UCTOOT CH133

Right now, only Xie Wuchi’s cold-bloodedness could extinguish the raging fire in everyone’s hearts. His prestige had reached its peak.

Shi Shu worked day and night, seemingly the only way to alleviate the anxiety in his heart. If he did just a little more, he could help the soldiers on the battlefield.

Working in the Medical Bureau, Shi Shu saw people dying in large numbers. Someone who spoke to him the day before would be dead the next. Shi Shu didn’t go to the battlefield, afraid that his death would break Xie Wuchi’s heart, but in the Medical Bureau, he became part of the trickle that formed the ocean. Shi Shu always felt that by trying his best, he could reduce regrets.

On his way back to the military camp, Shi Shu encountered Xie Wuchi.

The army was offering sacrifices to Heaven. Dark clouds covered the sky. When Shi Shu looked up, Xie Wuchi, dressed in brand-new snow-white ceremonial robes, was walking gloomily up the altar, facing the mountains and listening to the wind.

Shi Shu: “Why, why set up an altar?”

Lin Yan, waiting nearby, said: “The Wolf Soldiers’ iron cavalry has been rampaging through the Central Plains for months. Now they are gathering beneath the Eastern Capital, and the decisive battle is imminent.”

Shi Shu whispered: “So, so it’s like that. If we drive away the Wolf Soldiers, will this chaos of Wolf Soldiers in the Central Plains subside?”

Lin Yan: “Exactly so.”

Shi Shu stopped and looked at Xie Wuchi from afar. The altar was solemn. This sacrifice to Heaven involved killing captured Northern Min nobles. Xie Wuchi’s shoes stepped on the ground where blood flowed freely. Before thousands of troops, he was wrapped in the wind and rain of blood.

Lin Yan looked at his face and said worriedly: “Second Young Master, after the Wolf Soldiers are driven out of the border, have a good sleep.”

Shi Shu: “I’m not tired.”

Lin Yan: “How can you not be tired? Your complexion is getting worse. Sigh, a calamity for the common people; no one is spared from suffering.”

Shi Shu: “I’m really fine. What about my brother? Working hard every day, is he even more exhausted? Although his body and mind are made of iron, but…”

Military affairs were frequent, casualties horrific. Although Shi Shu stayed by his side, Xie Wuchi left early and returned late. There were often emergencies in the middle of the night; he would put on his shoes and leave. Once he went on patrol, he might not return for days. When he returned to the tent exhausted, Shi Shu could only sense that he had gotten into bed.

Xie Wuchi held meetings all night long, discussing matters with the generals in the army, closely watching the movements on the sand table. Especially recently, he slept less than four hours a day.

This high-intensity work had started from the moment the Min soldiers entered the pass and continued until now, almost autumn.

Shi Shu waited for Xie Wuchi, but the group descended the ladder and walked quickly toward the battlefield: “The Min cavalry is not easy to deal with!”

A layer of frost covered Xie Wuchi’s face as he said: “Fortunately, Linjiang Prefecture has many muddy shoals and currents. Immediately dig channels and set up traps to hinder the cavalry’s mobility. This must be completed quickly to lure them over.”

Ping Yichun: “This subordinate will immediately call upon the civilians to dig it full of holes within a few days.”

Shi Shu: “Xie Wuchi…”

Xie Wuchi stopped his steps. His ceremonial robes were stained with fresh blood. He turned his head and said: “Go notify them quickly; do not delay.”

After speaking, he took Shi Shu’s hand and returned to the tent together. Xie Wuchi took off his blood-stained outer robe and reached out to touch Shi Shu’s face: “Your complexion is getting worse.”

Shi Shu: “It’s normal. Who enters a military camp without shedding a layer of skin? It’s still a critical period of war.”

Xie Wuchi: “You worry too much. Can’t even get a good sleep at night?”

Shi Shu looked at him and nodded: “I was thinking, if we get through this period, will everything get better?”

Xie Wuchi didn’t speak, holding his chin: “Want to kiss?”

Shi Shu didn’t want to refuse him: “Okay. You don’t need to be too polite with me. If you have needs, you can tell me.”

Xie Wuchi touched his face: “I don’t want to see you force a smile.”

Shi Shu: “This is the rising period of your career. I should be happy for you…”

Xie Wuchi: “Shi Shu, I feel your existence, and that is enough. I want to resolve your pain first.”

Shi Shu hugged him briefly. Xie Wuchi frowned, pressing his cheek against Shi Shu’s before untimely emotions could arise: “Wait for me. Give me a little more time. I have to get busy first.”

Shi Shu took two steps back. Xie Wuchi withdrew the hand caressing his cheek, turned, and strode out of the tent, his robes disappearing among the surrounding guards.

Shi Shu was dazed for a moment, then sat for a while before suddenly remembering something and running hurriedly to the Medical Bureau. The makeshift shelter was filled with the smell of strong liquor. As soon as he entered, Shi Shu felt as if he would suffocate. White liquor was poured on wounds, sharp arrowheads were pulled out, and the muffled groans of soldiers enduring pain rose one after another. In the hot weather, clothes were torn open, lying on beds in suffering.

When Shi Shu entered, Lin Yangchun said: “Why are you here again? Go back quickly.”

Shi Shu: “I, I just came to look around.”

Lin Yangchun: “Go sit down and register today’s injury log. Do you really not know fatigue? If you die from overwork, this old man fears he won’t die with his body intact.”

Shi Shu: “No, I won’t let him hurt you.”

Shi Shu picked up a pen to register the soldiers who died or were injured today, then had people carry the bodies away. The military camp slept at night, but the Medical Bureau did not; someone had to be on night duty. Shi Shu slept on temporarily vacated hospital beds night after night.

A few days later, Shi Shu went to the front line facing the main force of the Min Army. The tents were brightly lit, and generals often discussed matters all night, extremely irritable. Shi Shu slept in a nearby tent, always hearing arguments over strategic deployment at night. Sleeping very deeply, just before dawn, he would feel Xie Wuchi return through the starry night and lie heavily beside him.

Days like this continued for a while. Shi Shu waited for Du Zihan’s letter every day. He and Song Sinan’s Revenge Army were in Shaoxing, preparing to go north and coordinate with the Konghe Army going south to pincer attack the Min soldiers. The journey was long, and only letters could go back and forth.

After autumn arrived, continuous autumn rains fell in Linjiang Prefecture. The humidity in the air intensified the soldiers’ hostility, but the two armies had to temporarily cease fighting. Shi Shu thought they would rest until the sky cleared before confronting again. One early morning, he went specifically to find Xie Wuchi, but unexpectedly, amidst the wild rain outside the tent, soldiers and horses were moving chaotically. Someone was saying hurriedly: “Fighting started! Fighting started!”

Shi Shu was astonished: “What?”

Xie Wuchi had long gone to the front line in the stormy weather, leaving only Lin Yan to handle the rear. Lin Yan said: “The Great General has miraculous foresight!”

Shi Shu: “Speak clearly!”

Lin Yan said: “Linjiang Prefecture has had autumn rain for days. This Min Army doesn’t understand the geography for stationing troops; they happened to camp in an area prone to river flooding. Now, the Northern Min camp has been flooded by the rising river!”

Shi Shu was shocked. He turned to run, Lin Yan’s shouts still behind him: “Not just the camp! The ground is soft as mud; cavalry cannot pass. Bows and arrows are soaked by rain and lost their sharpness! Now, the sharp claws of the Wolf Soldiers have been pulled clean!”

“The Great General has achieved great merit!”

“Hyah!”

Shi Shu mounted a horse and whipped it, galloping toward the front line against the opposing army.

At this time, the torrential rain was still falling. Before his eyes, columns of pitch-black cavalry and infantry stretched for dozens of li in the rain, marching intensely toward the front line. The autumn rain was already freezing. Everyone was soaked through, the cold penetrating to the marrow. Everyone braved the cold beyond physiological limits, rushing to the battlefield between life and death.

Shi Shu’s heart beat wildly, about to jump out of his throat: “Smart, how is Xie Wuchi so smart? How can he calculate everything?”

Scenes flashed through his mind: lighting a lamp to read in the quiet night at Xiangnan Temple, reading records in the Scripture Library, burning midnight oil at Liushui Nunnery… Except for those three months of exile, with a thoughtful look in his brow and eyes, Xie Wuchi was almost always reading, studying, and practicing. Writing diaries, summarizing successes and failures.

With his day and night dedication, the painful disaster of hundreds of thousands of Min soldiers entering the pass could be resolved in half a year, instead of lasting for decades and turning the human world into purgatory.

“Hyah, hyah, hyah!”

Horse hooves flew on the muddy road. Who knew how long this rain would last? Rainwater flowed down his forehead into his eyes; Shi Shu hurriedly wiped it away.

The army continued to advance toward the Suyuan River. When Shi Shu ran to the high platform at the front line, he saw water buffaloes rushing madly into the enemy camp, covered in knife wounds, trampling indiscriminately. In the rain, only scattered large copper basins were lit with fire; everything else was extinguished by the rain.

Xie Army soldiers tied white headbands to distinguish friend from foe in the dark night. Taking advantage of the Min soldiers’ confusion from the flooding, they rushed into the camp, drawing swords to slash and kill, their roars shaking the heavens.

—Outstanding generals formulate strategies, while soldiers realize them with their lives.

Shi Shu panted, standing on the mountain peak in the torrential rain. Endless waves of Xie Army soldiers rushed into the enemy formation, slashing and killing wantonly. Min soldiers couldn’t ride horses; the horses slipped and broke their legs. Bows and arrows were ruined, so they had to draw swords to fight the Xie Army.

But at this moment, the cohesion of the Xie Army was too strong. Absolute trust in Xie Wuchi and hatred for the Min soldiers blinded everyone’s eyes. Soaring adrenaline overcame fear. The Xie Army surged like a tide, venting the anger of the Central Plains being looted for months, slashing and killing like madmen.

Shi Shu took a step back, stepped on a slippery stone, and sat on the cold, wet stone surface.

Before his eyes, the tide gathered into a vortex, pulling in everything it touched, strangling, tearing apart…

The screaming was deafening. Rain hitting leaves composed a chaotic melody.

Shi Shu observed. The battle lasted until dawn; the rain never stopped. Once Xie Army soldiers were exhausted, newly arrived troops joined in.

The Min soldiers collapsed like a tide, scattering into several streams, but in every direction they flowed, Xie Army soldiers lying in ambush emerged, beating them into even smaller, more scattered fragments…

Min soldiers began to flee. One unit was the most solid, covering the Min commanding general’s escape to the southwest. The Xie Army pursued in victory, repeatedly tearing apart and weakening this force. Like water waves trying to break out, every time they protruded in an arc, they were immediately squeezed back by the Xie Army. But the Min soldiers fought to the death; among them were fierce generals. Finally, after hours of struggle, they tore a small opening in the military formation.

The Min Army raggedly covered their commanding general’s escape, leaving the camp.

A line of white light cut through the sky.

“Dawn has broken…”

Shi Shu sat on horseback. The rain still hadn’t stopped. Splash splash, horse hooves paced through the water currents, making sounds.

Shi Shu looked down. Patches of shadows lingered on his retina. This was a true river of blood; the river was deep red. Countless piled corpses were soaked pale, as if in a charnel ground.

Shi Shu followed the pursuing Xie Army, chasing southwest in the tide of people, hunting down the fleeing Min Army.

On horseback, cold wind poured around him, approaching hypothermia. Helmets and armor were discarded on the road; valuables were thrown by the roadside. Shi Shu didn’t dismount, following the high-morale Jing Army forward in pursuit. Suddenly, another burst of horse hooves sounded from behind.

Shi Shu turned back. It was actually Xie Wuchi. Beneath his crane cloak, he wore armor. His heroic posture was cold and majestic. He too hadn’t slept all night, watching the battle situation to command. At this moment, he didn’t hold an umbrella, just walked over to stand in the rain with Shi Shu.

Shi Shu: “Why did you come? Still not resting?”

Xie Wuchi reached out to rein in the horse, saying calmly: “No rush. This battle will last for several more days. Although the Min soldiers are scattering, their military strength still cannot be underestimated. Ten thousand people—just hacking with knives will take days.”

Shi Shu: “Only a few days? Is this war about to end?”

Xie Wuchi: “Mmh. The war will be over soon.”

Shi Shu turned his head. Many warhorses were galloping in all directions, evidently contacting all sides to proclaim victory. This battle was a great victory; the merits would be countless.

Won, won.

Won…?

Am I dreaming?

Shi Shu turned back and asked: “Where is the Min Army fleeing to?”

Xie Wuchi: “Linjiang Prefecture and Shukang Prefecture are in my hands. They can only flee to Shaoxing Prefecture, which is closest to the Eastern Capital and still under Jing Court control. Just now, the Min soldiers were trapped and fighting with their backs to the water. Proud of their bravery, their morale was instead stimulated. This is not good. When fighting, one must never force out the enemy’s will to fight to the death, but open a hole to let them flee, like a cat toying with a mouse.”

Shi Shu’s handsome face was extremely pale: “Like this, letting them focus solely on fleeing, we can kill more?”

Xie Wuchi nodded calmly: “Correct.”

Shi Shu: “Just happened to be intercepted by the Revenge Army. Sinan and Zihan are in Shaoxing Prefecture; they will catch them very soon.”

After muttering to himself, Shi Shu frowned, his heart a complex mess of emotions.

Xie Wuchi looked at him: “The Min soldiers have retreated, and the Great Jing court is even less of a threat. Next, we only need to point our swords at the Eastern Capital. The Nine Tripods (Imperial Power) are already within easy reach. The war is over; why not smile a little?”

Shi Shu: “I…”

Shi Shu hadn’t woken from the intense pain, feeling only dazed and detached from the world.

Xie Wuchi lowered his eyes and approached.

Shi Shu smelled the scent of water on him and felt the scalding temperature under his cold skin: “Little Shu.”

Shi Shu: “Hm?”

Xie Wuchi: “Give it to me tonight. I want you for the whole night.”

Shi Shu was stunned, understood what he said, and nodded: “Okay.” He returned to the camp with Xie Wuchi, ate breakfast, rested for a few hours, and the first thing upon waking up was almost a conditioned reflex to climb out of bed and immediately meet Lin Yangchun to treat soldiers injured from last night until now.

Shi Shu was busy until evening. Thinking of his agreement with Xie Wuchi, he hurriedly prepared to leave. Lin Yangchun looked at him for a long while: “Little Shu, don’t come to the Medical Bureau recently.”

Shi Shu: “Why?”

“Go back and rest well for a few days. You look like you’ve lost your soul. Regulate your spirit and soul first before talking.”

Shi Shu: “But I’m fine—”

Shi Shu wanted to explain, but Lin Yangchun got irritable: “You’re young. I told you, the killing aura in the army is heavy. Ordinary people can’t stand the resentment of those ghost soldiers wanting to reincarnate. How does that brother of yours act? Doesn’t even know—”

Lin Yangchun wanted to scold more but suddenly fell silent. At the entrance, Xie Wuchi stood straight and majestic. Now, his aura as a calm and steady commander-in-chief had reached perfection. He didn’t say a word; behind him were guards who killed without blinking.

Lin Yangchun resisted for only a second: “Great General, forgive my offense—”

Xie Wuchi raised his hand and came forward to lead Shi Shu: “Little Shu, I came to pick you up.”

Shi Shu followed behind him, nearly bumping into Xie Wuchi’s back. Walking all the way to the tent, Shi Shu asked him: “Where are you going tomorrow? What about those Min soldiers? Have they all been caught?”

Xie Wuchi: “Wait for news tomorrow. More troops have been sent to hunt them down. They can’t escape. Just wait a bit longer.”

Shi Shu’s gaze was flat. He responded with a sound and was pulled into an embrace. Shi Shu was stunned for a few seconds before realizing he was being held. He also noticed something wrong with himself: “I seem to be too tense lately, reaction is very slow. Xie Wuchi, don’t worry… I’ll be fine after sleeping for two days.”

Xie Wuchi: “Want to kiss?”

Shi Shu: “Yes.”

Xie Wuchi’s lips pressed against his, gently holding his chin, kissing lingeringly. Shi Shu lay in his arms, slowly hugging Xie Wuchi back. Xie Wuchi held him, kissed his face then his ear, and lifted Shi Shu onto his lap to sit.

Just as Xie Wuchi was about to cherish him properly, Shi Shu raised his hand, also touching the side of Xie Wuchi’s face, looking at him with a gaze of deep love.

The corner of Xie Wuchi’s lips lifted slightly. A moment later, he could only hug him tighter.

Horse hooves trampled through the mire, mud splattering high!

This mud, carried all the way from Linjiang Prefecture to the Imperial Palace in the Eastern Capital, stained the luxurious white marble floor tiles of the Eastern Capital, trampled into nothingness.

Letter after letter of urgent military intelligence stirred up great waves. Fierce officials in the court paled suddenly, stammering and unable to speak in court.

Those more indignant spoke with blood and pain.

“Wolf Soldiers entered the pass and slaughtered; the Central Plains fell, and civilians died miserably. I thought this chaos would last for decades, unexpectedly it was quelled by that rebel Xie’s troops!”

“Just what kind of tiger and wolf soldiers are they?! To think my Jing Dynasty’s Imperial Guard collapsed at the first blow, actually letting a usurping rebel minister establish such merit! Ashamed before the ancestors!”

“The court has lost virtue, the Emperor is without the Way, signs of a fallen nation!”

“…”

Above the court, sorrowful voices were endless. Only on the dragon throne sat a figure in bright yellow, looking around with a gloomy and fearful expression: “What insights do you beloved ministers have? The Xie Army drove away the Min wolves and is now one step away from the Eastern Capital! Next will be the tragic state of breaching the Imperial City, trampling the bones of nobles on the Heavenly Street! Do you beloved ministers have a good strategy to repel the enemy?”

“Sigh! What good strategy is there to repel the enemy…”

“Disappointed! Disappointed! Fate is exhausted, the hearts of the people are lost, the Mandate of Heaven has likely long since passed.”

“In such a situation, besides waiting for death, what other way is there?”

“…”

Autumn rain continued, tides surged. The weather was gloomy like an overturned inkstone; black clouds pressed on the city, threatening to destroy it.

Finally, the weather cleared, and the mud on the ground dried again. Horse hooves delivering military intelligence trampled over, raising bursts of dust.

Beside the camp gate outside the central army tent, everyone stood, facing the autumn wind, gradually waiting for one military messenger after another returning with command feathers. Without exception, they waved red flags, horse hooves kicking up rolling dust.

The messengers dismounted and bowed:

“Report! General, Tao Liangrui’s unit headed toward the Jingping area, intercepted over three thousand Min soldiers and horses, and captured the Great Noble, the Third Crown Prince of Min! Bound and brought here!”

“Report! Miao Yuanliang’s unit chased up along the Xiliu River, killed and defeated over five thousand Min enemies, captured the King of Wushan of the Min tribe, the Princess of Wushan, and three Heirs of the King of Wushan!”

“Report! Xie Zhou’s unit chased west, captured several thousand alive, willing to surrender to the Great General!”

“Ping Yichun chased south, killed over ten thousand enemies, has captured the Great Monarch of Northern Min, Wuerhun, and the Grand Crown Prince! Bound and brought here!”

“Revenge Army, Song Clan unit, defeated over ten thousand, captured the Great Monarch’s wives and concubines alive…”

“…”

Hearing the news early, Shi Shu rushed to the camp gate. Song Sinan’s uncle, who managed the Revenge Army, stood there expressionless, his face marked by wind and frost.

Shi Shu ran all the way. Seeing him, he panted with hands on knees: “Uncle Song, where are Sinan and Zihan? Why haven’t they come back yet?”

Uncle Song said: “Sinan asked me to give you this bundle and pass on a few words.”

Shi Shu panted, his expression changing as he took a cleanly washed bundle.

“—He said: Things weren’t that simple. He had been following me all along. A few days ago, going north to intercept the routed Wolf Soldiers, marching at night, we ambushed in the mountain forest. At that time, the unit we encountered was the remnant army covering the Great Monarch of Min, very fierce, combat power still remaining.”

“We were all very excited. He had always been timid, but was also encouraged by victory; perhaps he had feared war for too long. Then, pushing rocks down from the hillside, but that position was conspicuous. He was hit in the forehead by an arrow and fell to the bottom of the cliff.”

Shi Shu’s eyelids trembled, warmth draining from his body, blood flowing backward.

“You said—”

“When we went to rescue him, he was already heavily injured. Lying by the roadside, afraid to move his body, we had to chase and kill the routed soldiers first, leaving him there. Now, my uncle is returning to report merits. I stayed here to guard Zihan, too ashamed to come back and see you.”

Song Sinan’s uncle finished speaking, nodded, and walked to Xie Wuchi: “General, most Min soldiers have been strangled, but one or two remnant units escaped, about several hundred people. We still need to continue searching to avoid brewing disaster—”

Shi Shu clutched that bundle. In his mind, the cold, emotionless sound of the System rang out—

—[Ding dong!]

—[Current Survivors: 2.]

[Victory is within reach. Player, please continue to work hard.]

Shi Shu’s fingernails dug deep into the bundle. His shoulders trembled. The oppressive sullenness held in his heart until now finally poured out, making tears stream down his face in an instant. Shi Shu faced the camp gate, back to everyone, tears flowing down his cheeks, gripping the fabric in his hand deathly tight.

In this battle, Min suffered nearly a million casualties, Jing suffered millions. Was this the final battle of Ragnarok?

Shi Shu lowered his head, the autumn wind drying the tear stains on his face. He lifted his foot and walked toward where Song Sinan and Du Zihan were.

On the other side, several fast horses galloped over, carrying urgent letters from the court. It turned out the main general of the Eastern Capital actively offered the pass, intending to help him open the Eastern Capital city gates, needing urgent contact now!

Shi Shu said to the guard: “Tell my brother, I’m going to pick someone up. I’ll be back once I get him.”

Shi Shu carried the bundle, mounted a horse. Tears dried by the autumn wind made his eyes sting. Horse hooves galloped in the autumn wind. Shi Shu’s fingers could only feel the sharp stinging pain of the fabric rubbing against his fingertips.

To this day, Shi Shu no longer understood why, but only that sentence spiraled in his brain—Shi Shu, moving forward is the answer.

Moving forward is the answer.

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