Chapter 472: The Fiancée. Marquis Yun Arrives.
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Shangguan Lingxiu arrived at the scene as well, looking dapper and elegant, with two tall and slim female officers in tow.
"Old Marshal, I heard that there is a letter for me?"
Qiu Jianhan, who was deep in thought, answered her absently, "Yes, yes. Here."
He took the letter out.
Shangguan Lingxiu browsed through the letter and was puzzled. "Who is this?"
Old Marshal Qiu glanced at her and answered, "He said that his surname is Yun."
Shangguan Lingxiu's hand suddenly spasmed uncontrollably.
"Lord Supreme Cloud?"
Old Marshal Qiu's eyes were trained at Shangguan Lingxiu's face when he said, "Not necessarily so."
"It is Young Master Yun Yang?" Shangguan Lingxiu's gaze grew feverishly brighter.
Old Marshal Qiu squinted his eyes then, replying, "I don't know."
"It's a good thing, no matter who comes." Shangguan Lingxiu smiled.
By her side, both Yue Rulan and Ji Lingxi's expressions changed.
It was great news, regardless of whether it was Supreme Cloud or Yun Yang who came; this was all true. It was good news for both the girls as well.
If Supreme Cloud came, the two of them could ask about Supreme Wind, who was also Ji Lingfeng, from him. If Yun Yang came… both girls gritted their teeth; they would settle their accounts with the bastard!
However… why was Shangguan Lingxiu so excited?
It was a matter of course for her to be happy if Supreme Cloud came since it would benefit the war, but what was she so happy about if it were to be Yun Yang?
The change of both the girls' expressions was accounted for in Qiu Jianhan's eyes as he said, "These two…they seem quite familiar."
Shangguan Lingxiu introduced them with a smile, "These two are motivated practitioners of the martial world and are very skilled… Along the journey…"
Before she could finish, Yue Rulan was already speaking faintly, "For Old Marshal's knowledge… I am Yue Rulan. This is my sister-in-law, Ji Lingxi."
Qiu Jianhan squinted again as he replied, "Good names."
The old marshal was seasoned, experienced in all walks of life. Yue Rulan looked like a woman who was gentle and quiet, one without much words; there had to be a reason for her to interrupt someone to speak. Hence, the old marshal did not stop her but waited in silence.
As expected, Yue Rulan continued her speech, "This sister-in-law of mine is Young Master Yun Yang's fiancée."
She could not admit to being Supreme Wind's younger sister and fiancée, but it was fine to say that Ji Lingxi was Young Master Yun Yang's fiancée.
All three people were baffled by the words that had been spoken.
Qiu Jianhan's eyes grew as round as saucers while Shangguan Lingxiu turned her head abruptly, even Ji Lingxi turned red and was immensely shy.
"Sister Lan, what are you talking about?"
Ji Lingxi was lost too. Since when was she that fellow's fiancée? Sister Lan was clearly blabbering.
Yue Rulan wore a straight face; she and Ji Lingxi had their faces disguised, so it was hardly noticeable even if their expressions changed. She spoke slowly, "Young Master Yun isn't the most thoughtful man. He disappeared after leaving us in Tiantang City. We've come to look for him."
She was lamenting inwardly, "Oh young sister, how foolish you are! Can't you see that this female general's crush on Yun Yang so obvious? If you continue to be shy, Yun Yang might be snatched away from right under your nose!"
Shangguan Lingxiu was immediately crestfallen, repeating the words dully, "Yun Yang's fiancée?"
Qiu Jianhan frowned and said suddenly, "How many fiancées does Yun Yang have actually? This old man has discussed with Old Mistress Shangguan earlier and has already promised Lady Shangguan Lingxiu to Yun Yang. Why… does he suddenly have two fiancées now?"
As a pillar of military might, Qiu Jianhan naturally took Shangguan Lingxiu's side. He was a man seasoned with life, already seeing through Shangguan Lingxiu's words and actions. At the same time, he was also aware that Yue Rulan's words were directed at Shangguan Lingxiu.
Unable to hold himself back, he spoke in support of Shangguan Lingxiu. You know how to lie, but did you think that I wouldn't be able to tell, having lived most of my life by now?
Ji Lingxiu was taken aback. "Really?"
Yue Rulan looked at Qiu Jianhan and said, "Old Marshal must be joking."
Qiu Jianhan flew into a rage. "This is a military camp. What's there to joke about? Out, out all of you, go! This serious marshal's tent of mine is becoming a pond of jealousy! What has things come to these days?"
With a wave of his hands, he chased everyone out of his tent.
Shangguan Liungxiu went out, unable to ask or speak the words that were brewing in her as she looked at Ji Lingxi and Yue Rulan.
Ji Lingxi lowered her head, occasionally glancing at Shangguan Lingxiu. She felt strongly that perhaps she could still win in terms of appearance, but the height, long legs, and the chic aura the other lady possessed were a hard set of traits to beat!
Yue Rulan had hammered a nail into Shangguan Lingxiu although the three of them had bonded rather well in their journey, so she kept quiet instead, not wanting to further provoke her.
The girls were silent but had tacitly decided that everything would wait until the war was over.
This greatly disappointed Old Marshal Qiu, who had followed them out with the intention to be an audience to their spectacle. It was unworthy of his age that was supposed to lend him wisdom. Still, they did not quarrel…
The three girls walked back.
They saw groups of wounded soldiers who were bleeding and bandaging themselves but still possessed a high fighting morale and exuded fearless determination to fight to their deaths all along their way back. It was as if this devastating war had only brought them fearlessness and courage; there was not a single trace of fear in these men.
Yue Rulan and Ji Lingxi were deeply moved as they watched Yutang's fighters spill blood in the battlefield. Furthermore, they had fought without regrets through so many battles for these past few days. Suddenly, they seemed to understand why Ji Lingfeng had become Supreme Wind and why he would fight to protect this country.
It was because… these were respectable and lovable people!
"We've come here to fight on the battlefield. We three sisters will share life and death then," said Yue Rulan.
Shangguan Lingxiu smiled faintly and nodded, "Thank you. As for others, I haven't considered them yet."
"Me too," said Ji Lingxi competitively.
Shangguan Lingxiu initially had a heavy heart, but upon hearing Ji Lingxi, she could not help chuckling.
…
For the next three days, Dongxuan base set up opposite of the Fortress of Resilience did nothing. They watched Yutang's militants poured bucket after bucket of water on the wall and allowed the water to seep in from the gaps.
Fu Baoguo was afraid that the weather was too cold and the water poured would freeze before they could seep through the cracks. He ordered the soldiers to boil the water instead and pour the boiling water. This way, the water could be prevented from freezing before they got to where they needed to be.
As for the outside of the wall, the buckets of water were poured without a care.
The Fortress of Resilience had turned into an icy fort in just three days from such swift movement. The hanging ice outside reached a thickness of two feet that the Deicide arrows would not be able to penetrate, even if they were shot at melee range! The Siege Quarrel would be able to go through it, but to use it to attack the layer of ice was meaningless!
Based on this, Yutang's side had their morale boosted. The previous engulfing shadow of defeat vanished long ago, so much so that even the oppressive clouds of war had dissipated.
All of them were full of confidence that they could win this battle!
Only Qiu Jianhan was still weighed down with worry every day; his frown was locked in place as he repeatedly checked the resources of the fort and supplies.
Han Sanhe had been observing Yutang's activities. He saw that the Fortress of Resilience had stopped watering the fort after the third day. After all, there was no reason to keep on thickening it. The thickness of the wall was more than enough to survive. When Dongxuan's troops came to attack and the ice wall was damaged, they would just pour more water after the battle.
Yutang's soldiers were calm and collected but the soldiers guarding on top of the fort were freezing, feeling the piercing cold and iciness of the violent winds/
On the third day, Han Sanhe called for Zhan Ge.
"Have the things I asked you to prepare previously been readied?"
"For ages!"
Han Sanhe's eyes were glinting coldly.
"Then, attack!"
…
Just as Han Sanhe was announcing his attack, Yutang welcomed another relief troop on their side. The relief troop that came was a singular person, someone that went by the surname Yun!
The Marquis of Heavenly Clouds, whom everyone had not seen for a long time, had arrived from the north, traveling day and night. He had already passed the bottleneck of peak realm's Tenth Perfection and had successfully advanced to the heaven realm.
Fu Baoguo was initially thrilled about Yun Xiaoyao's arrival before he was inexplicably disappointed…
F*ck, why did it have to be this fellow? Even if it were his son, this marshal wouldn't have been as disheartened…
After all, the Marquis of Heavenly Clouds Yun Xiaoyao scored the lowest in Qiu Jianhan's comment about the three Yuns; he seemed to be only better than having no one.
Qiu Jianhan was not surprised at all regarding Yun Xiaoyao's sudden arrival, asking once they met, "How fares the north?"
Marquis Yun was very respectful of Old Marshal Qiu as he answered, "The north is exceptionally stable. Marshal Tie Zheng has taken the initiative to attack and fought with Tianci leading the army. They've won all three battles and morale is soaring through the roof. Tianci's army has drawn back five hundred miles currently, although both sides are still in a confrontational phase. I believe that Marshal Tie won't have any issues now. The northern line as stable as the mountain."
"The only regret is that Tianci is still adding soldiers to their troops, so Marshal Tie dares not deploy his men to aid the eastern border."
The Marquis of Heavenly Clouds Yun Xiaoyao was indeed Yun Yang's father by name; he was equally good-looking. He had a good build and was very handsome; he was dashing and charismatic. He was someone people would like the moment they met him.
"I've stayed for over a year at the northern border. Marshal Tie has discussed with this marquis to ask me over to assist singlehandedly, seeing that the warfare there is stable. Therefore, this marquis is southbound throughout the nights and have finally gotten to the Fortress of Resilience to help as much as I can."
Marquis Yun smiled gently. "I've not come too late and am still in time for the war of the century. I get to watch the ultimate showdown of the world's top marshals at close proximity!"