Chapter 278: Chapter 151: Winds and Clouds Across the Land, Victory or Defeat in a Single Move (Part 3)
’Just a little more and I would have died without even knowing why. This Ping San’s mind isn’t clear; offending such a high-level opponent is simply courting death.
It’s a pity for so many disciples, dragged down by him, losing their lives for just a word of agreement.’
Tong the Fourth secretly felt apprehensive, "Jianghu rumors say that Chen Ping of the Primordial Martial Arts Hall is a rare rising star of the world, yet I still underestimated him.
Such might, such murderous aura, cannot be described as just a rising star.
Later, I must thoroughly inquire about the situation in Xingqing Prefecture. The Youx Mountain Moon Sect absolutely cannot fall into his hands again."
...
Chen Ping stood at the entrance of the tunnel, sensing the arrow light winding and twisting, locking on the enemy with deadly pursuit. He put away the bow and arrow as if brushing off some dust and turned to leave.
The respectful words of that Tong the Fourth, he didn’t take to heart at all.
The Moon Gate was secluded in Youx Mountain; as long as they didn’t commit acts that enraged both man and god, and didn’t provoke themselves, there wasn’t much leisure to deal with them.
Meeting a few mice that bite on the road, just step on them casually.
Why waste so much effort?
’I’m sure Senior Sister has already started gathering the defeated troops. This time, my Xuanwu Guard has struck it rich...
With the Azure Dragon Seal suppressing the Qi Number and calming people’s hearts, recruiting this batch of Cui Family soldiers shouldn’t be difficult, I suppose.
Even if thousands die or flee, I should be able to recruit around fifteen thousand, and they’re all elite. A bit of reorganization and they can be deployed to the battlefield.’
Thinking that soon he’d have nearly twenty thousand elite soldiers under his command, Chen Ping felt his steps become lighter for the moment.
With these twenty thousand elites as a foundation, then recruiting soldiers in the thirteen counties within Xingqing Prefecture’s territory, without asking for too much, one thousand able-bodied men from each county can still be assembled.
Adding the disciples of various martial halls, as well as people from different factions, all gathered under his command.
In Xingqing Prefecture alone, supporting thirty-five to forty thousand troops is probably not too difficult.
After all, the Prefecture City is prosperous, with wealthy merchants and high officials in abundance.
Though not everyone is super rich, with heaps of grain and warehouses full of gold and silver, that’s for sure.
Judging by past experiences, whenever the Dynasty is in decline, although the people are poor, with barely enough clothing or food, it doesn’t mean the place itself is poor.
It’s just that the distribution method is different.
Ninety-nine percent of the wealth is hidden in that one percent of the wealthy families.
In such cases, it’s simple—just make them bring it out.
If they truly bring it all out, not to mention forty thousand elite troops, even four hundred thousand troops, Chen Ping believes he could still support.
As for whether they’re willing to bring it out.
That’s not a problem.
Chen Ping sneered coldly.
"In this critical time of Great Li’s peril, there should be those who would break their families for the country, sacrificing themselves in devotion. Such pioneers have never been few, nor should they be."
...
Cui Hao didn’t look back, he just ran, kept running, until he was out of breath.
Only when he saw the advancing forces of the Cui Family in Huangye County did he stop and burst into tears.
"Alas, my Cui Family’s over twenty thousand people gone in a day... Ten years of toil destroyed in an instant. Brother Feiyu, you died so tragically."
Cui Yun, Cui Feiyu were Cui Hao’s cousins. The two had been inseparable since childhood, studying, training in martial arts, and joining the Cui Family’s Dark Hall together.
Through decades of storm and stress, they gained a reputation, deterring traitors, and achieved countless merits in their lives.
Later, they both entered the Cui Family’s Hall of Glory together.
They could be said to have lived a life of honor.
Both also had their own families, with multiple wives and concubines, vast fields, children, and grandchildren at their knees.
They rose and fell with the Cui Family.
How could they not put their hearts and souls into the family?
This time, the family’s grand plan was about to succeed, but it was ruined by few; thinking of the tremendous loss, Cui Hao couldn’t help but feel sorrow rise in his heart.
Among the Thirteen Noble Families in the world, with six in the north and seven in the south, there really was a hierarchy.
In general, there were the top three, the middle four, and the bottom six, and Hexi Cui was among the bottom six, dominant in Hexi but not very influential elsewhere.
If this plan succeeded, the merits in the dragon-seeking would allow the Cui Family to step out of Hexi County.
Not to mention getting all the wealth of Jiangnan, at least leveraging the Southern King’s name would allow entry into the upper noble families, seizing half the riches of Jiangnan, and securing an unshakable foundation for the Cui Family for ten thousand years.
Unfortunately, this dragon-supporting action just started and already ended in failure.
Beizhou’s forces had just come in, and Cui Family hadn’t seen any benefits, but they’ve already lost a third of their assets and manpower.
It wasn’t just a cut on the body; they lost half a body.
Especially now that not only did the Cui Family’s troops lose, the Crown Prince died, even the impressive Thirteenth Prince of Beizhou, Yuwen Ying, is likely meeting misfortune.
In such a situation, let alone gaining merit, if Beizhou’s forces really entered, they might even vent their anger on the Cui Family.
If no remedial action is taken, it’s conceivable that great misfortune may indeed be looming over the Cui Family.
"Chen Ping, oh Chen Ping..."
Cui Hao gritted his teeth.
He recalled looking back just now, seeing the Celestial Inquiry Sword Light unleashed by his cousin Cui Yun in a final desperate act on the mountain top...
That sword light was like blood, tragic and intense...
He also saw that of the Cui Family’s twenty thousand elite soldiers, few managed to escape; most knelt and surrendered.
His heart ached, making him want to spit blood.
"Quickly gather the remaining people and immediately return to Hexi, summon the ancestors... No, first send an urgent message to the family. Ji Xuange still has a young son, just three years old now, we can still place one more bet."
Let’s first find a hidden place and watch developments quietly, waiting for the family’s message."
Cui Hao howled painfully for a while, calmed his mind, and coldly ordered.
Huangye County was no longer an option, they must hide farther.
No neglect could be afforded.
"Do we really have to disturb the ancestors?"
Several people nearby asked in surprise.
"If we don’t, then what? With the world evolving as it is, success or failure hinges on this.
Even the ninth on the Earth List was obliterated, the third on the Earth List has fled heavily injured, even the first on the Earth List has already moved south with the army to suppress Jianghu, what more can we do?
Currently, only the personal intervention of the ancestors, with his Grandmaster cultivation, can suppress everything and put events back on the right track."
Cui Hao gritted his teeth, "The Jiangnan situation, the world thinks it’s about the True Martial King at the Vice Capital, or the King of Ling Mountain and Jinghai...
In my view, Chen Ping of the Primordial Sect is the biggest variable, and he must be removed."
