Chaotic World Book-Chapter 291 - 286 General’s White Hair, The Tears of a Soldier on Campaign

Chapter 291: Chapter 286 General’s White Hair, The Tears of a Soldier on Campaign

San Niang had just led her group away when Yue Hongling came galloping over, and it was unknown whether San Niang had sensed the approaching hoofbeats in the distance and left so precisely on time.

Looking at the distant figures, Yue Hongling asked Zhao Changhe in surprise, "Who are those people? Your backup for killing Wu Balu?"

"Yes," Zhao Changhe thought to himself. San Niang probably didn’t want Yue Hongling to know her true strength. She left just in time, especially since being known as Xuanwu across the Worldly Society would probably make San Niang flip out.

So he didn’t expose her, only saying, "A group of like-minded individuals, along with Han Wubing."

Yue Hongling thought it was something else, "No wonder it was so easy, it was because you had a big group. Are they from the Hero Camp?"

"Mhm." Zhao Changhe asked, "How about you? You’re not hurt, are you?"

"We didn’t really fight." Yue Hongling’s expression was somewhat serious, "Chi Li has broken through the Secret Treasure, her actual strength now is definitely not limited to the sixty-sixth on the Human List. Next time we see her, we must not underestimate her, it’s best to leave as soon as we see her, the farther the better."

Zhao Changhe laughed, "Isn’t that what I have you by my side for?"

Yue Hongling turned her head and looked at him for a while, then suddenly said, "Hey, do you really want to stay with me forever?"

Zhao Changhe was stunned, "What do you mean by that? Do you want to split up?"

"I can’t bear to." Yue Hongling sighed, "But from a Martial Arts perspective, it’s actually better for us to be apart, whether for you or for me."

Zhao Changhe pursed his lips; he knew this reasoning all too well.

Especially since Hongling was stronger than him... If he always stayed by her side, once the dependency developed, it would truly be hard to make any progress.

Yue Hongling said, "After this battle, what do you plan to do next?"

Zhao Changhe thought for a moment, then asked back, "What about you?"

"I might head to the Southwest, pay a visit to Ba Mountain Sword House, and have a look at the Miao Region’s gu affairs. It’s necessary to venture through every corner of the land."

It seemed Yue Hongling had a very clear plan for her own path. A female knight like her, who roamed the ends of the earth, rarely settled her heart in one place.

Strictly speaking, although he had won her over, he might not yet be able to say he "won her heart," because her heart lay at the ends of the earth.

He didn’t know when she would feel weary and desire a home.

But it was clearly not the time yet; after all, her man was not the type to settle down either.

If neither had a home, where could they stay?

In fact, Zhao Changhe thought he could also go to the Southwest. For instance, he had always wanted to find Sect Hierarch Xue in Wushan, and since Wushan was not too far from Ba Mountain, generally speaking, they could be considered on the same path. Then, Yue Hongling could beat up Sect Hierarch Xue again, which was an amusing thought.

But upon reflection, beating up the Sect Hierarch was not the priority. He really had more important plans, such as finding the Blood Ginseng that Jin Pi mentioned, to lay the foundation for the "Blood Shura Body." So where to go next should follow the trail of the Blood Ginseng. There was no reason to decide a destination first, as that would be purely wasting time.

He had actually forgotten to ask San Niang about it earlier—she was well-informed and might truly have some clues.

In addition, he should try to contact Ji Chengkong to see if there was anything worth trading with the Thief Saint—learning Absorption Martial Arts and being able to use the storage ring was very important!

With that in mind, he smiled and said, "Alright, I need to go find some things on my own. It’s possible that with such fate binding us, in my search I might just end up by your side."

Yue Hongling, finding this interesting, said, "The world is so big. If you don’t intentionally come to the Southwest but still somehow find your way onto my path while searching on your own, then I..."

Zhao Changhe blinked, "What then?"

Blushing slightly, Yue Hongling bit her lower lip and turned her head away, "Then I’ll indulge you in that position you’ve always wanted to try."

Zhao Changhe laughed out loud, "I’m confident. Just you wait, my knight."

Yue Hongling scolded, "All you think about is that sort of thing."

Who brought it up first... Zhao Changhe didn’t expose her, instead saying, "Let’s go. For now, at least, we still ride side by side, to give Tie Muer a taste of the Central Plains’ shock."

Saying this, he spurred his horse forward, and the black horse Wuzhui galloped ahead as if overjoyed, "Let’s see whether your Red Hare is formidable, or if my Wuzhui is stronger."

Seeing his carefree manner, Yue Hongling’s internal struggle and reluctance dissipated as well. She became lighthearted too, and with a flick of her whip, she cried, "Go!"

...

Another sunset, the sun descends in the west, the distant sound of flutes, and the ground covered with clear frost.

Wild geese fly through the mountains, over the passes, heading south to return, straight towards Hengyang.

Winter had come...

But the people here had not known the warmth of their homes for who knows how long, and some may never be able to return.

Huangfu Yongxian stood atop the city walls, looking down at the endless corpses scattered above and below, no longer able to distinguish which were the enemy and which were his own.

Part of the wall had collapsed, and the soldiers were doing their best to repair it, but Huangfu Yongxian’s experience told him clearly that if it could not be fixed tonight, the barbarians would launch a fierce attack on this breach come morning. Whether they could hold it was now in the balance.

The soldiers on either side were already exhausted, their faces smeared with blood that had not been washed away for who knows how long.

Let alone washing, there was hardly any time for sleep.

The recent turmoil within the War Lion Tribe caused by He Lei’s death had kept them from participating in the siege. With this massive clan’s absence, Tie Muer’s onslaught had slowed somewhat. The main tussle between the two sides was now about food supplies.

As winter approached, there was not enough food on the grasslands, which was the main factor pressing them to assault the fortress.

But to Huangfu Yongxian’s powerless realization, after all the commotion, the enemy’s food supplies seemed barely less than his own.

The provisions here were short by significant amounts, and after passing through many hands, what reached Yanmen was hardly enough for the several thousands of military horses to subsist on.

Instead, vast quantities of grain were somehow making their way out of the pass and being scattered among the various tribes behind the grassland.

Huangfu Yongxian sent people disguised as horse bandits to intercept the grain from outside the pass to inside, using this windfall to make up for his own military’s shortfall, managing a stopgap solution. However, it had no significant influence on the overall situation. As long as the barbarians had enough military provisions, they could not be worn down, while his side was on the verge of collapsing.

Because the numbers were simply not on the same scale.

The barbarians could take turns attacking while his own side couldn’t even get enough rest, every single person was utterly fatigued.

In the past, knights of the Hero Camp from the Worldly Society rarely participated directly in warfare, mostly causing trouble behind the lines. Ever since Zhao Changhe saved six of them last time, fewer of them were venturing out now, earnestly assisting the military instead. Strong individuals like Cui Yuanyong and Situ Xiao were worth a hundred apiece, serving as the spearhead of the team with indomitable courage, which did boost the morale considerably. Still, it was not of much use.

In a large-scale siege involving hundreds of thousands, their impact was too slight.

They were barely holding on for now, but there were rumors that the War Lion Tribe had regained their strength. Once they pounced again, the situation would truly be dire.

His daughter often exclaimed, what’s the point of such blind loyalty to this inept emperor, this Imperial court? How many of our family have died? Was it worth it?

Turning his head, Huangfu Yongxian surveyed the surroundings. Seeing the old general looking their way, the surrounding soldiers mustered their strength to stand tall and proud, showing the general that they had not lost the will to fight.

Huangfu Yongxian smiled faintly.

Whether to surrender or rebel, this army had lost its soul, and so had he, Huangfu Yongxian.

Better to die then.

"General," finally, a Deputy General said, "the night has grown deep, and you are advanced in years. Why not rest? We can keep watch over the repairs here."

The old general laughed heartily: "My strength is the highest among you all; there’s no reason for me to be the first to sleep."

"General..."

"Worry not. As long as I live another day, Yanmen stands."

Cradling his helmet in his arms, the old general’s white hair was swept up by the northerly wind, appearing frosted in the chilly winter night.

The soldiers wanted to believe in these spirited words from the old general.

But he, not yet sixty, had already grown a full head of white hair. With the continuous strain on his mind and body, Yanmen might stand, but would the general?

Unbeknownst, the stars and moon began to fade.

The crowing of roosters emanated from within the pass, the eastern sky started to show the pale light of dawn, and streaks of early morning light painted the horizons, beautiful to behold.

"Woo~ Woo~"

The sound of the horn rose, the ground began to tremble slightly, and a sweeping tide surged from afar towards the fortress.

The flood stretched endlessly, so vast that even a distant glance exerted an almost suffocating pressure.

Huangfu Yongxian glanced at the collapsed section of the wall; the repairs had virtually no significance.

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