Chapter 1332: A Secret Maneuver (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
"Oh right, you're not a coward, you're not afraid of death—" The rope-throwing warrior heard his own voice and uttered a sarcastic tone that he could never have produced in his life, "Then stick your neck out and prove it~ A real man can't say no."
Rope Dart General: "..."
Even as an immersive observer, her blood pressure was spiking; imagine how much more unbearable it was for the person opposite her. Look, the other person's face visibly darkened, as if a shadow had fallen over Ya Ya's excrement when the sun was setting, making it look both smelly and black.
Don't ask who Ya Ya is, that's her beloved horse.
Shen Tang: "..."
When it comes to a foul mouth, this military general under her command is no less so.
Looking up at the captain's face, Shen Tang couldn't help but sigh, "Fourteen years of literacy campaigns in the army have finally yielded results."
Who says that the brains of martial arts heroes are all in their muscles?
That metaphor was so precise and vivid; it clearly comes from a cultured person.
"You little brat, you're good at talking big!" The captain was furious with Shen Tang. Every muscle in his face was tensing up, his skin gradually turning an inhuman brownish-green. As his aura surged, the city bricks beneath his feet could not bear the weight and made a dull cracking sound. The dust and rubble that flew out of the cracks vibrated irregularly. "Let me cut off your tongue and eat it with my wine."
"Ugh, I don't want to French kiss you."
The sword's edge pierced the air, forcefully interrupting the opponent's charge-up.
Shen Tang didn't forget to continue provoking the other party's bottom line: "I've decided to take back my earlier assessment that you're still a normal person."
Judging from the act of cutting out a living person's tongue and stir-frying it as food, this captain is just as abnormal as Gongyang Yongye of Yunda Weicheng!
Oh, no—
The pseudonyms that Shen Zixu Tang has used over the years aren't really living people; they're more like dead people barely clinging to life, their very existence sustained by Zixu. The idea of cutting out a dead person's tongue as a side dish sounds even more perverse.
The sword slashed horizontally, a chill sweeping across the opponent's short, white beard.
The rope-wielding warrior stared wide-eyed, not daring to breathe.
She could now see details that were normally invisible to the naked eye, noting that the sword only trimmed the man's beard instead of severing his neck. She said regretfully, "Just one finger short!"
The image of my lord's smiling teasing echoed in my mind.
"The difference isn't just a finger's width." The scales on Dun's neck were fine and smooth, seemingly as thin as a cicada's wing, but in reality, they were impervious to blades and spears, and the longsword in Shen Tang's hand was not the first choice for breaking through the armor. Even if it hit, it would be difficult to leave a mark, let alone threaten Dun's life below the neck. This move seemed close at hand, but in reality, it was worlds apart.
In battle, one should avoid being impatient for quick success!
Upon hearing this, the general with the rope dart tried to understand his lord's feelings.
My mind was as calm as a still lake, eerily stable.
She subconsciously focused her mind to feel, and suddenly a thought struck her, and she vaguely felt a gentle breeze brush past, causing ripples to spread across the calm lake of her heart. As the lake of her heart rippled, the ripples spread, and the lotus flowers on the pond swayed, a subtle realization enveloping her entire being.
She opened her eyes after an unknown amount of time.
What comes into view is the graceful sword shadows that transform into countless forms.
It seems to be... light?
She thought she was seeing things because she was too focused, so she closed her eyes and opened them again to confirm that she wasn't mistaken. What appeared to be a simple, unassuming sword strike concealed countless thin, translucent blades of light. Each blade pierced through the gaps in Dunxiang's scales…
She nodded thoughtfully.
Among the weapons used by military generals, swords, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks are all very popular, but she specializes in rope darts, which is considered a very niche skill. A dart with its head attached to one end of a long rope has the advantages of being usable at both close and long range, being easy to conceal, and being able to strike suddenly, but these advantages seem cumbersome in a military that emphasizes wide-ranging and powerful attacks.
It is not very lethal and its destructive power is insufficient.
When facing opponents of similar level or with comparable strength, even a dart infused with immense force is unlikely to penetrate an enemy's armor. Against a reckless, inflexible fighter, she is utterly helpless. She has tried other weapons, but none have been as comfortable to use as the rope dart. Due to her limitations, she rarely engages in duels on the battlefield, spending most of her time leading troops in charges.
But this time, she seemed to have seen a new path.
As a seasoned veteran, how could the captain not see through Shen Tang's intentions? More than anything, he was overconfident and fearless! The dean's secret letter did expose his weakness, but the information was incomplete. His martial prowess was limited, preventing him from unleashing his full combat potential, but his physical body, forged through countless trials, was far beyond the normal eleventh-rank right-guard level!
"Boy, you think you can hurt someone with just a toy?"
The captain's eyes flashed with a fierce, cold light as he bravely met the attack.
bite--
The sword tips made a metallic sound when they collided.
The rope-throwing warrior's heart sank.
Unexpectedly, the opponent blocked the sword's momentum with his bare palm!
The rope-dart warrior's pupils constricted sharply. This man's hands were thicker and wider than those of ordinary warriors; not only were his palms brownish-green, but the lines on them resembled tree patterns. The blade, capable of slicing through gold and jade, not only failed to pierce them, but didn't even leave a mark!
Can the physical body of an eleventh-rank right-hand man reach this level?
The rope-throwing general was skeptical of this.
"Trying to run?"
With a swift movement of his palm, the captain drew in, grasped, and clenched the sword, which was now in his hand.
A palm strike loomed larger and drew closer before the rope-throwing warrior's eyes!
The howling wind exploded in her ears, and the ruins and debris on the city wall flew forward. The rope-throwing warrior's vision blurred, and the captain pulled her dozens of feet away from where she was standing. The palm wind only made her ears feel a little uncomfortable. She saw herself make a dusting motion.
"You couldn't even hit me at this close range? You're useless." Still speaking in a sarcastic, strange tone, the lord deliberately dragged out each word, rolling his eyes and waving his hand, "Ah, a mere toy dares to hurt someone!"
Bang--
A huge explosion erupted at my feet.
The general inexplicably felt that the destructive power of his lord's sword techniques was far less than that of her sarcastic remarks. The captain appeared unharmed, but in reality, his blood was churning, and he was likely suffering from internal injuries.
"You broke through my defenses so quickly."
The rope-throwing warrior felt his vision suddenly go black.
It turned out that the lord was enjoying the pleasure brought by the explosion's shockwave with his eyes closed.
When I opened my eyes again, dozens of hideous, twisted, and waving vines came from the ground, mid-air, and overhead... attacking from all directions.
"Plant-based warrior totems are very rare."
I only caught a fleeting glimpse of it during our earlier encounter, so I didn't get a clear look. Now, up close, I realize this thing is quite something—the surface of the vines is covered with countless sharp thorns, and tiny pink water droplets, almost invisible to the naked eye, glisten on the thorns. This is the source of the vines' eerie sweet fragrance. Not only can it constrict and entangle, but it also carries a poison that can slow down consciousness and induce hallucinations.
She smiled and faced the captain head-on, refusing to back down.
The explosion from the clash of their martial energies destroyed several nearby walls, and the corpses were crushed into bloody foam on the spot. Undeterred, she said, "I heard the captain ran into trouble when he was killing Shan Nian. Let me guess, is it related to your Martial Spirit Totem?"
These words are more damaging than the previous provocation.
"you--"
"Are you in an illusion or seeing something? Is your Dao heart unstable, or has it broken? I heard the Commandant has a very good temper. Are you genuinely good-tempered, or is it something you're forced to be?" Shen Tang insisted that the stronger the scholar or warrior, the more mentally flawed they were, including those under her command. This wasn't surprising; after all, each individual was a walking radiation filter. They used the energy of heaven and earth to temper their spirit and body. Over time, their strength increased, but their minds also became abnormal.
There's no reason why the captain should be an exception, is there?
Shen Tang said that she was just acting out of curiosity, but the captain wanted to tell her that curiosity really does kill the cat!
"You brat, die!"
Four words, each one laced with venom.
The city wall, stretching for over thirty miles, is shaking!
Something seemed about to burst out from under the bricks!
With nimble steps, Shen Tang controlled the slightly clumsy body of the rope-throwing warrior, executing the most flamboyant maneuvers. Light as a swallow, graceful as a feather. A deafening roar erupted as countless city bricks were flung into the air, sending sand and stones flying, thick smoke billowing…
Behind the smoke, the shadow of a huge object could be vaguely seen.
She stared at the colossal creature clinging tightly to the city wall, its enormous mouth filled with terrifyingly sharp teeth, and muttered to herself, "...This is really...Ultraman is going to fight a monster..."
"Fool, this is my true martial spirit totem."
Shen Tang: "..."
She roughly guessed why the Commandant had remained in this incompetent position as the Commandant of Shanyong County for decades—was the Martial Spirit Totem sealed here? This old man, not only had he never shown any kindness, but the Martial Spirit Totem had also rebelled? Shen Tang couldn't help but recall Gongxi Chou from back then; this fellow had also been relentlessly pursued by the Martial Spirit Totem and almost lost his life to Zhang He. After that incident, he survived, but his eyesight was compromised for several years during the transformation…
The blindness has remained.
Each time the Warrior Totem sheds its skin, it undergoes a brief period of shedding.
The captain's situation was more serious than Gongxi Chou's.
With this in mind, Shen Tang chose to switch from offense to defense.
The captain, enraged, laughed coldly: "What's wrong? Are you scared?"
The two clashed, their figures blurring into afterimages beyond the reach of the naked eye. Even so, Shen Tang still managed to find an opening and create distance. She stood on thin air, the city wall beneath her feet riddled with holes. Looking into the distance, she saw flames burning in the direction of the garrison camp.
Shen Tang said seriously, "No, the goal has been achieved."
The captain was taken aback, but Shen Tang chuckled and signaled, "You can leave the city walls for you to repair slowly. Next time, we'll be overwhelming them with troops. Let's just hope that Shan Yong County, already suffering heavy losses and food shortages, can hold on!"
Having said that, he withdrew without hesitation.
The captain then realized that Shen Tang wanted to run away.
Before fleeing, Chen Tang conjured a longbow in mid-air, lightly plucked the bowstring, and instantly a full moon appeared. A crimson arrow transformed into a burst of fire. Aiming at the frantically pursuing giant vine, the arrow left the bowstring, blood streaking across the sky, and pierced the gaping maw.
Buzzing—
The sound waves spread and exploded from the vines.
It sounded like a scream, like a roar, sending chills down one's spine.
The sound pierced her mind; the rope-dart warrior felt as if her brain had been struck hard by a hammer, her vision went blank, and she lost the ability to think. She didn't know how much time had passed before she finally emerged from this nauseous state, her hands and feet aching all over.
She was being held by the neck and suspended in the air, the scenery below her feet rushing past her. She frowned and groaned, "It hurts."
Hey, did I say these words myself?
Turning my head, I saw the lord's clean and handsome profile, and... that even smoother and rounder bald head.
"Our objective has been achieved. Let's withdraw now. How are you?"
"It's...disgusting..."
"It must have been an accidental inhalation of poison gas and the mental shockwave from that little monster... that old Deng's Martial Spirit Totem..." Shen Tang commanded the troops to retreat in an orderly manner. The guards on the city wall were unable to pursue, and the captain, who wanted to chase after them, had to stop because of the Martial Spirit Totem. "Go back and find a physician to treat them first. Make sure there are no aftereffects."
Shen Tang used the other party's number to fight, and the pain and injuries were naturally left on the number. She will probably have to stay in bed for three to five days when she gets back.
Looking at the section of city wall disappearing into the dust, the Captain of the Rope Darts asked, "This humble general is unharmed, but how is our lord now?"
This pain is negligible.
Which military general isn't tough and resilient?
Shen Tang shook her head and said, "It's nothing."
After the signal was sent, the troops that attacked the garrison camp in Sugyong County began to retreat in an orderly manner, which put her at ease. The objectives of this sneak attack had been largely achieved: the granary of Sugyong County was destroyed, the city walls were smashed—half of which were smashed by Shen Tang and his men, and the other half by the captain's out-of-control Martial Spirit Totem—and the garrison camp suffered heavy losses, making it almost a disastrous start.
Oh, it's Sugina-gun's disastrous start.
Shen Tang also confirmed Xiahou Yu's intelligence, which supplemented the strength of the captain and allowed them to make more targeted arrangements.
"I'll have to ask an expert later how to fight plant-based martial arts totems. Should I drown them, burn them, or poison them? If only I had paraquat..." She tested the waters with fire, but the totem only screamed and did not suffer a fatal blow. Drowning it would probably be even less effective.
At this point, you no longer need to envy other people's martial arts totem.
Shen Tang's humanoid martial arts totem was a bit out of place, but he was well-behaved. He didn't chase him to the ends of the earth like Gong Xi Chou, the python, nor was he as volatile and uncontrollable as the captain's martial arts totem. He was better than some, but not as bad as others.
Hehe, contentment brings happiness.
Xiahou Yu led troops to garrison the border between the two places to provide support.
Seeing the firelight appear in the darkness, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Gu De's troops were the first to return, and after what kind of chaotic battle they had gone through, You Rong, who was usually so refined and elegant, was holding a slightly whitish blade with a few strips of flesh hanging from the hilt.
"Is everything going smoothly?"
Gu Deshun relaxed his brow: "It went smoothly, of course."
Playing the enemy in their territory, chasing and hiding, was incredibly fun. Even Gu De himself got carried away, drawing his sword and charging forward on horseback. Lost in the moment, he ruined his perfectly good sword.
Seeing that Xiahou Yu's solemn expression hadn't faded, Gu De considerately pointed behind them: "Our lord is behind us. During the retreat, some pursuers caught up. Our lord led the troops to deal with them..."
Fighting and retreating simultaneously, their speed naturally couldn't be increased.
"Luo San has arrived?"
Gu De shook his head and said, "He seemed to have some reservations and didn't come."
Before leaving, he left a little surprise for his old friend, the dean, as a way to vent his anger over the fright he had suffered over the past two or three days. As the two were talking, their lord hurriedly arrived on a mule.
"Luo San? What Luo San?"
There are not many people with the surname Luo around Shen Tang.
"My lord was just fighting that person, how could you have forgotten?"
"Just now? You mean that Old Deng?" Shen Tang rarely bothers to remember the names of targets who can be addressed by a pseudonym. When he sees the information, his eyes automatically replace the person with Old Deng.
"Well, this man's name is Luo San, courtesy name Bert. It is said that when he was three years old, he was carried to a village at the foot of the mountain by a female beast and was adopted by a kind person. Because he was rumored to be the offspring of a beast, he was named Bert."
"Then he should have a younger brother named Luo Zhongshu?"
"The family that adopted him only had one daughter."
"Your name is Rowling?"
Xiahou Yu: "..."
Got it! ('ω')
Even though it feels like a tired joke, I still want to play it.
PS: The timeline in the article has actually been almost 15 years (it should be only a few months away from 15 years), and Yunda's 12-year deadline has also been more than three years in the past.
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