【The Chronicles of Chaos ※ Part Two: Soldiers on the Battlefield】(5)

Chapter Five: Parting Ways (Part 1)

An Hong was slightly taken aback, then shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Junior Sister, do you know

how long ? Now that you're so close, why are you letting a junior pass on your message?"

As soon as An Hong finished speaking, the air in the room froze. After a long while, another soft female voice sighed softly, "As expected , you

can't fool Senior Brother!"

Upon hearing this, An Hong also sighed, "Ling'er, you've deceived me so badly! I never imagined that the

Red-Veiled Demoness who killed the Arrow Camp brothers was actually you! My elder brother also helped me search for you for years back then, how could you be so heartless as to

kill his people?"

Ling'er, dressed in red gauze, slowly floated down from the roof beam, and walked lightly to An Hong.

A charming smile like peach blossoms appeared on her face. She squatted down and asked, "When did Senior Brother guess?"

An Hong smelled the strange fragrance emanating from Ling'er's body and felt a surge of desire rising within him. Struggling to maintain a sliver of

clarity, he weakly said, "In the cave on Erliyi Mountain, the naked woman I fought used only our sect's techniques.

But her skill was shallow; every move she made resembled mine. It couldn't possibly have been personally taught by our master. Our master

only took us as his two disciples, and I was the one who taught you your skills on behalf of our master. Isn't that clear?"

Ling'er covered her mouth, giggling sweetly. She beckoned and called out, "Little Seven, come and greet your eldest uncle."

Another woman floated down from the beam as she was spoken, bowing gracefully to An Hong and addressing him as her eldest uncle. After bowing, she

undressed and gracefully walked towards Shi Tianfei. An Hong looked closely and recognized her as

the naked woman he had encountered in the cave on Erliyi Mountain. Seeing his actions, she knew what he was up to and hurriedly said to Ling'er, "He is Wu Jie's bodyguard, who went with me to Xingzhou

to seek help against the Jin. You must not harm him!"

Ling'er was taken aback, then burst into laughter as if she had heard the funniest thing in the world. She stood up and flicked

her sleeve, saying, "That's precisely why I'm going to turn him into Xiao Qi's training vessel. Senior brother, don't worry about others. Today,

you are also my training vessel!"

The drug's effects surged within An Hong, leaving him powerless. In his dazed state, he only felt Ling'er's allure and was about to

lose control . Seeing An Hong staring at her intently, looking eager, Ling'er couldn't help but chuckle.

Bending down, she lifted An Hong's chin, her eyes filled with reluctance, and earnestly said, "I have always remembered your kindness, Senior Brother.

Today, I beg you to show me your love one last time. Once my Meng Clan has successfully restored its kingdom, I will never marry and will remain a widow for you

!"

The red veil fell away, revealing her jade-like body. Outside the window, the rain seemed to whisper. The two beauties in the temple were vibrant, and the room was filled with fragrance. Suddenly, an

old, solemn voice said, "Go quickly, lest you get a sty!" Ling'er trembled at the sound, leaping

off . She saw a flash of sword light across the neck of Xiao Qi, who was enjoying himself with Shi Tianfei, and he fell to the ground. A

young man in green robes appeared with the sword, silently watching her.

Seeing Xiao Qi's violent death, Ling'er was furious, but her legs trembled, and she dared not speak. The aged, solemn voice

roared, "Wang San! Have you gone mad again? Why did you kill my grand-disciple!"

Wang San was startled and asked, bewildered, "Master, didn't you tell me to hurry?"

A Taoist priest emerged from the shadows of the wall, dressed in blue robes and black shoes, with white hair and a youthful face, exuding an air of otherworldly grace. Without a sound, he

was beside Wang San in the blink of an eye, jabbing his forehead with his index finger. "Still dare to complain? I told you to hurry and cut off

the man's manhood, not to kill my grand-disciple! Believe me or not, I'll tie you up and throw you into the Lin family's maid's room!"

Wang San looked aggrieved, bowing his head and remaining silent, respectfully enduring the Taoist's jabbing

.

After jabbing a dozen times, the Taoist roared again, "You disrespectful thing, why do you have such a hard forehead?" He then put his index finger in his mouth, glaring at Wang San with displeasure.

Wang San, at a loss for what to do, bowed and scraped, trying to beg for forgiveness, but this only angered the Taoist even more, who

kicked him several more times. Taking advantage of the Taoist's reprimand of Wang San, Ling'er rose, donned a red veil, and approached the Taoist, bowing respectfully, saying,

"Ling'er greets Master! How have you been lately?"

The Taoist exhaled sharply, causing his beard to bristle, and glanced sideways at Ling'er, saying, "Why aren't you dressed?

Is it very hot? You're such a scheming girl! No wonder you used to whine and beg to come to Qingcheng with me.

" He paused, then added, "Your skill has greatly increased; you are not what you used to be. Is it because of the stolen Qingcheng dual cultivation technique

?"

Ling'er was horrified upon hearing this, falling to her knees and kowtowing repeatedly. Her red veil fluttered with her movements, filling the room with a strange fragrance.

Wang San took a few deep breaths and asked, "Master, this fragrance…" Before he could finish, his eyes were already glazed over.

The Taoist stood there, his gaze wandering. Ling'er looked up, seeing her goal achieved, and sneered a few times. She went back to An Hong's side,

took his sword, and approached the Taoist step by step, saying, "Master, I am deeply grateful for accepting you as my disciple.

But whoever obstructs the great cause of the Meng Clan, I will kill! Today, out of consideration for Master's past kindness, I will not use you as a vessel,

but will end you with a single sword strike. After you die, I will take in my senior brother and this junior brother Wang San, and I will be invincible. The Meng Clan

will surely realize its century-long ambition in my hands. Master, you died for the great cause of the Meng Clan, and you died a worthy death." After speaking,

she raised her sword and pointed it straight at the Taoist's throat. Just as she was about to stab him, An Hong suddenly said from behind, "Master, stop playing around, Junior Sister is serious

."

Ling'er was startled and turned around to see An Hong sitting cross-legged on the ground, staring straight at her, his eyes

bright and tangible, clearly showing that his spiritual strength had recovered to some extent. Looking back at the Taoist, he was now filled with shame and anger, pointing at An Hong

and cursing, "I even used telepathy to tell you not to make a sound! If I had known you were so boring, I should have played with you until you were done before rescuing you!

How could I have taken in such a dull disciple! Of the three, only Ling'er isn't so respectful; she's quite interesting.

" He sighed deeply and added, "It's a pity he's a madman! You killed your master, and you even

killed your senior brother who was passing on the skills in place of your master. What kind of thing is this Meng Clan that makes you even more insane than this mad Wang San?" As he spoke, he patted

Wang San's shoulder, reviving him from his daze.

Ling'er stepped back a few paces, forming a triangle with Daoist An Hong. Gathering all their strength, they faced each other, and Ling'er solemnly said, "Two hundred

years ago, our ancestor Meng held Shu and established a kingdom, declaring himself emperor. For over thirty years, he nurtured scholars and loved the people, restoring peace and

tranquility to Shu, restoring its former glory. The Chai and Zhao families of the Central Plains successively waged war and repeatedly invaded our borders, but were always

repelled by the people of Shu. Later, the traitor Zhao Kuangyin sent the traitor Wang Quanbin to invade again. Our ancestor could not bear to see Shu suffer from repeated wars and loss of life, so he

abandoned his post and surrendered. The traitor Zhao feigned to bestow upon our ancestor the title of Duke of Qin to appease the people of Shu. After capturing the entire Meng clan and taking them to

Bianliang , he poisoned our ancestor, forced our ancestor's mother to commit suicide, and took our ancestor's beloved Lady Huarui into his harem. He also ordered the traitor Wang to levy exorbitant taxes..."

The Zhao traitor plundered and slaughtered the people of Shu. He committed such beastly acts, yet by a stroke of luck, he ascended the throne. Heaven was blind, but

the people of Shu had will. Loyal Shu officials secretly took their ancestor's youngest son from Bianliang, evading checkpoints and pursuit, and returned him to Shu. Righteous Shu people

rose in rebellion in Qingcheng, honoring their ancestor's youngest son as their leader, attempting to restore their kingdom. Unfortunately, their commanders, though brave, lacked wisdom, and

ultimately suffered defeat and death. The loyal ministers and their army, pursued by the Song traitors, were forced to hide deep in the mountains of Shu, calling themselves the Meng Clan, hoping for

restoration.

More than a hundred years have passed. The Meng family descendants have survived generation after generation, but their numbers have dwindled, and now only my

two . We thought the Song traitors were too powerful, and the Meng family's restoration was hopeless, but then the Jin people of the north invaded, abducting the Zhao family's descendants and plundering

major cities in the Central Plains—truly, retribution was swift! "Our Meng Clan is now allied with the Jin to attack the Song, and we are on the verge of success, but Zhe Ling and that

traitorous wretch have ruined everything." She pointed her sword at An Hong and continued, "You, too, are indiscriminate in your actions, aiding and abetting evil. Although you are my

senior brother, how can personal favors and old ties compare to family feuds and national grievances? Although I am grateful to you, I cannot refrain from taking your life!"

Hearing Ling'er's words, each one filled with blood and tears, and her impassioned fervor, An Hong couldn't help but stand up and gently say, "Ling'er..."

Ling'er didn't look at An Hong and coldly interrupted, "Don't call me Ling'er! My surname is Meng, my name is Wu Die, and I am

the second princess of the Meng Clan! Now that you have heard the secrets of my clan, you can only die here!"

An Hong raised his hand to call her name again, but then he remembered that his junior sister, who had been by his side for more than ten years

, had buried her other identity so deeply. He was speechless for a moment, raising his hand, not knowing what to do. The Taoist sighed irritably and

scoffed, "I was just saying you were funny, but now you're as stubborn as these two fools! What's so important that you're

making such a fuss? Put it down! Come with your master to the Japanese overseas. Last time I went, I saw that most of the people

there were only about four feet tall; it's a country of little people..."

Meng Wudie grew even angrier upon hearing this and shouted, "Enough!" She brandished her sword and continued, "You

old madman, you took me as your disciple but refused to teach me, just leaving me with my senior brother. Every year at the beginning of the year when I see you,

I always try to please you. But you only use some rudimentary moves to fool me, never teaching me superior martial arts. Now that I have mastered

the dual cultivation technique, although I haven't received my senior brother's true energy, no one here can defeat me. Prepare to die!"

Seeing Meng Wudie thrusting her sword at him, the Taoist remained unmoved and unwavering, only shaking his head and sighing slightly. Wang San, fearing for

the Taoist's safety, hastily drew his sword to meet the attack, engaging Meng Wudie in a fierce battle. The room was filled with flashing light and clashing sword energy,

even drowning out the thunder and rain outside. For over twenty rounds, neither could gain the upper hand, but then Wang San gradually

gained the upper hand . An Hong, initially unwilling to see his unfamiliar junior brother harmed, and later fearing his junior sister would be injured by his junior brother,

tried several times to stop the fight. However, opportunities always slipped by, and he felt that both were more powerful than himself,

leaving him no chance to intervene. His heart filled with anxiety. Just as An Hong was hesitating and anxious, the Taoist priest who had been

silently watching the battle suddenly said to him, "You were already twelve when you entered the sect, so I taught you to enter the Tao through swordsmanship and cultivate

acquired internal energy. Although the foundation is solid, your progress is the most limited. I saw Wang San's fondness for swordsmanship when he was an infant and secretly taught him .

Therefore, he cultivates the Taoist innate techniques and progresses by leaps and bounds every day. Ling'er is a girl, and her body is a bit weak. If she had honestly

practiced swordsmanship with you for ten years, and I had cleansed her marrow, she could have become a grandmaster. It's just a pity that she stole the dual cultivation technique in Qingcheng and

went astray. Although her power seems to have increased greatly now, she has suffered a qi deviation and is on the verge of death..."

In the midst of the battle, Meng Wudie, listening to the Taoist priest's comments, lost focus and was almost stabbed by Wang San's sword. An Hong

said anxiously from the side, "Junior brother, don't hurt her! She... she is, after all, your senior sister!"

Hearing An Hong's words, Wang San withdrew most of his sword strikes and yielded at every turn. Taking advantage of the opportunity , Meng Wudie forced Wang San back with a few sword strikes

, jumped out of the battle, and shouted anxiously, "You old man, do you think I'd believe you? For

a hundred years has always revered my Meng Clan, and the Four Heroes of this era are all disciples of my Meng Clan. If it weren't for the current sect leader's inflexibility,

he would have already handed over the dual cultivation technique. Why would I have begged to follow you and steal it? Before cultivating, I sought

guidance from the Four Heroes, and they personally passed on the Qingcheng Heart Method to me before I began cultivating. How could I have gone astray?"

Chapter 5 Parting Ways (Part 2)

The Taoist rolled his eyes and said disdainfully, "Those four little brats probably haven't even seen our sect's dual cultivation technique before." "Practice the cultivation

method, otherwise I will definitely hinder your cultivation. The Qingcheng Dual Cultivation Technique is a branch of the Taoist innate cultivation method. Although it adopts the Yin-Yang

dual cultivation , it is limited to the superior cultivation method. Men do not undress, women do not loosen their belts, and they communicate spiritually across thousands of miles and connect mentally across thousands of miles.

The method of replenishment described in the cultivation manual is not about replenishing Yin with Yang through sexual intercourse, but rather about how the continuous generation of Heaven and Earth generates the

continuous generation of my internal energy. Thus, the life of Heaven and Earth is constantly renewed, and my energy is also constantly renewed. Such a superior cultivation method has been practiced by you

in a lowly way of replenishing Yin with Yang. Isn't that going astray?"

Meng Wudie's doubts grew, but she still insisted, "Impossible! Qingcheng..." "

How could ? And how could you have studied them so thoroughly?"

The Taoist smiled slyly, rubbing his hands together. "Going to Qingcheng to inquire about the Dao? What Dao are you inquiring about? Those so-called cultivators and

nobodies are no match for me. What's there to ask? Naturally, I'm just taking advantage of their sleep to see some interesting things!"

Meng Wudie exclaimed in surprise, "Then you knew when I stole this manual?"

The Taoist puffed out his chest proudly. "Of course! My disciple is capable. She broke through all the traps of the Qingcheng Sect and

stole their most prized cultivation technique. As her master, I am honored. Would I be foolish enough to go and tell them?"

"What?"

Meng Wudie's confidence vanished, and she shook her head, crying out, "I have already glimpsed the gate to the great achievement of absorbing vital energy. If I were

to use my senior brother as a vessel tonight, I would surely be able to cultivate to the highest realm of having all eight meridians open!"

The Taoist spread his hands and said, "The innate cultivation method emphasizes the dual cultivation of body and mind. Cultivating virtue and nourishing nature are essential. Both parties in the cultivation method

entrust their lives to each other, and the highest realm is mutual achievement. Your heart has become demonic, your selfish desires have blinded you, and you are only focused on absorbing vital energy. Not only

will you find it difficult to achieve the Great Dao, but you will also have an excessive amount of yang energy, which may endanger your life! When you practice recently,

do you feel a slight pain when your internal energy travels from your dantian to your coccyx and passes through your spine?"

Meng Wudie's face showed fear, and she was speechless. An Hong suddenly asked, "Master,

if , can it heal men who haven't practiced it?"

The Taoist scratched his head, pondered for a moment, and said strangely, "The dual cultivation method of Qingcheng is most suitable for women. Healing men without the technique

would also be in line with the cultivation method. But in doing so, one would lose their own life. Where would anyone be so foolish as to do that?"

Upon hearing this, An Hong felt grief in his heart and lowered his head in silence. Meng Wudie said sadly from the side, "That bitch... Sister

is dead?" Seeing An Hong nod, she turned to hate and said, "I told her this when I passed on the technique to her in the middle of the month, and..."

"That warrior Ling only has Zhao Song in his heart; a relationship with him will likely end badly. But she just won't listen; she only has herself to blame!

" He paused, then added, "I'll go to Zhuge Fortress right now and tear Zhe Ling to pieces!"

An Hong saw Meng Wudie leap up and charge outwards, and wanted to intercept her lightly, but in the firelight, he saw her face covered

in tears and couldn't bear to do it. Just as he was hesitating, he heard the Taoist chant loudly, "Movement and stillness reveal the ancestor; in peace, who else is there to seek

?"

Meng Wudie, still in the air, heard the Taoist chant and felt herself being pulled down to the ground by a great force. When she landed

, she saw the Taoist standing solemnly not far in front of her, looking like a god. She gritted her teeth, gathered all her

strength , and thrust out with her sword. An Hong and Wang San sensed Meng Wudie's critical condition and saw that her sword tip was unadorned, its movement simple and

unadorned. They both felt a chill and cried out in unison, "Master, be careful!" and flew towards the Taoist.

Meng Wudie was filled with turmoil and sorrow, her initial cunning composure long gone. Now, she concentrated all her strength at the tip of her sword,

seeking only a decisive blow. Just as she was about to pierce the Taoist's face, two fingers suddenly sprouted from the blade. Then, a

pure and peaceful internal energy flowed along the sword, into her body, instantly invading her eight extraordinary meridians and sealing several vital acupoints. She tried to raise her qi

to resist, but found that although her internal energy remained, it was completely unresponsive, lying quietly in her dantian,

motionless. She couldn't even open her mouth to shout.

The Taoist's wrist trembled slightly, handing the finger-sword, still emitting a dragon's roar, to An Hong. Looking at the motionless Meng

Wudie, the Taoist priest said angrily, "The more you don't want to go to the Japanese with me, the more I'll insist you come with me! I

don't know what bad luck I've had in my life to have chosen three disciples, two of whom are too stubborn, and one is mentally unstable. Let the stubborn

ones go, but as for you, the mentally unstable one, I don't think you can be cured."

The Taoist priest muttered to himself as he stepped forward, took Meng Wudie's hand, and started to walk out of the temple. Wang San hurriedly

blocked the Taoist priest's way, saying, "Master, it's raining heavily and difficult to walk. Let's wait until the rain stops!"

The Taoist priest glared at Wang San and said, "Do you think I'm afraid of the rain?"

Wang San said, "Of course Master isn't afraid, but I am!"

The Taoist priest said irritably, "With Ling'er by my side, who has the patience to walk with you? Ever since you left Tong Jizong,

you've been shouting in my ear every day about resisting the Jin and serving the country. Now your senior brother, who's busy resisting the Jin, is right here. Go spend more

time with him and stop bothering me!" With that, he turned and left. An Hong hurriedly stopped him from behind, saying, "Master, my companion

is still unconscious. Is there any way to save him?"

The Taoist didn't turn around; he simply flicked his sleeve backward, and a surge of energy arrived like the wind. Shi Tianfei on the ground gave a soft

"hmm" and slowly opened his eyes. Seeing that Shi Tianfei had woken up, An Hong felt somewhat relieved. Then, remembering something, he quickly

called out again, "Master, wait!"

The Taoist, hearing this, clutched his head and yelled a few times, then angrily said, "What else do you want, brat? You've ruined all the masterly image I've

painstakingly cultivated! Spit it all out, or don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Knowing his temperament, An Hong could only suppress a laugh and straighten his face, saying, "Master has taught me for many years, yet I still don't know your name

. After today's parting, I don't know when we'll meet again, so I thought…"

The Taoist impatiently said, "Remember it, remember it, my name is Jiang Zuo."

Wang San, standing nearby, was startled and blurted out, "Master, when you accepted me as your disciple, didn't you say your surname was Gan and your given name

was He?"

The Taoist shouted, "I accepted you in Ganhe, so naturally I'm called Ganhe. I met him in Jiang Zuo, so naturally I should be called

Jiang Zuo! What's wrong with that?"

An Hong and Wang San looked at each other, speechless and shaking their heads. The Taoist priest glanced at the two and said, "Speak quickly if you have something to say.

If anyone dares to call me again when I turn to leave, I'll flatten them with one palm!" An Hong and Wang San said no more, and bowed respectfully

in , "Master, please take care on your journey. Your disciples will see you off." The Taoist priest waved

his hand haphazardly, took Meng Wudie's hand, and left with a flick of his sleeve. Once outside the temple gate,

he pulled an umbrella from somewhere in his Taoist robe and held it over his head. He turned to Meng Wudie and muttered, "Only one umbrella. You know how to

respect your master right? Those two boys in the temple are always so proper and serious, they're not interesting at all. When I have some free time, I'll definitely

find you a very interesting junior brother to play with..." The master and disciple walked into the rain as they spoke, their voices and figures

gradually disappearing from sight.

Wang San shook his head and smiled wryly. Seeing An Hong also looking at him with a wry smile, he quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, Senior Brother! My surname is

Wang, and my given name is Zhongfu. Because I am the third child in my family, Master usually calls me Wang San. I have long heard of your great name, Senior Brother, but have never met you.

Now that I see you, you are indeed exceptionally brave and valiant." An Hong returned the bow. Just as he was politely declining, Shi Tianfei, who had just fully come to his senses

, sat up and asked, "What happened?" Hearing this, An Hong quickly helped him up and checked his internal energy, with Wang San

assisting as well. After some commotion, An Hong explained the whole story to Shi Tianfei, but

omitted the fact that Qiaoyun and Wudie were carrying the burden. The three sat around the fire, reminiscing about their ages, lamenting Wudie's fate, sighing about the wars, and discussing the state of

the land . They got along very well. An Hong and Wang San were from the same sect and had similar personalities, so they got along quite well. As they spoke, seeing that

Wang San, though young, possessed lofty aspirations, was wholeheartedly devoted to resisting the Jin and saving the people, and whose character was impeccable, the man had an idea.

He reached into his robes, took out a cloth bag hidden close to his skin, and handed it

to Wang San, saying, "Junior brother, inside this bag is the secret manual of the Eight Gates Arrow Formation, created by my sworn brother Zhe Ling and sister-in-law Qiao Yun. When I descended the mountain, my sworn brother instructed me to pass this manual on to

someone worthy of my trust. Junior brother, you are intelligent, virtuous, and wholeheartedly devoted to defending the Song against the Jin. You are truly

the perfect . I wish to pass this manual on to you on behalf of my sworn brother. I hope you will keep it safe and practice it diligently. In the future

, when we fight against the Jin, it will surely help you achieve twice the results in battle." "!"

Wang San hesitated to accept, repeatedly declining. Seeing An Hong's earnestness, he finally took the cloth bag and solemnly said, "Wang San

will certainly not fail Brother Zhe Ling and Senior Brother's trust!" An Hong nodded and said, "When my sworn brother entrusted this secret manual to me, he said that this

formation can be used without being bound by rules. It should be adapted according to the number of people, forming a military formation to resist the enemy. There are also several other

variations that are not recorded in the manual, but I will learn them orally. Come, I will also teach you orally!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Tianfei stretched and said, "I'm tired after a whole night of running around. I'll go take a nap first.

Brother An, wake me up at dawn!" After saying this, he went to the side, covered his ears, and lay down. An Hong smiled gratefully at him, beckoned Wang

San to his ear, and recited all the variations that Zhe Ling had taught him before they went down the mountain. Wang San listened once, closed his eyes, and silently recited for a while.

When he repeated it to An Hong, he only made a few mistakes. An Hong taught him again, and Wang San had made no mistakes. Like a child who

had just received a toy, he eagerly opened the cloth bag to look at the original score. Seeing his focused attention, An Hong quietly went to Shi Tianfei's place to

close his eyes and rest. When he opened his eyes again, the heavy rain had stopped, the sun was rising, and light shone into the temple through the broken windowpanes, revealing...

A thousand auspicious lights shone. Beside him, Shi Tianfei was still fast asleep. Wang San stood in the temple, one hand holding a manual, the other

gesturing wildly in the air. Though his eyes were dark, he was full of energy.

Seeing An Hong get up, Wang San skipped a few steps to his side, excitedly saying, "Senior Brother! Brother Zhe Ling and

Sister-in-law Qiao Yun are truly talented! Once you master the techniques in this secret manual, including the variations you orally

taught

, its power is immeasurable!" He then grabbed An Hong's arm and asked, "Senior Brother, I just realized that this formation might not require bows and arrows but could use other weapons, and the effect of killing the enemy would be no different. In battle, several people can combine into

one, and one person can be as effective as several… However, it's

difficult to find …"

An Hong was initially taken aback by his explanation, but after understanding, he couldn't suppress his joy. After a few words of praise and

some , Wang San remained engrossed, holding the secret score and muttering to himself. Seeing that Shi Tianfei had been woken up, An Hong

patted Wang San on the shoulder and said, "Junior Brother, put away the secret manual first. There's plenty of time. It's already broad daylight, and Brother Shi and I

have heavy responsibilities on our shoulders . We should hurry to Xingzhou. Junior Brother, where are you going next?"

Wang San carefully wrapped up the secret manual and hid it close to his skin like An Hong, and said solemnly, "When Master brought me out, he

said he wanted me to see the cruelty of the battlefield and teach me how to survive. But all the way from the Central Plains to Shaanxi, I've only seen

the brutality of the Jin people and the suffering of the common people, which has strengthened my resolve to resist the Jin. Last night, I heard from Senior Brother that Commander Wu is leading his troops in

a bloody battle . I want to go and lend him a hand!"

An Hong nodded, but Shi Tianfei said from the side, "Although Commander Wu is currently facing the Jin army's strongest point, the troops are now

united and have won their first battle. Heshanyuan is not far away, and Dasanguan Pass serves as a defensive stronghold. It should be easy to defend." Yang Zheng General Yang

is currently at Jianzhao Pass, north of Heshangyuan. If the Jin army launches a major attack, that place will be of utmost importance.

If is willing to help, why not take my token and head straight to Jianzhao Pass to assist General Yang? General Yang initially joined

the army as an archer and is highly skilled in archery. Brother Wang possesses the art of archery formations; wouldn't it be

a win-win ?"

Chapter Five: Parting Ways (Part Two) Upon hearing this

, Wang San exclaimed happily, "Brother Shi..." "What you say is very true! Please lend me your waist token, Brother Shi, so I can set off for

Jianzhao Pass to find General Yang!" After receiving the waist token from Shi Tianfei, he bowed solemnly and said, "Thank you, Brother Shi! Senior Brother,

we shall part ways here. After defeating the Jin people, I will go to Zhuge Fortress to pay my respects to you. At that time, I will also ask you to

introduce Brother Zheling and Sister-in-law Qiaoyun, so that I may thank them in person for passing on the genealogy!" After speaking, he bowed again

and drifted away. When An Hong heard Wang San mention Qiaoyun, he felt a pang of sadness. He also thought of Meng Wudie, who had been taken away by his master, and his heart was filled with sorrow. He looked at the sword in his hand, sniffed it carefully, and seemed to still have a faint fragrance. For

a moment, his mind wandered. Shi Tianfei, thinking An Hong was worried about Wang San, patted him on the shoulder and said, "Although the Jin are powerful, our troops hold strategic positions and will be safe in the short term. There's no need to worry. Seeking reinforcements is of utmost importance, so let's set off now!" An Hong nodded, straightened his clothes , and hurried off with Shi Tianfei. 　　A few days later, the two arrived not far from Xingzhou City. Before their joy had subsided, they saw groups of people carrying bags and leading women approaching, all looking anxious. Shi Tianfei grabbed a man and asked, "Are you from Xingzhou City? Where are you going?" 　　The man, carrying a large bag and looking anxious, struggled a few times but couldn't shake off Shi Tianfei, so he stopped and replied , "At a time like this, why ask so many questions! That corrupt official surnamed Zhang heard about the Jurchens' southward advance a dozen days ago and was so terrified that he fled to Langzhou with his entire army. Most of the wealthy families in the city went with the army, leaving only us poor families to wait to die in the city. Just now, rumors spread in the city that the Jurchens have arrived. Instead of going to the mountains for refuge, are you really going to wait to die there? Let go a little! Those Jurchen soldiers are all blue-faced and fanged; they'll eat people's hearts and livers. You can't joke around!" 　　Shi Tianfei was taken aback and let go. The man turned and ran. An Hong, who was standing nearby, heard everything the man said and his heart immediately turned cold. Shi Tianfei pulled An Hong to the roadside, watching the fleeing people, and murmured, " What should we do?" 　　An Hong sighed and asked, "How many days will it take to get from here to Langzhong?" 　　Shi Tianfei replied gravely, "Three to five days longer than the journey from Heshangyuan." 　　An Hong said, "The two of us are no help on the battlefield. Our only option now is to go to Langzhou again! Since the people say the Jin army has arrived, let's carefully search the area around the city." Seeing Shi Tianfei's puzzled expression, he smiled slightly and said, "We can't repel the Jin army, but seizing horses isn't difficult!" 　　Shi Tianfei suddenly understood and said, "Alright! Let's go! 　　" 　　"Alright, let's go!" 　　Tong Zhong abruptly stood up, looked at Twelve, covered in mud and drinking water, and solemnly bowed, saying, "We've been surrounded for six days. Although we've had some wild fruits and animals to replenish our supplies, our army's rations are almost gone. Brother Twelve, I didn't expect you to actually find a way out of the mountains! Thank you for your help!" 　　Before Twelve could speak, Lu Xiaoan coldly said from the side, "Where does this road lead? Is it the Bridge of Helplessness?" 　　Tong Zhong frowned, stopped the angry Twelve, and asked Lu Xiaoan, "Captain Lu, what do you mean by that? Twelve is all alone , isn't..." "You've endured hardship and worked tirelessly for five days to scout the path to the Yinping Mountain Fortress. Don't you trust him ?" 　　Lu Xiaoan looked Twelve up and down, then turned to Tong Zhong and said, "The Jin army is numerous, yet they only surround us without attacking. I was already suspicious. The other day, while you rested here, I took my turn guarding the front. Several Song soldiers from the Jin camp below the mountain came to the front of the army, claiming that if we surrendered to the Jin and Twelve remained safe, they would guarantee our safety. I remember Twelve mentioning 'a secret mark within my sect' when he left. My fellow villagers also recognized those Song soldiers as the ones who surrounded Zhehe during the raid on the camp in the valley. May I ask, Twelve, what is this gate, and what conspiracy do those Song soldiers have with you? Our army has been rushing through the valley without delay. How did the Jin army arrive in such large numbers and so quickly? Before we were surrounded, you claimed that following the secret mark would lead to the path, but the scouts only found sheer cliffs." " Now you say there's a road, but how am I supposed to know where it leads? How can I trust you?" 　　Lu Xiaoan's voice grew colder as he spoke, his hand slowly moving to the hilt of his sword. Behind him were more than ten men, all soldiers from the same village. Seeing Lu Xiaoan touch his sword, they became wary. The other soldiers on leave exchanged glances, but most of them believed Lu Xiaoan's words and focused their attention on Twelve. 　　Tong Zhong, having heard Lu Xiaoan's words, also harbored great doubts. Twelve thought that revealing the Meng Clan's affairs now would also...

No one believed him, and just as he was wondering what to do, he saw Tong Zhong hesitate. In his anxiety, he grabbed Tong Zhong's sleeve and said, "

Brother Tong, I was ordered by General Zhe to help Young Master An break through the Jin camp and overcome countless difficulties to reach Heshangyuan. How can you not

believe me?" He then turned and raised his voice to the soldiers, "

Some of you must have witnessed Young Master An single-handedly guarding the camp gate and blocking the rebel army. Have you all forgotten? I also

fought and was nearly killed by him. Don't you remember that either? If I harbored any... "If they harbored any ill intentions towards the Song people, they would have killed Wu Jinglue with a single sword strike long

ago , causing the army to collapse and opening the gates to Shu wide open. Wouldn't that be better than being trapped here with only a few hundred

soldiers?" Seeing the soldiers who had experienced that night whispering and uncertainly among themselves, he knew his goal had been achieved. He then

turned to Tong Zhong and whispered, "The Meng Clan is indeed a fact, but General Zhe and Young Master An know everything. Lady Yun

is from my Meng Clan, and Zhuge Fortress is also from my Meng Clan. It is absolutely true that the Meng Clan is united and obeying General Zhe's orders to resist

the Jin. " There are many misunderstandings among the Meng family members, which cannot be cleared up in a few words. Brother Tong, the

priority is to bring reinforcements to save the fortress. I will tell you the rest slowly. You can find out the truth by asking General Zhe..."

Tong Zhong raised his hand to stop Twelve, pulled over a trusted soldier, pointed at Twelve, and asked, "Did he

come to Heshangyuan with Young Master An?"

The soldier nodded and replied, "Yes! Before the relief troops left, Young Master An specifically called him to his side and gave

him some instructions. The matter of suppressing the rebellion is also true."

Tong Zhong nodded and said, "Good!" "Captain, I trust my general and Young Master An, and therefore I trust the Twelve Brothers as well!

Tong Zhong has pledged his life for him and the new scout route. The mountain fortress is in grave danger; please, Captain Lu, quickly lead the new route to its rescue!"

Lu Xiao'an loosened his grip on his sword, hesitatingly saying, "It's not that I don't trust Brother Tong, but

the lives , so I cannot be careless. Yesterday, I sent capable scouts

to search for him along the marks left by the Twelve Brothers. Logically, they should have met on their return journey. But now, there's been no news of him, which is truly suspicious..."

"..."

Twelve interrupted, saying urgently, "You're talking nonsense! I didn't encounter the scouts you mentioned at all..."

At this moment, a soldier ran from the foot of the mountain, shouting, "Captain Lu, those men from yesterday came to the front of the army again,

wanting to...want to talk to Twelve. We followed your orders and said that Twelve was dead. After hearing this, those men cried and left,

shouting things like 'Daughter of Hall Master Wang,' 'Junior Sister,' and so on. Not long after, a commotion suddenly broke out in the Jin camp. The front

camp broke camp, and the rear camp took over the siege of the mountain. It seems that reinforcements are arriving on the small road. In the chaos, no soldiers are paying attention to the mountain.

Should we take this opportunity to break out?"

Lu Xiao'an's eyes darted around, and he was about to speak when another commotion came from behind the mountain. Looking closely, he saw that it was the scouts he had sent the day before

returning in groups. The scout approached and saluted, saying, "Commander Lu, I followed the secret marksman and emerged

from the mountains in about half a day, arriving at a small path. After traveling for a while, I recognized it as the route the supply convoy took on its way to Heshangyuan.

There were no traces of Jin troops on the path, so I came to report."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiaoan abruptly turned around, drew his sword, and pointed at Twelve, angrily saying, "You went to scout the path to the mountain fortress, but it leads directly to

the mountain road to Heshangyuan. It should only take half a day, yet you took six days to return. The Jin army's front camp broke camp in front of the mountain; you must have

conspired to launch a pincer attack from both sides. What else do you have to say?" "Hall Master's daughter, Junior Sister, who exactly are you? How

dare you come to my army as a Jin spy?"

Twelve hurriedly protested, "Your scouts went the wrong way! When I was scouting, I went the wrong way and accidentally stumbled out of

the mountains. I went back to scout again and that's how I found the way back to the fortress. It's true that I'm a woman, and my father is indeed the Hall Master of the fortress,

but that has nothing to do with the reinforcements' journey..."

Lu Xiaoan sneered and interrupted, "So you're admitting to

colluding and cutting off our army's retreat!" With that, he slashed at Twelve with his sword.

Twelve had no choice but to draw her sword to meet the attack. Tong Zhong tried to block from the middle, attempting to separate the battle, but

Lu Xiaoan's swordsmanship, honed on the battlefield, was far superior to Twelve's, and the situation gradually turned into the two of them joining forces against Lu. The other soldiers

on the side, those who were close to Tong and Lu, gathered separately, clearly divided, swords drawn.

Lu Xiaoan, facing two opponents alone, gradually lost the upper hand. He feigned a strike and jumped aside, saying, "Tong Zhong, even now, do you still believe

this spy?"

Tong Zhong shielded Twelve behind him and replied, "I believe in my general and Lady Yun!"

Lu Xiaoan said, "The lives of eight hundred comrades here are about to be lost to this spy. You must consider the consequences!"

Tong Zhong said, "My general is guarding Zhuge Fortress, there is no mistake! What the general is guarding is

the crucial point of the Yinping Trail into Shu, protecting the lives of all the people of Shu!"

Lu Xiaoan let out a long breath and said, "I would never lead my army to

an unknown !"

Tong Zhong angrily said, "You don't trust Twelve? You don't trust the Divine Arrow Battalion? You don't even trust my general?"

Seeing Lu Xiaoan remain silent, Tong Zhong sighed and raised his voice, "Fine! Then let us part ways! Those who trust my Arrow Battalion and are willing to go with

me to the mountain fortress to defend against the Jin invaders on the key road into Shu, come here!"

Upon hearing this, half of the soldiers gathered behind Tong Zhong, mostly elite troops from Wu Jie's forces who had fought in Fuping.

Lu Xiaoan first sent the messenger soldier to gather the troops at the foot of the mountain, then said gravely, "The commander of the Divine Arrow Battalion is

Zhe Ling of the Zhe family of Fuzhou. In Fengxiang, Captain Yang told me that the Zhe family of Fuzhou had surrendered to the Jin for over a year. Did you all

not hear a thing?"

Tong Zhong's face flushed and paled, unable to speak. Among the soldiers behind him, some silently left, some

angrily questioned him, and some glared and spat. When the troops returned from the mountain, only a hundred or so of Tong Zhong's men remained.

An archer from the army stationed at the foot of the mountain, who had followed Lu Xiao'an from Fengxiang to this place, stood

behind . He asked Lu Xiao'an, "Commander Lu, General Wu ordered you to lead troops to Yinping Mountain Stronghold to reinforce Commander

Zhe. Are you going to disobey orders? Before you left, General Wu instructed us that the safety of Shu might depend on our actions. Have you forgotten? We

are in the army, and we should obey orders and fight the enemy. Why are you so hesitant?"

Lu Xiao'an frowned slightly, seemingly lost in thought. Behind him, a soldier who had witnessed the rebellion at Heshangyuan

sneered , "Officials are all all talk! The common people are just trying to make a living. They don't care whether the ruler is Jin or Song!

General Qu Duan seems to care about the people, but how has Privy Councilor Zhang treated him? General Wu and Privy Councilor Zhang are on good terms. Sending us

to the mountain stronghold this time is most likely on Privy Councilor Zhang's orders. The safety of Shu is mostly

the safety of the officials who ride roughshod over us!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiaoan recalled his experiences while seeking refuge in his hometown, and a wave of disgust washed

over him. The lingering unease that had just crossed his mind vanished. He turned and raised his voice, ordering, "Abandon this mountain! Follow the scouts to find a new

route and return to Heshan to assist Commander Wu in resisting the Jin army! Commander Wu will discern right from wrong! I cannot lead you

along, relying on unverifiable words, and needlessly lose our lives!" With that, he grabbed the scouts and led the way.

The soldiers roared in agreement, and soon disappeared into the depths of the forest. Although Tong Zhong firmly believed in his general,

he still harbored doubts about the current situation and Lu Xiaoan's words, standing there motionless. Seeing this, Twelve looked towards

the mountain , then turned back to Tong Zhong, stamping her foot and waving her hand, saying, "Fine, I'll tell you! I was born a woman, and although

I grew up in the Meng family, I don't care about matters of state or family. I just want to find

a suitable husband, like you, Lord Chang... and your Lady Yun, to stay together. That day, Young Master An single-handedly slaughtered the Jin camp; he was truly unparalleled in heroism. From that moment on, I

... fell in love with him! Before setting off on the plains this time, I even made a vow to stay with him through thick and thin! Even if I

harm the army, the arrow camp, and your general, I would never harm the one I love! I've said my piece; whether

you come with me or not is up to you!" After speaking, her cheeks flushed crimson, feeling as if her heart and face were on fire. She dared not look at Tong Zhong,

nor wait for his reply, and ran into the forest on her own.

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