclusion.

Although it was better to rush to Yang Guo's aid sooner rather than later, Cha Nan still planned to go and explain the situation to Guo Jing and Huang Rong first, and see if they could provide any further assistance.

Even intelligence and support would be acceptable.

At this time, Guo Jing and his wife were still on the city wall and had not come down, so Cha Nan searched for them on the north side of the city wall where they were.

To avoid some trouble, Cha Nan also brought Guo Fu along.

She was the best proof of her right to pass; otherwise, she would have faced numerous checks along the way.

After all, many Jianghu figures who had infiltrated the city under the guise of resisting the Mongols had turned against them yesterday, burning down many buildings and equipment in the city. Now that martial law has been imposed in Xiangyang, the smiles on the so-called Jianghu figures have disappeared.

The morning mist, carrying the smell of burnt wood, drifted over the crenellations of the city wall, where broken iron hooks of ladders were still stuck in the cracks of the blue bricks.

The watchtower on the east side was burned to a skeleton by oil, and half of the crossbow's sinew string hung from the charred beams, emitting a faint whistling sound as it trembled in the cold wind.

Soldiers covered in blood were using wheelbarrows to move bricks and stones, repairing cracks in the city wall. The congealed blood had long since turned dark red on the armor plates.

Intermittent neighing of horses drifted from the direction of the moat, and fragments of leather shields floated on the water, bearing witness to the ferocity of yesterday's battle.

Cha Nan kept his eyes straight ahead, trying his best not to look at those overly tragic scenes. Although he had accepted everything about this era, he still needed a process to fully adapt.

On the city wall, Guo Jing, clad in bronze-yellow armor, stood there like a god under the morning sun, unshakeable, with a resolute gaze and a stern expression.

Stripped of his usual gentleness, he was the soul of all the guards here.

As long as he stands steadfastly as ever, then everyone's faith will not crumble.

"Uncle Guo!" Cha Nan stopped three steps away.

"You know everything?" Guo Jing asked without turning around, his voice still as solid as the earth.

“Yes! The Condor Hero has done me a favor, and I want to go and save him myself!” Cha Nan said.

This had to be stated, because he was very clear about his current value to Xiangyang City.

If Guo Jing is the soul, then his existence truly fills one's bones and blood.

The continuous supply of food ensured that the people of Xiangyang would not break down into utter despair or madness before the city fell.

"No!" Guo Jing refused decisively, but Cha Nan saw the bulging veins on the back of his hand, clearly indicating that he was also struggling internally.

He felt too much guilt towards Yang Guo, and also had a deep affection for his son. But now that Xiangyang was in such a precarious situation, if Cha Nan, who was crucial to their survival, were to suffer any mishap, then the city would be completely lost.

The fertile lands of the south will also fall into the hands of the Mongols.

Because he grew up in Mongolia, Guo Jing knew better than anyone the ferocity and barbarity of the Mongols.

Unlike the Jin and Liao peoples who had been influenced and eroded by the Central Plains culture, the Mongols were more primitive and rugged in their wildness, which meant that after they entered the south, the killing and abuse would be endless.

That would not only be the loss of the nation and its people, but also the loss and regression of civilization and culture.

“Uncle Guo, this trip is not just my business. The Condor Hero went to Nanyang to burn the Mongols’ grain supplies.” “With the Condor Hero’s abilities, even if he were trapped, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to leave. But he chose to remain trapped, which is enough to show that a large amount of the Mongols’ grain supplies are indeed in Nanyang City.”

"If we can burn the Mongols' supplies and force them to fight to the death, then perhaps we can get a chance to catch our breath and wait for a turning point!" Cha Nan said.

Cha Nan was very confident in holding Xiangyang.

After all, his stronghold is here, backed by the resources of the fantasy world. Even if he moves things like ants, he can gradually transform Xiangyang City into a powerful and dreamlike city.

But it takes time.

The technology of mythical beasts cannot be used directly in the martial arts world, which means that all construction and enhancement still require time and manpower.

Otherwise, Cha Nan could quickly transform Xiangyang into an invincible city that the Mongols could never breach, simply by unlocking the stone or steel building templates.

“That doesn’t have to be you!” Guo Jing said, turning around and looking at Cha Nan with a serious expression. “Your Aunt Guo has already written to the Taoist priests of the Quanzhen Sect for help. Although they are old and no longer able to perform their duties, they will certainly not stand idly by when the country is in peril.”

Cha Nan believed this.

The Seven Masters of Quanzhen may have had shortcomings in minor matters and be pedantic and rigid, but they were still able to distinguish right from wrong on major issues.

Qiu Chuji once went north to advise Temujin to reduce his killings, but unfortunately, after Temujin's death, the Mongol army reverted to its old ways, even more so.

Aside from others, Guo Jing's good brother and sworn brother, Tolui, once led troops to attack and plunder Sichuan, massacring the residents of Chengdu.

The ancient city, with a history of thousands of years, was left with no survivors, and the number of remains in the city reached an astonishing 1.4 million!

Later scholars, based on statistics from the histories of the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties, found that after the Mongol massacre, the population of Sichuan decreased from 13 million to between 600,000 and 800,000.

This explains why Guo Jing, who originally grew up in Mongolia, is now at odds with the Mongols and has no affection for them whatsoever.

With such a deep-seated hatred between the nation and its people, how can the so-called friendships of the past still hold any weight?
"I'm afraid it won't work! Although the Taoist priests of the Quanzhen Sect are highly respected, their strength is actually less than half of what it was at its peak. Going to Nanyang would be a death sentence."

“I am absolutely certain, and with Master Jellyfish accompanying me, Uncle Guo need not worry!” Cha Nan could only bring up Jellyfish Yin Ji, so she added, “Master Jellyfish only said I was going, and she just left!”

Cha Nan said this because he was certain that Guo Jing would not seek confirmation from Shui Mu Yin Ji, and even if he did, Shui Mu Yin Ji would not refute it, but would most likely admit it.

"Stay another half day... No! I'll go with you to your magical world of mythical beasts one more time, and I'll teach you the rest of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms and the Nine Yin Manual!" Guo Jing said after considering it carefully.

Cha Nan was overjoyed upon hearing this, as there was an unexpected bonus.

Although these were all lessons he had already planned to learn, Guo Jing was a rigid person who disliked being impatient for quick success. He originally intended to teach him the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms and the Nine Yin Divine Claw, which were vicious martial arts, after he had laid a solid foundation. However, he made an exception again, just for Cha Nan's safety.

After all, knowing one more powerful martial art means having more options for survival.

"Okay! Should we invite Aunt Guo to come along?"

“You’ve all had a long night, so you should go to my world to rest and recuperate,” Cha Nan said.

Upon hearing this, Guo Jing said, "Your world is so amazing. I would like to take the entire garrison of Xiangyang City there, let them rest and train for a while, and then come back."

Cha Nan just smiled, thinking to himself, "I'd like to too! But the conditions don't allow it! While Palu Balls aren't scarce anymore, they're not so common that everyone can use them. Besides, the work slots are limited, the team list is even more limited, and even the Palu storage space at the strongholds is limited. How could we possibly put all the city's garrison into them?"

(End of this chapter)