As a general who had fought on the battlefield for many years, Liu Jinghong's foresight of danger surpassed that of Jing Zhe. Standing on the city wall, she not only watched the three sect leaders negotiate with the heavy cavalry regiment, but also kept an eye on the changes on the battlefield in the distance.
She noticed it when a dark cloud appeared on the dusky horizon, but the children hadn't entered the city yet, so she kept a straight face.
As soon as the children entered the city with the three sect leaders, she ordered the iron cavalry below to close the gates. Otherwise, when Jing Zhe shouted the last two words, "Come back," those sect disciples would probably have rushed out.
Soon, the three sect leaders arrived at the city wall, asking with puzzled expressions, "President Jing, what's this...?"
They were all ready to go out and make a name for themselves in front of Jing Zhe, but unexpectedly the city gates were closed and they were called back.
"Three sect leaders, look!"
Following the direction Jing Zhe pointed, the three sect leaders saw the sandstorm on the distant battlefield growing larger and larger, and emerging from the sandstorm was a black square formation nearly ten times the size of the heavy cavalry regiment in front of them.
These three sect leaders had lived in Liangzhou for many years and were quite familiar with the formations of the Western Frontier Heavy Cavalry Regiment. When they saw the large banner with a golden eagle fluttering in the wind, their faces darkened.
"General Wan from the Western Frontier Heavy Cavalry Regiment has actually arrived!"
"Ten thousand generals?"
Seeing Jing Zhe's confusion, Huang Kun of Huangfengling explained the roles of Wan Jiang, Ban Jiang, and Qian Jiang to him, and finally added, "As far as I know, this Wan Jiang has been stationed in the Western Frontier royal family's Kadian for many years, protecting the safety of the Western Frontier King. Why did he come out this time?"
The flags in Western Xinjiang all feature eagles, but in different colors.
The king's flag is a green eagle, symbolizing the grassland.
The banner of Wan Jiang is a yellow eagle, symbolizing the battlefield.
The half-generals and thousand-generals wear red and black respectively.
Previously, the five hundred heavy cavalry regiments below the city had been flying a black flag, but now the black formation moving from afar was led by a large yellow flag, followed by a slightly smaller red flag, and then four black flags.
Just by looking at the flags, you can guess how many people are coming from the other side.
The 500 heavy cavalry outside the city wall had obviously also spotted their main force, and they all turned around and ran back.
Outside the city walls, everything suddenly became completely empty.
...
On the city wall, everyone, from Liu Jinghong and Empress Yueyao to the disciples of various sects, had solemn expressions.
"Three sect leaders, it seems the martial arts manuals won't be easy to retrieve..."
He had promised the three that once he rescued the child, he would retrieve the martial arts manual. But now, due to unforeseen circumstances, he had no chance. Jing Zhe felt somewhat guilty.
"President Jing, it's alright!"
The three sect leaders waved their hands.
"Isn't the most important thing in a sect the martial arts manual? If the martial arts manual is lost, it's not a big deal, is it?"
The Holy Maiden Yueyao pouted and whispered.
Although her voice wasn't loud, the people around her still heard her and looked embarrassed. Liu Jinghong, fearing that her younger brother would be put in a difficult position, immediately came to his rescue, saying, "Don't worry, three sect leaders. If we really can't get the martial arts manual back, then this general will give it to you!"
Liu Jinghong had practiced martial arts for many years and knew that she had reached a bottleneck in her cultivation level. It would be difficult to break through to the next level. Martial arts manuals were no longer of any use to her. However, it would be good to use them to help Jing Zhe out of his predicament.
In particular, these sects wouldn't pose a threat to him; their martial arts skills are higher, which is actually a good thing for Liangzhou City.
"General Jinghong, this is absolutely unacceptable!"
The three sect leaders hurriedly waved their hands, but their eyes were darting around, as if they wanted to say something but hesitated, seemingly plotting something.
Jing Zhe, being closest to them, naturally noticed this and asked, "What do the three sect leaders want to say? Please speak freely!"
Huang Kun and Feng Da both nudged Wang Fujun, who then stepped forward with an awkward smile: "President Jing, we actually have a favor to ask, but we don't know if we should say it?"
"Just say it!"
"President Jing, although our three sects are famous in Liangzhou, we are not considered top-tier in Anguo. Otherwise, President Jing wouldn't have overlooked us during the martial arts tournament. As martial artists, we all aspire to join a sect like the Four Great Sects. If President Jing doesn't mind, could you allow us to join... the Heaven and Earth Sect?"
After saying that, all three of them raised their heads, their eyes filled with hope.
Before the martial arts tournament, no one had heard of the Heaven and Earth Sect, and naturally no one would compare it with the four major sects.
But after Jing Zhe decisively took over as the leader of the martial arts alliance, everyone's thoughts changed. If someone who was not even twenty years old could have the strength of the sixth level of the middle stage, their sect leader must be a grandmaster. At this level, he could already compete with the four major sects.
Moreover, Jing Zhe is also a government official with many industries behind him that are beneficial to the sect's development. So when the three sect leaders went back to call for reinforcements, they discussed that they would do everything they could to help Jing Zhe and build a relationship with him.
If I could join the Heaven and Earth Sect, that would be wonderful!
When introducing yourself in the future, "So-and-so from the Heaven and Earth Sect" is much better than "So-and-so from the Sand Gang" or "So-and-so from Huangfengling".
"this…"
Jing Zhe was taken aback by their request and replied casually, "My master is a wanderer, rarely seen. If you can't become his disciple, how can you join my sect?"
Hearing Jing Zhe say this, the three of them beamed with joy: "President Jing, we'd love to become your apprentices!"
Liu Jinghong: "..."
Empress Yueyao: "..."
"this…"
Jing Zhe was shocked. He looked at the three sect leaders, who were nearly fifty years old, and was speechless: "If the three sect leaders become my disciples, won't it make us a laughing stock in the martial arts world?"
Huang Kun, however, did not take it to heart and said, "President Jing is mistaken! In the martial arts world, the strong are always respected. People are envious of us for being able to become President Jing's disciples, so why would they laugh at us?"
The other two immediately echoed this sentiment.
After thinking for a moment, Jing Zhe realized that their Heaven and Earth Sect was currently comprised of a sect leader, a left protector, and himself as a right protector. The "vast" sect only had three people. When Prince Jin asked him about it before, he had given vague answers, which was somewhat embarrassing to admit.
Moreover, now that he has become the leader of the martial arts alliance, there will be more exchanges between the Heaven and Earth Sect and other sects in the future. If he doesn't have enough subordinates, it really won't work.
Thinking about it that way, it wouldn't be bad to bring all these people under my command.
So he smiled and said, "Since the three sect leaders insist, I can only reluctantly agree!"
"Master!"
Wang Fujun, Huang Kun, and Feng Da were all very excited and immediately bowed to Jing Zhe.
"Oh, no need to be so polite!"
Jing Zhe waved his hand modestly and said with a smile.
"I don't know what to say, my three disciples..."
"..."
————
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
