Chapter Fifty: A Thousand Miles in Pursuit, Galloping at Full Speed

All the students of the Wave Camp had cultivation at least at the Ocean Wandering Realm, and if they disregarded the exhaustion of their internal energy, they could even maintain low-altitude flight. However, though this method of travel was much faster than riding horses, it was not sustainable for long distances. Inspired by Yu Lang, everyone channeled their internal energy to bolster the horses’ stamina, creating the astonishing spectacle of heavily laden horses outpacing those running unburdened. Fortunately, the spare horses and the ridden ones were linked together by ropes; the rear horses, though driven hard, managed to keep up.

With the aid of internal energy, the superior Hu horses, already strong and swift, pushed their speed to its limits. In just a day and a half, they journeyed from Yangzhou, passing through Lifshou Prefecture and Tangzhou, to reach Dengzhou, where they were joined by Nan Jiyun who awaited them.

Nan Jiyun had managed to procure a batch of armor, crossbows, and other military gear for everyone.

Li Dahu was astonished. “Where did you get all this? Aren’t you afraid someone will accuse you of treason?”

Nan Jiyun grinned. “These were provided by Lord Zhang Xun. Though Lord Zhang is renowned for his honesty and never takes a penny from the people, the county armory has stockpiled quite a bit of equipment, likely leftover from the last victory over the corrupt official Hua Nanjin. He originally insisted that Brother Lei accompany us, but I persuaded him otherwise—after all, Lord Zhang’s own side still needs Lei Wanchun to look after Ning Xue.”

It was the first time Li Dahu heard Ning Xue’s name from someone else’s lips, and he made a note of it.

“We’re flying the banner of Zhang Ming’s Anti-Bandit Brigade from Qinghe County. With that, the other official troops won’t trouble us. Lord Zhang Ming’s reputation is widespread—both officials and the people know him as a righteous magistrate, so they won’t give us any difficulty,” Nan Jiyun added.

Yu Lang responded, “We’ll say that the senior disciple of the Tibetan State Preceptor, Qili Dongzan, allowed his followers to injure people in Qinghe County. Now that the Tibetan rebels are causing chaos, we’re pursuing them for a thousand miles. It makes sense both in reason and in law. After all, Lord Zhang Ming is known for his uncompromising integrity; acting boldly fits his style.”

The students eagerly received their soft armor, bows, and crossbows, visibly excited. Zhang Chengxing, however, scoffed, “You’re so happy over this shoddy gear? You’ve never seen the equipment of the Tang Heavenly Strategy Army—now that’s real luxury…”

“Don’t give it to me!” Dai Yang couldn’t stand Zhang Chengxing’s boastfulness.

“I want it, I want it,” Zhang Chengxing said with a silly grin.

Nan Jiyun, a cultivator with military experience, instructed the Wave Camp to form a cavalry formation. He and Yu Lang took the lead, breaking the wind, while the formation raced forward in an arrowhead, raising clouds of dust.

Along the way, some scouts from the official army tried to approach them, but their exhausted horses foamed at the mouth and couldn't keep pace. All they could hear was the joyful laughter of the Xiyue scholars.

A cavalry formation of twenty cultivators above the Ocean Wandering Realm was a rare sight—only Xiyue Academy could muster such a force. Three days later, the group reached the foot of Liangshan, outside Cangshui City, to rest. The Western Capital, where the Longyou Army was stationed, was only a day’s journey away.

Exhausted, the group watered their horses and lay on the soft grass to rest, admiring the unique landscape and scenery of the plateau region.

While they rested, over sixty water bandits armed with various weapons suddenly emerged from the lake, and more than thirty fierce-looking mountain bandits charged down from Liangshan.

The bandit leader, waving a feather fan as if he were Zhuge Kongming, shouted from afar, “You’ve fallen into my ambush! Leave your silver and supplies and flee for your lives!”

The Xiyue scholars continued their conversations and laughter, ignoring the leader entirely and treating the enemy as air.

The feather fan grew furious. “Don’t be so stubborn! You're just twenty rookie soldiers; you can't withstand our charge. Surrender your weapons and save your lives!”

Xie Zhiqian asked curiously, “We’re barely ten miles from Cangshui City. Aren’t you afraid the garrison scouts will see you and send troops to destroy you?”

The feather fan sneered, “What does it matter if I tell you? We are the garrison of Cangzhou City itself! Scream all you like—no one will come to your rescue!”

Xie Zhiqian retorted angrily, “What audacity! Official troops masquerading as bandits to rob people—aren’t you afraid your families will be destroyed?”

“Hmph, the emperor is far away in these mountains. Even if you were Li Longji’s own sons, we’d bind you up and play with you until death. Why fear annihilation? I’ll warn you one last time: hand over your valuables and save yourselves while you still can. If our brothers act, there’s no turning back!”

The Wave Camp brothers continued their idle chatter, still treating the feather fan as a joke.

The feather fan's brow tightened, his murderous intent flaring. He growled, “Kill!”

Nan Jiyun’s heart filled with alarm. He shouted, “Enemy attack!”

The students thought Nan Jiyun was overreacting; they saw little reason to fear a group of feeble mountain bandits.

Arrows shot out from the forest. Yu Lang, Nan Jiyun, and Li Dahu guarded three sides, wielding their swords to deflect countless arrows, though a few slipped through.

One arrow flew straight at Xu Qing’s face, about to pierce his skull. He had no time to react and could only scream. Aba Baba caught the arrow single-handedly, though the barbed head tore a bloody gash in his palm.

“Big Brother Ao!” Xu Qing finally snapped back to himself, filled with gratitude and lingering fear, and quickly bandaged Aba Baba’s wound.

From the hillside, countless boulders rolled down.

Yu Lang commanded in a low voice, “Wave Camp, everyone listen up—abandon the horses and run!”

Having witnessed the power of strong bows and crossbows, the Wave Camp no longer dared to show off; they all gathered their internal energy and fled at low altitude. They now realized that these were not ignorant bandits daring to provoke them, but adversaries who had long observed their strength and patiently tried to persuade them. At least several hundred men lay in ambush at Liangshan—this trap was not laid for the likes of the Wave Camp alone.

The feather fan sneered, “These princelings really think the battlefield is a playground. So what if you’re at the Ocean Wandering Realm? When I was a soldier, I saw a Void Breaking cultivator’s head lopped off by a barbarian in a single stroke!”

Fortunately, he had no intention of pursuing them. His main goal seemed to be driving the Wave Camp away.

Nan Jiyun said to the group, “These people aren’t after us. We’ve merely occupied their ambush site and they’re eager to drive us off. That little leader just now, though his Dantian is blocked, carries the aura of a veteran—surely a battle-hardened soldier. We must be cautious from now on. The battlefield is nothing like the academy; one wrong step can mean death.”

Zhang Chengxing said, “Those men claim to be official troops, but who knows if it’s true. Either way, they’re not good people. Why don’t we circle back and wipe them out?”

Yu Lang shook his head. “With our current strength… we’re no match for them. These aren’t ordinary bandits; they move and coordinate with discipline, likely real veterans. Some among them are strong cultivators.”

On paper, the Wave Camp had the advantage, but in real combat, as just witnessed, most were stunned by the sudden barrage of arrows and falling rocks.

Xu Qing, still shaken, muttered, “If we can’t handle these bandits, how can we possibly break through the Tibetan Preceptor’s Royal Army? That fifty-thousand-strong force—every one of them is a seasoned veteran.”

His words chilled the blood of the group, draining much of their fighting spirit. Such is the nature of youth—prone to arrogance, but also easily discouraged.

Yu Lang pondered a moment, then set a new plan: “We’re only a hundred miles from the Western Capital. Let’s wipe out these bandits, seize their supplies, and treat it as practice for the coming battles.”

Having just suffered a defeat, morale was low; they urgently needed a victory to rally their spirits.