Chen Ping's Sword

Just stared blankly at Chen Ping, unable to look away.

"Hua Lian’er."

Chen Ping’s gaze was complex.

With one glance, he saw through the little girl in front of him, frostbitten internally, her spirit and True Qi severely depleted.

Traces of killing intent still lingered on her body. Presumably, she fought her way out of Jinghai Camp.

Recalling some news he’d heard, Chen Ping felt a fear deep within.

If he hadn’t dispatched forces immediately upon hearing the news, any delay might have meant never seeing her again.

Seeing Hua Lian’er’s frail and sorrowful expression, Chen Ping held back from asking what happened, why two powerful Unity Realm experts were hunting her.

Nor did he ask why her Sword Technique and cultivation had suddenly become so strong.

These things could be discussed slowly, but some things couldn’t be delayed.

He raised his hand, and the Black Dragon Sword, as if entwined by thousands of threads, flew back to him.

Taking a deep breath, his Cyan Wood Longevity Skill flared into operation.

The Spiritual Qi of the surrounding plants transformed into tiny green lights, converging into a green Changhe and merging into his palm, which he then placed on Ji Mingyue’s shoulder.

Vitality roared and surged within her, infusing her organs, limbs, and body.

The Xuan Bing frostbite on Ji Mingyue’s body dissipated almost entirely in moments, as a warm energy, like the morning sun of spring, soothed her meridians, nurtured her bones and blood, creating waves of ripples, healing her hidden wounds.

In just one breath, the injury was eighty-nine percent healed; the rest posed no major issue and would soon fully recover.

"Seventh Brother, your skills have grown so much?"

Ji Mingyue was first utterly shocked, looking at Chen Ping as if she didn’t recognize him, but then immense joy surged from her heart. Familiarity gradually returned, her eyes softened, and she smiled like blooming flowers.

No wonder they said to ambush Seventh Brother to lure him out; it seemed odd at the time, but now it makes sense.

"Of course, Hua Lian’er, didn’t you hear any Jianghu rumors or discussions about Xingqing Prefecture’s situation in the Jinghai Navy Camp? Your Seventh Brother is not what he once was and can protect you now."

Chen Ping laughed cheerfully, his eyes holding a hint of defiance.

He was merely asking casually.

He knew well that King Jinghai Ji Changlie, though ambitious, was cowardly and narrow-minded. Moreover, due to their enmity, it was impossible for him to tell his daughter about the impressive feats achieved in Xingqing Prefecture.

It’s remarkable if he didn’t smear his name by calling him a despicable person.

And within the Jinghai Army, without Ji Changlie’s permission, no one dared speak lightly.

Therefore, Ji Mingyue likely knew little of outside events.

She might have even thought he was just a small apprentice hiding his identity at the Primordial Martial Arts Hall.

At most, she might speculate from some external circumstances that he was progressing rapidly.

That’s why she was so surprised to see him again.

"For an ambush, they need to have the capability first."

Chen Ping had long been mentally prepared.

Whether it was the Little Commandery Princess Mingyue’s marriage alliance or the exodus of 300,000 civilians southward, there were hints of the unusual.

The implications cannot bear too much thought.

Once pondered deeply, the purpose of the Beizhou Hu Cavalry becomes clearer.

For the Fourth Prince of Beizhou, was Little Commandery Princess Mingyue important? Not at all.

Could those civilians fleeing Lii City really escape when pursued by the 100,000 Rushing Wolf Cavalry?

With their families in tow, how fast could they really flee?

Two legs can’t outrun four.

But why were these messages trickling into his ears?

It seemed as though they were waiting for him to come.

The reasoning is simple.

The opposite party’s tactic was to ’lure the snake out of its hole.’

After several victories in Xingqing Prefecture, not only had the territory expanded, but it also subjugated the Hexi Cui Family, acquiring a large number of soldiers and supplies, with the potential for war growing as frantically as an inflated balloon.

In fact, this was entirely true.

In the past, Xingqing Prefecture could barely support a force of five or six thousand; losing even one battle would leave them with nothing.

Now, Xingqing Prefecture could organize an army of 200,000 infantry and cavalry, and even with one or two losses, they wouldn’t be fatally affected.

Because, as one of the Thirteen Noble Families, the Hexi Cui had an abundance of money, supplies, and soldiers.

War is essentially a matter of funds and foundation.

With the Azure Dragon Seal in hand, once Chen Ping filled in the last shortfall of money and supplies, he immediately rose to become one of the hardest to conquer lords in the realm.

Though occupying only one county and three prefectures, not vast territory, it could certainly be considered a hard bone capable of breaking teeth.

Moreover, Chen Ping held deep animosity toward Beizhou, with no possibility of compromise.

When the two sides met, it would always be a life-and-death situation.

Under such circumstances, even the 100,000 Beizhou Rushing Wolf Cavalry wouldn’t want a direct clash with the forces of Xingqing Prefecture.

Because it wasn’t worthwhile.

The people of Jiangnan might be weak-minded, and their combat strength poor.

But the territory was vast.

There wasn’t just one enemy in Xingqing Prefecture.

King Jinghai’s secretive maneuvers weren’t worth discussing for now.

Further south of Xingqing Prefecture were the Vice Capital Youjing and the land of the southern three prefectures.

In the southeast, the East Royal Lord sat with his nearly 300,000 troops, waiting for suitable terms.

In the southwest, the Seven Fiends Celestial Net was preparing for battle in full swing.

Even though the East Wood Army and the Celestial Net Army were perpetually entangled with the Vice Capital True Martial King’s forces, in a seemingly mortal enmity.

Yet, should the Beizhou Hu Cavalry invade, their reactions couldn’t be easily predicted.

If Beizhou gained an absolute advantage, these forces would naturally surrender en masse.

But if Beizhou’s troops were severely diminished in clashes with Xingqing Prefecture, the Vice Capital Youjing might then become a hard bone itself.

The two ’Rebel Armies’ might also transform from sheep to tigers.

Thousands of thoughts and notions flashed quickly through his mind.

After infusing Hua Lian’er’s body with Heaven and Earth Vitality, transformed into Cyan Wood Longevity Healing True Qi, and seeing her condition greatly improve, Chen Ping was at ease, smiling: "Watch me slay these two Grandmasters to celebrate our reunion."

As he spoke, he sank slightly, his legs stomping heavily on the ground.

As the stones beneath collapsed, his body shot skyward like a firework rocket.

The sword’s howl roared, turning into a streak of golden light, spanning a hundred zhang in a single bound.

Elder Xuan Bing had just emerged from the hillside, spewing blood frantically, when a flash of golden light appeared before him.

Before he could see clearly, his head had already flown.

"There’s still one more, it’s best to pursue the remaining foes with vigor..."

Chen Ping glanced up and saw a distant black cloud swirling madly as it fled, further beyond, a densely packed army assembled over several li.

That was the Jinghai Army.

"Worthy of the name Jinghai, the experts are numerous, and military might is formidable, yet they prefer not to fight the Hu People. What use is there in drilling such a strong army?"

Chen Ping’s eyes grew cold, body and sword as one, drawing on Heaven and Earth Vitality, transforming into a roaring Golden Dragon.

He moved faster and faster, his momentum growing increasingly larger, directly pursuing the black cloud, charging straight into the military array.