Chapter 008: Origins
Under the banner of the Xuantie Camp, the direct lineage of Duke An Ding, Gu Yun
The scar-faced man was drenched in cold sweat, his face ashen, and he cautiously took two steps back, whispering: "Xuanjia, Cutting Wind Blade... you are one of those ghostly crows.
Nonsense about the descendants of the phoenix and dragon, can this really be fabricated
A few barbarians recognized the significant disparity in strength between the two sides and no longer dared to engage in single combat. They exchanged glances and simultaneously rushed out of Xiuniang's small house, leaping onto the rooftops from various directions. One person lunged at the black-armored man's feet, aiming for the joints of his legs, another swung a sword down towards his head, blocking his upward escape route, while a third blocked his rear, aiming directly at the golden box on the black armor's waist.
Chang Geng still remembers what he said, that when a person dons heavy armor, it is as if they possess the strength of ten thousand jun, capable of crushing several warhorses and toppling a few walls, and it becomes no more difficult than that; as long as one has a slight understanding, even a child can accomplish it
The dim embroidery room suddenly brightened, intense sunlight poured in, and Chang Geng squinted his eyes, not seeing the cold light at first, but hearing the screams.
In Mr. Shen's yard, there are always several disassembled steel armors in a chaotic state, but due to the high value of heavy armor, it is generally not maintained by civilian long-arm masters—even those with connections to Xu Baihu are not permitted.
This may be an inherent disposition; when a person finds themselves in a life-threatening situation, there are two types of individuals who will rise to resist. One type acts after careful consideration, whether out of morality, duty, integrity, or after weighing the pros and cons, compelled to act despite their fears. Their inner self is not unaware of fear, but their conscience or intellect overcomes this fear, which is true courage.
He gently held the foot of Chang Geng, which was restlessly kicking: "I beg your pardon, Your Highness, your right little toe is slightly bent compared to others, just like His Majesty's, it is a sign of the dragon's offspring, it cannot be mistaken."
He clearly remembers this matter; this foot was not natural at all. It was smashed by Xiuniang's own hands when he was young. Ignoring his cries, she brutally broke one of his toes and then used the method of binding women's feet to deform his toes.
At this moment, the group of barbarians at the entrance finally reacted, rushing in like a swarm, spreading out in a circle around the scar-faced man, encircling the black-armored individual and Chang Geng.
Chang Geng finally understood the "stick" in the hands of the black-armored man. When it was driven at high speed, three or four one-foot-long dark iron blades would spray out from one end of the long stick along with thin steam. When retracted, the sharp blades would quickly disappear into the other side, moving in and out, the blades would complete a full rotation, resembling a terrifying meat grinder
Your Highness ... ...
The pervasive killing intent rises within the swirling white mist, causing every hair on one's body to stand on end
Recalling those years, it was not just Xiu Niang who was constantly torn between heaven and man; Chang Geng was the same. Xiu Niang ultimately did not kill him, perhaps because of the bloodline that belonged to her sister flowing through him. And Chang Geng finally did not kill her, possibly because, after enduring a long period of torment, she still felt a sense of gratitude towards him for the nurturing he had provided.
It seems that dealing with several barbarian soldiers is a rather easy and leisurely task for him, but he refrains from entangling with them due to the presence of Chang Geng
Scalding blood splattered across Chang Geng's face, and he exerted every effort to control himself, barely managing to maintain an impassive expression, while his hand tightly gripped a corner of the black-armored man's shoulder.
With a loud shout from the scarred-faced man, four well-trained barbarian warriors charged at him from all directions, weapons drawn. A deep purple light flashed beneath the feet of the armored figure, allowing him to deftly slip through the gaps between the blades. He leaped into the air and landed on the dilapidated roof of the Xu family house. As his feet touched down, he kept Chang Geng's left shoulder almost still, while his right side spun out at a dazzling speed, turning the "iron rod" in his hand into a mere shadow.
The beloved's younger sister took the prince and fled, after which there was no news. Over the years, the emperor has sent countless people to search privately, always believing that the prince had met with misfortune—until three years ago when there were some clues, leading to our dispatch to welcome him. "Shen Yi briefly explained, "I have not been able to reveal my identity, please forgive me, Your Highness..."
The strongest armored warriors are those who, despite wearing heavy armor, can still thread the finest line through the eye of a needle.
These barbarians have hunted together since childhood, encircling and ambushing their prey with a coordination that is nearly seamless
"There has been a betrayal on the Northern Expedition giant kite," Shen Yi said. "I originally thought that the traitor was Brother Xu, but it seems now that Xiuniang's suicide may be due to her feeling guilty towards her husband. I believe Brother Xu may have already died for his country, and until his last moment, he was unaware of this matter. You should... take care of yourself in this sorrow."
Indeed, fourteen years ago during the Northern Expedition, the commander of the Xuantie Camp charged straight into the vast northern barbarian grasslands like a black whirlwind. The barbarians both feared and loathed them, thus referring to them as "Ghost Crows"
There is another type of person who harbors no thoughts in their mind, acting purely out of instinct, instinctively filled with anger and a fighting spirit. Even if they vaguely understand that their resistance may lead to more terrifying consequences, they cannot restrain their desire to seize a piece of flesh from their enemy.
Chang Geng interrupted him, saying: "You have mistaken the person."
The man in black armor performed a backflip, executing a clean and swift spin in mid-air, and leaped off the rooftop while holding Chang Geng, narrowly avoiding an arrow shot at him by the scarred barbarian.
Chang Geng felt a chill—regardless of his weight, that suit of heavy armor alone must weigh several hundred pounds. With every bend and twist, the entire weight would bear down on the waist of the man in black armor. Wouldn't his waist be crushed by the steel armor?
Why do the generals under Gu Shuai hide in such a remote and impoverished place? Why do they want to save the son of a barbarian woman like me?" After asking these two questions, Chang Geng realized that she might lose control and immediately wanted to tightly shut her mouth. Unfortunately, she still could not prevent the last unnecessary question from squeezing out between her teeth, "What about Shen Sixteen?"
Chang Geng leaned against him and, after a moment of silence, said: "My mother committed suicide by poison. She had been in contact with the barbarians beyond the pass, and she might have been a spy for the barbarian tribes."
Chang Geng was utterly at a loss whether to laugh or cry, feeling that Mr. Shen's mind might be filled with engine oil, as he couldn't even weave a coherent story. According to his account, Xiu Niang is actually the sister of that imperial concubine? Could it be that the imperial concubine is also a barbarian?
At that moment, a sudden roar came from outside the door, and a barbarian guarding the entrance was sent flying, crashing into half of the house.
After Chang Geng finished asking, he felt an indescribable sadness in his heart. Even at this stage, he still thought of Shen Shiliu, fully aware that the person was an unknown high-ranking official in disguise. Yet, he still worried that Shen's poor eyesight and hearing might lead him to be accidentally harmed by the swords and blades outside, or that he might not find a place to hide
A sound came from behind the iron mask, somewhat distorted, yet Chang Geng sharply turned his head, thoughtfully staring at the tightly covered iron face
At first, Chang Geng did not react, but after a moment, his spine suddenly stiffened—demon crow
The gaze of the youth met that of the killer in a narrow encounter, and though the young wolf's claws had yet to be sharpened, his ferocity seemed to be innate
At that moment, Chang Geng suddenly found his footing give way, as he was pushed into the crook of the arm by the armored man, his entire body pressed against the chest of the heavy armor, and then he abruptly bent backward.
This is the legendary black iron battalion, said to be able to take on a hundred foes and impervious to all attacks
Chang Geng Mu Ran asked: "What do you call me?"
At this moment, Chang Geng undoubtedly belongs to the latter; perhaps the two words "terrifying" alone are enough to infuriate him
He could not help but wonder: "Why is it Mr. Shen who has come to see me? Why hasn't Sixteen come?"
The scarred man with a severed arm retreated ten paces, raising his remaining arm. The end of his iron arm opened, revealing a sinister arrowhead that was poised to strike, aimed at the shoulder of the black-armored figure.
Chang Geng opened his eyes wide with effort, only to see that the black-armored man’s "staff" had one end that unexpectedly revealed a ring of illusory blades, descending like a whirlwind. The pursuing barbarian armored soldiers were unable to dodge in time and were struck squarely in the chest by a blade. The golden box at their heart exploded in an instant, unleashing a terrifying blaze of purple flowing gold, which immediately blew the massive figure apart, separating its body from its head.
Shen Yi let out a sigh upon hearing the last sentence, feeling that the anger of Chang Geng was largely directed at Shen Sixteen, and he seemed to have been implicated, becoming the target of misplaced wrath
The remarkably skilled General Xuan Tie resides next door; is it possible that he is unaware that Xiuniang has been secretly negotiating terms with the barbarians? Why does he not intervene?
What about sixteen
Chang Geng suddenly retracted his foot, feeling increasingly cold inside
The scar-faced barbarian seemed to be wounded by his gaze, raising a massive fist in anger, intending to smash Chang Geng into a "pulp of flesh and brain" on the spot
Just now, his sudden strike against the scarred face's arm was truly too swift; Chang Geng did not see it clearly—could it be that his weapon is this broken iron rod?
Yet the most difficult thing is not the ability to lift a heavy burden
The man in black armor remained silent, seemingly not very surprised
I mistook the wrong person! Chang Geng, feeling utterly exhausted, suddenly no longer wished to entangle herself with these deceitful individuals. "Put me down, I am just a little bastard born from a barbarian woman who does not know which mountain bandit she consorted with. How could I be worthy of having the generals of the Xuan Tie Camp risk their lives to save me? How could I be worthy of recognizing you esteemed figures as my adoptive fathers?"
A cluster of fine white steam emerged from the ear of the black-armored man, as the dark iron mask was pushed up, revealing Shen Yi's face, which resembled that of a frail scholar
Shen Yi: "I am but a subordinate of the Xuan Tie Camp, a direct subordinate of Commander Gu. "
Chang Geng forced a bitter smile, thinking that even if someone were to tell him now that his adoptive father was General Gu or even the Emperor himself, he would have no strength left to be surprised
The black-armored figure held the long sword of Chang Geng loosely with one hand, while the other hand grasped a smooth "long stick" from which thin steam was emanating from the unremarkable end of the iron rod
The armor on the person is different from that of the barbarian warriors; it appears somewhat smaller in size, and the surface of the armor lacks that layer of bright silver sheen, appearing dark and unremarkable. He gently patted Chang Geng's back, placing the youth on his armored shoulder, and whispered, "Do not be afraid"
The cries of battle shook the heavens, and the massive figure of the giant kite overshadowed the entire Yanhuai Town. The white rainbow arrows flickered in and out like phantoms, while in the distance, a house was on fire, the flames quickly spreading. Shen Yi's expression was indifferent, as he turned a blind eye to everything, dodging the chaotic arrows like flying birds and swimming fish: "Your Highness, please hold on tight"
The scar-faced barbarian ruthlessly severed Chang Geng's iron arm along with the arm inside it, causing Chang Geng to lose his footing and involuntarily tilt to one side. In the next moment, however, he was gently lifted by another heavily armored iron arm.
"You have saved the son of a barbarian spy, what a pity," Chang Geng paused for a moment, then directly revealed the other party's identity, "Mr. Shen"
It seems you have known for a long time..." Chang Geng said softly, "Who are you?"
Only once, a heavy armor was completely extinguished and waxed, preparing to be dealt with at General Slope. Mr. Shen, relying on his familiarity, secretly took it home, and with great enthusiasm, he dismantled that old ancestral armor piece by piece, explaining it thoroughly to Chang Geng inside and out.
I will first escort you out of the city said the man in black armor, still speaking slowly Here is too chaotic Regarding your mother... Sigh, may you find solace in your grief
The black-armored man paid no heed, merely淡ly instructed Chang Geng: "Hold on tight"
The light condensed into a line on the edge of the blade, yet in a flash, one rabbit leapt while a hawk swooped down, killing one person and severing another's legs. Then, steam erupted from the steel greaves beneath the black-armored figure, propelling the heavy armor forward, and in the blink of an eye, others were already several dozen zhang away.
Furthermore, did the Emperor only send two people to find his son? Even if the Emperor is financially strained, is it possible that he can only afford to send two individuals from the entire court of civil and military officials? Why have these two individuals not revealed their identities after more than two years?
Chang Geng mulled over this sentence several times in his mind, feeling it was quite subtle—he had just learned that he was not born of her mother, that her reclusive mother was a barbarian spy, and now he heard that the impoverished scholar next door, who could never seem to wash his hands clean, was a general of the Xuan Tie Camp
Shen Yi spoke calmly: "Fourteen years ago, Your Majesty traveled south, and the Imperial Noble Consort, being with child, remained alone in the temporary palace. She was harmed by treacherous individuals, but fortunately, loyal servants and her sisters came to her aid, allowing her to escape. However, on her way south, she encountered a rebellion by the mob. The Noble Consort, being frail, gave birth to His Highness amidst the chaos, but she was never able to see the Emperor's face again"