Chapter Sixty-Eight: Iron Steeds and Silver Spears Enter the Autumn Pond

From Quhuai to Mengliang, the shortest route was to follow the official road through the Flying Swallow Gate, a mere thousand li; but now, with the two kingdoms at war, that road was impassable. The only choice was the one Lord Rongqing had mentioned: to pass through the Araki Plain, detour an extra thousand li, and slip in through the desolate western mountains of Qiuchi, where perhaps it would be far easier than elsewhere.

“Wuzhui, we’re almost home. Soon, you’ll see Xiaohua and the others,” Lin Feng said with a smile to Wuzhui in the courtyard.

“That’s great! But, big brother, will there be as much beef on the mountain as here?” Wuzhui clapped his forepaws together, growing more and more humanlike by the day.

“Um, let me think… There’s beef for sale in Peach Blossom Town. I still have some gold and silver on hand. We can go down every few days for a couple pounds—shouldn’t be a problem.” Lin Feng winked and grinned.

“Oh? Well, alright then… I guess my belly will be empty again soon…” Wuzhui drooped his head and sighed.

“Haha, look at you! You can’t just eat meat. You need a balanced diet and more training.”

“I’m still growing, big brother. Well, alright, I’ll eat more greens from now on.” Wuzhui sighed again.

“I’m teasing! I’ve already got a solution. Sleep early tonight. We’ll be traveling for days starting tomorrow. Once this is over, we’re going home…” Lin Feng patted Wuzhui’s head, lifted his gaze, and looked at the bright crescent moon hanging in the night sky.

This time, one was missing from the party, but over two hundred fierce cavalrymen were added—Yanjun’s light cavalry camp under strict discipline, each waist belted with a long sword, a curved bow slung over the back, all mounted on Firecloud horses. They wore armor beneath their tunics and cloaks above, flew no banners, and rode ahead to clear the way.

“Commander Yan, sorry to trouble you and your men this time,” Ye Ziyin walked alongside Yan Jun, extending warm courtesies.

“We serve at his lordship’s command. No need for thanks, Master Ye. Once we leave Mengliang’s borders, we can accompany you no further,” Yan Jun replied, head held high.

“Of course, as it should be,” Ye Ziyin thanked him repeatedly.

A Firecloud horse could cover three hundred li by day and a hundred by night. Three days later, at a crossroads on the official road, Nie Xuan rode out and addressed the party: “Here we part ways. If fate allows, let us drink together again. The journey through the passes is long—Master Ye, Brother Zuo, take care!”

Ye Ziyin glanced at Lin Feng, opened his mouth, then sighed and saluted Nie Xuan. “Take care on your way!”

“Take care!” The group, all feeling the pang of parting, called out as one.

“Hyah!” Nie Xuan gave Lin Feng a long, meaningful look, then whipped his horse and galloped away.

“This man can bow or rise as the times demand, and cuts ties when he must. He is truly rare in the world,” Ye Ziyin sighed, then gave a loud command and sped down the official road.

“Nie Xuan’s look was laden with meaning—was he trying to warn me of something?…” Lin Feng pondered but could not unravel the thread.

Under the blazing summer sun, the official road was like fire. Men and horses were exhausted. Each day, they hurried on while the sun was low, setting out at dawn and pressing on through the evening light. By midday, they sought the shade of trees to escape the heat, which slowed their progress.

“A hundred li ahead lies the Araki Plain, a place rarely traveled. Everyone, fill your water skins! We must cross it in a day!” Yan Jun commanded loudly from horseback, relaying the order to Ye Ziyin and the others.

Every horse carried a water skin holding ten liters—enough for each rider for three days.

“Let’s hope nothing goes wrong here,” Lin Feng thought uneasily. As they stepped onto the Araki Plain, his sense of foreboding sharpened.

On the Araki Plain, for miles around, not a trace of green could be seen. The stones underfoot were blistering hot, the earth as hard as iron, and even animal bones were scarce.

Life was extinct. The sky itself seemed heavy, drained of vitality. Though the sun blazed, it could not dispel the oppressive atmosphere.

“Faster!” Yan Jun lashed his mount mercilessly, but the horse balked, moving only a step for every three lashes. If not for the tight reins, it would have bolted. Even Lin Feng’s own thousand-li horse was restless, its four hooves heavy and sluggish.

“Big brother, there’s danger here,” Wuzhui warned with a thought.

Lin Feng nodded, keeping the Demon Jiao Bow ready in hand for defense. The secrets of the land were too many, and this cursed ground was surely home to something sinister.

“Commander Yan, have you ever crossed this stretch before?” After two hours, with no end in sight, Lin Feng urged his horse alongside Yan Jun and asked with a frown.

“No, I’ve only heard it’s dangerous—never traveled it myself,” Yan Jun replied, thrashing his Firecloud horse harder.

Lin Feng said nothing more. It was clear now: this was another trap set by Lord Rongqing, who did not hesitate to sacrifice his own men; this damned place almost certainly harbored some monstrous evil.

Before nightfall, the party pressed on, eager to escape that strange land. Suddenly, all the horses in the company went mad, bolting wildly, ignoring their riders’ commands, fleeing in every direction. Water skins fell and burst under stamping hooves, fresh water soaking into the hard earth—a scene of utter chaos.

Five thousand-li horses reared and screamed, blood surging, nerves on edge. Only with their masters’ coaxing did they regain some calm.

Under the scorching sun, a wave of icy air pierced the heart. Everyone shivered involuntarily, limbs turning cold. The sky, once bright, suddenly filled with black clouds, darkness surging on all sides, until not even a hand could be seen before the face.

“Is it demon or fiend?” In this endless blackness, Lin Feng took up his bow, and suddenly, red light blazed from his body! It shone through cloth and skin, casting a magnificent glow.

“What’s happening! That’s… the radiance of the Red Spider Lily!” At the same time, the glass prayer beads blessed by the abbot of the Great Sorrow Monastery glowed like a golden lotus blooming in the darkness. Buddhist chanting echoed softly above, as if in a sacred sanctuary.

The rolling black clouds instantly retreated. Sunlight returned to the Araki Plain, and only the scattered water skins bore witness to the earlier panic.

“Count the men!” On that barren plain, the soldiers stood dazed, half the company scattered in mere moments.

Hearts pounding, the survivors pressed on. The horses, their courage restored, galloped on, and within an hour they reached the border between the two kingdoms.

“Gentlemen, the lord’s orders are fulfilled. Until we meet again!” Yan Jun saluted with a shout.

“Commander Yan, thank you for your escort! Until we meet again!” Ye Ziyin and the others bid him farewell.

“Wait! Commander Yan, on your way back, don’t cross the Araki Plain again—take the long way to Quhuai,” Lin Feng warned.

“Understood! Move out!”

They watched the cavalry depart, then, taking advantage of dusk, sped toward Qiuchi.

Night fell as a gentle rain began to fall on the ancient road of Qiuchi. In the misty gloom, the distant border outpost of Rongshan Town appeared, half veiled.

“Young master, let’s take shelter in the town first,” suggested Zuo Qingcheng.

“Alright.”

The cool drizzle felt refreshing against their faces, washing away the dust of many days and easing their hearts. Beyond Rongshan Town lay the rolling Da Rongshan mountains; only by passing through could they reach the official road leading to Changhao City.

The five of them rode to the pass. The walls were low, only two or three zhang high, neglected for lack of travelers. The iron-forged gates were tightly shut, the wall merging with the mountains on both sides. In the rain and darkness, it exuded a sense of impenetrable defense.

“Is anyone there? We need shelter for the night!” Liu Yun shouted at the walls.

“Who goes there?” Only after three shouts did a head pop up atop the gatehouse, a soldier holding a rain hat, calling down to them.

“We’re horse traders from Qiuchi. Please, officer, open the gate,” Liu Yun said, tossing a silver ingot up to the wall.

The soldier ran down the steps, and soon the gates opened. The five rode in through the rain.

At that instant, a sense of danger struck. Lin Feng, Zuo Qingcheng, Wuzhui—all tensed. “Stop!” someone shouted. The iron gates slammed shut behind them. On the walls, countless arrows were aimed at the five below. Rongshan Town was already lying in wait with crack crossbow troops, ready for their trap!

“Haha, Ye Ziyin, you’ve walked right into my net. I’ve been waiting for you! I can’t believe you dared to return,” a voice called out as a dense mass of cavalry surged onto the stone road, spears like rain, banners snapping in the wind.

“Meng Tian!” Zuo Qingcheng’s eyes narrowed as he drew his long blade, standing ramrod straight.

“That’s right, Zuo Qingcheng. Do you still think you can escape my blade today? Seize them alive!” A silver-armored general, wielding a twelve-foot blade, stood tall on horseback.

“Take them alive!” The shout rolled forth in waves, a killing intent crashing down upon the five.

“Protect the young master! Kill!” Zuo Qingcheng spurred his horse, eyes bloodshot, charging the enemy line.

The archers on the walls aimed but did not shoot, offering a sliver of hope. As Zuo Qingcheng charged, a faster figure shot forward like a meteor, straight for Meng Tian, covering ten zhang more than Zuo Qingcheng! Spear flashing like lightning, his steed like a dragon, his momentum unmatched.

The proud gatekeeper, General Meng Tian, blanched in terror.

Swish, swish, swish! The pear blossom spear stabbed again and again—man, spear, and steed as one—piercing the rain, white light tearing through Meng Tian’s throat. Blood sprayed; a head flew skyward, landing beneath his horse.

With a twist, the spear swept an arc over the corpse, lifted Meng Tian’s remains with a flick, and in a shake, his body broke apart, flesh and bone scattered in all directions.

A general slain in a heartbeat—body shattered, bones splintered!

“Those who block my way die!” Amidst golden spears and iron horses, the world shook!