~~~~~~~

  A few days later, the spies who stayed in Weichuan reported that the cavalry of Northern Xia had also explored the terrain of Weichuan.

  The first battle was chosen in Weichuan, which was actually quite a gentleman’s behaviour.

  It was true that Southern Xia occupied the higher land, which could relieve the pressure of cavalry charging. However, this was an open plain after all and was very beneficial for Northern Xia’s method of attacking, compared to the rugged mountains that were injurious to the horses hooves. The two advantages offset each other and no one would suffer.

  And Weichuan was a very important location.

  In the war between Northern and Southern Xia previously, Northern Xia pushed forward the front layer by layer, and ended in Changyang city, before a retreat was finally ordered.

  Weichuan, on the other hand, was five miles away from the northern pass. It was said that if one dug down the plains of Weichuan, they could find black blood within ten feet of digging. These were the bloody relics left from the previous war between Northern and Southern Xia.

  No matter what the outcome was, after this gentleman’s war, Northern and Southern Xia would completely shed all pretences of cordiality. On the battlefield, it was common to return home after winning quite decisively but it was quite rare to have a situation wherein the deployed troops are left with no way out that they desperately fight to live and then end up winning the fight. Therefore in the first war of Weichuan, there was no option but to win and not lose.

  The army camped in Jubei city.

  The yellow sandy desert was covered with dust. The boundless plains could be seen against the setting sun. Despite the 100,000 armored troops in the Jubei City, there were no sounds of any frolicking.

  The moat outside the city to obstruct the cavalry, the thorny thistles on the city walls, and the lookout tower at the top of the city, which could see more than ten miles away had all been repaired properly.

  The rest of Zhen Yuan and An Ning City on the North-South border had all entered into the state of preparing for war, sharpening their troops and preparing their horses to face the Northern Xia iron cavalry.

  In the whole city, the only two relaxed people were maybe Lingsu and Qinglu.

  Qinglu was being punished by Lingsu for his improper posture and not conforming to the appearance of the disciples of the Sword Pavilion. He put a bronze tripod vessel on his head, one on each of his shoulders, and one on each palm. The tripod vessel was filled with clear water. For three hours, there should not be even a drop spilled.

  The Sword Pavilion believed that the highest level of sword cultivation was that when the cultivator personified the Sword and had Sword like characteristics. His posture and body shape should be straight like the sword that he held in his hand.

  Lin Shu was trained by his master when he was a child, but his body shape had never been frivolous, so he had not suffered for it nor trained with the bronze tripod vessel trying not to shed a drop of water. Master just clicked his tongue in amazement, and hadn’t asked for this since.

  In line with the teacher’s concern for his disciple, Lin Shu went out and saw the painful scene wherein Qinglu was being taught the right posture. Initially, he wanted to rescue him but then he thought it was the rule of the Sword Pavilion, so he didn’t interfere and let Qinglu, continue to be punished and taught the right postures of the sect.

  At dusk, Lin Shu stood on the city wall.

  The whole area was under a layer of barrier enchantment. Xiao Shao came over, and the reddish-black color of the Chinese flowing robe that he wore almost made him look demonic.

  Lin Shu looked at his eyebrows and eyes. He still had impeccably good-looking facial features. Originally, when his face was expressionless, he was as cold as the snow on the top of the clouds, and when he was gentle, he was like the flowers falling from the sky in spring. At this time, his inky-black pupils which were lacking any lustre, were awe-inspiring and stern. The hostile aura around his body had almost turned into a separate entity.

  Lin Shu gently took his hand.

  He knew that places like Jubei pass, the walls were covered with blood and the moat was filled with corpses. Because of the past wars, there were too many casualties, and the accumulated resentment and grievances was already quite strong to a certain level. Not to mention the aura of war-fighting and killing. Xie Zishe, who has always loved Saints’ classics and not poems and songs, stood on the wall today, gazing at the desert of yellow sands and wilderness, with broken halberds and broken swords, and recited the words of her predecessors, ’I’ve come to the battlefield again, and no one will return’. It was inevitable that Xiao Shao was affected.

  Xiao Shao looked into the distance: “Sometimes I feel that the body of resentment hates the world and people. Sooner or later, they will start taking pleasure in the mindless killing and I will get out of control one day. I don’t know who can kill me at that time. ”

  “No one can kill you.” Lin Shu said.

  “Hmm?” Xiao Shao raised his eyebrows, “Then what should I do?”

  Before Lin Shu could speak, he took out an embroidered brocade bag and asked Lin Shu, “Where’s yours?”

  Lin Shu tilted his head, remembering that years ago the two of them knotted their hair in Northern Xia and the cut hair was divided into two brocade bags.

  He then took out his own brocade bag.

  Xiao Shao took the bag from him and gave him his own.

  Then he put Lin Shu’s brocade bag close to his body: “I will keep it with me. When I am at the verge of losing control, I will think of you.”

  Lin Shu silently put the one that originally belonged to Xiao Shao in place as well.

  Xiao Shao thought Lin Shu’s actions were too understated and didn’t express concern verbally. He said, “Doesn’t Immortal Lord worry about me at all?”

  Don’t call me Immortal Lord.

  Lin Shu had now almost formed a conditioned reflex. As soon as he heard the word ‘Immortal Lord’, his mind would become a little unclear and dazed.

  Recently, Xiao Shao occasionally called him Immortal Lord when he pressed him on the bed to do naughty things. According to the man himself, this was a performance of wanting to be close to Immortal Lord all the time.

  Sure enough, Xiao Shao’s right hand caressed the side of his face, brushing out a strand of his hair for unknown reasons and holding it in his hands.

  His eyes were heavy and somewhat unhappy. He didn’t know what he was thinking.

  Lin Shu argued, “I am worried.”

  Xiao Shao wrapped the strand of hair around his slender fingers, “I didn’t see it.”

  Lin Shu lowered his eyes for a long time and then said, “.…… but not very worried.”

  Xiao Shao: “.…… Huh?”

  “I think ……” Lin Shu weighed his words: “You won’t lose control.”

  Xiao Shao gave a soft laugh, “Why do you say that?”

  \r \r \r

  “I don’t know how to say it.” This person’s overly demonic appearance and overpowering presence around him formed a certain oppression, making Lin Shu a little breathless. He moved his gaze away and looked at the battle flag fluttering at the head of the Jubei Pass, feeling a little confused.

  After a long time, he said, “I know…… The worldly desires are hard to fill. Other people wage war to expand their territories and then rule the world as Emperors. But you are not like them.”

  Xiao Shao tilted his head.

  Lin Shu gently touched the back of his hand to appease the little chick who was on the verge of exploding its feathers at this moment.

  “I read in ancient books that ’The one who knows that a soldier is a lethal weapon, but still the saint has to use it’,” Lin Shu said slowly. “I think you must know this, too.”

  “You are suffering from the grievances of heaven and earth, and have a cultivation that is unmatched in the world, in the coming days on the battlefield, when you are pleased by killing and enjoy it, remember ……”

  As he spoke, he turned Xiao Shao’s hand and wrote four words in the palm of his hand.

  To yield without using force.

  “I know that Xiao Shao started this war in order to make the world free of war from now on. Xiao Shao killed in this war in order to prevent more people from being killed.” Lin Shu said, with a bit of a lump in his throat: “If he is obsessed with resentment and grievances and by killing and turns his back on his original intention, Lin Shu will spend his life trying to find a way to kill him.”

  Xiao Shao didn’t speak.

  After a pause, Lin Shu continued, “Kill him, not because Lin Shu cannot tolerate what he did, but …… Xiao Shao himself does not want to become that kind of person.”

  Speaking of this, he looked up at Xiao Shao: “And the reason why he was not very worried was that Lin Shu had known Xiao Shao for many years. He would never do what he decided not to do. He would do everything he wanted to do, without exception.”

  He and Xiao Shao gazed at each other.

  Xiao Shao was staring at him, looking straight into his eyes, very intently.

  He felt a little drained. The words he had just spoken could be said to be the longest sentences he had ever said, and it also used all his rhetorical skills in his life.

  The strand of his hair, the one that was tangled between Xiao Shao’s fingers, was gently lifted up.

  Xiao Shao lowered his head and kissed it gently.

  Lin Shu stretched out his hand to caress Xiao Shao’s cheek.

  The next moment, his entire body was hugged by Xiao Shao in his arms.

  He held him very tightly.

  No one spoke.

  Lin Shu could feel his heartbeat.

  Xiao Shao was a little taller than him, with strong and sturdy arms and chest. He was often slightly weakened by the aggression in this man’s aura and movements.

  This feeling tended to make him feel like a vine attached to a tree — and indeed it was a fact, whether it was Xiao Shao or Ling Fengxiao, he was the one being kept.

  But sometimes, Lin Shu felt that he was the root system of the tree that stretched into the ground, through which Xiao Shao could draw certain nutrients that were necessary to live.

  Just like now.

  He clearly realized that Xiao Shao needed him very much.

  His eyes were a little blurred.

  He didn’t know why everyone outside didn’t understand the real Xiao Shao.

  Obviously, he was a very easy person to understand.

  Even a person who hasn’t grown up.

  He had the best cultivation in the world, the realm of Land Immortals, the future sovereign, which is within reach, but he was just wondering if he would lose control, get lost in the hate swirling within him, and bring disaster to the world.

  He has no desires. He just wanted to tidy up the old mountains and rivers that were kind to him, and then go back to the mountains, rivers and lakes.

  But other people wanted him to build achievements that lasted thousands of years.

  Lin Shu reached out and wrapped his hand around Xiao Shao’s shoulder.

  He asked himself.

  And what about you?

  Do you want him to do what he wants from his heart, or do you want him to live?

  He thought about it a lot and finally told himself that Xiao Shao wanted it for himself.

  Other than that, there was nothing else.

  “I……” he heard Xiao Shao’s voice: “didn’t really think about it that much.”

  “I know.” Lin Shu said: “I also did not think that much.”

  Xiao Shao gave an “En”.

  “The two armies fighting each other and killing each other, resulting in an overboard victory. If we can win all the battles like this, our dynasty will unify the world, and be justified.” Xiao Shao said, “But I do not know how long it will take in this way……what will happen if I am alone against a powerful army?”

  Lin Shu said, “It is fine if you want.”

  Xiao Shao smiled, hugged him and stopped talking.

  It was unknown how long the hug lasted. When they separated, Lin Shu looked up at Xiao Shao. In a trance, he saw his gentle eyebrows and eyes, vaguely returning to their appearance in the Peach Blossom Spring.

  As if in a trance, Xiao Shao frowned slightly.

  “You are crying.” He said.

  Lin Shu was at a loss. He touched his cheeks and came across two lines of tears that were sliding down, still warm.

  He felt no ripples in his heart, and did not know why the tears fell.

  Xiao Shao also said some chirping words: “It hurts me to see you cry.”

  For these kinds of words, Lin Shu took them through one ear and let it out of another. He didn’t pay any attention to them. He turned around and didn’t look at Xiao Shao. He looked at Weichuan in the distance. He said such sweet words, but didn’t he know how many times Xiao Shao had made him cry? Why didn’t he think about being in pain then? Instead, didn’t he enjoy tormenting him more?

  Behind him, the red figure suddenly blurred and changed. The Big Miss appeared and hugged him from behind.

  This person was extremely cunning. He knew that it would be more beautiful and moving to use the Big Miss’s persona, and it would be more convenient to show weakness without fear.

  Lin Shu and the Big Miss played and hummed for a while, and then together they looked into the distance and froze.

  Looking at the distant sky, there was a dark line of something approaching the pass.

  The trumpets of the city tower sounded together in unison, and the solemn tone resounding in one’s heart, was breathtaking.

  The Big Miss took Lin Shu and leapt a few times up and down and came to the marshal’s tent in front of Weichuan.

  Spies came in droves to report.

  The report said that in the Northern Xia army there were 200,000 troops and 100,000 cavalry, so on and so forth .

  It also said that the cavalry were galloping quickly and would come to the front line in half an hour.

  It said that the Crown Prince of Northern Xia had come in person for the war, so the morale of the opposite army was quite boosted.

  The old General, who had been on the battlefield for a long time, raised his eyebrows. He then quickly ordered the Weichuan Defense army to form a Flying Dragon Wing array. To oppose the Northern Xia cavalry the defense array must be formed immediately without delay!

  The messenger lieutenant said, “Yes!”

  Then he raised the marshal’s tent, wanting to pass down the order, and then use the marching bulge horn to order the whole army.

  But Ling Fengxiao stepped forward and said: “Wait a minute.”

  The old General stepped out of the marshal’s tent: “Your Highness, the situation is urgent and there can be no delay!”

  Ling Fengxiao continued as if he didn’t hear the old general: “Pass on my order, hold your troops still.”

  Old General: “This …… must not be! Quickly form the Flying Dragon Wing array! ”

  Ling Fengxiao slammed the Tiger Seal down on the case: “Here is the Tiger Seal, the three armies will listen to the order.”

  The old General’s eyes were wide open: “.…… Your Highness!”

  Even though the herald was caught between the two, he had to follow the order of Her Highness Fengyang and ordered the three armies to stand still.

  At this time, the Northern Xia army pressed closer to the border, looking from a distance, it was like a dark cloud pressing the city.

  Tens of thousands of soldiers rioted.

  The earth shook and trembled as the horses’ hooves stamped.

  The heavens and the earth were boundless, and between the vast open fields and six directions, one could only see a figure in red dress slowly moving forward.

  The black mist dissipated and the Guiltless blade appeared in Ling Fengxiao’s hand.

  These days, every time Lin Shu saw the Guiltless blade, it was usually one point more demonic than the last time. The body was now pitch black, entwined with blood mist, blood light flowing between the evil Qi like an entity, the whole blade was like an abyss of ancient evil beasts, making people shocked.

  Anyone who cultivated immortality would be afraid of being possessed by this evil spirit when they saw it.

  But Ling Fengxiao, who had it with him round the clock, was still the usual.

  Today, Lin Shu also finally understood that the reason why Ling Fengxiao could hold down the demon blade ‘Guitless’. It was because his heart was how he was in real life – Guiltless and clear conscience.

  The sound of horses’ hooves grew louder and louder.

  There were 200,000 troops and horses under the weight of darkness, and countless wizards and living corpses, just like a dark torrent, rushing speedily.

  There was also an unbreakable square in the rear to protect Northern Xia’s commander Xiao Xuan.

  And Ling Fengxiao was in a red hunting dress and was alone in this ancient wasteland.

  Lin Shu heard the old general’s jaw dropping and saying, “This…… mantis trying to stop a cart from advancing!”

  The old general looked at Lin Shu again and said, “Pavilion Master, stop her quickly!”

  Lin Shu didn’t respond.

  He just watched the scene, and there was only this scene in his eyes.

  On this day, a thousand armies avoid the red robed figure.

  ————

  The author has something to say:

  Xiao Xuan: Holy Shit!

  The last sentence is translated from a sentence in the Southern and Northern Dynasties that can’t find the exact source. “Famous teachers and generals do not work themselves, and a thousand armies will avoid a white robe.”.

  ~~~~

  Ela — Too many TN notes T_T