“Zhu Qing, remove all his upper garments!”

“Chenxiang, bring the needles.”

“Everyone else, get out.”

Several needles fell. An extremely fine warm current flowed along the meridians through his four limbs and hundred bones. Xie Zhifei shuddered, his entire person rising into the air, floating leisurely in space.

Looking down, his physical body still lay on that bed. Xie Zhifei’s heart filled with terror.

Suddenly, an intense bright light shone over. He felt his body forcefully yanked by something, and he floated out in an instant.

Floating over mountains, passing through lakes, he silently landed outside a city wall.

Looking up, the city wall soared into the clouds. Above the enormous city gate, three characters “Black Mountain City” were vigorous and forceful.

Black Mountain City—where the old general and five thousand Zheng Family Army soldiers died in battle.

Xie Zhifei’s heart surged. Regardless of everything, he walked toward the city gate.

Crossing the gate threshold, before his eyes appeared a scene of bustling activity—

Groups of soldiers were transporting boulders onto the city walls.

Dozens of soldiers were installing fire bombs.

Another row of soldiers was wrapping cloth soaked in oil around arrowheads…

They all wore armor, faces grave, methodically making final preparations before the great battle’s arrival.

Xie Zhifei stared in amazement, reaching out to grab a soldier close at hand. He wanted to ask where the old general was.

His hand grasped at nothing. Everything before his eyes seemed to be only his illusion.

The illusion flew rapidly forward. Soon night fell, the temperature plummeted sharply, and soldiers lit fire after fire in the square.

“The general is coming.”

The clamor receded like tide. In dead silence, a white-haired man strode forward, three imposing attendants behind him.

It’s Grandfather!

Xie Zhifei’s eyes immediately heated.

“All prepared?”

“All prepared.”

“Eat, rest.”

“Yes!”

The meal was flatbread—heated over fire, swallowed down with hot water.

The night was long. Who knows which lad, stomach full, began missing home, humming his hometown tune.

The melody stirred hearts, and others began humming along.

“Dog Tail, what tune are you humming, boy? Sounds like nonsense. Come, recite a poem for this general—something heroic.”

“Old General, could you stop calling me Dog Tail? I have a name.”

“Jin Shaoyan?”

The old general laughed heartily. “Your family was dirt poor, still wearing split-crotch pants at five. Where’d young master Jin come from? Dog Tail sounds better.”

“Aiya, Old General, how do you know everything?”

“I also know at twelve you peeped at a widow bathing. That fat widow grabbed you into the house, pressed you on the door board, nearly suffocated you to death with all that fat.”

“Old General, stop talking—I’m dying of embarrassment.”

“Embarrassed my ass! This old man loves hearing it—so entertaining!”

“General, when it comes to entertainment, this lad takes the prize.”

“I know. The day his big brother got married, he hid under the eaves eavesdropping. His big brother poured a basin of foot-washing water on him. This kid stuck out his tongue, smacked his lips a couple times, and said women’s foot-washing water smells so fragrant.”

“Hahahahaha…”

All the soldiers laughed uproariously.

The old general pointed at a soldier rolling on the ground laughing. “You little brat, you dare laugh at others?”

The soldier sat up, glaring at the old general: “Why can’t I laugh?”

“You’re even more pathetic. Swimming in summer, you dove into the water with just half your head showing. Your brother deliberately pissed on your head. You, idiot, rubbed your face with eyes closed and told your brother, ‘Come down quick—damn, this water’s hot.'”

“Hahahaha…”

In the laughter, someone shouted: “Old General, do you remember my embarrassing story?”

“You? In the whole Zheng Family Army, your farts stink the worst.”

“What about me?”

“That snoring could lift the tent roof.”

“And me?”

“You brat—jerking off every few days, those calluses on your palm aren’t from properly gripping a blade.”

“Hahahaha…”

In the laughter, the man’s face turned redder than a monkey’s bottom: “Old General, after we win, get me a wife?”

“Done!”

The old general roared: “I’ll personally be matchmaker, pick a girl with a slim waist and big chest to warm your bed.”

“Old General, you’re promising—I’m waiting.”

“This old man’s word is his bond. When have I ever lied to you?”

“Boom boom boom boom…”

War drums beat urgently. The lookout soldier on the city wall shouted down: “Report, General, enemy forces are ten li from Black Mountain City.”

Almost simultaneously, five thousand soldiers rose with a whoosh, gazes all converging on their general.

The old general, supporting himself on his blade handle, stood up. His gaze swept over them one by one, one by one, then he laughed heartily and shouted:

“Sons of the Zheng Family Army, hold Black Mountain City, protect Great Hua’s rivers and mountains, protect our parents, wives, and children—give your lives to kill!”

“Kill!”

“Kill!”

“Kill!”

The shouts resounded throughout Black Mountain City, echoing endlessly in the canyon.

Yet the five thousand soldiers surrounding the old general had long since vanished from sight.

Some had climbed the city walls to check the boulders or raise their bows and arrows.

Some rushed to the city gate, piling sandbags filled with earth higher.

Still others returned to their guard positions, slowly gripping the great blades in their hands.

In the howling mountain wind, the old general held his bronze helmet in his hands, looking up at the dark sky. Xie Zhifei could restrain himself no longer and shouted—

“Grandfather!”

Zheng Yu’s entire body shook. He slowly turned around, the cold light in his eyes softening at once.

Their gazes met. Xie Zhifei’s Adam’s apple rolled several times, tears streaming down.

Yes, this was his grandfather.

Wearing full armor, white-haired, an aged face.

“Why are you crying?”

Zheng Yu looked displeased: “Zheng family men only shed blood, not tears. Put those tears away.”

“Grandfather.”

Xie Zhifei felt wronged on his behalf. “Was it worth it?”

“Boy, remember this—Zheng family men don’t ask whether something’s worth it, only whether our hearts are at peace.”

Zheng Yu’s expression showed some disdain. “Practice your calligraphy properly. That handwriting of yours—worse than dog scratching, disgraceful.”

Xie Zhifei had just stopped his tears, but they surged out again: “You, you saw my writing?”

More than saw it!

Every time Huantang sent the two children’s writing, every time he had to slap the table cursing—stinking brat, only knows how to play.

Zheng Yu’s expression softened, the corner of his mouth curving slightly upward.

“From now on, don’t eat so fast—learn from your sister, chew slowly and swallow carefully. Don’t sleep bare-chested—night wind is cold, blowing on your navel causes chills easily.

When practicing the Zheng family blade technique, remember to wrap several layers of gauze on your hands, wrap it thick—that way your palms won’t easily blister from friction.

Also, stop always bullying your sister—yield to her more, protect her for Grandfather. Oh, and in the future when you see Mingyue, tell her I’m sorry on Grandfather’s behalf.”

He placed the bronze helmet on his head, gripped his long blade, his voice suddenly becoming very low, very heavy.

“Child, Grandfather also feels sorry toward you, wronged you.”

With that said, a trace of moisture appeared in his eyes. Just as that moisture was about to fall, he turned and walked toward the city wall.

He walked very steadily, back ramrod straight, like an iron pillar that could never topple, walking into the night, walking toward what belonged to him…

His ultimate destiny!

Xie Zhifei’s heart ached as if stabbed.

“Grandfather—”