Chapter 100: Zhao Yun's Ungrateful Descendants

Zhang Chi and Daoxuan rode deep into the mountains until they reached a dense bamboo grove. There, Zhang Chi pulled his horse to a halt.

The bamboo forests in the Sichuan highlands were tall and thick, blocking out the sky and sun. Once here, no pursuers could possibly find them.

Daoxuan noticed Zhang Chi stopping the horse. Having spent so much time together, he could easily guess Zhang Chi’s thoughts. “Brother Zhang, are you reluctant to let them die?”

Zhang Chi nodded. The masked woman recognized Emei’s horse, so she must have some connection to the Emei sect. Moreover, Zhang Chi had already learned from Miss Wang that Emei was from a humble background. Now, he truly did not know what to do.

Daoxuan added, “Though that masked woman is irritating, it’s hard not to feel some pity if she were to die like this.”

Daoxuan’s remark about the woman being annoying was simply because she always spoke bluntly, leaving Daoxuan speechless. As a man of the Buddhist order, Daoxuan—though not fond of scriptures and somewhat fierce—had nonetheless been influenced by the temple’s teachings for years and possessed a compassionate heart.

“If we go back to rescue them, do you think we can succeed?” Zhang Chi discussed with Daoxuan.

“It’s difficult,” Daoxuan admitted truthfully. The enemy troops were numerous, and Daoxuan’s left hand and shoulder were wounded, making a rescue even harder.

Zhang Chi pondered the situation deeply. Suddenly, Daoxuan’s eyes brightened. He dismounted swiftly.

Zhang Chi, struck by an arrow in the calf, dared not get off his horse. From atop, he asked, “Have you thought of a plan?”

Daoxuan tore his clothes, then, enduring the pain, bandaged his shoulder wound roughly. He drew his sword and approached a towering bamboo stalk. “If we head back as we are, it’ll be too hard to save them. I need a longer weapon—one that can strike a wide area.”

“What kind of weapon?”

Daoxuan, however, kept it a secret. He swung his sword at the base of the bamboo stalk.

This bamboo was as thick as an arm, several meters tall, with a thick wall. Daoxuan struck seven or eight powerful blows, then summoned all his strength in his uninjured arm to deliver a mighty palm strike, breaking the bamboo at its root.

“Isn’t this a fine weapon?” Daoxuan smiled, holding the bamboo stalk in both hands.

...

A shout rang out: “Thrust!”

With the command, the spearmen launched a synchronized jab.

A terrible scream pierced the air—the man wielding a curved blade had his right arm impaled by a spear, his saber clattering to the ground.

Without his weapon, he could no longer defend himself against the multiple spears thrusting forward. With nowhere to dodge, several spears pierced flesh with sickening sounds.

Though wounded in several places, An Ren fought desperately, swinging his precious sword to fend off the countless spears. A scream nearby caught his attention; turning, he saw the saber-wielding man dead, several spears pierced through his chest.

Before An Ren could react, the old helmsman’s arm was trapped by spears. Unable to pull it back, he was pierced and killed from another direction.

“Retreat!”

At the command, the spears were withdrawn. Only a few people staggered and collapsed.

An Ren’s cold eyes softened with sorrow. He stepped aside, catching the falling old helmsman—though the man was already dead. Spears had pierced his heart, and pulling them out left nothing but a bloody hole. Blood soaked An Ren’s clothes.

Though cold by nature, An Ren was not without feelings. Tears welled in his eyes as he gently laid the helmsman’s body down, then stood tall and proud, sword raised to eye level. She was the last one standing amidst the encirclement. Even if death awaited, she would die standing, sword in hand. Surrender and death were not in her nature.

In the distance, two commanders watched from horseback. Seeing the situation settled, one said, “Commander Zhao’s training is truly well-deserved. No wonder he’s a descendant of a great general.”

The other replied modestly, “I only rely on the legacy of my ancestors to practice these troop drills—it’s but a minor skill. The governor’s praise is too generous.”

“Commander Zhao, no need for false modesty,” the first smiled. “Back in the Three Kingdoms era of Shu Han, your ancestor, Marquis Shunping, was an undefeated general. At Changban Slope, he charged in and out seven times to rescue the young lord and held off Cao Cao’s massive army with only a few dozen riders. People said he was ‘fearless to the core.’ Seeing such troop maneuvers today, I am truly enlightened. Your reputation is well earned.”

They were clearly referring to Zhao Yun, the famous Zhao Zilong of the Three Kingdoms. This Commander Zhao was his descendant.

Pleased by the governor’s praise of his ancestor’s training methods, Commander Zhao said, “Unfortunately, I have only practiced these drills but never led troops in battle. I feel I have failed to live up to my ancestor’s legacy.”

“Commander Zhao, rest assured. In this campaign to eliminate the rebels, your contributions are foremost. I will report to the regional governor and ensure you lead the troops.”

Hearing this promise, Commander Zhao saluted quickly, “Thank you for your support, Governor!”

The governor smiled but then looked toward the distance, his smile fading into a strange expression. “Commander Zhao, since you often patrol southeastern Sichuan, have you ever seen walking bamboo?”

Commander Zhao was puzzled by the odd question. Following the governor’s gaze, he too exclaimed, “Strange indeed.” Just beyond a nearby village, exactly as the governor said, a several-meter-tall bamboo stalk appeared to be moving swiftly toward them.

Zhao was stunned. Strange things happened in these times, but bamboo that walked?

Of course, bamboo cannot move on its own. The stalk was being held by Daoxuan. With houses in the village concealing their presence, observers only saw the tall bamboo.

The bamboo was too long to carry horizontally without obstruction, so Daoxuan held it upright. Zhang Chi spurred his horse, and together they charged straight into the village.

Against a formation of spearmen, swords and sabers would suffer, so Daoxuan conceived this plan: using the fast horse, White Snow, to swing the bamboo and strike a wide area, breaking through the enemy ranks to rescue their comrades.

But they had arrived too late.

While the governor and Commander Zhao were still marveling at the moving bamboo, the spearmen renewed their assault on An Ren, thrusting spears in unison. An Ren swung his sword desperately, but surrounded and unsupported, with only two hands and one sword, he could not fend off so many spears.

Fortunately, his martial skill was great. He parried with his arms and sword, protecting vital areas, though his back, legs, and right chest were pierced multiple times. The spears hemmed him in from all sides, leaving him immobilized.

At that moment, Zhang Chi charged in from the flank. Daoxuan swung the bamboo horizontally, sweeping a group of soldiers off their feet.

Daoxuan trained in martial arts from childhood and possessed formidable strength. Wielding the bamboo with both hands, he swept it broadly, and with the momentum of White Snow’s charge, the enemy soldiers struck by it suffered broken bones.

Even the nimble ones who dodged the sweep were slashed across the face by bamboo branches.

White Snow and Daoxuan’s sudden assault threw the enemy formation into chaos. The best move for Commander Zhao would have been to quickly change formation, but he was fixated on promotion, eager to showcase his skills. This was his perfect moment to shine.

Zhao Yun’s martial arts were unmatched.

That was true, but no matter how great the style, it required a great practitioner to wield it. Commander Zhao had only just begun to grasp a fraction of Zhao Yun’s legacy.

Still, confident in his skills and wielding a silver spear, Commander Zhao charged straight toward Zhang Chi.

Daoxuan saw the approaching general and did not hold back. Using White Snow’s momentum, he swung the bamboo horizontally. Zhao Zhao quickly raised his spear to block but did not expect such force. He and his spear were swept off the horse, flying seven or eight meters before crashing into a low wall and collapsing.

The fall was severe. Zhao Zhao was stunned, seeing stars for a long moment before recovering. Zhang Chi spurred his horse, veered close, and Daoxuan raised the bamboo high, bringing it down hard.

If that hit landed, Zhao Zhao would have died there. He wanted to dodge but was trapped.

A loud crash echoed. Luckily for Zhao Zhao, Daoxuan had misjudged the bamboo’s length. The bamboo struck the low wall behind Zhao Zhao, preventing a fatal blow.

Still, the wall shattered with a thunderous noise.

Zhang Chi worried about the masked woman’s condition and did not pursue the enemy general further. He urged his horse to her side.

By now, the enemy formation was broken. An Ren lay on the ground. Daoxuan dropped the bamboo and leapt down, lifting An Ren up.

“Badly wounded, but luckily no fatal wounds,” Daoxuan said. Seeing a chance to save him, he quickly helped An Ren onto the horse. The three rode together as Zhang Chi turned toward the village’s edge, preparing to escape.

At that moment, Commander Du climbed out from the collapsed wall. Seeing Zhang Chi try to flee, he shouted, “Fire arrows! Throw spears!”

Nearby spearmen hurled their spears, and archers nocked arrows swiftly.

But such a chaotic volley was ineffective against White Snow’s speed. As the spears and arrows flew, White Snow had already raced several meters ahead. The enemy’s aim was no match for the horse’s swift pace.

In a blink, White Snow burst out of the village and vanished into the deep mountains, leaving no trace behind.