Nightfall

The Dawn Over Here Is Quiet

The utter defeat of the Royal Court’s main forces caused many tribes to stop following his footsteps. Scattered away on the field, they would inevitably be made captives by the Tang army cavalry. Some unlucky ones may even be taken away by horse thieves.

This terrified him.

This moment, he was made king over all of humanity. The next, he was shot through his cheeks by an arrow on the path to his coronation. Blood flowed everywhere grotesquely — no one could accept this truth easily — his confidence and might were crushed and shattered into particles that cannot be shattered any further.

This terrified him.

To him, the most terrifying of all was when he saw ten thousands of wild horses galloping from the rosy clouds of dawn afar. Witnessing the miraculous things that transpired before him, he just realized that all his triumph, his dream of galloping on the Central Plains, were all in fact a trick — a trick of the Academy, and a trick of that person.

Several years ago, there was a peace talk between the Divine Halls of West-Hill and the Tang. The Golden Tribe was the biggest beneficiary from that negotiation. The annexation of Xiangwan Plains and the coercion to hand over their troops were like a leash around Tang’s neck, no matter how one looked at it. But now, it was apparent that the Tang had intentionally showed their weakness to bait the Royal Court into this risky campaign down south.

“Ning Que, Ning Que, Ning Que…” He silently repeated the name, again and again, each call seeped deep into his bones.

He did not understand. The Academy’s scheme was quite risky. If there were any miscalculations, the plain cavalry could just rush south and take over the Central Plains, so why did the Academy go with it anyway?

Other than ending the bloodline of the Golden Tribe, what else was worth such a risk for the Tang? When did the Academy turn so cold blooded? What type of deep vengeance did that Mr. Thirteen had with himself?

After contemplating silently for a long time, Chanyu’s emotions gradually calmed down.

He had the talent and ambitions. He was defeated by the Tang beyond Guhe, and he had even seen the actual scenery of the Abyss’s destruction. But as an extraordinary great man, how could he accept this willingly?

Regaining his composure, he decided to go for another adventure.

The Tang had set up a trap, and waited patiently for three years, taking a risk to complete an impossible feat. Since they could do it, why couldn’t he risk it too, why wouldn’t he succeed?

He believed that Tengri has not abandoned him yet.

Not long after, the most respected elders of the tribe, A Da, General Lebu, and the high priest, representing the national master, all came into his room. They stared at Chanyu’s silent back while he looked at the sand table.

Chanyu pointed at an inconspicuous city on the sand table and said calmly, “I know the Tang and the people of the tribe have thought that this war is over and that the battle on the other day was the decisive one. But I do not think so. This dusty city is underneath our feet, it is also the final battleground that I have chosen.”

No one understood what he meant. The Royal Court was far from a match of the Tang. Even if they wanted a decisive battle, how would the Tang allow them the chance? In other words, did the Royal Court even deserve this battle?

“The Tang… or should I say the Academy’s aim is to exterminate our tribe. They want to kill every single one of us. Our goal now is to escape their pursuit and return to our homeland.”

“We have no supplies.”

“We have some stored in Qicheng Village, I have sent Su Yong to move them here.”

“Those won’t be enough.”

“Not enough for a hundred thousand, but if we take thirty thousand troops, it would suffice.”

“The Tang will be behind our backs all the time.”

“That is why we need a victory, a decisive victory that could cause chaos among the Tang. Only then can we preserve the final flame of our tribe.”

Chanyu looked at the empty plains on the sand table, and the seven distant strongholds. After a moment of silence he said, “If Xu Chi wants to kill us all, his troops can only push north in a line, their formation will be thin. If ten thousand Duoer Cavalry broke through their centerline, and rushed straight to the North Battalion, or even further south… don’t you think the Tang would be shaken? How would the academy react?”

“The Tang’s main forces can battle from dawn to midnight, Xu Chi would never make a mistake like this,” General Lebu replied.

“A general whose defenses are the best in the world will not make a mistake like this. Just like before… I would not make the mistake of pouring all my forces into the fray at once.”

Chanyu shook his head and said, “I did not see the trap set up by the Academy, and Xu Chi could only follow the Academy’s instructions. Since the Academy wants all of us dead, he could only execute accordingly.”

The room fell silent, everyone was doubtful. Chanyu’s decision wasn’t just a risky move, but a crazy bet — no, not even a bet — it was more like turning back to face the abyss of desperation and letting out a furious, helpless cry. Even if Xu Chi really pulled his formation too thinly, even if the Duoer Cavalry truly had penetrated to the south, they wouldn’t be able to turn the tables.

A Da’s eyes lit up. He completely understood Chanyu’s intentions. Chanyu wasn’t hoping to win. He just wanted to get away with twenty thousand elite cavalry. He will lose the war, but the Tang’s wish will not be gratified. When they have rested up, and secured the south with Taoism, they might try to conquer the entire human realm again.

Lebu was quiet for a moment before nominating himself, “I’ll go.”

No one argued with him because this was neither an opportunity for honour, nor a sacrifice for the Royal Court, but a decision born from the hard, cold consideration of reality. Neither A Da nor the priests had the capability to command a large army.

The high priest proposed, “The national master will follow us, and escort Chanyu back to the plains.”

A Da did not say anything because he knew the role he has to play. When the Duoer Cavalry would be able to break through the Tang’s defenses, and when they start to kill and pillage around the North Battalion at the moment when everyone least expected, the Tang army will pursue the Royal Court where Chanyu was in with their quickest pace. The quickest pace demands the shortest route, and the shortest route is a straight line, which seemed to be a teaching of the Academy.

The Royal Court will return north through the City of Wei, so the Tangs shall pursue them there.

His task was to guard the only street in the City of Wei.

A Da bowed to Chanyu and turned away. He walked to the street, and pushed the door of an old store. He sat down at a table beside, and he never left.

The rest quickly left the room, and began to prepare the escape and the mission to the south.

After the national master knew of Chanyu’s plans, he naturally had to make appropriate arrangements.

His room was empty again, Chanyu turned toward the window, and looked at the moon that hung in the night sky. From its warm and gentle radiance, he felt like he gained a certain power.

After the massacre of Wei, many houses became uninhabitable. The people of the plains were more accustomed to tents pitched outside of the city, anyway. His stay tonight was at a rather secluded small courtyard.

He did not know whom this courtyard belonged to, or who belonged to this City of Wei. So, he did not understand why did that person wanted to kill him. If he knew Tengri had lived here for many years, too, he might have had more different ideas.

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The battle that happened on the plains beyond Guhe, was the most epic and the most terrible cavalry war in a thousand years, after the Tang defeated the Wild people.

The Golden Tribe Royal Court Cavalry that participated in this war outnumbered the Tang. Besides, over the years, the Tang Cavalry was lacking in training in terms of riding. Theoretically, the Royal Court should have an advantage. However, the Tang army was the final victor, especially before the two hidden Northern Battlefront army brigades appeared, the vanguard battalion had forcibly stopped the Royal Court Cavalry that came like a rushing tide. That was because the Tang army had something the Royal Court lacked.

It was valiant. The Tang army was valiant, even the horses they rode on were valiant. In the spring winds, on the plains, the Tang soldiers brandished their Pudaos, quietly killing one enemy after another. The horses stepped on the wild flowers and grass as they galloped with abandon. They imitated their riders, terribly bullying the grassland horses of the Royal Court.

The Battle of Guhe was destined to be painted on the epic and beautiful painting known as history. In hindsight, this could not be considered as the most important battle in the realm of man, but it was definitely one of the most important battles.

After obtaining victory, even if the Golden Tribe Royal Court could fight again, they could not threaten the foundations of the Tang any further. To be straight to the point, from that day onward, if even the Royal Court had given everything they had, they could have never destroyed the Tang.

For the entire human realm, the more important thing was the Tang had finished their greatest enemies for many years in the north. Now the ministers in Chang’an could spend all their energy and resources on the south. If they launch and attack before Taoism could solve their internal strife, Peach Mountain will face an insurmountable pressure.

A few days later, Situ Yilan led the cavalry of the vanguard camp to the frontlines at Qicheng Village. At that time, she and the whole Tang army were surely winning, but they were vying for a bigger victory.

During this time, the bodyguards of the Northern Battalion and a part of the West Conquering army that were moved here from the Cong Ridge braved huge sacrifices while they bit the Royal Court Cavalry like a wolf. They were ferocious, not letting go even when its whole body was soaked in blood. The Royal Court Cavalry, known for their mobility, was forced into a sluggish retreat to the north. The day before, when only half of their forces had just entered the Qicheng Village line, the Tang main force was already right behind them.

In this situation, the grassland cavalry that have retreated to Qicheng Village did not dare to depart further into the plains. It was because that would mean leaving their backs to the terrifying Tang — not even the Duoer Cavalry dared to do so — as that would mean complete destruction.

The remaining hundred thousand or so grassland cavalry camped at Qicheng Village in an attempt to stabilize the situation. After forcing a stalemate, they would try to retreat behind the lines to shake off the Tang army’s pursuit, escaping deep into the plains.

But some of the tribes that only hoped to be lucky did not know that Chanyu had made a cold blooded yet the only correct decision. He wanted to use the tribes as a bait for the Tang’s main force, pulling their frontlines thin. Then, he will send out ten thousand elite Duoer Cavalry, forcing his way south without anyone anticipating it!

These arrangements required the sacrifice of more than a hundred thousand grassland cavalry soldiers. If everything went well, twenty thousand Duoer Cavalry and important people like Chanyu could retreat deep into the plains successfully.

This was a cruel and seemingly unprofitable exchange, but it was necessary. Now that the Tang army had horses, it wouldn’t be easy for the Royal Court to retreat to the plains. Especially now when the Tang army was apparently in a frenzy. They were a pack of wolves more ferocious than the grasslander. If the Tang army pursued them with all they have, the Royal Court wouldn’t dare to turn around and intercept them. Before they could go more than 300 miles, they would have been exterminated.

When Chanyu was doing his final preparations, the Tang army surrounded the Qicheng Village. “Surrounding” was inaccurate, because the northern plains seemed wide and borderless, accessible to them at anytime. It was the way out, purposely reserved for the Royal Court Cavalry by the Tang army, and was in fact, a dead end.

The Northern Battlefront army main force formed a stalemate against the cavalry of every tribe in Qicheng Village. But this situation did not last for long. Without any warning, the two sides began to fight fiercely again, killing each other for a time that seemed to last eternally. Both sides continued to reap each others’ lives, and there was chaos everywhere.

Three days later, the imperial flag waved in the air, smoke filled the sky, and the Tang army’s Commander’s Barracks arrived at the south of Wei.

The Subjugation General of Great Tang, Xu Chi, has finally arrived at the frontlines. He was not late. As long as he was able to arrive before the war ended, to witness the end of the Golden Tribe, he would not be considered as late.

The surprising thing was, neither Xu Chi nor Chanyu, who was in the City of Wei, issued any direct orders on the bloody battlefield that spanned several hundred miles on the north of the continent. They watched quietly as the cavalry on both sides continued to kill, die, and wait for reinforcements from Kaiping and other strongholds.

This was a war between nations to begin with. It was impossible to end it in a day. Before the end, there would be no time for breathing. I can only live if you die, that was the essence.

So Xu Chi did not do anything. Nor did Chanyu, but they threw their young men into the fray one after another, and they will kill or be killed. Especially for the Tang army, they have already achieved a winning condition. They only wanted to cut down their enemies’ remaining strength, to destroy their bloodline and country completely, which was also the essence of this war.

A few lines would not capture the bloodshed on the Qicheng Village frontlines. They would not be enough to describe the pressure on the remaining Golden Tribe troops, or the sacrifice offered by the Tang army. People would only remember that this siege that lasted a short few days have taken more lives than those on the Plains of Guhe.

Unlike the other strongholds like Kaiping and Qu City, the City of Wei, supposedly the true battlefield, was peaceful, void of the scent of blood, or the killing rush of cavalry, not even a single sound of a horse’s hoof.

The Golden Tribe Royal Court was here, and so was the Tang army Commander’s Barracks, but their battle seemed so far away.

Xu Chi looked at the ashen dusty city from telescope before frowning subtly and falling silent.

“Those who still can fight are thirty thousand Duoer.” An advisor explained unceasingly, “From our calculations, at least ten thousand Duoer remain around the perimeter of Wei. Is Chanyu really planning to guard the city?”

Among the Qicheng Village, the City of Wei was the smallest dusty city. There was a saying that grasslander are bad at guarding cities. The small city could never accommodate twenty thousand cavalry. Now the Duoer Cavalry camped at the plains north of the city, but did not retreat before the Tang army arrived. Did they really plan to fight to their deaths here?

Xu Chi looked at the Dusty City, and suddenly said, “They are going south again,”

The officers in the Commander’s Barracks all looked up in surprise when they heard this.

Right after experiencing a traumatic defeat, would the grasslander calvary dare to go south again? Even if the Duoer Cavalry were to penetrate the defenses of the main force, what could they do after they reach Xiangwan Plains? Could they be aiming at Chang’an?

Suddenly, someone noticed a problem.

“The Commander’s Barracks’ defenses are too thin, we should call General Situ as backup!”　An advisor said hurriedly, “If the Duoer really attacked us, the safety of the Commander’s Barracks would be a big concern. Moreover, once chaos ensues, we might just let Chanyu escape! ”

“We have no need of such unnecessary acts.” Xu Chi looked at the dusty city, and thought of that person’s promise. He asked, “Where do you think the Duoer will attack from?”

“If they circled around the city, it would be a waste of the horses’ strength, and it would be easy for our arbalesters to shoot them down. If I were Chanyu, I would choose to come through the city if I wanted to create a chaotic situation and head south.

Xu Chi said nothing more as he turned his back and walked to the camp to take a short nap. He had not slept a wink in a few days, so he was completely exhausted.

As for Chanyu’s plot or long-term plan, and his admirable decisiveness and vigor. Since he had already seen through he, he did not feel worried, because that person had promised that there will be no problem.

Xu Chi slept well that night. When he woke up, the sky was not fully lit yet. It was the darkest hour before the dawn. He arose and washed up, and emptied a bowl of horse milk. Then he wore his armor and brought his horse to the higher elevated meadow beside the camp perimeter. He took down the telescope from the saddle, and looked at the dusty city again.

It was dawn, and the world was silent.

The city gates were shut tight. There was no light in there, as if it was a haunted city.

But Xu Chi knew that Chanyu’s strongest men will soon burst forth from those very gates.

He appeared very calm before his men, but he was actually a little anxious. Else he would not have come here to scout his enemies so early in the morning, to sooner determine the time his foes will arrive.

The Cavalry of the Northern Battlefront army main force have been diverted to other battlefields like Kaiping, and Qu City. The Commander’s Barracks stood alone against the Golden Tribe Royal Court. How would they stand against the attack of ten thousand Duoer Cavalry?

Xu Chi had always thought he could completely trust that person. But as he looked at the dusty city before the quiet dawn, he felt uneasy.

The city walls were low, the archers platform above the gate was 30 feet away from the ground. When the morning light came, those with better eyesight could even clearly see the hardy grass growing from the cracks in between the dirt.

When Xu Chi was watching the dusty city, there was someone watching him from the city walls.

The Golden Tribe national master stared at the camps of the Tang army Commander’s Barracks on the meadow afar. He looked on as the war horses were feeding on straws while bowing their heads. He confirmed the information relayed by the Royal Court Cavalry, and his aged face did not regain its peace.

The Tang camp was quiet. As the battle at other strongholds continued bitterly, the Royal Court Cavalry were defending on their last legs. Joining the dots, he could tell that Xu Chi had already known Chanyu’s intentions. Why was he still so compliant?

The national master did not want to calculate the success rate of Chanyu’s risky tactics.

Since the Royal Court had their backs forced to the Abyss by the Tang, they had to struggle a little instead of just giving up like that. Wasn’t the last choice the best choice?

Yes, he knew these words were from the Academy.

Xu Chi’s confidence was mostly based on the Academy.

From the beginning of the battle until now, the Academy had yet to truly act.

The true aces had yet to act.

In the silent dawn, the national master looked at the sky, awaiting the presence of some people.

...

Morning Glow, Breeze, Wild Flowers, Grass, And The Arrow

The national master looked above to the sky as he knew someone would leap down from the sky soon.

The powerful figures from the Academy paid no attention to the Duoer Cavalry riding to the south because they were too many for anyone to handle except for Jun Mo when he still had both his arms.

For a single man to stop ten thousand cavalrymen, it happened only very few times throughout history. To some extent, it had nothing to do with one’s level of cultivation, but rather some indescribable momentum Even if Yu Lian and Tang were to show up to the south of Wei right now, they could not make it. In other words, it was not their style to do such things.

Therefore the Academy would do nothing to the Duoer Cavalry. Instead they would take their time when the Royal Court was gambling their last chance to seek for an opportunity to kill the national master and the rest dozen of priests. As for A Da and General Bule, they were definitely the Academy’s targets as well. But in the meantime, it was also the best chance for the Royal Court.

In a brutal battle or before a desperate move, every seeming opportunity could turn out to be a trap. No one would be able to see through the hidden messages unless Haotian was back to the human world. Therefore both sides could only try their luck with the firmest resolution at full speed.

The national master knew clearly that if Duoer Cavalry could succeed before the Academy and crush Xu Chi’s commander’s barrack in Northern Battlefront Army, the encirclement of Wei would be solved.

Even if the most powerful figures of the Academy were to make their strike together and defeat the remaining forces of the Golden Tribe Royal Court, they would never achieve their original goal of wiping out the entire tribe. Their goal would become a joke. That was what Chanyu and the national master was planning.

It seemed that the Golden Tribe Royal Court would have a chance to get out this morning no matter what.

The national master pondered silently. Right then the darkness gradually retreated and a dim light appeared from afar. Although the sun was not rising yet, dawn had come.

The morning glow fell on the national master’s aging face, as if refreshing streams flew into cracking fields. They were immediately absorbed by the fields and nowhere to be found again. The cracking on the fields seemed bottomless.

It had been widely known that Yu Lian, the Twenty-Three-Year Cicada and the Hierarch of the Divine Halls of West-Hill were the two most mysterious figures in the cultivation world. But actually the national master was no less mystical. No one knew his age or his lineage. Obviously he was different from the grassland priests. It seemed his cultivation was a combination of many schools, yet not belonging to either Buddhism, Devil’s Doctrine, or Taoism. It was unfathomable.

In fact even the national master himself was confused from time to time on what he was cultivating on throughout his everlasting life. It was because he grew up on the grassland with the priests. It was the priests of the Right Royal Court instead of the Golden Tribe Royal Court. Therefore his first exposure to cultivation was Buddhism.

When he came to the Golden Tribe Royal Court, he found in a wildmess the severely wounded Xiong Chumo, who was attacked by Yu Lian, or at that time known as Lin Wu who was still the leader of the Devil’s Doctrine. He saved Xiong Chumo, who taught him the secret Divine Skills of the West-Hill as a token of appreciation. Later on he traveled to Chang’an as well.

He cultivated and mastered Buddhism, Taoism, and Devil’s Doctrine. And was no doubt among the most knowledgeable figures in the world. His level was unfathomable. But he had also been trying to figure out what his ultimate goal would be especially after he was enrolled to the Golden Tribe by the previous Chanyu as the national master, he had become more eager to find out his purpose. He knew where that desire came from: it was every human being’s longing for affiliation, or a root.

It was not until many years later when he experienced the mighty will of Haotian and his body and soul was bathed and purified in snow water that he realized that it did not matter which school he cultivated on. The sense of belonging would never come from any lineage. It was all about faith.

As long as the faith was upright, it would not matter even he cultivated on evil means. As long as his goal was upright, it would not matter even if he practiced evil deeds.

Perhaps just because of such conclusions, he had achieved even more unfathomable level of cultivation. No one could figure out where he was heading. During the Rite to Light a few years ago, he did not show his true power because Ning Que was so powerful at that time and had Haotian on his side. The national master did not want the world to know his power.

For the sake of his faith, he had to defeat the Academy. Even as powerful as he was, it was not an easy task to defeat the cunning people from the Academy. He had to prepare and plot really well.

Ever since Yu Lian disappeared in the East Wilderness, he knew that the day was approaching. He had prepared quietly for three years. And those carriages by the wall of the City of Wei had waited in silence for three years.

Even if he could not succeed he would at least be able to trap those two people.

…

…

In this round of attack launched from the City of Wei, there was another very crucial factor apart from the endurance and patience of the national master and his fellow grassland warriors and the powerful figures from the Academy. It would be decisive if the Duoer Cavalry could crush the commander’s barrack of the Tang army.

The morning glow was yet to shine and it was quiet inside and outside the City of Wei. People seemed to be sleeping but rather sleepless. Many were watching the city gate anxiously.

Upon a low creak the gate of Wei was slowly opened from inside. Dust fell from the cracks on the double layered gate, reflected like pearl powder in the morning glory.

A sharp alarm pierced through the silent sky and spread afar. The Tang soldiers in the barracks in the south were awaken. They were well prepared and started delivering various kinds of weapons right away.

The last round of fight between the Tang and the Golden Tribe Royal Court had started unsurprisingly.

While the gate was opened slowly, a grassland cavalryman came forward on his warhorse. Both the cavalryman and the horse was fully armored. Only their eyes could be seen, proudly and indifferently.

The grassland cavalrymen were holding long machetes and wearing white cloaks. The cloaks floated in the wind like white clouds in the sky. Because of their cloud-like cloaks, this cavalry was named Duoer Cavalry. The name Duoer Cavalry was their pride. They were the best, most loyal and horrifying troop of the Golden Tribe Royal Court.

Throughout the past hundreds of years, there had been no more than six thousand of Duoer Cavalry even in the wealthiest generation of the Golden Tribe Royal Court. Those six thousand cavalrymen used to be the biggest threat to the Tang army.

Along with the rising of the Golden Tribe Royal Court, especially with the secret help from the kingdoms in the Central Plains under Taoism, the current Chanyu owned a Duoer Cavalry of thirty-six thousand.

In the brutal field battle outside Guhe, the Duoer Cavalry was the last to join. But it was only because of them that the Golden Tribe Royal Court was not wiped out and was able to retreat. And they had lost six thousands of their best men whose bodies were left to rot on the grassland.

After they retreated to Qicheng Village, Chanyu sent out twenty thousand from the Duoer Cavalry to reinforce Kaiping and Qu City, in order to draw away Tang’s main cavalry force. Only the best and most powerful ten thousand stayed in the City of Wei.

Ten thousand cavalrymen were a huge crowd. They could form a dark mass and cover a huge part of the grassland but the Tang army could not see the ten thousand right now. There was only one. They could only see a single cavalryman at the city gate of Wei, with his cloak floating in the morning breeze.

The cavalryman lifted the reins in his left hand and slightly pushed the belly of the warhorse with his boot heels. The warhorse moved forward. Clip, clop, clip, clop. The sound was slow and distinct. The cavalryman pushed again on the horse’s belly. The horse accelerated. The clip clop quickened. By then they were already twenty miles away from the city gate. The cavalryman pushed on the horse’s belly once again. The horse accelerated once again. So did the clip clop.

Then the man and horse dashed toward the Tang army. By themselves! The cavalryman from the grassland knew that he would be sacrificed. But he did not care.

Inside the city gate of Wei, a black wall vaguely appeared. That black wall was moving forward. And it was followed by a white wall. The black wall was the cavalrymen and their horses, while the white wall was their cloaks. That was a line of Duoer Cavalry. The combination of black and white seemed like tides formed on an ink-black ocean. Countless soldiers from the Duoer Cavalry were getting ready to charge after the courageous cavalryman.

Clip clops were not heard inside the City of Wei. But they would be heard soon.

Once launched, they will be thunder or even like the beats of huge drums. The cavalryman who came out of the city by himself already came onto the meadow. His eyes were not covered by the armor, in which the indifferent look was already replaced mania and brutality. He raised his bloodsucking machete and was about to charge at full speed. The next moment, the ten thousand grassland cavalrymen followed and darted toward the Tang army. By then, ten thousands of white clouds were floating on the grassland.

The clops would intensify and the momentum would be built up. Who could stop them?

…

…

General Xu Chi stayed inside the commander’s barrack. He had six thousand cavalrymen and ten thousand well-trained infantrymen. He should not be worried.

But they pursued the enemies here over the night while their supplies were yet to come. And more importantly, many sappers and workers were still on their way. They rushed to make some trenches which were far from firm enough. If the horrifying Duoer Cavalry charged right now, they were not confident in defeating them.

Ever since the gate of Wei was opened and the cavalryman appeared, everyone inside the commander’s barrack turned to Xu Chi. They seemed worried and anxious.

Xu Chi was not worried because he was a genius in defending. Otherwise he would not have been able to keep the Golden Tribe Royal Court beyond the Qicheng Village for over ten years with his Northern Battlefront Army. But the rest were anxious because the Golden Tribe Royal Court was desperate today. If they were to make a single mistake when confronting the Duoer Cavalry, then it would lead to a horrible result.

The Tang’s only odds of success against the Duoer Cavalry were the Black Armor Heavy Cavalry. However, most of the Black Armor Heavy Cavalry were in the south confronting the cavalry of the Divine Halls of West-Hill. The only several thousands of Black Armor Heavy Cavalry in the North Battalion were sent to Kaiping by Xu Chi to help Situ Yilan. How could they defeat the Duoer Cavalry now?

That single cavalryman was accelerating and the clops had became seamless. The black and white tides of cavalrymen by the gate of Wei were still waiting for the charge.

The cavalryman and his horse drew a straight line on the field in the morning glow. It was a line of courage and spirit. The ten thousand Duoer Calvary would follow the line he drew and charge fearlessly and brutally. That was the momentum the Golden Tribe Royal Court was building up.

It was a resoluteness to fight till the last, and to flood with blood. It started like showering and continued non-stop and unbreakably like storming. If the Tang would let the grassland cavalrymen build up their momentum to the peak, it would put the Tang in a very dangerous situation even if they could kill the first cavalryman.

However it seemed they did not have a better way to break it because Wei was very far from the Tang barracks. Even the best shooter could not take down that cavalryman in advance. As for Tang’s most powerful defending weapon, the crossbow battalion that was formed on arrays, they could never reach that far either.

In that case, they could only get prepared for a frontal attack by the ten thousand Duoer Cavalry.

People stared at Xu Chi and waited for an order. What they should do right now was to call back the crossbow battalions who were sent to the east and west wings last night. There was a possibility that once these battalions were called back the grassland cavalrymen would attack from the wings. But it seemed to be vital to defend the middle way right now.

Xu Chi did nothing. He simply looked at the dusty city in the north under the morning glow, and listened to the increasingly distinctive, lonely but breath-taking clip-clops, emotionlessly.

“General!”

“Chief Commander!”

Everyone in the barracks was worried. They stared at him and could not understand why he kept silent. Did he have any other brilliant plan? Or did he decide to defend rigidly because he was concerned about the wings?

Xu Chi paid no attention to the confusion, anxiety and even anger of his subordinates. He stared calmly at the fields in the north, as well as the approaching soldier of the Duoer Cavalry.

A single cavalryman was charging at the enemy’s barracks. Its clip clops seemed lonely.

It was all quiet between Heaven and Earth. Colors drained from the fields between the City of Wei and the Tang barracks. Green grass turned grey, and the morning glow dimmed a lot. In a flat and grey background the courageous grassland cavalryman was the only moving object in the scene.

The grassland cavalryman had come a hundred miles out of the City of Wei.

The clip clops of the horse became more and more distinct. It seemed like drumbeats and hit on the fields. It shook off the dust from the grass and distorted the morning glow. Even the world seemed to have quaked.

In a short while, the best ten thousand grassland cavalrymen would come out of the city and launch their charge. Until then, drumbeats shook Heaven and Earth, and brought restlessness to the world.

Who could stop this? Who could break the momentum of the charging of the Duoer Cavalry?

It was silent in the City of Wei, so was Heaven and Earth. Suddenly some wind blew. The grassland cavalryman was down. The courageous and resolute grassland cavalryman who darted alone between Heaven and Earth fell off in the refreshing morning glow.

A very thin line of blood seemed extremely distinctive in the morning glow. The world regained its colors. And the chilling lights turned warm.

It was a death but seemed warm, probably because of the color of blood.

The grassland cavalryman fell off the horse and pounded onto the field. The stirrups Duoer Cavalry used were specially designed and would never entangle on the feet. Therefore the warhorse kept darting for another dozen miles before he felt something was wrong and slowed down. It looked back at its master who was lying on the field, raised its head and seemed confused.

The cavalrymen lay on the field in front of the city gate. He was not moving or struggling, not even moaning because he was already dead. He made no sound, and said no last words. He knew he would sacrifice his life but never expected it to be so silently and insignificantly.

The cavalrymen from the Duoer Cavalry always wore firm armor and furs from head to toe. Their eyes were the only parts that could be seen.

His eyes were wide open toward the blue sky but his vitality was gone. Only his blood was still dripping.

There was a wooden arrow in his eye. It was a very ordinary wooden arrow. No one knew where this wooden arrow came from. It was extremely quiet on the grassland. There was the morning glow, the wild flowers and grass, but no human being.

...

Arrow And Return

Before the City of Wei, a lonely horse. On the fields, a lonely body.

Like the perplexed war horse, all the people in the city and the camps of Tang were bewildered. Where did the arrow come from?

Dead silence filled the field, it was absolutely quiet, everyone was stupefied.

After god-knows-how long, the sound of a horse’s hoof was heard again. Another grassland cavalry soldier came out of the gate, riding slowly toward the Tang camp in the south.

Everyone’s eyes were locked on him. They all knew that in the next moment, he would meet his demise. The commander of the Royal Court Duoer Cavalry clearly wanted to sacrifice this man to determine where the arrow came from.

A gentle woosh, another breeze blew through the sunrise. The calvary soldier’s cape behind him flew up with the wind, disappearing before it could become a white cloud. Just like his life. Another typical arrow pierced deep into one of his eyes, conjuring a fountain of blood. When the soldier was killed, he had only went a little more than a hundred feet away from the City of Wei.

The galloping of horses echoed again as several cavalry soldiers rushed out of the city gates.　 The calvary soldiers brandished the whips in their hands, leaving one bloody mark after another on the horses’ rear. Their roars shattered the dead silence before the city gates, showing their reckless defiance and lack of fear for death.

At this speed, even the best war horses would not maintain it for long. They would never reach the Tang camp in the south at this pace. But it was obvious that they did not care.

This time the grasslanders did not worry about their tempo, or using time and acceleration to build up morale. They pushed their mounts to their fastest speed from the start as they only wanted to rush out of the city gates.

They cannot allow the arrows that came from who-knows-where dampen the Duoer Cavalry’s spirits. They cannot allow the arrow to completely break the tempo of their charge. They had to prove something.

Even if they were shot not long after leaving the gates, they could at least prove that the mysterious yet powerful archer cannot do the impossible, that he cannot stop all of the cavalry soldiers. But what happened next was truly impossible.

The morning breeze blew gently, the white capes spread apart like clouds. Three gentle whoosh passed by, and so the clouds gathered and blood appeared. The three soldiers fell from the backs of their mount to the ground without making a single noise.

Arrows were buried deep into their eye sockets. The fluid from their eyeballs were mixed with blood as it flowed out.

The three arrows were still the most typical, standard arrows used by the Tang army.

It was even more shocking and horrifying when the others found out that the three Duoer Cavalry soldiers were killed even nearer to the city gate, nearer than the second rider that went out. More precisely, they were shot dead right after they exited the gates.

Where… exactly did the arrows come from?

No one could perceive its origin yet because the arrow was too quick. How could a typical arrow be shot so far? And so quickly? Speed and distance depended on the archer’s strength, but what about its accuracy.

The Duoer Cavalry were fully clad in armor, only their eyes were exposed. Furthermore, it was far more difficult to hit them when they are riding at high speeds. But that person was hitting every shot from such a far distance!

Who was the archer?

Across the plains, there were countless talented archers within the ranks of the Royal Court and the Northern Battlefront army, or even among the horse thieves by the Shubi lakeside. But none of them could do this!

The fields beyond the City of Wei fell into dead silence again.

Some of them could roughly guess the origin of the arrows, not in the geographical or directional sense, but the person who shot them. Those who had a hunch were the national master, Lebu, and A Da.

To ignore such a long distance, killing elite riders with a single wooden arrow, one must had unimaginable strength, and must be an ace that has reached the epitome of cultivation.

When people talked about a true ace whose archery was legendary, they would first think of General Xia Hou. But after he was slain, only one ace remained — the one who slayed him.

****************************************************************************************************

Not everyone missed where the arrow came from. At the very least, the Tang common soldiers saw it clear as crystal.

In front of an inconspicuous archer tower at the northern corner of the Tang camp were chevaux de frise that were just set up last night. Behind the chevaux de frise stood some people, and something that looked like a short fence.

The dozen of Tang soldiers stared at that person in shock, unable to speak, and did not know what to do. Only now did someone realized this and reported to the superiors swiftly.

That person was wearing a normal Tang army uniform, and he looked like a normal Tang soldier. He held an unusual iron bow in his hand, the bow was dark in color, engraved with extremely complicated patterns and lines, as if endowing the iron bow with a magical power.

The short fence beside that person was not a real fence, but an array of arrows arranged closely. At least a thousand arrows were stuck in the soil and pressed together, giving them the appearance of a fence.

The galloping of horses could be heard coming from the City of Wei again. An unknown number of Duoer Cavalry attempted to rush out of the city gates once more.

From the forest of arrows, that person picked up an arrow, put it on the bow, and pulled the bowstring silently. When the bowstring was halfway to its limit, he released his fingers, the bowstring returned to its place, and the arrows flew far with a swoosh.

A dull moan echoed from below the walls of Wei, and then a heavy thud of a fall. The man had already plucked his second arrow by then, repeating what he did before. Another dull moan and heavy thud from the city gates of Wei, most likely the sound of another cavalry being shot down.

Every trained Tang soldier knew that shooting an arrow consisted of several actions. Starting with plucking the arrow, ending with releasing the bowstring. The people around who watched in shock did not find anything peculiar with that person’s movements… it even seemed simpler, more mechanical compared to the typical Tang technique. It was because it was simply mechanical, it did not stand out. Nor could it be described as elegant. But the arrow was so fast, it was beyond the realm of human imagination.

From the City of Wei, unlike the lone soldier just now, several Duoer Cavalry rushed out at once.But that person did not perform any legendary feats like the heroes in sagas. From the first to the sixth arrow, the Tang soldiers around that person did not blink. It was not because they were awestruck, but they had no time to blink.

In a moment before one could blink, six arrows flew out. The soldiers could not see each step of that person’s actions. But they could tell because that person’s movements were absolutely accurate, it was steady beyond imagination. Each action, repeated without variation, fingers always pulling the bowstring at the same spot, even his sleeves did not flutter one bit.

The six repeated actions were stacked together in the morning breeze. Combining them, one could see clearly. But they were merely afterimages. More arrows left the ground, went on the bowstring, and pierced through the air.

The Grassland Cavalry rushing out from the city gate fell on the ground one after another, their splatters of blood forming crimson flowers on the earth.

The cavalry soldiers continued to rush, and the arrows kept on coming without rest.

At last, the cavalry soldiers were too quick. That person could no longer aim, he stopped aiming, and instead, he just shot by flicking his wrist, elbows straight.

The sharp arrow traveled a long distance, approaching the front of the City of Wei, arriving on the bodies of the soldiers, on the horses, or the tough leather armor. And piercing through the tough armor! When the arrows touched the surface of the leather armor, their mission was completed. The shaft might be shattered by the great force, but it drove the sharp arrowhead into its final destination, deep into the flesh and blood of the riders or mounts.

Looking at that person’s silhouette behind the fence, the Tang soldiers’ eyes were filled with awe and fear. What they witnessed was inconceivable. How terrifying was the power of the arrows?

What was that person’s body made of? How could he dish out such powerful shots continuously? Even if he was a martial arts master in the army, he would have to rest after a dozen shots. Otherwise, his muscles and tendons would suffer terrible injuries. But he shot over a hundred arrows without a frown. His body was unmoving like a mountain. Was he short of breath? His chest did not even move one bit!

Suddenly, a hasty horn was sounded around the Tang camp.

Several Duoer Cavalry went round the city walls, attempting to occupy the meadows at higher ground from the flank, and then rush toward the Tang camp. That person ignored them. He was focused on the city gate.

The Duoer Cavalry hid within the city accustomed the arrows’ tempo. They found an opportunity, opened their gates wide, sending out several dozen of their best riders out at once! The second the several dozen Duoer exited the gates, as if countless clouds burst forth from a door between two mountains!

At this moment, even if that person’s archery was godlike, he wouldn’t be able to kill several dozen cavalry at once, not to mention the several hundred or thousand cavalry soldiers awaiting their turn into the fray behind.

The shouts in the Tang camp became hurried, 6000 cavalry soldiers rode their mounts, and got ready for battle. If the mysterious and terrible arrows could not defend the Commander’s Barracks, they would have to depend on their cavalry. But he did not allow the Tang army and opportunity to enter the fray. He shot his arrow quietly, as before. Facing the grassland cavalry that seemed like a cluster of cloud oozing out of the city gates, he let out a single arrow.

Just a single arrow. Unlike before, this arrow was not plucked from the field beside, but from the quiver on his back. The arrow was visibly different, its arrowhead was a cylinder.

A miserable cry tore the morning skies. Everyone watched on as the arrow traveled in a parabolic arc, and falling in front of City of Wei. A silent moment. And then, BOOM! A loud bang echoed before the city gates of Wei, a great load of dirt flew up, as if the sky was about to be torn apart!

Among the dirt that flew in the air, were the separated limbs of the soldiers and war horses, even some heads in between. The city gates fell. The clay and the bricks started to fall in a loud rustle, collapsing onto the many injured Duoer cavalries. Their painful cries and dull moans could be heard subtly through the soot and ashes.

Another arrow from the south. This one sounded crispier, unlike a breeze, but a hurricane, it unleashed a terrible cry. The cries of arrow sounded without rest. Several hundred arrows, seemingly unceasingly, pierced through the morning breeze, then the smoke, travelling into the deep parts of the city.

****************************************************************************************************

A grassland calvary jumped away from his dead mount, unsheathed his curved blade and looked around him anxiously. But he did not know where the enemy was. Suddenly, an arrow from the south pierced his chest.

A bloodied soldier picked himself up and walked out of the smoke. He was ruthlessly shouting something when all of a sudden, an arrow pierced through his mouth, came out from the back of his skull, blood was splattered like a blooming flower.

Another was on the ground, waving his curved blade to kill his mount, which was struggling frantically after it was shot. He struggled to stand up, his eyes filled with fear, and then he saw an arrow coming for his fear.

Poof poof poof poof. The arrows hit armors, eyes, throats, and other different places, but the sound it made was always the same penetrating sound. The arrows that seemed to be magical could pierce everything. There was death all around the flying smoke and dust at the city gates of Wei. This meant that the sound of arrows hitting and dull moans echoed incessantly.

After god-knows-how long, the smoke finally subsided gradually. The morning light dawned upon the City of Wei again, plating it with a hue of red. The morning sun that had finally peeked out from the horizon of the plains was red, as if it was dyed in blood.

The morning sun shone a blood red, just like the blood red that painted the ground before the city gates. Now, the people within and out of the city has confirmed where the arrows came from. They all looked at the fence in the Tang camp. Until now, not a single grassland cavalry was able to reach the Tang camp. In fact, other than the first three cavalry, not another man was able to go out of the City of Wei. The city gates were in a shambles, the soldiers and war horses were stacked into a hill.

Blood continuously oozed out from the hill, like countless tiny waterfalls.

In the past, at the Verdant Canyon, Jun Mo stopped ten thousand horsemen from passing single handedly with a sword. After he lost his arm, no one thought a scene like this would ever appear again. Who could have thought this was recreated in City of Wei today? But the situation was reversed. Today, an arrow from the north stopped ten thousand horsemen from exiting the city gates. That person’s iron bow, with his arrows on the floor, has trapped the Royal Court’s ten thousand cavalry within City of Wei!

****************************************************************************************************

As the explosion happened at the city gate, the several hundred Duoer Cavalry who tried to rush at the Tang camp from the flanks suffered a destructive blow as well. The arbalesters hiding at the side fired their bolts along with their pent up rage at them.

A series of buzzes echoed on the field, it was the tone of a string, as if countless stringed instruments played the same note. Moments later, when the note was gone, ten thousand bolts came down at the same time like a torrential rain.

****************************************************************************************************

The Royal Court designed their route of attack to go through the city because that gave them the shortest distance. But no one had thought that this would be a perilous road.

A flank attack required them to go round the city. It was too indirect, unable to break through the rain of bolts Xu Chi has prepared for them. As such, the only way was the straight path, and it depended on the Duoer making their way out of the city gates.

They can only continue their charge after they leave the gates. Only then could their remaining plans be executed. If they couldn’t even make it out of the gate, there was no point discussing the rest.

Behind the bloodied hill full of waterfalls of blood, one could hear the angry and frustrated shoutings of the Royal Court noblemen, their heartless command, and hurried footsteps. A huge crowd rushed forward, hoping to clear the hill of bodies away from the city gates, to clear a path for the cavalry.

In this process, the grasslander did not stop to consider if the hooks and ropes would hurt the bodies of the tribal warriors. Their will for survival trumped everything else.

But for the final remaining warriors of the Golden Tribe Royal Court, this day was destined to be one of despair. The Tangs left no chance of survival for them, not even the chance to carry their fallen brethren away.

Beyond the city, silence was maintained for a very short while.

The sky that was dyed red by the sunrise, suddenly revealed its original blue hue.

The wildflowers were waving gently as the wind caressed them, but they were suddenly frozen, the air that embraced the fragile petals was suddenly a million times more viscous.

The grassland war horses in the city and the war horses in Tang camp looked at the sky at the same time. They suddenly became anxious and restless, but were too afraid to release their emotions with their neighs.

The world was experiencing a huge change. But the world observable through human eyes stayed the same. It even seemed more peaceful and more beautiful.

Without a warning, several loud hisses rang forth, finally forming a terrible sight before everyone — the hill of bodies before City of Wei had collapsed. Since the city walls have collapsed, it would definitely crumble and break down, the beams and roofs of the building fell apart. The same went to the hill of bodies which was starting to collapse from the inside.

The sturdy armors, the muscular bodies of war horses has suddenly disintegrated into countless pieces of flesh and blood. The tiny waterfalls of blood turned into large gushes, and then everything fell apart!

A roughly twenty feet wide hole appeared in the middle of the hill of bodies. There was nothing in the hole but blood and pieces of flesh. The streets in the city were fully exposed. Anyone who were standing in the city could see the scenery outside clearly. But at that moment, there was no one who could stand in the city. The streets were filled with falling soil and years of ashes.

The wind continued to roar crazily.

The commoners and slaves who were moving the calvaries’ bodies, and the several hundred Duoer Cavalry who were standing in the middle of the street, ready to charge toward Tang Camp… had all disappeared, just like the remains that belonged to the calvaries in the hole.

A moment ago, they were living, the next they have become unrecognizable pieces of flesh and blood. The street became the most cruel Shuraba as described in Buddhism. Nothing remained but death. This was a passage for death.

This was the path the arrow travelled.

The arrow path stretched north all the way from the south of the city, destroying a retaining wall at the north. The several dozen great chariots at the wall were shining with Clear Light to protect themselves. Some of the great chariot were damaged at the corners, revealing their contents, which seemed to be human bones.

Staring at the south, the national master’s face turned pale.

The people who were hurt by that attack ran around while they were still bleeding to avoid the second round of attack. Panicked cries were everywhere, and they did not calm down until a very long time have passed.

The people hid behind wheels or uneasy mounts. Their eyes were looking to the south like the national master. Their faces were filled with horror, and their eyes seemed to indicate their sanity were falling apart.

At that moment, a vertical condensation cloud slowly appeared on the empty streets.

Some people had already guessed who the archer was correctly. Now, seeing the famous condensation cloud has appeared before them, their guesses were verified. But in a moment, a thousand men were killed, and half of them were the Duoer Cavalry that were prepared to charge.

This was no massacre, but it seemed more terrifying than one. Facing such an inconceivable sight, facing an enemy beyond imagination, the grasslanders could not even conjure their anger, but only fear, and feel sad for their own despair.

Even the bravest man of the tribe would lose all his confidence.

A sporadic sound of a horse’s hoof could be heard at the southern gates of City of Wei. The ashes started to settle around the hole in the hill of bodies. A man walked out from there. A limping horse pulled an old cart full of arrows behind him. He carried a quiver on his back, and the iron bow on his shoulder. His clothes were stained with spots of blood, water, smoke and dust. He wore a typical Tang army uniform. He looked like a common Tang soldier. He was a common soldier of the Tang to begin with. Many years ago, he was a soldier in the City of Wei. Many years later, he had finally returned to this city.

He was a wanderer that had returned to his countryside home. He was a veteran who dreamt of the horn of attack. He was completely ashen. He was unstoppable.

...

Back To The City Of Wei

The last fight between Tang and the Golden Tribe was launched in an early spring morning. Throughout the fight, Xu Chi stayed in the Commander’s Barrack and merely paid tens of thousands of crossbows. They did nothing else while over a thousand best cavalryman from Duoer Cavalry died in that person’s hands, killed by his arrows.

Chanyu rode on his horse and turned to look back at the City of Wei. He seemed devastated.

Since the Headmaster was gone, those off-record rules were completely discarded in the cultivation world. Liu Yiqing broke into the imperial palace of South Jin by himself and killed the former emperor, which led to a new world with new rules. Then the spring rain fell, and the form of wars in the human world was drastically changed.

The very few extremely powerful figures might not be able to change the future of the human world. But they were more than qualified to change the result of a war, just like what happened today in the City of Wei.

Liu Yiqing was the one being associated with such changes previously. Later on, it was the peerless Hengmu Liren in Qinghe Prefecture. From time to time people might recall Jun Mo who defended the Verdant Canyon many years ago. But it was not until today that everyone including Chanyu realized that only this person could bring fundamental changes to human wars.

Ning Que was the only one who could have overturned the battle completely because he had the ability as well as the tools. Moreover, he had the firmest resolution and strongest will power. Actually ever since he started cultivating, his practice and innovation had always been applicable in battles. He had always been working toward massive killing. Even Ye Hongyun was not his match in this aspect.

Probably the reason was that among all the top cultivators in the world, he was the only one who started as an ordinary soldier. And that was why he understood battles the best. Therefore he was of course the one to bring changes to the wars.

In the fields to the north of Wei, the withdrawing horns were blown. Intensive clops were heard. The remaining eight thousand Duoer Cavalry were escorting Chanyu to retreat as fast as possible toward the center of the grassland.

The Golden Tribe still had quite some cavalrymen and seemed to be able to launch another battle. But the morale of the Duoer Cavalry was severely jeopardized. They could no longer build up the momentum, which meant failure.

The gamble or the life-risking plan Chanyu had made was smashed before it could be executed. They were defeated before the battle was even started, which was extremely devastating.

The crossbow battalions were never a problem. Even if Xu Chi could block the city gate of Wei with his crossbow battalions, it would not put any threat to Chanyu. He actually had left this chance for the Tang people deliberately. He believed that his cavalrymen could withstand the horrible crossbows. They would be bestowed with greater courage by Tengri through the pains and death they suffered, and became invincible.

However he did not realize that the Duoer Cavalry could have darted through the crossbows regardless of sacrifice, but they could never survive that person’s arrows. They were discouraged and terror-stricken. That person appeared to be more horrifying than death.

What could they do even if they managed to retreat from Wei? According to the prediction of the priests and the wise, the Tang army would not give them much time to catch their breath. Despite the seemingly green and cheerful grassland and the familiar scenes, it would only become the graveyard for the cavalrymen of the Golden Tribe Royal Court. Even if they could eventually return to their home in the heart of the grassland, how many could survive until then?

Chanyu stared at the path leading to their home in the north. Thinking of the loyal warriors who were left in Wei and the national master and the priests who stayed in the south to close the rear, he felt distinctive pain in the chest and turned pale.

…

…

The Golden Tribe Royal Court did not even start their attack before their cavalrymen were shot dead by Ning Que. Retreating was desperate, yet necessary. If they did not want to be hunted by the Tang army and haunted or even wiped out by Ning Que, they have to leave some people behind to block their way.

About two thousand of best cavalrymen were left in the City of Wei. They were ready to sacrifice their lives to slow down the pursuit of Xu Chi’s six thousand cavalrymen. As for the rest grassland cavalrymen in Kaiping and Qu City, they had no choice but to be killed one after another.

Of course the Golden Tribe Royal Court had also left someone to stop Ning Que. No one else could have taken this assignment. It could only be A Da.

Ning Que walked on the street of Wei. His boots sank into the crushed human organs and blood and it sounded like girls stepping on grapes to produce wine.

Walking out of the blood flooded street, he got closer to the flag of the Golden Tribe. But upon the next step he slowly pulled back his right foot, stepped back to where he was and looked toward the side of the street.

He scared the entire Golden Tribe away by himself. It was a rare scene throughout history.

A thousand years ago, the Headmaster defeated the entire Divine Halls of West-Hill, which was a much more significant achievement. But what Ning Que did today was also outstanding. However, he did not scare that person away. A young man from the grassland was standing by the street. The young man was sitting in an abandoned restaurant for a whole night, waiting for Ning Que to come. That was why he missed his horrifying iron arrow previously.

It was probably his good luck, and bad luck for the Duoer Cavalry.

“I won’t be able to take the iron arrow, but it would not kill me either.” The young man from grassland stared at Ning Que and said calmly, “And you are too close to me now. I can see your every move clearly. So you can’t shoot me with the iron arrow. Let’s play a different game.”

Ning Que was carrying an iron bow and an iron cutlass on his shoulders. The iron cutlass was heavy and jet-black. But he was not pulling out his cutlass. He just stared at the young man silently.

He knew that was A Da. He had become the most powerful warrior in the Golden Tribe Royal Court and even replaced General Bule’s ranking in the tribe. He was said to be the last student of the national master, while probably even more powerful than the national master in terms of fighting.

This young man was perhaps the most powerful human being throughout the grassland now. However, only two years ago he was merely a miserable slave, skinny and mistreated, almost dying.

What changed his fate was the spring breeze and rain.

Ning Que looked above to the clear blue sky subconsciously, and shook his head. If it was in the past, he would have never talked to this powerful young man called A Da. Like Ye Hongyun used to say, if there was going to be a fight, why waste time to talk?

What mattered was the result, who would be killed and who would survive. But recalling that spring breeze and rain, he felt suddenly curious about this young man.

“Who named you?” Ning Que asked.

A Da answered, “Myself.”

Ning Que continued, “Why did you pick this name?”

“In your language from the Central Plains, A Da means good at fighting.”

Ning Que laughed and said, “I’ve been here for too many years and probably know the barbarian language better than you do. I know A means miserable and Da means wretch. You … are a miserable wretch.”

Upon hearing this A Da looked extremely embarrassed.

“The national master left you here to stop me. But actually he left you only with death.” Ning Que paid no attention to his being embarrassed and said, “Get out of my way and I will leave your body as a whole for her sake.”

A Da had no idea who “her” was, but he felt distinctly enraged because obviously the Mr. Thirteen from the Academy never regarded him as a real match. But why not?

He thought he had been showing enough respect for the Academy – Indeed, he had always been longing to fight his way to Chang’an and kill everyone in the back hill of the Academy. That was his way of showing respect.

But why was Ning Que talking to him like this?

“I admit that you are very powerful.”

A Da looked at the blood flooded street and the iron bow on his shoulder. He sneered, “But you have no idea how powerful I am. Without your iron arrow, how could you be qualified to look down upon me?” He was extremely enraged, yet he put on a smile to convey his contempt.

No matter how high Ning Que’s level of cultivation was, it could not be higher than the zenith of Knowing Destiny. But he supposed that Ning Que would never be a match to him without the mighty Thirteen Primordial Arrows.

Chanyu and the national master asked him to stay here to stop and slow down Ning Que while seeking for a chance to retreat. He took the order obediently but was actually thinking of a different plan.

He was Tengri’s gift to the grassland, the only embodiment of the vast and sole will of Tengri. How could he be defeated by a human being like Ning Que? He wanted a dignified victory over him!

Ning Que stopped smiling. He stared at him calmly and said, “Then go die.”

A Da squinted and put a brutal look on his young and swarthy face. He took a deep breath while his chest rose like a hill on the grassland. In a single breath he inhaled half of the air above the street, and charged endless Qi of Heaven and Earth into his body.

He was completely changed by that spring breeze and rain. He felt extremely intimate to the Qi of Heaven and Earth on the grassland, and could inhale and exhale it at an incredible speed. What did that mean? It meant that he had an endless source of strength.

Since he was acknowledged as the student of the national master, he also learned the cultivation skills of the Light’s Doctrine. The national master was extremely knowledgeable, mastered Buddhism, and Devil’s Doctrine and befriended Xiong Chumo. Therefore it was not surprising that he knew those skills. In other words, A Da was already a devil.

His body was even firmer than a real rock. And his life was more persevering than a real rock, plus he was gifted by Tengri. Therefore he regarded himself as invincible.

Indeed he was a bit afraid of Ning Que’s iron arrow. But after witnessing the real arrow today he thought that he might have a chance with it. He was indeed confident in himself. While A Da inhaled, the Qi of Heaven and Earth was overturned. A roaring wind blew through Wei. He looked at Ning Que as if he was looking at a dead man.

He was going to do something that Chanyu and the national master would never expected. He was going to save the Golden Tribe Royal Court, become the next never setting sun of the grassland, and shine over the entire human world.

That was why he had stayed aside during the previous war and witnessed whatever happened silently. He did not show up until now. He blocked Ning Que’s way and was about to take him down.

Everyone in and outside the City of Wei sensed the turbulence of the Qi of Heaven and Earth. The ordinary people could not see the change of Qi but they saw the abnormal signs in the sky. A piece of dark cloud came all of a sudden and blocked the sky and sun above Wei.

The powerful ones like the national master and Xu Chi sensed some distinctive flow of the Qi of Heaven and Earth, and felt different upon witnessing A Da’s horrifying power.

Wind roared along the streets. The remaining half of the restaurant sign was blown against the wall and created low bangs. Dust fell off from the wall.

Right then, Ning Que said something. “I bet you don’t know I used to buy a lot of liquor and roasted chicken from this restaurant. I won a lot of money from others, and even their underwear. And I rejected many marriage proposals, right here.”

...

I Retrieved What She Had Sent Out

Ning Que looked down the street, the buildings on both sides of the street were the same buildings made from yellow sandy soil that remained from previous days. These buildings turned into loess after being blown by the wind for a long time.

Back in those days, he played a hand game called Yindang Quan with others at the guest house, and Sangsang became the referee. Both of them would usually win silver coins, and left the guest house together. He would walk with both his hands behind his back while Sangsang who was carrying a wine pot and roasted chicken, struggling to catch up with his pace. At that time, both of them were stepping on the yellow sandy soil.

After several years, the guest house was broken, his old friends were gone and the yellow sandy soil turned into blood. Ning Que was stepping on the blood now and those are his old friends’ blood but those were also the blood of his many other old friends.

Inevitably, it was bringing back some memories. At this moment, it was not the same as those days, whoever looked at it, the emergence of these words were without rhyme or reason as it did not align with the ambience at present. Even A Da’s expression was extremely terrible-looking.

He felt as though Ning Que embarrassed him on purpose. He controlled his state of mind, exhaled a foul smell, stepping on a rock to get himself prepared for a punch forward. A very simple technique, maybe could not even be considered a technique. Although it was simple, the force was ultimately strong, not to mention its speed. A slight bombing sound was heard from the street. It was the consequence of the rapid collision of the air.

A Da’s punch was similar to an arrow, flinching it in front of Ning Que.

As mentioned by him, he was an expert in fighting, and he could fight very well. Such a simple punch like this was full of momentum, taking along a unique strong feeling of the grass land which was alike to Liu Bai’s Sword of the Great River.

If compared to other strong cultivators, one who faced such a punch would usually choose to avoid because the weakest point of a cultivator was his or her body. To battle with a powerful enemy who was equipped with light’s doctrine cultivation techniques and accepted the Heaven and Earth in its body, the first thing to do was to keep a distance from the other party.

But Ning Que did not move backward.

A Da knew that Ning Que would not, he knew that Ning Que had already entered demon hence his body shape would be strong as usual.

Ning Que had the sufficient capability, regardless of the power or the strength of the body. Thus he forcefully accepted the fist.

A Da was waiting for this instant, he wanted to produce a situation of confronting the tough with toughness because he had a number of ways to escape, and countless rough techniques, but now he needed a defense technique to support himself.

It was similar to the terrifying sandstorm during the season between spring and summer at the grassland. Walking through the plain land was not as scary if one knew how to keep a distance away from it, sometimes those views could also be considered as rare yet picturesque sceneries. However, if someone or something was placed within the sandstorm and started undertaking the force of the storm, then one would be hit and damaged instantly.

A Da’s fist and his cultivation techniques were similar to sandstorm.

As long as Ning Que did not retreat himself and forcefully accept his fist, this sandstorm would consume him. However, out of his expectation, Ning Que chose not to avoid or retreat, and he did not employ the dark methods vigorously. Looking from the positive side, it seemed he was not doing anything.

Ning Que’s face was expressionless. His steel bow was still on his shoulder, and the iron cutlass remained on his back. He was even putting both his hands behind the back, looking as though he was not bothered at all by the punch that was approaching.

No one could be less bothered. The fist from A Da came along with the invincibility being passed on from Haotian to the grassland. In fact, Ning Que had already responded to it, but A Da could not see it yet. He separated both hands behind his back and swiftly wrote a word in the air with his right hand.

After he had written the messy writing, his face turned even paler, and simultaneously an unimaginable strong psyche power spread out from his body, reaching Heaven and Earth.

The Qi of Heaven and Earth at the City of Wei was flowing into A Da’s body, and suddenly stagnated.

A moment later, the Qi of Heaven and Earth seemed to hear some kind of calling, began to condense into a solid crazily. The fierce sandy wind was blowing across the street, drawing the attention of all the people.

Ning Que wrote a word and that word would certainly be a talisman. Here came the sandstorm, but it was not from A Da, instead it was from him. Countless yellow sand from the ground, the wall as well as the empty tables and chairs of the guest house drifted and approached the street at an incredible speed, reaching in front of A Da’s fist. A clump of yellow sand represented a stripe of lace, consisting of an astonishing amount of the Qi of Heaven and Earth.

A hundred clumps of yellow sands were accumulated at the building of the city of Wei, obeying Ning Que’s instruction to fall on A Da’s fist. They turned into stripes of laces, appearing like the fist being enveloped by countless layers of gauzes.

An old yellowish gauze that came along with the stain of the pus.

Ning Que utilized the “Fu” talisman. All the yellow sand in the city of Wei was his talisman intent.

A Da felt as though his fist hit fiercely into a desert that was too deep to be seen, and the bottom part was moving slightly, a scary power was tearing his hand apart. The process of tearing apart brought pain but it did not make him fearful but instead made him more wide awake.

He made a soft howling sound and loosened his fist, spreading out five of his fingers like five machetes. He relied on his strong force to cut off the countless layers of yellow sand around the fist.

Ning Que pictured yellow sand breaking into pieces. He lifted his right hand to write a few strokes with a straight face. Obviously, the word written by him was very simple.

The force of the first punch had came to an end. He forcefully broke open the “Fu” talisman to regain his freedom. At once, he made a heavy step forward.

The first step on the ground depended on the force of Heaven and Earth, then he wanted to start another fist. It was still the simple punch as usual, flinching toward Ning Que’s face. His wish and desire was very simple. He did not expect this punch to be able to defeat Ning Que, or to hurt him but he hoped Ning Que could receive the punch vigorously. As long as Ning Que forcefully accept it, he would have means to deal with it.

Ning Que still did not accept the fist forcefully as A Da’s second punch was held by the second talisman written by him. When he was writing this talisman, he was not focusing on A Da’s punch, but the streets of the city of Wei.

The City of Wei was a military village. It was a real city that could only occupy very few people, and the buildings were limited. There were only four main streets with two vertical and two horizontal ones.

If one looked down from the sky, the main streets of the city of Wei would exactly form a word: “Well.” This was such a coincidence. The strongest talisman of Master Yan Se was the “Well” talisman, and the first talisman Ning Que learned was the same one.

This was such a coincidence as well. Ning Que glanced at the streets of the city of Wei and wrote a very simple “Well” talisman. This talisman used to break open a space in the Anonymous Mountain facing the northern part of the Chang’an district. This caused the old man, Wei Guangming, to call upon the unlimited light, forming the fragments of a mirror.

It could be not imagined how powerful this “Well” talisman could be.

The spring rain had cleansed the soul of A Da, hence, he was extremely sensible when it came to the changes in the Qi of Heaven and Earth. Even though he did not know about talisman, he could sense the differences between Heaven and Earth, causing his face to alter instantly.

As he confronted a rather spine-chilling and fierce talisman, he dared not throw his fist anymore. A loud yelping sound was transmitted through the street.

He took a hard step backward, crushing most parts of the street in front of the guest house. He released all his accumulated energy toward the ground in order to retract both his fists. Then, he covered his face with both his in a forceful manner.

The Ning Que today could have a slight difference in the knowledge of talisman if compared to Master Yan Se, but he had already reached the same stage as Master Yan Se in terms of the depth of talisman cultivation.

Even a strong individual like Wei Guangming, he could only block this “Well” talisman if only it exceeded the Five States. Even if the cultivation state of A Da’s devil’s doctrine was equivalent to the summit of the Five states, at this juncture, he could only choose to protect himself.

For self-protection, he could only use his own body to protect his life. At this moment, there was nothing in the City of Wei that was more reliable and stronger than his body.

The yellow sand whirled in eddies of wind on the long street and A Da’s body was nearly being enveloped as though he would collapse anytime but still persisted. Both his fists blocked almost all the talisman intents! He was indeed the gift from Haotian to the grassland. His body strength had surpassed a normal Devil’s Doctrine strong man.

It was not known how long it had been, the talisman intent of the “Well” talisman and the Qi of the Heaven and Earth had subsided in Heaven and Earth, even the yellow sand had also started falling off gradually with the disappearance of the violent wind.

A Da gradually loosened both his fists, and directed his gaze at Ning Que once again. His body was full of terrible injuries with countless blood flowing out from his body like a fountain. Both of his tough fists were showing appealing white bones, making someone being struck in terror looking at it.

The main point was that the bone necklace he was wearing on his neck had already broken into pieces. The body shape he was proud and confident of was damaged badly, not to mention his survival tool that had already been blown away by the wind. But he was still alive. As long as he was alive, he would stand a chance to win.

“I thought you confined yourself at Chang’an for many years and had lost your courage for battling and the capability to kill someone. I never thought that you are so knowledgeable, after all, I guess I underestimated the ability of the academy.” A Da stared at Ning Que, the innocence in his face had transformed into cruelty and violence. His gaze glittered coldly like a fox and contained with the immeasurable intention of killing.

“It’s such a pity that you still can’t kill me… I don’t know how you see through my cultivation methods, and after all you are not willing to accept my punch forcefully. But I am more interested to know even such a strong talisman could not kill me, what else can you do other than accepting my punch forcefully?” The way A Da described it was so pathetic but he sounded like a true winner. He looked at Ning Que without hiding his desire of killing and sense of contemptuousness as though he was staring at a dying old beast.

Ning Que fixed his gaze at him quietly and said, “I can still kill you.”

A Da opened his mouth and grinned brutally, “This human world might belong to people like you previously but it will be ours in the end because we are younger.” Upon saying those words, he raised his fist again. His fist was covered with blood, the thick white bones appeared extraordinarily terrifying under the gloomy clouds.

He gathered all his force in this punch.

Ning Que stretched out his right hand, and started writing a word on a street of the City of Wei.

This word was simpler, even easier than the word “Well” in chinese characters, it was only half the total strokes of “Well”. Half the total strokes of ‘Well’ could only be “Two” in Chinese characters.

He wrote a “Two” talisman.

…

…

Two unbelievable powerful talisman intents shrouded the whole City of Wei all of a sudden.

It had even spread until outside the City of Wei.

Half of the signboard which was left at the tavern drifted toward the center of the street and hung in the air without any signs of falling, appearing like a sword. The wall of one of the small courtyards broke through a hole and a hunting sword that was kept for many years could be seen half of its body as though it was eager to take a look at this strange world once again.

Those grassland cavalry who were about to dismiss outside the City of Wei, abruptly realized that the machete in their sheath started to collide continuously. They wanted to leave, just then, those Tang soldiers who were about to pursue and attack, felt a strong urge to draw their swords to kill their enemies.

Two talisman intents represented blade intent.

The expression on A Da’s face turned extremely ill-looking because he could sense the scent of death. He never thought that Ning Que had a more powerful tactic and he even had never thought that he himself could not differentiate if it was talisman intent of blade intent!

He made a shrieking sound full of wrath and reluctance and was forced to withdraw his fist. The breath of nature stored in his body exploded and he moved backwards down the street crazily, hoping to be free from the surroundings of the two talisman intents.

However, the “Two” talisman of Ning Que had enveloped the whole City of Wei. How could he be able to escape?

The wind was blowing violently and A Da was yelling in despair and frustration. The clothes on the body tore apart and shortly his skin started to break into pieces. The blood that had stopped flowing earlier, began to flow out from his body in a frantic manner.

He stopped moving backward. He used his fists to cover his face while using his strength to forcefully withstand the fierce wind.

Ning Que finally moved and headed forward to seize him.

…

…

Outside the City of Wei, as the national master saw the black wind that appeared like a dragon under the gloomy clouds, looking at the sand, feeling the swift and fierce talisman intent from the other side, he remained his calm and composed temperament, but his eyes revealed a deep surge of anxiety and vigilance.

Looking at the weird weather there, the expression of those grassland cavalry became worse. Suddenly, they heard a sound of thunder coming from the city of Wei, and later countless of the sound of thunder were heard at that instant.

The national master reverted his gaze and returned to his horse-drawn carriage.

…

…

The wind subsided and the sand eroded, even the black cloud disappeared in the sky. The sun shone on the streets of the City of Wei, and the blue sky could be seen clearly, filling the atmosphere with serenity and joyfulness.

The straightest and longest street in the city of Wei had an extra pit.

A Da lied down at the bottom of the pit with his whole body covered with blood and the bones piercing out from his body. He was already half dead, looking strangely miserable. If it was not the blessing from Haotian, he would probably be dead by now.

Ning Que straightened his body gradually, making a slight chest movement with his right hand trembling a little. His face looked rather pale. but the expression in his eyes was calm and composed like usual as though he did not release 300 punches within seconds.

The endless sound of thunder heard by all the people outside the city of Wei was actually the sound of the fists landed on A Da’s body. His facial expression was fairly pale. However, it was not related to the energy being used up but it was because of writing three divine talismans continuously. Even with his strong psyche power, he still felt a little overwhelmed.

A Da gave a desperate cough, and the blood spilled out from the corner of his mouth. He struggled to turn over his head to face Ning Que; his eyes were occupied fully with bewilderment and dreadfulness. But to hide his emotions, he revealed a contemptuous look instead.

He was not contented because he still had many methods that he had yet to utilize. Hence, he used the expression in his eyes to mock Ning Que. You still dared not accept my fist forcefully in the end.

Ning Que did not answer. He was not afraid to take the fist of the grassland youngster vigorously, but he did not feel the need to accept it forcefully. It was similar to the situation now, he was not fearful of explaining, but he did not bother explaining.

He wanted to explain something else. “You say you can fight. Let’s see how I can hit you to death.”

He stared at A Da who was half dead and said, “I know this is cruel but facing a vicious man like you, the word, cruel is non-existence. Hence, it doesn’t matter to me. I just want to make your other counterparts who are alive to be more fearful.”

Yes, many people were afraid now, frightened until their bodies were trembling.

Those grassland cavalry outside the city were desperately shuddering to strike the whip, wanted to run away from here, the faster the better, the farther the better.

Those grassland cavalry inside the city were shivering in fear and dared not moved at all. During the sand breeze, the punching sound as though the sound of thunder had resulted them to loosen their reins, causing them to cover their ears in fear.

No one had ever thought that the battle would have such an ending.

In the heart of these grassland cavalry, A Da was the gift from Tengri to the grassland, an undefeatable warrior. It was not possible to be hit like a miserable dog by the Tang Army.

The national master and Chanyu were clear of the strength of the academy. They doubted that A Da could defeat Ning Que, but they thought that he could block his opponent for a while, or even found a chance to escape.

Who would have ever thought that Ning Que would win so easily and expectedly?

A Da said earlier that Ning Que’s steel arrow lost its greatest power, then what else could be done?

He was actually very powerful, but he forgot one extremely important fact.

He could only remember that Ning Que’s steel arrow could greatly inspire the whole world, but he only remembered the condition of Ning Que after being enchanted. However, he forgot the fact that after Ning Que started his cultivation, the first thing he cultivated was not sword, not devil, not psyche power but a talisman.

The real identity of Ning Que was always a talisman master. He was now a divine talisman master.

Ever since the prayer at Peach Mountain, he did not use the talisman for a long time, causing many individuals to be forgotten of his identity. But he was the divine talisman master coming after Yan Se and the Sage of Calligraphy, the two most powerful divine talisman master in the human world.

A talisman master was invincible among the equivalent state. A divine talisman master was invincible among those below the Five States, unless encountering Liu Bai, Jun Mo, and Ye Su, those incredibly remarkable geniuses.

The real genius was actually not related to the word “Tian”. The talent was also not bestowed by god but was attained through self-training, brilliant talent, and supreme will. Once obtained, it would not be gone ever again.

The cultivation talent of A Da was all granted by Haotian.

Thus, he was not a real genius.

As long as he was still in the Five States, even within one short year, he could train his dark techniques, and being evaluated based on the cultivation standard as well as the Five States Zenith… but he still could not win over the divine talisman master.

Maybe it was because death was approaching, A Da seemed to have an epiphany, and the expression in his eyes quickly became gloomy and deep in the state of gloominess was a sense of reluctance, sadness, frustration and desperation.

It was because in this battle, the difference between Ning Que and him was too big until it was impossible to make it closer, too big until it made others desperate. Even if they had the battle again, he could not picture the hope of winning at all.

“Why…” The reflection before death resulted him to express himself verbally. He looked into the sky in oblivion and muttered, “Why… Why…”

Until the last moment, this grassland youngster was still bothered by a question that could not make his soul rest in peace. This was not related to the cultivation state anymore, but was associated with one’s belief.

A Da was very proud and confident because he believed that he was Haotian’s gift to the grassland.

Was his failure connected to the failure of Haotian? This was improbable. However, confronting this man before him, this was considered something that was logical and right.

Why was that so?

“This is my city.” Ning Que gazed at him and said, “I left Chang’an but I still came to my own city. No one in Chang’an could defeat me, and of course, no one can defeat me here.”

A Da shook his head in despair, gasping and said, “But Tengri…”

“Let me tell you something. Hengmu and you are the gifts given to the human world by her… She was always responsible for the finances at home, but she did not request for my consent before she sent these gifts out.”

Ning Que went into silence and continued, “Since she will not be around at the moment, I would like to retrieve those gifts. It is something expected so I don’t think she will be in a position to object to my decision.”

At this juncture, A Da could only understand who was the ‘she’ that was mentioned by Ning Que before the battle. Ning Que said that he would remain the whole body of A Da for the sake of “her”. His eyes turned into frustration, and later hopelessness, starting to shed tears silently in agony. Lastly, he closed his eyes, and never had the chance to look at the sky again.

…