Chapter 828: The Death of Zhang He (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

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A slight, crisp sound.

The scholar Wenxin beside Zhang He coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The illusion shattered instantly, and the smoke-filled battlefield was replaced by a desolate wasteland. The moment Zhang He emerged from the illusion, his eyes widened in fury, his chest heaving with rage. For the first thing he saw was a familiar head severed by a scythe.

The latter's still-closed eyes were filled with reluctance.

It seems to be saying—

My lord, run!

The headless scholar's corpse lay face down on the ground, trampled under Shen Tang's feet. In her right hand, she gripped a gigantic scythe taller than a man! It was with this scythe that she had severed the scholar's head! Her expression was utterly indifferent.

Just in time—

The hot night wind brought an even stronger smell of blood.

They rushed into Zhang He's nasal cavity, causing a physiological spasm in his throat. At his feet lay lifeless corpses scattered about. Judging from the signs of struggle left beside the bodies, their deaths were quite abrupt.

Zhang He was able to escape from the "blinded by a leaf" trap entirely thanks to the scholar's burning passion for literature; otherwise, Zhang He would only have realized at the moment of his death that he had never truly escaped. He crouched down, cradled the head, and wiped the bloodstains from the other's face with his sleeve.

After doing all this, he brushed it across the scholar's face.

A sneer escaped Zhang He's throat.

"Shen Youli, you win."

It wasn't that he didn't want to escape, but he knew he couldn't—how could a wild rabbit running wildly in the wilderness escape a hawk eyeing it? He had the will to kick the hawk, but not the strength. Rather than struggling and becoming a laughingstock, he decided to accept it calmly.

Shen Tang's gaze remained calm and unwavering, neither sad nor happy.

Zhang He lowered his head, looking at the closed head in his arms, then scanned the corpses scattered on the ground. His heart was filled with sorrow and pain, and his face twitched unnaturally: "But you think you are the final winner? You! No! You! It won't be long before you follow in our footsteps... Hahahaha, we are all Gu worms in the same pot. Even if we fight for a Gu King, we will only be tools in the hands of others. Shen Jun, Shen Youli, you will be the same."

Shen Tang coldly looked at Zhang Yongqing, who was rambling incoherently, and said in a low voice, "What do you mean by that?"

Who on earth is this "other person" that Zhang He is talking about?

"Shen Jun is curious too?" Zhang He carefully lowered his head—if you closed your eyes and didn't see the two of them looking at the moment, just listening to their conversation, you would think it was an ordinary chat—he bent down to pick up someone's sword, staggered to his feet, looked up at the seemingly unconscious Shen Tang, and a sense of malice rose in his heart.

"It means that the closer you get to success, the harder you will fall. You and I are just worms fighting each other, who is more triumphant than whom? Huang Lie is the same!" He raised his hand and held the long sword across his neck, laughing maniacally, "There are some truths that Shen Jun will probably be kept in the dark until his death. Although I, Zhang, am short-lived and destined to die here today, at least I can die knowing the truth."

Having said that, Zhang He forcefully slashed his neck with his longsword.

As blood splattered, he lost the strength to support his body, his legs buckled, and he collapsed to his knees. Suicide was not an easy way to die, especially for someone like Zhang He. Before death truly arrived, he had to endure the excruciating pain of suffocation.

Shen Tang stepped forward and took a look.

Looking into Zhang He's not-so-large, bright black eyes, which held a hint of pleading—not pleading with Shen Tang to save him, but pleading with Shen Tang to help him and give him a quick death—his lips moved like a fish out of water, silently uttering not a single word.

Shen Tang, moved by kindness, helped him out.

"This guy didn't bring the Imperial Seal?"

Shen Tang collected Zhang He's head and ran his hand over his body, but couldn't find the Imperial Seal. Instead, he found a piece of blackened cowhide in Zhang He's bosom. The cowhide was placed near his heart, and curiosity prompted Shen Tang to open it. This thing wasn't dangerous; inside was only a piece of silk.

She shook the silk cloth open.

By the moonlight, a pattern drawn with ink could be clearly seen. It was surrounded by a narrow circle, and inside the circle were three identical fan-shaped shapes, which at first glance looked like clover. In addition to this pattern, the entire piece of silk also had a strange address.

"Whose family crest is this?"

Whose family uses such an unlucky pattern for their family crest?

Shen Tang put away the silk cloth, carried Zhang He's head, and rushed towards Chaoli Pass. Huang Lie led his troops to besiege the area, and it was unknown how long Wei Shou and the others could hold out. As for Gong Xichou, Shen Tang had Qingniao deliver a message to him, urging him to break through the encirclement as soon as possible to join them.

——

"I see the lord and the second young master!"

Wu Xian's trusted generals led troops to his aid.

Finally, they encountered the disheveled Wu Xian and his son near the foot of the Chaoli Pass mountain range. The trusted general dismounted to greet them, his eyes reddening with emotion: "My lord, I am late in coming to your rescue."

By the dim moonlight, Wu Xian could see the man's identity clearly. His tense nerves finally relaxed, and a feeling of relief at escaping death welled up within him. He endured his injuries and struggled to help the officer to his feet: "How many soldiers did you bring?"

The military officer answered truthfully.

He assumed Wu Xian was worried about not having enough troops, so he immediately patted his chest and made a solemn pledge: "We don't have many troops, but I swear to protect my lord's safety with my life! I will never let my lord and the second young master go into danger again! My lord, the second young master, please mount your horses quickly."

Wu Xian said, "You lead the troops up the mountain."

He still thinks about Shen Tang.

Zhang He brought too many elite troops, and Wu Xian didn't know how many heavy shield warriors were among them, worrying that Shen Tang might be caught off guard. Even if Gong Xi Chou later went to provide support, as an ally, he should at least make a show of support to avoid giving anyone cause for criticism.

The trusted general looked in the direction of the mountains, then at Wu Xian.

Wu Xian said, "I'm fine, just do as I say."

The trusted general immediately clasped his hands in a fist and accepted the order: "Yes, sir!"

There were quite a few generals who came to the rescue this time, and even without him in command, the lord would not be in danger. After the situation was resolved, Wu Xian looked at his silent second son, sorted out the losses, and couldn't help but burst into tears, his heart filled with regret.

"Father, it's all my fault!"

The second young master finally came to his senses.

He knelt down abruptly before Wu Xian, who was tending to his wounds, and before anyone could react, he kowtowed heavily. His head was covered in blood from the two thuds, startling those around him who rushed to help him up.

"What is the Second Young Master doing?"

Wu Xian, as the father, did not speak up.

The second son, with tears streaming down his face, said, "This is all my fault. If I hadn't insisted on going into the mountains to hunt, Father wouldn't have lost so many of my right-hand men. It's all because I was ignorant and caused harm. Father, please punish me..."

His injuries were the least severe among everyone.

If things get out of hand now, even two big men can't control them.

The second young master struck twice more, the muffled thuds and the blood flowing continuously from his forehead causing everyone great distress.

"Our bodies and hair are given to us by our parents! Second Young Master, you don't cherish them at all. Have you ever thought that our lord would feel sorry for you?" A military officer saw that the Second Young Master was about to kowtow to death, so he hurriedly stepped forward to stop him. He first restrained the Second Young Master, and then pleaded with Wu Xian, "My lord, this matter happened suddenly. It is all due to the enemy's cunning and ruthlessness. How can we blame the Second Young Master? Please persuade him!"

"Yes, we must make sure you don't hurt yourself."

One by one, the military officers stepped forward to plead for mercy.

Hearing their words of comfort, the second young master wept bitterly, still expressing self-pity and despair, and his father showed no sign of forgiveness. In a moment of desperation, the second young master charged forward, suddenly snatching a sword from one of the men. He drew it with a swift motion, preparing to kill himself as an atonement for his sins.

Despite his seemingly insignificant strength compared to the veterans, his sudden burst of agility caught everyone off guard. By the time he successfully disarmed the knife, a bloody gash was already visible on the Second Young Master's neck. His skin was torn open, and blood was gushing out.

Good heavens—

If it had been any slower, people would have died!

Wu Xian raised his hand and smashed a large rock beside him. The loud crash of the shattering stone silenced everyone. Even the second young master, who had been on the verge of death, was terrified by his father's murderous gaze and cowered like a quail. Looking at the chaotic scene, Wu Xian stepped forward and slapped his son.

That still wasn't enough to vent his anger, so he kicked her.

"Who are you trying to impress with your suicide attempt?"

"How many people risked their lives to save your life?"

"Instead of striving to improve yourself and avenge them, you're just making a scene here. If they knew they saved a coward like you, they wouldn't rest in peace! You bastard, are you still my son, Wu Zhaode's son? Are you?"

As he spoke, Wu Xian broke down in tears.

She held her son and cried uncontrollably.

Humans are not plants or trees; how can they be without feelings?

The vast majority of those who died in this battle were people he had personally promoted and poured countless hours of effort into. They had worked together for many years and shared a deep bond; tonight, they were all wiped out. It was impossible for Wu Xian not to be heartbroken and saddened, but he couldn't show it and could only suppress his emotions. It was his son's pure and kind heart that offered some solace to his wounded heart.

To outsiders, Wu Xian's tears were a sign of fear of losing his son, but little did they know that he was crying for his right-hand men.

The pent-up negative emotions finally found an outlet.

Wu Xian wiped away his tears and regained his composure.

Just as I finished bandaging my wound, an urgent report arrived.

"Report—"

A messenger, his face blackened by soot, rode up on his warhorse at breakneck speed. Wu Xian's heart skipped a beat when he saw this.

He asked, "What is it?"

The messenger was covered in soot and blood, and several large wounds were still bleeding. It was clear he had fought a bloody battle to deliver the urgent report. The messenger, panting, said, "...My lord, the camp has been attacked!"

Wu Xian clutched the clothes on his knees.

With a dark expression, he asked, "How many enemies are there?"

If the number of troops were small, the main camp could still handle it. But the figures given by the messenger plunged him into an icy abyss, his heart sinking deeper and deeper. His eyes reddened as he scanned the people protecting him. With all these people here, how could the camp possibly hold off so many?

The enemy initially numbered only 10,000, but as their camp was breached and reinforcements arrived in droves, their numbers had swelled to 30,000 by the time the messenger risked his life to break through the siege. Of these 30,000, a large portion were displaced people carrying hoes and wooden sticks.

Although locusts may not be very dangerous individually, when they swarm together, they can cause staggering losses.

"puff--"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Wu Xian coughed up a mouthful of blood. He was already severely injured, but he had been suppressing it with his martial energy. However, the news brought back by the messenger was too great, causing his emotions to fluctuate wildly. His internal injuries flared up, which is why he coughed up blood in public!

Before Wu Xian collapsed, he was helped up. His eyes were bloodshot, and he managed to utter two words with all his might: "Return to the rescue!"

Return to camp as quickly as possible to provide support.

Wu Xian Camp.

A thick fog so dense that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face enveloped it.

Despite the obstructed vision, the sounds of shouting and screaming could still be heard, accompanied by occasional gusts of wind and surging air currents. Ordinary fog would have been cleared away long ago, but this fog was strange.

Just as they were blown away, new ones surged in.

It was continuous and quite strange.

An ordinary person would have been thrown into chaos in this situation, but Wu Xian's soldiers were reassured because they knew it was the strategist Qin Li who had taken action. His scholarly approach was naturally suited for the battlefield, and over the years he had led them to countless victories!

As expected, as Qin Li's scholarly approach unfolded, Wu Xian's camp, which had been suffering repeated defeats in the night raid, quickly regained its footing, and casualties gradually decreased. They moved and regrouped according to Qin Li's instructions, forming units of five.

With a good balance of offense and defense, they are at least not lambs to the slaughter.

However, the enemy also had scholars and intellectuals who seemed to have found Qin Li's weakness. The two clashed, and the dense fog, so thick that one couldn't see their own hand in front of their face, briefly dissipated. But soon, the fog returned. The soldiers were bewildered, and Qin Li himself was also puzzled.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his finger.

He muttered, "They've already left?"

Outsiders might mistakenly believe that Qin Li or someone else had defeated the opposing scholar, but Qin Li himself knew very well that the opponent had withdrawn voluntarily, and quite abruptly at that. However, regardless of the opponent's intentions, it was ultimately beneficial to his side.

Qin Li refocused his attention and concentrated on commanding the battlefield.

"I wonder how things are at Chaoli Pass..."

Wu Xian's hunting expedition was ambushed, followed immediately by the enemy's raid on his main camp. These events occurred almost in quick succession; no one would believe there was no premeditation. Such a grand scheme couldn't have been aimed solely at Wu Zhaode's forces; the ultimate goal was Chaoli Pass.

Even a fool would know that Chaoli Pass was under heavy siege.

"Shen Jun, I just hope we can get through this safely..." Qin Li murmured to himself. They were barely able to protect themselves and had no spare energy to rush to the aid of Chaoli Pass. But he also knew that if they could win this battle, Huang Lie and his ilk would be facing certain death.

There is no other way but to pray.

For ordinary people, it was an ordinary night, but for the Northwest Continent, it was destined to be a pivotal turning point, altering centuries of war and chaos. Wei Shou and Chu Jie joined forces to meet the enemy. Behind them, Chu Wuhui calmly watched the approaching army below the city, his brows furrowed, seemingly hesitant.

Ning Yan suppressed her murderous aura: "Is there a problem?"

"Huang Xiguang does not appear to be in the central command."

Ning Yan was startled: "Not here?"

This is clearly impossible.

Judging from the size of the enemy troops below the city, they have definitely come out in full force. How could Huang Lie, as the leader of the forces, not be present to oversee the situation?

Chu Yao said, "I didn't sense the Imperial Seal."

Because the lord was also an important fighting force, it wasn't safe for him to carry the Imperial Seal into battle every day, so he entrusted the seal to Chu Yao for safekeeping. As the temporary holder of the Imperial Seal, he didn't sense the presence of another Imperial Seal beneath the city walls, which was strange.

How could Huang Lie not come?

Or rather, if he comes, where is the Imperial Seal?

|ω`)

The pattern in this chapter is a clue. The description should be quite clear. You can draw it to see what it is, hehe.

(End of this chapter)