Fine snow fell in continuous threads, draping the Anlu Mountains beneath the cloud-covered sky with another layer of gleaming white. Within a hundred li, not a trace of human presence could be found.
A troop of armored cavalry advanced northward in grand procession. Whether due to strict military discipline or the bone-chilling cold that stole away their energy, apart from the sound of hooves treading through snow, no one made any unnecessary noise.
Following closely at the rear of the formation were several supply carts. Though fitted with anti-slip gears, they still struggled to advance through the snowy terrain. The driver would occasionally crack his long whip, causing the cart to jostle violently. In one careless moment, a boy of less than ten years who had been lying in the cart was jolted off and tumbled into the snow. An elderly man sitting in the cart let out a cry of alarm upon seeing this, hastily jumping down to scoop up the boy and gesturing for the convoy behind to halt temporarily.
The boy had been caught completely off guard as he plunged into the snow. His entire body shuddered and he jolted awake. Seeing the old man continuously brushing snow from his sable fur, he asked somewhat bewilderedly, “Guan Bo, where are we… What about the bandits?”
Guan Bo replied, “Young Master, do not be afraid. The bandits have all been killed. These military gentlemen saved us.”
Upon hearing this, the boy poked his head out and gazed at the seemingly endless mass of cavalry ahead, furrowing his brow slightly. “That group of bandits were no ordinary bandits…”
His words had barely fallen when he heard someone smoothly interject, “But we are also no ordinary military gentlemen.”
The boy turned toward the voice and saw a young man in a sapphire blue robe riding toward him on horseback, followed by more than ten people in flowing garments who looked like wandering heroes of the martial world, quite out of place among the surrounding armored cavalry. The boy noticed the sword in the young man’s hand—its blade was inlaid with jade filling dark patterns, clearly of extraordinary value. He asked the young man, “Did you kill the bandit leader?”
The young man paused slightly. Just moments ago, hearing that the boy had awakened, he had come over to show concern, never expecting that this child still wet behind the ears would first inquire about who had killed the bandits. This caught him quite by surprise. “Indeed. He did die by my sword.”
The boy lifted his extremely long and thick lashes, straightened his spine, and cupping his fists like an adult roaming the martial world, he performed a salute and said, “Wang Xun thanks Alliance Leader Shen for saving my life.”
The surrounding people had been chuckling at this little fellow’s serious manner, but upon hearing him say this, they all tensed. The young man asked, “How did you recognize me?”
Wang Xun simply said, “The bandit lair was originally a Demonic Sect stronghold. That you gentlemen were able to rescue us from their hands means you are naturally among the top experts of the current martial world. These heroes all treat you with utmost respect, and combined with the Biluo Sword in your hand, if you are not the new Martial Alliance Leader Shen Yao, then who would you be?”
Shen Yao reexamined Wang Xun. His facial features had not yet fully developed, but one could already see they would become refined and handsome. Though his face bore a layer of sickness, his eyes were bright black, revealing an air that did not match a child of this age.
A bearded elder behind Shen Yao laughed heartily and said, “You have quite keen eyes, boy. Where is your home?”
Guan Bo, who had remained silent until now, was about to speak when Wang Xun answered first, “My father is Wang Yuting.”
Guan Bo showed slight surprise, but the crowd had already revealed expressions of understanding and no longer pursued the reason for his capture. Shen Yao said, “So you are a young master of the Jinling Wang Family. No wonder you possess such bearing at such a young age.”
The Jinling Wang Family—able to stand unshaken in this chaotic wartime era, wealthier than all under heaven, they were also a coveted prize in many people’s eyes.
The bearded elder exchanged glances with the others and said with a chuckle, “This makes things difficult. Alliance Leader Shen had originally planned to send you home with a soldier escort once you awoke, but since you are from the Wang Family, we cannot be careless with you. Unfortunately, we still have urgent matters to attend to…” Before he could finish speaking, Wang Xun began coughing violently, coughing until he could barely catch his breath. Guan Bo hurriedly patted his back, and Shen Yao frowned. He immediately dismounted and took the boy’s pulse. “The illness is quite severe. Even if we turn back, I’m afraid we won’t find a physician within a hundred li…” He paused. “Can you ride a horse?”
With Wang Xun’s sickly constitution, he naturally could not hold the reins steady alone. Fortunately, with Guan Bo’s assistance, the two of them sharing one mount, they could barely keep pace with the main force.
Shen Yao told him that as long as they persisted until evening and reached the main camp at the base of Beiming Peak, there would be military physicians to treat him. Upon hearing mention of Beiming Peak, Guan Bo’s face showed unease. “Isn’t Beiming Peak precisely where our forces are battling the northern barbarians…”
“So what of it?”
Seeing that Wang Xun was unconcerned, the bearded elder laughed heartily and said, “You’re a lad after my own heart! I won’t hide it from you, little brother—even adding our twenty thousand reinforcement troops, we only have one hundred thousand men in total, but the northern barbarians have brought one hundred eighty thousand! If not for keeping our promise, I certainly wouldn’t set foot on this path of near-certain death.”
A Daoist-robed figure beside the bearded elder spoke up in rebuke, “What do you mean ‘near-certain death’? Kong Buwu, if you’re afraid of death, leave now. Don’t stand here spouting nonsense and shaking the army’s morale.”
Wang Xun thought to himself: Kong Buwu, Sect Master of Feiying Sect. It follows that the remaining seven must also be respected figures in the martial world. From their tone, it seems they did not come to the front lines at Shen Yao’s invitation.
The Daoist stroked his beard and said, “I firmly believe that as long as those two from the Yue Family hold the fort, this battle already has a fifty percent chance of victory.”
“Which Yue Family are you talking about?” Wang Xun asked.
Kong Buwu said, “You seem to know quite a bit, boy. How is it you haven’t even heard of the Jiangdong Yue Family?”
The Jiangdong Yue Clan—how could he not have heard of them?
The current Liang Dynasty’s ruler was incompetent and useless. The Yan Kingdom of the northern desert eyed them covetously, and within just a few years, vast swaths of the Central Plains had been painfully lost. With beacon fires rising everywhere, local warlords claimed territories as their own kingdoms. In this standoff among various powers, the Jiangnan Xie Family, Jinling Wang Family, and Luoyang Shen Family could be considered as spectators watching from across the mountains. The one truly capable of contending with the century-old He Family was the recently emerging Jiangdong Yue Clan.
The Jiangdong Yue Clan had initially been just a volunteer army. The legends of how they defeated superior numbers to sweep away the Yan Army and recover Bashu varied wildly, but after that battle, the two brothers who commanded the Yue Family Army became famous throughout the realm.
From childhood, Wang Xun had heard many tales circulating about the Yue brothers. Most of those from common folk were greatly exaggerated. As far as his knowledge went, it was truly difficult to imagine such absurd scenarios as the Yue Family’s eldest brother using an illusion in an empty city to frighten away fifty thousand troops.
Kong Buwu couldn’t help but laugh at this point. “Alliance Leader, is this little brother talking about the battle where Young Master Yue was at Huai River?”
Shen Yao nodded. “That battle was indeed brilliantly won, but the enemy forces numbered less than twenty thousand, and Huaishui City was not an empty city. It’s because the common people are grateful for Brother Changsheng’s merits that the tale has been passed down so fantastically.”
Wang Xun continued, “I heard that Second Young Master Yue is only seventeen this year, yet some say he single-handedly fought a bloody battle for two days and nights, causing over a thousand northern vanguard troops to flee in panic…”
“It’s not a rumor,” Shen Yao said. “It’s fact.”
Wang Xun seemed choked with surprise. “This… how is that possible?”
Shen Yao said, “That day, Father ordered me to lead troops to support Brother Yue. I personally witnessed the devastating casualties among the northern vanguard forces.”
“Then, then at the martial arts assembly, when he single-handedly challenged ten barbarian sorcerers…”
“That’s also true.” Kong Buwu clapped his hands together. “If not for Second Young Master Yue’s timely assistance, our Central Plains martial world would surely have been unable to escape this catastrophe.”
Wang Xun was stunned for a long while before finally saying, “To think that a mortal body of flesh and blood could reach such a realm…”
“He learned from Tianzhu, and the Shimo True Scripture he practices has reached the ninth level.” Shen Yao’s gaze passed over the distant mountain peaks. “Second Young Master Yue’s reputation as the world’s greatest is absolutely not gained in vain.”
“Shimo True Scripture?”
“It’s Sanskrit. We Central Plains people have another name for this martial art…” Shen Yao’s voice paused here, his calm tone taking on a heavier weight. “Hero’s Tomb.”
Wang Xun shuddered, listening as Shen Yao spoke word by word.
“But when encountering this martial art, the ground becomes a tomb. All heroes under heaven are no exception.”
“The only person in a hundred years to have mastered this art is he, Second Young Master Yue, Yue Changling.”
The cold wind rustled, and the snowflakes drifting through the air seemed to carry a bloody scent with those words, gradually permeating the atmosphere.
For a moment, no one spoke further.
The Yue Clan’s main camp was stationed in Taixing City, near the base of Beiming Peak. Travelers passing through were strictly inspected, and the entire city had implemented a curfew. The garrison soldiers, upon seeing the command token in Shen Yao’s hand, immediately opened the city gates. On the road to the main camp, one could see many local righteous warriors and marketplace heroes helping with city patrols—most had come at the Yue brothers’ summons to resist the enemy.
Along the way, Wang Xun gazed distantly at Shen Yao’s back, his thoughts drifting uncertainly. Now even the Shen Family had come to pledge allegiance to the Yue Clan. If this battle were won decisively, the Yue Clan would certainly gain even more popular support. Would the great trend of the realm become even clearer?