With the Blade-Chapter 55 - 52: Slaying the Shaman

Under the cover of night, Du Chengfeng continued his hunt.

The Broken Horse Long Saber was left in the saddlebag; this five-foot-long straight saber was more suited for foot battles. As for the other two weapons... though the dual-handed saber and the Ancient Great Axe also didn’t seem ideal for mounted combat, they looked quite different when wielded by Du Chengfeng.

"Come!"

With a furious shout from Du Chengfeng, the Heavy Great Saber erupted in scorching flames, and the Flaming Blade, reaching three zhang in length, swept across, causing the heavily armored prairie cavalry to fall one after another.

The blazing blade easily sliced through bodies like melting grease, leaving behind a nauseating scent of roasted meat wherever it passed.

Of course, among the prairie cavalry, there were those agile ones who, despite the terrifying power of the Flaming Blade, managed to slip through and get close to Du Chengfeng.

As the saying goes: "An inch short, an inch dangerous." Watching these prairie warriors swiftly decide to take the risky path and fight to the death with him, even as an enemy, Du Chengfeng couldn’t help but admire these hardened men forged by the cold northern wind.

However, admiration is just admiration.

This act still holds no meaning.

Simply because what they faced was the northern wind itself.

"Farewell."

Du Chengfeng swung his left hand, wielding the axe.

The ancient axe struck the armor, shattering the previously tough iron armor like fragile ice. Afterward, the piercing cold wind followed the axe blade into the wounds, piercing through the body and bringing out a flurry of red snowflakes from the back of the flesh.

Not bloodflowers, but snowflakes.

Because the blood had already frozen in the cold wind before it could gush out.

"So this is the northern wind..."

Casually killing the prairie armored soldiers who charged close to him, Du Chengfeng gazed at the ancient axe in his hand, lost in thought.

It’s no wonder this axe made killing the prairie people so easy; the axe was inherently as sharp and fierce as the northern wind – except it had previously been too starved to unleash even a fraction of its potential.

If the Heavy Great Saber in his right hand needed a friend’s wine to satisfy it, then to satisfy this axe, it required the blood of the prairie people.

After all, the northern wind has always been this way.

Without blowing through dozens of prairie people, would it dare to claim itself as coming from the north?

"Oh, dozens are too few?"

Sensing a subtle dissatisfaction from the axe in his hand, Du Chengfeng felt a bit awkward. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

It’s a bit awkward indeed, not because he hasn’t killed enough, but most of the prairie warriors were slaughtered by the Heavy Great Saber, whose blazing blade was nearly ten meters long, sweeping through and claiming many lives.

In contrast, the still-hungry axe in his left hand had only claimed dozens of lives even after fighting all night.

The more satiated hand ate increasingly more, while the hungry hand barely had a taste, making Du Chengfeng seem somewhat partial in this regard.

"Next time, for sure."

As he said this, Du Chengfeng placed the Heavy Great Saber and the axe into his saddlebag.

Next time, for sure, since this time, he was ready to leave.

With the blazing sweep of the Heavy Great Saber, he successfully claimed the lives of seventy to eighty prairie warriors, which seemed to Du Chengfeng a fitting number—one that maximized returns without inciting a fierce counterattack from the army.

Though with Du Chengfeng’s current prowess, he had the confidence to charge into the enemy ranks and wreak havoc, he cautiously chose to take it slowly, bit by bit tearing into this slow-moving giant known as the "prairie army."

Safety first, after all.

He remembered that this army could very well be He Xiqing’s rear ambush, which could mean that strategies targeting him might be present in the army—though he couldn’t confirm for sure if those unknown strategies existed, when it comes to life and death, he preferred to assume they did.

"So, we’ll return later."

Saying this, Du Chengfeng turned his horse’s head, preparing to retreat to a distance to chew on some hard biscuits and replenish his energy.

But just then, a desolate horn sounded in his ears.

"Wu—"

The melancholy horn sound was ancient and distant, like a long-lost roar from ages past, its deep, muted growl awakening the battle spirit buried in the heart, causing the blood to boil.

"Are they dispatching the main force to deal with me?"

Du Chengfeng squinted his eyes.

What is approaching? Heavy-armored warriors, iron-clad cavalry, or perhaps insane creatures wielding deadly weapons?

Du Chengfeng didn’t know, nor could he guess.

All he knew was that he suddenly didn’t want to flee anymore.

There was no need to run, or rather, why run now when he was at his strongest, fiercest? In all under the northern sky, likely no one could kill more than him.

And in this world, killing more means strength.

To kill the most means ultimate strength.

"You are strong, you are already very strong..."

Saying this, Du Chengfeng retrieved the Heavy Great Saber and axe from the saddlebag.