106: Chapter 106: Setting Out, Bandits Ma Rampant 106: Chapter 106: Setting Out, Bandits Ma Rampant “Sigh…”
Su Zhenglong heavily sighed.
“Ajing can call himself brothers with characters from the Jin Sect, he must have been an incredibly noble person before his exile.”
“Given how deeply he values relationships, whoever tells me that he was exiled because he committed crimes, I will take issue with them.”
Su Yuexi, leaning against the doorframe of the Su Residence, let her tears finally fall.
“Brother Jing, if anything were to happen to you, I, Su Yuexi, swear to kill Duan Chengshan and all your enemies and then join you in death.”
As Su Yuexi spoke, her True Qi suddenly flashed, revealing that she had reached the Peak of the Dark Realm.
The sudden recognition by the Jade hairpin allowed her martial arts skills to climb continuously.
At the city gates, the City Guards of Yunye City gathered, totaling thirty thousand men.
General Chou Ye, donned in battle armor, looked formidable!
When he saw Sikong Jing approaching briskly in plain clothes, a flash of cold light shone in Chou Ye’s eyes as he said indifferently, “Old Zhang, Ah Hu, Brother Sikong has exceptional combat prowess.
He is now the commander of your unit.”
Upon hearing this, the expressions on Old Zhang and his companion slightly turned ashen, but they could only accept the order.
They were not angry because Sikong Jing had become their commander, but because their unit was filled with the old, the weak, the sick, and the disabled.
At the command of Chou Ye, thirty thousand soldiers stepped out of the city gates at once.
Some had mounts, while others had no choice but to run behind to keep up.
With the experience of Ah Hu and Old Zhang, they should have had mounts, but after offending Chou Ye, naturally, they were left without.
Sikong Jing was naturally without one too…
“Brother Sikong, our journey this time is likely fraught with more peril than fortune,” Old Zhang said as Sikong Jing joined the ranks.
Ah Hu’s face was extremely somber as he sighed, “Brother Sikong, you shouldn’t have come.”
After they had learned martial arts techniques from Sikong Jing, they felt that they could overthrow Chou Ye if they endured a little longer, but they hadn’t expected such a major event to require them to go to battle so soon.
This gave Chou Ye the chance to retaliate.
Currently, their strength was still too weak to resist.
However, a smile blossomed on Sikong Jing’s face, and he did not reply, even demonstrating a sense of enjoyment and nostalgia.
This expression made both Old Zhang and Ah Hu look at him curiously.
Suddenly, Sikong Jing, tilting his head, smiled and said, “This battle will get you promoted and make your fortunes.”
Old Zhang and his companion exchanged looks, speechless.
Brother Sikong was perhaps too optimistic.
The battlefield was not a place for single combat.
Even if his killing power was formidable, even if he had once been part of the Great Shang Army, what use was having an inferior troop?
More importantly, Chou Ye approached with malice.
Sikong Jing, however, offered no explanation.
He enjoyed and reminisced about his initial experiences on the battlefield.
It had been many years since he had marched forward with infantry , and why should he fear having an inferior troop in hand?
For Sikong Jing, having troops was enough.
As they continued towards Yanyun City, half a day later, a spy suddenly reported, “General Chou, ahead lies Tieshan Town, but it has been looted by Bandits Ma, and all the townspeople have been brutally killed.”
Chou Ye’s eyes flashed coldly as he asked, “Is there any news of this group of bandits?”
“Yes, judging by their methods, they must be from Iron Horse Village near Tieshan Town.
They used to be good citizens, but now they have turned into bandits, surely a long-prepared undercover force by Xia Country,” the spy reported rapidly.
“Iron Horse Village lies straddling Iron Horse Ridge, easily defended and hard to attack, which will hinder our advance.
This is problematic!” General Chou said with narrowed eyes, suddenly shouting, “Where is Sikong Jing?”
Upon hearing this, Sikong Jing stepped forward and said, “Present.”
“I give you two hours to flatten Iron Horse Village,” General Chou ordered firmly.
At these words, Old Zhang and Ah Hu’s expressions changed.
The expressions of the old, weak, sick, and disabled behind them also changed; this was sending them to their deaths.
Iron Horse Village was well known in the vicinity for its strong fighters skilled in martial arts, boasting at least three thousand inhabitants and holding strategic advantages of terrain and timing.
How were they supposed to fight against that?
“If you can’t flatten it in two hours, bring me your heads,” he added.
General Chou smirked ominously, indifferent to the feelings of Sikong Jing and his men.
Then without waiting for Sikong Jing to speak, General Chou continued with a shift in his tone, “Of course, if you feel uncertain, just speak up.
As long as your reason is sufficient, I can arrange more men for you.”
All eyes were immediately drawn to Sikong Jing; some sneered while others were tense.
But Sikong Jing clearly understood—this so-called reason was to hand over three Green Jade Cards to nullify the order and save them from a futile demise.
However, Sikong Jing resolutely responded, “Order acknowledged.”
Instantly, Old Zhang and Ah Hu, along with the mob of the frail and infirm behind them, erupted in a buzz of disbelief, their eyes wide.
General Chou too was stunned, his mouth twitching as he shouted, “Good, return and report in two hours.
Sikong Jing, with a steely expression, stepped back into the ranks.
At his command, everyone followed him towards Iron Horse Ridge.
But each one of them moved half-heartedly, as if they would have lain down right there had they not feared being killed by General Chou for resisting.
Watching the troop leave, an elderly man approached General Chou and said, “General Chou Ye, that damned criminal won’t face the facts until he sees the coffin.
Prefers treasures over his life.”
The elder was Xing E, who had also joined the expedition.
“He’s sure to come back alive.
With his capabilities, he won’t die.
When that happens, we’ll deal with him militarily, see if he still refuses to hand over the treasures, damn it!” General Chou clenched his fist, issuing a violent threat.
No one believed Sikong Jing could take down Iron Horse Village.
If he failed, it meant they would bring his head to General Chou.
Even if Sikong Jing returned alive, whether he lived or died was for General Chou to decide.
“My only worry is, might he flee.”
General Chou’s brow furrowed again.
If Sikong Jing fled, it would be more than he could bear; it was a marriage bestowed by the Lord of Yunzhou.
However, Xing E chuckled coldly, “He won’t flee.
Su Yuexi is his life.”
Hearing this, General Chou’s brows relaxed, and he burst into hearty laughter.
En route to Iron Horse Ridge, Old Zhang expressed his deep worries, “Brother Sikong, what should we do next?”
Their group also numbered only three thousand, and they were fundamentally weak.
How could they possibly take down Iron Horse Village?
Old Zhang and Ah Hu simply couldn’t fathom why Sikong Jing had agreed.
With the strength of him and their two selves, they were not without the chance to defy General Chou.
How could they allow him to manipulate them?
Sikong Jing looked towards the two and nonchalantly said, “Give me the map of Iron Horse Ridge and all the intelligence on Iron Horse Village.”
The two exchanged looks, wanting to say that this wasn’t what they were asking about; was he really going to attack Iron Horse Village?
But they had no choice.
They deeply respected Sikong Jing, and after providing the map and all intelligence, Ah Hu added, “Brother Sikong, we really don’t stand a chance.”
Three thousand against three thousand—even in a straightforward charge, their group wouldn’t stand a chance.
As soon as Ah Hu finished speaking, Sikong Jing suddenly gathered up the maps and said with a faint smile, “What if I told you that we could annihilate Iron Horse Village without losing a single soldier—would you believe me?”
Gaping, they thought, We believe in you, kind of!