Chapter Fifty-Four: The Soul-Chasing Crimson Lotus

Murong Yan was about to charge forward to face the demon general when suddenly someone called out from behind her, “Marshal, there’s no need to risk yourself for such a petty thief. Allow me to go in your stead and kill him!”

Turning, Murong Yan saw it was Mu Shijin, who had just reined in his horse and was observing the enemy from the rear.

Previously, Murong Yan had underestimated Mu Shijin, but after Mu Shijin’s infiltration of the enemy camp to persuade Xiao Ling to surrender, and his defeat of Hua Buli, she had come to recognize his true abilities and promoted him to general.

Now, seeing him volunteer to face the enemy, she felt completely at ease.

Mu Shijin rode to the front of the formation, where the man surnamed Lu stood, clad in thick armor that concealed even his face. “Coward!” Mu Shijin shouted. “Why do you hide your face, afraid to show your true self?”

Lu Youxiong retorted, “Fool! Why should you care whether I wear a mask or not? Face my blade!” With that, he swung his saber.

Mu Shijin turned his horse aside, dodging the blow, and using the momentum, circled behind Lu Youxiong.

As Lu Youxiong spun his horse around, two identical Xiang Buer suddenly appeared before him.

One Xiang Buer shouted, “Lu Youxiong, what are you doing? How could you let this enemy general take on my appearance? Kill him at once!”

The other cried, “General Lu, I am the real one, he’s a fake! Quickly, kill the imposter!”

For a moment, Lu Youxiong couldn’t tell which was real, caught in a quandary.

With the two Xiang Buers arguing furiously, he hesitated, unsure where to strike with his blade.

Suddenly, one Xiang Buer drew his saber and slashed at himself—so swiftly it was almost impossible to evade!

Lu Youxiong, quick-witted, ducked his head and avoided the strike. At the same instant, he flipped his wrist, raised his heavy saber, and brought it down toward the false Xiang Buer.

The imposter leapt backward and laughed, “Lu Youxiong, you’re impressive indeed. How did you know I was the fake?”

Lu Youxiong snorted coldly. “My commander never speaks to me in such a tone. And even if you can change your appearance, can you change your horse and weapon too? You think you can fool me? Overconfident fool!”

The false Xiang Buer burst out laughing. “That was my oversight! Lu Youxiong, well done. I’m no match for you—farewell!” He wheeled his horse to retreat.

But Lu Youxiong would not allow it. “Where do you think you’re going?” he shouted, tearing the red lotus amulet from his waist and holding it in his hand.

Secretly focusing his mind, the red lotus immediately expanded to the size of a round shield.

“Go!”

With a flick of his wrist, Lu Youxiong hurled it into the air.

The red lotus spun rapidly and quickly closed in on Mu Shijin.

With a sharp “puff!” sound, a plume of white smoke burst from its base.

Mu Shijin swayed atop his horse, teetered, then cried out, “Ah!” and tumbled from the saddle.

His horse had barely taken two steps before it, too, let out a strange whinny and collapsed with a thud.

“General Mu!” the soldiers cried in shock.

Xiao Ling’s eyes reddened with rage. “Villain, return my Brother Mu to me!” he shouted, brandishing his spear and charging forward.

“General Xiao, come back! Don’t rush into battle!” Ye Feng called out, trying to stop him—but it was too late.

Before Xiao Ling could reach the enemy, Lu Youxiong had already summoned the red lotus again.

It spun through the air and hovered over Xiao Ling’s head.

Another sharp “puff!”—white smoke erupted once more.

Xiao Ling swayed atop his horse, cried out, and fell to the ground.

But his white horse, fleet of foot, had already bolted away, fleeing wildly before the smoke could touch it.

“Lu Youxiong, finish them both!” Xiang Buer crowed from horseback, so delighted he nearly fell from his saddle. His first sortie outside the city, and victory in both opening skirmishes—so much for the famed rebel army! All his previous worries about Lu Youxiong’s abilities seemed laughable now.

He gave the order for a ruthless slaughter, desperate to vent his hatred by annihilating the rebels.

Lu Youxiong hesitated, but an order was an order—he had no choice.

He raised his massive saber.

Ye Feng saw that he had no choice but to act. If he didn’t intervene now, both his brothers would lose their heads.

“Spare them!” he shouted, urging his iron-gray stallion forward to rescue Mu Shijin and Xiao Ling.

“Brother Feng!” Murong Yan was terrified. If Mu Shijin and Xiao Ling were already lost, why was Ye Feng throwing himself into danger as well? If anything happened to him, she’d be widowed before ever marrying.

But it was too late to stop him. Ye Feng was already before Lu Youxiong.

Lu Youxiong was taken aback—Ye Feng’s reputation was legendary. He hadn’t expected to face him today.

No, he needed to be cautious. He’d use his treasure, the Soul-Chasing Red Lotus, to poison Ye Feng and then take his head—surely Xiang Buer would trust him even more then.

“Come, then!” he shouted, removing the red lotus from his waist and holding it up.

With a focused thought, the red lotus expanded instantly.

“Strike!”

He hurled it into the air. It spun rapidly, flying straight toward Ye Feng and hovering above his head.

A sharp “puff!”—white smoke burst forth.

“Brother Feng!”

“Vice Marshal Ye!”

Murong Yan and all the soldiers cried out in alarm, fearing a gruesome end.

But Ye Feng, unscathed, charged forward as if nothing had happened.

Lu Youxiong was dumbstruck. The Soul-Chasing Red Lotus had never failed before—how could it be useless now?

Murong Yan was stunned as well, then suddenly remembered—Ye Feng had taken the miraculous antidote, the Nine Fragrant Dew of Pure Jade. He was now immune to all poisons. What a needless fright she’d suffered!

But the others didn’t know this, especially the rebel soldiers. Seeing Ye Feng’s fearless valor, they felt as if a heavenly general had descended among them.

Their spirits soared, and they raised their weapons, shouting in unison, “Ye Feng! Ye Feng! Ye Feng!”

Someone cried out, “Invincible and immortal, our own Ye Feng, Vice Marshal Ye!”

The shouts grew louder, more unified, echoing across the battlefield in a rolling wave.

Lu Youxiong was terrified, fumbling to direct the red lotus with his mind, trying to envelop Ye Feng in poison gas.

Ye Feng could withstand it, but his horse could not.

With a strange whinny, the horse collapsed to the ground.

But Ye Feng had anticipated this. As his mount fell, he rolled deftly to the ground, drew his twin whips from his waist, and shouted, “Divide!”

Summoning his power, a second Ye Feng and a fire dragon split from his body, charging toward the enemy.

The duplicate Ye Feng seized a spear and rushed at Xiang Buer.

The fire dragon grew from illusion to substance, swelling to ten fathoms long and as thick as a barrel, wreathed in blazing flames as it swept toward the demon soldiers.

Ye Feng himself brandished his whips and leaped at Lu Youxiong.

Xiang Buer, terrified, spun his horse and fled, shouting, “Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!”

Lu Youxiong saw Ye Feng’s ferocity and realized he stood no chance if he stayed—he shouted, “Retreat!” turned his horse, and galloped for the city.

The rest of the soldiers, already panic-stricken, saw both their commanders flee and thought, Better run now or it’ll be too late! They broke formation and stampeded toward the city, scrambling for their lives.

The rebel forces prepared to give chase, but Ye Feng waved them back. “Do not pursue a desperate foe. Carry Generals Mu Shijin and Xiao Ling—we withdraw!”

Murong Yan and Ye Feng led the army thirty miles back before making camp.

Once settled, they visited the infirmary, where Mu Shijin and Xiao Ling lay unconscious, faces blackened, jaws clenched, beyond the help of army physicians. The officers were at a loss.

Murong Yan frowned, thinking for a moment before ordering the men to watch over the two generals carefully. She would go to Mount Cuixia to beg for a cure.

But Xu Yaozu stopped her.

The old hero spoke gravely, “Yan’er, I see worry on your face. Is the immortal herb so hard to borrow?”

Murong Yan nodded and recounted the previous events in detail.

Xu Yaozu laughed heartily. “In that case, you needn’t go. I’ll go in your stead. Besides, how could the army manage without its marshal?”

Murong Yan was still uneasy. “Master, that old Lady Furong is formidable. Do you have a plan?”

Xu Yaozu puffed out his belly and thumped his chest. “Don’t worry! What problem in this world could stump your master? I’ll go and return right away, and bring back the immortal herb!”

True to his word, Xu Yaozu bade farewell to the officers, summoned his Zaoyang Pike, and soared into the air toward Mount Cuixia.

But as he rose into the sky and the cold wind struck his face, he began to regret it.

What now? Truth be told, he had no idea how to borrow the immortal herb. He’d only offered because he couldn’t bear to see Murong Yan so anxious. But now that he’d made a promise, how could he fulfill it?

Oh, as the saying goes, “When the cart reaches the mountain, there’ll be a way; when the boat reaches the bridge, it will go straight.” He’d just have to see what happened.

So thinking, Xu Yaozu soon found himself above Mount Cuixia.

Looking down, he saw a vast stretch of mountains, ridge upon ridge, dense with ancient trees and rare flowers. The mountain paths were nearly impossible to find. If Murong Yan hadn’t explained the location clearly, how could he hope to find anyone here?

He wasn’t flustered, though. Following Murong Yan’s directions, he landed, found a small path, and soon arrived at a grand residence with red walls and green tiles.

Only then did Xu Yaozu catch his breath. He dusted himself off, straightened his clothes, and stepped forward to knock on the door, ready to borrow the immortal herb to dispel the poison.