Chaotic World Book-Chapter 535 - 519 No Fluke

Puyang.

"Boom!" Stones smashed into the city wall, shattering bricks and sending them flying, while the soldiers nearby quickly scattered into disarray.

As the stone tumbled, it was about to crush a soldier when a surge of purple Qi erupted, and a palm struck the stone, blasting it into pieces.

The soldier, whose soul had just returned to his body, saluted in thanks, "Thank you, Young General."

Cui Yuanyong waved his hand dismissively and shouted, "Fire!"

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" Numerous huge rocks from within the city fell outside the walls, "banging" loudly as they smashed the approaching battering rams into pieces.

Some missed their mark, crushing soldiers into a pulp.

Still, countless soldiers swarmed forward, desperately pushing various siege engines towards the base of the city walls.

Standing atop the city wall, Cui Yuanyong saw the sky full of arrows like locusts and massive stones falling chaotically, while below a vast army surged forward like the tide. He felt a sense of detachment, his heart so calm it was as if he wasn’t in the midst of a battlefield but rather observing it from high above.

This wasn’t like the time in Yanmen; there was no chance for his blood to boil. Now, as the Main General responsible for commanding all defensive measures, he needed absolute calm, for any mistake could lead to unacceptable consequences.

Back when the Southern Huiji decisive battle took place, Wang Zhaoqing had considered moving southward. After Cui Yuanyong brought his troops to pressure Puyang and the Wang Family, he never returned. His father didn’t harbor any hope of good luck, knowing that if the Wang Family turned, theirs would be the first line of defense in the west. Therefore, they kept reinforcing troops and fortifying the city’s defense, making it one of the strongest in the civil war.

Cui Yuanyong had thought it unlikely that the Wang Family would choose Puyang as their route, so tough to chew through. But it turned out his father’s prediction was the most accurate. The Wang Family’s attack to the south was pointless; seizing the opportunity when the Cao Gang in the South was causing trouble and the Tang family temporarily unable to meddle in Northern affairs, they headed straight north towards the Capital. Maybe it was even possible for heaven and earth to respond to their call.

And the Capital was to the north; if the Wang Family wanted to reach the Capital, the first obstacle they had to face was the Cui Family. The Cui-Wang union was also partially intended for this purpose— joining forces would mean they could basically arrive at the gates of the Capital City.

But now, Cui Wenjing was far from merging forces; he didn’t even do the typical aristocratic ploy of pretending to resist while secretly letting the Wang Family pass. His outright full-scale resistance was clear for all to see. Some within the Cui Family criticized this, thinking that Cui Wenjing’s actions left the Cui Family without a fallback and were highly unsuitable.

But no one’s words changed the situation; Cui Wenjing was so steadfast in this matter that even his own wife was surprised. It didn’t seem like his usual self at all.

Cui Yuanyong recalled asking his father, "Father has said that even in a God Demon era, there are God Demon families. Even if it’s God Demon ruling the world, essentially it’s no different from the barbarians breaching the pass. Why then so insistent this time, a loyal and good man of Great Xia..."

His father’s answer was, "When the barbarians breach the pass, at worst you shave your head, change your costume and customs, and the Cui Family remains. Even with other God Demons, as long as they need the human world to continue, you and I have value. Only the Sea Race is different... because they live in the sea and don’t need the land. Father truly does not know what their exact goals are, but knowing that their living conditions are different from ours is enough to understand that we cannot hold on to any hope."

He had then repeated, emphasizing, "We cannot hold on to any hope."

Cui Yuanyong took a deep breath, raised his longsword high, and commanded loudly, "Prepare the rolling stones!"

"Boom!" The battering rams, amidst the falling rocks and arrows, reached the city gates.

Huge stones rolled down, crushing both men and machines into a mangled mess.

Cui Yuanyong looked up to the sky, his mind still struggling to focus on the battlefield. He believed that Wang Zhaoqing underneath the city was likely the same... because the outcome of this battle depended less on the command of the battlefield and more on the outcome of the battle for the Heavenly List.

Wang Daoning was certainly leading the first battle himself, seeking to establish momentum. If he was repelled right from the start, that would be a colossal embarrassment. He was determined to prevail. No matter how well the city’s defenses were prepared, they could not stop the one who reached the top of the Heavenly List first, breaching defenses as if it were child’s play.

But to date, Wang Daoning had not shown himself, and there was only one possible reason—his father was also present.

...

By the banks of the Pu River, Wang Daoning and Cui Wenjing stood shoulder to shoulder facing the river, like old friends reunited and enjoying the view.

For half an hour, neither of them spoke.

The distant battle cries faintly carried over, oddly making the sound of the flowing river in front of them seem peaceful.

"As time goes by, it never stops, day or night," Wang Daoning murmured, looking at the river before finally speaking softly, "How many years have we known each other?"

Cui Wenjing replied, "When I was sixteen, I left home to study, and we met at the Pu River and fought a battle... that was a full thirty years ago."

So-called "Old Cui" was actually just forty-six.

"Today it’s the Pu River again. Well, even though it’s a different section," Wang Daoning laughed, "Sometimes I think it seems like fate is predetermined."

Cui Wenjing replied indifferently, "You could have chosen not to come. Considering your own actions, what do you mean by fate?"

Wang Daoning shook his head, "Years ago when I visited Qinghe, your attitude was not like this. Although you’ve always leaned towards Xia Longyuan, you still criticized many of his actions as inhumane. You also suspected that the Qinghe Sword had been tampered with by him, ranting that if he continued his perverse actions, sooner or later Great Xia would collapse... Those were your words. Past conversations are clear in my memory, but your choice today baffles me."

Cui Wenjing said, "The moment you laid hands on the Yang Family’s Lianshan Sword, you and I were destined to part ways. That’s the bottom line, you’re shaking the very foundation of the understanding between the families. Xia Longyuan might be inhumane, but he has left some leeway."

"Just because of that?"

"Just because of that."

"What if I make a promise to you?"

"Sorry, I don’t believe you," Cui Wenjing spoke indifferently, "I can’t even be sure if the Wang Daoning speaking to me now is entirely the real Wang Daoning or partly someone else."

Wang Daoning laughed, "No one can control me."

Cui Wenjing said, "Wuding thought the same way."

Those on the Heavenly List, as long as they had seen Wuding, knew there was something unusual about his Divine Soul. Cui Wenjing knew it, and so did Wang Daoning.

"Do I look like I’m in the same situation as Wuding?" Wang Daoning asked.

Cui Wenjing glanced at him, "I don’t know, but I won’t count on it. If there is something that can make you ’not you’, then I don’t think I would be able to tell. The Third Layer Secret Treasure is far from the end, we both know that."

"Since you’ve completely lost trust in me, indeed we can’t continue this discussion."

"There wasn’t a need to discuss to begin with."

"But you’re no match for me, Wen Jing. We’ve always been equals, but my Sea Suppressing Sword has been restored, while your Qinghe Sword is still half dead."

Cui Wenjing smiled, "Perhaps. But you’re not certain you won’t get hurt, hence you’re attempting a final persuasion."

Wang Daoning slowly said, "But you will die."

Cui Wenjing’s smile grew even brighter, "If I die, and you return severely injured, then the victory will depend on Yuan Yong and Zhao Ling... After you and I have finished, it will be time for them to take the stage in this world."

There was a touch of smug satisfaction in Cui Wenjing’s smile that made Wang Daoning feel somewhat helpless.

If the older generation stepped off the world stage, allowing the young to take over completely, there would be one person who would immediately spring to mind, making his peers breathless—the Chaotic World Book had just mentioned, ’After my flowering, a hundred flowers die.’

This person was the old Cui’s son-in-law, though not yet married.

But it had to be said, Cui Wenjing’s resolution did stir something in Wang Daoning’s heart.

After thirty years of acquaintance and friendship, this was the first time he saw the old fox so resolute, "not counting on luck," with the future of the family outweighing his life.

Such a person, when standing in one’s way, could truly cause a headache for anyone.

Wang Daoning finally gave up persuading and slowly drew the Sea Suppressing Sword, "Brother Cui, then let us finish the battle we left unfinished thirty years ago."

The Qinghe Sword unsheathed itself automatically, swirling around Cui Wenjing, "Please."

"Boom!" Thunder suddenly roared in the sky, and a downpour began to fall.

On the battlefield, Wang Zhaoqing had to halt the siege, making it impossible to scale the walls.

Yet the weather forecast was clear, with no rain expected today. The sudden downpour came without warning, due to no other reason than the battle on the Heavenly List, stirring the heavens.

With the Wang Family’s Domineering Sea Suppression and the Cui Family’s Purple Qi Qing River both related to water, clashing together caused a torrential downpour.

Both inside and outside the city, Cui Yuanyong and Wang Zhaoqing looked across the battlefield, their hearts simultaneously tightening.

Meanwhile, three hundred miles to the south, the weather was clear and refreshing. Three thousand Blood God Cultists galloped across the plains, staring at the distant dark clouds, each of them shocked, "How can there be rain with this weather?"

Zhao Changhe, taking the lead, seemed to go mad, leaving the formation at full speed, "You guys prepare to ambush the Wang Family’s flank, Old Xue is in full command, don’t worry about me!"

"Boom!" A massive lightning bolt lit up the horizon, turning the whole plain a blinding white. The clouds all turned into purple Qi, indistinguishable whether it was lightning or sword energy.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢