With the Blade-Chapter 52 - 49: Qingyang Tribe

Compared to the meticulous preparations before the expedition by the Jizhen governor’s office, the grasslanders found it much easier to embark on an expedition.

However, rather than calling it convenient, it might be better described as chaotic. After all, unlike the Southern Chen, the grasslands lacked a tight organizational system. As long as a few tribal leaders gathered together, it became a tribe. When it was time to go to war, the leaders just sent riders to shout a call at each household.

And at this call, the grassland warriors, riding horses and carrying knives, would rush to the large camp and gather under the banners of these leaders, heading south together to seek their fortune.

Yes, fortune—that’s the real reason why the grassland warriors were willing to gather.

The leaders could seize populations and territories, while the grassland warriors could loot money, food, and slaves. As long as they rode south and brandished their blades, everyone would have a bright future. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Of course, battles come with danger and may even cost lives, but to those men who survived the cold winds of the Northern Desert Grassland, it was the least of their concerns.

After all, they had nothing to lose, and even the slightest gain would be profit.

Like a hungry wolf pack led by the alpha wolf, they would desperately bite into everything before them with their blades as fangs.

However, just like a wolf pack in the cold winds of the Northern Desert Grassland, the Qingyang tribe also had a few lone wolves.

"Has He Xiqing already acted on his own, taking down Jizhen?"

Listening to the reports from his subordinates, the Qingyang tribal leader furrowed his brows slightly.

The leader’s name was Helai Jiaohu, currently the most powerful leader in the Qingyang tribe, and indeed the actual ruler of Qingyang. If all the leaders in the Qingyang tribe were the alpha wolves of their respective factions, Helai Jiaohu was undoubtedly the alpha of all these wolves.

And naturally, as the alpha of all alphas, Helai Jiaohu could easily perceive the young wolf cubs challenging his authority.

But such things were normal. Since he was the alpha, he was bound to face such challenges often. Moreover, these young wolves daring to challenge him were usually strong and aggressive, a sign of the tribe’s growing strength.

The only issue seemed to be that the young cub named He Xiqing was too aggressive.

"Young men are often too eager... Now, what about Liu Yanran of Jizhen? Did he manage to escape?"

"Leader, according to the reports from the front, Liu Yanran was killed by He Xiqing."

The messenger dutifully conveyed the information he gathered.

"Killed in a single confrontation, Liu Yanran didn’t even have a chance to retaliate."

"...Well, that’s good."

Helai Jiaohu’s face visibly relaxed a bit.

Unlike the reckless young ones, as an experienced grassland elder, Helai Jiaohu understood certain crucial points—like why the Northern Desert Grassland hadn’t attacked southward for so many years. Was it merely because the fortifications of the Southern Chen were strong that they didn’t want to clash with them?

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to, but rather they couldn’t.

Breaking through city defenses is difficult, but not impossible for the Northern Desert warriors. If all else fails, they could pile through with sheer numbers and force the weak Southerners into retreat—but Helai Jiaohu, as an experienced grassland elder, understood that breaching city defenses didn’t mean the war was over.

In fact, it was quite the opposite; the war had only just begun.

The commanders stationed at the border governor’s office were all meticulously selected elite warriors chosen by the Southern Chen court. Before becoming commanders, they had to demonstrate a resolute will capable of wielding the Bloodthirsty Weapon—and once this was established, as long as they had a valid reason to kill, they could transform this fierce bloodthirst into their own power, stepping into another level.

If wielding the Bloodthirsty Weapon offered inhuman valor, stepping into the next level would grant them some supernatural abilities.

Most importantly, these individuals who gradually entered the realm of the supernatural only needed to kill to become stronger.

Faced with a sturdy fortress, a large army might still represent a formidable force, but against a lone specter that grows stronger solely by killing, the sizable army becomes nothing more than a gigantic target, and those fearless soldiers would turn into nourishment for the monster, making it fiercer and stronger through slaughter.

So, if Jizhen fell but Liu Yanran escaped without a trace, that would be the worst possible scenario, worse than not dispatching troops, because no one could predict what terror a creature that grows stronger through killing might cause. It would be a nightmare for the entire Qingyang tribe.

Thankfully, Liu Yanran eventually died, a clean death.

Thus, the measures originally prepared by the Qingyang tribe to target Governor Liu could continue to be hidden.

Or perhaps even used on that young lad named He Xiqing.

"At such a young age, reaching this level, that mongrel called He Xiqing could indeed be considered a natural talent."

Helai Jiaohu stroked his beard while speaking to several leaders beside him.

"But he needs a bit of a lesson to understand the facts of life."

"Indeed."

"He needs a lesson."

"Young people can’t be too full of themselves."

The other leaders of the Qingyang tribe nodded in agreement.

Clearly, these elders had accumulated much dissatisfaction with the arrogant young man He Xiqing, who prided himself on being equal to the sky.

The Qingyang tribe needed loyal dogs, not wolves with eyes casting disdain.

"Then it’s decided. Isn’t the lad fond of the culture of the Southern people? Let’s use their rules for insubordination to deal with him."

Thus, with a few words exchanged among the leaders, He Xiqing’s fate was sealed.

Since Jizhen fell, there was no need for the army to wait for three days of preparation to set off. What Qingyang really needed now was to act swiftly, taking advantage of Jizhen’s emptiness to swallow the entire Jizhen territory.

Because of this, unlike the original plan, the Qingyang tribe promptly assembled troops and set off for Jizhen on the first night.

How could they possibly wait for another three days? Over three days, that lad named He Xiqing would have had enough time to grow fat in Jizhen. Though Jizhen wasn’t populous, it wasn’t sparse either. If He Xiqing rampaged for three days... any attempt by the Qingyang tribe to discipline him would require even more effort.

But just as the Qingyang tribe began their nighttime march, preparing to give He Xiqing a "little lesson from the elders," they encountered a troubling issue on the way.

"Did you say our soldiers were killed?"

In the central army, Helai Jiaohu almost yanked his beard off in shock upon hearing the report from the Grassland Nomads.

"What’s the matter? Are you saying Liu Yanran isn’t actually dead? Is that brat He Xiqing falsifying military intel?"

"No, not Liu Yanran... at least it doesn’t appear to be."

The disheveled returning Grassland Nomads struggled to recall the scene they had just witnessed.

Recalling the blood-soaked figure they had just encountered.

And the blazing blade like fire.