Chapter 197
Chapter 197: Han Chui Yuan
Now that Mu Qing Xia and Mei Yan were both captured, there was no one left within Mei Residence capable of resisting Hu Rui An and his men. Controlled by the Life Death Talisman, Mei Yan had become utterly powerless, spilling every secret she knew—both those she ought to say and those she ought not.
With orders personally issued by Mei Yan, commands swiftly left Mei Residence. In Prefecture City, the Heavenly Brocade Guard immediately sprang into action, departing that very night toward Lan Province. Meanwhile, Heavenly Brocade Guards in other parts of Sheng Province received orders via flying falcons and began preparations to follow Mei Yan’s directives.
…
At the army garrison in Sheng Province, atop a towering arrow tower, a middle-aged man in his fifties stood with his hands clasped behind him.
Night poured like black ink, winds howled wildly.
He wore dark, ordinary clothing that fluttered in the fierce breeze. At his waist hung no saber, only a Bronze Tiger Tally gleaming dimly. His gaze pierced through the darkness like sharpened blades, fixed upon the distant lights of Prefecture City.
At that moment, a shadow darted swiftly from the darkness, ascending silently onto the tower before kneeling behind him. The figure reported quietly: “General, the Yuan, Zhu, and Cen clans have all been destroyed, turned into seas of fire. I’m afraid the Baili Clan will share their fate soon.”
The instant these words faded, Han Chui Yuan shifted his gaze toward the Baili Clan. There, an eruption of flames suddenly surged skyward, painting the entire area crimson as if dawn had broken early.
The bronze bell hanging at the tower’s eave chimed softly in the wind, and a rare, complex expression flashed across Han Chui Yuan’s iron-like visage. Then, from within his robe, he pulled out a letter sealed in yellow silk and flicked it casually toward the kneeling figure, who swiftly caught it.
“Leave Prefecture City tonight,” Han Chui Yuan said calmly. “Take this letter directly to the Imperial Capital.”
The shadow hesitated briefly before speaking: “General, that person annihilated the Four Great Families in mere moments. Surely this is connected to the Murong Family’s affairs. His power is beyond imagination; perhaps retreating now to avoid conflict is wiser.”
Hearing this, Han Chui Yuan did not respond immediately but simply gazed quietly toward the flames engulfing the Four Great Families.
Suddenly, a night owl flew swiftly across the battlements, the wind from its wings stirring Han Chui Yuan’s robes and causing the tiger tally at his waist to sway gently, producing a faint sound reminiscent of distant battles.
Han Chui Yuan sighed softly and spoke: “Look carefully. The Murong Family, Sheng Province’s greatest martial clan, has been destroyed, and the Four Great Martial Families now burn in flames.” He turned slightly toward the shadow behind him and asked calmly, “Who do you think benefits most from this chaos?”
After a moment of silence, the shadow cupped his hands respectfully and replied, “Naturally, it’s you, General. After tonight, no martial faction in Sheng Province remains strong enough to challenge us. Once we seize control of the Five Families’ territories tomorrow, Sheng Province will be yours alone.”
A subtle, meaningful smile appeared on Han Chui Yuan’s lips as he shook his head gently, saying, “You misunderstand. I, Han Chui Yuan, have spent my life on horseback, leading armies into battle. Though I might have personal wishes, I have no ambitions of ruling Sheng Province.”
The shadow behind him frowned, puzzled, but Han Chui Yuan merely waved his hand dismissively. “You should go.”
“Will you not leave, General?” the shadow asked cautiously, glancing at his leader’s back.
Han Chui Yuan shook his head slightly. “I’ve already done all I needed to. Never in my life have I fled a battlefield. A general must die facing his enemy. No matter who he is or how powerful he becomes, he will never make me retreat.”
The shadow paused briefly in surprise, then finally bowed deeply. “This subordinate will fulfill your command, General.”
The figure then vanished swiftly into the darkness below the tower, soon disappearing completely.
Only then did Han Chui Yuan turn his gaze toward the city gates. Under the cloak of night, a disguised convoy secretly carried away the families and children, hastening their exit from Prefecture City. After watching them depart safely, Han Chui Yuan returned his gaze toward the blazing fires within the city.
“Never have I, Han Chui Yuan, been one to await death,” he whispered, fierce resolve flooding his eyes.
In the next instant, he soared into the air. The overwhelming Qi radiating from him instantly shattered the arrow tower beneath his feet, reducing it to rubble.
Suspended in midair, Han Chui Yuan stretched out his hand. From a distant hall, a sharp, metallic ringing erupted. A brilliant streak of azure burst forth, flying into his waiting hand, solidifying into the Azure Gold Coiling Dragon Spear.
Gazing at the spear briefly, Han Chui Yuan disappeared, rushing directly toward the Baili Clan.
Murong Xiao Ya, who had been heading toward Han Residence, suddenly paused in the dark, sensing something amiss. Her bright eyes flickered coldly as she turned abruptly and vanished.
“Han Chui Yuan!”
A cold, clear voice echoed from the sky. Han Chui Yuan, mid-charge toward the Baili Clan, abruptly raised his head. Without hesitation or words, he stepped through empty air, his form tearing the darkness like black lightning. His spear, glowing with azure brilliance, pierced forward, its tip gleaming sharply, strong enough to pierce mountains. The energy rolled fiercely, compressing the air ahead into violent waves, swirling with deadly intent.
Murong Xiao Ya appeared silently in midair. Golden-red flames flowed along her skin, and the spectral image of a Vermilion Bird flickered behind her. As its wings unfolded, streams of fire descended around her. Facing Han Chui Yuan’s deadly strike, her expression remained calm. She merely pressed down with a single finger.
Boom!
A streak of fire erupted from her fingertip, clashing fiercely with the spear’s point. Bright crimson and azure sparks exploded outward, shattering the space around them for hundreds of feet.
Instantly, Han Chui Yuan’s spear techniques changed. His spear split into countless phantom spears, each real enough to pierce flesh, forming a deadly azure net of destruction. The air crackled and fractured beneath the unbearable sharpness.
Yet Murong Xiao Ya remained emotionless. Her Vermilion Bird’s wings swept downward, distorting and incinerating the air. In an instant, the deadly net vanished soundlessly beneath the red-gold flames.
Han Chui Yuan’s Azure Gold Coiling Dragon Spear twisted violently, glowing red-hot before melting into molten streams falling from the sky. Shock filled his eyes as Murong Xiao Ya’s robe whipped violently, flames collapsing the space around her into a fearsome vortex.
She fixed her gaze coldly upon Han Chui Yuan and spoke slowly: “Your time has come.”
With these words, the flames from the molten metal flashed, entering Han Chui Yuan’s body and igniting his arm first, then rapidly spreading throughout his form.