Chapter 470: Chapter 27: Securing the Turkic Holy Mountain, Raising the Gu Clan’s Name (Part 2)

On those fallen bodies, congealed blood snakes through the gaps in the armor, forming a river, staining the pure white snowfield with dark crimson blotches of varying shapes.

A sense of despair shrouds the remaining Turkic people.

Human strength has limits.

The so-called faith is still insufficient to support them in protecting this Holy Mountain in their hearts.

Especially watching helplessly as the Gu Clan disciples and the Tang Army, like grim reapers, slowly advance towards the mountain, while the so-called deity has long failed to appear, this kind of faith inevitably collapses amidst doubt.

In truth, the Tang Army also suffers significant casualties.

Even those who’ve been trained for years couldn’t withstand such a brutal struggle.

There are casualties even among the Gu Clan disciples.

On this path to reviving the reputation of the Gu Clan, each of them gives their all, also sacrificing everything for the faith in their hearts.

The road ahead is already open.

"Oh, Celestial God! Why haven’t you struck down with thunder?" The old white-haired woman kneels on shattered ice, her bony fingers digging desperately into the blood-soaked snow layer, her cloudy eyes filled with bloodshot veins. "Your followers are bleeding! These demons wearing human skin, they are going to trample your temple!"

The baby in the swaddling clothes violently convulses in its mother’s arms; dark red liquid oozes from under the blood-stained animal hide, but she is oblivious, only cries out to the sky with heart-wrenching wails: "If you truly have mercy, strike them dead with heavenly thunder! Strike them dead—"

The shriek stops abruptly as a long spear grazes past her ear, plunging into the ground. The startled snowflakes, mixed with ice shards, slashed three blood marks across her cheek.

Mercy?

No mercy!

How could the cries and wails from the people of Kyushu in the past be weaker than these?

When have they ever received merciful treatment?

Peace exists only under the sharp blade.

Without subduing all external foes from all directions, when can Kyushu find peace?

Gu Quan’s gaze remains steadfast as he strides steadily over the ground littered with broken swords and spears, the ice crystals on his Profound Armor reflecting cold glints in the sunlight.

He raises his hand to signal, and the army behind immediately splits into two groups, driving the wailing crowd like lambs to the corner of the altar.

Gu Yan grips his long spear tightly, the spear point reflecting the flickering flames on the altar—this is the last struggle of the Turkic people.

"Push!" Gu Quan shouts deeply.

More than a dozen strong men exert force in unison; the moment the ropes tighten, the three-zhang-tall statue emits a teeth-grating creaking sound.

Cracks spread from the base of the statue upwards, the exquisitely carved face twisting in collapse, and at the moment it crashes onto the ground, the snow waves it kicks up, mingled with debris, smash into the crowd.

Several young Turkic men madly rush forward, only to be stopped dead in their tracks by the Tang Army’s spears pressing at their throats.

Gu Quan takes down the gold-encrusted Tang flag from his waist and plunges the flagpole fiercely into the shattered forehead of the statue.

Another crimson banner embroidered with the character "Gu" is raised at this time, the blood-red silk flapping loudly in the howling north wind, like two sharp blades stabbed into the hearts of the Turkic people.

The despairing cries reach their peak at this moment.

Some are tearing their hair, some bury their faces into the snow and sob, while others frantically kowtow to the fallen statue, the blood beads dripping from their foreheads rolling onto the "Gu" flag, spreading like red plums.

The cold wind sweeps over the empty altar.

Blowing those two banners planted on the mountain summit, making loud flapping noises.

Until this moment.

When they see that all the Turkic people have been brought under control, only then do the soldiers collapse onto the snow one after another from exhaustion.

"Hahaha~"

Gu Yan is the same; but looking at the Gu Clan’s banner, he laughs heartily, calling out to Gu Quan: "Brother, from today onward."

"Will these Barbarians remember the name of our Gu Clan?"

His eyes are brimming with red.

On top of the bloodstains from continuous battles.

At this moment, he truly is like a demon god that emerged from hell, without any semblance of a human form.

Gu Quan silently nods, his eyes also reddened.

He tightly grips the long spear, planting it into the ground, supporting himself to prevent collapsing; after taking a few deep breaths, he says, "Rest for a day, tomorrow I will take 2,000 men."

"This place, I leave for you to guard."

"If my guess is correct...."

"Once Li Jing and others break through Yin Mountain, Jie Li Khan will certainly flee westward, this is the only road to intercept him."

Gu Quan’s tone remains as serious as ever.

He is ready to take action.

Since the attack on Yudu Jinshan, he has been blocking the Turks from descending the mountain, just to take them by surprise.

They absolutely cannot waste too much time here.

Hearing this, Gu Yan and the others immediately become serious; suddenly finding strength from somewhere, Gu Yan actually sits up directly: "Brother, I’ll go with you."

"We brothers—"

Before he can finish speaking, Gu Quan interrupts him by shaking his head, "You are the current Patriarch! And the Grand Tutor of this dynasty, the Champion Marquis of our Great Tang!"

Gu Yan is momentarily stunned.

Gu Quan fixes his gaze on him, pointing to the Gu Clan’s banner beside him: "This achievement must be yours to take."

"Do not let down Father’s arrangements of the past."

As he spoke, he lets go of the long spear in his hand, planting it next to Gu Yan, then takes up the Horse Lance beside him.

The joy of victory suddenly dissipates.

Looking at Gu Quan before him, Gu Yan only feels a sourness in his nose, yet unable to speak anything.

Even Gu Yi feels inexplicably heavy-hearted.

Gu Quan is destined not to obtain any accolades; the moment he stepped out with that one step, it all was already preordained today.