Chapter 380 - 208: The Passing of Jianghu

Chapter 380: Chapter 208: The Passing of Jianghu

"We... we won?" Ri Di asked in astonishment.

"No." Zheng Xiu’s face was pale as he gazed into the distance. The retreating Western Regions army hadn’t withdrawn completely. Instead, they had planted their shields in the ruined town, maintaining formation—defensive, but not attacking.

The stalemate lasted for half the day. By dusk, Xie Yunliu could no longer restrain himself and led a charge.

"KILL!"

However, their camels were merely for transport, not for battle. As Xie Yunliu charged, the enemy waved their flags once more. The thunderous roll of war drums erupted, and the startled camels instantly became uncontrollable, throwing the hundred-man Divine Martial Army’s Military Array into disarray.

After scattering the camels, the enemy unleashed a volley of arrows on Xie Yunliu’s hundred-man unit. Gritting his teeth, Xie Yunliu leaped into the air. His long saber moved like a dragon, swirling currents of air to deflect a wave of arrows. His heroic display was comparable to Xie Luohe fighting at full strength.

But even someone as valiant as Xie Yunliu could not block a rain of arrows alone. During the retreat, six men died and over ten were wounded. The hundred-man unit scurried back into the valley in disgrace.

After stationing themselves in Richan Town, the Western Regions army was in no hurry to attack. Their commander seemed to know that Richan Valley’s terrain was treacherous, making it easy to defend but difficult to assault.

The town’s wide streets, however, were perfect for a large army’s charge. Having lost their mounts, Xie Yunliu’s infantry unit could do little on a battlefield against a stable enemy formation. They could only hole up in the valley, trapped and unable to advance or retreat.

The stalemate lasted for ten days.

「Sunrise, sunset.」

Since yesterday, a dense bank of gray clouds had been hovering in the distance beyond the Great Desert. It was as if a massive lid had been placed over the sands, pressing down from the heavens.

The Sun Tribe was now facing two obvious problems.

First, a sandstorm was approaching from the Great Desert. Normally, with Richan Valley as a natural barrier, they had no reason to fear it. But if the valley were to be breached with a sandstorm raging at their backs, they would truly have nowhere left to run.

Second was supplies. While they could send people to the nearest oasis for water, their food stores were beginning to run desperately low, making it difficult to hold out.

The Western Regions army sent troops to harass them from time to time, but the moment the Sun Tribe put up any stiff resistance, they would immediately withdraw, never committing to a real battle. The war had devolved into a bizarre state of affairs: the smaller force was ready to fight to the death, while the larger one was acting absurdly timid.

"They’re trying to wear us down."

During their nightly war council, while keeping a wary eye on the Western Regions army’s movements, Xie Yunliu stated his thoughts with a grim expression.

Zheng Xiu, Ri Di, Xie Luohe, and Fan Yao all exchanged a glance.

Then they all stared at Xie Yunliu in amazement.

Fan Yao said in surprise, "You’re... just now figuring that out?"

Zheng Xiu sighed. "Isn’t it obvious?"

Xie Luohe’s spirits were low. "They seem to be waiting for something."

Xie Luohe hadn’t fired a single arrow since the war began, for reasons unknown. She had become quiet and taciturn, a stark contrast to her usual self—like a completely different person. Her sudden words seemed to spark an idea in Zheng Xiu, who thought of a possibility. "Waiting for Arturo?"

Ri Di asked, puzzled, "He’s not dead yet?"

Fan Yao asked, "Arturo? Who’s that?"

Zheng Xiu stroked his beard, muttering. "What would they be waiting for him for? No, it’s very likely. Arturo mentioned the words ’Buddha Reincarnation.’ It seems the people from the Western Regions refer to Mystics as ’Buddha Reincarnations.’ If Arturo is still alive, he’d know the power of a Mystic. Their objective isn’t just a single valley; they want to breach this point with minimal losses and push straight into the Central Plains. After all, beyond Richan Valley, they still have to face the boundless Great Desert and whatever fierce resistance they might encounter in the Central Plains. If I were the Brake King, I’d also be trying to find a way to take this place with the least possible cost."

Upon hearing this, even though Zheng Xiu hadn’t answered his question directly, Fan Yao pieced it together. ’So Arturo must be a Mystic from the Western Regions. He crossed paths with Zheng Xiu and his wife before and probably got the pulp beaten out of him.’ Thinking this, a strange smile appeared on Fan Yao’s face. "Using a Mystic to fight a Mystic? Heh, that’s highly likely."

The others looked at each other. The more they considered it, the more plausible it seemed. But for the moment, they couldn’t think of any way to counter it.

They could either retreat or fight to the last man, but both options were almost certain death.

「Another ten days passed.」

Ri Di had his men at the rear cook several pots of leaf soup. A few thin slices of meat floated on the surface.

The gray clouds over the Great Desert drew even closer.

The sandstorm was heading directly for Richan Valley.

The stalemate inside and outside the valley continued, with both sides suffering casualties. If this war of attrition dragged on, the annihilation of the Sun Tribe was only a matter of time.

But on that tenth day, something changed.

A group of people arrived from the Central Plains, as if chased by the sandstorm itself.

The Sun Tribe was on high alert, jumpy at every sound. So Ri Di and the others immediately noticed another unfamiliar party approaching from the Central Plains, having crossed the Great Desert.

The party numbered several hundred. A banner fluttered from the back of the lead camel.

On the banner was a single character: "Chu."

"HAHAHA!"

The moment Xie Yunliu saw the banner, he started vigorously rubbing his bald head. With a mouthful of chewed leaves, he began to laugh and cry, jumping on the spot and waving wildly at the distant figures.

"Old Chu! Old Chu! It’s Old Chu!"

A short while later, the party that had crossed the Great Desert reached the eastern entrance of the valley.

The man in the lead threw back his heavy cloak. His dark skin was caked with dust, his thick beard was a tangled knot, and his dry hair was a messy bird’s nest. But beneath his exhausted expression, his eyes were resolute and bright.

This Chu Chengfeng bore no trace of his former glory as the "Third Young Master." He looked no different from a beggar on the street.

Chu Chengfeng grinned, dismounted his camel, and scanned the crowd. He first pulled Xie Yunliu into a heavy embrace, then his eyes landed on Zheng Xiu, and he froze. He angrily smacked Xie Yunliu’s bald head and roared, "Why didn’t you tell me Younger Brother Gongsun was here?"