CHAPTER 427: CHAPTER 421: THE WRATH OF GUAN YU_1

The Great Wall, stretching for thousands of miles!

The legions of the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court and the armies of the three major powers faced each other across a hundred miles of yellow sand. A frigid wind swept through the air, thick with palpable killing intent. All essential passages were garrisoned by troops, preventing any movement.

I wonder how the citizens of the Qin Dynasty stranded abroad are faring now!

Clad in azure armor, Guan Yu patrolled the city wall with his trusted aides, gazing out over the distant territories. A hint of worry touched his crimson face.

Twenty long days had passed, and the three major powers still hadn’t released the Qin Dynasty merchants.

"General, don’t worry too much," the Deputy General following behind him said coldly, his voice tinged with faint killing intent. "The imperial court has sent word that they are preparing for final negotiations. If unsuccessful, they will resort to force!"

Guan Yu nodded. Just as he was about to continue his patrol, he saw two figures fleeing frantically tens of miles away, pursued by cavalry from the Qionghua Sacred Land. This sight immediately put him on alert.

"There’s trouble outside the city! You continue the patrol; I’ll go check it out!" Guan Yu ordered briefly. Gripping his Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, he flew from the Great Wall, transforming into a streak of azure light before vanishing.

Meanwhile, on the wasteland where yellow sand swirled, Qian Fugui and Liu Zhiyan fled in disarray. They bore sword wounds, and fresh blood gushed, dyeing their clothes crimson. Their faces were deathly pale. But their eyes, fixed on the Great Wall, now nearly within reach, burned with extraordinary determination.

Hold on! Just sixty more miles to the Great Wall!

Suddenly, Liu Zhiyan’s legs gave out. He collapsed, spitting a large mouthful of blood. His condition rapidly worsened, his life hanging by a thread.

"Brother Liu, hold on! We’re almost in Qin Dynasty territory!" Qian Fugui stopped and hurriedly helped Liu Zhiyan up, panting as he encouraged him loudly.

He and Liu Zhiyan had met at the border. Since both were heading to the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court, they had decided to travel together. After enduring strict inspections, they had finally reached the last checkpoint. They were on the brink of leaving the Qionghua Sacred Land and entering the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court. Unfortunately, a colonel at the checkpoint stopped them, intending to send them back. Both knew that returning meant certain death. Coupled with their urgency to deliver a message, they attacked and killed the colonel.

It was their misfortune that just after they killed the colonel, a cavalry patrol happened by, leading to their desperate flight.

"Leave me! You escape, quickly! Otherwise, we’ll both die here!" Liu Zhiyan said weakly, urging Qian Fugui to leave. He knew his own condition; his injuries were too severe, and he had no strength left to flee.

The thundering of hooves grew louder, drawing nearer from the distance. Their pursuers were a troop of ten thousand cavalrymen, incredibly swift and radiating a thick killing intent, like a bloodthirsty beast eager to tear them apart.

Qian Fugui was torn. They had traveled together, sharing life and death experiences, and had forged a deep friendship. He couldn’t bring himself to leave now.

"Go! Go now!" Liu Zhiyan roared weakly, pushing Qian Fugui away. A grim smile touched his bloodstained face. "Go back and expose the crimes of the three major powers! Avenge our people who died!"

"If we go, we go together!" Qian Fugui gritted his teeth. Ignoring Liu Zhiyan’s pleas, he heaved him onto his back and staggered towards the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court. He was an old son of Qin; he would not abandon any compatriot!

Naive!

Among the pursuers, a silver-armored general, witnessing Qian Fugui’s actions, sneered coldly and spurred his mount onward, increasing his speed. The distance between them closed rapidly. Soon, the cavalry was merely three miles from Qian Fugui and Liu Zhiyan, dangerously close.

"Die!" the general roared. A bow glowing with stark white light appeared in his hand. Before the eyes of his soldiers, he expertly nocked an arrow, aimed at Qian Fugui three miles away, and released the string.

WHOOSH!

The arrow tore through the air. Like a comet striking, trailing a long, fiery tail, it blazed across the sky.

The general was powerful, having reached the Saint Realm. Qian Fugui, however, was only at the peak of the Reaching the Holy Realm. Moreover, he was gravely injured and burdened by Liu Zhiyan, who was like an anchor, making it impossible for him to dodge the arrow.

It looks like I’m going to die outside our homeland, Qian Fugui thought, despair and bleak sorrow filling his heart. The whistle of the arrow grew louder. Even with his back to it, he could feel a piercing pain, as if it would impale him in the next instant.

CLANG!

A crisp sound resonated. Qian Fugui swallowed hard and struggled to turn. He saw an azure shield of light covering him, blocking the fatal arrow.

I’ve been saved! he muttered to himself as he watched Guan Yu descend from the sky. Clad in armor and wielding the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, Guan Yu’s presence was imposing and awe-inspiring.

"Who are you?" Guan Yu asked Qian Fugui, his voice curious.

"General... I am Qian Fugui, an old Qin native from the East Gu Dao Domain!" Qian Fugui replied dutifully.

"I understand." Guan Yu nodded slightly, stroking his magnificent beard. He turned to the approaching cavalry from the Qionghua Sacred Land, a cold glint in his eyes.

A bunch of ants, daring to pursue citizens of Great Qin! They’re courting death!

"Guan Yu! You have some nerve, appearing openly in the territory of a Sacred Land! Are you trying to incite war? Hand over the fugitives now!" the silver-armored general’s face changed slightly. He halted his advance and roared across the distance.

As a frontline general, he naturally recognized Guan Yu and knew the latter was an Emperor Realm Martial Artist. However, he wasn’t worried. The three powers were allied; he believed even the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court wouldn’t dare to provoke them.

Such is the tragedy of the weak. Given his rank, he wasn’t privy to the true state of affairs and still believed the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court was the weaker party.

"Since when did citizens of Great Qin become fugitives?" Guan Yu’s eyes narrowed, the killing intent within them intensifying.

"General, you mustn’t let them get away with this!" Qian Fugui exclaimed, his face contorted with rage as he gritted his teeth. "With the tacit approval of the Zixiao Sacred Land and Qionghua Sacred Land, the Qianyao Saint’s Court is indiscriminately arresting Qin Dynasty merchants, resulting in countless deaths and injuries! The entire merchant caravan I traveled with was annihilated!"

"Hmm?" Guan Yu was fiercely protective of his people. Hearing of the countless deaths and injuries suffered by his countrymen, he erupted in fury. A terrifying aura burst from him, soaring into the heavens.

"Not good!" The silver-armored general’s expression changed drastically. Without a second thought, he wheeled his horse around and shouted, "Flee!"

The Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court was renowned throughout the East Border for fiercely protecting its own!

"Die!" Guan Yu’s expression was grim. He raised his Azure Dragon Crescent Blade high and brought it down with tremendous force.

An azure dragon manifested from the blade, roaring as it tore through the sky. It descended upon the cavalry, triggering a cataclysmic explosion. The attack gouged a massive crater in the grassland, hundreds of feet deep and thousands of yards long, resembling a vast canyon.

The silver-armored general and his soldiers were all annihilated, leaving no trace behind.

Qian Fugui and Liu Zhiyan stared, dumbstruck. That god-like strike was seared into their minds, an image they would never forget for the rest of their lives.

"Come, report everything you know to me once we return!" Guan Yu said, his expression calm as if he had merely swatted a few ants. With a wave of his left hand, he released a surge of Spiritual Energy, lifting Qian Fugui and Liu Zhiyan and flying them towards the Great Wall.

A few minutes later, several streaks of light shot out from the border of the Qionghua Sacred Land. Gazing at the colossal blade mark on the ground and sensing the lingering Power of Laws in the air, their figures trembled involuntarily.