Chapter 602: I am ordered to welcome Governor Zhao back to the city
A biting cold wind blew across the White Stone Bridge, and in the nearby forest, a flock of unknown birds chirped, accompanied by the howling of wild beasts.
As Zhao Duan spoke, the smile on his face disappeared, and his spiritual consciousness belonging to the worldly realm radiated in all directions.
Facing this group of mediocre soldiers, using flying knives is enough.
"puff!"
A dark golden light flashed across everyone's eyes, and then a thin red line appeared on the officer's neck, and then hot blood gushed out uncontrollably.
The rebel officer, who had been so arrogant just now, opened his eyes wide and felt that all his strength was drained away. He felt dizzy and fell backwards on the snow, his body twisting.
"ah!"
The rebel soldiers nearby screamed involuntarily, but before they could react, they saw their companions falling down one after another like straw.
The dark golden flying knife pulled out a thin golden thread.
In the blink of an eye, it circled around the crowd, leaving behind a pile of corpses.
The soldier holding a spear in his hand and standing next to the coffin on the cart widened his eyes in fear, his legs weak, and he said in a trembling voice:
"Cultivator... cultivator..."
"I almost forgot about you." Zhao Duan looked in the direction of the voice, and with a change of mind, the flying knife flew over and pierced the heart of the armed soldier.
Then he calmly stretched out his hand and returned the flying knife, which was not stained with blood, back into his sleeve.
It all happened incredibly fast.
In just a matter of breaths, all the rebels who were searching were killed.
The group of bodyguards beside the convoy were completely frightened and dumbfounded.
Huang Xiaorou widened her eyes, staring in disbelief at this "troublemaker" nobleman whom she despised and looked down upon. Her mind was blank. How could she not understand that she had made a mistake?
Can he control the "flying sword" and kill so many people in the blink of an eye?
Most sorcerers in the Divine Chapter Realm can’t do it, right?
How could this be a young man who needed the protection of these escorts? It would be more like someone protecting her.
Now that I think about it, the young man had been patient in accepting the search so patiently...
"Something terrible is happening!"
Beside him, the escort leader, Old Man Huang, was stunned at first, but quickly calmed down.
As a martial artist who had traveled extensively for many years and was connected to the Huai'an Palace, he had long since realized that the people accompanying him were not simple people. Therefore, he was not too surprised after being startled, but he immediately started to complain:
You must know that Baishiqiao is unaware of these rebels, and there is a small military garrison behind them.
Killing people like this is bound to alert the rebel army behind the bridge. Even if this young man is really a sorcerer in the realm of God and can control the "flying sword", he will never be able to defeat the large army.
"Let's go! Let's go quickly! Don't worry about the vehicles!" Old Man Huang shouted anxiously.
The escort finally realized it, but it was too late.
As the rebels died, the rebels on the other side of the Baishi Bridge blew the copper whistle.
Then, a large number of soldiers rushed out of the entire Baishi Town, drew their swords in shock and anger, and ran towards this side. The first group directly mounted their horses and rushed towards the convoy along the Baishi Bridge like an arrow.
"It's too late... I can't escape..." Huang Xiaorou's heart sank.
But the next second, Zhao Duan calmly walked forward instead of retreating, strolling towards the Baishi Bridge as if he was strolling in the garden.
He didn't seem to be moving very fast, but in a flash, he passed the caravan. He didn't know when, an ancient straight knife appeared in his empty hand.
Before leaving for Jingchuan Town, Zhao Du'an had already successfully crossed the level and entered the realm of [Highest Quality in the World]. His Qi Sea was full, even better than before, but he had been safe all the way and had not fought with anyone yet. At this moment, he had the idea of using someone to test his sword.
A man walked to the bridge head, facing the Hummer charging from the opposite side, and slashed it diagonally with his sword. The energy in his qi sea turned into frost true energy, poured into the handle of the sword, and exhaled from the blade edge, becoming a thick crescent-shaped sword energy.
"puff--"
With a dull sound of flesh being chopped into pieces, the leading horse was split into two by Zhao Duan.
The two horse carcasses, carrying the dead soldiers on their backs, fell to the ground with a loud bang due to inertia and kinetic energy, and the bright red blood from the cuts was sealed by ice chips.
"What kind of monster is this!?"
The pupils of the cavalrymen behind narrowed, and they wanted to avoid the horse corpses on the ground, but they saw Zhao Duan holding a knife in one hand and walking onto the stone bridge.
In an instant, the corpses of horses and people piled up into a small mountain. The large group of rebels behind them finally stopped in fear: "What a warrior in the world!!"
The warriors of the world!
Anyone who can chop melons and vegetables effortlessly is definitely not at the Divine Chapter Realm.
Realizing this, the rebels' morale collapsed instantly. Zhao Duan stepped on the corpses, stood at the end of the bridge, casually thrust his sword downwards, and a bow appeared in his hand again.
Zhao Duan bent his bow and drew his arrow. He never missed his target with the Taibu bow. Every vibration of the bowstring meant that at least one soldier was pierced through the heart.
In an instant, the rebels cried for their parents and fled in all directions, but they still fell down rhythmically and their lives were harvested.
…
In the caravan.
Huang Xiaorou had been completely stunned since Zhao Duan chopped off his warhorse with his sword. When she heard the word "world", she was even more confused. She thought:
Not a sorcerer? How did he become a warrior? Or the legendary worldly realm?
A person of this level is beyond the imagination of this group of martial arts bodyguards.
When Zhao Duan used the Taibu bow to kill people, Huang Xiaorou felt that it seemed as if everyone in the entire military town had become pigs waiting to be slaughtered.
She couldn't help but turn her head and look at the three women beside her.
Yuxiu looked calm and unmoved.
Jin Jian covered his mouth and yawned listlessly, ignoring the fighting scene.
Ji Yue huddled timidly behind the two women, but carefully used both hands to push aside her long "Sadako"-style hair from her forehead, and looked at the stone bridge curiously.
"She...he is really worldly..." Huang Xiaorou asked stutteringly.
Yuxiu glanced at her and said disdainfully:
"Gao Pin, who broke through not long ago, is eager to find someone to test his sword. He can handle this group of rebels by himself. We just need to wait to cross the bridge."
The world's highest quality... Huang Xiaorou swallowed hard, her eyes full of reverence as she said:
"Then you too..."
The corners of her mouth curled up slightly under her jade sleeve veil, and she said teasingly:
"Do you want to see a real flying sword?"
"...No, that's not necessary." Huang Xiaorou trembled, dazed, with only one thought in her mind:
What kind of monsters are these people?
Where did this big shot come from?
While the few people were talking, Zhao Duan had already walked across the stone bridge with a sword and jumped onto the "guard tower" of the military town bridgehead.
Pulling the bowstring, he shot the rebels who had been scattered and fleeing in all directions in the town.
"With my current worldly combat power, even without Pei Niannu, I alone am enough to destroy such a small military town."
Zhao Duan put down his Taibu bow and stood on the watchtower, overlooking the remaining rebels fleeing into the forest. He silently concluded:
"But the cost is not small. If there is an expert with a similar realm to mine here to hold me back, these rebels can still pose a threat to me even if they don't run away."
Shaking his head and putting away his bow, Zhao Duan grabbed his sword and cut off the rebel flag on the top of the city wall. Then his ears moved slightly and he looked towards the official road in the northeast direction.
The field of vision is extended.
At the end of the snow-covered road, a group of cavalrymen were galloping towards this side.
The sound of horse hooves hammering the ground was like beating drums, startling countless birds and beasts in the forest.
Soon, the cavalry approached, and the leader was a young general wearing silver-white armor, galloping like lightning. He saw Zhao Duan standing on the guardhouse from a distance, his eyes lit up, and he suddenly pulled the reins!
"Shhhhh!"
Young Master Tang Ping reined in his horse, dismounted, and galloped a few paces to the bridgehead. After checking several times with uncertainty, he knelt on one knee, clasped his fists, and said loudly:
"I, General Tang Ping of the Divine Machine Battalion, have been ordered to welcome the Commander back to the camp!!"
Crash...
Behind them, a large number of Shenjiying soldiers also dismounted, carrying their muskets on their backs, and saluted in unison:
"The Shenjiying Firearm Battalion has been ordered to welcome the Commander back to camp!"
Zhao Duan stood on the wall, raised his hand and wiped his face, restoring his true appearance, and smiled:
"You're late."
Tang Ping blushed and said ashamedly:
"The road we came here was blocked by the rebels. We fought several rounds and only then were we late."
Zhao Duan's face was stern:
"I don't want to hear any explanations. If you want to atone for your sins, go and recapture those fleeing soldiers!"
"Yes, sir!"
Tang Ping responded, stood up and waved his hand, and a large group of elite soldiers from the Shenji Camp scattered in pursuit.
Zhao Duan nodded in satisfaction, jumped off the bridgehead, flew across the sky like a giant bird, and returned to the caravan. He suppressed his evil spirit and said with a smile:
"Please push the bodies away from the bridge so you can cross it."
It was only then that the escorts slowly came back to their senses, their faces filled with awe.
How could I not know the identity of the person in front of me?
"Are you...that Zhao...Commander Zhao?"
The escort leader, Old Man Huang, shivered all over, his beard trembled, and he became a head shorter.
Zhao Duan smiled and nodded.
It’s really him… Huang Xiaorou’s mouth was dry as she stared at the handsome face. Thinking about the stories about the empress’ husband and the commander-in-chief who suppressed the rebellion that had been circulating throughout the Yu Kingdom for the past six months, her heart was pounding and she felt a sense of absurdity.
A small figure like herself... actually had the good fortune to travel with the legendary Zhao Duan for many days... She even warned and taught him... Huang Xiaorou wanted to crawl into a crack in the ground, she was excited and terrified.
Yuxiu comforted her gently:
"Don't worry, although he has a bad reputation, he's not a bad person. He won't take your slight impoliteness to heart."
Zhao Duan was unhappy:
"Master, what do you mean by 'I have a bad reputation'?"
Yuxiu glanced at him: "Hehe."
"..." Zhao Duan:
I'm too lazy to argue with you!
…
After a while.
The caravan crossed the bridge smoothly, and Tang Ping led the Shenji Camp to capture the twenty or so rebels who had escaped. They were all tied up and made to kneel in a row in the snow.
"Sir." Tang Ping clasped his fists and said, "Please make your decision."
Zhao Duan nodded, but did not continue to kill anyone. Instead, he walked up to a group of frightened rebels and said calmly:
"Do you know who I am?"
The rebels trembled and dared not answer, but their eyes showed understanding.
Zhao Duan continued:
"I will not kill you today. Go back to the lake pavilion and tell Prince Jing that I am here. Tell him to wash his neck and wait for me. It is time to settle our previous grudge."
"Go away."
Seeing the bewildered rebels, Tang Ping sneered, drew his sword, cut their ropes, and kicked them:
"Why don't you get out of here?!"
"Thank you, General, for your mercy! Thank you, General, for your mercy!"
The remaining frightened rebels survived the disaster and fled with profuse gratitude.
After everyone left, Zhao Duan ordered a group of soldiers to stay behind to guard Baishiqiao, and then let the court's subsequent reinforcements occupy it.
He then separated from the caravan and took the carriage alone, carrying the coffin, and headed towards the Huting camp under the escort of Tang Ping.
…
…
This time we entered Huting not from the canal in the east, but from the land in the west.
When they were about to arrive, Zhao Duan lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked at the lake pavilion in the distance.
The huge city was plain and pure in the snow, without any festive atmosphere of New Year's lights and decorations.
On the top of the city wall, there was a strange situation in which the flags of the rebels and the imperial court each occupied half of the "north and south" of the city.
Just like a chessboard, the pieces are crisscrossed and half are occupied by white and half by black.
"Sir, we and the Jiancheng Army each occupy approximately half of Huting's territory. Even the main city of Huting has been split east-west into two parts, north and south. Due to the onset of winter, we are generally at a truce, but minor frictions do occur from time to time."
Tang Ping rode his horse beside the carriage window and explained hurriedly.
Zhao Duan looked at the two distinct flags fluttering in the cold wind of Huting City and asked curiously:
"Why didn't you say the entire city was taken down?"
Tang Ping gritted his teeth and said:
"Isn't it because the Jiancheng rebels are shameless?
Knowing that there are a large number of people living in Huting City, the court has many concerns and is not willing to use artillery bombardment in the city, so they use this to delay us.
The Jiancheng Army has been avoiding fighting us on the plains because their advantage in firearms could suppress them there.
These rebels are also very smart. They either choose to fight in the streets of the city, or choose complex terrain such as dense forests and swamps..."
Zhao Duan did not interrupt. While listening to the young master's complaints, he also roughly understood the situation on the eastern front.
The information provided by King Huai'an is ultimately delayed.
The two armies each occupied half of the city, yet they miraculously maintained a balance. This also made Zhao Duan quite amazed. It felt like Germany was split into East Germany and West Germany... although they were completely different.
"The Privy Councilor and his men are waiting to welcome you at the North Gate. Everyone has heard about what you, the Governor, have done recently."
The young master spoke with excitement and admiration in his eyes.
Zhao Duan smiled but said nothing.
In this era of war, his several great victories were enough to quickly reverse his reputation, especially to create a strong prestige for him in the army.
If in the past there was some jealousy and complaints in the army about Zhao Duan, the "Empress's lover", then after pacifying the western front and defeating Prince Mu's palace, Zhao Duan's popularity in the army was real.
As they were talking, the team arrived at the north gate of Huting.
The city gate was wide open, and in the distance, a group of people could be seen standing in the snow, looking around.
Zhao Duan also got out of the carriage and climbed onto a warhorse. As they got closer, he saw familiar faces one after another:
"God of War" Xue Shence, "Female Prime Minister" Mo Chou, Commander of the Shenji Camp Shi Meng, "Director of the Firearm Camp" Chen Gui, Governor of the Grand Canal Ning Zechen, and the imperial city worshippers headed by Tang Jinzhong... He even saw the former Qingzhou Commander Wei Xianzong in the crowd.
Behind this group of old acquaintances, there were also a large number of soldiers from the Shenji Camp and the Sanqian Camp.
"Hahaha," Xue Shence strode forward with a laugh, leading the crowd. He looked at Zhao Duan with a scorching gaze and said,
"Commander Zhao, we've been waiting for you!"
Mo Chou, the "rival in love" who had not been seen for a long time, followed closely behind. Over the past few months, Mo Zhaorong, who had never done any housework, had obviously become darker and more haggard, but her eyes had become brighter.
She looked at Zhao Duan and smiled, "Long time no see."
(End of this chapter)
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