Chapter 614: Path of Thorns

Chapter 614: Chapter 614: Path of Thorns

"Absolutely not!"

Feng Zhang refused immediately without a second thought.

"You’ve only been here for a few months! You probably don’t even know where Long City is! How could you possibly go?!"

"But I do," Ye Yunfeng replied matter-of-factly.

"You—" Feng Zhang froze, skeptical. "How would you know?"

Ye Yunfeng thought, ’I can’t very well tell him it’s because I used to love staring at the sand table and running simulations at home.’

He had indeed never been to Long City, but it was a crucial border stronghold. Before leaving home, Ye Yunfeng had already studied the entire defensive lines of the Northwest and the Southwest.

Although Xia City was in the Northwest, it wasn’t particularly far from Long City. More importantly, the terrain between the two was quite flat, which was ideal for moving troops.

He hadn’t just studied the battle of Tongtian Pass. In fact, King Yan Nan and Shen Youyan were both famous generals he greatly admired, and he had meticulously re-enacted all of their renowned battles on his sand table.

His older sister knew he disliked academic studies but had never been too harsh on him for this very reason—while he may not have read as many books as his third brother, he hadn’t wasted his time on frivolous pursuits either. Instead, he had dedicated himself to his passions.

Combined with the map of Long City’s defenses included in the envelope, he was brimming with confidence.

"Three hundred men—no! One hundred! Sir, just permit me to lead the vanguard, and I swear I will not disappoint you!"

Looking at the boy’s stubborn and determined expression, Feng Zhang found himself at a loss for words of refusal.

Compared to a few months ago, the boy before him had undergone a complete transformation.

His eyes now shone with unflinching courage and resolve!

Feng Zhang hesitated.

"But you’re..."

Ye Yunfeng was only fourteen!

Everyone else thought he was sixteen, but only Feng Zhang knew that Ye Yunfeng was still just a boy, not yet a man!

Ye Yunfeng saw his hesitation. Looking him straight in the eye, he raised an eyebrow and countered, "Are you worried, Sir, that I cannot handle such a heavy responsibility?"

Feng Zhang couldn’t bring himself to say yes.

Although Ye Yunfeng had only been here a short time, he had already displayed an astonishing talent for warfare.

Charging into battle, killing the enemy, and outwitting foes on the battlefield—things that might take others a long time to get used to—were completely natural for Ye Yunfeng.

He was like a born soldier!

If this task were entrusted to him, Feng Zhang was confident he wouldn’t make any mistakes!

Feng Zhang was silent for a long time before sighing. "It’s not that I don’t trust you, but the stakes are too high. We must be cautious. The slightest misstep..."

Long City was now a veritable lion’s den!

One wrong move, and you could be ground to dust!

It was precisely because Feng Zhang was so fond of and valued this student he had personally mentored that he couldn’t bring himself to make a decision!

But Ye Yunfeng suddenly smiled.

"Sir, from the day I left the Capital City with you, I knew this would be an extremely difficult path. If I were the type to cling to life and fear death, I wouldn’t be standing before you right now."

Feng Zhang was taken aback.

After a long moment, he suddenly burst into laughter, his voice filled with pride.

"Good! Excellent! Worthy of being someone I trained! You’ve got guts, kid!"

His eyes were filled with hope. He clapped a rough, heavy hand on Ye Yunfeng’s shoulder, his tone turning serious.

"In that case, kid, I’ll give you this chance! I’ll assign a unit to you. You will have full authority to act as the vanguard and clear the way! I will lead the main army behind you and wait for the right moment to strike!"

Ye Yunfeng’s eyes lit up with astonishing brightness, and he immediately dropped to one knee.

"Yes, Sir!"

Feng Zhang helped him up. "Long City is certainly on high alert. You must be extremely careful! And I can’t leave Xia City undefended. The most I can spare is three thousand troops."

His reasoning was sound. Long City was in peril, and while they should help, they absolutely could not afford to lose Xia City.

Three thousand was the largest force Feng Zhang could possibly dispatch.

But for Ye Yunfeng, it was more than enough.

The fact that Long City was keeping this secret suggested they had their own concerns.

And that—was the biggest opening!

Ye Yunfeng accepted the order and turned to leave. "The man is still waiting for me outside the city. I’ll take a horse out to him first, then I’ll lead my men to Long City under the cover of secrecy!"

"Wait!" Feng Zhang suddenly called out to him.

Ye Yunfeng turned back. "Do you have any other instructions, Sir?"

Feng Zhang shook his head, unfastened the sword from his waist, and tossed it over.

Ye Yunfeng caught it instinctively. When he felt its heavy weight in his hands, he realized what it was and his expression turned to shock.

"Sir, isn’t this sword your..."

"You’re a new soldier. Even though you’ve killed enemies and earned merits before, your seniority is too low. You might not be able to command their respect," Feng Zhang said with a smile. "Take my personal sword! Let’s see who dares to disobey you now!"

He was entrusting his authority into Ye Yunfeng’s hands.

Ye Yunfeng’s heart trembled as he gripped the sword tightly.

"Your student... will not fail the trust you’ve placed in me, mentor!"

He turned and strode away, the north wind catching the corners of his robes, making them snap and rustle.

Feng Zhang watched the boy’s straight, receding figure, his expression filled with emotion.

Such heroism and dauntlessness, such youthful spirit—he hadn’t seen anything like it in a very, very long time...

’It seems bringing him to Xia City was the right choice after all!’

"You must eventually face a true battlefield, but this day has come far sooner than I ever imagined..."

Feng Zhang murmured.

What came before were just minor skirmishes; Ye Yunfeng had yet to experience the cruelest side of war.

It was a danger, but also an opportunity.

Throughout history, how many famous generals had clawed their way out of a mountain of knives and a sea of blood?

No one could bypass this path, because for this choice, there were no shortcuts.

Still, Feng Zhang had high hopes for Ye Yunfeng.

"Perhaps this kid really can give me a surprise?"

...

「Capital City, Heavenly Prison.」

SPLASH—!

A basin of cold water was thrown on him. The bone-chilling cold, like needles stabbing his skin, instantly jolted Gao Yi awake.

He shivered uncontrollably, his eyes flying open. He gasped for breath, scanning his surroundings with his nerves stretched to the breaking point.

A languid voice drifted out from the darkness.

"Awake?"

Gao Yi’s heart leaped, and he immediately looked forward.

In the dim, cold cell, the light was terrible. He could only vaguely make out a figure standing in the pitch blackness ahead.

He couldn’t see the person’s face, only just managing to glimpse a flash of a snow-white hem.

Gao Yi had a sinking feeling he knew who it was.

"Y-you... Are you... Shen Yanchuan?"

He remembered that before he passed out, it was members of the Black Cavalry Guard who had attacked him. That meant the person here now was, in all likelihood, Shen Yanchuan himself!

"It seems your mind is quite clear."

Shen Yanchuan didn’t deny his guess. Instead, he admitted it directly, his tone even holding a hint of amusement.

"Good. As it happens, I don’t have much time. Just answer my questions," he said coolly.

"Who was the one who secretly ordered you to go to Qingzhou and hoard grain?"