Chapter 222 The Great Battle Is Imminent
Without hesitation, Yi Mingzhao replied, "Uncle Chen, thank you for everything you have done for the Yi family! And thank you even more for saving my sister from danger time and time again! However, with my father gone, I am truly incapable of taking on the position of city lord. Furthermore, I have always longed for the life of a scholar and have no interest in wielding power and intrigue. I hope you can grant my request!"
“This…” Chen Qingyun frowned. “But Longyang City was originally established by your father. Such a vast foundation and power originally belonged to your Yi family. How can you just hand it over to others? Wouldn’t that make Brother Yi feel disheartened?”
Seeing that Chen Qingyun refused to budge, Yi Mingzhao had no choice but to take out a brocade box and retrieve a letter from it. He handed it to Chen Qingyun, saying, "Uncle, please take a look. This letter was written by my father himself when he was alive."
Chen Qingyun took the letter and read it carefully, his expression growing increasingly grave. After finishing, he frowned at the letter, "This..." He hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
Yi Mingzhao said gently, "Father once mentioned to me that if my younger sister and Xiaoyao Lang were to marry, she would inherit the position of Lord of Longyang City. However, things did not go as planned. Both my younger sister and Xiaoyao Lang opposed the marriage. Father, thinking of the people of Longyang City, wrote this letter to pass on the position of Lord of the City to you."
“Brother Yi, Brother Yi…” Chen Qingyun listened, lowering his eyes and pondering for a long time. When he raised his eyebrows, tears were already welling up in his eyes! He swallowed hard and said, “So be it! Since the old city lord has made this arrangement, I, Chen Qingyun, will not disappoint him even if I die for him.”
"Uncle is wise! Your nephew will fully support you so that the people of Longyang City can live a happy and peaceful life," Yi Mingzhao said, cupping his hands in greeting.
Meanwhile, in Baiyun City, Xiaoyao Lang and Yue Ruchu spent the night at an inn. He hired servants to help Yue Ruchu dress up and get ready. She had already changed into a brand new cross-collar ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and she looked radiant and beautiful.
"Master! How do I look? Do I look good in this outfit?!" Yue Ruchu turned around and asked, blinking her eyes.
Xiaoyao Lang glanced at her and said, "Not bad! Here's a set of equipment! Carry it yourself!" With that, he handed Yue Ruchu a package, but left without taking anything himself.
"Hmph..." Yue Ruchu frowned, stomped her feet, and followed behind angrily with her bundle on her back.
To feed Yue Ruchu, the two searched for a while and finally found a noodle shop, only to find that the owner had closed the door.
"Hey! Shopkeeper, we're starving, could you make us a bowl of noodles to fill our stomachs?" Xiaoyao Lang stepped forward and said.
The shopkeeper frowned. "You've come at a bad time. I was just about to close up shop and head back to my hometown for safety. We're out of cooked food." He glanced at Yue Ruchu, then pulled two dry biscuits from his bag and stuffed them into Xiaoyao Lang's hands. "Take these to fill your stomachs and get out of here quickly!"
Having said that, he hurriedly tied his bundle together, slung it over his shoulder, and was about to leave. Xiaoyao Lang reached out and grabbed him, stuffing two copper coins into his hand. "May I ask, shopkeeper, what brings you in such a hurry? What trouble are you seeking in your hometown?"
"Sigh." The shopkeeper sighed and said urgently, "The Jade Goddess Cult has reached Baiyun City! That demon, Murong Hanchan, has been on a killing spree all the way, and not long ago she subdued the Yongle Gang. Now the great demon has led an army of 120,000, and is about to fight Ling Beixiao's army at Qiushui Dam!"
Upon hearing the name 'Murong Hanchan,' Xiaoyao Lang froze on the spot, his eyes vacant, and asked again in disbelief, 'Are you sure it was Murong Hanchan who called?'
The shop owner raised his eyebrows. "How could this be fake?! The Zhu family army has been spreading the name of this great witch all over the place for the past two days! We'd better get out of here quickly. If the Longyang Army and the Zhu family army are no match for her, this place will surely be looted!" After saying that, he ignored Xiaoyao Lang and hurriedly left.
Xiaoyao Lang pondered to himself: How could Chan'er be a great demon? How could someone as kind as her go on a killing spree? Impossible!! It must be someone spreading rumors and talking nonsense...
"Master?" Seeing Xiaoyao Lang standing there in a daze, Yue Ruchu stepped forward and called out with concern, "Are you alright?!" She waved her little hand in front of Xiaoyao Lang a couple of times.
Xiaoyao Lang regained his composure, suppressed his anxiety, and stuffed the two pancakes in his hand into Yue Ruchu's hands. "I'm fine! You should fill your stomach quickly, we still have to continue our journey."
Yue Ruchu looked up and asked, "Where are we going?"
"To Qiushui Dam!" Xiaoyao Lang replied in a deep voice, then snatched Yue Ruchu's bundle and headed away into the wind. Yue Ruchu followed closely behind Xiaoyao Lang, munching on a dry biscuit.
The bugle call from Qiushui Dam resounded through the sky, and the war drums beat with inspiring force! Two hundred and eighty thousand troops stood ready for battle, their banners waving, a vast, dark mass.
"The day has finally come! The Zhu Family Manor will make them pay for the murder of our former leader in blood! Brothers of the Yongle Gang, charge with me!" Xiang Kui shouted, and with the sound of drums, 20,000 vanguard soldiers surged forward like a tidal wave.
"Kill...!" The battle cries were deafening, and the sound of galloping hooves raised dust. Xiang Kui and Chong Sheng joined forces and continued their charge toward Ling Beixiao's central army; Zhang Qi and Wang Ping led the Yongle Gang's armored troops to charge the left flank, while Ying Qing and Xi Moguang led the elite cavalry of Shanshui City to charge the right flank.
Seeing the enemy advancing in a triangular formation, Zhu Zijian held his vanguard in place, while his 20,000 archers stood ready, waiting for his command to unleash a volley of arrows.
Chu Xianzhi was well aware of this strategy. After the 20,000 vanguard troops charged out, the 100,000 troops behind them advanced at a slower pace, bringing the attack distance to the closest possible point.
Murong Hanchan remained in a light sleep, reclining on the thirty-six-tiered glass throne. Only when the army launched its attack did she slowly raise her clear eyes.
Seeing Xiang Kui's army enter firing range, Zhu Zijian shouted sharply, "Fire!" He waved his hand, and the signalman followed suit. The sound of the bow being drawn was like a deep thunderclap, and with a "whoosh," the arrows pierced the air like a black cloud pressing down on Xiang Kui's 20,000-strong vanguard.
"Raise your shields!" Zhang Qi shouted, and the soldiers raised their hands in unison, their black shields standing tall above their heads, while the horses continued to gallop.
Seeing this, Murong Hanchan could not let innocent soldiers die in vain! With a thought, she roared, "Hum!" and a crimson dragon soul emerged from her body, its entire body engulfed in flames as it hurtled towards the arrows in the air! All that could be seen was a fire dragon flashing past, and countless arrows turned to ashes.
"This is a dragon soul!" Ling Xueyan whispered, not to be outdone. She immediately activated her will, and the green dragon soul burst forth from her body. The roar of the dragon echoed throughout the battlefield, and it rushed towards Murong Hanchan's red dragon soul like lightning.
The arrows were blocked by the Crimson Dragon Soul, and seeing that Xiang Kui's army was about to close in on the front lines, Zhu Zijian immediately ordered an attack. "Kill!" He raised his blade high, spurred his horse, and galloped away.
In an instant, the two armies clashed, their battle cries echoing throughout the land. With a gesture from Ling Beixiao, the war drums thundered, and 140,000 troops charged towards Murong Hanchan's army in two columns.
"All troops, attack!" With Chu Xianzhi's command, 100,000 troops surged forward, disregarding life and death to meet the enemy.
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