Chapter 101: The Pitiful Crown Prince, The Frustrated Emperor
“Tuoba, you old villain! Your Grandfather Qian is here—do you dare to fight? Ha ha ha!”
“All archers, heed my command! Fire every arrow you have at those scoundrels of the Holy Mountain Royal Court. Leave not a single one in your quiver!”
“Yes, sir!”
Over three hundred thousand troops of the Holy Mountain Royal Court hurriedly retreated ahead, while the Purple-Gold Royal Court’s less than three hundred thousand soldiers behind them gave chase like mad.
Upon receiving the order, no fewer than forty thousand archers surged forward like dragons plunging into a river. Wave after wave, each volley comprising at least forty thousand arrows, roared fiercely toward the retreating forces of the Holy Mountain Royal Court.
Cries of agony, screams, and urgent shouts echoed continuously as groups upon groups of enemy soldiers fell under the relentless storm of arrows.
The pursuit lasted for nearly half an hour, the onslaught like a hurricane sweeping fallen leaves, leaving no fewer than seventy thousand of the Holy Mountain Royal Court’s troops dead or wounded.
“Cavalry and infantry corps, speed up! Faster! Push all forward!”
“Our fallen comrades await us to honor them with the enemy’s blood!”
“The countless heroic souls of Purple-Gold are roaring alongside us, charging madly at the foe...”
Commander Zi Haochu and more than thirty generals were all anxious, fearing that even a single step’s delay would allow countless enemies to survive.
...
“Marshal, retreating blindly like this won’t do.”
“Yes, Marshal, I don’t understand why the enemy pursues with such ferocity, exhausting all their arrows at once. This is not the usual style of the old Purple Bandit.”
“Could it be that our Imperial Capital is truly in such dire straits? That’s why the old Purple Bandit dares to be so bold?!”
“Generals, set that aside for now.”
“I need one of you to stay behind with thirty thousand troops to cover the rear and buy the main force even just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.”
“Who volunteers? I swear on my life to ensure the safety of your entire family for three generations!”
“This...”
“I volunteer!”
“Excellent! Excellent! Dongfang Ting, your name will be recorded in the annals of the nation. The entire Holy Mountain Royal Court will remember you!”
...
Soon, Dongfang Ting, having volunteered, spurred his horse and led no fewer than thirty thousand troops to halt the retreat, forming a tight defensive formation.
Within mere moments, the distant sounds of Purple-Gold’s pursuit grew loud, and suddenly tens of thousands of cavalry appeared before their eyes.
The thirty thousand troops holding the rear of the Holy Mountain Royal Court instantly reddened their eyes, gripping their weapons tightly, hearts burning with fierce resolve and acceptance of death, as a cold, grim mist seemed to settle over their ranks.
In the blink of an eye, over eighty thousand Purple-Gold cavalry clashed with the thirty thousand rear guard troops of the Holy Mountain.
“Charge!”
“Kill!”
Countless Purple-Gold horses had their legs severed at the root, while simultaneously, many heads from the Holy Mountain fell to the ground, blood spurting like fountains.
Mounted warriors wielded dual sabers, massive spears, and halberds, swinging wildly; some fell from their horses only to rise and fight hand-to-hand with brutal ferocity.
Despite the overwhelming odds, the thirty thousand Holy Mountain soldiers miraculously withstood the furious assault of eighty thousand Purple-Gold cavalry—ten breaths, twenty breaths, thirty breaths...
“Brothers, hold firm! The time to drink a cup of tea is nearly up. Keep holding on! No matter what, we must hold!”
“Hold!”
“Hold!”
Seeing their heavy casualties, General Dongfang Ting fought on, slashing down several Purple-Gold cavalrymen while roaring with tears in his eyes.
“Dongfang Ting, your opponent is me!”
“Come! Fight me!”
General Guo Huaishan of Purple-Gold charged through the chaos and reached Dongfang Ting, shouting furiously.
With that, they clashed fiercely.
“Ha!”
“Hah!”
A crescent moon giant saber met a square heavenly halberd—both weapons weighed over three hundred pounds and were enchanted war artifacts, their spiritual energies colliding fiercely, breaking the air with thunderous clashes.
...
By the time the Purple-Gold infantry arrived at the battlefield, the battle was nearing its end.
General Guo Huaishan, bleeding profusely, thrust his crescent moon saber through Dongfang Ting’s chest.
At this moment, all thirty thousand Holy Mountain troops lay dead or dying, while Purple-Gold cavalry had lost over ten to nearly twenty thousand men. The battlefield was strewn with horse carcasses, severed limbs, shattered weapons scattered everywhere, and a river of blood deeply stained the earth—such was the savagery of this battle.
“Marshal Tuoba, a cup of tea’s time! I, I have done it! Please take good care of my family...”
Dongfang Ting, pierced through the chest by the giant saber, summoned his last fading breath, looked down at his wound, then slowly turned to gaze into the distance behind him, sighing deeply before passing away.
“They were all heroes!”
“Take our own dead away; as for the enemy’s, alas, they fought for their own lords and are equally worthy of honor. Arrange them carefully.”
“Bury them here and erect monuments.”
“Yes, sir!”
Knowing the best chance for pursuit had already passed, Zi Haochu reluctantly ordered the trumpet blown to call off the attack after clearing the battlefield.
Thus ended the months-long border standoff.
By sheer numbers, the Holy Mountain Royal Court had lost nearly two hundred thousand troops, while Purple-Gold Royal Court suffered losses of about one hundred seventy thousand.
A victory? Only a grim one at best.
Marshal Zi and the senior generals all understood that if not for the twice-achieved feats of the young and brilliant son-in-law, their losses would have been far greater, perhaps even culminating in total defeat.
Whether it was the cunning battle against late Nascent Soul spies or the mysterious instigation of the enemy’s imperial capital beast tide raid, each act alone would have earned him titles of nobility, not to mention he was already the only son-in-law of Purple-Gold Royal Court.
The generals, sworn to silence, could only harbor deep gratitude in their hearts, for all knew that the presence of Gu Xiaopang had saved tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of comrades, and preserved their homeland. If word leaked that the beast tide was triggered by the son-in-law, it would bring immeasurable danger to both him and Purple-Gold Royal Court.
...
The grim victory news spread throughout Purple-Gold Royal Court at once, eliciting cheers and drumbeats from tens of millions of subjects.
In the imperial study, Emperor Zi Qiankun sat heavily on his throne, exhaling deeply.
Rubbing the Mother Talisman of Heaven and Earth in his hand, he had long realized that the massive beast tide was indeed orchestrated by his son-in-law, Gu Xiaopang. His heart remained restless, muttering repeatedly, “I truly did not misjudge him.”
At the same time, he felt a shuddering relief—thankful that Gu Xiaopang was his son-in-law, for had he been the Holy Mountain Royal Court’s son-in-law, then...
...
Meanwhile, the beast tide composed entirely of grade-three and above mystical beasts from Holy Mountain Royal Court ravaged countless counties and cities along its path. Though they did not deliberately destroy, the damage was immense. Upon reaching the eastern gate of the imperial capital, they instantly swept away the blocking forces and pressed right up to the gates of the Imperial City.
“Holy Mountain Emperor, come forth and respond!”
“Esteemed elders and fellow cultivators, I am Emperor Wen Luantian of Holy Mountain. I ask, how have we offended you to provoke this beast tide upon us?”
“Roar! Roar roar! Roar roar roar roar...”
“Hmph! Offended you? It seems you mortals have long forgotten the might of our Xuan Punishment!”
“A few days ago, our ancestral treasure vault was emptied without a trace, not a single hair left. Recently, your crown prince...”
Faced with over three hundred grade-four and more than four thousand grade-three mystical beasts, Emperor Wen Luantian, normally unflappable, felt his heart pounding wildly.
His ministers broke out in cold sweat, some trembling uncontrollably.
All knew that if this beast tide’s fury was not quelled, the grand imperial city could be mercilessly slaughtered.
...
At this moment, Crown Prince Wen Tianyou sat curled up in a corner of the great hall, his head in his hands, his expression vacant and broken, lacking any trace of a mighty heir.
His only injury was a deep red palm print on his cheek. Yet his eyes were hopeless and lifeless, muttering softly, “It’s not me, it’s not me, it’s not me...”
If Gu Xiaopang were to see him now, would he feel regret? If given another chance, would he still dare so ruthlessly to exploit this poor crown prince?
...
“Boom! Boom!”
Negotiations still ongoing, suddenly a fully realized grade-four mystical beast roared angrily in the center, and thousands of others surged forward, trampling fiercely toward the imperial city.
Within moments, the grand gates and walls collapsed, half the city flattened by their charge.
“Stop! Elders, please stop! Let’s talk, let’s talk!”
Emperor Wen Luantian, terrified, shouted repeatedly to halt the assault, losing the composure he had feigned moments before.
The beasts ceased their attack but granted only the time it takes to burn one incense stick for the emperor to negotiate compensation.
With no other options, the emperor swiftly ordered a guard to summon the Five Regions Commerce Association’s imperial capital head, then led his ministers trembling back to the main hall for discussion.
...
As the incense burned down to its last breath, just as the beasts were about to charge again, the emperor returned with a forced smile, accompanied by a grim-faced, long-bearded elder.
The Holy Mountain Royal Court was utterly battered—its treasury emptied—and fearing that even this would not satisfy the beasts, Emperor Wen Luantian shamelessly threatened the imperial capital’s commerce head, forcing him to contribute at least a third of his own reserves.
The noble families of the imperial capital could not escape the emperor’s nearly mad grasp.
...
The mystical beasts’ eyes gleamed as they stared at the mountain of supplies before them, without a word of courtesy. Amid their chaotic roars, they stuffed countless storage bags full, slung piles on their backs, clawed heaps in their paws and mouths, then turned and retreated toward the Endless Forest.
How they divided these vast provisions afterward was no longer the concern of anyone.
...
By the time Marshal Tuoba and his troops arrived from another direction, they found the imperial capital shrouded in gloom.
The frustrated emperor, watching the arrogant, heavily laden beast tide march further and further away, longed to find a secluded place to weep bitterly.