Chapter 209: Chapter 207: Bone Whistle Sound_1 Chapter 209: Chapter 207: Bone Whistle Sound_1 The Jin army’s heavily armored infantry moved swiftly, kicking up yellow sand and dust amid bursts of fire. Yun Poxing gripped the reins tightly as his warhorse, panicked, spun on the spot. His eyes darted around frantically, seeing only the frightened, disheveled Xiliang soldiers and the Jin soldiers howling like hungry wolves.

The Jin army advanced and retreated in an organized manner, just as they had practiced on the opposite bank earlier today. They seamlessly combined formations and melees, slaughtering his Xiliang soldiers without giving them a moment to catch their breath.

It’s over! All is lost!

If all the Xiliang soldiers he brought with all his national strength perished by his hand, he could never be forgiven, no matter how many deaths he suffered.

The flames reflected on Yun Poxing’s pale face. He had no time to consider whether there were ambushes in the Chuanling Mountains. Drawing his sword, he shouted hoarsely, “Retreat! Retreat immediately!”

Through the flames, Yun Poxing saw Bai Qingyan calmly sitting on her horse outside the Xiliang camp. Their eyes met, and the killing intent on her was intense and somber.

Yun Poxing gritted his teeth, trembling all over, and screamed, “Bai Qingyan! You promised me three years! Why attack now!”

But the only answer Yun Poxing received was the high-pitched sound of a horn tearing through the sky.

A general guarding Yun Poxing saw arrows flying towards him. Quickly riding his horse, he leaped and blocked the arrows for Yun Poxing, but he and his horse fell and tumbled together. The general looked towards Yun Poxing and shouted, “Commander! Retreat quickly!”

As soon as Bai Qingyan’s formation was deployed, any skilled warrior would know that the Xiliang army stood no chance of recovery.

Yun Poxing glanced at his subordinates, his eyes bloodshot. He could no longer care about anything else and lashed his whip, rushing outside the Xiliang camp.

On the fourteenth of February in the sixteenth year of Xuanjia, the Jin elite soldiers crossed the Jinghe River to launch a night attack on the Xiliang camp. They also ambushed and killed the Xiliang troops attempting a night raid on the Jin camp at Linggu Pass.

This battle marked the last confrontation in the Southern Border battlefield, ending in a disastrous defeat for the Nanyan-Xiliang coalition forces.

That night, the Jin camp north of the Jinghe River held fewer than five thousand troops. The Xiliang camp south of the Jinghe River was engulfed in flames, and the Xiliang warriors were utterly destroyed.

At Linggu Pass, General Cheng Yuanzhi and Zhang Duanrui led the ten thousand strong prepared Jin army, almost annihilating the Xiliang troops, with wails and screams filling the air.

*
By the morning of the sixteenth of February, Xiao Rongyan’s guards, who had traveled day and night without rest, finally caught up with his group.

One guard dismounted swiftly and rushed into the grand house’s main entrance.

Xiao Rongyan was practicing sword techniques by the lakeside, with bamboo leaves falling wherever his sword moved.

Wang Jiuzhou, holding tea and a towel nearby, saw the guard approaching and smiled at Xiao Rongyan. “Master, Yue Shi is back.”

Xiao Rongyan sheathed his sword, covered in a thin layer of sweat. He tossed the longsword to Wang Jiuzhou, took the towel to wipe his face, and turned to look at Yue Shi, who had already run up to him.

“Master, the letter has been delivered! After reading it, Miss Bai asked me to convey her thanks to you,” Yue Shi reported.

Xiao Rongyan placed the towel back on the black lacquer tray held by Wang Jiuzhou and picked up a teacup. “Nothing else?”

Yue Shi shook his head, then suddenly remembered the white horse. “Miss Bai didn’t say anything else, but I noticed she gave the white horse to Miss Bai Jinxiu. When I arrived, I saw her returning on horseback. It seems she mentioned that the horse has already recognized her as its master.”

Xiao Rongyan paused briefly while drinking tea, then looked up at Yue Shi. “Understood.”

Xiao Rongyan couldn’t help but think of his royal brother. From childhood until now, his brother always left the best things for him.

Never mind, he would find another fine steed to give her later.

“Tell those sent out to release the wind that after finishing today’s tasks, we’ll continue our journey early tomorrow morning,” Xiao Rongyan instructed.

“Yes!” Wang Jiuzhou replied respectfully.

At noon, Bai Qingjue, who had been vigilantly guarding Xiao Rongyan, removed his sword from his waist to have lunch. Suddenly, he heard the unique whistle command of the Bai family’s army.

His grip on his sword tightened as he reattached it to his waist. Avoiding people, he followed the sound, climbed over the courtyard wall from a concealed spot, and found Xiao Ruojiang waiting under the willow tree behind the house.

Seeing someone climb over the wall, Xiao Ruojiang hid behind the willow. Before he could see who it was, a cold flash reached his neck, and he felt a piercing chill as the sword was already at his throat.

What a fast sword!

Bai Qingjue, taught by Gu Yijian, had indeed surpassed his master…

“Don’t move!” Bai Qingjue commanded in a deep voice, facing Xiao Ruojiang’s back.

“Seventh Young Master… it’s me!” Xiao Ruojiang’s voice trembled.

Upon hearing Xiao Ruojiang, Bai Qingjue withdrew his sword, visibly surprised. “You… why are you here?!”

Xiao Ruojiang and Xiao Ruohai were his eldest sister’s foster brothers and had once trained with the Bai family army. Later, some incident caused his uncle to send the two back to recover from their injuries, and they never returned to the army since.

As Xiao Ruojiang turned, he saw Bai Qingjue, standing tall and firm in his robe. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he kneeled down, “Seventh Young Master…”

Bai Qingjue sheathed his sword and helped him up. “Why have you come?!”

“Miss Bai sent me to find you!” Xiao Ruojiang’s voice choked. “Miss Bai joined the Crown Prince’s expedition to the Southern Border to find you and Ninth Young Master. Mr. Xiao, who once helped our Bai family in Dadu City, saved you. When the Fourth Madam heard of the terrible fate of the Seventeenth Young Master recorded on the bamboo slip, she almost committed suicide. It was Mr. Xiao’s guards who saved her.”

Bai Qingjue’s lips parted slightly, astonished that Mr. Xiao not only saved him but also his mother.

“Mr. Xiao guessed your identity and had his guards send a letter to Miss Bai. Fearing you were alone, she sent me with the Dong family’s death warriors to support you!” Xiao Ruojiang explained, taking out a Jade Pendant from his chest and handing it to Bai Qingjue. “Miss Bai asked me to give this to you. It allows you to command the Dong family’s death warriors.”

Bai Qingjue took the Jade Pendant, clenching it tightly, and asked, “Why the Dong family’s death warriors?”

Xiao Ruojiang relayed the arrangements and personnel movements Miss Bai made for Bai Jinxiu and Bai Jintong, including the hardships she endured to protect the Bai family in the unpredictable Dadu.

As Bai Qingjue listened, his eyes grew redder. He clutched the Jade Pendant and asked, “Who else is with Eldest Young Lady besides the Fourth Young Lady? Xiao Ruohai?”

Xiao Ruojiang shook his head. “My brother went to find Miss Qingzhu, looking for you and Ninth Young Master.”

Bai Qingjue gritted his teeth. “Eldest Young Lady cannot be left alone! There is no danger here with Mr. Xiao. Leave two men here and lead the rest back to protect the Eldest Young Lady!”