The sun was blazing and the wind was whistling. Lin Chong rode his horse along the mountain road, heading south.
He had been a constable in Vaud for several years, so he was familiar with the surrounding situation. He knew that if the Zhenren really wanted to intercept this news, she would have to mobilize a lot of forces. Moreover, if a force like the Bronze Bull Stockade was mobilized, there must be some local snakes involved. He followed a small path near the official road and walked cautiously. However, less than half a day later, he saw a shadow moving in the forest in the distance.
This mountain road was independent of the official road to the south. It was relatively desolate, so ordinary people wouldn't use it. Those who chose this road were usually rich and powerful bandits with a background in the underworld. There were also many bandits who killed and robbed people in this kind of wasteland. Lin Chong's eyesight was amazing. Perhaps he was a hunter or a scout with a military background, so Lin Chong noticed him. The other side also saw Lin Chong. After a while, whistling arrows soared into the sky.
Lin Chong rode straight into the forest, avoiding two arrows. He jumped onto a treetop, grabbed the scout, and killed him with one palm. At the end of his vision, there were already people coming over.
They were probably mountain bandits or villagers who made a living by looting. They were holding knives, sticks, forks, and rakes in their hands and dressed in rags. Lin Chong sighed inwardly and rushed along the diagonal road. The terrain on Prince Jin's territory was rugged. There were tall and short trees in the forest, and stones intertwined in the bushes like teeth of a dog. He abandoned his horse and rushed forward at high speed. Three people rushed at him, but he hit them with his hand. Two of them rolled on the ground, their heads bleeding. The other one was stunned for a moment, but he couldn't catch up with Lin Chong.
When the main force surrounded him, Lin Chong had already climbed up a rugged mountain ridge. His steps were agile, and his body was as light as a cheetah. He didn't stop running all the way. In a moment, everyone was dumbfounded and lost track of him.
The wind was strong, and he was a grandmaster. He passed through mountains and ridges. Occasionally, he would hide his expression and go on the official road, hiding among the pedestrians. However, this slowed down his speed. At this time, they had already left the boundary of Vaud. After a while, they saw the checkpoint in front of them was patrolled by bailiffs, the inspection was very strict.
Lin Chong had been a yamen runner for many years, so he knew at first glance that these people were deliberately searching. Presumably, there were also officials in the nearby yamen who were being manipulated by the Jurchen. Yesterday, the Bronze Bull Stockade bandits were not completely killed. With the help of the messenger pigeons, these people would be able to notice and set up defenses one step ahead. Lin Chong pressed the name list in his pocket, quietly left the crowd, and made a detour into the mountain.
Over the years, he had been away from all kinds of "family and national affairs" for too long. Now that he thought about it, he could feel the tense atmosphere. Prince Jin's forces verbally surrendered to Nu Zhen, but they had already begun to prepare for war in secret. Who knew how many people had seen enough of the Jurchens' weapons and were unwilling to die.
As soon as this list was issued, the contradiction between the two sides would intensify. Whether it was true or false, many forces had obviously been secretly awakened and began to take risks. On the other side, Prince Jin's anti-Jin faction was also carefully watching and secretly recording the real list.
Regardless of whether it was true or false, he could only walk this road to the end.
After thinking about these things, he didn't stop walking. He went all the way west and then south, crossing two rivers on the way. On this day, the sun was gradually setting. As he walked on the road, he remembered that in the past few years, he, Xu Jinhua, and his child had also seen this kind of sunset many times. Going forward, he still remembered the sunset he had seen in Liangshan Lake and in Bianliang.
That day, he didn't stop walking. After traveling for nearly two hundred miles, he gradually arrived near Leping in Liaozhou in the early hours of the morning. Yu Yulin was commanding the army here. The army's encampment stretched for several miles, and the area was heavily guarded. It was difficult for ordinary people to enter. There were also small towns built for the army nearby. It was late at night, so Lin Chong stopped in the nearby mountains to find a way to enter at dawn.
Since Xu Jinhua's death, he hadn't rested for several nights. That night, he sat under a tree and closed his eyes, but still couldn't sleep. As his memories surged, pain and emptiness still filled everything. For him, life was nothing to worry about. The sobriety in his mind couldn't wash away the regret. Everything that was lost was lost in the end. Only he still had to face the result of losing everything.
The stars flowed. When he opened his eyes, the distant camp was once again filled with flickering flames. The sparse but endless flames were like a flood of memories. The sleepless night was long and unbearable. It was like walking through a long, dark cave. When the sky began to brighten, Lin Chong was lost in thought for a long time. In the distant camp, morning training had already begun.
Lin Chong quietly descended the mountain and walked along the side of the camp. Compared to breaking into the camp, he preferred to coincidentally run into General Yu Yulin leaving the camp. In the past, he had seen General Yu Yulin from afar. However, the chances of this happening were slim. Lin Chong's clothes were shabby, but he moved like a ghost. He aimlessly circled the camp a few times, then paused near the camp gate for a long time before he finally found a breakthrough.
It was one of the vanguard generals of Yu Yulin's army. His name was Li Shuangyou. He was quite famous among the people in Prince Jin's territory. Lin Chong had not only seen him twice near Wozhou, but he also knew that this general had a fiery temper and a good reputation for fighting the Jin. As he passed by the camp, he saw that General Li was patrolling the drill ground and was about to leave. He immediately jumped out of hiding and shouted, "General Li!"
Someone on a nearby archer tower shouted, "Who is it?" Li Shuangyou looked in the distance and frowned. He saw the big man outside the camp raise his hand and walk toward the fence of the camp. "Black Flag Messenger!"
Lin Chong said. He thought for a moment, then said, "This is a serious matter. Please report to General Yu Yulin!"
His voice was loud and clear. Everyone on the drill ground made a noise. These days, the pursuit and interception of the name list were not clear to outsiders, but many of the soldiers in the army had heard about it. Li Shuangyou was originally protected by his bodyguards. When he heard Lin Chong's words, he immediately pushed his bodyguards away. He cupped his fists and walked forward. "The messenger is this warrior?" He then said, "Immediately send someone to inform the commander-in-chief."
Lin Chong knew that the message had finally been delivered. Seeing the other party's attitude, he leaped forward and leaped over the dozens of feet high fence of the camp. "I am a loyal man." He said.
Li Shuangyou saw Lin Chong's ability and cupped his fists in admiration. He did not come any closer. Lin Chong stood at the edge of the drill ground, waiting for Yu Yulin to arrive. It was still early in the morning and the weather was not too hot. A few clouds floated in the sky and a cool breeze blew across the drill ground. Lin Chong stood there in a daze.
He did not know when, but the soldier who had sent the message had returned and reported to Li Shuangyou that General Yu was on his way. Li Shuangyou cupped his fists to Lin Chong. "Warrior, General Yu is here. Please." Lin Chong regained his senses and nodded. He followed Li Shuangyou.
The group passed by the soldiers on the drill ground. Unknowingly, Li Shuangyou had slowed down and was waiting for him. Lin Chong closed the distance between them and the soldiers nearby. Lin Chong's gaze moved slightly. He felt his rapid heartbeat. Lin Chong's gaze was bitter and he sighed.
Li Shuangyou cupped his fists. Lin Chong walked closer and stretched out his hand. His steps were natural and so was his outstretched hand. Lin Chong grabbed him and rushed forward.
Countless shadows spread out.
"Kill this traitor —"
Lin Chong hit a person's neck with a heavy hand. The person in front of him rolled to the ground.
Soon after, he also heard the shouts around him.
Lin Chong pushed Li Shuangyou and knocked over seven or eight people in front of him. More people rushed over. Lin Chong landed a heavy punch on Li Shuangyou's face, followed by another, and another. Blood and eyes flew out. Lin Chong stepped on the falling body. His knees, chest, and shoulders. Lin Chong's figure leaped over the heads of the soldiers in front of him and then smashed down with his elbow. Rolling and colliding, the light from the blade and the wind from the spear intertwined like a sea of trees. Lin Chong waved his steel blade, bringing with it sticky blood. Then, he slashed and swung. The people in front of him died and were pushed forward by the people behind. The army pushed forward like a giant wall, like the earth. Lin Chong's figure moved up and down in the sea of people …
"Kill this traitor —"
Someone shouted around him …
The sea of people continued to press forward …
*****
It was as if there was something waiting for him at the end of time. The moment he floated in the sea of people, there was not the slightest ripple in his heart. In fact … he seemed to be looking forward to it.
Blades crisscrossed, and he passed through them. His heavy arms would cause people's chests to cave in. Shields would come up and he would smash them into a circle. His long spear would cause more people to fall. It was as if he had drawn a prison. Inside the prison was a land of death. However, more people would still rush over. Sometimes, he would jump out of the crowd and fall down. There seemed to be an endless distance in the distance.
The sun shone down, and the voices of the people were clamoring. There were corpses on the ground, and there were injured soldiers who were trampled. Lin Chong stepped on a person. The long spear that he had snatched was stuck in a person's body and broke. The soldiers rushed over. Blade marks appeared on Lin Chong's body, and the people around him were knocked down by him. He waved his blade and similarly slashed at the mountain of blades and the forest of spears, creating a sea of blood.
He hoped that the other party was not a bad person.
He imagined that nothing would happen to him in front of so many soldiers.
Such a result …
Not good …
Not good …
His fist smashed a person's face, and the blade slashed at his back. He also remembered something. He crawled forward and shouted.
"The Jurchen people are heading south …" Under the pressure of internal energy, a thunderous voice spread in all directions, like the roar of waves crashing against the shore. "Black flag message-"
A few people in front of him fell to the ground. Lin Chong snatched the steel blade and pounced forward. He slashed at the legs of the people, creating a wave of blood. He moved forward against the wave of blood, and his long spear stabbed downward. Lin Chong's body rolled along the spear, and his knee knocked a person away. He snatched the long spear and swept it horizontally.
"The Jurchen people-" Three or four spears were smashed askew. Lin Chong stabbed the spear and pulled it back. "South-"
"… Black flag message-"
The voice spread in all directions, and a gap appeared in the crowd. Lin Chong crashed into it, and then the gap began to shrink. Boiling blood spurted out. Some of it was his, but most of it was the blood of others.
The voice came again in the midst of the fighting. "The Jurchen people … are heading south! Black flag message- "
"… Black flag message-"
"… Black flag message-"
Many people near and far heard this voice. The fighting in that camp was still going on. Among the sea of people, Lin Chong advanced for more than ten zhang. Countless blades and spears stabbed at him. His whole body was blood red, and he kept fighting back. Every time he advanced, he would shout the same voice.
The Jurchen people were heading south. Black flag message-
In the distance, a large group of people came from the camp. Some people shouted for them to stop, while others shouted that they were traitors and should be killed without mercy. The conflicting orders led to an even more chaotic situation. However, Lin Chong was in the middle of it all, and he almost didn't notice it. He only shouted mechanically as he moved forward. Somewhere in his heart, he felt a bit of irony.
In his life, he would actually shout the words "black flag".
The events on Liangshan replayed in his mind. He also thought of the man named Ning Yi. He killed the emperor. How despicable, but also amazing.
In between the fighting, he saw birds flying in the sky.
It was a good day.
The Jurchen people were heading south.
Black flag message-
He slashed his steel saber mercilessly at the people in front of him. Someone fought back. Too slow. Weak. Weak. Weak. Weak. Dodging. No pain …
The Jurchen people were heading south. Black flag message-
The Shi Brothers saved the child. Good.
He was the real hero. He didn't have to encounter these things. Good …
Wherever the saber went, someone fell to the ground in fear. Some people charged in from the side of the camp. There was fighting on the other side. Lin Chong held his spear and moved forward. Gradually, there were no more enemies in front of him. He moved forward and opened his mouth.
The Jurchen people were heading south. Black flag message-
He couldn't hear this voice himself.
Then, there was someone in front of him. The wall of people tried to block him. Lin Chong wasn't afraid. He stepped forward, ready to fight. Someone parted the wall and moved forward.
Yu Yulin looked at the red figure that was slowly approaching. He was covered in blood and had countless wounds on his body. Behind him, the fallen soldiers were strewn all over the place. This caused Yu Yulin to be momentarily stunned.
"Warrior …"
He took a deep breath. "Warrior, I am Yu Yulin. Are you the messenger?"
Lin Chong looked at him suspiciously. He stretched out his hand. He wanted to punch the person in front of him to death. But in the end, he opened his fist and grabbed his clothes. The guard wanted to come forward but was stopped by Yu Yulin.
Lin Chong looked at him and took out a small bag. The small bag was also stained with blood and had a cut on it. However, because Lin Chong had protected it, it was the part of his body that had suffered the least damage. Yu Yulin tried to take it, but the bloody man held the bag tightly in the air.
Yu Yulin took out the military seal. "I am Yu Yulin. This is the seal."
The bloody man grabbed his collar and stood there for a long time. He looked at the seal for a long time. The sky was filled with colorful clouds. Yu Yulin's soldiers were cleaning up and searching. The silhouettes came and went again …
The Jurchen people were heading south. Black flag message-
Finally, he let go of his hand and even let go of Yu Yulin's collar.
At the end of the day, there would always be complications. There were many things in the world that did not go according to one's wishes.
Lin Chong swayed. He wanted to hold on to his spear, but it was gone. He turned around and swayed. It was time to find Brother Shi and save Anping.
"May I know the name of the warrior …" Yu Yulin opened the bag and looked at it. He then passed it to the person behind him. He turned around and asked, but the figure in front of him had already disappeared. "Quick, call the doctor." He wanted to catch up to him and ask for his name. The warrior had done great things. Even if he had to die, he wanted to make a name for him. This was his last consolation to them.
Chong Lin held onto the spear on one of the corpses. Then, he held it with both hands. His body slid down. He struggled for a while, trying to stand up, but in the end, he fell sideways to the ground. Then, he rolled over and faced the sky.
People crowded around him. "Warrior, what's your name …"
The man on the ground moved his lips and blinked his eyes. His eyes were bloodshot. Blood flowed down his cheeks and dripped onto the ground.
…
Lady Zhen …
It was like the end of time. There was a long, long tunnel …
He stood there, watching many people pass by, passing by Xu Jinhua, passing by Mu Yi, passing by the chaotic and restless Liangshan Lake. There were many friends, many passers-by, who would think of him here …
That snowy year, he used his spear to carry a gourd of wine and walked on the path of the fodder field …
Many years ago in Bianliang, he lived a smooth life filled with smiles and hope …
There was a figure waiting for him there …
Endless regret surged up in his heart, but at this moment, it was no longer important.
That figure was looking at him.
He was holding her hand …
He ran all the way.
*****
Yu Yulin received Black Flag's message.
Shi Jin ran on the streets of Canton Vaud, searching for his child's whereabouts and waiting to reunite with his brother.
Tan Lu dragged the child who was struggling and crying as he walked forward. He suddenly stopped. On the street in front of him, a massive figure appeared with many people. They were looking at him solemnly and silently.
In the southwest, the war against Hedeng had already started. The sound of cannons rang out. A troop of 8,000 people had leaped out of the mountains and made a detour to Xuzhou. Some people made way for them, but others didn't.
In the Central Plains, hungry ghosts brought with them an aura of despair and destruction. They burned down the newly occupied cities and wreaked havoc.
In the north, Wanyan Zongfu and Zong Bi rode on their horses and took their first step toward the south. They waved their arms and millions of flags fluttered in the wind.
A nobody had died.
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