Chapter 725: Who are you looking for? (Part 2) [Requesting monthly votes]

Shen Tang's timing in making his move was extremely subtle.

She launched her attack when Tao Yan's vanguard had crossed the Miao River and there were still soldiers on the opposite bank who had not yet gone into the water. The vanguard was suddenly hit hard, and the rear would inevitably panic and flee. Those who wanted to retreat to the shore would be blocked by the people on the bank, resulting in people pushing and shoving each other, and those who could not get ashore would be knocked into the water.

Ordinary soldiers cannot form ranks, thus lacking morale. The fatal flaw is that the rafts beneath their feet are entirely formed from morale; if the battle drags on too long, and the morale that sustains the rafts is exhausted, these soldiers will all be swallowed up by the tide. In this situation, ordinary soldiers will struggle to protect themselves, let alone organize a counterattack.

In comparison, those with martial spirit remained relatively calm.

Tao Yan had quite a few brave warriors under his command. Although they were not strong enough to fight in the air for a short time, they could still fight back and barely hold the situation together so that it would not collapse completely.

The spearmen found amusement in stabbing the enemy into the water; seeing them turn back, the soldiers rowing the rafts practically swung their arms like human turbines. With wave after wave of arrows raining down from the archers, the icy river was stained with blood. If the enemy soldiers were still alive, soldiers would finish them off as the rafts drew closer.

If they still don't die after this, they'll all be prisoners of war after the war.

Amid the chaos, one could vaguely hear Feng shouting and cursing.

"Stop everything! Don't crowd!"

"What a bunch of brainless idiots—"

"Follow the orders of the military flag!"

The advance force was attacked, while those behind were still unaware of what was happening. The advance force then turned 180 degrees and retreated, but the rear reacted too slowly, causing a blockage on the river, preventing anyone from reaching the other side. Given the river's vastness, couldn't they retreat from the flanks?

However, Feng's order came too late.

They want to retreat from both flanks, but is Shen Tang willing?

But even faster than Shen Tang was a wisp of white.

Seeing this, Tao Yan knew that retreat was not an option. The rear was congested, the rafts were colliding with each other, and soldiers were constantly losing their balance and falling into the water. Being stuck here meant they were all within Shen Tang's firing range, making them easy targets. It was better to be ruthless and fight.

He drew his sword: "Charge back!"

"Gentlemen, let us join together to slay the traitor!"

Madam Feng and Tao Yan held different views. Even if they were to launch a counterattack, they should wait until the main army retreated to the shore before engaging in battle, as their side was too passive on the river. However, her opinion ultimately could not prevail against Tao Yan's order. Madam Feng could only glare resentfully at the opposite bank.

Regardless of the outcome of this battle, as an ordinary person, she would be in danger of dying if she stayed in the middle of the river; one wrong move and she would become fish food.

"withdraw!"

Madam Feng ordered her personal guards to escort her back. These two guards were both low-level martial artists, capable of handling minor situations, but utterly incapable of protecting her in this predicament. The guards obeyed, and Tao Yan remained completely unaware of their actions.

"Chen—You—Li—come out and fight!"

The sound waves pierced the clouds, each word filled with resentment.

You're not worthy!

The newcomer arrived on floating logs, ethereal and light as a ghost.

Before Tao Yan could even make out the attacker's face, two sword lights pierced down from above, aiming directly at the top of his head. Tao Yan, however, remained calm and unhurried, neither dodging nor evading. Only two soft clanging sounds of metal clashing rang out. The attacking general was knocked back several feet.

But the opponent merely retreated rapidly on the water's surface, leaving a trail of water behind, until his heel landed firmly on a piece of driftwood. With a slight push, he charged forward again. It was vaguely visible that the newcomer was a slightly tall and slender military general, wielding a pair of swords.

This person was naturally Bai Su, a military officer under Shen Tang.

She was always present wherever military merit could be earned.

If we can behead Tao Yan this time—

Thinking of this, she narrowed her eyes slightly, and her usually quiet bloodline began to gradually heat up and boil, the thirst for blood on the blades of her twin swords reaching its peak. Tao Yan could clearly see Bai Su's cultivation level, and immediately his face turned red with anger: "How dare you, you mere brat, be so insolent!"

He shouted, "Men, cut off this boy's head!"

Shouts of battle and screams of agony echoed across the river.

Shen Tang shielded the viewer's eyes with his hand, then pointed at Jiangxin and said, "Come on! Give that vicious dog Tao Shenyu a taste of technology and ruthlessness!"

Gu Chi's gaze remained fixed on a certain position at the front line. Only when he heard Lu Ji's puzzled "Ah" did he turn his gaze away and diligently act as a human simultaneous translation: "The lord means to have the archers prepare fire arrows and burn their rafts."

Lu Ji understood now and clasped his hands in a fist and bow, saying, "I accept the order."

Shen Tang said, "Why doesn't Zhi Zong go down and collect some merits?"

She remembered that the warriors in her family were all quite warlike.

Their military achievements lie in the enemy's heads.

Lu Ji said with distress, "The enemy is not good at naval warfare."

She wasn't incapable of swimming, but her skill was barely enough to avoid drowning. Most importantly, her preferred weapon was a pair of heavy hammers covered in spikes, the handles connected by chains made of sharp iron. They weighed a terrifying 240 pounds.

Body weight plus the weight of the armor plus the weight of the heavy hammer...

How could a simple wooden raft hold up?

To allow the raft to carry more people, everyone wore only a few pieces of armor when crossing the river, transforming into full armor only after reaching the shore. Lu Ji's cultivation level was not yet sufficient to allow her to walk on the water as if it were flat ground; she wanted to make a contribution, but the conditions did not permit it.

Upon hearing this, Shen Tang stopped insisting.

Gu Chi asked her, "Won't the lord go and meet Tao Shenyu?"

Shen Tang raised an eyebrow and retorted, "Is Tao Shenyu, that weakling, worth me personally killing? Sigh, invincibility is lonely. Let's leave some broth for the younger generation. This time, the protagonist shouldn't be me, it should be Wei Yuanyuan. As their lord, my presence here to oversee the battle is their greatest source of confidence."

She wasn't exaggerating when she said that.

Shen Tang brought 30,000 men this time, selecting over 10,000 elite troops to accompany her deep into enemy territory in Ganzhou. Of the high-level combat force, she only took Wei Shou with her; Chu Jie was left behind to cooperate with Kang Shi.

Wei Shou was a genuine 15th-rank Junior Superior General, and no one under Tao Yan's command was stronger than him. Furthermore, Tao Yan had the advantage of surprise, so if Wei Shou couldn't suppress Tao Yan's top generals under these circumstances… it could only prove that Wei Shou's 15th-rank Junior Superior General status was largely undeserved.

In a sense, this could be considered Wei Shou's first real battle after his surrender. Most importantly, Shen Tang allocated additional military pay based on merit. Those with outstanding performance and remarkable achievements would receive a larger share of the budget for the next quarter.

vice versa.

Looking at the battle, Shen Tang muttered to herself, "If Wei Yuanyuan doesn't perform well, I'll go and complain to Wu Hui later..."

That's what she thought, and that's what Wei Shou thought too.

This battle was not only to avenge Gu Chi and eliminate a potential threat, but also to establish Wei Shou's authority and quickly integrate him into their camp. However, as the saying goes, man proposes, God disposes.

As the battle raged fiercely, no one noticed that a long, dark shadow was quietly approaching beneath the dark surface of the Miao River.

bite--

The collision of metal ended with a single blow.

Bai Su had her sights firmly set on Tao Yan, a goal her generals naturally wouldn't allow. Initially, one general was sent to intercept Bai Su, but they underestimated her agility. Clad in martial armor and not particularly skilled, Bai Su managed to use the scattered driftwood on the river to maintain her footing, moving with practiced ease and grace. In contrast, Tao Yan's warriors were in a more awkward position. Although slightly stronger than Bai Su, they were helpless against her on the river, and were repeatedly pushed into dangerous situations, their bodies soaked by the river water.

But at least, Tao Yan was protected by them and remained unharmed.

"Since you're already here, leave your lives behind!"

[Arriving like thunder, it quelled my fury!]

[Like the clear light of a still river or sea!]

The twin swords were drawn with overwhelming force.

She drifted across the river like a wisp of smoke, her swordplay swift and fierce, the sword energy she unleashed weaving a vast net. The sword energy collided with its target, causing waves to surge around the water. The missing sword energy tore the raft beneath the general's feet to dust.

"Get out of the way, all of you!" Bai Su grew increasingly angry each time she was blocked from getting close to Tao Yan, but she quickly changed her strategy, focusing on the raft beneath their feet. She'd wait until they fell into the water before giving them a good beating!

"Ahhh—"

Before Bai Su could take any action, strange phenomena appeared on the water's surface again.

The enemy soldiers screamed as they fell into the beast's jaws.

Under the cover of night, a blue beastly shadow suddenly leaped out of the water with its gaping maw. The shadowy creature had a wide, square mouth with dense, sharp teeth; its body was angular and covered in scales; its limbs were thick and strong; and its tail was long and flat. It resembled neither a dragon nor an insect.

Its tail was even stronger and more powerful, possessing a flexibility disproportionate to its size. As soon as it leaped out of the water, it swung its long tail, aiming a vicious blow at the enemy general. The chosen, lucky warrior only had time to raise his arm before, with a crack, his wrist guard shattered and deformed. His body was sent flying as if struck head-on by a small mountain, crashing through more than a dozen rafts before finally plunging into the water with a thud…

This is a giant blue crocodile.

Its enormous size and the sheer presence of it floating on the water send chills down your spine.

Suddenly, a young, courageous martial artist descended from the sky, his feet planted on the back of the giant blue crocodile, a long weapon in one hand.

He grinned and said, "With such a lively atmosphere, how could I be absent?"

Bai Su lowered her gaze by three degrees.

She met the eye of the giant blue crocodile. She pursed her lips slightly, suppressing a strange emotion—she wanted such a majestic and fierce totem, capable of traversing both land and water.

Xun Ding was clearly unaware of his colleagues' envy as they stood on the raft. He chose his target and thrust his weapon forward: "General Bai, the enemy general's head is yours to take. Don't blame me!"

Bai Su finally came to her senses upon hearing this.

A sense of tension arose in my heart, fearing that my military merits might be lost.

He shouted, "The outcome is still uncertain!"

This was probably the most sought-after night of Tao Yan's life. Xun Ding and Bai Su were vying for him, and Wei Shou, a heavyweight general, also joined the battle after dealing with the petty thugs blocking the way. In this situation, Tao Yan was able to pretend to be calm at first, but when he saw Wei Shou also appear, his face turned pale, and he ordered a retreat while still trying to appear calm.

The officers under his command exchanged glances, and in an instant, their roles were clearly defined.

However, before Tao Yan and his trusted escort had gone very far, frost suddenly formed on the water in their path, followed by a point of icy blue light piercing towards his brow. The general escorting Tao Yan also intervened, intercepting the attacker and taking a closer look.

Tao Yan had some impression of this person.

In the blink of an eye, everything connected.

He was immediately filled with both hatred and anger.

What a pair of scoundrels, Shen Youli and Huang Xiguang! These two are in cahoots, plotting to kill him long ago. It's just a pity that he was fooled by their hypocritical act! It's no wonder Tao Yan had this thought, because the general blocking their way out was none other than Yun Ce, the young cavalry commander under Huang Lie. His moves were accompanied by chilling ice and snow, making him very distinctive and hard to mistake.

"Yun Yuanmou!"

Tao Yan revealed the boy's identity.

Yun Ce greeted him politely, "Lord Tao."

The two stood separated by the firelight, each with flames raging behind them. Firelight, shadows, screams, falling into the water… Tao Yan hadn't expected to be in such a sorry state. This scene involuntarily reminded him of years ago when his country was destroyed and his family perished, and the maids and servants of his mansion screamed and fled in the face of the invading enemy. The long-forgotten feeling of humiliation surged into his heart, accompanied by a surge of anger.

"Even you're stopping me! Huang Xiguang is really something!"

Tao Yan gritted his teeth in resentment.

"They actually colluded with Shen Youli to plot against me!"

Yun Ce initially wanted to say that this matter had nothing to do with his lord, and was entirely Shen Jun's plan. But then he realized that no one would believe him even if he told the truth. His response to Tao Yan was to draw his spear, sweeping away the troops attempting to break through. The general, who was considered loyal to Tao Yan, seeing that he was no match for Yun Ce, shouted:

"My lord, you shall go first!"

He was prepared to risk his life to delay Yun Ce and buy time for Tao Yan. The place wasn't too far from the shore; Tao Yan, as a valiant martial artist, could easily break through and reach the land. Once ashore, they could regroup their remaining troops and retreat, and there would still be a chance to rise again in the future.

But, in the next instant—

Wei Shou descended from the sky and slapped him away with one palm, cursing as he did so: "Damn it, the big fish almost got away!"

If Chu Liangliang finds out about this, he'll laugh himself to death!

Upon seeing this, Yun Ce put away his gun.

When Wei Shou arrived, Tao Yan had no way to escape. Even Wei Shou himself thought so. However, things didn't go as planned. Before Wei Shou could make his move and before the general could cover their retreat, Tao Yan disregarded the obstacles in his way and desperately fled to the shore.

Wei Shou grinned: "You're running away?"

Let's see where you can run to!

In that instant of hesitation, a column of water shot skyward from beneath Tao Yan's feet, and a large, transparent fish, entirely black except for its snow-white gills and belly, leaped out of the water. It let out a strange cry at Tao Yan, its wet tail lashing down over his head.

Tao Yan, who had only taken a few steps, was brought back by the camera.

With a loud crack!

Wei Shou raised his hand and grabbed him by the back of his collar.

When everyone looked at the big fish again, its figure had already disappeared.

Wei Shou asked, "Whose martial spirit totem is that?"

As a new member, he barely recognized half of Shen Tang's men, able to match names with faces, but knew nothing about their martial arts totems. That big fish had only lasted so short…

It is clearly a martial spirit totem that has only recently awakened.

Yun Ce shook his head: "I don't know."

He knew no more about Shen Tang's troops than Wei Shou did.

Wei Shou is at least one of our own, so there's no need to hide it from him; we'll find out sooner or later anyway. But Yun Ce, as a temporary worker, doesn't have that right.

"Never mind, it's not important."

He picked up Tao Yan, who was dizzy and disoriented from the impact, and looked as smug as a fisherman who had caught a big fish.

"As long as the person is caught, and still alive."

Wei Shou had already begun calculating rapidly in his mind.

How much budget can Tao Yan's head be exchanged for?

Unbeknownst to anyone, after the large fish disappeared, Bai Su's face became almost transparently white, and her dantian was completely devoid of martial energy. If it weren't for her powerful core strength, she would probably have fallen into the water from the driftwood.

[A post in the Qidian Book Review section about monthly pass rewards. Participate in the event; each monthly pass earns 200 Qidian coins. There are 200 spots left, expiring on the evening of the 7th. Don't waste your spot—the above conversation is free.]

(ノ￣▽￣)

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(End of this chapter)