Upon the ramparts stood a continuous line of Guiyuan Sect warriors, stretching as far as the eye could see. The cold spears and blades they held reflected a frigid gleam in the darkness. In their bloodshot eyes resided resolute defiance, a touch of madness! For the sake of their Guiyuan Sect, they were prepared to fight to the death!
Fight! Fight!
"Hmm?" Teng Qingshan frowned, noticing the vast host of Azure Lake Island Silver Jiao Army soldiers charging three li away on horseback.
A myriad of horses thundered forth! The very earth trembled!
"What are they doing? Charging the city walls on horseback?" Teng Qingshan was utterly perplexed. Not only him, but many within the Guiyuan Sect were bewildered. The Silver Jiao Army riders galloped for about a li and then—suddenly—veered! They took off sprinting toward the northwest.
Outside the East Gate of Jiangning Commandery City, the main road branched off into several paths.
One path led directly south, toward 'Heyuan City,' 'Yanjiang City,' and other locales. One path led north, continuing all the way to Xuyang Commandery. One path headed northwest, bypassing Jiangning Commandery City before turning west, leading toward 'Yicheng,' 'Huafeng City,' and other areas.
"Could they be attacking the North Gate?" Teng Qingshan was startled. By circling around, they could certainly target the North Gate, or even the West Gate! It was common knowledge that among the four gates of Jiangning Commandery City, the East Gate was the most heavily fortified.
"Commander Zang, take your thousand and five hundred Black Armored troops and reinforce the North Gate!" Zhuge Yuanhong roared.
"Yes, sir."
Zang Feng immediately led his contingent of fifteen hundred Black Armored troops to swiftly move toward the North Gate.
As large numbers of soldiers streamed off toward the northwest, the thirteen Innate Masters from Azure Lake Island also rode their horses, accompanying the main army.
"Hmm? These thirteen are also heading to the North Gate; it seems they plan to make the North Gate their main assault point. Did they plant spies at the North Gate?" Teng Qingshan wondered inwardly. Beside him, Zhuge Yuanhong immediately gave orders: "Elder Feng, take ten thousand City Guard troops and follow me to the North Gate."
At the command. The bustling throng of men and horses quickly converged there.
Including Teng Qingshan, the three Enforcement Elders also rushed alongside Zhuge Yuanhong toward the North Gate. * Teng Qingshan and his group ran along the top of the city wall. Their opponents, however, were running along the roads outside the city—a route that required significantly more detours. Furthermore, Innate Masters using their movement skills were considerably faster than warhorses.
In the dark night, at the North Gate of Jiangning Commandery City, torches were stuck into the battlements.
Five thousand City Guard troops were already stationed there for vigilance. The four Guiyuan Sect Innate Masters soon arrived at the North Gate.
"Master. Is Azure Lake Island attacking the North Gate? But they have thirteen Innate Masters. If they still choose this route... did they arrange an inside agent at the North Gate?" Teng Qingshan worried.
"It certainly looks that way," Zhuge Yuanhong replied, as composed and calm as ever.
Finally, the vanguard of the Azure Lake Island army reached the junction of the roads two li from the North Gate. Yet, inexplicably... they did not turn toward the city gate. Instead, they continued sprinting westward along the main road.
"Are they attacking the West Gate?" Yan Motian frowned.
The three Enforcement Elders were equally perplexed.
What exactly was Azure Lake Island planning?
"We only need to keep our eyes on those thirteen Innate Masters," Zhuge Yuanhong chuckled lightly. Soon, they saw Gu Yong and his group of experts riding their horses, keeping pace with the advancing army.
"To the West Gate," Zhuge Yuanhong commanded.
"Feng'er, take your men and ride with me to the West Gate." Zang Feng, who had just run from the East Gate to the North Gate using only his legs, along with his fifteen hundred soldiers, now had to continue sprinting toward the West Gate.
...
Jiangning Commandery City, West Gate.
The Black Armored Army soldiers certainly possessed remarkable stamina, despite wearing heavy armor.
"Damn sons of bitches, making us run this far. When this is over, we’ll slaughter every last one of these bastards clean," some Black Armored soldiers fumed. The pressure of the approaching Azure Lake Island army had already made them anxious, but despite the worry, not a single Black Armored soldier showed cowardice.
If they were to die, let it be on the battlefield!
But who could have imagined that after three shichen (six hours), the Azure Lake Island forces, after taking a massive detour from the East Gate, were now arriving at the West Gate? Were they toying with them?
Teng Qingshan stood atop the wall, gazing into the distance.
The leading soldiers of Azure Lake Island had already reached the road junction.
Da! Da! Da! Da!
The dense sound of hooves sent tremors through the earth. This contingent of Silver Jiao Army soldiers suddenly pulled back on their reins. The warhorses immediately bolted west.
"What is this game?" Teng Qingshan was dumbfounded.
"Still heading west?" Commander Zang Feng, catching up from behind, was also taken aback by the sight.
Jiangning Commandery City wasn't that large. Having reached the West Gate, where else could they possibly go but further west...
"Rumble~~~" A thousand troops and ten thousand horses sped westward continuously.
On the battlements of Jiangning Commandery City, all the warriors who had braced themselves for a fight to the death were utterly bewildered.
"Strange!" Yan Motian laughed in astonishment. "That Gu Yong made threats at noon, saying he would reduce our Guiyuan Sect to scorched earth in three shichen. But what is he doing now? Running from the East Gate all the way to the West Gate, and now still running west? Do they intend to run tens of li away, then turn back to fight us?"
If that were truly their plan, the people of Azure Lake Island must have lost their minds!
"Truly strange," the usually stern and cold middle-aged man also broke into a smile. "Let's see which direction those thirteen Innate Masters are heading."
Zhuge Yuanhong's face finally showed a trace of a smile.
Finally—
The ceaseless main army of Azure Lake Island arrived at the junction outside the city. Gu Yong and the thirteen Innate Masters were clustered together, all riding horses, and they too were rapidly fleeing westward.
Further west lay the direction of Yicheng and Huafeng City.
"Gu Yong!" A clear voice echoed across heaven and earth. Zhuge Yuanhong, smiling faintly, stood atop the city wall. "Forgive Guiyuan Sect for not seeing you out properly!"
"Hahaha, Zhuge Yuanhong, I underestimated you!"
Gu Yong's resonant voice boomed across the firmament. The thirteen Innate Masters soon vanished from sight, and the massive Azure Lake Island army continued its flight westward...
On the walls of the West Gate, Teng Qingshan, Elder Yan, Elder Zhu, Commander Zang Feng, and the numerous Black Armored soldiers all looked toward their Sect Master, 'Zhuge Yuanhong.'
They were all stupefied!
A retreat!
The Azure Lake Island army had withdrawn without even launching an attack! Moreover, anyone sane hearing the exchange—"Zhuge Yuanhong, I underestimated you!"—could likely guess... the grand mobilization and fierce threats issued by Azure Lake Island were utterly linked to the Sect Master, 'Zhuge Yuanhong'!
"Look at you all, slack-jawed?" Zhuge Yuanhong laughed. After a calm day, Zhuge Yuanhong finally roared with laughter now. "City Guard soldiers, continue your watch atop the walls tonight. Later, meat and fine wine will be delivered; everyone celebrate and feast well. Of course, remain vigilant against an unexpected counterattack from Azure Lake Island."
"Yes, Sect Master!"
The soldiers erupted in cheers.
"Black Armored Army soldiers, all return to the inner city," Zhuge Yuanhong said cheerfully. "Tonight, our Guiyuan Sect shall celebrate in earnest!"
Instantly, the entire wall was filled with cheers...
...
That night, the six thousand soldiers of the Black Armored Army, the ten thousand core disciples, and the tens of thousands of outer disciples celebrated wildly. Having narrowly escaped death's door, everyone was ecstatic. Although they had all been prepared to fight to the death, preserving the Guiyuan Sect without a single battle was infinitely preferable!
Good brothers, dear friends, beloved family—no one had to die!
Teng Qingshan was also happy.
Without losing a single man, the Guiyuan Sect was safe. His Master, the good brothers like Tian Dan of the Black Armored Army, and all his relatives—none of them had to die!
...
Within the Guiyuan Sect, the light of torches reddened the entire compound. Lanterns and torches illuminated every corner, making the atmosphere incredibly festive—even more joyous than during the New Year Festival! Every disciple was thrilled that the Guiyuan Sect was preserved.
"Haha, didn't the Azure Lake Island Master Gu Yong arrogantly claim he would flatten our Guiyuan Sect in three shichen?"
"Yes, Gu Yong was so arrogant, but in the end, he had to flee in disgrace, didn't he?"
"It’s still our Sect Master who is mighty! Without lifting a finger, he scared Azure Lake Island into fleeing."
The celebrating Guiyuan Sect disciples cheered their success.
"Brother!"
"Xiaoyu."
Teng Qingshan held his sister Qingyu tightly in an embrace. Having all his loved ones together, being able to live happily together—it was truly wonderful.
"That we survived without losing a single person is all thanks to Master," Teng Qingshan looked toward the distance where the Sect Master, 'Zhuge Yuanhong,' still clad in his white robe, was elegantly raising a cup while conversing with some Elders. "When the Azure Lake Island Master Gu Yong mobilized his entire force and issued those dire threats, it certainly wasn't mere posturing! But why did they run west in the end, refusing to fight at all? What exactly did Master do to make even the thirteen Innate Masters choose a bloodless retreat?"
Teng Qingshan's heart was filled with endless questions.
...
While the Guiyuan Sect celebrated, the Azure Lake Island forces advanced silently through the night. The thirteen Innate Masters gathered together.
"This is such a disgrace! We mobilized our entire force and made such threats, only to retreat without a fight. I fear... this will become a laughingstock across the world," hissed the silver-haired, handsome youth, 'Zhao Danchen.'
Gu Yong, clad in yellow robes, shook his head and sighed. "I underestimated Zhuge Yuanhong, I underestimated the Guiyuan Sect."
"Did Zhuge Yuanhong really break through to the Innate Golden Core, reaching the unfathomable Void Realm?" The gray-robed middle-aged man, 'Elder Hu,' still found it hard to believe. Gu Yong sighed, "I was looking at the map in the main tent! Before I looked at the map, there was no such piece of paper on the table. In just a moment, this paper appeared on the table!"
"I was the only one in the tent! To place a paper on my table and retreat silently without me noticing in the slightest... that level of strength absolutely means he has broken through the Innate Golden Core," Gu Yong sighed. "So, I do not doubt the 'mutual destruction' he wrote on the paper."
"No one in the Guiyuan Sect has broken through to the Innate Golden Core in over a thousand years," the Innate Masters felt a deep sense of solemnity.
If no one in the Guiyuan Sect had managed the breakthrough in a millennium, did this generation suddenly contain someone who could?
"Stop dwelling on it," Gu Yong said indifferently. "We must admit the Guiyuan Sect is strong! And Azure Lake Island gained significantly from conquering the Iron Cloth Gate—we discovered the Treasure Map of Emperor Yu. If we obtain Emperor Yu's treasure, perhaps one day Azure Lake Island can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Mani Temple! Based on geographical changes over the past several thousand years, I have carefully examined the evidence and finally confirmed... the location of Emperor Yu's treasure should be in Mount Dayan, near Yicheng in Jiangning Commandery!"