[Transmigration] The War God's Consort

Chapter 9

"It's the Fierce Army! It's the Fierce Army's Flame Cavalry!"

[Border Storm: Chapter Seventeen - The Return of the God of War]

Martyrs!

With such a name uttered, who would still be willing to fight like a cornered beast? Which of the Flame Riders wasn't a strong soldier capable of taking on fifty men at once? Besides, they weren't elite soldiers, but rather ragtag soldiers who hadn't received much training!

Guan Qiu was overjoyed and rushed to Feng Xinglie's side, beaming, "Sixth Young Master! Lie Jun is here! Lie Jun has come to pick us up!"

Yu Shaofan knew that they were finally safe. His legs were still trembling from the bloody battle, but he excitedly said, "Sixth Young Master, we're saved!"

Feng Xinglie glared at the two of them and said matter-of-factly, "Of course the Lie Army will come. If Xi Suifeng is so stupid as to cut off his own support, then he doesn't need to be the commander of the Lie Army!" She had just experienced a great battle, so how could she be in a good mood? Her words were extremely casual, and she herself thought nothing of it, but to others, they sounded extremely arrogant.

The soldiers in the fierce army all held Xi Suifeng in high esteem. The young man who had just surrounded the caravan and taken over the goods immediately brandished his broadsword in anger upon hearing this, and shouted coldly, "How dare you! You dare to disrespect Commander Xi..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw a man dressed in black, carrying a long sword, with an elegant and handsome appearance that was beyond words. The man raised his head slightly and glanced at him. Without warning, he froze on the spot.

It's not that this young man wasn't brave or passionate, but for no reason, he was seen going weak in the knees, which made his face burn with embarrassment. However, the words he was about to say stuck in his throat, and he dared not utter another single one.

Feng Xinglie's gaze swept over the soldiers around him, and in an instant, all the soldiers became inexplicably uneasy, with several already showing signs of retreating.

"What's wrong up ahead?" A refreshing question came from behind. The soldiers finally realized their lapse in composure and hurriedly regained their composure. However, when they caught a glimpse of the seemingly nonchalant figure sitting leisurely on his horse, they suddenly lowered their heads or turned their faces away.

That's terrifying! Just one person standing there, casually glancing at you, and it can make someone so panicked!

Only then did the soldiers notice the countless corpses around them and the long sword that reeked of blood. Even though they were highly trained, they still felt a chill run down their spines. Could those corpses still be considered human? Limbs and mangled flesh, blood everywhere—how could anyone be so cruel? How could anyone be so merciful to those who were nothing but greedy refugees?

Yu Shaofan and Guan Qiu hadn't noticed before, but now that they saw it, they couldn't help but feel nauseous. The others were alright, but the corpses around Feng Xinglie could be piled up like a mountain, which showed how ruthless and merciless she had been!

"To show such an expression, is it to express your benevolent compassion?" A mocking smile suddenly rose on her lips.

"What did you say!" The young man looked around angrily, the mockery and ridicule burning like fire in his heart. He disregarded the intimidating pressure and roared, "They are also our family on this land, they are also our brothers, don't they also want to live! If there is a chance to live, why would they be willing to do this kind of deadly work! Maybe you are very skilled in martial arts, maybe you don't care about human life at all, they are not your citizens, even if they die you will not know or feel anything! You killed them to your heart's content, but you made us bear the bloody blame for you! And you still stand by and make sarcastic remarks, what kind of hero are you!"

He roared furiously, a sound that was clearly heard by many. The owner of that remarkably clear and crisp voice was already behind him. He was dressed in pure black robes and light armor, a hint of sadness on his handsome face, and sighed:

"You're wrong. On the battlefield, there are no relatives or friends, only life and death! If you've experienced battle after battle, hovering on the edge of life and death for days, you won't show mercy to any opponent, because being merciful to the enemy is being cruel to yourself!"

He said this, but in his heart he was already thinking of the person who had coldly told them this truth, the person who had led them through life and death, only that person was already...

A pang of pain shot through his heart, and his face paled slightly. He lowered his gaze, staring at the faces of the dead, trying to recall some of the man's teachings from the past.

"Their deaths were gruesome, but in life they were no different from beasts. In recent days, they have committed all sorts of atrocities, burning, killing, and looting. They have even lost their reason for food. How can they still be called human? Besides, although this young master's methods of killing are cruel, they are actually meant to frighten more people and make them know to retreat, so that there will be no more casualties. You only know that these people died extremely gruesomely, each one was torn into several pieces, but do you not think that if there was so much time, it would not be difficult to kill a few more people with one blow? With this young master's martial arts skills, it should not be difficult."

The young man was also taken aback, looking at the lazy and leisurely person who was still looking up at the sky as if admiring the scenery with a puzzled expression, and found it hard to accept for a moment.

The man in black looked down at the corpses, closed his eyes slightly, and sighed again: "Everyone has the will to survive. In that situation just now, the caravan fought desperately. If they hadn't been merciful, it wouldn't have been difficult to kill many more people. But you let these refugees go, young master. You must have expected that the Lie Army would come to their aid. Such martial arts, courage, and foresight are truly admirable. It seems that Master Yu has indeed found a good bodyguard."

Yu Shaofan and Guan Qiu felt dizzy and alarmed. No wonder the Sixth Young Master was calm and fearless from the beginning. Even if he hadn't expected the Lie Army to come, he probably would have had a way to scare away those rabble with his unpredictable martial arts. At that moment, they looked at Feng Xinglie with even more awe.

Luo Yun chuckled ironically to himself. Why did he feel so much sorrow today? Perhaps it was because he missed this cruel yet merciful method that always left the suffering with the greatest leeway. Just who was this person whose martial arts were no less than Brother Xi Suifeng's? He finally raised his head and looked at the person who hadn't uttered a single word in defense...

Although his impulse was somewhat irrational, the young man was not stupid. After this analysis, he was stunned and blushed. He had misunderstood someone and then launched into a tirade; ultimately, it was just an outlet for his suppressed emotions. Feeling guilty, he looked up and respectfully bowed to the man on horseback.

"I have misunderstood you, sir. You are a man of great wisdom and understanding, while I am short-sighted. I hope you will not take offense."

But after apologizing, he didn't hear any reply. Looking around in confusion, he couldn't help but exchange bewildered glances with those around him. What... what's going on?

"General Luo?" the young man asked tentatively. What was wrong with General Luo? Why were his eyes fixed on this young master, whom they felt uneasy even looking at? Why was General Luo's breathing becoming uneven? Why were his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles were turning white? Why was General Luo's body trembling uncontrollably?

"My cavalry generals, come quickly and take a look at General Luo! He... he's acting strangely!"

As soon as the sound rang out, a dozen or so dark figures quickly gathered around. At first, someone called out "Brother Luo," but when they saw the dashing figure on horseback, lazily looking up at the sky, they, like Luo Yun, either became dumbfounded or stunned, and in the end, they all trembled slightly.

Everyone panicked upon seeing this. Could it be that he hadn't done or said anything? Could it be that he possessed some kind of sorcery? Had he stolen the souls of all the generals, causing them to be in this state of soul separation?

Just as the young man and the others around him were hesitating about whether to deal with the culprit and stop the spread of his sorcery, she suddenly turned her face. Her lazy, dazzling, sharp, and star-like eyes swept over everyone, looking into their hearts and stopping them in their tracks.

Luo Yun and the others couldn't utter a single word. Their hearts were pounding, their heads felt heavy, and they could barely stand. Only one excited voice remained in their chests, and their eyes were fixed on that empty figure, that dashing figure in black robes, that crimson longsword strapped to his back, the red ribbon in his hair fluttering in the wind, his languid and carefree posture, and that strangely captivating smile at the corner of his mouth—a smile that seemed to mock all the injustices of the world, a smile that held a chilling, sinister edge. It was clearly…it was clearly…

Those eyes looked at them, those unparalleled gazes that they had dreamt of countless days and nights. Who else in the world could possess such brilliance? And who else in the world could cause the mighty Flame Cavalry to lose their composure?

Even if they were slow-witted or ignorant, they would never mistake those unparalleled eyes!

Luo Yun felt his knees buckle; such a tall man had actually knelt down like that! A soft, almost incredulous voice uttered, "Lord Lie!"

The man on horseback smiled leisurely, raised his arm slightly, and with a flick of his wrist, he held the half-mask in his hand, revealing a face so handsome it was almost unnatural.

The dozen or so men in black behind Luo Yun trembled violently. Almost simultaneously, with a loud "thump!", they slammed their knees, which had never bowed to anyone since that day, onto the yellow dust and mud. Their roars, almost shouts, were perfectly synchronized and unrestrained.

"Lord Lie!"

The deafening sound made Feng Xinglie reluctantly throw away the mask in her hand. The scene was so irritating and infuriating that her voice was filled with reproach.

"Didn't I say I don't like you kneeling down so easily? I just got back, and you're already trying to drive me crazy, aren't you?"

"Lord Lie! It really is you! It really is you!" Luo Yun wiped away the tears that involuntarily welled up in his eyes, rushed forward, and scrutinized Feng Xinglie intently, his gaze lingering on every spot, as if afraid of finding anything missing or incomplete. The others were in a similar posture, only not as "fierce" as Luo Yun. They couldn't help but glance at him repeatedly, and with so many eyes fixed on him, even the narcissistic Feng Xinglie felt uncomfortable.

"Alright, alright! I'm not missing any arms or legs, stop staring at me like that, it's not fake, I am who I am!" Feng Xinglie shook her head and sighed in frustration. Why were these kids so nervous about her? After kneeling and shouting like this, she wouldn't be able to keep quiet tomorrow. Although she was reluctant to reveal her whereabouts directly, things had come to this point, and given her personality, she would admit it and there was no need to hide it.

"Feng Xinglie has returned. After being apart for so long, surely you have something to say to me? Besides, it's not good for his goods to just sit here. Luo Yun, don't you agree?" Her instructions were fluent and without any awkwardness. Feng Xinglie had absolute trust in her brothers-in-arms, the Flame Riders. She believed that no matter who she asked, the answer would be exactly the same. There was only one commander of the Flame Army, and that would always be Feng Xinglie. That's how much she trusted them, and the Flame Riders never let her down.

"Yes, yes, yes! Hurry back to camp and let the brothers have some fun. Brother Suifeng won't have to live in pain every day anymore! Master Yu, please come with our team! Lord Lie, how can you ride such a bad horse! No, no, this will damage your dignity. Ride my Black Cloud instead..."

From the moment Luo Yun involuntarily uttered "Lord Lie," everyone froze like wooden stakes or stone statues, only then regaining their senses and slowly beginning to turn their heads. This scene, these words, and the facts they conveyed shook everyone to their core.

Yu Shaofan and Guan Qiu stared at each other in shock, their eyes filled with a horror they could not express in words.

As for that young soldier, his mouth was so open it could almost fit a watermelon!

The young man who had just been speaking with such conviction, shouting and making wild accusations, was actually... was actually Feng Xinglie, the Wind King of their Great Qin, the invincible war god, and the unwavering supreme commander of the Fierce Army? Heavens, this joke is too much! The young man just wanted to glare at his eyes and faint.

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[Border Storm: Chapter Eighteen - For Whom Does the White Hair Remain?]

Fang Yu did not manage to faint, but the reality that followed left him dumbfounded.

The godlike Feng Xinglie did not scold him for his nonsense. Instead, he called him to his side and asked him his name. Under his terrified gaze, Feng Xinglie recommended him to General Luo Yun. He went from a clueless soldier to a centurion and followed General Luo Yun. A series of bizarre facts almost made him lose his mind.

Feng Xinglie sat sideways on his horse, his lazy and dashing figure so handsome that it was hard to look directly at him. He then heard a gentle voice say, "You were able to stand up for those refugees, which shows that you have a heart that cares about the world. You can understand your own gains and losses and mistakes, so you are quite smart. You were able to apologize immediately, which shows that you are a man who can take things in stride. Since you have seen through it all, from now on, you will follow Luo Yun."

It wasn't until he heard these words that Fang Yu realized he had been promoted! And by the supreme commander of the Fierce Army, the war god revered as a god by the people of Qin!

Good heavens! Is he dreaming?

Fang Yu was having trouble breathing, but he still kept his eyes fixed and his mind made up as he looked at the seemingly relaxed yet subtly imposing figure. He felt a surge of heat rush to his head, and his cheeks flushed. He was just a lowly soldier who had crawled out of refugees, and yet that person didn't care at all about his disrespect! She valued him so much with just a few words!

Regardless of whether Feng Xinglie was listening attentively or not, Fang Yu raised his voice and shouted:

"Yes, my lord! I will certainly live up to your high expectations!"

In fact, Feng Xinglie was just having a relapse of her professional habit. She has always liked to gather talented people around her and use them for her own purposes. Whether it's the Flame Riders, the Netherworld Guards, or now Yu Shaofan and Fang Yu, she has helped and promoted many people. She doesn't have that much time to remember them all, but she has inadvertently built a deep network of connections. This habit she developed in her family has indeed benefited her a lot.

Such a familiar scene! Luo Yun, with a calm and collected demeanor, glanced at the overjoyed soldier who had been recognized and appreciated, his smile overflowing with memories. Back then, weren't they all appreciated by their lord in the same way, led out of the hellish torment of life and death? Which of them didn't have sincere and fervent feelings for their lord? Their parting at the summit of Zijin Mountain had been heart-wrenching, filled with resentment, yet less than a year later, seeing him again evoked a sense of déjà vu, as if from another lifetime.

"Luo Yun, Sui Feng... is he alright?" Feng Xinglie asked casually, but her eyes betrayed a deep concern. Feng Xinglie knew that Xi Sui Feng was always calm, collected, and focused on the big picture, but she also knew her place in Xi Sui Feng's heart. Such a person, if he didn't act rashly, would probably be just as extreme and willful as she was.

"Xing Lie, when have the Flame Cavalry ever disobeyed your orders? You commanded Sui Feng to live with us. Before avenging you, would he dare to die?" A bitter smile appeared on Luo Yun's face, a strange glint in his eyes. Xing Lie, Sui Feng did obey your orders and survived, but he…

Xi Suifeng was unwilling to report to the King of Hell, and his sharp eyes remained undiminished. Leading forty-four Flame Cavalrymen, after news of Feng Xinglie's death spread and chaos erupted on the border, he swiftly suppressed several small uprisings by force, capturing a strategically important border city. He appeased them with assets sent through the Dark Moon Gate, and spread the news that the Great Qin King Feng had actually been framed and forced to his death by the monarch. He appealed to their sense of righteousness, fabricating a few pretexts, and under the guise of revitalizing Great Qin and avenging the King Feng, he incorporated these men into his army.

The reputation of the Great Qin King in Qin goes without saying. With the Flaming Cavalry's name and clear attitude, refugees from all the war-torn areas flocked to the location of the Flaming Cavalry, which is now Flaming City. Xi Suifeng was clear-headed and meticulous, and his plan was to survive in the chaos. He chose a location at the border between Qin and the Southern Frontier, not far from Baihui Pass.

The Southern Kingdom borders the Qin Kingdom, and many rebels, driven by the need for survival, flocked to the Southern Kingdom to burn, kill, and plunder, forming a band of outlaws. This distracted the Southern Kingdom's king, who was then overthrown in a coup by a prince of the same generation. The prince then launched an unjust and irrational attack on the Great Ling Kingdom, which attracted the Southern Kingdom's Zhenyuan King, the God of War Ling Yuxiang, to march south. Meanwhile, Qingqiu, eyeing the Qin Kingdom with covetous intent, secretly deployed troops to the border. In an instant, the border situation between the three kingdoms of Qin, Ling, Qing, and the Southern Kingdom became chaotic, even more so than the Battle of Baihui Pass.

Xi Suifeng reaped the greatest benefits from this. Not only did he develop his army, but he also quelled bandits everywhere, occasionally infiltrated the chaotic southern territories to plunder supplies, and with the economic support of the Dark Moon Gate, the Lie Army had been reorganized into a well-organized force, no less than the regular army of the Qin Dynasty. Moreover, its discipline was strict, and he would occasionally "brainwash" it with profound righteousness. He had actually made it very successful. Now the Lie Army had more than 100,000 soldiers, and they were united. If it continued to develop like this, it was not impossible for it to become a regional hegemon and warlord.

Feng Xinglie was pondering Xi Suifeng's recent actions and the situation of the Lie Army. He was unusually distracted and didn't notice the strangeness in Luo Yun's words. He only caught the literal meaning and breathed a sigh of relief.

Liecheng was not a large city, and with the ongoing war and rampant banditry, the Lie army's camp was located in an open area outside the city. Led by Luo Yun, Feng Xinglie and his party quickly arrived at the heavily tense military camp. Upon reaching the main tent, the guards at the gate greeted them: "General Luo, you're back! The commander is receiving the envoys from the three-way allied forces." Upon seeing Feng Xinglie, Feng Xinglie was momentarily stunned. When had he ever seen such a distinguished figure? He was riding General Luo's beloved horse, Heiyun! And General Luo was standing respectfully behind him? He murmured in bewilderment, "General Luo, who is this?"

Before Luo Yun could speak, Feng Xinglie raised an eyebrow and snorted coldly, "A three-way coalition?"

Very well, very well! Those three reckless scoundrels finally couldn't resist joining forces! But do you think joining forces will work? They claim to have 300,000 men, but who knows how many of them are actually capable! They think they can intimidate us with sheer numbers and force the Lie Army to compromise? They even dared to rob my caravan on the way? They've got some nerve! Too bad I, Feng Xinglie, have never even learned how to write the word "fear"!

Luo Yun, who was familiar with Feng Xinglie's expression, was already cursing the heavens in his heart. He secretly felt a cold sweat for the three allied forces. He knew that Feng Xinglie had already blamed the three generals and kings for the messy attack on them. How pitiful! Of all people to mess with, why did you have to mess with Lord Lie? Don't you know that Lord Lie has always adhered to the principle of annihilating the entire family of those who offend him?

Luo Yun gave Fang Yu and the guards a wink, and Fang Yu, understanding, led a group of people to take Yu Shaofan and the others to another location for arrangements.

As you approach the main tent, you can already hear voices inside; that calm and mellow voice is indeed Xi Suifeng's.

"The three of you have made myself very clear. The Lie Army does not need allies like you. You should go back quickly."

Through the crack in the tent flap, Feng Xinglie caught a glimpse of three men dressed as generals but covered in grease, accompanied by two or three heavily made-up women, who were obviously military prostitutes. This only fueled his rage. They were even openly bringing military prostitutes to the Lie Army! How dare they show such contempt for me, Feng Xinglie?

However, upon glancing slightly further inside, Feng Xinglie's pupils suddenly widened, as if his mind had been struck by a hammer. The silver mask he had been playing with in his hand unknowingly turned into a lump of silver mud. How could this be... how could this be!

His handsome face, resolute yet composed, still exuded masculine charm; his chiseled features still radiated a sharp and solemn aura. Yet, even the corners of his lips betrayed a hint of disappointment and bitterness, and on his shoulders…

Her long hair cascaded down her back, loosely tied with a ribbon; that once-black hair was now...

That head of white hair was like snow! For whom?

Oh, wind, why are you doing this to yourself!

Feng Xinglie was never oblivious; she had understood Xi Suifeng's feelings for her for a long time. But was it worth it to let such a brilliant and unruly hero become like this for her? Suifeng, was it worth it?

"What kind of damned commander! I think you're courting death! Do you think our 300,000 troops are afraid of your mere 100,000? Your army is full of stinking soldiers and filthy men who can't even find a bit of fun. No wonder you're prematurely aged and have gray hair!" The fat, big-eared man grabbed the plump buttocks of the petite woman in his arms and squeezed them a few times. The girl groaned twice, and he laughed smugly, as if he were quite pleased with himself: "Commander Xi, our stronghold is much better than your wretched place. At least we have singing and dancing all the time. Even the mighty Lie Army is nothing more than this. All they know is fighting and killing all day long. They have no fun at all!"

Ignoring their sarcastic remarks, Xi Suifeng glanced at them indifferently. Ever since that person died, his heart had long since ceased to dwell on worldly struggles and comparisons. For a long time afterward, he locked himself in darkness, roaring, cursing, weeping, and going mad. His heart was already shattered. If it weren't for avenging that person, if it weren't for her command to live, why would he continue to eke out a living in this world? To him now, these people's words were no different from the barking of dogs; why should he pay them any attention?

"You may leave on your own. In war, envoys are not to be killed. But if you continue to linger, I would be happy to keep the three of you here," Xi Suifeng said calmly.

“You…” The fat man pointed at him, but dared not say anything. Judging from Xi Suifeng’s tone, if he really gave the order, their lives would be as easy as crushing an ant.

"Hmph!" The three men stood up angrily and were about to walk out of the tent when a voice suddenly came in.

"The three envoys are joking. How could the songs and dances of the Lie Army be inferior to those in those small villages? Commander Xi has been suppressing his feelings for a long time. Now that I've come, why not sing a song for you to relax?"

Xi Suifeng, who had been sitting still staring at the military aircraft map, suddenly tilted his head back, and the teacup he was holding involuntarily fell to the ground and shattered. His whole being seemed to tremble.

Regardless of whether the people inside the tent agreed or not, the gentle, clear, and melodious music began to play softly.

"Wolf Fang Moon, the beauty is haggard"

I raised my cup and drank the wind and snow to the last drop.

Who overturned the cabinet of past lives?

stirring up trouble

The cycle of fate has repeated itself many times.

Your furrowed brows and weeping cannot bring back her beauty.

Even though history has turned to ashes

My love will never die.