Chapter 761: Unexpected!

The army maintained a brisk, even pace as it advanced.

The auxiliary troops spread around the outside could scout out most situations in advance. Besides, they were Savages to begin with. Galloping across the snowfields presented no difficulty to them at all.

The security of Zheng Fan's central command had always been entrusted to his own men.

In truth, this was a deployment that voluntarily crippled part of the army's combat effectiveness.

It looked secure.

But that security faced inward.

Against a sudden impact from outside, the formation was relatively fragile.

Put simply... its ability to fight a hard battle was questionable.

Fortunately, this expedition had never been intended as a hard campaign in the first place.

At least for now, it was impossible for some grand alliance of Savage tribes to spring into existence overnight and immediately throw all its young warriors into battle against Marquis Zheng.

Quite the opposite.

Everything the army needed along the way was requisitioned from the nearby tribes.

No tribe willingly handed over the precious grain and fodder it had stored for winter.

But Marquis Pingxi Residence's prestige stood over the snowfields.

No one dared refuse.

Years ago, Marquis Zheng had followed Old Tian with thirty thousand iron cavalry and nearly swept across the entire western snowfield.

Later, the Savage King had raised an army on an even greater scale, only to be smothered inside Jin territory by the Yan.

Then, before the campaign against Chu, Marquis Zheng and Li Fusheng had staged that little performance of trapping Savages inside a city and using them as live targets for siege practice.

The destruction of the Naiman Tribe had been little more than a side episode among all of that.

There were simply too many examples.

Every tribal chief understood perfectly well what refusal meant.

Extermination.

Marquis Pingxi Residence did not possess enough strength to fight the entire snowfield at once.

Even with powerful troops and fine horses, the numerical gap was too enormous.

But the snowfields were a plate of loose sand.

And Marquis Pingxi Residence could absolutely destroy whichever tribe it chose.

The most ridiculous part was that every tribal chief understood something else too.

When Marquis Pingxi Residence's blade rested against your neck, you could shout for help as loudly as you wanted.

Plenty of nearby tribes might indeed come running.

But they would not be coming to stand shoulder to shoulder with you.

They would be waiting for your tribe to be destroyed so they could divide your remaining people and grazing lands.

The price of the Savage King's failure years ago... had been the destruction of an entire generation of the most farsighted and ambitious elites among the Savage people.

Still, the army did not seize provisions without compensation.

Rewards were given.

Tribes that supplied warriors and tribes that provided grain and fodder would receive corresponding discounts and priority when they came to Snow Sea Pass to trade the following year.

Religion was a long-term method of control.

Economic dependence was the primary tool for the present.

As for completely pacifying the snowfields... that came after Qian and Chu in the order of priorities.

The farther north the army marched, the harsher the climate and terrain became.

The density of surrounding tribes gradually declined.

And the influence radiating outward from Snow Sea Pass and Marquis Pingxi Residence weakened with every day of travel.

At last... they encountered a tribe willing to refuse the army's demand for grain.

The tribe even killed two Hailan warriors sent to press the requisition.

The news delighted Marquis Zheng beyond measure.

He immediately ordered the army to halt temporarily.

Then he sent Liang Cheng with the auxiliary troops to punish the tribe that had failed to recognize the situation.

...

"Father, that tribe refused us. Why is Father so happy?"

A fire burned inside the command tent, driving away the bitter cold outside.

Tian Tian sat beside Zheng Fan and asked his question with complete seriousness.

Zheng Fan permitted this.

During the march, Tian Tian could ask whatever he wanted.

Astronomy.

Geography.

Local customs.

Human affairs.

Anything.

Liu Dahu also listened every time.

The Sword Saint was quite pleased with the arrangement.

His stepson's ambitions lay in the army.

And ever since Tian Wujing had gone west, there probably was no one in all Great Yan more capable of commanding armies than the Marquis sitting before them.

A campaign that doubled as an education... the Sword Saint thought it was enormously valuable for Liu Dahu.

He himself did not dare teach such things.

He had tried before.

The result had been miserable.

Zheng Fan explained:

"The army has been marching for a long time. The central force you've been seeing is made up of my own troops, so they're still relatively disciplined. But even they have begun to grow restless inside. The Savage troops around the outside are worse. They were never properly reorganized or drilled, so their patience is even poorer. Marching is boring and exhausting. And soon we'll be entering the far north. Before that happens, we need to take this opportunity to let everyone loosen their bodies, let the horses run, let the sabers swing. It will raise morale."

Tian Tian nodded.

Liu Dahu looked thoughtful as well.

At that moment, Zheng Fan reached out and took Tian Tian's hand.

He gently rubbed the bandaged patch on the back of it and sighed helplessly.

"Father, it's fine. It doesn't hurt."

The back of Tian Tian's hand had been scalded.

He had been carrying meat soup for Zheng Fan when he slipped in the snow.

The Demon Child intervened in time, so only a small patch of the back of his hand had been burned.

Even so, Zheng Fan had not forbidden him from doing such work again.

Tian Tian watched Liu Dahu running back and forth every day, serving Zheng Fan's daily needs as a personal guard.

The boy regarded himself as a "personal guard" too.

Naturally, he wanted to help.

The Sword Saint was not jealous about that either.

A disciple served his master.

Perfectly reasonable.

Siniang entered carrying the meal.

"Come. Time to eat."

Liu Dahu immediately rose and moved to one corner of the tent.

Among wolves, the wolf king was most vulnerable while eating.

The wolves beside him watched the surroundings.

A qualified personal guard behaved much the same way.

Tian Tian climbed to his feet too and stood beside Liu Dahu.

Clearly... this was not the first time they had done it.

A saber hung at Liu Dahu's waist.

He was old enough now to use a real blade.

Tian Tian was still too young, so Zheng Fan had given him a dagger that he could wear at his belt.

Naturally... it was not one made by Xue San.

That man's weapons were poisonous.

No one dared hand those to a child.

The Sword Saint, meanwhile, was allowed to sit down and eat.

He was not technically part of the army.

He was simply Marquis Zheng's private bodyguard.

The meal was simple.

In the dead of winter... nothing felt more satisfying than a steaming pot of spicy hotpot.

As Zheng Fan ate, he asked:

"Any word back from San?"

"Not yet."

"And A'Cheng?"

"Nothing yet either. But things should be going smoothly. A'Ming took Kashir to the front too."

The two vampires were clearly losing their minds from craving human blood.

Once Zheng Fan and the others had eaten, Liu Dahu and Tian Tian finally came over to eat.

The pot was only leftovers by then.

But the adults had deliberately left plenty of meat inside for them.

Marquis Zheng rose and walked out of the command tent.

The cold wind outside struck his face.

He immediately felt clearer.

He found a place near the tent entrance and sat down.

They were drawing closer and closer to the location they were seeking.

Truthfully... he felt little fear.

Little worry.

After all, he had not come alone.

If anything... he was curious.

Curious about what exactly was waiting for him ahead.

Marquis Zheng took out his large iron cigarette case and drew out one cigarette.

A burning stick suddenly appeared in front of him.

Tian Tian was holding it up.

As his tiny personal guard...

Tian Tian had also taken over the daily job of lighting his cigarettes.

"Finished eating?" Zheng Fan asked.

"This child has eaten enough."

"Next time don't eat so fast. Wolfing food down is bad for your stomach. You're still young and growing. Dad brought you out here to see the world, not ruin your health."

"Yes. This child understands."

"You need to take care of that body. If you turn into some sickly consumptive, you won't be able to lead armies on campaign like Dad."

"Mm-hm."

In truth...

Zheng Fan was talking nonsense.

The boy's constitution was absurdly strong.

The cold wind of the march had already turned parts of Marquis Zheng's face faintly blue.

He had even smeared wax over his skin to protect against the cold.

Tian Tian's cheeks, meanwhile... remained rosy.

Not frozen red.

Healthy red, full of blood and vitality.

Why else call him a Spirit Child?

Why else had even the Sword Saint been unable to resist wanting him as a disciple?

Once the cigarette was lit, Zheng Fan remained outside, smoking slowly.

Then... someone returned.

Liang Cheng.

"Master."

"How did it go?"

Zheng Fan asked casually.

It was only some tiny tribe that did not know its own weight.

Liang Cheng had personally led the troops.

How could any real problem have occurred?

"We broke them. This subordinate found someone there and brought him back."

"Oh? Who?"

Liang Cheng turned.

"Bring him up."

"Yes."

Soon... an unbelievably filthy man was dragged forward.

At first, Zheng Fan did not recognize him.

Then he looked more carefully.

His expression changed.

It was Monk Kongyuan.

Kongyuan stood there in a daze.

His eyes were empty.

"How could it be this coincidental?"

Liang Cheng answered:

"It wasn't coincidence, Master. Beginning last month, that tribe received more than a hundred people like this. They do whatever they're told. Tell them to work and they work. Tell them to chew mud and they'll chew mud. Stab them with a knife or burn them with fire and they don't seem to feel pain. They don't even dodge. So the tribal chief believed the Stars had sent him fearless warriors. He believed he was protected by the Stars. That is why he dared defy our orders and kill our men."

"Master Kongyuan?"

Zheng Fan called to him several times.

Kongyuan gave no response at all.

"Sit," Liang Cheng ordered.

Kongyuan sat immediately.

Only then did Zheng Fan notice several horrifying scars across the man's back.

He had clearly suffered extremely serious injuries.

"Doesn't this look a little like a walking corpse?" Zheng Fan asked Liang Cheng.

In this area...

Liang Cheng was the expert.

"No. He's still alive. We captured several others like him. This subordinate inspected them all. They are unquestionably living people. My guess is severe hypnosis. Or perhaps their sense of self has been erased, leaving only the instinct to obey."

"They came from the north?"

"Yes, Master."

Zheng Fan immediately straightened.

"Fuck me. The pyramid-scheme headquarters has disbanded and they're getting ready to run."

Little Monk Liaofan had broken free because his Buddhist heart was firm.

Kongyuan and this group of "companions," by contrast... looked as though they had simply been dismissed and sent away.

That place existed something like a religious altar.

It needed offerings.

It needed followers to sustain it.

Now... it had begun dispersing those "followers."

That almost certainly meant... it was preparing to move.

"A'Cheng, you hold the rear. I'll take a thousand cavalry and move ahead first."

"Master, wouldn't it be too dangerous for you to go personally?"

Liang Cheng understood at once.

Master thought the main force had become too cumbersome.

He wanted to move fast with light cavalry.

"That's why I'm leaving you behind to support me. If I run into danger, at least I'll have something to hope for. I can hope the reinforcements arrive at the last moment. Only if you're leading the rear force do I have that kind of hope. Besides, they're preparing to flee. What's there to fear? And I suspect the reason San hasn't sent any message back yet is because he's already latched onto them. I need to go support him. Maybe San is somewhere up ahead right now, craning his neck and waiting for me to arrive with troops. That's good. One group waiting for another. At least everyone has something to look forward to. This thing is too damned strange. Prophecy or not, I can't let it grow."

"Master, this subordinate still disagrees," Liang Cheng said. "You are the commander of the entire army. You cannot be this aggressive. Besides, the road ahead is vast. Liaofan's map only points to a large region. If you take so few men and rush ahead, how exactly are you going to find the target? Rely on luck?"

Zheng Fan laughed.

He pointed toward Monk Kongyuan.

"Do you know why I sent word to this master and disciple pair on the snowfields in the first place, asking them to help me look for the prophecy's location?"

Marquis Zheng answered his own question:

"Because these two have excellent luck. Obvious, visible good luck. Look. The master went stupid. The disciple developed schizophrenia. But neither of them died. Didn't they?"

Then Zheng Fan pointed at himself.

"Me? My luck on battlefields is sometimes especially terrible. That's part of my confidence too. And one more thing. Tell me a few more times that I definitely won't find that thing. I have a feeling the chance I'll run into it will immediately rise by a huge amount."

Liang Cheng said nothing.

Marquis Zheng stopped hesitating.

"Pick out one thousand cavalry for me."

Liang Cheng could only answer:

"Yes, Master."

Zheng Fan entered the command tent and said to Siniang:

"Something urgent happened. I need to go ahead and pursue them. I'll personally lead a force forward and link up with San. Siniang, you stay with the central command and pro..."

Protect Tian Tian.

The words stopped before they left his mouth.

Because Tian Tian was standing beside Liu Dahu.

A dagger hung from his waist.

His tiny chest was held perfectly straight.

"Tian Tian."

"This child is here!"

"Dad is going to pursue the enemy. You remain with the central command and protect your First Mother."

"This child accepts the order!"

Zheng Fan exchanged a glance with Siniang.

Both understood.

Then Zheng Fan looked toward the Sword Saint.

"Old Yu."

The Sword Saint nodded.

Sword in hand... he stepped out.

Zheng Fan was about to leave the tent when Tian Tian trotted after him.

The boy untied the pouch containing the red stone from his own body and held it out to Zheng Fan.

"Big Sister, protect Father."

Zheng Fan hesitated.

Perhaps his earlier argument to persuade Liang Cheng had somehow given him a small psychological shadow of his own.

Looking at Tian Tian... he genuinely paused.

Then... the red stone floated out of the pouch by itself.

With practiced familiarity... it flew directly into the hidden compartment inside Zheng Fan's armor.

Since the stone itself had already made the choice...

Marquis Zheng stopped pretending otherwise.

He swept his cloak aside and strode out.

The Sword Saint followed.

"Fan Li. A'Ming. Depart with this Marquis."

"Yes, Master."

"Master, I'm coming."

Very soon... a cavalry force of slightly more than one thousand broke away from the central army and galloped north.

...

At the same time... somewhere on the northern snowfields... a dwarf's head slowly rose out of the snow.

Around him... several more heads emerged one after another.

Far in the distance, a column was moving west.

Some people rode horses.

Others walked.

The most conspicuous thing in the entire column was an enormous sled.

Three snow wolves, each with a build no weaker than a warhorse, pulled it forward.

On the sled... rested an enormous square block of ice.

Something was clearly frozen inside.

Beneath the sunlight... a shadow could be seen within it.

"Third Master, aren't we sending someone back to notify the Marquis?" Dai Li whispered beside Xue San.

"Notify my ass. We broke from the planned route ages ago. We don't even know where Master's army is now. How are we supposed to send word? Light beacon fires?"

The snowfields were vast beyond measure.

And there were very few places truly suitable for people to survive.

It was real emptiness.

Real sparse population.

That made transmitting information unbelievably difficult.

Marquis Zheng's army might be large.

But out here... unless an enormous number of scouts were spread across the snowfields like eyes, two armies could march head-down for days and still have a very real chance of passing each other without ever noticing.

Send one or two men back?

Whether the message arrived would depend entirely on luck.

Send too many?

Then they would weaken the force still in Xue San's hands.

Xue San licked his lips.

His attention remained fixed on that block of ice.

Unless something had gone badly wrong... the target of this entire expedition... was inside that thing.

The prophecy?

The true Demon King?

Dream on.

Still sleeping inside the ice, are you?

Heh-heh.

Perfect.

Third Master would solve you before you even woke up.

Don't blame him later for lacking martial virtue.

"Move ahead early. Prepare an ambush along the route they must take. Everyone, I picked you specifically for this mission because I know every one of you has a wife and children."

"Yes, Third Master."

"Yes, Third Master."

Xue San nodded.

"Good. Most of you probably aren't coming back alive from this mission. We might not even be able to bring your bodies home. But don't worry. Marquis Pingxi Residence will raise your children until adulthood. Bride price, dowry, all of it will be covered. And one more thing. Anyone willing to let his wife remarry, raise your hand now so I can see. For everyone else, I'll assume your women are not to remarry. The Residence will supply them with grain and money every month."

The men looked at one another.

In the end... only two raised their hands.

Xue San glanced at them.

"Understood. Now split into two groups according to my instructions. I'll keep one group here and continue watching them. Dai Li, take the others ahead and prepare traps and an ambush. Once they enter..."

Xue San dropped his palm sharply.

"Boom."

BOOM!

Suddenly... from the snow on both sides of the distant column... figures erupted and charged straight toward it.

There were clearly experts among them.

Otherwise, they could never have created such a commotion.

Xue San fell silent.

The two sides immediately crashed together.

Dai Li whispered:

"Third Master, should we charge too?"

Xue San cursed irritably:

"Are you that fucking eager to make your wife a living widow?"

"Uh..."

Xue San calmly pulled a handful of roasted flour from his pocket and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Eat. Watch the show."

[End of Chapter 761]