Usually refined, he was now flushed with desperation. Seeing he could barely hold on, the cavalry beneath him slowly retreated, on the verge of being broken by the Eastern Chu forces.
These Eastern Chu men charged like awls, advancing at a speed visible to the naked eye. The Dayǎn cavalry, like fragile cloth, tried desperately to hold the line, but could not stop them.
Li Muzhan pulled his bowstring taut, then released it, observing the scene with cold eyes.
“Kill! Kill! Kill!” Song Shiqi shrieked, swinging his long saber like a bolt of white silk, cutting down one Eastern Chu rider and sweeping toward another.
This Eastern Chu rider’s scimitar moved like lightning, incredibly fast—a true master. Blade met blade with a ringing clang, and for a moment, neither could gain the upper hand.
Song Shiqi was now entangled, outnumbered, and losing momentum.
……………………………………………………, though it took a long time to relate, it all happened in the blink of an eye.
The Eastern Chu riders wore gray armor that only covered vital areas, offering less protection than the heavy gear of the Dayǎn cavalry. However, they were more agile, and being tall and powerfully built, their curved blades moved with terrifying speed.
In contrast, the elite cavalrymen seemed clumsy, their morale crushed, holding back and unable to withstand the onslaught, slowly being pushed back.
The leading Eastern Chu rider, possessing supreme blade technique, cut down a Dayǎn elite cavalryman. His blue eyes lit up with fierce joy; he saw a clear path to break through.
The other three squadrons of the elite cavalry were still a hundred meters back, barely catching up, but if that vanguard could break out, their horses’ stamina would ensure a clean escape.
“Tss!” “Tss!” “Tss!” “Tss!” “Tss!” A sudden chorus of soft whistles pierced the air, and the Dayǎn cavalry immediately settled, letting out a collective sigh of relief.
“Thump-thump-thud…” The Eastern Chu riders were flung from their saddles as if launched by rockets, soaring several yards away before crashing onto the roadside, their fates unknown.
Li Muzhan’s arrows were devastatingly fast. By the time the sound of the bowstring was heard, the arrows had already struck. Not a single Eastern Chu rider survived.
Even those with sharp instincts, sensing danger and trying to evade, could only be thrown off their horses in final defeat.
The Eastern Chu riders cried out, growing more frantic, their curved blades flashing like lightning, making them even more dangerous.
Li Muzhan’s expression remained calm. His right hand moved, generating a shadow, and arrow after arrow flew forth, creating a dense rain that seemed to emanate from dozens of archers simultaneously.
“Thump-thump-thump-thump…” A continuous series of muffled impacts sounded as the Eastern Chu riders were launched skyward, falling several yards away by the roadside, utterly defenseless.
Some turned, quickly snatching bows from their backs, intending to shoot Li Muzhan. They were equipped with bows, but the initial ambush had prevented them from using them.
As soon as they unslung their bows and tried to nock an arrow, the long shafts arrived, carrying their resentful forms away.
……………………………………………………, …………, in the space of a few breaths, over forty arrows had flown. Both quivers were empty. Before the elite cavalry stood only fifty-odd sturdy horses, their saddles vacant, only the soft whinnying remaining.
These horses were different from the mounts of Dayǎn or Xīzhào; they were slightly shorter but possessed much thicker legs and significantly larger hooves, giving them an awkward appearance compared to the fine horses of the other two nations.
Yet, these beasts were second only to the Khan’s finest steeds. They possessed incredible endurance and speed; when galloping, the horses of Xīzhào and Dayǎn could not remotely compare.
“Damn it!” Song Shiqi cursed, glaring fiercely at Anren.
The thirty-odd surviving elite cavalrymen lowered their heads, shame etched on their faces.
“You’ve truly disgraced me!” Song Shiqi snorted. He rode up to Li Muzhan, cupping his hands in salute. “Mingkong, thank you!”
Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head, dismounting. His feet seemed to glide, and he instantly appeared before a wounded rider. He lowered his head and touched the man’s chest several times with his fingers, then moved to the next, repeating the gesture, his five fingers curved into a crane’s beak shape.
He touched more than a dozen riders in quick succession. His face turned stark white, his gentle features now drawn and ashen. These dozen men were near death; the Eastern Chu riders were indeed elite, their cuts precise and fatal.
Executing the Crane Feeding Oil Technique more than ten times left him utterly exhausted, not merely from draining his inner power, but a deep, bone-weary fatigue, as if his nascent spirit had been depleted.
A bitter smile touched Li Muzhan’s lips. He finally understood: everything came with a price. Why was the Crane Feeding Oil Technique so miraculous? Because it consumed the yuanshen—the vital spirit.
If he could reach the final stage, transforming energy into spirit (lianqi huashen), he might be able to replenish what was lost. If not, the consumed yuanshen would shorten his lifespan.
However, compared to a life, the price of a fragment of spirit was clearly the lesser evil. Moreover, he had profound confidence in himself; with the Guan Tian Ren Shen Zhao Jīng, he essentially possessed a shortcut.
He swayed, his face pale as paper. Zhao Shengli and the others rushed forward, babbling, “Monk! Monk!” Li Muzhan waved them off, signaling them not to panic, and sat down cross-legged on a nearby patch of dry earth, ignoring the surrounding commotion.
A group of over one hundred and fifty men arrived hastily. The commander, Captain Hu, at the front, had an iron-gray complexion.
Ultimately, this failure was due to his flawed command. He had underestimated the ferocity of these Eastern Chu riders. If Li Muzhan hadn't intervened, they might have slipped away.
Two hundred against fifty, and they almost escaped? They might as well pack up and go home rather than attempt to reinforce the Divine Light Camp.
He dismounted and approached Li Muzhan, sizing him up, then glared fiercely at Song Shiqi.
Song Shiqi’s fair face flushed crimson, and he hung his head. “Go check the wounded!” Captain Hu snapped.
“Yes,” Song Shiqi quickly agreed, accompanying the Captain to the injured men.
……………………………………, …………………………
Several military surgeons were busy tending to the casualties, mostly treating them where they fell before moving them. When Captain Hu and his entourage arrived, the surgeons ignored them, continuing their work.
Captain Hu asked in a low voice, “How many brothers have we lost?”
A middle-aged surgeon stepped forward, a puzzled look on his face. He shook his head. “Reporting to the Captain, only injuries, no fatalities.”
“Not a single one lost?” Captain Hu’s spirits lifted.
The surgeon nodded. “It’s very strange. They clearly suffered mortal wounds, yet every one of them is hanging on by a thread, their vitality robust. I estimate they will all pull through.”
“Oh?” Captain Hu smiled. “What is happening?”
Song Shiqi interjected, “Could it be Mingkong’s doing? I saw him touching several men just now, and he looked utterly spent afterward.”
The middle-aged surgeon nodded excitedly, his eyes shining. “It must be a secret art for prolonging life! I have heard of such techniques but never witnessed one. A true genius has shown it to us!” If he could obtain this technique, even the gravest injuries would be manageable!
Song Shiqi offered a bitter smile. Ye Wuhen scoffed, “Daydreaming. How could such a secret art be easily shared?”
The surgeon immediately deflated, nodding. “You are right. Such techniques are kept secret. They say using them too often invites heavenly retribution.”
“This little monk holds quite a few secrets,” Captain Hu grunted, nodding. “Alright, no one is to speak of this news. If any outsider learns of it, you’ll answer with your hide!” The men quickly agreed, “Yes, Captain, we absolutely won’t speak a word.”
They all turned to look at Li Muzhan, who sat motionless, his face pale, resembling an old monk in deep meditation.
“What cultivation technique is he practicing?” Ye Wuhen frowned. “Is it some martial art fundamental?”
Captain Hu replied, “Before he joined the army, he was raised by a monk who taught him some skills. It must be some form of Buddhist divine power.”
Everyone suddenly understood, finding it plausible; only the boundless nature of Buddhist teachings could possess such life-saving magic.
After an hour spent stabilizing the wounded, they loaded them onto carts fetched by other riders and continued their journey.
Li Muzhan sat in one of the carts, surrounded by Zhao Shengli and the six others, who guarded him closely. The wounded men stared at him with burning gazes.
They had been ordered to keep silent, but they knew clearly that their lives had been saved by him.
When wounded, despair had washed over them, icy coldness surging like a tide, threatening to drown them. Then, a sudden thread of warmth had entered, circulating through their bodies, protecting their hearts—allowing them to hold on. They knew perfectly well their bodies belonged to them.
Li Muzhan sat motionless in the cart, his face ashen, like a sculpted figure.
……………………………………………………………………
After traveling about ten li, Li Muzhan suddenly opened his eyes and said sternly, “Stop the carriages!”
The rider driving the lead cart immediately pulled the reins. Zhao Shengli hurried forward. “Monk, how are you? Are you feeling better?”
Li Muzhan frowned. “Send word to Captain Hu. There is enemy activity ahead; we must halt!” Seeing his grave expression, Zhao Shengli quickly said, “Li Zi, hurry, report to Captain Hu!”
Li Baolu acknowledged the order, dismounted instead of riding, and shot forward on foot, darting through the crowd like a rabbit until he quickly caught up with Captain Hu.
The column halted quickly. Captain Hu spurred his horse over, taking in Li Muzhan’s appearance. “Mingkong, is your health alright?”
Li Muzhan smiled and shook his head. “I won’t die. Captain, there are people ahead; we should lie low.”
Captain Hu frowned. “How many? How far?”
Li Muzhan replied, “Around two hundred riders, seven or eight li out.” Captain Hu pondered. “Two hundred more…” It seemed they needed to evade the immediate danger. “Li Muzhan sighed, “It is better to avoid them.” Captain Hu gritted his teeth. “Damn these Eastern Chu cavalry; they truly live up to their reputation!” Song Shiqi, Ye Wuhen, come here!”
The two battalion commanders rode up, glancing concernedly at Li Muzhan before turning to Captain Hu. “Captain?”
“There are about two hundred Eastern Chu riders ahead. Can we fight them?” Captain Hu asked sidelong.
Song Shiqi’s face reddened; he scratched his head. “If we must fight, we need an ambush!” Ye Wuhen shook his head. “I fear we cannot win.”
Song Shiqi turned to Li Muzhan. “Mingkong, what do you think?”
Li Muzhan sighed. “The brothers cannot be sacrificed needlessly. Against Eastern Chu cavalry, we must fight them with superior numbers.”
“Yes, yes, that makes sense!” Song Shiqi quickly agreed.
Captain Hu gritted his teeth. “Fine, we’ll evade them for now!” Mingkong, where should we go?” Li Muzhan pointed south. “There is a patch of woods over there; let’s head there.”
“Good, each of you take a battalion and head over there!” Captain Hu waved his hand.
Li Muzhan stretched his arms and smiled. “Captain, I’ll go kill a few to vent the company’s anger!” (To be continued) Double monthly tickets, send them flying up!