Chapter 1431: Seizing the Bridge, Blowing Up the Waterway (Twenty-Two) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
A fierce wind blew, and sand and stones flew everywhere.
In the instant the world changed color, the gale almost made people lose their footing.
The long iron chain bridge connecting the two ends of the battlefield swayed violently from side to side, a sight that made one's heart pound. Fortunately, the iron chain bridge had been laid with specially made wooden planks. Almost the instant the wind picked up, Qin Li gave the order to everyone to lower their heads and make sure their feet were firmly planted on the bridge.
Without hesitation, the soldiers followed suit, lowering their center of gravity in unison. As a light-colored aura of morale enveloped each squad, they became as stable as Mount Tai.
The Allied forces in the Central Region had no idea of this turn of events.
By the time they realized it, it was too late.
Below the long iron chain bridge lies a bottomless abyss.
One after another, soldiers were blown down like dumplings dropped into a pot, many more swept away in the chaos. Taking advantage of their weakened state, a dense swarm of arrows followed. Large numbers of Allied soldiers in the central region were riddled with bullets while still airborne. Even if some Allied soldiers had intervened to create a gust of wind and slow their descent, these soldiers would have been crippled if not killed!
Kangguo soldiers took advantage of the situation and landed in large numbers.
One by one, they drew the swords from their waists.
Shen Tang raised her hand to create a barrier to block the raging wind and waves, her gaze shifting upwards. When she saw the sky and earth upside down, and the black and white waterfalls converging between heaven and earth, rotating and intertwining around the point of convergence, transforming into a pair of yin and yang fish, she knew that Wei Lou had made his move.
Shen Tang clicked his tongue lightly, suppressing the discomfort caused by the burning sensation in his dantian. He raised his eyes with a cold smile, his gaze meeting that of the enemy generals with different expressions.
He pointed his gun at one of them and shouted, "Come on!"
He remained calm as his armor vanished without a trace.
Shen Tang remained calm, but the enemy generals couldn't help but panic!
Not only did Shen Tang's martial armor gradually disintegrate, but their martial armor also uncontrollably dissipated, and their weapons turned into countless specks of light that slipped through their fingers. An uncontrollable and enormous change occurred in their dantian, their aura transforming from domineering and scorching to gentle and clear.
After a brief pause, time resumes its forward motion.
Shen Tang is unfamiliar once, but becomes familiar twice.
With a grin, she drew a gleaming longsword, instantly transforming into a ferocious beast unleashed. Her feet pushed off the ground, and she moved like a wisp of wind across the battlefield. At the same time, she gloated, "A mother's sword in hand, cleaving through her wandering son! You little rascal, your mother's here!"
I'll beat my son on a foggy day; I'm just killing time anyway!
The sword light shredded the thin mist, the longsword cleaved through the strong liquor, and a hundred or so fire dragons rushed in all directions, their target the enemy generals who were besieging her. And these enemy generals, no, they should be called scholars, were all caught off guard by the sudden turn of events.
The fire dragon almost burned away all the moisture in the world.
The intense premonition of death spurred them to unleash their maximum dodging speed, tumbling and rolling on the ground in a sorry state. They had misjudged their current condition; their strength, speed, and unleashed potential were far inferior to their usual levels. Misjudgment inevitably led to more mistakes, with some unlucky ones even twisting their ankles or being struck in the limbs by stray arrows, instantly turning into frail scholars.
Hehe, isn't he just a weak and scholarly young man?
With a swift stroke, Shen Tang sliced open the throat of one of them, and amidst the horrified stares of the others, she deftly twirled her sword. The gleaming blade reflected her cold, murderous eyes: "Reincarnate!"
Allied enemy general: "..."
They couldn't believe what they were seeing. The unfortunate soul who had been killed by Shen Tang's sword remained blind until his death. They couldn't understand how he (themselves) had died so easily. What methods did Kangguo use to have such a wide impact?
Those least affected by Wei Lou's scholarly ways were actually the ordinary soldiers. The physical abilities of lower-level martial artists weren't significantly different from those of the scholars; martial energy was more of an enhancement for them than a qualitative change. The reversal of martial arts and literature only deprived them of their weapons for condensing martial energy; they could still use their backup weapons for close-quarters combat! White blades in, red blades out!
The deeper one's foundation, the greater the influence.
Before Wei Lou launched his campaign against the literati, Qin Li had already warned the entire army, giving them more time to prepare psychologically than the enemy. In addition, a significant portion of the elite soldiers were veterans from the previous battle against Gao, their hard-earned skills still intact, allowing them to maintain their formation. The remaining new recruits, though inexperienced, had received special training during their initial drills.
Yes, the Zhechongfu also practices this.
As the strong winds dispersed the thick fog, the chaotic battlefield gradually became clear, and even the naked eye could see quite far. Wei Lou scanned the battlefield and immediately noticed that the enemy and friendly forces were clearly distinct. One side remained tightly organized, while the other was showing signs of collapse, descending into complete chaos.
Wei Lou lowered his eyelids, lost in thought.
Well—
The performance of the Kangguo warriors was even comparable to the troops he had personally led in the past. Undeniably, their success was inseparable from Qin Li's advance warning and reassurance, and his strict adherence to orders. However, this alone was insufficient to achieve this level of discipline; further refinement and adaptation were still needed. Wei Lou shifted his gaze, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the refined yet resolute general beside him—Qin Shaoshi.
Qin Li wore military armor underneath and a scholar's robe on top.
The white and blue colors added a touch of aloofness to his overall demeanor.
Wei Lou: "..."
He knew Kangguo had experience, but wasn't Qin Li's reaction too fast? The latter seemed to notice his little movement and explained with a slight smile: "After the first battle, Senior Wei was willing to live in seclusion in Kangguo, so the lord predicted that you would come out of seclusion to fight again."
So they started getting familiar with it very early on.
Yes, it's better to be prepared.
Therefore, no matter which army Wei Lou followed on his campaign, that army could provide maximum support in battle. Wei Lou, unsure whether to be angry or amused, exclaimed, "Did she really think back then that I would come out of seclusion again? Or come out to help her? She—"
Is this kid too confident or too arrogant?
Isn't she afraid that her plan will backfire and all her efforts will be in vain?
Wei Lou had a thousand words he wanted to say, but when they reached the tip of his tongue, not a single word came out. These words eventually fermented and produced a strange flavor, a mixture of sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty, spreading between his lips and tongue.
In the end, only a helpless sigh remained.
Tsk, forget it, what's the point of arguing about it anymore?
Isn't her confidence and arrogance a form of foresight?
Qin Li said calmly, "Those with discernment in the world, even if separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, will one day return to the same source."
At first glance, the water seems to flow and the clouds disperse, but in the end, all rivers flow back to the sea.
Since he was like this, Wei Lou naturally felt the same way.
Wei Lou: "...Such arrogance!"
He appeared furious, but inwardly he felt a secret, bittersweet joy, an emotion that stirred a long-forgotten bittersweet feeling within him. Even though he stubbornly refused to admit it, he genuinely admired Shen Tang's pride. All rivers flow to the sea, and all people return to their hearts.
Qin Li smiled and said, "Don't you agree?"
If you don't approve, why would you be here?
Wei Lou: "..."
Actually, if Wei Lou had observed carefully, he could have noticed the clues earlier. Leaving aside Qin Li and the others, Gu Chi's attire today was different from usual; his clothes were much looser. Gu Chi was frail and thin, and overly loose and baggy clothes didn't fit him well. If the wind were strong, his clothes could practically fly him away like a kite. He deliberately changed his attire today, naturally, because he wanted to prepare for the worst—to avoid the embarrassing situation of his torn clothes during the war with Gao State.
Bare shoulders partially exposed, etc...
It's embarrassing enough if it happens once.
He stroked his muscular physique beneath his clothes with satisfaction, snapped his fingers with a smile, and donned his armor, exuding the air of a refined general. He casually straightened his robes, then channeled his martial energy into a longsword. With a few leaps, he bounded onto the iron chain bridge, skimming over the shoulders of several people like a nimble swallow, using the momentum to fly to the other side: "My lord, your humble servant has arrived!"
Which scholar or writer wasn't proficient in the Six Arts?
Gu Chi was a man who could kill enemies with a sword and gallop freely on horseback.
However, the military strength of generals in this world is too abnormal, rendering the martial arts skills of scholars useless, leaving them only with the purpose of physical fitness. But with Wei Lou around, things are different. The scholars suddenly become the backbone of the battlefield.
Of all the weapons available, Gu Chi only knows swordsmanship and archery.
The three-foot-long sword moved with effortless ease in his hands, cutting wherever he pointed. He, a scholar with a refined heart, transformed it into a sharp blade, tearing long gashes through the enemy ranks. Upon reaching the heart of the enemy lines, he found the longsword too slow, so he leaped into the air, stepping on an enemy's shoulder.
A green longbow materialized in his palm.
As the bowstring was drawn, the phantoms of more than a dozen arrows stretched out.
At the highest point, he released his fingers, the bowstring hummed, the arrow left the bow, and the dull thud of the arrowhead piercing flesh sounded so beautiful.
Having learned his lesson, he deliberately controlled his thoughts this time, avoiding another embarrassing outburst. Since he couldn't hover, he only briefly remained in the air before gravity brought him back to the ground, leaving a ring of corpses in the area where the arrows had been fired. He seemed to have found it amusing, jumping up and down to fire a volley every now and then, his leaping and bounding antics rivaling those of a monkey.
Even Gongyang Yongye found it offensive.
With a stern face, he said, "This is truly a disgrace to military officers."
He possesses such great strength, yet he squanders it like this! What a waste of talent!
It can't be this ridiculous, let alone be a massacre.
As Gongyang Yongye spoke, he moved closer to Ji Moqiu, as if afraid that Ji Moqiu would get carried away and leave him behind. Wei Lou's use of the scholar's way affected both civil and military personnel within its range, and Gongyang Yongye was naturally not spared. He noticed that his field of vision was lower, his clothes were looser, and even the muscles in his hands and feet were not as firm as before, having become several sizes thinner.
Even her voice became soft and gentle.
He inadvertently caught a glimpse of the face reflected in the blade—a typical, effeminate young man, the very type he disliked most. Fair-skinned with large eyes, he looked almost like an underage boy. Even Gongyang Yongye himself felt a chill run down his spine at the sight! To make matters worse, the allied soldiers, after their initial panic, quickly took advantage of their numbers to surround and attack. Gongyang Yongye had lost his martial energy and gained more scholarly energy, but he didn't know how to use it, and for a time, he was struggling to defend himself.
Relying on bodily memory, they dodged and weaved.
Fortunately, Ji Moqiu did not forget him.
The former put his high priest's robes back on.
Gongyang Yongye asked in surprise, "How come you're not affected?"
Ji Moqiu swung his wooden staff with both hands, sending one person flying and crashing down on a string of people. He then flicked his sleeve, releasing a handful of densely packed "black sesame seeds." The "black sesame seeds" began to inflate in mid-air, and as they fell, they hatched into a large patch of strange vines that could walk on their roots: "What's reversed is the civil and military energies. The divine power cultivated by the divine messenger has nothing to do with me."
Thick vines, as thick as a thumb, entered the battlefield with the excitement of mice falling into a rice jar, frantically pouncing on the enemy. They would pierce the faces of enemy soldiers, their roots stabbing into their eyeballs, sucking blood and nutrients amidst screams of agony—a truly horrifying sight.
Ji Moqiu lifted her foot slightly.
The weapon beneath his feet suddenly shot towards Gongyang Yongye.
The latter, relying on his fighting instincts, parried the attack but misjudged his current physical condition, nearly stumbling forward from the blade, looking utterly pathetic. He muttered under his breath, "This piece of junk, I used to be able to pick up a hundred of these on one finger—"
Ji Moqiu left only one sentence: "Be careful."
He hooked his finger and made the Corpse Vine climb onto Gongyang Yongye's shoulder.
To serve as his temporary bodyguard, so that the tragic scene of a dignified nineteenth-rank Marquis of Guannei being beaten to death by a few ordinary soldiers could not be repeated.
Gongyang Yongye was ambitious and did not want to be protected as a weakling.
Even now, as a useless scholar, he still wanted to take up a knife and kill the enemy. However, scholars are too weak, and weapons are made of ordinary iron. When a knife strikes human bones, even a master craftsman's work cannot withstand the damage. After only a hundred or so blows, the knife was riddled with nicks, the blade was bent, and it was clear that it was no longer usable.
Gongyang Yongye: "..."
I miss his Hundred Ghosts Warhorse Longdao (a type of long-handled sword) terribly.
Not to mention the curled edges, it's still in near-new condition with minor flaws after just one battle.
Qi Shan and Chu Yao also entered the arena one after another, striving to get closer to where Shen Tang was, and soon they were covered in blood.
This unexpected turn of events caught the Central Allied forces completely off guard. Initially a step behind, each subsequent delay proved disastrous. Even as they rallied their forces and deployed offensive and defensive equipment, their firepower was suppressed by the Kang Kingdom. Control of the iron chain bridge remained firmly in the hands of the Kang Kingdom, which continuously sent reinforcements to the bridge.
The battle line was gradually pushed toward Shibao.
The Allied commander was so angry that his eyes turned red.
His knuckles clenched so tightly they made a cracking sound.
"What's going on? When did Kangguo acquire such capabilities?"
According to intelligence gathered by the Allied forces, a similar scene occurred during the great war between Kang and Gao, a decisive battle that determined the fate of both nations. The participant was none other than Wei Lou, an old acquaintance of the Central Branch from a century ago. After that battle, Wei Lou disappeared without a trace.
The intelligence analysis on this matter boils down to one point—
Even if Wei Lou were still alive, he could not possibly be loyal to Kangguo.
Therefore, this old thing is nothing to worry about.
It's good enough if they don't hate Kang Guo to death.
But then, the most improbable thing actually happened: Wei Lou, the traitor of the Wu Kingdom, who betrayed the Wu Kingdom's ruler, harbored hatred for the ruler born of love, hated the Gongxi clan to the bone, and was arrogant and conceited, actually submitted to the Kang Kingdom under the command of Shen Youli. The absurdity was comparable to the sun rising in the west—men can reproduce!
“Wei Lou…how could he…”
In fact, Wei Lou was most active during the era when these Central Allied forces were also active, and some of the older members might have even seen him from afar. Back then, Wei Lou played an indispensable role in Wu Guo's ability to sweep across the land.
"Why not?"
"Even the impossible has happened!"
It happened right before their eyes!
"The most pressing issue right now isn't the possibility of losing the position—"
The person who spoke was breathing strangely rapid, and upon closer inspection, one could see that his fingers were trembling slightly. His face was pale: "The truth of what happened back then...does he know something?"
This man came from a prominent family within the Central Plains and knew many secrets. He viewed the old score between the Pantheon and the Martial Kingdom as history, letting it pass with a laugh. The Martial Kingdom had vanished, a defeated foe of the Pantheon. Even if the truth came to light, what difference would it make?
Hehe, not so good—
Wei Lou, as a veteran minister of the Wu Kingdom, will come to collect the debt.
How many old men are still alive in the Wu Kingdom?
The thought crept into his mind like maggots, making him tremble with unease. He dared not imagine the sheer power a group of aged beasts, burning with vengeful rage, could unleash. Would it be utterly devastating?
Or will it destroy the world?
(;Д｀)
I'm never gambling again! I went shopping this afternoon and bought four boxes of cards, but I didn't get a single high-tier special card. What a rip-off! (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
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