The Strife of Chaos Chapter Fifty-Six: Yang Ruiyun’s Westward Campaign

“Big brother, let me go.” Li Qiutong followed the voice and saw Yang Ruiyun, eager and ready for action. For Yang Ruiyun, this was undoubtedly the best opportunity for the Silver Lancers. As the saying goes, a soldier who hasn’t experienced the baptism of war isn’t truly a soldier.

For half a year, the Silver Lancers had focused on their training, with hardly any real combat. Their actual fighting strength remained uncertain.

“Second brother, have you thought it through?” Li Qiutong asked.

Yang Ruiyun replied with certainty, “Absolutely. The Silver Lancers need a real war. And right now, we’re the best suited to march west.” His eyes burned with fervor and battle spirit.

Li Qiutong smiled faintly. “Then it’s settled, second brother. It’s up to you.”

Ren Xingtian remained silent. Sending the Silver Lancers wouldn’t expose Beitong Pass, but as a newly emerged military force, the Silver Lancers would surely attract attention, and who knew what consequences might follow. Still, Li Qiutong, as always, made the decision directly, leaving Ren Xingtian with nothing more to say.

With the decision made, Li Qiutong turned to the old eunuch and said, “Our troops are ready. My second brother will lead four thousand cavalry. Please rest assured, sir.”

The eunuch eyed Yang Ruiyun, clad in silver armor, his gaze sharp, and knew this man was no ordinary figure. “Very well. In five days, General Li, have them assemble at Ancheng. There will be someone to receive them.”

With that, the eunuch took his leave in haste, as if pressed by urgent matters.

“Big brother, I’ll go make arrangements,” Yang Ruiyun said.

Li Qiutong nodded. “Good.” Then, turning to Bilu, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, he said, “Gather everyone. I have important news to announce.”

Five days later, when Yang Ruiyun set out with four thousand fully armed Silver Lancers for Ancheng, it signaled yet another escalation in the continent’s turmoil.

Chang’an City. Ming Prince’s Residence.

“Your Highness, reports from the front say that the General of the North did not go himself, but sent his second brother, Yang Ruiyun, leading four thousand light cavalry.”

Prince Ming stroked his chin in surprise. “Li Qiutong is strange indeed. Such a golden chance for glory, and he refuses it. Does he truly wish to stay cooped up in Beitong Pass forever?”

“Don’t underestimate Li Qiutong, uncle,” came a voice. The servants looked up to find the esteemed Princess Jingning standing nearby, massaging the prince’s shoulders.

“Oh? What insight does my little Jingning have?”

“I once had their background investigated. Not long ago, they supposedly repelled the Overlord Iron Cavalry of the Zhou Kingdom. Though the reports aren’t fully confirmed, there’s likely some truth to them,” Jingning spoke as if chatting casually with an elder, none of her usual arrogance showing.

Prince Ming was taken aback. “Then he must not be underestimated. My little niece Jingning has done me quite a favor.”

Jingning smiled. “Then uncle, perhaps you can help me too.”

“What would you like me to do?” Prince Ming asked fondly.

“I wish to visit the front lines to comfort the soldiers defending our homeland, but I fear Father won’t allow it. I hope uncle will speak on my behalf before him.” Jingning gazed at Prince Ming with clear, shining eyes.

“The front is dangerous,” Prince Ming reminded her.

“No worries, Sword Elder will protect me. Rest assured, uncle.”

Seeing Jingning’s sincerity, Prince Ming couldn’t refuse and agreed to his well-mannered niece’s request.

“Thank you, uncle,” Jingning said.

Meanwhile, Qin Shubao, busy with preparations for the western campaign, received a letter from the Prime Minister. The letter detailed Beitong Pass’s troop arrangements for the campaign. Learning that Li Qiutong would not personally lead the expedition, Qin Shubao was puzzled, but he knew Yang Ruiyun’s strength was formidable and didn’t dwell on it. He failed to grasp the deeper implications hinted at in the letter.

Beitong Pass.

Four thousand Silver Lancers stood in perfect formation outside the gates of the Western Army barracks, their presence rivaling the Qilin Army that Li Qiutong had seen before. A certain fierce aura made them seem even more formidable.

Li Qiutong, Ren Xingtian, Deng Zhanxuan, and Yang Hu’s wife, Wang Ying, all watched Yang Ruiyun as he organized the troops.

After Yang Ruiyun finished, Li Qiutong stepped forward alone. “Second brother, take care. We’ll be waiting for your return.”

“Don’t worry, big brother. Wait for our triumphant return,” Yang Ruiyun replied confidently. This was not only the Silver Lancers’ first battle, but his own. Perhaps the new legend of the Yang family began now.

“Second brother, do your best,” Deng Zhanxuan said. He wished to join Yang Ruiyun on the battlefield, but Ren Xingtian had assigned him a more important task. All he could do was trust his brother.

“Ruiyun, last night I observed the stars and calculated the difficulties you may face. Though my fate-forecasting skills are not as refined as my master’s, they should be some help. Here is a secret pouch—if you encounter danger, open it and heed its advice. It may help you. Remember, don’t open it early, or fate will not be fulfilled.” Ren Xingtian spoke mysteriously, producing a simple but enigmatic pouch from his robe and handing it to Yang Ruiyun.

Yang Ruiyun had heard of fate-divining from his father but had never taken it seriously. However, seeing Ren Xingtian’s pale face and weak body today, it was clear he’d paid a price for this. Ren Xingtian, though unreliable in daily matters, was always meticulous in serious affairs.

Yang Ruiyun accepted the pouch immediately. “Thank you. You take care as well.”

Ren Xingtian smiled faintly. “Go on.” Fate divining had circulated on the continent for ages, but few believed it. Yet it was real; those who could read the heavens could only glimpse vague and often incomprehensible results, but even these could sway the course of a war. The clearer the reading, the higher the price. Few practiced it, as many who sought fate without caution died young, leaving behind a mix of legends.

As Yang Ruiyun bid farewell, Yang Hu was not idle.

“I didn’t expect we’d part again,” Wang Ying choked back tears.

Yang Hu stroked his wife’s dark hair, his voice filled with reluctance. “I’m sorry, Ying’er.”

Suddenly, Wang Ying stood on tiptoe and whispered something in his ear.

Yang Hu was startled. “Really?”

She nodded gently. “We’ll wait for your return.”

Though torn with reluctance, Yang Hu chose to leave; he knew that while his wife hated to part, she would never want her husband to flee the battlefield. Remembering her final words, Yang Hu mounted his white warhorse and joined Yang Ruiyun.

Under the gaze of those seeing them off, the four thousand cavalry rode toward their first battlefield.

After Yang Ruiyun’s departure, Beitong Pass formally began training the military formations.

First came the eight martial arts, assigned to the eight previously organized units, with Li Qiutong personally instructing their cultivation. Since all were martial artists, they learned quickly.

Next was battle training: Ren Xingtian set overall goals, Zhu Yan’er and Bilu led the Vermilion Bird Army in mounted archery, Deng Zhanxuan led the Black Tortoise Army in shield defense, and the Azure Dragon and White Tiger Armies received standard combat training from Li Qiutong and Ren Xingtian. Everything seemed to be proceeding smoothly.

Yet in truth, many challenges remained.

Southern barracks.

“Yan’er, do you think their martial arts can really forge a new military formation?” Bilu asked.

Zhu Yan’er withdrew her gaze from the soldiers’ training. “From my experience, yes. Ren Xingtian specifically asked me to have our women warriors cultivate both the Heaven Dry Fist and Marsh Exchange Fist.”

“Cultivate two arts at once? Won’t that scatter their focus?” Bilu wondered.

Zhu Yan’er shook her head with certainty. “No. Though each art is simple on its own, only mid-tier, they’re connected. When both martial energies are condensed externally, they fuse into a new, stronger martial energy.”

“How do you know?”

“I’ve recently advanced both arts to external condensation. They seem interconnected, not only avoiding interference but actually aiding each other. Their formation may be more remarkable than it seems,” Zhu Yan’er explained seriously.

Bilu knew that Zhu Yan’er was not just a simple martial master; she hailed from a renowned military family, and many famed formation commanders came from her lineage. Her expertise in military formations and training was unquestionable. If she saw great potential in this formation, Ren Xingtian’s plans were surely feasible.

“Still, training the troops to fully harness their power will be difficult. Now, Yang Ruiyun, their only expert in formation training, has left. They’ll face serious challenges,” Zhu Yan’er added.

Bilu understood. She would focus on her own troops, and when the others ran into trouble, they would come seeking help.

Meanwhile, Li Qiutong, busy single-handedly sparring with the Azure Dragon Army, had no idea what the two women discussed behind his back.

“Hey, keep coming. How can you be tired after only an afternoon?” Li Qiutong shouted, swinging his war club.

The soldiers around him were helpless. Facing someone who’d fought all day without fatigue—and seemed to grow more excited—their only option was to endure. If Li Qiutong relied on his higher cultivation, it would be unfair, but he didn’t even release his martial energy, so everyone was about equal. The only difference was they used Eight Trigram Fist, while Li Qiutong used Azure Dragon Fist.

Some soldiers were martial masters, but their skills weren’t high enough to match Li Qiutong. Even Meng Yanyu, a top martial master, had suffered under the Azure Dragon Fist; these recruits, most only basic martial artists, stood little chance.

“General, you’re a saint-level martial artist. How could we possibly compete? Please, stop bullying us,” one exhausted soldier pleaded.

“That’s right, General, how long have we been at this?” others echoed.