Chapter 636 – Let Go of That Chief, Let Me Come (13)
“Finally done with the college entrance exams!”
“Hey, streamer, how about you cover your eyes with a thicker cloth? This light is so annoying! Ancient times don’t have sunglasses or protective eyewear. The UV rays reflecting off the snow can hurt your eyes and cause snow blindness!”
“Thanks for the reminder, or I would’ve totally forgotten about snow blindness.”
“Come on, we’re in a battle! Whether we survive is still in question; what’s the use of a couple of eyes?”
Jiang Pengji turned off the live stream comments and minimized the screen to avoid distractions.
Dian Yin stood beside her, his voice noticeably rough with tension.
“Lord, could there be a trick here?”
He noticed the sparse soldiers stationed at the city gates; they seemed so lax.
Jiang Pengji chuckled, “Do you think everyone is like me? I run a tight ship; I set rules and enforce them. Anyone who breaks the rules gets punished under military law. People like the Red Lotus Sect, however, are undisciplined. Most of their elite have been transferred away, so these left-behind soldiers think they’re safe and sound, naturally they won’t be on guard. Who wants to freeze in such cold weather? If they can slack off, they will!”
If the soldiers at the city gates had been on high alert, Jiang Pengji would’ve worried about an ambush.
Dian Yin nodded thoughtfully.
Gazing at the city gate, Jiang Pengji narrowed her eyes dangerously. “I really don’t like this city gate…”
Dian Yin was puzzled; aren’t all city gates the same? Why would one be disliked?
Jiang Pengji commanded, “Dian Yin, you lead the soldiers to cover me. We have to break the city as quickly as possible. I have a good plan…”
Dian Yin didn’t ask what her plan was; he just needed to focus on his own duties.
“Rest assured, Lord.”
Jiang Pengji nodded. She looked at the spear in her hand and found it too slender and long, then glanced at the two axes at Dian Yin’s waist.
“Let me borrow your two big axes for a bit.”
Dian Yin was strong and favored heavy weapons in battle; one swing of those axes could cleave someone from the crown to the pelvis, leaving a bloody mess. After every battle, he looked as if he’d emerged from a bloodbath.
Though he was willing to lend them, he hesitated.
“Lord, these axes are too heavy; I’m afraid…”
Before he could finish, his eyes widened in shock.
The axes were specially made, weighing almost a hundred pounds. Yet, in Jiang Pengji’s hands, they felt as light as a feather, showing no sign of struggle.
Every time Dian Yin thought he understood Jiang Pengji’s combat abilities, she always exceeded his expectations.
“Feels just right…”
She hefted the axes, a sly smile creeping onto her lips as she looked towards the city gate with malicious intrigue.
At that moment, the viewers in the live stream were once again stirred, flooding the comments.
“Yesterday we saw the white-horse youth in red and silver armor; today it’s the loli wielding twin axes?”
“Old Driver Alliance: This body is already around seventeen or eighteen; how can she be a loli? Have you ever seen such an old loli?”
“Musician Zhuge Qinqi: Old loli, no problem there.”
“Genius Guo Fengxiao: Jia has set up her stool with seeds and drinks, ready to watch our streamer’s heroic display on the battlefield.”
“Boss Cao: Tsk, you’re really twisted. This isn’t some game; our streamer could die for real, staring down bloody corpses and spilled guts. Are you sure you can munch on seeds while watching that?”
Just thinking of Boss Cao’s comment conjured graphic images in his mind, nearly making him puke.
Jiang Pengji was indeed ready to stir things up.
With no clear understanding of the guards at Jinmen County, she couldn’t afford to be reckless. To achieve a swift victory, she had to strike hard, shattering the Red Lotus Sect’s momentum and seizing Jinmen County with rapid force… which meant it was time to cause some trouble.
In the rear, Yang Si observed from a distance, unsure if Jiang Pengji was launching a full-frontal assault or a sneak attack.
He pondered as he noticed the soldiers ahead beginning to stir.
“What’s… what’s the Lord planning?”
Yang Si nearly squealed in surprise as he saw Jiang Pengji vault onto Xiao Bai’s back, leading a line of soldiers forward.
Thanks to the snow and the bright light, and with Jiang Pengji draped in white cloth, the soldiers at the city gate hadn’t spotted her yet.
The Red Lotus Sect’s soldiers huddled behind the walls, seeking shelter from the wind. Their clothing wasn’t uniform; some were heavily clothed while others wore thin layers, shivering as they curled up. The one thing they all had in common? They were older and less spry than the young recruits.
“Oh lordy—I’m freezing to death—”
As one spoke, his breath mingled with the cold air, the warmth barely escaping.
“Shut up! The more you talk, the colder it gets. You’d be better off shaking a bit.”
“Why not pray to the gods? It might help a little.”
In this era, how did common folks travel? By walking, naturally, and their only means of warmth? Shivering!
As for hot coal pots?
That was out of the question.
They were merely old and frail soldiers still hanging on in this tough world. Surviving was already a blessing; who’d dare ask for more?
The guards at the city gate huddled for warmth, barely generating any heat.
In this icy weather, they lacked proper winter clothing and took turns standing guard, with one or two standing while the others sought shelter from the wind, squeezing together for warmth. Once the standers couldn’t take it anymore, they’d switch.
At this moment, someone complained, “Today wasn’t even my turn! I really don’t know why the higher-ups are going crazy, pulling everyone away to stick me with the job.”
“It’s not just you who’s unlucky.”
“Quit whining; pulling people away is the leader’s orders. They’re out to exterminate the heretics.”
“Heretics? Who are the heretics?”
“Who else could it be? It’s Liu Xi over there. The gods say he’s the heretic, so he’s the heretic, the bane of society!”
Liu Xi?
In the North, few didn’t know that name, nor did the commoners of Chengde County.
Most of them relied on coal mining for a living, but with the current situation, they couldn’t even afford grain, let alone buy coal.
The lack of coal sales meant many coal miners would lose their livelihoods, struggling to feed their families.
In recent years, Jiang Pengji had bought vast quantities of coal from Chengde County.
Before the fallout with the Red Lotus Sect, she had been quite supportive of Chengde County’s businesses, helping many commoners to make a living.
Regarding the topic of “heretical demons,” the vast majority of people rallied to condemn them, with only a small group remaining silent.
At that moment, someone looked up at the sky and spotted many dark spots.
He pointed, “What’s that?”
The dark spots rapidly grew larger, and a sharp pain pierced his right eye as blood splattered across his face.
