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墨書 Inktalez
There is a saying that if two people are destined to meet, they will come together from a thousand miles away; if they are not fated, they will not recognize each other even when face to face. Another saying goes that when friends meet over wine, a thousand cups are too few, but if the conversation does not resonate, even a single sentence is too much. In this world, there are always moments of love at first sight. If fortunate, two hearts may reciprocate feelings and lament the late meeting; if not fated, one may suffer from unrequited love and be unable to attain what they seek.
The Jewel Girl and Zuo An seem to be those destined foes, connected by a tacit understanding. Their backgrounds are similar, their ages comparable, and their temperaments compatible. There were no flirtatious glances or romantic encounters; instead, they fought fiercely against each other with fists and blades, yet through this struggle, they forged a rare bond of true affection.
It is strange how some people can never win favor no matter how hard they try, while others can capture one's heart with just a glance—an enigma that even gods and spirits cannot comprehend.
As the Xu Zhen and her brothers separated to search for them, Zuo An and Gem retraced their steps and soon ran into each other. They hurriedly brought the two back to camp.
When Gou Renwu and the others saw Zuo An daring to escape, they were ready to teach him a lesson with fists and kicks. However, the Jewel Girl stood in front of them with hands on her hips, angrily shouting, "Who dares to touch my person!"
The group nearly fell over in shock. Gem was only fourteen years old; while not very young, she was still in her prime. The Princess Gaoyang had married at twelve, and a fourteen-year-old girl was at her most beautiful. Yet Gem clearly still had a youthful innocence about her. This sudden display left the brothers momentarily stunned.
The Xu Zhen was both amused and exasperated. She thought about how Zhou Cang had tried everything to pry information from Zuo An but had failed miserably, only to have the Jewel Girl subdue him instead.
Since it turned out this way, she was pleased and took both back for proper care. Upon hearing that Zuo An could pick locks among other skills, the Xu Zhen became intrigued and asked him to demonstrate. He proved to be exceptionally nimble.
Looking at the boy's fingers—long, fair, flexible—they were remarkably similar to hers; his index and middle fingers were even of equal length. Truly a promising candidate for practicing Illusion!
The Xu Zhen felt a surge of admiration for his talent and inquired about Zuo An's background. This lonely child held onto his dignity and was reluctant to share much but inadvertently revealed his status as an orphan during their conversation. After hearing about his experiences with Gem, she wished to take him as her apprentice.
The boy pouted in discontent, which infuriated Zhou Cang and the others. A master of Illusion like the Xu Zhen was sought after by many who wished to become her disciple; yet here was this boy who seemed unimpressed by their Lord!
The Xu Zhen remained unfazed. She extended her long fingers and made a grabbing motion in the air; suddenly, a rosy fruit appeared in her palm. She took a bite, juice flowing everywhere. Zuo An stared in astonishment before quickly dropping to his knees in awe, wishing he could call the Xu Zhen "father"!
Although Zuo An was more mature than most boys his age, he had received little education and held superstitious beliefs about gods and spirits. Witnessing the Xu Zhen's ability to create something from nothing left him profoundly shocked!
Zhou Cang and the others were equally amazed by the boy's ability to adapt quickly; such cleverness explained why he resonated so well with Gem.
As dawn broke in the east, the night watch Brothers breathed a sigh of relief, ready to leave their posts and prepare breakfast. Suddenly, someone emerged from the woods. Upon closer inspection, it was none other than the scout captured the previous night!
How could he be back here again in the middle of the night?
The alert Brothers quickly surrounded him. Zhang Suling hurriedly identified herself, but no one believed her. Eager to report her findings and too impatient to explain, she attempted to push her way inside. Just as tensions were about to escalate, Xue Rengui happened to be nearby inspecting the barracks and brought Zhang Suling in.
Zuo An had slept well through the night and was now recovering his energy while practicing Yoga Techniques with Xu Zhen to strengthen his muscles and bones. Being younger, he found it quite painful but was progressing smoothly. Just as he was about to share some basic skills, he heard that Zhang Suling had returned, prompting Xu Zhen to rush her young apprentice to the Main Tent.
Upon entering the tent, Zuo An was taken aback by the crowd inside. When he saw Zhang Suling looking just like himself, he was startled. As soon as Su Ling wiped off the flour from her face, revealing her delicate and charming appearance, Zuo An couldn't help but marvel in disbelief.
Seeing Xu Zhen present, Zhang Suling reported all the intelligence she had gathered from Yang Ting's camp. With Zuo An there, she recounted what the scouts had done to her, leaving Zuo An feeling disheartened and increasingly resentful towards Yang Ting and those scouts.
With Zhang Suling's information and Zuo An as a trusted ally, Xu Zhen quickly convened a strategy meeting with Zhang Jiunian, Xue Rengui, and others.
She had no intention of engaging with Youzhou's troops; however, Gao Lvxing's actions were intolerable. Yang Ting's relentless aggression—disguising themselves as bandits from the previous dynasty—was something Xu Zhen could not allow.
Gou Renwu also joined the discussion, demonstrating his meticulousness and familiarity with military tactics. With seasoned strategists like Zhang Jiunian present, they had a firm grasp on the overall situation.
Once their plans were finalized, they ordered the soldiers to prepare meals for sustenance on their journey towards Yingzhou. Aware of Yang Ting's ambush plan, they decided against setting up defenses along the way, tightening their ranks and maintaining a steady pace to conserve strength for what lay ahead.
After three days of marching, they finally left Youzhou's border behind. Ahead lay Dragon's Hollow, where Yang Ting had set their trap.
Crossing this narrow pass would lead them directly to Yingzhou's defenses; thus, Yang Ting planned an ambush here while masquerading as bandits from the previous dynasty. Even if they wiped out Xu Zhen's three hundred men, who would suspect Gao Lvxing?
To execute this ambush effectively, Gao Lvxing spared no expense; Yang Ting commanded eight hundred elite soldiers equipped with sturdy Mingguang Armor and exceptional horses. They were fully prepared for battle—waiting for Xu Zhen's forces to pass before launching their surprise attack. The slopes on either side were already stocked with rolling logs and boulders, while two hundred cavalrymen lay hidden on each flank—everything was in place!
In contrast, Xu Zhen ’s three hundred personal guards belonged to the Divine Fire Second Camp and were well-versed in using Jingzhe Thunder techniques. Given the long journey to Yingzhou and concerns about potential surprises along the way, Xu Zhen had brought ample Jingzhe Thunder supplies and slowed their pace accordingly. They crafted several throwing carts specifically designed for launching Jingzhe Thunder during their journey.
The Throwing Cart was designed collaboratively by Xu Zhen and Ginger Sage. Familiar with the inner workings, the soldiers from the personal guard had previously operated the Throwing Cart, making it easy for them to create one. They slowly dragged it behind the team, carefully covering it with a cloth for concealment.
Although it was not as powerful as those used in the Battle of Songzhou, this smaller Throwing Cart still had considerable force, enough to launch Jingzhe Thunder a mile away.
Yang Ting had been stationed at Dragon's Hollow for two days. Upon seeing Xu Zhen's main forces arrive, his spirits lifted. His soldiers, who had endured harsh conditions, were eager to charge into battle.
In the distance, about two miles away, a group of soldiers could be seen under the Tang Banner, with Xu Flag slightly behind. A dozen scouts led the way, their corner flags fluttering in the wind.
"Stay hidden! Capture those scouts!" Yang Ting commanded sharply. Xu Zhen was not a novice in warfare; she would undoubtedly send scouts ahead. Yang Ting had already made preparations to take down these scouts in the shortest time possible and then have his men don their uniforms to signal Xu Zhen from the mountain. This would ensure a foolproof plan to lure her into a trap.
However, his calculations were off because these scouts did not ascend the mountain. It seemed that Xu Zhen had not encountered any bandits along the way and had thus relaxed her vigilance.
As he watched the scouts rush back to their main camp, Yang Ting sneered. This made things even easier; once Xu Zhen entered the narrow pass, both sides' ambush troops would strike simultaneously with rolling stones and falling trees. The three hundred soldiers of Xu Zhen would surely suffer heavy losses, and when the flanking troops closed in, they could annihilate her forces entirely!
Thinking of Younger Brother Yang Kui's tragic death and his own disfigured face, rage ignited within Yang Ting like a blazing fire.
"Colonel Murong Xiao, they are about to enter Archer range!" his deputy reported excitedly. With just a command from Yang Ting, they could secure victory in this battle!
"Patience; what is there to fear from those who are doomed? Let them enter the narrow pass first, then we will ensure they have no way back!" Yang Ting said confidently, clenching his fist. The soldiers behind him began licking their lips greedily as they gazed at the approaching troop like headless corpses or a flock of sheep ready for slaughter.
"Prepare Rolling Logs and Boulders!"
Seeing Xu Zhen's main forces nearing the valley entrance, Yang Ting quickly issued orders. His deputy relayed military commands while secretly signaling the soldiers across from them; everything seemed to be under control!
Leading the charge was Xu Zhen, with Xue Rengui and Zhou Cang half a horse length behind. Gou Renwu was also determined not to lag behind and rode alongside Zhou Cang, his massive Rhinoceros Horn Bow at his back.
"Send word down the line for Brothers to prepare; the enemy has begun their deployment," Xu Zhen ordered confidently as she put away her sleeve.
"How did the General know that the enemy troops have already been deployed?" Gou Renwu, curious about what the Xu Zhen held in her hands, asked with a hint of confusion. It was clear that Xue Rengui and the others had already witnessed the Xu Zhen's possession, and they anticipated Gou Renwu's question, merely smiling without speaking.
The Xu Zhen did not take offense; she smiled and handed over the item. Gou Renwu examined it closely and saw that it was made of five polished bamboo sections connected together, gradually increasing in size and capable of being extended or retracted. The front and back were fitted with polished concave-convex crystal stones.
Gou Renwu was also a clever person. Having seen the Xu Zhen use it before, he pulled out the sections one by one, closed his left eye, and placed the device in front of his right eye. Upon looking through it, he was immediately struck by a wave of astonishment!
This small device seemed to contain the world within; it brought distant mountains into view. Through this device, he could see the enemy troops lying in ambush on the mountain. Not only could he see them signaling each other and transmitting military orders, but he could even recognize the faces of the hidden soldiers clearly!
"What is this! It is truly remarkable!" Gou Renwu carefully held the device, afraid that he might accidentally damage this extraordinary item. The others watched him with admiration for their Lord, their faces breaking into smiles. Zhang Jiunian chuckled and explained.
"This is a clever tool crafted by our Lord, called the Thousand-Mile Eye."
"The Thousand-Mile Eye!" Gou Renwu exclaimed in amazement. Having previously witnessed the power of Jingzhe Thunder, he held great respect for the Xu Zhen. Now seeing such an ingenious item, he was utterly in awe of her!
The Xu Zhen did not let it go to her head; she waved her hand modestly and then turned to her brothers behind her, raising her fist in a rallying cry.
"Brothers! Let these fake bandits witness the might of the Divine Fire Camp!"
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