Before Qin Sang could finish speaking, dozens of hidden arrows shot out from the dense forest, all aimed directly at him.
With one hand holding the reins, Qin Sang swiftly reached out with the other, effortlessly knocking down most of the arrows and catching a few in his grasp. The remaining arrows hit him but immediately fell to the ground, appearing quite strange.
Then, with a sudden flick of his wrist, a few dull thuds sounded from within the forest, followed by startled cries.
"Attack!"
Qin Sang gave a light shout, and his figure instantly vanished from his horse. Water Monkey and the others also dismounted, rushing into the dense forest together. Wu Chuanzong and a few others with slightly weaker martial arts skills formed a defensive formation around the horses, using crossbows to counterattack.
In the darkness, Qin Sang summoned his ice crystal armor, his movements swift as lightning, and ferocious like a tiger. King Yan had already been called out.
Such mere hidden arrows posed no threat to him whatsoever.
In an instant, more than a dozen assassins fell at Qin Sang's hands. The remaining assassins, terrified, fled deeper into the forest. Their movements, of course, did not escape Qin Sang’s keen hearing. He was about to pursue them when he suddenly sensed something, looking up toward the mountaintop.
In the dim moonlight of the night, the mountaintop was shrouded in a thin mist. Just moments ago, a figure had flashed through the mist. If not for Qin Sang’s sharp eyes, he might have thought he was seeing things.
The person spying from the mountaintop, sensing the situation turning unfavorable, attempted to flee. Qin Sang sneered and ordered King Yan to pursue the enemy, while he used his movement art to leap towards the mountaintop.
As soon as he reached the mountaintop, he saw a man dressed in white lying lifeless on a rock. Qin Sang crouched down, flipping over the man’s waist token—it turned out to be someone he knew: White-Robed Scholar, one of the four protectors of the Blood-Clad Tower!
This man’s martial arts skills were on par with Bai Jianglan, yet he had died here without a sound.
Qin Sang pondered quietly. White-Robed Scholar’s ambush was likely not orchestrated by the Dongyang King but more probably by the eldest prince, greedy for the treasure. However, if they dared to reach out, they should be prepared to have their hands chopped off.
Water Monkey quietly made his way to the mountaintop. "General Qin, only one of our brothers was slightly injured. We’ve captured two of the attackers alive and have them restrained."
"Send a signal. We don’t need any captives; kill them all!"
Qin Sang picked up White-Robed Scholar’s body and descended the mountain, tossing it to Water Monkey. "You and Wen Kui take half of the men and return to Ming City quietly. Hand this body over to the commandery lady without saying anything more."
...
In the sixth winter since coming to this world, Qin Sang, now holding the position of Left Military Commander of the Brave Regiment, walked into the imperial capital of the Great Sui for the first time.
After three commanderies near the imperial capital fell in quick succession, the defending generals surrendered without a fight. The Dongyang King, wielding the momentum of the entire nation, besieged the imperial capital. After three months of holding out, with supplies and food exhausted, the fake emperor refused to flee north and hanged himself in the palace, leading the defending generals to surrender.
At noon, an official from the Ministry of Rites came forward holding a silk scroll. Those whose names were called could hardly conceal their excitement, though they tried to appear composed as they stepped into the Sacred Palace under countless envious and reverent gazes.
When Qin Sang heard his name, he too walked in as if nothing were amiss.
Inside the Sacred Palace, large incense burners were lit, and countless offerings were laid out. In the center, jade tablets and books were displayed. The Dongyang King stood silently with his hands clasped, his tightly clenched fists revealing his inner tension.
In the end, only thirty-one people were qualified to enter the Sacred Palace!
"The auspicious hour has arrived! The Holy Emperor shall be enfeoffed!"
The palace master shouted, raising his arm high and striking an ancient bell. The melodious bell rang out, echoing across the land.
The Dongyang King recited the sacrificial text in person.
The bell rang a total of eighty-one times. Qin Sang grew impatient, thinking these immortal masters really knew how to put on a show.
As the final bell echoed and faded away...
Gawk!
A loud, clear crane cry resounded across the sky, causing everyone to look up in shock.
In the cloudless sky, layers of radiant clouds had somehow risen, their glow spreading rapidly until they covered the entire sky. Deep within this glow, a mysterious heavenly gate seemed to exist.
Whoosh!
A massive celestial crane broke through the radiant clouds, soaring through the sky. In an instant, it hovered above the Sacred Palace. With a snap of its beak, a jade seal, trailing streams of light, descended into the Dongyang King’s hands.
The celestial crane’s figure gradually faded away.
"Please invite the immortal to rest in the palace," the Dongyang Lady said, bowing towards the offering table after the celestial crane disappeared. Just as everyone was wondering who she was addressing, a figure shifted from illusion to reality—a chubby young man appeared out of thin air.
Qin Sang’s heart sank. It isn't the young man with the surname Han!
1. This is an ancient military rank in China; it is the highest ranking military officer, above the military commander. ☜