Chapter 2, The Limits of the Blade Path

As a result, many people began to migrate, bringing their children along, forming groups, knowing only the starting point but not the destination of their migration

Peng Lianhu knew that Er Zhu Hong and that man were doomed, with not even a glimmer of hope for survival. If history were to repeat itself, Peng Lianhu understood that he could not possibly evade this fatal blow; it was impossible. Even if he were to retreat swiftly within one-hundredth of a second before Cai Shang's blade vanished, he would still be unable to escape the lethal intent and the assault of death. The only solution was to prevent Cai Shang's blade from disappearing, but that was merely a fantasy. Even if he were to retreat swiftly within one-hundredth of a second before Cai Shang's blade vanished, he would still be unable to escape the lethal intent and the assault of death. The only solution was to prevent Cai Shang's blade from disappearing, but that was merely a fantasy.

It is neither a knife nor the Grim Reaper, but rather hatred, a kind of deep-seated hatred that can bury anyone.

Cai Shang then noticed the thickly swollen right leg, the headless venomous snake lying not far away, and the sword that Huang Hai usually used.

Peng Lianhu was stunned for a moment, then took a long breath and said sadly, "I really do not understand why it has come to this"

Peng Lianhu sighed in relief and said: "But you only have one horse available, and that horse is from my Liang Dynasty, which cannot even enter Zhengyang Pass, and may even be intercepted by my troops."

Huang Hai nodded heavily, tears welling in his eyes

With a swoosh, swoosh! Two wild wolf-like dogs were pinned to the ground, letting out only two brief mournful cries before falling silent, a deed done by the fearsome archer hidden in the woods. Yet, the figure of that fearsome archer had already appeared before everyone, his eyes, filled with a wildness and pride, bore a semblance of a smile. Although the fabric of his chest was torn, he still exuded an air of nonchalance and ease.

Cai Shang felt somewhat hesitant to meet Huang Hai's gaze, turning his head to look at the pale blue sky outside the cave, the drifting clouds. He let out a long sigh and calmly said: "I am not a reckless person; I will definitely live well, not for any other reason, but for my son. I should also live well for myself."

Hehe... Huang Hai was taken aback, pushing Cai Shang with one hand while twisting his body to avoid Cai Shang's mouth. However, in his severely injured state and having lost too much blood, he was unable to push Cai Shang away. Instead, Cai Shang seized his right leg, greedily sucking the toxic blood and then spitting it out onto the ground until the wound bled bright red blood.

The yellow dog was so fierce that it astonished everyone; the black dog was no match for it at all, having long been bitten all over, bleeding profusely, and even lacking the opportunity to escape. The speed and angles of the yellow dog's attacks were enough to leave even the martial arts masters somewhat alarmed. However, at this moment, few had the leisure to watch the life-and-death struggle between the two dogs

"Are you still going to Zhengyang Pass?" Peng Lianhu exclaimed in surprise

With a sharp sound, Cai Shang tore the flag from the scabbard of the knife, tightly piercing it into the root of his thigh, and then without hesitation, opened his mouth to suck the poisoned blood from the wound

Indeed, on the horizon, it seems that a brilliant and mournful remnant of a rainbow has suddenly emerged from another realm; that is Cai Shang's blade, and its brief disappearance is but a prelude to death

As if disappearing from this world, or suddenly darting into another world.

Hehe! Huang Hai excitedly grabbed Cai Shang's arm, his eyes filled with grief and indignation as he gestured passionately.

Cai's mouth twitched slightly, a sharp pain surged in his heart, yet he maintained a tone that was neither angry nor fervent as he said: "I think about it, I think about it to the point of agony, but I cannot let my own hatred and selfishness harm more people, for that would leave even more orphans and widows heartbroken and devastated"

A flicker of malevolence flashed across Cai's face, and it seemed as if searing flames could erupt from his eyes, yet he spoke with utter calmness: "Then you may go die."

The world is vast, and everywhere there are signs of conflict. There is no place that truly embodies the "Peach Blossom Spring" as described by Mr. Jingjie (referring to Tao Yuanming of the Eastern Jin dynasty, who was posthumously called "Mr. Jingjie"). However, any mountain or forest can accommodate many who are untouched by the flames of war. I have hands and feet, and I will not starve; living a simple life should not be a problem.

Then I shall take my leave. At this moment, Peng Lianhu finally remembered the task he was entrusted with and hurriedly stood up to bid farewell

You should leave first, as our positions are different, which can easily lead to misunderstandings. Moreover, it is not good for you to delay for too long; your junior brother will become anxious waiting.

This... this is the command of the king. If the battle is not fought vigorously, it will bring disaster to the family. Er Zhu Hong said with a slight stutter.

The five terrifying black dogs, resembling wild wolves, broke free from the grasp of the five men the moment Cai Shang launched his attack. No one would underestimate Cai Shang; the fact is, anyone who does so will ultimately face one outcome: death, and a gruesome one at that. Therefore, they had no intention of holding onto a dog to confront Cai Shang. Once the dogs escaped the control of the five men, they charged madly towards the cave, where it seemed their most delectable food awaited, driving them into a frenzy.

Peng Lianhu's knife does not have much effect on Cai Shang, but for the members of the Er Zhu family, it possesses an irresistible lethality

Hehe! The gray shadow curled up on the ground struggles to rise, but lies weakly in Cai Shang's embrace

Just now he heard the sound of crying— the cry of a child, a sound so familiar. He remembered that half a year ago, when his youngest son was born, it was this same loud cry. He was even more worried about the safety of Huang Hai in the cave, who was the most loyal and skilled among nearly a hundred generals, and also his best friend

I was born in the Northern Dynasties and do not wish to leave my homeland, after all, I still consider myself one of the masters of the northern land. You need not persuade me; I will go to the Taihang Mountains to find a quiet valley, for that is my birthplace. To live and die here is my ideal conclusion. Cai Shang smiled faintly, yet spoke with a hint of sorrow.

Hehe! Huang Hai, with a hoarse voice, gestured and illustrated to convey what had happened to Cai Shang

When Huang Hai woke up, a fire had already been lit in the cave, illuminating it brightly

No more deliveries." Cai said calmly, without a hint of emotion.

The baby is not afraid; he seems to understand Cai Shang's kindness and affection. He reaches out his chubby little hand to grab Cai Shang's hair with a giggle. The yellow dog also runs over, nuzzling against Cai Shang, occasionally sticking out its tongue to lick Cai Shang's fingers, continuously wagging its tail.

Peng Lianhu was taken aback, looking at Cai Shang with disbelief, and coldly asked: "So you don't want to take revenge? Do you really want your family to die in vain?"

"Taihang Mountain?" Peng Lianhu exclaimed softly

Cai's movements were not much slower than those two arrows, absolutely not by much. At the moment those two arrows pierced the hearts of the two men, his knife had already manifested a beautiful yet tragic barrier before the eight individuals, infused with a fierce and wild energy, as if it aimed to tear everything apart and sweep towards the remaining eight. He had never anticipated that there would be so many people; if they joined forces, could such terrifying lethality and combat power be something he could withstand alone? In his heart, only the intent to kill and the power of grief and indignation drove him to strike and attack, everything else was of no importance. He had never anticipated that there would be so many people; if they joined forces, could such terrifying lethality and combat power be something he could withstand alone? In his heart, only the intent to kill and the power of grief and indignation drove him to strike and attack, everything else was of no importance.

Er Zhu Hong and another man were momentarily stunned when Cai Shang's knife suddenly disappeared, as their minds had long been captivated by Cai Shang. At this moment, the sudden disappearance of the knife naturally left them in a daze. Only Peng Lianhu understood what kind of outcome would follow in the next moment; it was a foregone conclusion, an outcome that no one could alter. This was precisely the knife with which Cai Shang had shown mercy to Peng Lianhu.

I must return, and I need to do so as soon as possible. I am going back only to take Ya'er’s ashes with me and to take care of a few minor matters. You can rest assured. In the Northern Wei, the only person I am concerned about is Er Zhu Rong; the others are not worth my attention. You just need to take good care of Feng'er and wait for me here. This place is desolate and wild, and no one will come here in the short term. As long as you are careful, there will be no problems. If I have not returned in ten days, you should go to Jizhou alone to find my junior brother Ge Rong; he will take care of Feng'er. But rest assured, I will definitely be back within ten days.

In the State of Wei, who does not know the prowess of Cai Shang? Whether in the court or among the rivers and lakes, Cai Shang's blood-stained blade has become a symbol of the swordsmanship. Even the family of the greatest master in Northern Wei, the Er Zhu family, cannot help but fear him. Among the young masters of Northern Wei, apart from Er Zhu Rong, Cai Shang has few rivals. Among the older generation of masters, there are not many who can surpass Cai Shang. Of course, some of the long-established renowned figures would naturally avoid provoking Cai Shang, as winning would only harm relationships, and losing would be even less advantageous. Thus, Cai Shang is the most talked-about figure in the Northern Dynasties. Er Zhu Rong, on the other hand, rarely appears in the martial world. Within the Er Zhu family, he is recognized as the most promising master, yet he only concerns himself with the affairs of the Er Zhu family. There are almost no individuals in the martial world who dare to provoke the Er Zhu family. Even the likes of Emperor Xiaowen, Tuoba Yuanhong, must show respect towards the Er Zhu family, let alone ordinary people from the mountains and fields. As a master of the Han people, Cai Shang's brilliance has long incited jealousy among the Xianbei nobility, including the Gudu family, the Er Zhu family, and the Shusun family. In the third year of the Jianwu era of Emperor Ming of Northern Wei, the Yizhan clan was renamed the Shusun clan, the Qiumu clan was renamed the Mu clan, the Gudu clan was renamed the Liu clan, and the Suhe clan was renamed the He clan. In 496 AD, Emperor Xiaowen also issued an edict to change surnames, linking the Xianbei clan with Han culture. He declared, "The Northern people refer to earth as 'Tuo' and later as 'Ba'. The ancestors of Wei descended from the Yellow Emperor, ruling with the virtue of the earth, hence the surname Tuoba. Earth is the color of yellow, the essence of all things, and it is appropriate to change it to Yuan. Therefore, the Tuoba clan was changed to the Yuan clan, and there are still people in later dynasties who bear the surname Tuoba."

The black dog let out a whimper as the yellow dog had already seized its neck. The sudden assault and charge from the yellow dog caused the black dog to stagger, nearly toppling over. However, the black dog was not willing to back down; it twisted its hind legs, attempting to shake off the yellow dog's bite, but it failed. The yellow dog appeared to have considerable combat experience, thrashing its head about while relentlessly biting the black dog's neck.

Zhengyang Pass, located by the banks of the Huai River, is where the Ying River and the Huai River converge on the surface of Zhengyang Pass, giving it an extremely important strategic role over the waterways

In this era, almost everyone lives in a state of turmoil and displacement. Although there is an immense weariness towards war, it is fundamentally impossible to escape or change this fate. The only thing one can do is to seek refuge and find that so-called pure land that is indifferent to existence.

Cai Shang exhaled deeply after absorbing the toxic blood, closed his eyes, and quietly sat beside the Yellow Sea, as if an old monk in meditation, channeling his energy to expel the poison that had invaded his body. He only felt a slight numbness in his tongue

Huang Hai no longer spoke a word, his eyes filled with tears, his right hand gripping Cai Shang's arm for a long time without letting go, staring blankly at Cai Shang's face, which was resolute and calm, showing not a trace of ripple.

Swish, swish! These are the sounds of two crossbows, coming from the dark cave. Among the five wolf-like dogs, only one remains able to move, yet it seems to sense something and hesitates at the cave entrance.

"I never expected this little bastard to still be alive, truly beyond our expectations. Huang Hai, when will you be able to squeeze out some milk too?" The scar-faced man laughed wildly, but in an instant, he found himself unable to laugh any longer

Finally, two sounds of "he he" emerged from the cave, a painful moan that completely resembled the voice of a dying person being choked by a soul-grabbing force.

Cai Shang fully understood Er Zhu Hong's current feelings; all of this was within his expectations. No, it was also a situation he deliberately created. However, just at the moment when Er Zhu Hong relaxed for the fifth time, Cai Shang's knife suddenly disappeared

The breath of the Yellow Sea gradually turned calm, and he unexpectedly lay flat in the cave and fell asleep. It seems that he was indeed too exhausted, coupled with the weakness from excessive blood loss. At this moment, upon seeing Cai Shang, the strength that had supported him relaxed, and he could not help but fall into a deep sleep.

Indeed, among the Northern Dynasties, I have many enemies, but I also have friends. Even if Er Zhu Rong were to come personally, he might not be able to detain me, let alone the fact that they do not even know that I am still alive.

It has been proven that all of this was indeed completely unnecessary; it was a gust of wind, a slight breeze, but that slight breeze was already sufficient to knock down the four skilled members of the Er Zhu family. The four heavy thuds hitting the ground did not awaken Peng Lianhu; he seemed to be dreaming. His gaze was fixed blankly on the two-inch-long red marks on each person's forehead, glistening with blood droplets. He knew that all four of them were dead, killed by Cai Shang's single strike. No one dared to imagine what that strike was like; it was a heart-stopping nightmare, filled with a tragic and hallucinatory terror. The four heavy thuds hitting the ground did not awaken Peng Lianhu; he seemed to be dreaming. His gaze was fixed blankly on the two-inch-long red marks on each person's forehead, glistening with blood droplets. He knew that all four of them were dead, killed by Cai Shang's single strike. No one dared to imagine what that strike was like; it was a heart-stopping nightmare, filled with a tragic and hallucinatory terror.

Cai Shang did not use the knife to cause their deaths, nor did he even aim to injure them. The knife struck from an angle that left everyone perplexed. No one understood why Cai Shang did not directly injure the two, especially when he had several opportunities to do so, yet he easily let them pass. Even Peng Lianhu was baffled, but Cai Shang knew the reason: he was seeking the opportunity to kill his opponents in one decisive blow

Heh, heh... Huang Hai let out a low groan, and with difficulty pointed to the baby on the ground sucking dog milk.

The black dog let out a mournful howl, as a large chunk of bloody flesh was torn from its neck, and its black fur flew through the air.

Cai Shang nodded lightly and said, "I will go to pay respects to my deceased relatives, and then I will set off for Taihang. The Taihang Mountains stretch for thousands of miles and can certainly accommodate a few lives."

"Yellow Sea, I will count to ten, if you do not come out, I will set fire and smoke you to death," shouted a scar-faced man and a bookish fellow.

Cai's pressure greatly reduced, the blade's momentum surged again, the whole body seemed to be immersed in the clouds, the blade itself carried a chilling killing intent, and after Cai poured his sorrow and indignation into it, it became terrifying beyond imagination. The three opponents had no strength to fight back at all, and only then did they realize how terrifying it was.

Cai looked at the baby, who only knew hunger and satiety, with pain and love in his eyes, for it was his son born six months ago with a faint red birthmark under his ear.

Cai's face still smiled calmly and said, "Ran Changjiang must be heading to Luokou, while I am going to Zhengyang Pass. By the time the news reaches Zhengyang Pass, I will probably have already left. Moreover, the two armies are engaged in battle, and the information is tightly sealed. The time difference will not be small. Don't worry, it may only implicate you. You are a skilled swordsman, but definitely not suitable for survival in the court. The martial world is the true place."

He did not understand why it was like this; he did not even comprehend why it was so coincidental that while pursuing the other party's son, he encountered such a terrifying nemesis. Perhaps this is fate. Er Zhu Hong has never been one to believe in fate; he always thought that destiny was the sword in his hand, that destiny was a word or a document from the Er Zhu family. However, now he realizes he was wrong, truly wrong, wrong to a considerable extent. Fate turned out to be the knife in Cai Shang's hand

However, in an instant, Peng Lianhu saw a string of fine blood beads coagulated outside the red mark, and everyone's eyes widened, but they had already lost their rightful brilliance.

This is due to the powerful aura emanating from Cai Shang's blade and body, towering like a great mountain and wild and expansive like a vast ocean, growing ever stronger. In their eyes, it became the heavens and the earth, making them feel their own insignificance from the depths of their hearts. This formidable and terrifying aura, driven by Cai Shang's intent with the blade, completely stripped the opponent of their autonomy with its piercing killing intent. This is the reason why Er Zhu Hong harbored thoughts of despair, yet he knew that this was certainly not a good thing. He reminded himself to stay strong; otherwise, it would only lead to a dead end. However, he found himself unable to extricate himself from this lost soul, and the other person fared even worse, as the blade in their hand had already lost its dominating power and the necessary ferocity.

Peng Lianhu lit a dry branch, and the small cave immediately revealed its true form. The yellow dog took the opportunity to sneak in.

Cai Shang looked at Huang Hai with concern and noticed a slight flush on his face, so he tore off half of the deliciously roasted rabbit meat that had just been shot and handed it to Huang Hai, while the yellow dog was gnawing on a dead bird by itself.

Cai Shang's knife aura is as unpredictable as a wild horse in the sky, but the extremely sharp killing intent is interwoven into countless nets in the void, which can definitely tear a person apart into pieces.

Cai Shang fell silent, his eyes filled with tears and indignation, but more than that, there was concern.

This should not be the Cai Shang who gallops on the battlefield. Peng Lianhu looked at Cai Shang as if scrutinizing a monster, and said in a deep voice, seemingly calm without any ripples.

Peng Lianhu couldn't help but smile foolishly and self-deprecatingly said: "I am truly foolish, I actually forgot about them."

Peng Lianhu then realized that the female yellow dog must have recently given birth to a litter, otherwise it would not exhibit such fierce behavior and have an ample supply of milk.

There is no need to deceive people. I have survived. Whether it is fortunate or unfortunate, only when the shadow of death has just passed can one realize how beautiful life is. Originally, every person in this world should enjoy the power that life has given them. However, they have been deprived of the life they should have enjoyed because of some people's selfish desires and hatred. How cruel and sad is this? I do not believe in Master Huiyuan's theory of "the response of blessings and misfortunes, only what one feels, feels it and it happens, which is called nature. Nature is the influence of oneself. What merit is there in the master's control?" But I do believe that life is beautiful, and loved ones need to be cherished and cared for. Instead of hanging hatred on the edge of a knife, causing the opportunity for the remaining loved ones and friends to enjoy life to be lost, it is better to wipe love and blessings in the palm of your hand to let the surviving loved ones and friends enjoy more love. Therefore, I do not want to be involved in this never-ending bloody situation anymore." Cai Shang said calmly, like a Buddhist Zen master.

Ha ha ... ... Cai laughed bitterly and angrily, and shouted, "Anyone in the world can criticize me, but if it's your Erzhu family, it's not allowed. Without this group of selfish and self-interested people who only know how to enjoy themselves and don't care about national affairs, even if there are more Liang people, the result would not be like this."

No one could have anticipated that Cai Shang's swift strike would possess such formidable power, yet this has become a reality. No one can avoid reevaluating both Cai Shang's blade and Cai Shang himself, for he is more terrifying, more frenzied, and more ruthless than the blood-soaked knife in his hand, with an even heavier aura of killing intent. This is all a result of profound hatred.

Wow, wow... a sound of a child's crying unexpectedly echoed from the cave, which seemed particularly out of place in the vast mountain forest, contrasting sharply with the whimpering of the several dogs.

The most shocking event was, of course, at Zhengyang Pass, as Cai Shang himself was a general of Zhengyang Pass. The people in Zhengyang Pass regarded Cai Shang as a great hero, yet he still met his end in defeat. Meanwhile, Xiao Hong had stationed himself at Luokou Town, merely two hundred miles away from Zhengyang Pass, which naturally left the hearts of the people in turmoil, unable to find peace.

"When you have participated in the brutal and bloody slaughter on the battlefield, and one by one, those who fought alongside you fall, leaving you as the only survivor, you will understand." Cai said, unable to conceal his sorrow.

Yellow Sea! Cai let out a mournful cry, collapsing beside that shadowy figure.

Peng Lianhu was astonished, for he witnessed a brilliance that was several times more intense than when he was attacked. This was the true strength of Cai Shang, or perhaps even more terrifying. Yet, he could not comprehend how Cai Shang was able to strike from such a blind spot. Perhaps the secret lay in that brief disappearance; he did not understand where Cai Shang's blade had vanished to. It was as if he had experienced a dream, for that blade seemed capable of piercing through another dimension, disappearing from the sight of onlookers. Although Peng Lianhu felt the presence of that blade, he could not articulate the reason behind it. Perhaps only Cai Shang or Ge Rong could explain these mysteries. Where had Cai Shang's blade disappeared to? It was as if he had experienced a dream, for that blade seemed capable of piercing through another dimension, disappearing from the sight of onlookers. Although Peng Lianhu felt the presence of that blade, he could not articulate the reason behind it. Perhaps only Cai Shang or Ge Rong could explain these mysteries.

Peng Lianhu's expression changed slightly as he said: "www.hetushu.com I fear that my junior apprentice has already conveyed the news of your survival."

Cai sighed softly, feeling melancholic, and said, "Brother, you don't need to say anymore. I already know that you must take good care of your injuries now. Once you recover, I will come back and meet you to go to the Taihang Mountains together."

The yellow dog, having gained the upper hand, showed no mercy. Before the black dog could even react from its pain, it continued to pounce and attack the bleeding wound of the black dog.

A howl echoed from within the cave, and a grayish-yellow shadow flashed at the entrance, revealing a large female dog that charged out. This dog was not smaller than the black dog, yet its ferocity and swiftness seemed even more terrifying than that of the fearsome black dog.

Clang, clang... countless intense shocks, within the momentum of Cai Shang's blade, some stagnation appeared. After all, he is human, not a deity. Faced with these eight formidable opponents, the strength of one person is always limited. Although he injured three of them at the beginning with the cooperation of Peng Lianhu, they did not completely lose their combat capability. Cai Shang's blade only inflicted injuries on those individuals rather than incapacitating them, thus he still faced six strong opponents, a force that must not be underestimated.

However, at this moment, the atmosphere at Zhengyang Pass is very tense, with a strong sense of imminent conflict. In this chaotic era of warfare, everywhere appears to be in disarray, especially since it is close to the Liang Dynasty to the south, making it most vulnerable to the ravages of war. These days are indeed different from the past, as the Liang Dynasty has launched a massive northern expedition, with Prince Xiahong of Linchuan leading hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers with advanced weaponry and a formidable military presence, unprecedented in the Southern Dynasties for decades. Moreover, the recent battle with Cai Shang has left barely any surviving soldiers from the Northern Wei, causing a great upheaval in the Wei court.

The yellow dog, as if it had seen its owner, approached Cai Shang and affectionately rubbed against him. Its fur, still wrinkled from being bitten by the black dog, showed no signs of pain, resembling a victorious warrior seeking praise.

Cai Shang's knife is in its sheath, as if it has never been drawn before. It stands quietly, seemingly contemplating something, perhaps grieving for something. No one understands what he is thinking. Peng Lianhu stares blankly at the four others standing beside him. These four people are actually quite ugly, but the ugliest thing about them is the red mark on their foreheads. Each person has the same mark, which seems to have been precisely and uniformly applied to achieve a length of two inches and a width as thin as a strand of hair. Peng Lianhu stares blankly at the four others standing beside him. These four people are actually quite ugly, but the ugliest thing about them is the red mark on their foreheads. Each person has the same mark, which seems to have been precisely and uniformly applied to achieve a length of two inches and a width as thin as a strand of hair.

I asked you, is my home the one that was plundered by your family, the Yuerzhu family? Cai Shang still held onto a glimmer of hope as he inquired, but his words were so cold and harsh that they could freeze anyone's thoughts.

Cai Shang utilized not only a knife but also his feet; his foot seemed to serve as another blade. When his right foot met the edge of the opponent's knife, it miraculously twisted, and the sole of his foot astonishingly stepped onto the back of the opponent's knife. This allowed him to leverage the force and rise slightly by six knife positions, then he struck down with lightning speed, not only cleaving the knife of another opponent in two but also splitting the opponent in half. As Cai Shang retracted his knife, blood only then flowed from the opponent's body. Subsequently, when the heavy and fierce blade of Er Zhu Hong attacked Cai Shang at an angle, it unexpectedly split in response to the strike, becoming two halves.

Ah! The baby turned its head, clearly hurt by the prick of Cai's beard on its face

Peng Lianhu quietly gazed at the gradually awakening Cai Shang and softly said: "Let us go to the Southern Dynasties, I believe the king will accept you, and you will surely be able to avenge your family."

It was Cai Shang's knife that cleaved open a man's skull; this move was indeed executed beautifully, so much so that even the enemy, who was utterly powerless to retaliate, thought so.

Ah! Amidst a cry of despair accompanied by a muffled groan, a strong man's hand, along with the knife, flew far away. Blood gushed forth, splattering into a brilliant scene. A piece of flesh was sliced off from Cai Shang's shoulder, yet this did not hinder his movements or his murderous intent. At this moment, an additional knife entered the battlefield, an ordinary yet extraordinary knife.

Er Zhu Hong had never anticipated that there were such skilled archers hidden within the woods. They had been on guard against the attacks from Huang Hai in the cave, yet they did not expect to be ambushed by another expert. In a moment of unawareness, they met with an untimely death.

Cai Shang's body seems to be enveloped in a layer of beautiful and melancholic sunset, which has completely surpassed the artistic conception of a knife and reached a state of Zen. The knife is no longer a knife, and the person is no longer a person, but a terrifying and surging energy, twisting and stirring madly. The shooting killing intent and strength only make all weapons tremble with a buzzing sound.

The baby no longer cries, but instead curiously crawls on the ground. Those two lacquer-like eyes sparkle with a peculiar radiance, exuding an unparalleled sense of tranquility and purity.

You are deceiving people! Peng Lianhu placed his hands on Cai Shang's shoulders with some excitement, staring blankly at Cai Shang.

Peng Lianhu hesitated for a moment before turning and leaving

Swoosh, swoosh! Two arrows were shot almost simultaneously, still fierce and swift. Although the accuracy was impeccable amidst the moving figures, the effect this time was not as good as the first. No one died because of the arrows, but getting injured was inevitable. Under Cai's marvelous and intensely murderous knife technique, it was impossible to fully deal with those two arrows.

The owner of the knife is the terrifying archer Peng Lianhu. He came to assist Cai Shang. Cai Shang is a respected enemy, and at this moment, whether in terms of position or morality, Peng Lianhu should lend a hand to Cai Shang. At the very least, he should repay Cai Shang's favor by sparing his life.

General Cai! Peng Lianhu hesitated to speak, truly unsure of what to say. Everything seemed to lack much significance, making it even more difficult to express his respect for Cai Shang. He vaguely guessed that this mute person must have a master-servant relationship with Cai Shang. He had also overheard part of the conversation between Nuer Zhu Hong and knew that this person had been hiding with the infant for over ten days, which coincided with the time when the Cai family was raided. Moreover, judging from Huang Gou's earlier behavior towards Cai Shang, it was evident that their relationship was quite close

That was a person, a person with a pale face, a person whose gray clothes had been dyed red with blood, and no one was willing to count how many wounds he had on his body. Everything was so shocking. In the arms of this pale-faced person, there was a baby wrapped in blood-stained cloth. The baby's bright black eyes seemed to exude a spiritual energy from the earth and mountains, but these eyes were only looking at a yellow dog, like a child looking at its mother. In the arms of this pale-faced person, there was a baby wrapped in blood-stained cloth. The baby's bright black eyes seemed to exude a spiritual energy from the earth and mountains, but these eyes were only looking at a yellow dog, like a child looking at its mother.

The wind blew gently, lifting Peng Lianhu's long robe and wrinkling his thoughts, all for the astonishing swordsmanship of Cai Shang.

Cai Shang slowly opened his eyes, like two cold stars in the dark night. He said weakly, "Doing that would only make more families follow in my footsteps. I am tired of this kind of life and do not want to see too many people die for me anymore."

Cai gently stroked the yellow dog, feeling a sense of sadness. Completely unaware of the five dead black dogs on the ground, all of his attention was focused on the hole. His heart was already tightly clenched, in pain.

Peng Lianhu couldn't help but be fascinated by what he heard. He never expected that a great general who had fought on the battlefield and dominated two countries, as well as a martial arts master who had killed countless people, would have such profound and even Buddhist-like thoughts.

There is no need for you to worry. Since Erzhu Hong and his men have tracked Huang Hai here, they must have come on horseback instead of walking. I believe there must be horses nearby.

There was no response at all in the cave, it was very quiet, as if there was no sign of life. The feeling of unfathomable depth was very strong. At this moment, silence only represented one thing, which was fear and tension.

Cai looked at the disappearing figure of Peng Lianhu outside the cave, revealing a hint of sorrowful and painful smile, picked up his son who was playing with the yellow dog on the ground, and caressed him with infinite affection.

Peng Lianhu's two opponents are also formidable. Peng Lianhu's knife skills have already gained considerable fame in the Southern Liang. Compared to the skilled fighters from the Eer Zhu family, he is distinctly different. Zheng Boqin was one of the three greatest masters by the side of Emperor Wu of Liang, Xiao Yan, and his martial arts possess unique qualities. Naturally, the disciples he trains are exceptional. Moreover, being able to become the top messenger of the Liang Dynasty is certainly not an easy feat

All the people were stunned, including Cai Shang and Peng Lianhu, standing there like several sculptures.

There are many places with beautiful mountains and clear waters in the Southern Dynasty. Why not go to the Southern Dynasty, General Cai? Peng Lianhu continued to persuade.

Cai couldn't help but sigh and said to himself, "Cai Feng, Cai Feng, I never expected that you would encounter so many hardships right after birth. We've only just reunited with your father, and now we have to part again. But you must obediently listen to Uncle Huang, don't make a fuss. Your father will be back soon, oh!" Unable to resist, he gazed affectionately at little Cai Feng's rosy cheeks and couldn't help but give him a kiss.

Among these people, the majority use knives. In this chaotic world, the knife seems to be the most handy weapon, almost multi-functional, thick and powerful. This is the advantage of the knife. The people of the Northern Dynasties mostly use the long-handled horse-cutting knife, at least five feet long, with a slightly raised blade and a small curve, which is a weapon favored by the Xianbei people, most suitable for knife combat, relying on arm swings to increase the force on the knife several times, making the killing power extremely terrifying. The Tuoba clan was originally a strong tribe on the northern grasslands, skilled in horse warfare, and therefore preferred the long horse-cutting knife. However, upon entering the Central Plains, with its many mountains and dense forests, the use of the horse-cutting knife was not as effective as on the grasslands, because horse warfare is more suitable in the wild. On the plains, there are more cavalry, but in mountainous areas, infantry is more common. A five-foot long knife is not very flexible, so weapons such as spears, short knives, polearms, and halberds are preferred. As for swords, although double-edged swords are light, it is difficult for ordinary soldiers to exert their own strength to achieve the desired effect. Instead, a single-edged thick-backed knife is better. Swords have become ornaments, and only true masters will use them. In the midst of the masses, the killing power of the knife is always greater than that of the sword. Therefore, in this chaotic world, people prefer to use knives, and those who use swords are few, but those who can use swords are definitely not ordinary.

Cai Shang gently turned around, no longer paying attention to the few people standing still, as if he felt that all of this was completely unnecessary

Cai sighed emotionally and kissed the baby's white and tender face.

Cai Shang was forced to take a step back by a knife and a sword, all because those six weapons were indeed terrifying and fierce.

Where are you planning to go? Peng Lianhu inexplicably felt a sense of loss in his heart and said somewhat sadly.

Erzhu Hong is even more incapable. Although he is also a formidable opponent, he still cannot clearly identify Cai Shang's blind spot. However, this poses an absolute threat to Cai Shang.

Haha ... ... a few fierce-looking men suddenly burst into a loud laugh, as if the child's cries were extremely amusing

Another scream of agony, "Ah--", pierced through the restless atmosphere of the mountains and forests.

Wow... Another burst of baby crying came, which was exactly coming from beside that dark figure.

You, by using sophistry, are blaming me, a member of the Erzhu clan. Whenever there is a war in the country, we offer our private horses and provide resources to support the army. How can you blame others for your own incompetence in starting a war? Erzhu Hong spoke sternly and everyone else immediately became nervous.

The baby was obviously hungry, reaching out a pair of chubby little hands to grab the hanging dog milk. The yellow dog approached the baby gently and turned its body, while tenderly licking the baby's rosy little face with its tongue, showing its innate maternal gentleness.

Cai looked at Peng Lianhu gratefully, quickly twisted open several porcelain bottles, tore off the tattered clothes under the reflection of the firelight, and poured on the medicine powder.

Can't laugh, because of a person, someone who suddenly appears like a ghost.

That was a strike from the blind spot of the sword, from an impossible angle, yet this strike was delivered.

Regarding life and death, people in this era have become extremely numb, but no one's heart is not yearning for a stable life. However, even dreams are made in the midst of fleeing and migration. What can comfort people's hearts?

Among these few knives, the knife of natural number Cai Shang is the most crazy, while the knife of Peng Lianhu is the most extreme. Peng Lianhu has a strong killing intent. He not only wants to kill those who have combat power, but also occasionally kicks and gives a knife to those who have lost their combat power. The three who have lost their combat power also died under Peng Lianhu's knife, without a single survivor.

He was almost desperate, without any fighting spirit, feeling a wave of weakness and helplessness deep in his heart. It was a terrible feeling, even he himself felt strange, why would he have such a strange feeling? He had always been a very proud person, except for the Erzhu family and the king, others were simply insignificant to him. But at this moment, he felt his own weakness, but he quickly understood.

He has also been poisoned!" Peng Lianhu squatted down beside Huang Hai, his tone somewhat heavy.

No matter who it is, no matter how skilled they are, there will always be blind spots. This is the limitation of the human body's limits. A skilled person is just better at concealing these blind spots than others, whether in defense or offense, they rarely expose their own blind spots to the opponent. This is the difference between a skilled and unskilled person. The experts of the Erzhu family have almost reached the highest level and are also good at creating blind spots. In the midst of nothingness, they give the most ruthless blow, which is the terrifying aspect of the Erzhu family. It is said that no one in the Erzhu family has reached the highest level, and the most hopeful person to reach it is Erzhu Rong. Cai Shang's knife can also be used to strike from the blind spot of the knife, but he cannot strike from his own blind spot. However, this kind of technique that strikes from the blind spot is not something that ordinary people can imagine. There are not many people in the world who can truly match Cai Shang's skill in understanding blind spots, so there are not many experts who can truly match him.

The man with a scar, known as Er Zhu Hong, lost his earlier arrogance and took a step back in a somewhat panicked manner, trying to bolster his courage as he shouted: "Cai Shang, you have fought ineffectively, causing our country to lose so many heroic sons. How can you still face the people of the nation?"

That is Cai Shang, whose killing intent has coalesced into a faint glow on his forehead. What chills the heart is Cai Shang's eyes, those two seemingly tangible yet intangible gazes, like poisoned arrows, deeply piercing the hearts of everyone.

"Er Zhu Hong, was it Er Zhu Rong who sent you here?" Cai Shang coldly questioned the scar-faced man, simultaneously taking a large step forward.

It can be seen that Huang Hai and Cai Shang should have a master-servant relationship, and Cai Shang disregarding his own safety to help a subordinate with drug use is a sentiment that absolutely cannot be achieved by the powerful and skilled individuals in this chaotic world. How could this not move Peng Lianhu?

Cai felt a pang of sadness in his heart as he strode into the dark cave. A wave of damp, decaying odor immediately assaulted his senses, yet none of this could deter Cai from his actions. In the dim light, he caught sight of a shadowy figure that seemed to move slightly.

All ten of these individuals are elite warriors from the Er Zhu family, each one a formidable fighter. Although Cai Shang's martial skills have reached the level of a top master, it is nearly impossible for him to kill these eight men; it is even more likely that he could lose his life at their hands. However, he must take action, as his own warrior Huang Hai is still in the cave, and perhaps even his son.

Er Zhu Hong's face turned exceptionally pale; at this moment, he truly understood what fear meant and what it felt like to face death. Instinctively, from the moment Cai Shang first appeared before them, he had sensed the breath of death. Yet at this moment, he genuinely felt death and truly comprehended what was contained within Cai Shang's sheath.

Er Zhu Hong wields a sword, which is the king of weapons. Among the Er Zhu family, the experts are most proficient in the use of the sword. The sword is an ancient weapon, as well as a very agile one. Er Zhu Hong excels in offense, particularly in striking at the opponent's blind spots, which is a characteristic of the Er Zhu family's swordsmanship. However, this is a standard that is difficult to achieve; it requires not only skill but also great wisdom and high perceptiveness to truly identify the opponent's vulnerabilities

The breath of death seeped from the scabbard wrapped in banners, an indescribable sensation that no one could comprehend. What was contained within that scabbard—was it a sword, or the Grim Reaper, or something else? No one had ever considered that a sword could exude such an aura, nor had anyone imagined that the Grim Reaper could be housed within a scabbard. Yet, it was undeniably a presence that approached death.

In the cave, there was no sound of the Yellow Sea, and it was unknown whether it was still alive. The child was still crying. He saw the bloodstains extending into the cave, so bright and dazzling. Could this be the blood of the Yellow Sea? Cai Shang had no time to think about it, because the enemy he was facing was absolutely tenacious. However, thanks to the two strong arrows that disrupted their formation, Cai Shang had been attacking with the most ferocious offensive from the beginning, making it impossible for them to organize a counterattack for a while. However, the counterattack was only a matter of time, waiting for Cai Shang's crazy offensive to ease slightly, it would be the moment of counterattack. However, thanks to the two strong arrows that disrupted their formation, Cai Shang had been attacking with the most ferocious offensive from the beginning, making it impossible for them to organize a counterattack for a while. However, the counterattack was only a matter of time, waiting for Cai Shang's crazy offensive to ease slightly, it would be the moment of counterattack.

Erzhu Hong is also a member of the Erzhu family, although not a direct descendant, his martial arts skills are also very good. He is the leader of the Erzhu family's guards this time. These people are usually well-known experts in the martial arts world, either skilled in the green forest or recruited by the Erzhu family with a high salary, or when they are at a dead end, they seek refuge in the Erzhu family. (During the Northern Wei period, local strongmen often employed some extraordinary individuals and had a large number of slaves. In the middle of the Northern Wei period, the Xianbei nobles became increasingly interested in scholars. They all "cultivated fertile land and expanded their industries." In addition, during the early period of the Tuoba clan's rule over the Central Plains, a large number of fertile lands were turned into pastures or private gardens. The phenomenon of peasants losing their land and drifting around, either joining the aristocracy as dependents or gathering in the mountains and marshes as skilled outlaws, was very prominent. The court often suppressed the skilled outlaws, which led to a large number of them attaching themselves to the aristocracy.) Therefore, they know better how to deal with enemies and are well-versed in ruthless principles.

Peng Lianhu then realized that this was a useless person who could not speak, but from the joy and excitement in his eyes, it was clear that he was a very loyal individual. In his hand, he still held a crossbow, and it was he who had just shot and killed two black dogs.

With a whoosh, two sharp sounds of bowstrings echoed, and two powerful arrows, like two magical phantoms, accompanied by two screams, pierced the hearts of two vigilant individuals. The accuracy and force were astonishing, yet they were shot from deep within the woods

The wound is located above the calf, still flowing with dark purple blood in a turbulent manner, and has swollen into a hard, large mass

"Huang Hai, how are you?" Cai Shang asked, his voice trembling slightly

The cave remained as silent as death, with only two crossbow bolts and a yellow dog present; even the cries of the infant had ceased, creating a stark contrast with the outside world. The person referred to as the Yellow Sea had yet to appear, and the small amount of blood at the cave's entrance seemed insignificant compared to the blood shed by the black dog and that of the person who had lost a hand. Instead, it was this silence, more terrifying than death itself, that caused concern.

I have some wound medicine here. " Peng Lianhu quickly took out several bottle-like items from his pocket

The firewood gradually dwindled, and the light inside the cave gradually dimmed, while Cai Shang's breathing changed from heavy to delicate and calm.

I understand your intentions, but what is more important is to take good care of Feng'er. He is still so small, and carrying him to Zhengyang Pass would be very inconvenient. Moreover, you have lost too much blood and sustained so many injuries, making it difficult for you to move. It would be even harder for everyone to return together. Therefore, your task is to take good care of Feng'er, which is more important than anyone's life. You should understand that this is something that must be done well. I know you are eager to eliminate that group of scoundrels completely, but the reality will not be like that. Therefore, you must stay. Do you understand what I mean?

This is indeed not the Cai Shang who galloped across the battlefield; that Cai Shang died on the battlefield a month ago. In fact, life is indifferent to life and death; people will always change. With each change, one inevitably loses something, whether good or bad, and that is also a form of death. Cai Shang suppressed the grief and indignation in his heart and spoke calmly

"Hehe!" Huang Hai pulled Cai's arm and shook his hand.

Cai Shang! The first person to emit a gasp of terror was the scar-faced man, and the others seemed to awaken from a bewildering dream, exclaiming in horror: "You are not dead yet?"