Remould the Glory of Sword Art-Chapter 1222 - 141: The Final Curtain of Departure (Part 2)
Xuanbei Pass, Inner City.
Mansion Pavilion, Second Floor.
The long night has finally passed, and the dawn light broke falling on the bed.
Du Yunzhong and Jian Qingqiu looked at each other in silence, the sound of hooves and clashing metals outside the pavilion gradually receded. Who would have thought this city, bustling with heated noise all night, would turn so silent at dawn’s arrival? Both had faces full of worry, Du Yunzhong concerned for the Great General’s safety in Qian State, while Jian Qingqiu was pondering the future path of the Chongzhou Iron Cavalry. Naturally, he was to follow the Commander southward... Through years of battle, he possessed not just the identity of Left Envoy stationed at Xuanbei Pass, but also long observed the Crown Prince’s immense power from his trips south following Yun Ruohai’s activities in Chong State.
Qian State, Sheng Zhou, Yun Province, Bian State, gathered Da Li’s wealthiest and prestigious families, raising a large number of Iron Cavalry.
These people were well-equipped, and also had veteran generals who had retired from the battlefield...
If Chen Chong and Han Li could join forces, they could naturally form Da Li’s most formidable, most powerful Iron Cavalry unit. But the Northern Five States were indeed too poor, too poor, and Qian State had the advantage for defense. Once those families relied on the terrain and completed their defensive hold, the balance would shift over time.
In short, this battle was by no means an easy matter.
Jian Qingqiu repeatedly calculated and simulated the sandbox and troop formations in his mind.
A "dong" sound.
The second floor of the Mansion Pavilion was lightly knocked on.
The white lotus-garbed Yun Ruohai pushed the door open and casually tossed two pieces of dry rations.
Jian Qingqiu instinctively caught it.
Du Yunzhong, however, got hit in the face with one.
"Damn it..."
Though restrained, Du Yunzhong’s fiery temper erupted immediately, veins bulging on his forehead, he cursed, "That Yun bastard, dare you untie me?!"
He had been locked up all night.
The Camp Cang and Yuzi Camp, both Iron Cavalry, had probably been completely controlled by now.
"Why wouldn’t I dare?"
Yun Ruohai said calmly, "News just came from Qian State. Are you sure you want to fight me first instead of hearing the intel?"
"Hmm?!"
Du Yunzhong’s tiger eyes widened.
He knew that Han Li and Nalan Qiutong had completely different styles; Han was a leader who cherished troops and had a compassionate heart. Although his brothers were suppressed, they would absolutely be unharmed... The most important thing now was the Great General heading south to Qian State.
"How is my general?"
Du Yunzhong quickly asked.
"The banquet at the Qian State Crown Prince Mansion was indeed a Hongmen Feast."
Yun Ruohai said slowly, "The Crown Prince laid many Death Soldiers and Array Patterns in the mansion. After Nalan Qiutong and the Flower Master accompanied Chen Chong to the mansion... Nalan Xuance arrived shortly after..."
Upon hearing about the Death Soldiers and Array Patterns, Du Yunzhong’s expression didn’t change.
He knew.
With the Great General’s skills, no amount of Death Soldiers or Array Patterns would matter!
However...
Upon hearing Nalan Xuance’s name, Du Yunzhong immediately grew tense.
"And then?"
He looked at Yun Ruohai, completely on edge.
"Is that your attitude?"
The white lotus-garbed man had a hint of amusement on his face as he asked playfully, "I was kind enough to bring you food, and how did you treat me before?"
"You, Yun bastard..."
Caught at such a critical juncture, Du Yunzhong erupted again in rage, yet quickly softened.
He forced a smile, "You’re my master, I’m the bastard."
"Why does that sound strange?"
Yun Ruohai frowned, stopped teasing the Tiger General Du Yunzhong, and seriously said, "Nalan Xuance used the Iron Curtain to detain Chen Chong, but in the end, it was a close call... Chen Chong has already escaped and is currently heading to Xuanbei Pass."
The news from the Crown Prince Mansion was absolutely confidential.
Even the Buddhist sending many Dark Children was useless...
Tonight, anyone able to get within a hundred zhang of the mansion was absolutely the Crown Prince’s trusted confidant.
"This information... Where did it come from?"
Du Yunzhong’s expression was grave.
"Xie Xuanyi."
Yun Ruohai stopped hiding, said calmly, "In the previous battle at Xuanbei Pass, it was Xie Xuanyi who intervened. This time, again him. He went to Qian State, and Chen Chong’s escape... was because of him. The information also came from him."
"Xie Xuanyi... Xie Xuanyi..."
Du Yunzhong’s expression grew complicated.
He lay back heavily.
His eyes showed hatred, anger, pain, and helplessness.
Before this incident, if asked whom he hated most in the world,
it would probably be... Xie Xuanyi.
Meng Kejian was the most important brother to Du Yunzhong in his life.
He witnessed Meng Kejian die at Xie Xuanyi’s hands; such a blood feud could not go unavenged?
But...
Xie Xuanyi saved his two camp brothers.
Xie Xuanyi also saved the Great General.
Not avenging Meng Kejian meant being heartless and selfishly cowardly.
Avenge Meng Kejian meant not recognizing gratitude and betraying in return.
No matter what choice was made, it violated Du Yunzhong’s personal principles.
"The General is unharmed... That’s good..."
Du Yunzhong painfully exhaled a breath of pent-up air, his tensed body gradually relaxing. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
He had endured all night.
Just hoping over in Qian State, they wouldn’t be too cold-hearted and slightly remember the General’s merits, allowing for a peaceful parting...
Of course.
Du Yunzhong knew this was merely wishful thinking.
With the ways those in Qian State operated, they would likely take the heaviest hand, doing the harshest things.
If the General truly met an accident.
Then he... would have no reason to continue living either...
Of course.
Du Yunzhong wasn’t a weak person seeking death.
In this vast land of the three states, among these tens of thousands of Iron Cavalry, there should be an explanation. He would spare no cost to seek revenge on Qian State, even if outmatched in strength, he must avenge the General.
This battle-hardened general lay wearily on the bed.
This night was indeed too long.
"..."
Yun Ruohai, seeing this, sighed softly, waved to invoke the Water Dao Realm, unbinding Du Yunzhong.
The situation had become clear.
Now, in Qian State, Chen Chong was regarded as a traitor.
Now they were allies in the same boat, binding him further had no meaning.
"Have you thought about what’s next...?"
Du Yunzhong stared into space, his voice murmuring.
"In Qian State these days, they have been amassing forces, intending to besiege Wu State."
Yun Ruohai said, "The Crown Prince has issued several orders, all the Southern Four States’ families obey. Two hundred thousand Iron Cavalry have gathered in the southern part of Wu State... Soon, it will be the decisive battle for the Main Sect of Fan Yin Temple; in addition to these families, there’s the One Strike Sect, Chao Yin Pavilion, Black Flower Valley, Water Mirror Sect, Mo Sha Sect responding in turn."
"In these years, the efforts to destroy Buddha and demolish temples have weakened the Buddhist forces to an extreme point."
"This... is probably the final battle..."
Yun Ruohai’s expression was grave, exceedingly earnestly said, "If the Main Sect of Fan Yin Temple falls, the Northern Five States will have no remaining resistance."
