Martial Cultivator

The demon army, travel-worn from their march, bypassed Cold Pass and headed toward Pine Pavilion Pass. But in reality, as they passed by Cold Pass, they had already been spotted by its scouts.

The defending general of Cold Pass, Zhu Xunsong, was a native-born member of a frontier army military family from the northern lands. At the height of the Zhu Family’s prominence, his ancestors had even served as cavalry commanders like Li Changling. However, the later generations of the Zhu clan had not lived up to that legacy. In recent years, although they still had a presence in the army, they had mostly been relegated to roles such as deputy generals. Zhu Xunsong could be considered a descendant of the Zhu Family who had achieved some success after many years. Being able to serve as the commander of a pass at such a young age meant his future prospects were naturally promising.

And since he could hold the position of a pass commander, he naturally had ability. When the scout reported the news to him, this young defending general immediately made his move.

First, he dispatched scouts to notify the commanders of nearby passes, telling them to closely monitor the demon race’s movements and maintain communication. After that, he personally wrote a military report and had a scout deliver it to Pine Pavilion Pass.

At the same time, he informed the General’s Office.

He remembered clearly that the female general was currently over there. With her present, how to respond next did not require much thought, they only needed to follow her lead.

However, just after his report had been sent out, scouts from Pine Pavilion Pass had already arrived at Cold Pass.

Zhu Xunsong took the report handed to him by the scout, glanced at it, and frowned slightly.

At his side, the deputy general, also a member of the Zhu clan and his younger cousin, looked at him and cautiously asked, “General, what’s wrong?”

Zhu Xunsong handed him the report, somewhat puzzled. “We’re to transfer ten thousand cavalry and send them out of the pass. If it were to circle around and strike the demon army from the rear, that would make sense, but it doesn’t seem to be that either. What exactly is she thinking?”

After reading it, the deputy general was also somewhat confused, but he soon shook his head and laughed.

“What are you laughing at?”

Zhu Xunsong looked at his cousin, somewhat displeased.

The deputy general smiled. “This general thinks that not understanding is actually a good thing. If we can’t understand it, then presumably the demon race can’t either. That General Xie has always been known for being hard to predict. This arrangement is likely a surprise force that will play a crucial role at some point.”

Hearing this, Zhu Xunsong came to a sudden realization and smiled. “What you say makes some sense.”

But soon after, he grew worried again. “The military report also says that if the demon race bypasses us and heads south without attacking Cold Pass, then they are definitely aiming for Pine Pavilion Pass. We are not to act rashly or be anxious, because a demon force will inevitably come to attack the pass, but it will only be a feint. We just need to hold fast and not go out.”

“Will everything really unfold just as she said?”

Zhu Xunsong pressed his hand against the hilt of the saber at his waist, somewhat tense. He was not afraid that a great battle might break out at Cold Pass, at worst, they would fight the demon race to the death.

What he feared most was the situation developing into something he could no longer understand. If that happened, whether the demon race intended to take Cold Pass or not, he would have no confidence at all.

If Cold Pass were lost, he would inevitably become the disgrace of the Zhu Family and a sinner of the Great Liang Dynasty.

The deputy general tried to reassure him. “Since the report has already been sent to the General’s Office, why not wait for their reply before making a decision?”

But Zhu Xunsong shook his head. “Speed is paramount in war. Opportunities on the battlefield are fleeting. If we miss this chance, who knows what kind of trouble it will cause? Xunjiang, take ten thousand cavalry and act according to her plan - leave the pass.”

Zhu Xunsong looked at the deputy general before him and said calmly, “If in the end Cold Pass falls because of this, it will be my fault, not yours. Besides, between the two of us brothers, one inside and one outside, at least one of us will survive. Go.”

Zhu Xunsong patted his deputy general’s shoulder and revealed a faint smile.

To be a general in the frontier army, the foremost principle was to have no selfish motives. Some people, when they had to die, had to be sent to die, one could not hesitate just because they were one’s brother or relative. But where it did not affect the greater situation, offering some care was not something he was incapable of either.

Zhu Xunjiang clenched his teeth, but in the end, he could not say anything. He only cupped his fists heavily.

Zhu Xunsong did not speak again. He simply went alone to the city wall and stood shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers.

Since he had chosen to join the frontier army, he had to be prepared to die for the country at any moment. Even if he could survive this time when the demon race attacked the city, Zhu Xunsong knew clearly that as long as he remained in the army, dying on the battlefield soaked in blood would, in all likelihood, only be a matter of time.

But if he were afraid, he would not be standing here.

Taking a deep breath, Zhu Xunsong watched as Zhu Xunjiang led the ten thousand cavalry out of the city. Then he raised his head and looked toward the great banner on the city wall not far away.

The single “Liang” character fluttered loudly in the wind.

Zhu Xunsong narrowed his eyes slightly and thought of some past matters. Two years ago, his family had arranged a suitable woman for him. She was a local woman from the northern lands. He had met her twice, she was gentle and refined; truly not bad.

The other party also had a good impression of him.

But in the end, Zhu Xunsong had called off the marriage. As for why, the reason was simple, he did not wish for her to bear the title of widow in the future.

That would have been too cruel to her.

The result of his hesitation was that the woman eventually decided not to wait for him. Last year, news came from the family that she had already married and was with child.

After learning this, Zhu Xunsong even entrusted the family to send an additional gift.

He truly hoped that she could live her life in peace, and that the days ahead of her would be happy and fulfilling, even if it was not with him.

Zhu Xunsong laughed at himself, then turned his head to look toward the south. His greatest regret in this life was that he had never left the Northern Frontier, never gone to the Jiangnan spoken of by scholars and poets, never seen those landscapes so different from the frontier.

Outside the city, the sound of hoofbeats gradually rose.

Zhu Xunsong opened his eyes, steadied his mind, and looked at the dust in the distance. Slowly drawing his saber, he said in a deep voice, “Brothers, meet the enemy!”

The soldiers atop the city wall answered in unison.

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