Meishan Prefecture.
[Technique: Dragon Spear of Nation-Suppression — Transforming Strength (Minor Achievement)]
[Progress: 855/2000]
On top of the city wall, Chen Sanshi lowered his long spear.
Now that his stock of Spirit Grain Ointment had run dry, his cultivation speed had slowed noticeably.
It had already been a full ten days since he executed the rebel Liang Jinian.
"Chirp—!"
At last, Chen Sanshi received a response from the gyrfalcon.
This time, it had returned from the southeast, from beyond the Great Wasteland. It carried a message from the imperial army in the capital.
He broke the seal and read it.
The army was led by Martial Saint Jiang Yuanbo. According to the message, they would reach Luotian Pass within ten days at most.
That timing was perfect.
If he departed from Meishan Prefecture now, he would arrive just in time to rendezvous with them.
As long as he could join forces with the imperial army, the victory would be complete.
"Pass down my command!"
"Move out—!"
…
At Jianmen Gorge, within the Western Qi army camp—
"Leave ten thousand men behind to cover the retreat!"
"All others, withdraw silently!"
In the darkness, Zhong Wuxin issued his orders with cold precision. "Within fifteen days, we must reach the northwest!"
"Report!"
A soldier galloped in, nearly falling off his horse in his haste.
"Well?"
Zhong Wuxin was the first to speak. "Has Dong An's army withdrawn?"
"Marshal, it's bad news!" The soldier was pale and shaking. "D-Dong An… he's dead! He took his own life!"
"What did you say? Suicide? Are you joking with me?!"
Zhong Wuxin grabbed the man by the collar, disbelief twisting his features. "Why? Give me the reason!"
"We… we don't know!"
The soldier's words tumbled out. "The troops from Mingzhou said that after Dong An saw the report about Liang Jinian's death, he didn't say a word—he just… killed himself!"
"Fool! Dong An, you damned fool!"
Even Zhong Wuxin, who was normally calm and shrewd, could no longer contain his rage. He slammed the table and roared, "That idiot's death has ruined the Great Qi's dream of revival!"
After a moment of silence, he exhaled sharply, his mind racing. He already understood why Dong An had chosen suicide.
First—losing to a boy barely seventeen or eighteen years old was too much to bear.
Dong An was famous for being a war fanatic. Since the age of ten, he had studied the art of warfare. After crossing paths with Fang Qingyun, he became obsessed with defeating him in strategy and tactics—his lifelong goal. That obsession was the main reason he later joined Western Qi.
And now—
Before he could even surpass Fang Qingyun, another terrifying genius had appeared—Chen Sanshi.
The strategy of crossing the Hongze River four times in succession was a move Fang Qingyun himself could never have devised.
No—no one in the entire world could have pulled off such a feat.
If one reviewed the entire campaign on the map, they'd realize just how terrifying that operation truly was.
That wasn't just strategy. That was art.
Chen Sanshi hadn't just commanded his own men—he had commanded the enemy's movements as well.
It was terrifying beyond comprehension.
Even now, Zhong Wuxin, though he had never met the young commander in person, felt an instinctive sense of awe.
That man… if he lived long enough, he could one day surpass Lü Ji, even Sun Xiangzong—perhaps beyond anyone under heaven.
If this tale had come from a storyteller's mouth, everyone would have called it nonsense—thrown rotten eggs and spoiled vegetables at him for spouting fantasies.
But no—
The four crossings of the Hongze River were real.
And after that battle, the young commander's name would echo across the world.
From this day forth, none would fail to know the name—Chen Sanshi.
How could Dong An possibly withstand such humiliation and defeat?
Second—there was the matter of the Heavenly Book.
Unlike Liang Jinian, who rebelled for power, Dong An had done it for the Heavenly Book itself.
But now that it had fallen into Chen Sanshi's hands, he would never lay eyes on it again.
For Dong An, this war had already lost all meaning.
Faced with both humiliation and despair, his death was inevitable.
Yet his one act of self-destruction had doomed all of Great Qi with him.
"Damnable fool!"
Zhong Wuxin slammed his fist again and again, shouting, "If I had known this would happen, I'd never have gone along with that stupid 'trap the turtle in the jar' plan!"
Originally, Great Qi had planned to march its armies straight into Mingzhou and face the Sheng army head-on.
But Liang Jinian and Dong An had proposed a different plan—claiming they could annihilate the forty thousand Sheng troops first, along with several innate Martial Saints, seizing the initiative. Once Grand Commander Sun Xiangzong was delayed elsewhere, they'd strike swiftly and crush both Liangzhou and the Great Sheng.
But what kind of "trap" was this?
It was suicide—plain and simple. They had lifted the stone only to smash it on their own feet.
If they'd gone with the direct invasion, even at a high cost, there was at least a fifty percent chance of victory.
Now, there wasn't even one percent left.
"Marshal, I haven't finished reporting."
The soldier swallowed hard and continued, "Dong An's deputy generals—Li Tiancheng and the others—they seem to be heading our way. They said that after losing their commander, they don't know what to do. They hope to join with us and make further plans together."
"Not good!"
Zhong Wuxin's instincts screamed. "They're not coming to join forces—they're defecting! They plan to link up with Lü Ji and surround us from both sides! Withdraw, now! Leave no one behind! The entire army must retreat immediately—beyond the Great Wall!"
"Then we're not fighting anymore?"
Several deputy generals nearby looked shocked.
"Fight? Fight what?!"
Zhong Wuxin roared, "While Dong An lived, we still had a chance. But with him and Liang Jinian both dead, our grand design is finished. If we keep fighting, we'll be crushed completely! Retreat—faster!"
"Withdraw—!"
…
At the Xuanwu Garrison encampment—
"Big Brother!"
"Good news!"
"Huge news!"
Nie Yuan burst into the tent, his face lit up with excitement, clutching a secret report.
"Third Brother, you're getting less and less composed these days."
Lü Ji, already dressed in his armor and gripping his massive Fangtian halberd, smiled faintly. "What could possibly be so good? Don't tell me Dong An's dead?"
"Yes! Dong An's dead!"
Nie Yuan slammed the letter onto the table. "Li Tiancheng and the others have sent word—they're willing to atone for their crimes. They're marching toward Jianmen Gorge right now, planning to join with us and attack Western Qi from both sides—to wipe them out completely!"
"Truly?!"
Lü Ji's eyes widened. "How did Dong An die? Did Li Tiancheng and his men assassinate him together?"
"No."
Nie Yuan said each word slowly, "He was driven to death—by our Little Junior Brother."
"…"
Lü Ji fell silent.
In that instant, he understood.
The Eight Grand Garrisons had just gained a man whose name would shake the world.
"Report!"
"Commander Lü!"
"Scouts report—half a day ago, Zhong Wuxin's main force began withdrawing from Jianmen Gorge!"
"Then what are we waiting for? Pursue!"
Even faced with such an enormous shift in fortune, Lü Ji didn't lose his composure. "The three thousand Blood Oath troops will charge with me in the vanguard. The rest will split into left and right flanks to guard against a possible fake surrender from Li Tiancheng and the others!"
"Beat the drums—advance!"
…
Outside Yangchun Prefecture, in the wilderness—
After killing more than thirty pursuing cavalrymen barehanded, Sha Wenlong continued to flee with Cao Fan. Just then, a gyrfalcon swooped down, bearing a message from Jianmen Gorge.
"General Lü reports Jianmen Gorge has fallen. He says we can advance without restraint!"
"General Lü truly lives up to his name…"
Cao Fan sighed in awe. "Jianmen Gorge is easy to defend and hard to take. For him to capture it in such a short time…"
"But…"
Sha Wenlong's face darkened. "It wasn't General Lü who took it. The Western Qi forces retreated on their own—because Chen Sanshi crossed the Hongze River four times, marched straight to Meishan Prefecture, executed Liang the traitor, and then drove Dong An to his death."
"What did you just say?!"
Cao Fan's injuries seemed to vanish in an instant. He leapt to his feet, his voice trembling. "General Sha, are you certain? That's not false information planted by the enemy?"
"Your Highness, it's true."
Sha Wenlong sighed deeply. "See for yourself."
Cao Fan's hands trembled as he unrolled the report. His eyes widened until they nearly tore. "How did he do it?! Four crossings—and the result directly forced the Western Qi army into full retreat. That means… the entire Mingzhou campaign was won by Chen Sanshi alone, commanding barely three thousand men!"
"One man… pacifying an entire province!"
"This isn't just a military achievement—it's divine merit!"
"It ranks among the top ten greatest feats in the three hundred years of our Great Sheng Dynasty!"
"Your Highness!"
Sha Wenlong hurriedly caught him as he nearly stumbled. "Your Highness!"
"General Sha… I can't compete with him anymore."
Cao Fan's voice cracked, yet there was an odd mix of defeat and admiration. "Not just me. From now on, no one in our generation will ever be able to surpass him."
"Great fame isn't always a blessing," Sha Wenlong cautioned softly. "He'll draw countless troubles from now on. And Your Highness still has your chance. Once we return and recover for a year or so, you'll be leading the campaign against the northern tribes. Defeating the barbarians on the plains will bring far greater glory than quelling a rebellion."
"General Sha," Cao Fan gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot. "Tell me—why did Yu Song defy orders? If he hadn't, Chen and his men would've died on the road to Yangchun Prefecture. You and I led over one thousand cavalry in a breakout to strike Jianmen Gorge from behind, coordinating with General Lü to crush the enemy. That heavenly merit—it should've been ours! It should've belonged to us!"
"You're right, Your Highness! A mere Lieutenant General—how dare he disobey!"
Sha Wenlong's fists creaked as he clenched them tight. "Once we return, I'll have every one of his crimes recorded! If all our officers acted like him, this entire army would descend into chaos!"
…
At Luotian Pass—
"Liang Jinian is dead!"
"All rebels, surrender now—or your nine clans will be exterminated without mercy!"
"…"
Chen Sanshi's force was down to barely fifteen hundred men, but wherever they passed, enemy strongholds collapsed in surrender.
By the time they joined up with the imperial army from the capital, Luotian Pass was fully secured, and the southern front stabilized.
At the same time, word arrived that Dong An had taken his own life.
"This one… really couldn't see past the end of his nose," Chen Sanshi muttered.
Dong An's death meant only one thing—the war was over.
"Thousand-Commander Chen!"
Lu Shuhua and the others rushed up, faces beaming. "You've led us to immortal glory!"
"That's right!"
Xie Sishu grinned. "And not just victory—we've learned so much under you!"
"More than that!"
Yan Changqing said with deep admiration, "Once we return, I'll reconstruct the entire Mingzhou Campaign on the war map, analyze every maneuver, and record it properly. I'm sure within a short time, every strategist under heaven will treat it as a priceless treasure!"
"Thousand-Commander Chen!"
"Grand Marshal Jiang's men brought fine wine! Tonight, we drink until we drop!"
"Let's go!"
"…"
While the others celebrated with shouts and laughter, Chen Sanshi quietly slipped away. He rode Qianxun alone through the barren hills near Luotian Pass, searching through the desolate wilderness until he found a valley littered with more than thirty corpses.
Wolves had already found them.
Many bodies were gnawed beyond recognition.
Only by the half-rotted water skin marked with "Drunken Sage" did Chen Sanshi recognize the mangled, headless remains of Yu Song.
"Qianxun."
He patted his steed's neck. "Go. Fetch Zhao Kang and the others. Bring the brothers home and give them a proper burial."
Then he turned back, gathering herbs from the wild to slow the decay of the bodies, intending to transport them all the way back to Liangzhou when the campaign was fully over—so they could rest in their homeland.
Though the war was won, there would still be two or three months of cleanup ahead.
Fortunately, the danger was gone. From here on, Chen Sanshi and his men would follow the imperial army in sweeping up the remnants—rarely needing to fight themselves. Most of the time, they would simply watch as history unfolded.
…
The Imperial Capital.
Inside Wanshou Palace, every senior minister in the realm had gathered.
The air was heavy with tension.
The war in Mingzhou had dragged on without clear results, and Emperor Longqing was preparing to personally lead an imperial expedition.
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
Grand Secretary Yan Liang and the others knelt in alarm. "Your Majesty bears the body of the True Dragon—you must not risk yourself on the battlefield!"
"Yes, Your Majesty," said Minister of War Gao Bo gravely. "You are the pillar of the Great Sheng Dynasty. Unless the situation is utterly desperate, you must not leave the capital."
"Father, allow your son to go!"
The Crown Prince—his hair white, his steps unsteady—entered the hall, leaning on a cane. He knelt down with effort. "Father, please let your son command the army to Mingzhou in your stead!"
"Get up, my son."
The curtain parted, and Emperor Longqing, complexion ruddy and voice steady, stepped forward. He personally helped the prince to his feet. "Did I not already exempt you from formal obeisance? Your legs are weak—don't strain them further. Eunuch Huang, bring the Crown Prince a seat."
"Many thanks, Father."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The chief eunuch hurried forward, setting down a small stool and helping the prince sit.
"Mm."
Emperor Longqing's eyes narrowed slightly. "Now, Crown Prince, repeat what you said."
"Father, I wish to personally lead the campaign to Mingzhou!"
The Crown Prince's expression grew solemn. "Mingzhou sits in a crucial position. To the north, it overlooks Yanzhou. To the east, it watches over Liangzhou. Heading south through the Great Wasteland, it can directly threaten the undefended regions like Fengzhou. It is the gateway of our Great Sheng Dynasty—there must be no mistakes! Father, please allow your son to lead the army to Mingzhou. I swear upon my life that within three months, I will quell the rebellion completely!"
"Your Majesty, I second the motion."
Minister of War Gao Bo immediately followed. "This official is willing to accompany the Crown Prince. With Jiang Yuanbo, Lü Ji, His Highness, and myself, the mission will surely succeed without fail!"
"Heh…"
Emperor Longqing didn't answer right away. He turned, flicked his sleeve, and slowly sat upon the dragon throne. After a long silence, he finally spoke calmly, "The Crown Prince's health is frail. The road to Mingzhou is long and arduous. It's better that I go personally. It's settled."
The Crown Prince and Gao Bo exchanged a glance, disappointment flickering on both their faces.
"His Majesty is wise!"
Grand Secretary Yan Liang, who had previously opposed the emperor's personal expedition, suddenly changed his stance once the Crown Prince volunteered. "If the Eternal Emperor personally leads the campaign to Mingzhou, victory will surely come as swift as lightning!"
"Once Your Majesty arrives, the rebels will tremble in terror!"
"Indeed!"
"Enough," Emperor Longqing said in a low tone. "You needn't flatter me. Do you think I want to go? I have no choice! Everyone praises our dynasty for being full of talent—but when the time comes, how many can truly take command on their own? In the end, we lack capable men… and loyal ones as well."
"Your Majesty, we are at fault!"
"We beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
"…"
"Fang Qingyun!"
Emperor Longqing turned his gaze to the scholar standing in the corner. "You'll accompany me."
Fang Qingyun bowed slightly. "This humble servant obeys."
"Good. Then—"
Just as the emperor was about to continue assigning commands, a loud voice suddenly rang out from beyond the hall.
"Victory report!"
"Great victory in Mingzhou!"
The urgent shouts echoed through the palace corridors as a chain of couriers passed the report one after another into the hall.
Every minister—civil and military alike—heard it clearly. Smiles began to spread across their faces.
The chief eunuch Eunuch Huang immediately rushed out to receive the document.
"Jiang Yuanbo truly lives up to his name as the foremost of his generation!"
"Yes, to have such quick results…"
"It must be Lü Ji! No one else could've pulled this off!"
"Exactly! Assault warfare is what Marquis Lü excels at!"
"…"
Emperor Longqing raised his voice. "Read it—right here, before everyone."
"As Your Majesty commands!"
Eunuch Huang broke the seal and began reading aloud.
But soon, the expressions of every minister froze. Even Emperor Longqing's normally calm, unshaken face betrayed a ripple of emotion.
The report spoke of the burning of Jinquan, the four crossings of the Hongze River, the direct strike at Meishan, and the death of Dong An from sheer humiliation.
Each one of these feats was enough on its own to earn eternal fame. Yet all of them—every single one—belonged to one man.
General of Martial Virtue—Chen Sanshi.
"Rumble…"
The skies above the capital were clear, not a cloud in sight, yet to everyone present, it felt as though thunder rolled within their ears.
For a long moment, silence blanketed the entire Wanshou Palace.
No one spoke. No one dared to. The officials simply looked at one another, stunned beyond words.
"Eunuch Huang!"
It was Emperor Longqing's voice that finally shattered the stillness. He pointed toward the eunuch and ordered, "Quickly—recreate the entire Mingzhou campaign on the war map! Show everyone! Civil or military, I want every man here to memorize it—learn what it means to be a general, what it means to command!"
The eunuch hurried to fetch several junior attendants. Together, they hung a massive map of Mingzhou before the assembly and spread out the reports, tracing each movement stroke by stroke.
"This…"
"This is absurd!"
"Every time, he brushed right past the enemy's main force!"
"Western Qi and the rebels together had over one hundred thousand men—how could a young man with only a few thousand troops crush them all?!"
"…"
"My useless grandson… to have taken part in such a campaign is a blessing from the heavens!"
Grand Secretary Yan Liang's old, trembling voice filled the hall. "For the Great Sheng Dynasty to produce such a young commander—it is the dynasty's good fortune! This is Heaven rewarding Your Majesty's virtue!"
The Crown Prince leaned forward on his cane until his face was nearly touching the map. "A divine general… a heaven-sent general…"
"It seems, Your Majesty, neither you nor His Highness need to go to Mingzhou anymore," said Gao Bo as he bowed. "After this battle, I believe that within three to five months, the Mingzhou rebellion will be fully pacified."
"Hmm. He's spared both me and the court much trouble."
Emperor Longqing looked toward the corner. "Fang Qingyun, speak. Were these strategies yours?"
"Your Majesty," Fang Qingyun replied, "they were not of my design. I am ashamed to admit that since the war began, I've had no contact with Chen Sanshi. All of this—his own decisions on the field."
He stared at the red lines on the map—each marking Chen's astonishing maneuvers—and felt a deep tremor in his heart. Even if he had been there, at best, he might've survived. But to achieve this? Impossible.
The four crossings of the Hongze River… those four words alone would forever be carved into history—recorded in the military texts, studied and revered by strategists for centuries, even millennia to come.
And he was only eighteen years old.
In all the thousands of years of history, how many generals had achieved such greatness at eighteen?
"His own improvisation?"
When the officials realized it had nothing to do with the "Phoenix Chick," that it was purely Chen Sanshi's independent command, they were stunned beyond belief.
"A divine general!"
"A heaven-sent general!"
One by one, the officials fell to their knees, bowing deeply.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Felicitations, Your Majesty!"
"Excellent."
Emperor Longqing's expression remained composed, yet the joy in his eyes could not be hidden. He waved his hand. "Reward him—reward him handsomely! When the Mingzhou Rebellion is fully pacified, summon him to the capital. I must meet this eighteen-year-old general in person."
Fang Qingyun hesitated slightly. "Your Majesty, this…"
"What is it? Something improper?"
The emperor smiled faintly. "Surely, you're not afraid I'll steal your man from the Eight Grand Garrisons?"
"Your Majesty jests—this minister is humbled."
Fang Qingyun bowed deeply. "The Eight Grand Garrisons and all under heaven belong to Your Majesty. There is no 'stealing' when they already serve you."
"Look at you, so tense. I was merely teasing."
Leaning back in his throne, Emperor Longqing said, "Then it's decided. Once the campaign is over, the others will be rewarded accordingly. As for the General of Martial Virtue, Chen Sanshi—we'll wait until he comes to the capital. I'll decide then what reward befits him."
"Your Majesty is wise."
Fang Qingyun bowed again, lowering his head.
Then, as the ministers whispered in awe and the eunuchs hurried to record the emperor's commands, Fang Qingyun turned his eyes toward the northern sky outside the grand hall.
The Mingzhou Rebellion—was over.
…
The 73rd year of the Longqing Era.
On July 25th, the southern region of Mingzhou was pacified.
On August 6th, Zhong Wuxin led his forces to withdraw from the Jianmen Gorge area, temporarily stabilizing the situation in Dingxi Prefecture while fending off Great Sheng troops from Yanzhou and organizing an orderly retreat.
On August 22nd, the Vermilion Bird Battalion and the White Tiger Battalion pushed into western Mingzhou. They caught up with Zhong Wuxin's army alongside Lü Ji's forces. The Western Qi army lost eighty percent of its troops. Two at the Profound Manifestation stage and twenty at the Meridian-Connecting stage were killed, with countless others dead or wounded. They retreated beyond the Great Wall, where reinforcements from Western Qi met them—only to lose two more battles before finally stabilizing their lines using the terrain.
On September 12th, the army purged the remaining rebel remnants within Mingzhou.
On September 21st, Mingzhou was declared pacified.
On September 28th, the imperial army from the capital returned triumphantly, while other divisions returned to their original garrisons. The Reserve Camp also marched home in victory.
"Old Zhao, did we set out in the first month or the second?"
"Can't remember."
"This war's lasted nearly a whole year."
"Yeah."
"This time, our commander's made quite a name for himself."
"Damn right! That Martial Saint from the capital—what's his name, Jiang something—even he had to show our commander some respect!"
"Strange though, why did they all look so shocked when they heard about the battle results?"
"Exactly."
"Winning under our commander's lead—isn't that normal? Perfectly reasonable, even?"
On the road back to Liangzhou, everyone was still talking about the four crossings of the Hongze River. Only the brothers from Poyang were unusually quiet, their expressions heavy with guilt.
"Brothers, when we're back, we need to train harder."
"Yeah. We were barely useful this time."
"By the way, have you seen the commander?"
"I think he went to Baigou County."
…
Baigou County.
Under the crumbling ruins, half the city gate still stood, swaying weakly in the autumn wind.
Chen Sanshi rode Qianxun slowly into the city.
Not long ago, the Vermilion Bird and White Tiger Battalions had passed through here.
The corpses once scattered across the streets were gone—likely gathered by the army, either burned or buried in some mass grave in the nearby hills. The county was eerily empty. Aside from a few dazed survivors wandering aimlessly, only rats scurried through the alleys. The vast city had become a ghost town.
The war had dealt Western Qi a heavy blow—they wouldn't dare stir trouble again for years.
But Mingzhou too had suffered greatly. It would take five to ten years for the region to recover.
Chen Sanshi rode his White Swan horse through the ruins, circling the town and its outskirts, but found no sign of the person he was looking for. With a quiet sigh, he turned his horse to leave.
"Papa…"
A timid yet courageous little voice called out behind him.
Chen Sanshi turned around.
A frail, tiny figure emerged from a narrow alleyway. Her patched clothes hung in tatters, her small hands clutching a dead rat she must've picked up from somewhere. Her big, bright eyes shone through the dirt on her face—pure and innocent despite the ruin around her.
He had no idea how she'd survived this long.
"You just called me…"
Chen Sanshi bent down slightly. "What did you call me?"
"Papa."
The little girl didn't dare come too close. Standing about seven or eight steps away, she spoke seriously, "Papa said that when he couldn't talk anymore, I should go outside. If I meet a man, I should call him papa. If I meet a woman, I should call her mama."
"Well then."
Chen Sanshi dismounted and extended both arms, softening his voice. "Papa's here to take you home."
After so many battles, a dark, killing aura clung to him—but the little girl only hesitated for a moment before trotting toward him on her tiny feet.
Chen Sanshi lifted her up onto the saddle. "Ever ridden a horse before?"
"No."
"What's your name?"
"My name's… Xixi."
"What's your family name?"
"What's Papa's?"
"I'm Chen."
"Then I'm Chen Yunxi."
"…"
"Xixi, throw that rat away."
"I'm hungry…"
"Papa's got jerky and flatbread. You can eat those."
"Oh."
"…"
"Papa, where are we going?"
"Didn't I tell you? We're going home."
"Oh. Thank you, Papa. Do I have a mama too?"
"Yes. If I've counted right, you'll be a big sister soon."
…
October 22nd.
Smoke and fire had burned for three months; a letter from home was worth its weight in gold.
Liangzhou.
Chen Residence.
"Ah—!"
Painful cries echoed from within the chamber.
"Yayaya!"
Siqin and Mohua were panicking, running in circles. "What do we do?! What do we do?!"
"What are you girls shouting for?"
The best midwife in Liangzhou snapped impatiently. "Everything's going fine. You're just giving me a headache—out, all of you! Miss Sun, you too!"
"O-okay."
Sun Li finally came to her senses and stepped out with two maids.
"Bang, bang, bang—"
As she reached the front courtyard, someone was pounding furiously on the door.
She opened it—and there was Sun Buqi, beaming with excitement.
"Sis!"
"Victory! Big victory!"
Sun Buqi could barely contain himself. "Sis! Brother-in-law—no, I mean Sanshi—they're back! Just look at this!"
Sun Li quickly scanned the report, her eyes flickering with emotion too complex to name.
"It's incredible! Unbelievable!"
Sun Buqi jumped up and down, unable to hold it in. "Four crossings of the Hongze River! Do you get that? You don't! But I do! I'll draw it out later and explain it to you! Sanshi won't just be famous in Liangzhou—no, in the entire Great Sheng Dynasty! No—across the whole world! Even Dongqing and the Northern Tribes will remember his name!"
"Where is he?"
Sun Li asked softly, "Has he returned yet?"
"Soon! He'll be here today!"
Sun Buqi pointed toward the southern gate. "Everyone's already waiting there!"
"Let's go see him."
Sun Li grabbed her horse's reins.
The siblings rode together toward the city gate—just as a carriage from the Red Sleeve Pavilion appeared ahead of them.
"Sis, that's one of those Red Sleeve Pavilion whores, isn't it?!"
Sun Buqi scowled in fury. "What the hell is she doing here trying to join the crowd?"
…
The vast wilderness stretched endlessly ahead.
After climbing a long slope, the soldiers finally saw it—like a colossal beast crouched in the desolate plain—Liangzhou City.
They were home.
At the head of the army rode Chen Sanshi, astride his white swan horse. In his arms, little Chen Yunxi dozed peacefully. To keep her comfortable, he hadn't even worn his armor.
[Skill: Horsemanship (Minor Achievement)]
[Progress: (855/2000)]
…
[Skill: Archery Major Achievement]
[Progress: (1250/2000)]
…
[Technique: Nation-Suppressing Dragon Spear – Force Refinement (Minor Achievement)]
[Progress: (1455/2000)]
All the precious medicinal elixirs on his person had been used up. Still, it would only take about two months for him to reach Major Achievement in Force Refinement and then begin breaking through to the Meridian-Connecting Realm. From there, he aimed to enter the Profound Elephant Realm as quickly as possible.
…
[Spell: Sword Qi Technique (Beginner)]
[Progress: (135/500)]
His supply of spirit sand was completely gone, and his spell proficiency had barely advanced. For now, Chen Sanshi couldn't use any spell arts at all. Once things settled down, he'd need to obtain an incense burner from Ciyun Temple as soon as possible.
The expedition into the depths of the Luotian Mountains still needed to continue. The Witch God Cult's activities in Mingzhou had to be investigated further. He also needed new bow materials prepared in advance.
That was his personal business. As for military matters—next year, they'd likely begin a campaign on the northern plains. It would be a war even larger than the Mingzhou campaign, far more dangerous.
After all, this time, he hadn't truly faced any high-level martial experts. But if they took the fight into enemy territory, they'd definitely encounter them.
He needed to grow stronger—fast.
The Meridian-Connecting Realm wouldn't be enough. He needed to reach the Profound Elephant Realm before the northern expedition began.
When he thought about it all, the list of things to do only grew longer. Not a moment of rest in sight.
"Papa, are we there yet?"
Chen Yunxi woke up, rubbing her eyes and speaking softly.
On the road back to Liangzhou, Chen Sanshi had stopped in a nearby city for two days to let his adopted daughter bathe and change into new clothes. The little girl was bright and lovely, though far too thin, her limbs delicate and frail.
"We're here."
Chen Sanshi pointed forward with his whip. "That's our home."
"Papa, what are they singing?"
"Victory songs."
"…"
The army that had quelled the Mingzhou rebellion was finally returning in triumph. They had crushed Western Qi's forces so thoroughly that a grand celebration was inevitable.
The officials of Liangzhou—high and low—had already come out of the city to welcome them.
From twenty li away, they could see banners, drums, and banquet tents.
At the forefront were Pei Tiannan and Eunuch Hou, awaiting the victors.
Lü Ji and the others were still on the road, needing a few more days to arrive.
Though Chen Sanshi wasn't the commander-in-chief, he was now the undeniable center of attention.
"Lord Chen!"
Eunuch Hou raised his wine cup and approached. "We've all heard of your deeds. This battle—you've accomplished something unmatched in all history. Truly, we are in awe!"
"Indeed."
Pei Tiannan nodded slightly. "Where is His Highness the Heir?"
Cao Fan and Sha Wenlong had been rescued near Jianmen Gorge by Lü Ji's troops and later earned minor credit assisting the Black Tortoise Battalion in mopping up the remnants.
"His Highness is behind us," Chen Sanshi replied flatly.
He hadn't forgotten how Cao Fan had repeatedly sabotaged him during the campaign. Each time, it was done openly enough that no one could call it treason—merely "command misjudgment."
And in the end, Dong An had been made the scapegoat for it all.
The imperial court had decided not to pursue disciplinary action against the remaining commanders, arguing that even the Ministry of War hadn't foreseen Dong An's betrayal. The surrendered rebels of Mingzhou also wouldn't be slaughtered wholesale. At most, a portion would be executed while the rest—some seventy to eighty thousand—would be reassigned, redistributed among various provinces and absorbed by other regional armies. Killing them all would've been a devastating loss for the Great Sheng Dynasty itself.
"Thank you, Lord Chen."
Once Pei Tiannan received the update, he immediately went to meet the Heir.
Chen Sanshi drank the cup offered by Eunuch Hou, then continued riding forward.
At the city gates, a sea of people stretched as far as the eye could see—tens of thousands, maybe over a hundred thousand. The entire mountainside seemed covered with humanity. They listened to the victory songs, craning their necks and standing on tiptoe, hoping to spot their husbands, sons, or fathers among the ranks.
Some wept tears of joy when they saw their loved ones marching home, honored for their service. Others wept in despair, searching the passing troops until the very end, only to see the wagons at the rear carrying the dead. Then, unable to hold back their grief, they broke through the crowd to claim the bodies of those they loved.
Some rejoiced. Some mourned. Autumn's chill carried both pride and sorrow.
One general's triumph was always built upon a mountain of bones. And now, the desolate tombs of Northern Liang would claim new names.
"Sanshi!"
"Junior Brother!"
Two voices—one male, one female—rang out together.
Sun Buqi and Sun Li.
"Senior Brother, Senior Sister."
Chen Sanshi smiled. "You both came."
"You monster!"
Sun Buqi exclaimed with admiration. "Nearly a whole year, we thought you were dead! But no—you come back, and the entire world's talking about you!"
"Congratulations, Junior Brother."
Even Sun Li's cool tone had softened. "After this battle, your name will shake the entire world."
"Eh~"
Sun Buqi's sharp eyes noticed the child in his arms. "Sanshi, where'd you pick up that little girl?"
"Papa, how should I address them?"
The little girl tugged timidly at Chen Sanshi's sleeve, her voice small and unsure.
Papa?
Already?
Sun Buqi: "?"
Sun Li: "?"
"They're both your Martial Uncles," Chen Sanshi explained gently. "Don't be afraid."
"Xixi greets her Martial Uncles."
Chen Yunxi bowed her head politely.
"Good girl…"
Sun Li smiled, reaching out to pat her head.
It didn't take long for them to figure it out.
He'd been away for a year—certainly not enough time to have a child that old. The girl looked about five or six, which meant she must've been an orphan he'd picked up on campaign.
Just like their senior brother once had.
"Where's Sister Lan?"
Chen Sanshi asked, "How is she?"
"You'd better hurry home," Sun Li said quickly. "If I'm right, your child will be born any moment now. And she still doesn't know you're safe!"
"Hyah—!"
Before she could finish, Chen Sanshi spurred Qianxun forward. In the blink of an eye, he was gone.
Chen Residence.
"Waaah—!"
A loud, sharp cry filled the room as a newborn took his first breath of life.
Gu Xinlan, pale-faced and exhausted, cradled the baby gently in her arms, her eyes red and glistening with tears.
"Uuuh… uuhh…"
Siqin and Mohua were both sobbing softly.
"Sigh~"
The midwife let out a heavy sigh. "Times like these, with wars raging everywhere… I heard tens of thousands went off to fight in Mingzhou this time. But Lord Chen isn't like the others—good people are always blessed by Heaven. Madam, you don't need to worry."
"Madam…"
Siqin couldn't hold it in anymore and burst into tears. "Don't worry, we'll take good care of you!"
"We'll take care of the young master too!"
"Crying already? I'm not dead!"
The door burst open with a bang.
A tall, broad figure strode in.
"Shi-ge'er?"
"My lord?!"
Chen Sanshi rushed straight to the bedside.
"Shi-ge'er…"
"Don't move."
He didn't even glance at the baby first—his attention was fixed on Gu Xinlan. "The tonics I left for you before I left, did you take them properly?"
"Don't worry about me."
Gu Xinlan tried to sit up, her voice trembling. "How are you? Are you hurt?"
"I'm built like iron, you know that. Don't worry."
"You scared me half to death…"
"…"
"Waaah—waaah—!"
After talking for a while, the baby began crying again. Only then did Chen Sanshi react. He lifted the infant carefully into his arms. "It really is a boy. Guess I picked the right name after crossing the river. Yunxi, this is your little brother. The woman in bed is your mother."
"Ma… ma."
Chen Yunxi stammered softly.
"Good child."
Gu Xinlan, instantly understanding, pulled the little girl into her weak arms, her expression tender.
Siqin and Mohua, quick on their feet, both bowed. "Greetings, young lady. Greetings, young master."
"Congratulations, Lord Chen," said the midwife cheerfully. "A son and a daughter—you have both blessings now!"
"Here, for your trouble."
Chen Sanshi pulled out several silver ingots and handed them to her.
"Oh, thank you, my lord!"
"Take care of Madam and the children for me," he said. "I still have some military matters to handle."
Once he confirmed everyone was safe, Chen Sanshi turned and hurried out toward the military camp.
Even after returning, the army still had to regroup, tally numbers, and finalize reports.
But more importantly, there was something urgent he needed to find out.
In the barracks.
"Don't even mention it," said Thousand-Household Officer Li, his face grim. "You were gone for a year, and the Witch God Cult hasn't stopped stirring up trouble. Oh, right—those two Daoists from Ciyun Temple… they're both dead."
"Dead?"
Chen Sanshi's brows furrowed. "Last I recall, they hadn't been convicted. Did you find evidence afterward?"
"Nope."
Li shook his head. "They were interrogated for almost half a year. Nothing solid ever came up. Plus, a bunch of major sects started pleading on their behalf. They even voiced discontent with the Liangzhou army. Under pressure, the higher-ups were about to release them."
He paused, lowering his voice. "But guess what? The night before they were to be freed, both of them died in their cells."
"Really now?"
Chen Sanshi kept his expression calm, speaking casually as if only making conversation. "How'd they die?"
"Suicide."
"Suicide?"
He tilted his head. "What kind of suicide?"
"They crushed their own skulls with a single palm strike."
Li clicked his tongue. "Creepy stuff. They were kept in separate cells too. No one knows why they did it. Anyway, people are saying now that our Liangzhou army executed them secretly, slaughtering the innocent."
Inside, Chen Sanshi's thoughts darkened.
He knew full well there was something suspicious about their so-called suicides.
"If I'm not mistaken," he continued calmly, "those two were the abbot and the supervisor, right? If both are dead, then wouldn't Ciyun Temple be shutting down?"
What he truly worried about was the incense burner—whether it was still there or had been taken away.
"Ciyun Temple's still standing," Li replied. "None of the remaining Daoists were found guilty of anything. And from what I've heard, one of their uncles is returning soon to take over the temple. Figures—someone was bound to claim it eventually. Just the incense donations alone bring in a fortune every year. It's a damn money tree! Honestly, I'll never understand those Martial Saints—thinking that bowing to gods can make them immortals. Ridiculous."
'Another one's coming…'
Chen Sanshi's gaze darkened.
If he was going to act, he'd have to move fast.
…