Chapter 0001: The Innocent Child of the Frontier

The vast sea of ice stretches a hundred zhang, while the sorrowful clouds linger, casting a bleak shadow over ten thousand miles

As the Turks were on the verge of retreating, a gaunt man dressed in leather, his entire figure shrouded in a windbreaker, slowly approached from the horizon, gazing at the battlefield from a distance

"It’s always the same, can’t there be something new?" Zhang Bairen looked at the battlefield being cleaned up, with flames blazing up, and curled his lip, "Just wait! Give me a few more months!"

In contrast, the troops of the Sui Dynasty were caught off guard, unable to open their eyes due to the sand and gravel, and they all fell to the ground.

Ascending a mountain over twenty meters high, Zhang Bairen gazed into the distance, where clouds of dust were rising, and the air was thick with the scent of blood. Two factions were engaged in relentless combat, countless bodies lay scattered, and the souls of the deceased soared into the sky

However, although their equipment cannot compare to that of the Sui Dynasty, the Turks have long been living in harsh and cold regions, devoid of the splendor and chaos of the Central Plains, which can blind one with the six desires. Thus, each of the skilled Turks is not to be underestimated

All the garments of the Turks were stripped away completely, clearly indicating that there was no superstition regarding the dead here. The soldiers looked at the removed furs, each one filled with joy, their eyes brimming with smiles. In the cold winter, furs are certainly not inexpensive items

Buzz

Suddenly, as if a spring breeze arrived overnight, thousands upon thousands of pear trees are in bloom

Every winter, the Turks invade the borders, plundering and committing atrocities, engaging in rampant killing and looting, leaving no evil uncommitted. It is said that the border inhabitants are turned into human jerky by the Turks to survive the winter. Those who were not born in this era could never imagine the brutality of this time, as everyone resorts to any means necessary to survive.

The lost soul, indeed, is a lost soul

The voice of the child was instantly drowned out by the howling north wind. With his hands tucked into his sleeves, Zhang Bairen tightened his coat in front of him. He was wearing a tattered cotton jacket, which could barely be considered a cotton coat. His small face was flushed red from the cold, and amidst the howling north wind, a sense of melancholy filled Zhang Bairen's eyes.

A practitioner, as long as they possess a certain degree of skill, will be aware of their lifespan. Take Zhang Bairen for example; he feels that he is living quite well. Although he has not yet begun his cultivation, Zhang Bairen's body is in an exceptionally healthy state.

This young general in a white robe, Zhang Bairen, has been seen before; to be precise, he has been seen several times from a considerable distance. His strikes are fierce and ruthless, and despite his young age, he should have already undergone bone tempering.

The earth trembles gently, a wisp of dust is stirred up, rising in an instant within just a few breaths, with flying sand and rolling stones; the power of heaven and earth is unmistakably revealed at this moment

What a tragic and fierce struggle; the Turks have long been living in a harsh and cold land, each one of them a barbarian, fierce and unafraid of death, constantly fighting for survival. In contrast, although the court possesses fine equipment, it lives in comfort and luxury, and for various reasons, it cannot fully maintain its superiority, sometimes even being suppressed. Zhang Bairen leisurely rubbed his hands, his eyes gazing at the distant conflict, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth: "Interesting!"

Amidst the falling evening snow at the gate, the wind flutters the red flag, yet it remains unmoved by the cold

"One skill is enough to conquer the world." Zhang Bairen shook his head; this battle needed no further discussion. The outcome was clear: the Turks were in retreat. Had it not been for the crucial intervention of the priest, it is likely that the entire army would have been annihilated

Returning to the main topic, the elderly man, who walked with difficulty, suddenly stopped in his tracks, gazing at the battlefield from a distance. He suddenly knelt down on the ground, his mouth opening and closing, and his voice surprisingly resonated like a great bell. Even Zhang Bairen could hear it clearly, but upon closer listening, one would find that his words were indistinct and sobbing, with the important terms completely inaudible.

The Sui Dynasty! Zhang Bairen took a deep breath. During the Sui and Tang periods, there was Hebei Province. This was Zhang Bairen's only thought upon hearing the three characters "Hebei" at that time

Scattered into the pearl curtains, the damp gauze drapes; the fox fur does not warm, the brocade quilt is thin

A practitioner has a name known as "Wegu." Wegu involves spreading the five fingers, with the thumb bent inward towards the palm, ideally resting at the base of the ring finger, while the other four fingers gently grasp.

The north wind sweeps away the hundred grasses, and in the eighth month of the Hu sky, snow begins to fall

The Turkic people raise cattle, horses, and sheep, and what they have in abundance is hides and wool

"The vitality and energy soar to the skies, it seems that he is also a master." Zhang Bairen exhaled, feeling a tickle in his nose

Very good, according to the algorithms of the twenty-first century, Zhang Bairen's eyes twinkled as he tightened his clothing

The day does not understand the darkness of the night, just as contemporary people do not comprehend the coldness of ancient individuals

The central army sets out wine to welcome the guests, with Huqin, Pipa, and Qiang flute accompanying.

Zhang Bairen clearly saw that the nomads were retreating, neither hurried nor slow. The soldiers of the Sui Dynasty had been blinded by the swirling sand and dust, with the roar of gravel in their ears, unable to distinguish friend from foe, and were completely incapable of pursuing them

"Engaging in supernatural antics is merely a plea for your longevity in heaven," Zhang Bairen scoffed.

Zhang Bairen clenched his fists, not in the manner of an ordinary person, but in the way of one who is engaged in cultivation.

Hebei, this is the only piece of information that Zhang Bairen knows. For farmers living on the border, who rely on herding or farming for their livelihood and are largely illiterate, knowing about Hebei is already quite a challenge

Zhang Bairen adjusted his sleeves slightly and walked steadily towards the source of the bloody scent

An infant, unperturbed by the collapse of a mountain, embodies the realm of pure Yang

A gust of fierce wind swept through, stirring the desolate grassland, devoid of any human presence, with only the howling wind echoing throughout the heavens and the earth

It is him again! Zhang Bairen laughed, saying: "This fellow is like a stubborn plaster, appearing to be on the verge of death, yet he possesses the ability to cultivate the Dao. Unless he reaches the end of his natural lifespan, he will absolutely not die."

The north wind rustled the withered grass, and a child of about four or five years, wearing a thick fox fur hat, gazed into the endless grassland. His palm slowly emerged from his sleeve, and he exhaled, the breath instantly condensing into icy water.

Call!

Damn it! As the wind and sand ceased, the young warrior opened his eyes, glaring fiercely at the Turks disappearing over the horizon, cursing under his breath, and then sounded the horn

Alternatively, one may clench both fists tightly and place them behind the body, gently shaking the body up and down. This is referred to as "running water does not rot, and the door hinge does not get eaten by worms." As for the underlying principle, it shall not be elaborated upon. The primary benefit of this method is to invigorate kidney energy, typically requiring only three to five minutes.

The peaks twist and turn, yet I do not see you; on the snow, only the traces of the horse remain.

Zhang Bairen's eyes were filled with a sense of purity, akin to the clear stream water, reminiscent of the snow on the grassland that had yet to completely melt

Although the Turks are fierce, the soldiers of the Sui Dynasty are all clad in armor, wielding finely forged blades that are unmatched in sharpness. When facing the soldiers of the Sui Dynasty head-on, the Turkic warriors are nothing but insignificant.

Having been here for three years, according to Zhang Bairen's inference, I should be in Hebei, likely in the Beijing, Jilin, and Heilongjiang region of the 21st century of the New China

The general's horn bow cannot be drawn, and the protector's iron armor is difficult to wear in the cold

Zhang Bairen shook his head: "The shaman of the grassland, a leader of a tribe, would never engage in close combat with you, unless he has lost his mind"

As the sand and gravel swirled, indiscriminate of friend or foe, the Turks were already prepared, each one kneeling on the ground, their wide leather coats covering their heads

Zhang Bairen sniffed, his eyes turned towards the west, and his brows furrowed: "What a strong smell of blood, those Turkic people have invaded again"

In the heat of battle, there are times when brute force and ferocity do not serve as the winning factors; rather, it is the combination of courage and superior equipment that truly determines the outcome.

"Mage! This is the power of the mage." Zhang Bairen sighed softly

"Scoundrel! If you have the ability, fight me openly!" The young general suddenly opened his eyes, and the trembling mountains caused the birds to take flight, but he was filled with sand and gravel in his mouth, unaware of how much he had swallowed

At the eastern gate of Luntai, I bid you farewell, as you depart with snow covering the Tianshan road.

For a young child, surrounded by illiterates and foolish men who have never stepped outside, it is nearly impossible for Zhang Bairen to learn any other news.

The ancients did not see today's moon, while today's bright moon illuminates the ancients

A large flag flutters in the north wind, beneath which stands a young general in his twenties. Despite the biting cold of the north wind, the young officer, clad in silver-white armor, remains motionless, resembling a wax figure. One hand rests on the long sword at his waist, as if he has been frozen in place.

If one observes an infant carefully, one will notice that when the infant does not understand worldly matters, their hands are often clenched in this manner

Call ~ ~ ~ ''

The fingers counted in the sleeve: "How many years has it been? Four years? Who can tell me where this place is?"