Chapter 350: Unfortunately, the person you are facing is me
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
When the leaders in the army heard that blood curdling cry, they finally regained their senses. Immediately after, groups of soldiers led by their respectively leaders flooded from all directions towards the stone house.
However…
Just as they were about to near the stone house, all of them had no choice but to stop.
Because, there were countless citizens of the Southern Mountain Range densely packed in front of them. Each of them was dark-skinned and wore various kinds of rattan clothing.
"Move aside!" A leader instantly bellowed.
"Why? What do you guys want to do?" An elder around the age of fifty, dressed in rattan attire and animal leather and wearing a hat with a feather on top of it on his head walked over.
"I see it's settlement chief. Our general had been ambushed by people, could you please tell them to excuse us!" When the leader saw the elder in front of him, he recognised that this was the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement Chief. His tone instantly turned polite.
"General Chen had been ambushed? Then you should hurry up and skirt around the East side!" When the settlement chief heard the leader's words, he instantly became somewhat worried.
"Skirt around?!?" The leader's expression was filled with confusion and shock.
"That's right, I'm really sorry. We are currently holding the grand rain ceremony. This determines whether the weather will be kind to us this year, I hope you wouldn't interrupt. You guys know as well that we have our own Southern Mountain Range customs, this grand rain…" The settlement chief explained very patiently.
"Stop! Now, we are currently rushing to save our general, would you please give way to us. I'm sure it wouldn't be too late to continue the grand ceremony after we have passed!"
"I'm afraid that's not possible. Our ceremony has already begun, how would we know that your general would be ambushed? Once this grand ceremony had started, it cannot be stopped. The altar can't be shifted either, else, we would be punished by Heaven. When that time comes, our Southern…" The settlement chief continued to express his stance.
"Fine fine fine, you don't need to say anything else. Brothers, let's detour!"
The leading generals glanced at one another and indeed couldn't do anything about this. After all, they didn't have much power or say in this, hence simply couldn't incite any obvious forms of conflicts with the Southern Mountain Range.
Even though the Southern Mountain Range is only a vassal state of the Great Xia where people could only be named as Kings and not Emperors, and had to pay tribute to the Dynasty each year, it wasn't just any ordinary vassal state.
The huge and resource-filled Southern Mountain Range, along with the brave and fearsome warriors, were definitely the best ally of the Great Xia.
Of course…
Those weren't the most important factors. The most important thing now was that they simply didn't have any time to argue with this settlement chief any further.
"Quick, make a detour from the East side to behind the stone house!"
"Roger!"
All of the soldiers began to move swiftly, detouring towards the East side of the stone house. However, what they didn't know was that at the East side of the stone house, there was similarly another "important" grand ceremony going on.
…
Fang Zhengzhi gazed at Chen Feiyu, who was dodging and leaping around continuously outside the stone house with a faint smile on his lips and occasionally letting out a few cheers.
"Not bad, this is a beautiful move!"
"Careful of your left side, oh no… I have already told you to be careful of the left side!"
"The two Silver Horned Wolves behind you are about to ambush you, be careful! Sigh… what in the world are you doing? You actually believe what an enemy says? Isn't this a little too naive?"
Fang Zhengzhi gave out instructions by the side, one following another. He wasn't in a rush at all.
In Chen Feiyu's heart, Fang Zhengzhi's actions were naturally a sneak attack. However, in Fang Zhengzhi's heart, it was a completely different opinion.
What was a sneak attack?
It is only a sneak attack when done on other people's territory!
Was the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement Chen Feiyu's territory? Of course not. The person who controlled the settlement chief was Fang Zhengzhi. Hence, he was the true owner of the Thunderous Lion Main Settlement.
Then…
This begs the question. Can an attack on one's own territory be considered a sneak attack?
Of course not. At most, it was called catching a turtle in a jar - a sure catch.
Chen Feiyu truly felt very aggrieved at this moment. He gritted his teeth tightly, trying his best to persevere for as long as possible even if his entire body was in excruciating pain.
However, he still believed that his soldiers would definitely arrive on time.
After all, ever since the start of the fight, almost half an hour had passed. Yet, not a single shadow was to be seen.
Had they fallen asleep?
Chen Feiyu couldn't accept this. He truly couldn't accept this.
Initially, he believed that as a person who had attained the Supernatural State, he should be standing on the lone peak of a mountain, looking down at the masses below him.
However, in reality?
He didn't even have the time to demonstrate his abilities in front of the soldiers, yet why did it seem that he was about to be captured alive? Furthermore, most importantly, he was captured in such a manner by a group of Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry Troops from the Southern Mountain Range.
"One-on-one, I want to fight one-on-one, I am of the Supernatural State!" Chen Feiyu shouted out loudly.
"Sigh… you are truly naive!" Fang Zhengzhi lightly shook his head. Then, he shot a glance towards Teng Shisheng. In an instant, the five hundred Silver Horned Wolves let out a synchronous howl.
"Ah!" A bloodcurdling scream followed.
Blood flowed uncontrollably from Chen Feiyu's hands. Because, four Silver Horned Wolves were biting down upon his hands and legs. At the same time, black chains were being thrown up into the sky.
Having his hands tied behind his back was actually not sufficient to describe Chen Feiyu's miserable situation.
His entire body was completely bounded by black chains. If one didn't look carefully, nobody would realise that this was actually a live human.
"Bring him down." Fang Zhengzhi casually waved his hand.
"No, Fang Zhengzhi, you cannot do this to me. I am of the Supernatural State, I am number one in the combat examination!" Chen Feiyu struggled with all his might. However, he knew very clearly.
Even if he mustered all his strength and managed to forcefully break out, he would still face the same outcome of being forced down onto the ground.
There was no use!
At that very moment Fang Zhengzhi gave the order for five hundred Silver Horned Wolf Cavalries to attack, he already knew that everything was over. His dream was shattered once again.
However, he truly couldn't accept this.
Ever since young, he was never the best. Every single time, he was never able to attract the attention of others. He was miserable. After so many years of misery, he thought that this time, everything would change.
Because, he had a breakthrough, a breakthrough into the Supernatural State. This was the true moment of glory.
However…
Heaven seemed to have given him another punch in the face.
Just as he had planned everything out, swallowing humiliation while waiting to stand with honour in front of thousands of soldiers, a Fang Zhengzhi popped out from behind his back.
His dream of spreading his name across the world was shattered once again.
Falling from the peak of the mountain onto the ground. It was very painful, it was really very painful…
"Fang Zhengzhi, let's discuss, let's discuss please… As long as you don't eliminate me, I can accept any conditions you want!" Chen Feiyu held on to his last strand of hope.
"Really?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Chen Feiyu with some interest.
"Yes, as long as you return the Thunderous Lion Settlement to me and return my army to me, I will accept any conditions you give!" Chen Feiyu's eyes instantly lit up when he realised that Fang Zhengzhi was willing to talk.
"You are indeed very naive, bring him away!"
"No! I will give you the Thunderous Lion Settlement, I don't want it anymore. Just return me my army." Chen Feiyu's expression instantly changed when he heard this and instantly lightened his requests.
"Bring him away!"
"I don't want my army either. I don't want anything, I will find my own way again. I can rise once again. I will also give you money, don't you like money? No matter how much you want, I will give it to you. I am a descendent of the Thirteen Constabularies, the prince's maternal uncle. I have money, a lot of money." Chen Feiyu's tone at this moment seemed to become that of a besiege.
He wanted to be known by the world. He had waited for this moment, he had waited too long. Now, he had to watch this opportunity slip through his fingers right in front of his eyes.
How could he accept it!
"The prince's maternal uncle?" When Fang Zhengzhi heard this, he finally seemed to somewhat change his attitude.
"That's right, my elder sister is the Imperial Concubine Hua Fei, whom the Emperor is very fond of. I am the prince's maternal uncle. Fang Zhengzhi, if you dare to eliminate me, I would make sure that I never let you off after I return to the Great Xia!" Chen Feiyu looked at Fang Zhengzhi's expression and instantly thought of something.
"You dare threaten me? Whack him, whack him till all his teeth fall to the ground!"
"Ah… don't, I won't threaten you anymore. Fang Zhengzhi, let's make an alliance. With my abilities, I would definitely be able to help you. Really, you must believe me!" Chen Feiyu had never seen a person like Fang Zhengzhi.
He dared to hit him even after knowing very clearly that he was the prince's maternal uncle?
How could he be so fearless!
"Oh? How can you help me?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Chen Feiyu with interest once again.
"I can challenge Wu Feng to a fight. Then, in front of the thousands of troops, make a bet that whoever loses would have to give away all his army. All you have to you will be to reap the rewards of our battle. How about that?"
"Then, after you gained all of Wu Feng's army, you would turn around and attack me?"
"No, I will never attack you. After I gained Wu Feng's military strength, I will retreat to the Yan Ya and Shi Zun Settlements. I will definitely not make you my enemy!" Chen Feiyu said confidently.
"I understand." When Fang Zhengzhi heard this, he nodded his head lightly.
"You… you agree?"
"No, I only feel that your plan seems not too bad. I will accept it grudgingly." Fang Zhengzhi's lips curved into a faint smile.
"..." Chen Feiyu's eyes instantly turned round and stared fixated at Fang Zhengzhi. His mouth opened and closed. However, he didn't utter a single word.
"Bring him away and lock him up. Remember to feed him three steamed buns every meal. We cannot mistreat our guests." Fang Zhengzhi said with a generous expression.
"Fang ZHengzhi… I, Chen Feiyu, swear that one of us will have to go!"
"The prince's maternal uncle? How can he be so naive…" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Chen Feiyu, whose face was flushed completely red and who was struggling incessantly while screaming his lungs out. He lightly shook his head.
Now, the Thunderous Lion Settlement was completely under his control.
In addition to the ten thousand troops under Chen Feiyu's control, after some calculation, he seemed to be able to be able to put together a formidable army. Then, what should he do next?
Should he unify the Southern Mountain Range, or gloriously return to the Yan Capital to hide?
Fang Zhengzhi began to think of a question he had never considered before. As the saying went, the bolder a man, the larger his opportunities.
However, the current problem he had to resolve was the attack of Wu Feng's troops.
Chen Feiyu's plan sounded rather good. Using the tactic of goading to goad Wu Feng into engaging into a one-to-one battle, then, using one fight to determine the outcome.
This was a method commonly used in the combat examination of the Great Xia Dynasty.
After all, as long as there were other possible methods, under normal circumstances, the probability of two armies engaging into a full-blown battle was extremely low.
This actually mirrored the ancient history of his previous world. When two armies fought, the commanders would engage in a one-to-one battle. The winner of the battle would greatly raise the morale of the soldiers, hence, they would win.
It was somewhat brainless.
Fang Zhengzhi actually disdained to use such a method. After all, there was a completely lack of skill and military strategy within this.
Wu Feng bringing his army to attack?
Then…
What should he do?
…
The night was a quiet night. However, it wasn't a calm night.
This night was destined to be extremely long, so long that people were sleepless, and so long that people's hearts trembled.
In the night, a youth rode on a horse filled with scales. The top half of the horse was jet-black while on its four hooves, there were circles of helix-shaped jade-green ripple patterns.
There was an ancient saying used to describe a certain stallion.
That was, four hooves trodding on snow.
And this horse that the youth rode on trod on jade-green ripples. Its name was Jade Ripple Stallion!
There was an exquisite jade-green armour on the youth's body, and he held a jade flute in his hand. There was a faint glow in his eyes, while his lips always seemed to carry a self-confident smile.
After Wu Feng's strategy of splitting his army failed, he was actually furious. He had never imagined that Chen Feiyu would have such a brilliant tactical layout.
He actually attacked instead of defended?
Wu Feng had to admit that he indeed hadn't factored this into his plans.
Luckily, he didn't dwell on this. After realising that something was amiss, he instantly corrected his war strategy into a full-blown offence, seizing the opportunity to successfully creep up behind Chen Feiyu's army.
This could be considered a good save.
One wrong move led to many wrong moves. Wu Feng knew this very clearly. Under normal circumstances and normal considerations, he should be retreating to reorganise his troops during such situations.
This was very conventional strategy.
However, would Wu Feng adopt a conventional strategy?
Of course not.
Turning a disadvantaged situation into his advantage and achieving success with original ideas was the path Wu Feng walked. Moreover, his opponent was only the number twelve of the Rising Dragon Roll, Chen Feiyu.
If he wasn't even able to defeat Chen Feiyu, he, Wu Feng, would really lose face.
Chen Feiyu sent out two thousand troops on purpose to delay and harass him along the way. Wu Feng was obviously able to guess his intentions. This was to lure him to attack the Thunderous Lion Settlement!
He knew very clearly how horrifying the defence fortresses of the four main settlements were.
Using defence against an attack.
Wu Feng was absolutely sure that if he forcefully launched an attack on the Thunderous Lion Settlement, he would definitely be defeated.
"Not a bad plan, unfortunately… the person you are facing is me!" Wu Feng gazed towards the soldiers who had just retreated not too far away with a faint smile on his face.
Barking out an order, over ten thousand troops advanced towards the Thunderous Lion Settlement with great strength and vigour, just like a huge black cloud in the night sky.
"Boom!" The sounds shook the sky.