Chapter 81: Slaying the General
Old Grand Commandant Chang Dao’s carriage had just turned onto the street when another carriage appeared ahead, blocking the middle of the road.
There were few pedestrians on the street at night. The bluestone pavement, illuminated by the moonlight, was polished to a mirror-like sheen.
A faint layer of mist drifted in the air.
The carriage opposite was not particularly luxurious, but it radiated an air of simple, ancient nobility. The warhorse pulling it was covered entirely in black scales.
Even when facing a personage of Chang Dao’s stature, the driver made no move to stir. He simply kept his head bowed, his thoughts unknown.
"Chang, since you’ve already resigned from your post to recuperate, why insist on wading into these muddy waters?" a clear voice called from the opposite carriage. Chang Dao remained seated, but his expression darkened.
"If you all weren’t so aggressive, I wouldn’t have to," he replied coldly.
Chang Dao was a man of humble origins, representing the only path of advancement for grassroots officials.
He was the champion of all the Border Marquises and the military families of lesser standing.
If he didn’t make an appearance today, the oppression from the established aristocracy would only grow more severe in the future.
The man in the other carriage was the current Prime Minister, Lv Ze—Dayong’s famed first-rank Duke of Yan, and one of the most powerful officials in the empire.
"Go back. Let the matter of the Northern Border rest. That Border Marquis... no one will punish him. All who returned will be properly provided for. The matter ends here. What do you say?"
Lv Ze said calmly.
Had there been anyone nearby, however, they would have discovered they couldn’t hear the two men’s conversation at all.
Both were using the Divine Technique of Secret Transmission.
"Since you’ve come all this way, what choice do I have? But I expect you to honor your words. Otherwise, the next time I wish to enter the palace, you won’t be able to stop me." After his reply, Chang Dao signaled for his carriage to turn back.
Inside the other carriage, Lv Ze let out a long breath.
His subordinates had indeed been acting a bit too arrogantly lately.
Even His Majesty was showing subtle signs of displeasure.
If he had truly provoked Chang Dao into action this time, it would have been a major headache.
"Let’s return."
he said softly. The carriage turned and departed.
A moment later, the chilly street fell silent once more.
「Meanwhile, on the Wasteland」
Lu Yuan and his small contingent of men were already in a standoff with the Northern Barbarian cavalry.
Facing them were ordinary Northern Barbarian cavalry. Their leader was a Thousand Men Commander at the fourth level of the Organ Refining realm. He carried a Wolf-toothed Club and eyed the Marquis of Jiuse and the others behind Lu Yuan, an involuntary grin spreading across his face.
’The Northern Barbarians sent out several units to hunt down the Dayong remnants,’ he thought. ’I can’t believe the honor of finishing them off has fallen to me.’
Then, without any further pleasantries, he bellowed to the army behind him, "Kill!"
As his cry faded, he spurred his horse forward, leading the charge toward Lu Yuan’s group.
In the darkness, their hooves kicked up clouds of dust.
The thundering impact of their hooves on the ground was like a drumroll of thunder.
Watching the scene unfold, the Marquis of Jiuse gave a grim smile. "Prepare to fight for your lives," he said to the men around him. "This Barbarian commander is stronger than Lu Yuan."
"Plus, they outnumber us. The odds are we’re not making it out of here alive."
The iron-willed general was accustomed to life and death, and his face showed little fear.
Zhou Ming said quietly, "Understood!"
Without another word, they all tightened their grips on their weapons.
Helian Shang, however, cursed under his breath. "If it weren’t for those damn cowards Zheng Tong and Zhao Yu, we wouldn’t be in this mess."
"I saw them break out with my own eyes, but they just ran straight for the Central Army."
"People who walk different paths can never work together," the Marquis of Jiuse said coolly.
As he looked at Lu Yuan, his expression filled with growing admiration, tinged with a hint of regret.
By now, the two forces had clashed on the battlefield.
Wielding his Crescent Saber, Lu Yuan spurred his warhorse and was the first to charge into the enemy ranks. A Northern Barbarian Centurion met his charge, battle-axe in hand.
CLANG!
A flash of teal-gold light from his saber sliced the battle-axe in two. The cold steel continued its path, landing squarely on the man’s neck. A head flew high into the air.
Without pausing, he swung the pommel of his saber backward. The Armor-Piercing Awl at its tip punched through a Barbarian officer’s chest, and Lu Yuan flung the body from his weapon.
DONG!
From the side, a heavy hammer smashed down onto Lu Yuan’s shoulder.
Cracks appeared on his sturdy pauldron.
He whipped his head around to see the Barbarian commander swinging a Meteor Hammer. When the commander saw Lu Yuan looking at him...
CLANK!
The chain rattled, and the Meteor Hammer—as large as a child’s head—flew at him again in the blink of an eye.
It let out a piercing whistle as it cut through the air.
Lu Yuan’s eyebrow twitched. He met the attack with his Crescent Saber, its sharp blade tangling with the chain.
He twisted his hands with immense force.
SNAP!
He not only parried the heavy hammer but also severed its chain.
The hammer head crashed to the ground.
Lu Yuan ducked, dodging the blade of a Barbarian Warrior to his left.
In one smooth motion, he unslung his Python Sinew Bow, drew the string, and, hugging his warhorse’s side, loosed an arrow at the Barbarian commander.
The feathered arrows tore through the air, swift as lightning and numerous.
In an instant, a dozen feathered arrows appeared above the Barbarian commander, raining down on him like a waterfall.
DING DING DANG DANG!
The commander dared not be careless, furiously swinging his Wolf-toothed Club to deflect the volley.
He batted most of the feathered arrows away, but he couldn’t block them all.
PFFT!
An arrow pierced his shoulder, and blood began to flow.
Seeing his shot land, Lu Yuan spurred his horse forward, completely ignoring the attacks from the surrounding Barbarian Warriors.
He pushed his Mixed Element Golden Bell Shield to its absolute limit.
He charged toward the Barbarian commander.
The Crescent Saber spun in his hand like a pinwheel as his warhorse, Red Scale, screamed and surged forward.
Man and horse became one, each amplifying the other’s power and momentum.
In an instant, he was before the Barbarian commander. His saber swept out, tracing an arc of cold light.
The man’s head was already in Lu Yuan’s grasp.
He roared with all his might, "Your General is dead! Do you still intend to resist?!"
His voice boomed like a great bell, making their eardrums tremble.
Terror flashed in the eyes of the Barbarian Warriors nearest to him. They immediately turned their horses and fled the battlefield.
Meanwhile, the Barbarians still trying to push into the fray heard his shout and saw their comrades turning tail. In an instant, their entire formation descended into chaos.
The ones in the center tried to flee while the ones on the periphery tried to charge in.
Warhorses crashed into each other. Countless men were thrown from their saddles and trampled into pulp.
Lu Yuan would not let such an opportunity pass. "Brothers!" he roared to the Warriors behind him. "If you don’t want to starve, kill these men! We’ll slaughter their horses and eat!"
His words were like a shot of adrenaline. His men charged with reckless abandon, their eyes turning red.
And so, eight hundred men began to frantically hunt down three thousand fleeing Barbarian Warriors.
The battle became completely one-sided.
At that moment, a system notification echoed in Lu Yuan’s mind.
[You have slain an enemy. Wind and Thunder General-Slaying Saber Technique Skill Level +10]
...
[You have slain an enemy with a ranged attack. Torrential Rain Arrow Skill Skill Level +10]
...
The Marquis of Jiuse and his men watched everything on the battlefield unfold.
This was especially true for the Marquis, who had fought his way up from the bottom ranks. The admiration in his eyes was completely undisguised.