Chapter 468: The Nine Supremes Won’t Be Able To Come!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Most of the new soldiers did not know the significance of this flag, so the veterans around them had first forced them to salute the Family of Generals' flag before beginning to slowly narrate and describe the past of the Shangguan Family of Generals.
Almost ninety-nine percent of the new soldiers had saluted the flag voluntarily with formal respect after listening to their words.
…
"Is there a problem with the wall?"
Hearing how Fu Baoguo had pointed out the wall's issue with so much severity, Qiu Jianhan went with him to where the loophole was located, bending over to take a careful look.
Old Marshal Qiu did not get up for a long, long time.
The old marshal, who had been through plenty of wars and was the most apt in warfare, had recognized the problem.
The wall's plight was no longer the palm-sized protrusion it initially was; it was reaching half a feet in diameter! With this potential disaster, even if the relief troops were here and their combat power was at the pinnacle, Yutang still could not last more than five days!
This drawback was a lethal one, crucially linked to their fighting spirit.
"Bai Yi." Qiu Jianhan called out for Bai Yixue and said hopefully, "This rock… with your cultivation base… can you...?"
Bai Yixue craned his head to have a look and was lulled into a long period of contemplative silence. Finally, he shook his head, looking slightly bitter.
"I can push this rock in easily, but… I can't make sure that if the rock is pushed back to its original position, can be like what it used to be. What's more possible is that after I push this rock, not only is it not beneficial, it will instead shake the rocks around it and cause a further imbalance to the wall and less secure it will be…"
Bai Yixue's answer wiped out the last of Qiu Jianhan's hope. He understood the former's implication.
All the rocks that made the wall were stuck to each other closely like they were one. While this protruding rock caused a flaw in the wall, the wall could still hold on for some time. On the other hand, if Bai Yixue had pushed this piece back to its place, the seemingly intact state would cause problems to other parts that did not initially pose a hindrance due to increasingly high pressure.
If those cracks were to actually form, the consequence would be even more fatal!
If they were to have some breathing time, they could repair the cracks after Bai Yixue pushed the rock in; it could be done within a short amount of time, but would Dongxuan give Yutang that?
Impossible!
Fu Baoguo's expression turned solemn. The state of war that he thought would change upon the old marshal's arrival still existed stubbornly; he asked softly, almost subconsciously as well, "Old Marshal… may I ask… when will… the Nine Supremes Lords come?"
This was Fu Baoguo's biggest concern, as well as being the most direct solution to their current plight.
Qiu Jianhan felt a wrenching heartache and could not help chiding, "Fu Baoguo, what are you thinking? Are you not fighting anymore if Yutang is without the Nine Supremes? Will Yutang's wars only be overcome with the Nine Supremes' presence?"
Fu Baoguo lowered his head and replied bitterly, "Old Marshal, this war is not like the others. The brothers… it has been devastating…"
Qiu Jianhan kept quiet for a bit before he said softly, "How can I not know the crushing state of this war? However, there is a possibility this time that the Nine Supremes Lords… perhaps, this time… they won't be able to come."
Fu Baoguo was shocked when he heard him; he was well aware of the old marshal's meaning.
With the Nine Supremes Lords' speed, character, and personality, how could they not come? There was only one possibility for them to miss this.
Fu Baoguo dared not think about the possibility.
"According to the previously collected intelligence, a humongous lake has appeared out of nowhere amidst the stretches of mountains six thousand and five hundred miles southeast away from here. The mountains nearby have all become flatlands while trees and rocks were crushed as if they've met with a calamity."
The old marshal closed his eyes as he said, "A huge battle must have broken out there, but there couldn't have many participants."
"From the southern border to the eastern defense… that route is almost a definite path…"
"It's obvious that this battle has been set up by someone with the ulterior motive to attack the Nine Supremes, as the Nine Supremes Lords have vanished from the news!"
Fu Baoguo was dumbstruck.
Even when Qiu Jianhan did not explicitly say it, how would Fu Baoguo not understand the implied significance of his words, with his military capability?
What was more, he had personal experience with the Four Seasons Tower's various tactics that extended beyond man's knowledge. He felt his blood run cold at once.
Qiu Jianhan heaved a long sigh, "Inferring from the time that has passed since Lord Supreme Cloud left the southern border, it's been around twenty days or so and that lake has appeared after this period of time as well. In other words, Lord Supreme Cloud has done battle there… for at least twenty days!"
"However, there hasn't been news since…"
"It has been said that no news is good news but…"
Hearing Qiu Jianhan, Fu Baoguo felt as if the sky above him had collapsed.
The Fortress of Resilience could not be repaired even as Lord Supreme Cloud had been horribly ambushed there!
"Baoguo!"
Qiu Jianhan said in a low voice, "This information is to be kept absolutely confidential. Currently in Yutang, only you and me… His Majesty, Old Leng, and Grand Commandant Fang know about this."
Fu Baoguo answered mechanically, "I understand."
He made his reply, but his mind was already blank. The person whom he had made his promise with back on that day was perhaps gone now, so who was he going to show his fulfilled promise to?
He had persevered throughout so much; other than one of the main reasons as fulfilling his part as a Yutang's citizen, it was also because he wanted Lord Supreme Cloud to know that his mercy that day was right – he had indeed given his all and was using his life to guard the Fortress of Resilience!
In spite of it this, now…
"Now the wall…" Qiu Jianhan looked hesitant.
Fu Baoguo, instead, grabbed some snow and rubbed it harshly on his face and neck. Only then did he feel calmer; he paused for some time before suggesting, "Old Marshal has mentioned about the last resort, I wonder… if the last resort…"
Qiu Jianhan looked burdened.
"This old man is thinking about the last measures now."
"May I ask Old Marshal…?" Fu Baoguo left his question hanging.
Qiu Jianhan said with much difficulty, "This last resort can make the Fortress of Resilience last for... another month. It would be Impossible to do more. Even if it's used, this old man still doesn't have the confidence to really last a month against Han Sanhe."
Fu Baoguo jolted in spirit. "Another month? Can we truly last another month?"
Hearing the digit, Fu Baoguo's eyes radiated. Even to last a day longer was a lavish hope to Fu Baoguo, but could they actually push ahead for another month?
These few words made Fu Baoguo felt like he had come alive, but Qiu Jianhan's expression was nothing similar to the former's jubilance. If he had a choice, he would never want to resort to this last method.
Once this method was used, the Fortress of Resilience, this majestic fort that everyone in the world has acknowledged as the indestructible fortress, would no longer be usable for a long time. Perhaps, it should be said that it would be destroyed for that very same reason!
"May I ask Old Marshal what method is it? How can it be so efficient?" asked Fu Baoguo excitedly.
…
On the opposite end of Dongxuan's base, Han Sanhe stood at a high point. He wore a thick leather cape and a frown, gazed afar to the Fortress of Resilience on the other end, and sighed rather discreetly.
"Teacher, the wind is strong here, on the mountain. Let us go back to the marshal tent," said Zhan Ge.
"Wait a little longer. I want to see if Qiu Jianhan will actually use that method!" Han Sanhe said slowly.
"That method? What method?" Zhan Ge asked in confusion.
"The last method! The last resort to tackle the current crisis!"
Han Sanhe chuckled bitterly and said, "Who'd have known that I would be going against Qiu Jianhan after all… I thought that Fu Baoguo wouldn't be able to push through a few days longer, but when I actually face him, the Fu Baoguo I I know would demand a rebirth. Each countermeasure of his is precise and accurate in sequence; even more so, it's suitable beyond imagination… Fu Baoguo has truly and thoroughly grown! If he could live past this war, the title of Tianxuan Continent's top general might have to swap owner now!"
"Teacher, aren't you praising Fu Baoguo too highly? As long as you're still here and well, the peerless general of the Tianxuan Continent will never be removed!" said Zhan Ge vehemently.
Zhan Ge had gone against Fu Baoguo and personally felt his exceptionality; he had to admit that if their positions were switched, he would barely be able to do what Fu Baoguo did. However, Zhan Ge could not acknowledge the possibility that Fu Baoguo could replace Han Sanhe as the continent's next nonpareil general,
Han Sanhe paused and said, "Do you know why I've still chosen to add soldiers into the battle despite the heavy casualties? That I continue to fight?"
"Please elaborate, teacher," said Zhan Ge.
He, too, could not figure this out.
The war had not been advantageous to Dongxuan, be it in terms of weather, geography or military. Yet, his teacher still wished to fight to his death, regardless of the circumstances.
It was truly a bizarre situation indeed.