Chapter 460

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 460: Falling Leaves Drift Down Endlessly

In the City Pastoral Mansion, Ximen Liu, draped in a general’s robe and exuding the air of a battle-hardened veteran, sat in the reception hall. The scent of blood seemed to follow him with every breath.

His mood was grim. Despite receiving bribes and treasures from the Longyao City Ranch, he could not find any solace. Wealth held little value to him personally; he shared the gold and silver he received among his sixty elite guards. With power and status, a man of honor didn’t need to concern himself with money. What he craved more than anything was the chance to achieve great feats on the battlefield.

Ximen Liu, a young officer under Lord Qiongqi, hailed from a prestigious family, carrying both the Western White Tiger bloodline and traces of the fierce beast bloodline. This unique fusion had given birth to a naturally ominous figure—a man born with the aura of danger and death. From a young age, he was trained in the army, fighting alongside Lord Qiongqi for over twenty years, displaying both brilliance in military strategy and exceptional courage in battle.

He was the kind of man everyone had high hopes for. With time, he would undoubtedly become the tiger general under Lord Qiongqi. His future seemed bright, and so no one dared to cross him. However, both Ximen Liu and Lord Qiongqi had met significant setbacks in the remote and stubbornly resistant Bai Ze Kingdom. After five years of battle, they had yet to achieve victory.

This time, Ximen Liu had gone to Bai Ze Kingdom with full determination to conquer it. After multiple attempts and relentless assaults over the course of half a month, he realized that even with five armies at his command, the task was impossible. Despite preparing for a full-scale siege, he soon received three military orders, which came down like mountains. None of his forces dared to advance.

As a key player in the siege, Ximen Liu continued the assault, hoping to breach the city gates. However, heavy casualties among his soldiers led to accusations and a demotion, resulting in a secret order for him to return to Qiongqi Country for reassignment.

Unable to return to the front lines for the time being, Ximen Liu hastily led sixty elite cavalrymen across Liu State to return home.

His mood soured even further. The matter of Bai Ze Kingdom weighed heavily on him, yet the higher-ups were dragging their feet, impeding progress. At this critical juncture, he was summoned back to the capital. For this fierce tiger, it was a humiliating blow. The military merits that had been so close were now out of reach, and the city siege was slipping through his fingers. His temper darkened, and, without realizing it, he tugged at the white fur draped over his shoulder and back.

Though Ximen Liu had faced few defeats in his life, the most humiliating had been under Yunmeng City. That defeat remained with him like a painful scar. It was why he had personally removed a piece of his skin as a memento. Now, that piece of skin reminded him only of his humiliation and anger, with nowhere to channel his frustration.

“No more rest!” Ximen Liu suddenly pushed open the guest room door and barked at the nearby guards. “Leave the city tonight!”

The guards saluted in agreement. Traveling through the night was grueling for both men and horses, but for the monster clan, it was hardly a challenge.

They journeyed day and night for five days, maintaining above-average combat readiness thanks to their elite training.

As Ximen Liu walked out of the city lord’s mansion, the shepherd of Longyao City hurriedly approached him.

“Captain Tiger Vanguard, please wait,” the shepherd bowed and said, his voice filled with feigned humility. “What have I done wrong? Please tell me, and I will correct it.”

Ximen Liu glanced at the shepherd’s ingratiating demeanor and replied coldly, “It has nothing to do with you. I have urgent matters to attend to. This place is too clean for me. The smell of blood on me would be smothered by the copper stench.”

The shepherd hesitated. “But going out at night might be too dangerous.”

“Who dares challenge me?” Ximen Liu sneered, his confidence in his martial prowess unshakable. After years of battle, he had single-handedly slain three generals from Bai Ze Kingdom.

This area was close to Ba Xia. Even if there were assassins, they had missed their chance. If there were any fools foolish enough to seek their death, it would be the perfect outlet for his pent-up frustration.

Chengmu, standing nearby, wanted to speak, but he watched as the horse galloped away with the tiger general leading the cavalry guards out of the city.

Chengmu’s expression shifted, his posture straightened, and the sycophantic look vanished, replaced by a more serious demeanor.

“If he dies outside the city, Longyao City will be in trouble,” Chengmu mused.

The servants, who had previously been subservient, now stood upright, listening to the sound of the horses’ hooves echoing down the street.

“Lord Chengmu, it’s not too late to regret it now,” one of the servants muttered.

“It doesn’t matter,” Chengmu replied, “It’s troublesome, but I can handle it. A fierce tiger is just an appetizer compared to what needs to come next… I also want to see for myself if this tiger general is as fearsome as the intelligence reports claim him to be on the battlefield.”

The servant asked, “Do you really have confidence?”

“I have no confidence.” Chengmu rubbed his eyes and revealed the face of an old scholar beneath the flickering light. “Confidence belongs to the lady.”

“This step was taken too hastily. If I didn’t know better, I would suspect her of losing her mind,” Chengmu commented.

“When soldiers take risks, it’s a matter of life and death. Why hesitate when one can take a small risk for something much greater?” The old scholar asked. “Does Lord Chengmu regret it?”

“Ha…” Longyao City’s Mu chuckled softly. “I care nothing for fame or fortune. I live for her last wish. But a city without people is dead. Our foundation isn’t strong, so I hope this gamble will give us a result.”

“This isn’t gambling,” Liu Tingyun sighed, “It’s simply the first move.”

“The first card is on the table,” Chengmu said, “But the one in my hand remains hidden, its value unknown. If it’s a bluff, it will crumble with the slightest touch, and I won’t regret it.”

Longyao City’s Mu calmly stated, “Failure carries no risk. Only success will make my heart tremble.”

“Maybe the young lady knows the value of this hidden card,” the old scholar remarked. “It might even surpass the rank of this Tiger Vanguard.”

“How can she be so sure?” Chengmu asked.

“There’s no way of knowing.” Liu Tingyun bowed, saying, “The night wind is cold, and I must return. City Lord, you should rest as well. Tomorrow, there will be heads to offer. Finally, you can sleep in peace and comfort the spirits of the departed.”

As Longyao City’s Mu watched the old scholar leave, he stood by the doorway, gazing towards the west.

“Kind words won’t change the mind of someone seeking death… Alas, I will not witness it.”

Beyond Longyao City, a bamboo forest stretched ten miles. The over sixty guards, riding their horses, found the path gradually narrowing. No longer riding in groups of seven or eight, they now rode in smaller groups of three or five. Despite the change, the formation remained flawless, a testament to Ximen Liu’s skill in command.

Ximen Liu, a Tiger Guard officer, wielded real authority, even if his position was not the highest. In times of turmoil, military power mattered more than rank. Those who commanded armies had undeniable influence. Many of his soldiers had been personally trained by him, fighting beside them and earning their respect and loyalty. His leadership made it impossible for any officer like him to go unnoticed.

Ximen Liu wasn’t concerned about his future. The most likely outcome was a temporary loss of his military position. He would be reassigned to a city or county for a while, a demotion of sorts. There, he would hone his patience, garner local achievements, and rise again. This method of promotion could even be faster than winning military victories. Eventually, he would return to a military role, when the time was right.

Though he understood the process, his temples throbbed with frustration. Youthful and energetic, it wasn’t easy to suppress such feelings. Even if he couldn’t act on them, military orders had to be obeyed.

A guard near him raised a crow and reported, “We haven’t detected anything unusual within the last five miles.”

Ximen Liu nodded, disappointment flashing in his eyes. “I left the city in search of an opportunity, yet not a single one of these weaklings thought to come after me? I had hoped for remnants from Liu State or skilled fighters from Xiangliu, but instead, they’ve all let me go without a fight.”

A cavalryman laughed, “Officer, you’re incredibly brave. With sixty of us, unless there were five hundred of them, they wouldn’t even be able to injure us. If they had soldiers as brave and fierce as you, Liu State wouldn’t have fallen after Bi Fang’s death. It would have been a better match for Bai Ze Kingdom.”

Ximen Liu kicked the horse’s belly and glanced at the moon. “Ride faster.”

The cavalrymen prepared to quicken their pace, but before they could move, Ximen Liu raised his hand, signaling them to stop.

The horses halted, hooves nervously tapping on the frozen ground.

The narrow bamboo path left little room for movement, and it was inevitable that they would soon come face-to-face with someone.

Ximen Liu fixed his gaze on a man dressed in black, standing fifty meters ahead at the downhill position. He had a sword at his waist, hands tucked into his sleeves. The moonlight filtering through the bamboo illuminated his face, revealing a fearsome bronze mask.

The royal guards were taken aback. The man’s ability to control the crow demonstrated skill, for the bird had failed to detect him earlier. How had this individual managed to remain hidden?

A voice came from the rear: “Sir, there is someone behind us as well.”

Ximen Liu didn’t look back and asked, “How many?”

“Just one.”

“When you add them together, it’s two, one in front, one behind… Are you certain there are no hidden enemies?”

“Most likely none, but there may be traps,” the guard said uncertainly.

“Send thirty riders to deal with those behind us,” Ximen Liu said, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “Leave the one in front to me.”

He let out a long sigh, frustration and anger bubbling inside him. He longed for a way to release his emotions. Hopefully, the assassin before him would not die too quickly.

“Who are you?” Ximen Liu gripped his sword.

“Are you the Tiger Heavy Cavalry Colonel?” the man asked.

“I am Ximen Liu, and you’ve got the right person.” Ximen Liu drew his sword just a fraction, his eyes narrowing. If the man were a defector, he wouldn’t have asked such a question.

“Is the fur on your shoulder from Bai Ze?” the stranger asked again.

“I stripped it off myself!” Ximen Liu grinned, revealing sharp tiger-like teeth. “He held on for half an hour before he died.”

The falling leaves drifted down endlessly. The young man caught a bamboo leaf and said, “I’ll use this later… to peel off your skin.”