Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
In May, which should belong to "Plum Blossoms Welcoming the Rain" and the vastness of late spring in Jiangnan, Tuguhun lacks the yellow plum rain of May. The rain in Tuguhun is as unpredictable as the temperament of the Tubo people; it can lead to deep friendships formed by chance encounters, where one would spare no effort to share their innermost thoughts, or it can turn into enmity over a single disagreement, with violence erupting without hesitation.
May in Tuguhun is a rainy season, particularly known for its nighttime downpours. No matter how hot the days may be, the nights are often filled with torrential rain, sometimes even hail.
Today's rain is unusual, but who would care about this rain?
Amidst the white curtain of rain, a naked man slowly steps out of a bamboo basket. The rain washes his body clean, revealing his fair and slender physique completely.
His figure appears slightly lean; he does not possess bulging muscles like a mountain nor prominent veins. However, faint lines outline his chest and abdomen, with broad shoulders and long arms that are proportionate, resembling a young cheetah. Beneath his not-so-full body lies an explosive strength!
The people of Tuguhun were originally quite carefree. Although Buddhism was introduced and spiritual beliefs began to take root, leading to a gradual tightening of social norms, attitudes towards interactions between men and women remained relatively relaxed. Yet at this moment, regardless of gender or social status—whether among the commoners below or the princess on stage—all eyes are fixed on the naked body of Xu Zhen.
Their gazes carry no lewd thoughts or malice; they are as pure as the sky after rain, like the snowmelt from sacred mountains. Such looks only appear when they worship Buddha.
In such a devout nation, Xu Zhen has created this "Miracle," leaving even notorious killers like Qiang Bang Se utterly stunned. Who could possibly dissent?
Even someone as wise as Lu Dongzan cannot fathom how Xu Zhen achieved such a miraculous feat. The Ancients believed in spirits and gods, and Tuguhun is a deeply faithful place; who would dare to doubt Xu Zhen now?
Even those who participated in this plan—Caesar, Zhang Suling, and Left Dark and Jewel—are left dumbfounded. They know this plan was fraught with danger; if Xu Zhen had not acted swiftly enough to free himself from the shackles and copper rings around his neck and wrists within a short time frame, it would have been him who met a gruesome end.
Old Black initially intended to collect Xu Zhen's remains, filled with sorrow. But now he stands alongside Zhou Cang, observing Xu Zhen with an oddly profound gaze as if he sees someone who should not exist in this world.
Old Black holds Xu Zhen's armor and long sword along with his belongings. He bends down to approach Xu Zhen and slowly helps him don his attire, like a kind old father welcoming home his wandering child.
Whether it is Qiang Bang Se or Mundoer Kui, or even the Imperial Guards and the crowd below, no one dares to make a sound. Only the sound of pouring rain fills the air; any noise they might make would seem disrespectful and blasphemous towards Xu Zhen.
It is only when Xu Zhen dons the general's armor and secures the long sword at his waist that he opens his arms to the crowd below, prompting an eruption of cheers akin to a raging flood!
Xu Zhen knows that his plan has succeeded. Although he still feels a lingering fear and his heart has yet to calm down, achieving such success on his first attempt at using Seven Sacred Blades Illusion shows him just how powerful Illusion can be in this ancient land steeped in superstition.
He resembles a phoenix reborn from ashes or a Divine Child resurrected from death; every word and action of his will be immortalized by these devout people into classics or songs that will resonate across every corner of the world!
The audience was not just composed of the Tubo People; it also gathered travelers from various tribes and small nations, as well as envoys from many countries, and spies from different nations hidden among the Street Folk. It was believed that the Miracle of the Xu Zhen, who had come back to life, would soon spread across the world.
This was a miracle witnessed by all, and for Xu Zhen, creating this miracle was both a means of salvation and a way to gain power. This power was not military might, but it was even stronger than military force: it was the will of the people.
Perhaps an ordinary person or soldier would have no resistance, but the strength that comes from the unity of the people is unmatched by any army. With belief, they would possess endless courage, fearless and unwavering. This courage could empower them to take up swords and create a force greater than any army.
The Xu Zhen knew exactly what she wanted. Her entire plan served this purpose. Qiang Bang Se also understood her intentions and knew he could not allow her to succeed; otherwise, his hard-earned throne would become his tombstone.
"He is a demon! He is an evil spirit! Kill him! Kill him!" Qiang Bang Se was terrified himself, yet he understood that if he did not kill the Xu Zhen now, it would be him who would die later.
Most of the Imperial Guards were his loyal followers, yet these individuals also came from tribal territories. Among them were not only high monks of Buddhism but also the most primitive shamans and some followers of Bon Religion.
Regardless of their faith, the Miracle of the Xu Zhen would show them a scene that could never happen in this world, directly validating that their beliefs were not mere illusions.
Thus, they could no longer obey Qiang Bang Se's orders. However, there were some who were his own kin. After Qiang Bang Se took control of Tuguhun, he rose to power while his relatives gained high positions and vast territories.
With Qiang Bang Se's direct line already killed, he even considered adopting a child from his clan's direct relatives. This idea made his kin even more fervently loyal to him.
Their interests were now tied to Qiang Bang Se's success. So when those Imperial Guards hesitated to act, Qiang Bang Se's relatives—whether Imperial Guards or military officials participating in the execution—drew their weapons and surged toward the platform!
"Kill him!"
There were surprisingly many of Qiang Bang Se's kin present; a quick glance revealed nearly a hundred of them. They all had qualifications to stand on either side of the platform or sit above it. Upon receiving the command, they charged forward like ferocious beasts!
Zhou Cang and others had long prepared for this moment; they drew their weapons without hesitation and advanced into the enemy ranks!
Zhou Cang was an unparalleled general with countless victories under his belt, truly invincible against thousands. Meanwhile, Caesar and Zuo An were top assassins skilled in stealth attacks. Although they might face some disadvantages in direct confrontation, their extraordinary martial skills were beyond comparison with those pampered members of Qiang Bang Se's family!
The Xu Zhen smiled apologetically at Old Black. Knowing he couldn't hear her, she gestured while speaking: "Old Black, I'm dragging you down with me. These people's hands are stained with blood. Today, I must unleash a massacre. If even a Miracle cannot awaken their conscience, then I can only use death to rouse their souls!"
The half-person-high long knife was drawn out, and Xu Zhen let out a cold laugh as she rushed through the rain with her blade!
"Swish!"
Wherever the long knife passed, raindrops were sliced in half. Although the enemies surged forward at the cost of their lives, they were no match for Xu Zhen. She practiced her martial arts and Inner Strength Cultivation Method diligently every day, never pausing for years. Having experienced life-and-death battles multiple times, she had recently refined her swordsmanship, and with her recent display of power that intimidated the world, morale was on her side. Like a fierce tiger leaping from its cage, no one could stand in her way!
Although Zhou Cang did not carry his own weapon, he impersonated the Imperial Guards and wielded an extremely heavy axe to showcase his might. The broad and heavy blade, along with its straight and sturdy handle, felt quite manageable in his hands!
The high platform quickly became stained with blood. Qiang Bang Se's face turned pale; he never expected that nearly a hundred of his clansmen could not defeat just six or seven people led by Xu Zhen!
He had to adjust his strategy and threatened the Imperial Guards, who were all family men. Qiang Bang Se used their lives and families as leverage, but they remained unmoved. Some even began to show fierce expressions, ready to turn against Qiang Bang Se!
Lu Dongzan saw that the time was ripe; without needing to give orders, his son Gerlqinlin led the guards of the Geer family to charge up the high platform!
Seeing that the situation was dire, Qiang Bang Se ordered everyone to concentrate on Xu Zhen, determined to perish together with her. He himself seized a ceremonial spear and leaped down from the platform!
Xu Zhen and her companions were surrounded in the center of the high platform. Gerlqinlin's guards could not break through in a short time. Although Xu Zhen struck deadly blows and killed many, she was ultimately stretched thin. Zhang Suling and Gem began to tire, showing signs of weakness.
They had followed Caesar's assassination techniques, which emphasized explosive power in an instant rather than prolonged combat—this was not their strong suit. To survive amidst so many enemies' assaults was already a rare feat.
At this moment, Qiang Bang Se personally entered the fray. His clansmen knew that the final battle had arrived; each one charged fearlessly into battle, their attacks becoming increasingly fierce in an instant!
Xu Zhen swung her long knife, creating a crescent-shaped glimmer that severed two spears before knocking their wielders to the ground. However, with enemies surrounding her on all sides, her back was exposed when someone loosed a Cold Arrow!
"Whoosh!"
The Cold Arrow pierced through the rain curtain, aimed directly at Xu Zhen's back. Just then, an Old Warden stepped in front of her!
"Old Black!"
Xu Zhen was very familiar with Old Black's presence, as he had been deliberately protecting Old Black since the battle began. Although this Old Warden was both mute and deaf, Xu Zhen had already regarded him as a close friend. He absolutely could not allow Old Black to face a life-and-death crisis because of himself!
Old Black seemed to have no presence at all, like he was in a prison. He moved through the crowd, yet no one paid attention to him. Even when he helped carry the bamboo basket with Zhou Cang and others to collect the bodies, no one noticed him. When he assisted Xu Zhen in putting on her armor, he still went unnoticed, for all the brilliance today emanated from Xu Zhen!
This brilliance blinded people, making it impossible to see anything other than Xu Zhenzhi, including Old Black!
Xu Zhenxin felt immense regret. If he had raised his arm and called out, the crowd would have surged forward to tear apart Qiang Bang Se. However, he worried that if a riot broke out, Qiang Bang Se would threaten to take Mangsong Mangzan's life to escape.
He was a Tang Dynasty envoy, a lofty and resurrected Divine Child. He could completely disregard the life or death of Mangsong Mangzan, the Infant Zampu, but the people below cared deeply.
Just a moment ago, the slightly less skilled Li Mingda, under the protection of Caesar, was still in peril. This had already made Xu Zhen anxious, and now with Old Black facing life and death again, she felt regret deep in her gut.
Knowing that Qiang Bang Se would surely act out of desperation, he still underestimated the loyalty of those brothers from the same clan towards Qiang Bang Se!
He dodged three or four glinting spearheads and forcibly twisted his body, trying to knock down Old Black to avoid the Cold Arrow. But when he turned around, he found that Old Black stood silently amidst the rain curtain, unmoving, while between his fingers was a straight long arrow!
Old Black turned his head and revealed his signature smile to Xu Zhen. Then, with his left palm brushing over the long arrow, he grasped the tail of the arrow with his right hand and wielded it like a longsword!
Comment 0 Comment Count