Chapter 47: Someone Has to Blaze the Trail

Everyone was shocked. Could an unnamed Great Wind Army commander truly be this formidable?

What they didn't know was that over a century ago, the Zhong family's military doctrine emphasized swiftness like the wind and aggression like fire, aiming to incapacitate the enemy with a thunderous first strike to allow for easier, subsequent elimination.

Nian Songyu's face contorted in pain, but he cried out, "It can attack us! It's the water, the pond water!"

So just by touching the pond water, these vengeful spirits could become corporeal?

Hearing this, He Lingchuan grabbed the Soul-Fixing Banner from his attendant Baishan, took two steps to the pond's edge, and plunged the white cloth flag directly into the water.

The white flag instantly absorbed the bloody water, but thankfully, the runes on it remained intact.

Then, he raised the white banner and vigorously shook it towards his companions. Water droplets sprayed onto everyone's faces. Yet, no one dodged; instead, they wore expressions of gratitude.

At that moment, the spectral cavalry charged forward once more.

Zeng Feixiong furiously wiped his face, grabbed his saber, and with a leaping slash, yelled, "Brothers, attack!"

A loud clang of metal resonated. His broadsword struck the enemy's spear tip, deflecting both weapons, with neither side gaining an advantage.

However, the others were ecstatic. It worked! They were finally no longer passively being poked or impaled.

Though their opponents were cavalry, they had ten times the number of soldiers. Could they really not defeat them ten-to-one? Everyone's morale soared; they drew their weapons and engaged the enemy. As long as they could be hit, that was enough! They were all elites; the gap couldn't be that wide.

Situ Han didn't miss the chance to flatter He Lingchuan, exclaiming, "Young Master, that was incredible! One move turned the tide!" However, he conveniently omitted that Nian Songyu had been the first to discover the pond water's peculiar effect.

On second thought, it made sense: this pool of blood connected the material and spiritual realms, so it should affect both living beings and souls. But then, why couldn't the vengeful spirits harm people when they first emerged from the pond?

He Lingchuan stared at the Great Wind Army commander, who was slaughtering with abandon, sensing that this was precisely the outcome the enemy desired. They preferred bloodshed and dismemberment over bloodless killings.

In mere blinks, the commander had single-handedly killed two men and assisted in a third kill. For a moment, even Zeng Feixiong hesitated to approach him.

He said to He Chunhua with a wry smile, "Father, we're short on men."

Although the two sides appeared to be locked in an inseparable battle, He Lingchuan sensed that their chances of victory were slim.

One vengeful spirit injured three enemies before several soldiers together managed to drag it from its mount. Nian Songyu, after dipping his saber in the water, charged forward and lopped off its head.

Casualties finally appeared on the enemy side. However, the Great Wind Army commander noticed this. With a raised hand, a cold glint shot towards them. This time, the thrown spear was aimed directly at He Chunhua!

Earlier, when the illusory barrier shattered, the beast-headed staff had spat out a dim, cracked orb. Following that, Sun Fuping had extended his hand to He Chunhua, demanding, "The State Order!" He Chunhua immediately handed over the Kite Coin, the symbol of his magistracy.

The Kite Coin's gentle glow inexplicably captured the commander's attention instantly, and then the fatal attack followed. The heroic spirits of Panlong City must utterly despise the presence of a foreign State Order on their land.

At that moment, Sun Fuping was secretly preparing a spell, Nian Songyu was far away, and Zeng Feixiong and others were locked in combat with enemy soldiers. He Chunhua was left surprisingly unprotected.

Fortunately, He Lingchuan was standing beside his father. Seeing the cold light approaching, he instinctively swung his saber without a second thought.

With a deafening clang, his Hundred-Refined Blade snapped in two, and He Lingchuan was sent flying by the spear's immense force. He felt as though a large hammer had struck his chest. He involuntarily coughed up a mouthful of blood, and then—

He flew over three meters and plunged directly into the pond. Logically, the pond water was shallow, not even reaching his ankles, yet when he fell, it was as if he'd plunged into a deep abyss, disappearing without a trace with a soft 'thud.'

Nevertheless, his interception worked. The commander's spear was deflected, grazing He Chunhua's armpit as it flew past. A mere inch or two was the difference between a fatal blow and being unharmed.

He Chunhua was aghast. He lunged to the pond's edge, shouting, "Chuan'er!" No matter how he peered into it, the pond water remained shallow, only its surface rippling incessantly.

Nian Songyu arrived, initially fearing He Chunhua might follow his son into the pond. But Magistrate He quickly turned, swiftly pressing the State Order into Sun Fuping's hand.

"Is Chuan'er alive?"

"We'll know soon," Sun Fuping replied. He glanced around, then pointed to the nearest bandit. "You! Come here!"

"Me?" The man asked, but obediently stepped forward.

Sun Fuping led him to the pond's edge, pulled out a candle, then reached out and, with an astonishing grip, plucked a faint blue 'life-fire' from the man's shoulder, pressing it onto the candle's wick.

The candle instantly ignited, its flame a soft blue.

The bandit was momentarily bewildered. "This...?"

"This is your life-flame," Sun Fuping explained. "As long as you live, the flame burns. When you die, the candle extinguishes." He nodded. "Go." With that, he gave a sudden shove. The force was incredible, unlike what one would expect from a sixty-year-old man. Before the bandit could react, he was pushed backward, tumbling into the pond and following He Lingchuan's descent.

"Hey!" Situ Han exclaimed, turning just in time to witness the scene. He dodged a Great Wind Army thrust and rushed back. "What are you doing?!"

They were willing to die for the authorities, but not to be deliberately "sent to their deaths"!

"Shh!" Sun Fuping waved his hand, and a surge of energy pushed Situ Han back two steps. He himself remained fixed on the candle flame. "Someone has to scout ahead," he stated. He Lingchuan's plunge into the pond had been too sudden, so Sun Fuping had to send another person to test the waters.

Meanwhile, He Chunhua's subordinates surged forward, trying to pin down the Great Wind Army commander.

Ten breaths passed. Twenty breaths passed. The blue candle flame continued to burn steadily.

"He's still alive," Sun Fuping confirmed, and He Chunhua let out a long sigh of relief. The bandit's survival indicated there was air beneath the pond's surface, meaning He Lingchuan was very likely alive too.

"And there's even better news," Sun Fuping added with a smile. "No more vengeful spirits are emerging."

It was only then that He Chunhua remembered: no new vengeful spirits had emerged from the pond since the first dozen Great Wind Army soldiers.

This meant—

Sun Fuping exchanged a glance with Nian Songyu, who understood the unspoken command and, with a quick turn, plunged into the pond. He, too, vanished.

"This is the only path to claim the Grand Square Kettle." Despite their side's rising casualties, Sun Fuping was in high spirits. He inserted He Chunhua's Kite Coin into the beast-mouth of the staff, and the monstrous head immediately clamped down on it.

"Back to formation! Quickly, back to formation to defend against the enemy!" Sun Fuping declared, striking the ground three times with his staff. "I need you to work together and raise your morale!"

The entire contingent immediately converged towards the talisman formation on the ground. In just that short time, their own forces had suffered 20% casualties, while the opposing Great Wind Army had only lost four of its members.

These entities fought with an inhuman ferocity—well, they weren't human to begin with. The moment they realized they were critically wounded, they would immediately attempt to take their enemies down with them, aiming to kill as many as possible. One cavalryman, after being brought down by combined efforts, had both hands severed and his chest mangled. Everyone assumed it was no longer capable of resistance. Yet, in its dying moments, it suddenly sprang up, baring a mouthful of gleaming white teeth, and severed a bandit's throat with a single bite!