Chapter 435: War at the Southern Border
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Shangguan Lingxiu felt her heart ache for Lord Supreme Cloud.
In the room, a sudden thud could be heard, as if someone who was in deep slumber had fallen off the bed for some unknown reason. The jarring sound was followed by silence.
Shangguan Lingxiu was visibly startled, quickly wiping her tears away.
Almost at the same time, the door opened with a whine.
Supreme Cloud was still wearing the appearance he had donned when he was last seen in Zilong City as he walked out calmly; he looked calm and collected, his gaze razor-sharp.
He still gave off his usual tranquil and gentle aura, like he had just woken up from a normal period of sleep, exuding a well-rested vibe. The hysteria he had obviously experienced in his dreams was nowhere to be seen.
It was to Supreme Cloud's surprise when he saw Shangguan Lingxiu sitting on a chair, a dozen feet away from him once he exited the room; her chin was resting on her palm as she appeared to be taking a break with her eyes closed.
Yun Yang dared not sleep anymore as he had sensed that there was someone at the door. Seeing that it was Shangguan Lingxiu herself, he could not help feeling surprised amusement.
"Lady Shangguan, why are you here? Are you not going to rest?"
Shangguan Lingxiu smiled and replied, "I have been receiving an endless stream of messages from the beasts and have gone down to make some arrangements. I was a little busy and only just got up here to find Lord Supreme Cloud awake… Has your sleep been undisturbed?"
Yun Yang coughed and answered with a smile, "Unprecedentedly so."
He mused and asked, "Did Lady Shangguan hear anything here earlier? I seemed to hear someone shouting in my sleep…"
Shangguan Lingxiu looked taken aback as she replied, "Someone shouted?"
Yun Yang nodded. "No? I guess I was just imagining it after all."
He continued with a smile, "The Shangguan Family of Generals has finally fulfilled the wish to take General Wudi's remains back and complete his last request. I still have matters to attend to though, and I'm afraid I won't be able to send my congratulations personally when you're all back in Tiantang. I apologize beforehand."
"We, the Shangguan Family, will always remember Lord Supreme Cloud's favor!" Shangguan Lingxiu said smiling.
Yun Yang waved his hands. "You will do well to forget it now. It was only a convenience, no need to be concerned about it."
Shangguan Lingxiu did not want to get tangled in this topic, so she changed the topic amiably, "Sleeping for so long, you must be hungry. Do you want to eat anything? I can ask for it to be prepared immediately."
An odd glint of remembrance flashed in Yun Yang's eyes as he said slowly, "Do you have Chinese cabbage and tofu on the ship? I would like to make the dish myself."
"Chinese cabbage and tofu?"
Hearing the ingredients, Shangguan Lingxiu was understandably puzzled. Supreme Cloud had asked to make something himself, but the items were the most ordinary ingredients that one could find; Chinese cabbage and tofu. Anyone who had heard his request would have undoubtedly been surprised.
"We do."
Chinese cabbage was a common ingredient that could keep for a long time if stored properly, so it was naturally kept in stock on the vessel. While tofu was not a usual ingredient on a ship, the Shangguan Family of Generals had prepared a sufficient amount for this trip.
Shangguan Lingxiu paused for a moment before saying, "I'll give the order for it to be prepared."
It was a decision Shangguan Lingxiu made after some hesitation. Yun Yang had requested to prepare it himself, but what he was about to make was the most common Chinese cabbage and tofu; maybe he was using the most common ingredients to disguise his identity, maybe it was a careful way of preventing detection… maybe he was like her and did not know how to prepare any dish at all. Helpless, he could only make Chinese cabbage and tofu to feed himself and complete the disguise he was currently wearing.
Certain that she understood Yun Yang's sentiment and wanting to indulge him, Shangguan Lingxiu naturally wished to help Yun Yang save the situation. She would personally supervise the chef to make Chinese cabbage and tofu later; it would at least taste better than what Lord Supreme Cloud, someone who did not seem to know how to cook, could achieve.
Yun Yang replied unhurriedly, "I'm sorry, but I insist on preparing it myself."
"You are truly going to make it yourself?"
Shangguan Lingxiu's eyes widened. "Do you know how to cook?"
"My dear lady, I know no other dish except this…" Yun Yang smiled faintly.
…
Shangguan Lingxiu watched in surprise on the side as Lord Yun began to get busy and started to putter about.
Firstly, for the two Chinese cabbages that he had meticulously selected, Yun Yang peeled the outer leaves away and kept only a small part of the tender core.
Then, he carefully peeled the cabbage core piece by piece and washed them clean with the Holy Water Charm before beginning his next step of cutting meat and preparing the oil and spices.
Each step was carefully deliberated before being executed.
Shangguan Lingxiu grew more curious with his actions.
Yun Yang's steps were carried out neatly, yet each step seemed like a pilgrimage; they were serious and solemn, like a fixed procedure as precise as clockwork.
As the ingredients greeted the wok and began to simmer, the aroma gradually drifted up. Yun Yang closed his eyes and lightly breathed in the scent, exclaiming in contentment, "So fragrant!"
Fragrant? Didn't all Chinese cabbage and tofu smell like this?
What was so special about it?
Although Shangguan Lingxiu was a girl, she knew nothing of the culinary arts and would rarely enter the kitchen; in spite of this, she still relished the wonder of good food. That still did not allow her to see the specialty in Yun Yang's Chinese cabbage and tofu. Perhaps the uniqueness was not in the Chinese cabbage but in the tofu.
The recipe had come to its last step. When the tofu was added, the aroma grew stronger. The Chinese cabbage was cooked to tenderness in the wok before the fire was put out and the lid was put on. After some time, the dish was finally considered complete.
Shangguan Lingxiu was still filled with curiosity. What was so precious or intricate about this dish?
Lord Supreme Cloud was incredibly solemn about the whole matter, pouring all of his concentration into his work– there had to be something significant about this particular dish.
Yun Yang did not rush to consume what he had just cooked; he was still identifying the aroma carefully and seriously. Was it the same as Old Dugu's Chinese cabbage and tofu in his memory?
Finally, he sighed contentedly. The Chinese cabbage and tofu he made still paled slightly compared to the wonderful dish in his memory, but the disparity was not great. He believed that he would be able to replicate the flavor with a few more rounds of practice.
"Do you have wine?"
Shangguan Lingxiu answered with a smile, "Of course. How can a vessel that carries soldiers have no wine? Allow me to accompany Lord Supreme Cloud as he hoists a drink or two."
If she hadn't figured out Supreme Cloud's identity before this, Shangguan Lingxiu would never have suggested such a thing, but since she knew that Supreme Cloud was Yun Yang now, she wanted to have a meal with her crush.
A strange expression flashed across Yun Yang's face before he said softly, "I am sorry, but I would prefer to drink alone."
"Certainly," Shangguan Lingxiu was momentarily taken aback by the abrupt rejection.
She was inwardly shocked and curious if the Chinese cabbage and tofu had some sort of treasured origin or was it related to some past event. Supreme Cloud's gaze, expression and the vibes he was showing were odd indeed, like an inexplicable lament.
Yun Yang had a sip of wine followed by a mouthful of Chinese cabbage and tofu. Each bite was clearly meaningful, in Shangguan Lingxiu's eyes.
Yun Yang took the entire afternoon eating the wok of Chinese cabbage and tofu, quietly sampling the dish in the swaying ship. His back was faced towards Shangguan Lingxiu, a dreamy aura constantly clouding his eyes.
The afternoon passed just like that.
Yun Yang was exceptionally silent throughout the meal. Other than feeding himself bites of Chinese cabbage and tofu and gulps of wine during the process, he ignored everything else, be it information relayed by the Nine Heavens Dictum or any other matters that arose.
Shangguan Lingixu felt like he was undergoing a grim ceremony that allowed no one and nothing to interrupt him.
Finally, he finished his meal.
Yun Yang exhaled a deep breath and said quietly, "Thank you."
Shangguan Lingxiu had watched him eat for the entire afternoon despite being famished herself, and she did not notice the time slipping by. She asked curiously, "Lord Supreme Cloud, this Chinese cabbage, and tofu… is there any story to it?"
"What story is there to tell? It is simply the best dish I've eaten in my life, my favorite dish. That's all," Yun Yang answered with a forlorn smile.
The best dish!
His favorite dish!
That was all there was to it?
Shangguan Lingxiu made a mental note and said seriously, "If time permits in the future, allow me to make it for Lord Supreme Cloud."
"Sure, I will certainly trouble you if there's a chance," Yun Yang answered with a smile.
He stood up slowly and said, "Time flies indeed. A day has passed. I need to rush back immediately, your vessel moves too slowly for my tastes. I'll have to make a move first!"
Shangguan Lingxiu said sincerely, "Lord Supreme Cloud, do take care!"
Yun Yang nodded and soared into the sky without another word. With a loud swoosh, the clouds in the sky gathered abruptly as the wind blew. A piece of cloud then floated away from the deck.
"The flames of war are beginning to fill Yutang. Everyone, let us meet again on the battlefield!"
His voice resonated but his silhouette was nowhere to be seen.
The eight thousand fighters underneath lifted their heads to find the source, feeling their emotions rippling inexplicably.
Lord Supreme Cloud was actually on their ship? Had he been there all this while?
…
On the way, Yun Yang sent a few orders to Shui Wuyin.
"With all the forces you can muster and at any cost, investigate renowned assassin, ace cultivator, Ouyang Xiaoshe's news, and whereabouts."
"With all the forces you can muster and at any cost, assist Yutang's military to relay information to ensure uninterrupted warfare."
"With all the forces you can muster and at any cost, prompt the people to protect their homes and guard their homeland."
"Spread the news, Yutang's Supreme Cloud is already on the battlefield!"
On the receiving end, Shui Wuyin, who had been anticipating news of his return, was rendered speechless.
When you finally decide to send news back, why do all three messages start with 'With all the forces you can muster and at any cost'? Can't you use other words? Is your vocabulary that limited?
Although he understood Yun Yang's current emotional state, the opening for these three messages was the same; there was basically no difference in urgency and priority. What gives?
However, Shui Wuyin was still capable of self-analysis, judging and deciding the sequence of the three messages on his own.
To assist Yutang military would be first and foremost; it was imminent and brooked no delay. Next would be to prompt the people to defend their homes; only when everyone was united could they overcome the hurdles together. These two were actually connected in sequence. As for Ouyang Xiaoshe's news, it automatically became the last priority.
It was a critical time of war, any personal clues, especially one that was regarding such an unfamiliar name, had to be put aside temporarily. It would not be too late to search for this person when Yutang had overcome its crisis.
As for the fact that Supreme Cloud was already making his way to the battlefield, Shui Wuyin had already released the news before Yun Yang had ordered him to do so.
Yun Yang was eastbound. Halfway through his journey, he was unsurprised to see the Empire of Ziyou's troops drawing back from the frontline. It was a troop halfway through their journey to provide relief to the battlefield. Going forward, there were more troops disassembling their tents and packing up.
It truly seemed that the Empire of Ziyou was pulling out from this four-nation siege of a war.
Yun Yang spent no further time on this aspect and made a turn towards the southern border instead.
Compared to the northern battlefield, Yun Yang was relatively more confident in Tie Zheng. Since he was going to assist them anyway, he would return after making a round first.
If he had moved in a straight line with both destinations forming the endpoints, he would have saved a lot of time, but he would also miss a lot of places that he could take care of as well.
When Yun Yang had rushed to the southern border, the war between Dayuan and Yutang had already erupted and was in full swing. Yutang's southern main marshal who was in charge of facing the Empire of Dayuan's heavy troops was Leng Daoyin's eldest son, Leng Shan.
Southern Marshal Leng Shan was currently in a terrible fix. Initially, with Leng Shan's talent in warfare and the tactic, nothing paled in comparison to the opponent – no, it should be said that Leng Shan's military talent was not lacking compared to anyone in current times. It was only because he was Yutang's Marshal Leng Daoyin's son that his reputation suffered and he was behind Fu Baoguo, Yang Botao, and Tie Zheng. With such a capable general, the southern border should have been free of worry!
It was the truth, too. One who was apt in warfare would be assumed to be able to win the war; the reason the southern border had not relayed any news of emergency back was due to this young Marshal Leng.
However, the situation was different this time, vastly so. Young Marshal Leng, who could not make bricks without straw, had only three hundred thousand men at his disposal; it sounded like a lot of men, but to face the Empire of Dayuan's eight hundred thousand-strong army coming from different directions, the situation was grave.
The disparity of manpower caused Yutang's side to be wholly oppressed since the beginning of the war.
Firstly, fifty thousand of the middle-ranked army was pressed into immobility on the battlefield. Once they moved, a side of the frontline would collapse. Even if they could take one side down, how should the other three sides react? Any successful assault on either side would spell the start of complete destruction.
Leng Shan was antsy. Facing the insane amount of attacks, he could only expend his all and attempt to counter each tactic, one after another. It was impossible to muster a counterattack or retaliatory strike.
"This war is different from the past. I can only guarantee one thing." Leng Shan said coldly as he faced his warriors, "Before we're all wiped out, Dayuan's army will not be allowed to take even a step past the southern border. To block the enemy at the nation's gate is our principle, unchanged until death!"
Each general had written their wills and made arrangements in the event of their deaths.
Facing such a critical and grave situation, the past calm and ease in taking down their enemy were no longer evident. No one had the confidence to leave the battlefield alive once they stepped onto it.
In spite of this, they shared the same thought – Before I die, I must kill a few more Dayuan soldiers! If I kill only one, it would be such a waste!
"My last order – each soldier of my southern border, all of you, even if you're going to die, you can only die after you kill four Dayuan soldiers or more!"
Leng Shan's voice was eerily cold. "If you can do that, then this battle can still end with us retaining the border… even if we have to die alongside the enemy!"
"Even if we have to die together, we swear that we will guard the southern border!"
The warriors cheered with their arms raised, their eyes filled with brimming courage and valor.
The sound of horns resounded solemnly again from faraway – Dayuan had begun another wave of attacks.
"To war!"
Leng Shan's expression was stoic. "This battle might be the last war for all of us. It's possible that commands will be hard to relay, thus I am announcing my last order here – each platoon, fight within your given autonomy! Fight to your death!"
"Even if the platoon's general falls, the troop shall remain orderly while the assistant general shall be promoted to general at once! The fall of the assistant general will bump the platoon leader up, so on and so forth!"
"My request to everyone is that even if your platoon is left with only ten people, order must be kept! It must not collapse!"
"Fight!"
"Fight, fight, fight!"
"Even if blood bathes the battlefield, the battle lines shall not collapse!"
The generals' cheers were loud and vehement.
However, just as they turned and were about to step out of the marshal's tent, a sudden change greeted them.
Hush, hush, hush…
The sound of the wind suddenly enveloped them.
The wind normally blew towards the south and Yutang's troops were marching against the wind; both the climate and geographical location were not to their advantage. However, the southern gale that was just whistling earlier had suddenly switched directions to become a billowing northern wind!
Not only that, it was growing stronger by the moment!
Despite it being winter, which meant that a northern gale was normal, the abrupt change right now was definitely not!
Leng Shan watched the marshal's flag flutter, feeling a building sense of joy within him as surprise and delight hit him at the same time. "Could it be…"
As if his words had woken those in a trance, fervent hope flickered in the eyes of the generals right away.
"The sudden change in the wind's direction… have the Nine Supremes Lords come at last?"
Just thinking about it caused passion to course through everyone at once as they began to look around excitedly.
Everyone knew that the most dangerous front among the four sides of the war was the eastern battle line. Despite Fu Baoguo taking the geographical advantage, his military manpower lacked in comparison to Han Sanhe's massive army; it was a precarious situation. Once the eastern line was destroyed, the threat of subjugation would grow tremendously!
As for the southern border, it was the most stable side from past records and the side that the Nine Supremes had assisted the least. No one could guess that the Nine Supremes Lords would actually be present here, especially when they were left with only one Supreme – there was no way he could tend to multiple sides at the same time.
Since the beginning, the generals had no hope of the Nine Supremes coming to their aid.
The Nine Supremes Lords should be at the eastern defense!
However, at the juncture of life and death, of victory and defeat, they were delightfully surprised to learn of the Nine Supremes' arrival.
Leng Shan was the first to rush out, standing in the empty space and looking up into the sky.
He observed the surrounding movements and confirmed time and again that the northern gale was getting stronger while its sound grew more fervent.
Countless branches began to snap and flew into the Dayuan troops on the opposite side of the field.
At the same time, the ice and snow on the ground were slowly melting amidst the crying northern gale.
A short while later, a sudden blaze flashed within Dayuan's troops; like a prairie fire, the sparks melted into an ocean of flame within seconds as it spread towards the south.
Leng Shan guessed that those were Dayuan's tents, war wagons, and military supplies that had been licked clean by the firestorm!
As the blaze flickered wild and hot, grey clouds covered the sky as thunder played their drums, lightning strikes pummelling the ground as if heaven was asking thunder to punish the human realm.
"It is the Nine Supremes Lords indeed!"
Leng Shan watched as the natural phenomena lay waste to Dayuan's base. Thrilled, he yelled with an arm raised high, "Change of tactics! Attack with full-on retaliation! Return victorious or not at all!"