Chen Ping's Sword

"Unexpected."

Yuwen Ying sat upright in his tent, no longer with his previous calm and controlling demeanor, but rather somewhat frustrated.

"Only three deaths and already you’re scared witless, afraid to pursue further. If everyone were like this, when will our Great Zhou Iron Cavalry ever unite the Central Plains?"

The battle situation from Ghost Cry Forest had been reported back.

Despite having the encumbrance of Princess Mingyue with them, without external reinforcements or internal strongholds, they repeatedly managed to succeed easily.

And our side, with both land and water pursuits,

with strong soldiers and valiant warriors.

After relentless chasing, not only did we fail to capture and kill the enemy, but we also suffered losses, returning in shame.

To Yuwen Ying, this was a humiliation.

If it’s so difficult to deal with such a newcomer in the Jianghu, how can we talk about penetrating deep behind enemy lines to overthrow the Southern Dynasty?

Is there any face left for the Thirteenth Prince?

Will I be completely overshadowed by my brothers in the military?

In his anger, Yuwen Ying saw the thirty or so people standing before him pulling back their rebellious expressions, lowering their heads in silence.

Indeed, they had been enthusiastic earlier, eager to seize the first merit, rushing into Ghost Cry Forest under the cover of night.

What they encountered was a shocking scene.

"Flower-Loving Young Master" Jiangh Yudie died the most miserably, not only were his limbs completely severed and his lower body cut, but also hung as bait on a tree branch before death, an incident so bizarre it might provoke laughter upon hearing.

If Jiangh Yudie’s death could somewhat be attributed to reason, the subsequent deaths of Pure Land Sect’s Yuan Ping and Blood Shadow Saber Fengping were harder to accept.

Jiangh Yudie was well-known, having made a name in Jiangnan and ranking 256th on the Hidden Dragon List as a young expert, yet these blood-soaked warriors of Jianghu didn’t hold him in high regard.

He spent his days chasing after women, lacking real strength and ambition.

In real combat, he never actually defeated any renowned expert.

He relied solely on the top-tier body technique "Swallow Returning Butterfly Dance" from Hundred Flowers Valley, to dodge and evade.

He appeared to live a glorious life.

But essentially, he lived like a rat.

His death was something people could accept.

He simply fell into a trap because of a slight carelessness, failing to escape and getting killed was not surprising.

After all, even the distant beauty of Princess Mingyue moved them, and even a flower thief, or any normal man, upon seeing her, would be heart-struck.

Jiangh Yudie died obsessed with lust, feeling aggrieved, yet it seemed fitting.

However, the combination of Pure Land Sect’s Yuan Ping and Blood Shadow Saber Fengping.

They were rare tough characters.

One practiced the Pure Land Sect’s Bright King Vajra Body, with a physique tough as steel and immense strength, known for powerful fists.

The other mastered the Blood Shadow Heart Scripture, able to turn body into shadow, indistinct between reality and illusion, famed for survival skills.

These two were no nobodies in the Jianghu.

Though older and unable to rank on the Hidden Dragon List or the Earth List, within the vast Jianghu, they were considered notable fighters, not to be underestimated by anyone.

Moreover, they had once survived a chase by disciples of renowned sects, not being inexperienced newbies of Jianghu.

They had even opened extraordinary meridians...

Measured by cultivation, they had cultivation; by inheritance, they had heritage; by temperament, they had character.

Among the people in the tent, apart from a few, no one dared claim complete confidence against them.

Yet when combined in battle, both met their demise.

They died with even less honor than the flower thief.

One died with an unrecognizable corpse, beaten into unrecognizable parts.

The other was covered from head to toe with countless stab wounds... leaving hardly any intact flesh on his body.

Such an outcome can only be explained by their opponent being a fierce character, not underestimated simply due to youth.

Moreover, in Ghost Cry Forest, with its dark and complex environment, even with a young girl in tow, they seemed to adapt far better than the pursuing troops.

Recklessly charging ahead mindlessly.

The fate of the three, Flower-Loving Young Master and others, would be their fate too.

"Young Master, in the deep night with paths dark and hard to traverse, it’s unlikely that boy can move swiftly. When daylight breaks, with the Divine Eagle tracking their movements, it won’t be hard to catch them then."

Someone summoned the courage to suggest.

Immediately, several people echoed in agreement.

"Indeed, killing Tian Qi is a minor issue, capturing Princess Mingyue shouldn’t be too hard either. Losing too many forces would only glorify others, tarnishing the Young Master’s face."

This person spoke more sensibly, appealing to the reputation of the Prince of Beizhou to deter rash actions.

Risking lives for Beizhou is nothing commendable.

When bullying the weak and targeting the easy, they naturally rush in swarms.

But when encountering a tough nut.

Continuing to charge recklessly then is just stretching one’s neck unnecessarily.

Yuwen Ying, at the age of twenty-three, ranked eighth on the Hidden Dragon List, usually prided himself on his valor, with a very high self-esteem.

He could not tolerate his subordinates exalting others’ prestige while diminishing their own spirit.

At this moment, hearing the words of his subordinates, his face became increasingly displeased, and he was about to give an order to personally lead people to the front.

Beside him, a gentle long-bearded young man coughed softly and stepped forward with a deep bow.

"Young Master, we must be cautious in this matter."

He raised his head, his eyes filled with confidence, exuding the wisdom of a scholar, almost as if he should be shaking a folding fan.

"The art of war is the art of deception; thus, you show ability by seeming unable... It’s crucial to avoid waging war out of anger, for if there is any error, losing momentum would play right into the opponent’s hands."

Yuwen Ying was slightly taken aback; this middle-aged man was indeed a great talent, having served his father even before he made his mark, always ready for counsel.

Though it was said that the man suffered an unjust imprisonment during the Southern Dynasty, preventing him from becoming a top scholar, it was not due to any lack of talent.

This time, coming south, Yuwen Ying was nominally a commercial envoy, but in reality, he had multiple schemes, with the main purpose of opening a second battlefield, making a move from the Southern Region to drive a stake.

The middle-aged scholar, on the surface, held the position of a staff officer.

In fact, Yuwen Ying himself knew that this man was essentially a military advisor.

Responsible for offering reminders, guidance, and making plans.

What he said, even if unpleasant, had to be given considerable attention.

"Mr. Yuo Qiu’s words are indeed correct."

Yuwen Ying let out a long breath, suppressed the anxiety in his heart, gently pinched his chin, and his mind began to whirl.

He knew that this journey south was not only a war but also a trial.

The quality of his performance would be seen by everyone.

Especially his father, whether he could shine and outdo his brothers depended on this plan, and the first step could not afford any carelessness.

His gaze flickered slightly, and he stood up, bowing towards the direction where an old man holding a sword, silent like a tree stump, was sitting: "I wonder if I could trouble Elder Jian to make a trip."

With Yuo Qiu’s reminder, Yuwen Ying had finally come to understand.

In the eyes of the world, success or failure never cared whether you played fair, nor did they think using large forces against smaller ones was a bad thing.

There was an unspoken implication in Mr. Yuo Qiu’s words, and he had already understood it.

The art of war is the art of deception.

Victory comes from the unexpected, while formal confrontations must rely on well-established strategies.

Currently, he had a strong force and many experts by his side; the advantage was overwhelmingly in his favor, so why make the mistake of gradually increasing power and adopting a piecemeal strategy?

A single loss might be forgivable, but a second defeat would mark one as mediocre.

Three defeats with no achievements, and the commanding general could rightly be called "useless."

He did not wish to continually suffer setbacks from a mere Jianghu minor warrior, confirming the label of "useless."

Therefore, either do not make a move, or if he does, it must be with a lion’s ferocity to ensure victory in this battle.

Launch a grand and proper army, crushing the opponent with the force of Mount Tai crushing an egg.

Why bother with continuous calculations? It would be too petty.

Once the Commandery Princess Mingyue is under control, everything will be at hand, infinite glory awaits...

The old man with the sword slowly stood up, his aura began to change gradually.

An extremely sharp Qi Mechanism, like a tide, surged to all directions.

Causing dozens in the tent to take a deep breath and step back a pace.

Some even turned red in the face, reluctantly retreating a few more steps.

In their eyes, he was no longer merely an old man, but a peerless sword, honed to perfection, capable of shattering formations.

"Of course, it can be done." The old man’s tone had no fluctuations, but anyone could hear the disdain in his words.

Dealing with a mere youngster.

It wouldn’t be a problem at all.

"With the sword elder from Ten Thousand Swords Manor taking action, there is no worry about this matter. However, I am aware that the night is deep, and finding the person may be inconvenient...

Elder Jian, although unparalleled in cultivation and unmatched in swordsmanship, should not expend too much effort. How about inviting Aunt Bi to assist from the side?"

These words were courteously spoken, but Yuwen Ying turned his gaze towards another side.

Not far from his seat at an angle sat a woman in her thirties, wearing a verdant gauze skirt and a white fox fur draped around her neck.

The woman sat curled up on the chair, stretching languidly like a snake, and smiled charmingly: "Even if Brother Ying didn’t call for me, I would still have to go, as that Tian Qi, merely aged sixteen, has managed to push us to this extent. I am quite curious about it myself."

The group couldn’t help but take another step back.

If Elder Jian was a top expert in Jianghu, a formidable figure from Northwest Ten Thousand Swords Manor, only understanding straightforward approaches, sharp and deadly.

Then the Jade Spirit Snake Princess of the Celestial Witchcraft Sect was hard to describe.

She did not appear threatening, with her alluring demeanor and seductive charm, making one have thoughts of indulgence instantly, without a trace of caution.

However, those who knew the depths of the Celestial Witchcraft Sect, especially her title as Snake Princess, all wished to retreat miles away.

If not for being amidst a meeting in the tent.

As soon as the Jade Spirit Snake Princess stood up in response, everyone would prefer to flee as far as possible.