Chapter 415
Chapter 415
Xueliang City was the northernmost city in the White Night Prefecture, the closest to White Night Pass. Outside the city, in the barracks, Count Pingxi, Zheng Ta, was wrapped up like a mummy. How else could he look like he'd been fighting for his life and was covered in wounds? But this charade now was nothing more than a joke. For the past half-month, he had only been pretending to fight Su Zan, never truly committing his forces to battle. When the King sent an edict reprimanding him, he had profusely apologized, claiming that even dying a thousand times over wouldn't be enough, but as soon as he turned around, he continued his theatrical performance on the battlefield. After half a month of this "fighting," there were very few casualties. But now, Zheng Ta had received an urgent report from the White Night Prefecture battlefield. He read the dispatch again and again, his body trembling in shock as he ground his teeth.
*They won the battle at White Night City! Shen Lang, how on earth did that pretty boy do it? He really turned the tide all by himself. He eliminated King Aru of the Qiang Kingdom and turned their army into allies. Now that they've won a great victory at White Night City and Su Jian's main force has been annihilated, what am I going to do? What should I do? Shen Lang, you bastard, you've put me in a death trap. It wasn't easy for me, Zheng Ta, to get where I am today, and now you're tearing me down. You've achieved a great victory, but you've kicked me into the mud. What now? What do I do? There's no other choice. I have to fight for my life!*
Zheng Ta made his decision in an instant and issued an order.
"Men, send a message to the barracks at White Night Pass! Tell my son, Zheng Long, to lead his eight thousand troops south! I will fight a decisive battle against Su Zan, to the death. I swear I will not stop until Xueliang City is taken!"
Zheng Ta forcefully tore off the bandages wrapped around his body and shouted.
"Beat the drums and assemble the army! Prepare for battle! Prepare to storm the city!"
Zheng Ta then went before his army, knelt facing east, and kowtowed.
"Your Highness has bestowed upon me a grace as vast as the sea! Even if my body is shattered into a thousand pieces, I can never repay your kindness! If I fail to capture Xueliang City, I will present you with my own head!"
An hour later.
Without waiting for his son, Zheng Long, to arrive with his troops from the north, Count Zheng Ta launched a fierce assault on Xueliang City. At that moment, Su Zan, the defending commander inside Xueliang City, received news that the Su Clan had been defeated in the battle for White Night Prefecture and that their main army had been nearly wiped out. After hearing such news, was he in any mood for a major battle? Soon after, Su Zan sent an envoy to Zheng Ta's camp, asking him to continue the charade. He requested that after a few sham battles, Zheng Ta let the Su Clan's army go. Zheng Ta flew into a rage and had the Su Clan's envoy executed.
*I, Zheng Ta, am a man of loyalty and integrity. How could I possibly collude with you, the Su Clan?*
Su Zan had no choice but to fight. However, his troops had also heard the news of the main army's defeat, and their morale had plummeted. Su Zan realized that Xueliang City was in an extremely precarious position. To the north, the main force guarding White Night Pass was now heading south. To the south, the armies of Shen Lang and Zhang Chong could march north at any moment. When that happened, the tens of thousands of troops from White Night Pass and Shen Lang's allied forces would surround the small city of Xueliang, and its fall would be inevitable.
Furthermore, with the Su Clan's main army defeated, holding Xueliang City alone had no strategic value. Therefore, before the enemy forces could converge and surround them, he had to break out of the city immediately and preserve as many of the Su Clan's troops as possible, leading them back to the Marquis of Zhenyuan's Estate. The next great battle would surely take place at the Su Clan's fortress.
The combined forces of Shen Lang, Zhang Chong, and Zheng Ta would number at least thirty thousand. With thirty thousand troops set to attack the Su Clan's fortress, every single soldier under his command was precious and had to be saved. Soon, Su Zan personally led eight thousand Su Clan warriors in a valiant charge out of the city to break the siege. Count Zheng Ta gave chase. After suffering over three thousand casualties, Su Zan fled back to the Marquis of Zhenyuan's Estate with the remaining five thousand defeated soldiers.
* * *
The moment Su Jianyan awoke, he felt sensation return to his body. The neurotoxin would naturally wear off after a few hours. The reason the Divine Maiden Xue Yin's body had become frozen like ice was that the Gu worms inside her were constantly releasing a similar neurotoxin. Opening his eyes, Su Jianyan found himself completely naked, with countless eyes staring at him. Moreover, his limbs were spread wide, bound by ropes, and he was suspended three feet off the ground. No, not four limbs, but five. His lifeline was also tightly bound with wire.
Shen Lang stood before him. Su Jianyan asked in a trembling voice.
"Shen Lang, what are you doing? What are you trying to do?"
Shen Lang said.
"Su Jianyan, back in the capital, you led men to attack our Jin Clan's villa, killing a dozen of our warriors and burning it to the ground. When I left the capital, I swore I would avenge them."
Su Jianyan shouted angrily.
"Shen Lang, just give me a quick death! Just kill me!"
"Of course, I'll give you a satisfying death. I guarantee it will be an extremely satisfying one!"
The moment Su Jianyan looked around, he was so terrified he wet himself. He had realized what punishment Shen Lang had in store for him. It was the punishment of dismemberment by five horses, also known as death by being torn apart.
"Shen Lang, leave my body intact! I'm begging you!"
Su Jianyan wailed and pleaded.
"This end was sealed last night when you laid your hands on five-year-old Zhang Jun. You're worse than an animal! Su Jianyan, you are only the beginning. After I have you torn apart, I will lead my army to attack your Su Clan's Marquis of Zhenyuan's Estate. I will kill every last one of you! I will use every means at my disposal to have that old dog, Su Nan, dismembered by five horses! Su Jianyan, you go on ahead. The rest of the Su Clan will be joining you in hell soon enough."
Shen Lang gave a sharp command, and the five horses galloped off wildly. In an instant, an utterly wretched scream echoed through the air. Su Jianyan was torn to pieces, dying a gruesome death.
Normally, in dismemberment by five horses, the ropes are tied to the limbs and the head. But Shen Lang had tied the fifth rope not to his head, but to Su Jianyan's "small part." It was still dismemberment, but Shen Lang called it the "Shen-style Dismemberment."
* * *
After Zhang Chong awoke, he saw the changed situation and grinned in relief, stroking his grandson's head. There was no need to verbally thank Shen Lang anymore. Having once again passed through the gates of life and death, Zhang Chong had become someone not easily swayed by most things. Yet, achieving this great victory in battle left him incredibly moved and excited.
*We finally won! Shen Lang really did it.*
Zhang Chong couldn't help but be amazed. From the very beginning, Shen Lang had never once disappointed him. This was true whether they were enemies or allies. He had done everything he promised and had once again performed a great miracle. But Zhang Chong would not voice any of the emotions he was feeling now. Overwhelming feelings lose their meaning when spoken aloud.
Shen Lang said.
"Princess, would you like to step out for a moment?"
The ever-prickly Princess Zhang shot Shen Lang a glare before taking Zhang Jun's hand and leaving. What they were about to discuss was not suitable for her ears.
Zhang Chong asked.
"Young Master Shen, what are your plans now?"
"I'm going to eliminate the Crown Prince and the Third Prince."
Zhang Chun, who was giving his father medicine, was startled by Shen Lang's words and wondered if he should leave as well. An ordinary person who overheard such a secret would be killed on the spot to be silenced.
*But Young Master Shen is an extraordinary man. He truly fights anyone and everyone. First, he fought the Tang Clan in Xuanwu City, then my father, Zhang Chong. After a great victory, he entered the capital and fought the Su Clan. And now, before Su Nan is even dead, he's already planning to kill the Crown Prince and the Third Prince?*
Shen Lang said.
"Only by killing the Crown Prince and the Third Prince can my Jin Clan truly find lasting peace. After that, I will retire. I'll hold my beloved Mulan and live a life like an immortal."
Zhang Chong found Shen Lang's opposition to the Crown Prince deeply regrettable. He had been promoted by Governor Zhu Rong, so strictly speaking, he could be considered part of the Crown Prince's faction. After a long moment, Zhang Chong spoke.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has his flaws, but he is still a remarkable young lord. His succession to the throne would be relatively beneficial for the State of Yue."
"Frankly, what does the State of Yue have to do with me? I couldn't care less about it."
Ugh! That was true. Zhang Chong had come to Tianxi Province and poured his heart and soul into his work, ready to lay down his life in White Night City, all for the hope of strengthening the State of Yue. But everything Shen Lang did had only one goal. To rid the world of all his enemies. To live a happy and beautiful life where there isn't a single enemy left in the world. Because all his enemies would die by his hand.
"Young Master Shen, I know it's impossible for you to pledge loyalty to the Crown Prince. But surely the conflict between you and His Highness hasn't reached an irreconcilable point."
"Lord Zhang, the man tried to take my wife. How could that conflict not be great? I'll be frank with you, Lord Zhang. If he weren't the Crown Prince, I would have slaughtered his entire family and left their bodies to rot."
"His Highness's thoughts were, of course, wrong. But after this battle with Su Nan, wouldn't he abandon such absurd ideas? His Majesty the King is very fond of you, and with your relationship with Princess Ning Yan, perhaps His Majesty will even treat you as half a son-in-law in the future."
"Lord Zhang, the Crown Prince has already sent Gao Duhuan to assassinate my father-in-law."
Hearing this, Zhang Chong shot up in bed. Only after a long while did he speak again.
"Gao Duhuan is one of the Crown Prince's men?"
Shen Lang nodded silently, and Zhang Chong lay back down. This conflict had reached a point of no return. It would not end until one of them was dead. If there was one person in this world who understood Shen Lang most deeply, it was undoubtedly Zhang Chong. In Shen Lang's heart, there were only a few people; everyone else was as insignificant as dogs or pigs. But Jin Zhuo was not just Shen Lang's father-in-law; he was his family. Since the Crown Prince had ordered Gao Duhuan to assassinate Jin Zhuo, he had become Shen Lang's mortal enemy.