SWDnovel Chapter 509 Xu Longxiang's confidence: These uncles are the greatest strength of the Northern T
Chapter 509 Xu Longxiang's confidence: These uncles are the greatest strength of the Northern T
No one saw how Yunluan drew her sword.
All that could be seen was a dark silver arc of light streaking across the air, as fast as lightning.
The man screamed, covering his eyes with his hands. Blood gushed from between his fingers, streaming down his pale cheeks and dripping onto his moon-white brocade robe, spreading into shocking red patterns.
He staggered backward, tripped, and fell to the ground, trembling violently, letting out a beast-like roar. "Are you crazy?! Do you know who I am?! My father is—"
He didn't finish his sentence.
Yunluan's sword moved again.
A flash of sword light, and his arms were severed cleanly at the elbows, the severed arms falling to the ground, his fingers still twitching slightly.
Fresh blood gushed from the cut, splattering onto the yellow earth and spreading out in a dark red hue.
His scream suddenly rose in pitch, sharp as a cat whose tail had been stepped on, echoing across the empty road.
His body rolled on the ground, twisting and convulsing like a snake cut into pieces.
Yunluan remained expressionless, stepping on his leg as the sword fell.
His legs broke at the knees, the crisp sound of bones snapping exploding in the air, as clear as the snapping of a dead branch.
The screams abruptly stopped.
He opened his mouth, making a "hoarse" sound from his throat, like an old stove with its bellows stuck, struggling to get it burning.
He lay on the ground, his limbs severed, his two bloody eye sockets gaping darkly towards the gray sky. Blood gushed from his wounds and eye sockets, turning the yellow earth beneath him into a dark red swamp.
His six maids stood frozen in place, their faces ashen, their lips trembling violently, their bodies shaking like leaves, their teeth chattering, and they could barely hold their swords.
"Get out." Qin Mu's voice was very soft.
The six maids, as if granted a pardon, dropped their swords and turned to run. They stumbled and scrambled, their skirts trailing on the ground, stained with mud and blood, but no one cared.
They ran a long way and kept running, as if something was chasing them.
The man lay on the ground, convulsing, making broken, indistinct sounds from his throat, as if he were begging for mercy or cursing.
His lips were moving, but no one could hear what he was saying.
Qin Mu stood up, brushed off non-existent dust from his robes, and walked towards the carriage. "Let's go, time to get going."
The women followed behind him, none of them turning back to look at the mutilated body writhing on the ground.
The carriage started moving again, its wheels rolling over the yellow earth, passing by the dark red bloodstains unhurriedly, as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, in the northern border, at the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion.
The night was as dark as ink, but the Zhenyue Hall was brightly lit with candles, making the entire room as bright as day.
Maps and documents were laid out on the long table, and pens with ink still wet rested on the pen rack. The air was filled with the aroma of pine needles, ink, and tea.
Xu Longxiang sat behind a long table, holding a newly delivered secret report in his hand. His eyes swept over the words on the paper, and his brows relaxed slightly.
He put down the secret report, leaned back in his chair, tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, and a faint smile slowly appeared on his lips.
"Fan Li".
He called out, his voice not loud, but clearly carried outside the hall.
Footsteps came from the end of the corridor, steady yet hurried.
Fan Li, dressed in a dark blue scholar's robe, strode into Zhenyue Hall, stopped three steps in front of the long table, clasped his hands and bowed.
"Your Highness."
Xu Longxiang raised his head, his gaze falling on his face. "How are the preparations for the martial arts tournament going?"
Fan Li straightened up, took out a thick scroll of documents from his sleeve, held it with both hands, and respectfully handed it to Xu Longxiang.
"Your Highness, the venue has been selected at the North City Training Ground, which can accommodate tens of thousands of people. The arena is under construction and is expected to be completed within three days. The treasures in the treasury have also been inventoried, including gold and silver jewelry, martial arts manuals, and divine weapons, totaling more than three hundred items, enough to attract heroes from all over the world."
His voice was steady and clear, each word sounding as if it had been carefully considered before being uttered.
Xu Longxiang took the document, opened it, and scanned the densely packed entries with his eyes.
Gold and silver treasures were piled up like mountains; martial arts manuals, from beginner to ultimate techniques, were all available; divine weapons, swords, spears, and halberds, each one gleaming with a cold, eerie light.
The smile on his lips deepened even more.
"Have the invitations been sent out?"
Fan Li nodded. "They've already been sent out. All the major sects, independent cultivators, and even martial artists from the Western Regions and Southern Frontier have received invitations. The Qinglan Sword Sect has also sent out invitations as Your Highness instructed."
Xu Longxiang's eyes flickered slightly. "The Azure Cloud Sword Sect... Will their swords come?"
Fan Li pondered for a moment. "Jian Lai is someone Qin Mu personally promoted, so he shouldn't be here. But if he doesn't come, it would be a slap in His Highness's face, proving that His Highness has ulterior motives in this martial arts tournament. He's a smart man; he shouldn't do something so foolish."
Xu Longxiang smiled, closed the document, and placed it on the table.
"Alright. In that case, let's wait and see."
He stood up, walked around the desk, went to the window, and opened it.
The night wind swept in, carrying the chill of early winter, ruffling the stray hairs at his temples and his dark python robe.
"How are the supplies, troops, and weapons prepared?"
Fan Li followed behind him, his gaze fixed on his back, his voice steady.
"We have stockpiled enough provisions for half a year, our troops are training day and night, and our armory is piled high with swords, spears, and halberds. As long as Your Highness gives the order, 300,000 cavalry can be assembled within three days and ready to march south at any time."
Xu Longxiang nodded, stood with his hands behind his back, and looked out at the deep night.
"Summon all generals. I have something to say."
Fan Li clasped his hands and bowed. "Yes."
He turned and strode out of Zhenyue Hall, his footsteps gradually fading into the distance.
About half an hour later, Zhenyue Hall was filled with people.
They were all generals with real power in Xu's army. Some had white hair, some were in their prime, some had resolute faces, and some had sharp eyes.
They wore black iron armor, long swords hung at their waists, and stood straight, like swords stuck in the ground.
Most of these people were the adopted sons of Xu Xiao, the former King of Zhenbei.
When Xu Xiao was alive, he adopted a group of soldiers who came from poor backgrounds but were exceptionally brave and skilled, gave them the surname Xu, and treated them as his own sons.
After Xu Xiao's death in battle, these men became Xu Longxiang's most loyal henchmen.
Xu Longxiang stood behind the long table, his gaze sweeping over those familiar faces, a complex feeling welling up inside him.
"My uncles and elders, I have summoned you here tonight because there is something I need to tell you."
His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet Zhenyue Hall, each word like a nail driven into the ears of everyone present.
An elderly general with white hair stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed.
His name is Xu Zhen, one of Xu Xiao's adopted sons. He is over fifty years old and has fought countless tough battles with Xu Xiao. He is covered in scars, but he is still in good spirits.
"Your Highness, please give your orders. We will go through fire and water for you!"
His voice was loud and clear, carrying an undeniable firmness.
Other generals also stepped forward, clasped their hands in greeting, and bowed.
"Your Highness, we'll rebel whenever you say we will!"
"The entire Xu family army follows His Highness's lead without question!"
"Even in heaven, the spirit of the old prince will support Your Highness!"
The sounds rose and fell, surging in like a tide, wave after wave, filling the entire Zhenyue Hall to the brim.
A flame burned in everyone's eyes—a flame of hatred for Qin Mu, loyalty to the Xu family, and longing for the future.
Looking at those familiar faces, and at the fire that had burned for so long in their eyes, Xu Longxiang felt a surge of emotion.
That feeling of being moved was like a warm river, welling up from the deepest part of my heart, drowning out all doubts, all anxieties, and all fears.
His eyes were slightly red, but he gritted his teeth and didn't let the tears fall.
He cannot cry; he is the lord of the North, the commander of 300,000 iron cavalry, and the hope of the Xu family.
He could not shed tears in front of his soldiers.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions little by little, straightened his back, and glanced at those familiar faces.
"Very well! With these words from my uncles and elders, I am relieved."
His voice was steady, carrying an unquestionable certainty.
"The martial arts tournament is being prepared. When heroes from all over the land gather in the Northern Territory, I will use this opportunity to recruit them into my ranks. When the time is right, it will be time to raise an army!"
Xu Zhen stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.
"Your Highness, rest assured! We have already waited for so many years, a few more days will do!"
The other generals echoed their sentiments, their voices clear and resonant.
"We, your humble servants, are willing to follow Your Highness through fire and water, even unto death!"
Xu Longxiang looked at them, a slow smile creeping onto his lips.
That smile held emotion, relief, and a sense of liberation, as if "this day has finally come."
"Excellent! With the help of my uncles and elders, what do I have to worry about in achieving this great undertaking!"
He turned around, facing the huge map on the wall, his gaze falling on the winding red line marked "Great Qin Imperial City".
"Qin Mu, you wait. The day I raise an army will be the day you die."
The night wind seeped in through the cracks in the window, causing his dark python robe to flutter and rustle.
His shadow was stretched long in the candlelight, like a sword finally drawn from its sheath, its sharpness fully revealed.
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside Zhenyue Hall.
A messenger soldier rushed in, knelt on one knee, held a secret letter in his hands, touched his forehead to the ground, and his voice trembled slightly with excitement.
"Your Highness, a letter has arrived."
Xu Longxiang's eyes suddenly flashed, and his gaze brightened, like a lamp suddenly lit in the darkness.
He stood up almost instinctively, his voice urgent.
"Quick, show it to me!"
The soldier quickly stood up and handed the letter to Xu Longxiang with both hands.
Xu Longxiang took the letter, his gaze falling on the familiar light blue paper and silver crescent moon mark on the envelope, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.
He raised his head, glanced at the generals still standing in the hall, and waved his hand.
"Alright, everyone disperse. Go back and prepare, and proceed according to plan."
Xu Zhen clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, his voice booming, "Yes! We, your humble servants, shall take our leave!"