Chapter 46: Great Victory, Summoning, and Ambush
Qin Sang, fully immersed in his play, summoned the Ice Silkworm Armor. Drawing a sharp sword from the side, he thrust it forward with all his might.
Unexpectedly, the sword's tip barely touched the armor before it automatically slid off to the side. This happened several times in a row, and not a single mark was left on the armor.
What a treasure indeed!
Qin Sang thought, unable to put it down. He studied it for a long time and discovered that when he wore the Ice Silkworm Armor and infused it with spiritual power, a thin layer of frost-like mist would appear around his body, enveloping him completely. This mist seemed to enhance the armor’s defensive capabilities.
Moreover, the spiritual power consumption of this Ice Silkworm Armor was far less terrifying than that of the Purple Soul Bell. Qin Sang could sustain it for a long time.
This made Qin Sang extremely happy. With this armor, even if he encountered an innate stage expert like Saint Yuanjue in the future, he wouldn’t have to fear being caught off guard.
…
"General, a person claiming to be a messenger from the commandery lady has brought a secret letter and requested a meeting with you!"
Qin Sang was in the middle of his cultivation when he was startled awake by the soldier outside the door. Frowning slightly, he pushed the door open and stepped outside.
The morning sun had just risen, casting a dazzling glow at the end of the Lingshui River. The air in Raven's Mouth was filled with the lingering scent of something burnt.
After encountering the youth surnamed Han, it took another ten days before they cleared the ancient path. To their surprise, they found the defenses at Raven's Mouth remarkably weak. Sensing the opportunity, Qin Sang only took a brief rest before leading his three regiments to storm Raven's Mouth.
The defenders at Raven's Mouth never expected the enemy to appear from behind. In their panic, they put up a brief resistance before surrendering entirely.
Unexpectedly, the fake emperor's army reacted swiftly. Just three days after Qin Sang took control of Raven's Mouth, they gathered their forces and launched a counterattack by boat. At that time, General Feng’s main army had yet to arrive, leaving Qin Sang with no choice but to hold out for several days before burning all the grain stores and retreating into the mountains.
Despite this, the final outcome wasn’t affected. The defenders of Guling Pass, now cut off from their supplies and with their rear path severed, soon faced internal rebellion. A high-ranking general willingly acted as an insider and opened the city gates to surrender.
With the situation now under control, Qin Sang and General Feng merged their forces, rounding up the remnants of the fake emperor's troops and stabilizing the region. Their combined strength was now even greater than that of the Might and Brave Regiments combined.
The news of their victory had been sent back half a month ago, but Qin Sang wasn’t sure why the commandery lady had sent someone with a secret letter.
When he met the messenger, Qin Sang took the secret letter and read it carefully, pondering over it for a long time.
The letter stated that upon hearing of the great victory, the Dongyang King was overjoyed.
The Might Regiment would be renamed the Victorious Regiment, with Deputy Commander Feng promoted to Left Military Commander of the Victorious Regiment, while Qin Sang was promoted to Right Military Commander of the Brave Regiment, replacing the previous Military Commander Mu. The meritorious officials mentioned in the victory report would also receive substantial rewards.
Moreover, the king highly valued Qin Sang. The eldest prince had spoken highly of him before the king, and the king intended to summon Qin Sang to Zhaoyang Commandery. The commandery lady advised him to go to Zhaoyang Commandery to meet the king before assuming his new position.
Though the letter merely stated the facts, Qin Sang could sense a deeper, unspoken meaning.
Would the eldest prince really be so kind as to speak well of him?
Qin Sang sneered inwardly. News of his encounter with an immortal had already spread within the camp, with all sorts of rumors circulating. However, the story about the immortal master gifting him a treasure was consistent across all accounts, detailed and believable.
He didn't believe the eldest prince wouldn’t have spies within the Might Regiment.
With the Ice Silkworm Armor protecting him, Qin Sang naturally wasn’t afraid of any schemes the prince might have. If the prince dared to extend his claws, Qin Sang would cut them off and make him taste real pain!
"Chuanzong, prepare the horses!"
Qin Sang called upon Wu Chuanzong, Water Monkey, and other officers who would accompany him to take up his post at the Brave Regiment. After bidding farewell to Military Commander Feng, he rode back to Pingshan Commandery first and then headed straight to Zhaoyang Commandery.
The Dongyang King’s palace was situated in Ming City, where Zhaoyang Commandery and Xitai Commandery bordered each other. Qin Sang rode non-stop, taking ten days to reach Ming City.
However, upon entering Ming City, Qin Sang didn’t rush to meet the king. Instead, he instructed Water Monkey to report to the Lady while he found a place to stay, locking himself in for secluded cultivation.
With no shortage of Soul Pills, he cultivated continuously until he finally felt the bottleneck of the fourth stage of the Netherworld Scripture. Qin Sang was unsure how difficult this breakthrough would be, leaving him with some anxiety.
To his surprise, this time Qin Sang didn’t encounter much difficulty. It took only two days for him to successfully break through the stage. The unpredictable nature of the Netherworld Scripture left Qin Sang puzzled.
…
"Qin Sang pays respects to the King and the young prince."
After successfully breaking through, Qin Sang went to meet the commandery lady, who then escorted him into the royal palace.
The Dongyang King had not yet declared himself emperor, so he was still addressed as "King."
"General Qin, I heard that you arrived in Ming City three days ago, yet you only came to see my father now. Did you encounter some trouble?" The eldest prince asked with a seemingly concerned tone.
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty," Qin Sang replied calmly, "After receiving the summons, I rode day and night to get here as quickly as possible. I was covered in dust and in a rather disheveled state. I feared disturbing Your Majesty, so I took some time to clean up before coming to pay my respects."
The King, who appeared to be in his fifties with a small goatee and the face of a scholar, laughed heartily upon hearing this. "I, too, am a rough man who fought battles on horseback. Do you think I’d be frightened by you? Someone, quickly bring a seat and tea for General Qin. With General Qin’s wisdom and bravery, repeatedly achieving remarkable feats, how could I not succeed in my grand endeavor with his support?"
Qin Sang bowed slightly. "Your humble servant dares not take credit! Whatever I have achieved is entirely due to the guidance and care of Your Majesty and the commandery lady. I wouldn’t dare to claim any merit."
After Qin Sang spoke, he noticed a brief flash of displeasure on the eldest prince's face, but he pretended not to see it.
The Dongyang King smiled and patted the small hand of the Dongyang Lady affectionately. "Anning certainly has a keen eye, but General Qin, you shouldn’t underestimate yourself."
"Indeed," the eldest prince suddenly interjected, "Even the immortal master holds General Qin in high regard, proving that General Qin is truly a rare talent! I heard that before the immortal master left, he bestowed a treasure upon General Qin. Might we have the honor of seeing it, so that my father and I can admire it?"
Here it comes!
Sensing the greed in the eldest prince's gaze, Qin Sang sneered inwardly.
As long as his spiritual consciousness was linked with the Ice Silkworm Armor, he could retract it with just a thought. It wouldn’t hurt to let them see it, but he couldn’t simply hand it over the moment the eldest prince asked.
Qin Sang glanced at the Lady, only to see her lean closer to the Dongyang King, speaking in a delicate voice, "Father, every treasure you’ve ever bestowed upon me, I’ve cherished and handled with great care. I wouldn't dare to bring them out lightly, for fear of damaging them and incurring your wrath. I’ve heard that those immortal masters have strange tempers, quick to anger, and prone to violence. If they were to take offense and blame us, wouldn’t that be a great loss?"
The Dongyang King hesitated for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Those things are yours to handle as you please since I gave them to you, Anning. They are merely worldly possessions, and I would never blame you. But Anning is right. Since it was a gift from the immortal master to General Qin, you must take good care of it and not treat it lightly."
"Understood!"
After attending a banquet at the Dongyang King’s palace, Qin Sang later went to the Lady’s residence for a private discussion. The next day, he left the city, carrying the tiger tally and other items, and rode to the Brave Regiment in Guize Commandery to take up his new post.
Riding swiftly throughout the day and traveling under the stars at night, Qin Sang was galloping through a forest when he suddenly heard a sharp whistle. He abruptly pulled on the reins and called out coldly, "Be careful, there are assassins!"
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