Chapter 103: A Parent's Devotion

The wolf cavalry left the safe house, speeding northward at full throttle. Ye Ling and the others finally understood what forced marching truly meant. For six grueling hours, the Boundless Sky Wolf had been racing relentlessly. The continuous violent jolts made them feel as if their bones were about to shatter. At first, they could barely discern the direction, but soon they had no idea where they were, only that the wolf cavalry was ceaselessly winding its way deeper into the northern territories.

Dawn was approaching when Ye Xin finally sent an order for the wolf cavalry to take a temporary rest. Ye Ling and the others dismounted from the Boundless Sky Wolf and leaned against one another. Just over six hours of this had left them utterly exhausted and chilled to the bone. The Boundless Sky Wolf’s speed was so great that the once merely bleak autumn wind now felt piercingly sharp. Coupled with the sweat on their bodies, the cold seemed to seep into their very marrow.

Yet the veterans of the Sky Wolf Corps appeared spirited and alert, which made them feel somewhat ashamed. They could understand how the old soldiers maintained such stamina, but how had Ye Xin at the front managed to endure?

“Wen Rong, how are you feeling?” Shen Miao whispered.

“Not bad,” Wen Rong sighed softly. “I finally understand why the Sky Wolf Corps is called the First Army of David.”

“Xiao Ling, your brother must be exhausted too, right?” Shao Xue said. “Why haven’t you seen him come to rest?”

“He probably has his own matters to attend to.” Ye Ling peered forward.

At that moment, Ye Xin and Fu Shang were crouched in the grass, observing the cliff ahead.

“The army of Zhuang Buxiu has already taken control of Iron Heart Saint’s secondary fortress, leaving only a small force at Old Dragon Pass,” Fu Shang whispered. “Xiao Yu said there are only one or two squads of Tiger Head troops, fewer than twenty men. The rest are just irregulars. One charge from us should settle it.”

“Zhuang Buxiu definitely wouldn’t have imagined we could sneak in here, right?” Ye Xin narrowed his eyes.

“Even if the Sky Wolf Corps is still intact, I doubt Zhuang Buxiu would worry too much,” Fu Shang said. “The Sky Wolf Corps has been established for over twenty years but has never conducted a thousand-mile raid. They have done many long-distance reinforcements, though. As you used to say, General Wolf is too straightforward.”

“That’s a matter of vision. Also, the fatherly commander truly treats his subordinates like brothers, so he never dares to take risks,” Ye Xin said, frowning. “Where is Zhao Yunju? Has something gone wrong?”

At that moment, the cuckoo’s call sounded from afar. Fu Shang smiled, then cupped his hands to his mouth and imitated the bird’s call.

Before long, several dark figures slipped out of the woods. The young man leading them saw Ye Xin and beamed with delight, baring wild, white teeth. He was the young man Ye Xin had sent to keep an eye on Qiu Jiecha.

“Boss, you’ve finally arrived,” the young man named Zhao Yunju grinned.

“How’s the situation inside the camp?” Ye Xin asked.

“The target is right inside the camp, completely unguarded,” Zhao Yunju said. “Zhuang Shanyuan was injured during the attack on the secondary fortress. Zhuang Buxiu was heartbroken and sent him to Old Dragon Pass to recover. But... boss, that guy is tough. I’m definitely no match for him.”

“So what if he’s tough? Now that the wolf cavalry is here, even if he sprouts wings, he won’t escape!” Fu Shang sneered.

“Any other developments in the last two days?” Ye Xin inquired.

“Yesterday, Zhuang Yiyuan and Zhuang Leyuan also arrived at Old Dragon Pass,” Zhao Yunju replied. “They’re probably here to accompany Zhuang Shanyuan.”

“Didn’t expect Zhuang Buxiu to care so much about Zhuang Shanyuan,” Ye Xin smiled.

“Xiao Yu said Zhuang Buxiu is old now, old enough to care only for his offspring,” Zhao Yunju sneered. “He just celebrated his eightieth birthday a few months ago. His children are useless and can’t inherit the Zhuang family legacy. Only Zhuang Shanyuan has potential, so how could he not value him?”

“Have you met Zhuang Shanyuan?” Ye Xin asked.

“A few times,” Zhao Yunju paused. “He’s very loyal and steady. Easy to earn trust. Well... if he had been in the Sin Punishment Camp back then, I think you’d have more than just two riders under your command now. It should be three.”

“You think so highly of him?” Ye Xin was surprised.

“If he weren’t from the Great Summon Kingdom, I’d want to be friends with him,” Zhao Yunju said. “I heard in Zhengzhou City, Sima Qinghong, Zhuang Shanyuan, and a few others are rising stars among the youth. Xiao Yu said their biggest weakness is their lack of experience commanding troops. If we want to destroy the Great Summon Kingdom, we should strike them now. If they gain more experience in the army, they’ll become very formidable, especially Sima Qinghong... even Xiao Yu praises her highly.”

“The Sima Qinghong you mentioned was beheaded under your command a few days ago!” Fu Shang said with a mocking laugh.

“What?” Zhao Yunju was stunned. “Boss, have your injuries fully healed already?”

“Yes.” Ye Xin nodded.

“That’s great news!” Zhao Yunju rubbed his hands excitedly. “We can finally make a big move! Boss, Xiao Yu says it’s best if you personally take action in this battle.”

“Why?” Ye Xin asked.

“Right now, Zhuang Buxiu’s greatest fear is the elusive Sin Punishment Killing God,” Zhao Yunju said. “Xiao Yu said if he knows you personally captured Zhuang Shanyuan, the pressure on him will be maximized.”

Ye Xin pondered. His original plan was to make Zhuang Buxiu believe the enemy was merely the remnants of the Sky Wolf Corps. Xiao Yu wanted the Sin Punishment Camp to resurface. This was a crucial decision; he needed to consider it carefully.

“You’re incredible, boss! You’ve seen right through Zhuang Buxiu’s fatal weakness,” Zhao Yunju said. “Kidnapping Zhuang Shanyuan will throw him into chaos. From now on, we’ll have him by the nose.”

“Is your relationship with Xiao Yu still tense?” Ye Xin frowned.

“Huh?” Zhao Yunju was taken aback. “No, I... we get along okay.”

“It was my decision to kill Zhuang Buxiu, but I couldn’t figure out where to strike. The information about Zhuang Shanyuan came from Xiao Yu to Fu Shang. Yet you thought it was my idea,” Ye Xin said. “Besides, Xiao Yu already guessed my injuries had healed, which is why he told you to tell me it’s best I act personally. But you... didn’t know I was recovered. If your relationship were better, would there be so many misunderstandings?”

“He’s just foolish,” Fu Shang chuckled. “Even if he knew nothing, Xiao Yu wanting the master to act personally should have been enough to figure it out.”

Zhao Yunju was silent for a moment, then ground his teeth and growled, “Damn it... why didn’t he just tell me outright? Forcing me to guess?!”

“You’ve mentioned Xiao Yu a lot just now. You obviously respect him now, so just swallow your pride this once,” Ye Xin said. “That was years ago. Is it necessary to hold a grudge forever? To be fair, Xiao Yu was thirty percent wrong, and you seventy. Also, unlike other commanders who want their subordinates to form factions and distrust each other to maintain balance—calling it royal strategy—I want you all to treat each other like brothers. Yunju, don’t disappoint me.”

Zhao Yunju slowly lowered his head.

“Think this over when you have time,” Ye Xin said. “Fu Shang, send my orders: Qiu Jiecha will assault the main camp of the Tiger Head troops, Xue Baiqi and your team will provide support on both flanks. As for tactics, discuss among yourselves. Take that camp before dawn.”

“Boss, you’re not going to join the fight?” Zhao Yunju was surprised.

“I can’t act immediately. That would let Zhuang Buxiu realize I’m after Zhuang Shanyuan. If that happens, Zhuang Buxiu will regain composure, and the rest of our plan will fail. You won’t be able to subdue Zhuang Shanyuan, and then I’ll make my move—only then will it be perfect,” Ye Xin explained.

Fu Shang and Zhao Yunju exchanged looks and nodded in agreement. Fu Shang then sighed, “You always think things through, master.”

Ye Xin returned to the rear. Wen Rong and the others saw him looking calm and composed, seemingly in much better condition than themselves. They felt a little disheartened—could even Ye Xin be better than them?

“Brother, where did you go?” Ye Ling asked.

“I went to check around Old Dragon Pass,” Ye Xin said. “You all prepare yourselves. Then follow me.”

Ye Xin no longer needed to hide his strength. The battle in which he slew Sima Qinghong had allowed him to absorb massive killing intent. It wouldn’t be long before his Sky Wolf energy was refined into the Sky Wolf Howl, and his spiritual energy had reached a critical point.

He had reached the peak of advanced innate warrior. One more step and he would transform into a cultivator. It wasn’t that he lacked spiritual energy but experience. As for what was needed for that final leap, he was clueless. He only knew it wasn’t simple. Looking at Han Sanmei, Wang Fang, Iron Heart Saint, Xiao Mozhi, and Zhuang Buxiu—all had reached the peak of advanced innate warrior yet could not advance further. Surely, they all lacked the same essential element.

What exactly that element was, he would have to discover gradually.

Ye Xin attributed his rapid progress to his spiritual body. Others might believe it or not. The full-scale invasion of the Great Summon Kingdom and the Blood Mountain Legion’s opportunism had hastened the fall of the Iron family dynasty. Counting from today, he would launch his full assault within three months.

Therefore, he was ready to become the Sin Punishment Killing God once again.

When Ye Xin arrived at Old Dragon Pass with Ye Ling and the others, Qiu Jiecha and the veterans had already stormed the camp. Old Dragon Pass was a strategic location nestled beneath the peaks of the Old Dragon Mountains. There was a large gap, a wide hollow that could hold hundreds of soldiers’ tents. On the other side of the camp was a sheer cliff, with narrow mountain paths leading to both the Great Summon Kingdom and David Kingdom. (To be continued.)