Chapter Forty-Nine: Affection

At the chaotic city gate—

The wind howled, slicing through the air!

The Western Gale Army and the mutated beasts clashed like two raging torrents, colliding with a violent force.

Amidst the swirling dust, they fought with all their might.

Every soldier of the Western Gale Army was a martial cultivator of the Forging Strength Realm.

The moment battle commenced—

Blades and arrows intertwined, afterimages streaked through the haze.

Roars of fury shook the heavens and earth.

Shredded flesh flew in all directions, severed limbs littered the ground.

Thick, foul-smelling blood and chunks of flesh drenched the soldiers from head to toe.

Blood mingled with sweat, splattering freely with every swing of their weapons.

The scene was one of horror and peril, woven together in a tapestry of violence.

…

Standing just inside the city gate, watching the battlefield a few dozen meters away turn into a relentless meat grinder, Qi Xiu clicked his tongue softly.

How fierce they are.

Compared to ordinary martial artists—

These soldiers attacked decisively, reacted swiftly.

Their techniques were efficient and direct.

Every flourish discarded, each strike intended for maximum lethality.

If a martial artist of the same realm faced them, ten moves at most and he’d lose his head to their blades.

Wrinkling his brow at the nearly tangible stench of blood in the air, Qi Xiu took two steps back, then turned to leave.

Rustle—

He had taken no more than five or six steps when his raised foot hesitated and fell.

Casting a glance back at the brutal melee outside the city, Qi Xiu’s eyes lit with calculation. He scratched his head.

With the Western Gale Army absorbing the brunt of the assault—

Why not use this chance to hone my skills?

And judging from the general’s attitude earlier, it seemed I’d been mistaken for someone else.

If I step in to help during this battle, I’ll not only gain experience, but also earn their favor.

Isn’t that killing two birds with one stone?

His eyes gradually brightening, Qi Xiu became more convinced this was the right move.

That’s settled!

With a plan in mind, he turned and leapt up onto the city wall.

The ink and brush he’d been carrying were lost somewhere during the earlier pursuit by the beasts.

He bit his fingertip, and with his own blood inscribed a Martial Talisman in his palm!

…

“Old Ma, watch out!”

In the heat of battle, a mutated wolf twisted with bulging muscles, its lips torn back to reveal all its gums, suddenly leapt from behind a giant bear, maw wide and fangs bared.

Its target: a Western Gale soldier standing unaware.

Seeing his comrade about to be devoured, Nie Xun, too far to help, bellowed in anguish:

“Old Ma!!!”

Hearing the shout, Old Ma whirled around.

But the mutated wolf was now less than three meters away.

It’s over!

His gaze dimmed, Old Ma’s face turned ashen.

In that split second—

A crimson-black palm print crashed down from above, a terrifying force wrapped in searing heat, smashing the ambushing wolf into a bloody pulp and embedding it deep in the earth.

Amid the sizzling smoke, an oddly appetizing aroma of roasted meat wafted up.

Knocked to the ground by the shockwave, covered in dust, Old Ma stared in disbelief at the wolf that had been obliterated with a single blow, then burst out laughing:

“Ha ha ha! I’m alive! I’m alive!”

“Thank you, hero, for saving my brother!” Nie Xun called out, seeing the figure atop the city wall withdraw his hand.

…

On the city gate tower—

Saving the soldier with a Martial Talisman: Crimson Sand Palm, Qi Xiu smiled faintly at Nie Xun’s gratitude.

Favorability +1.

Martial Talismans, crafted with the mystical power of calligraphy, increased his proficiency each time he wielded them.

And unlike daily calligraphy practice, using these divine arts in battle granted far more experience.

But these talismans were dramatic and conspicuous—he rarely had the chance to use them openly.

Now, not only could he unleash them freely, he also gained the goodwill of the Western Gale Army.

Perfect.

With Qi Xiu, a master of the arcane, overseeing the field from the tower, the Western Gale Army fought with even more abandon.

The descending palm prints were devastating.

Even the thick-skinned, iron-fleshed giant bears collapsed, paralyzed, their bodies seared to blackened husks by fire-poison.

With the soldiers absorbing the enemy’s blows, Qi Xiu stood atop the wall, casually casting one palm after another.

Crimson-black imprints rained down, making the earth tremble and dust billow.

Now that his calligraphy had reached the third realm, coupled with the body-tempering effects of the Crimson Sand Palm, Qi Xiu could almost withstand the drain of the Martial Talismans.

He no longer felt utterly drained after each use as he once had.

Under the barrage of Qi Xiu’s talismans, the mutated beasts’ casualties soared. The once overwhelming tide thinned rapidly.

With victory in sight, the Western Gale Army fought even more ferociously.

Nie Xun, at the vanguard, spear in hand, galloped forward, the banner in his grip. His spear shot out like a dragon, bursting the heads of several beasts in an instant.

And as more beasts were slain—

The banner’s fabric grew ever more crimson.

Until, at last, it reached its limit.

Nie Xun raised the banner high, and ten thousand crimson rays burst forth like a monstrous serpent unleashed.

“Majesty Unbounded!”

Whoosh whoosh whoosh—

The crimson light shot out, irresistible, slaying the last of the mutated beasts.

Limbs and flesh churned to pulp.

In less than an hour, the mound of beast corpses at the city gate rose into several small hills, the stench so overpowering the very air seemed tinged with blood.

At last, it was over.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Qi Xiu sat on the battlements, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Now, as soon as the general finished off the demon, he would—

Bang!

A thunderous crash!

A figure was hurled backward, slamming into the city wall, bricks shattering, dust billowing.

Blood trickled from his lips, a chunk of flesh torn from his shoulder, his armor soaked with blood—Yuan Baiyi’s face was pale.

“Commander!”

With a cry, the Western Gale soldiers rushed to shield him. Nie Xun helped Yuan Baiyi to his feet.

“Commander, are you all right?”

Seeing the exposed white bone of his shoulder, Nie Xun’s heart pounded with dread.

The commander had been so grievously wounded by a mere minor demon.

“It’s just a flesh wound, nothing serious,” Yuan Baiyi waved a hand, gaze grim as he looked into the distance.

“That demon… even the commander…” Nie Xun gripped the banner, brow creasing with worry.

“I was careless. That fox demon hid a helper and ambushed me at the crucial moment. I was unprepared.

But they’re hurt even worse.

Come, let’s return to camp.”

Sensing the two demon auras receding, Yuan Baiyi withdrew his gaze and gave a soft order.

“Oh, and invite the Daoist from the Radiant Treasure Sect to the command tent. I have matters to discuss.”

“Yes! Sun Xin, Zhao Heze, help the commander back.

I’ll go fetch the Daoist from the Radiant Treasure Sect.”

After giving his orders, Nie Xun leapt up to the city gate tower, quickly finding Qi Xiu just as he was about to leave.

“I am Nie Xun, vanguard officer of the Western Gale Army. Thank you, Daoist, for saving my brother just now.”

“Our commander has important matters to discuss. Please come with me.”

That was fast.

Qi Xiu’s mouth twitched.

Judging from what just happened, it seemed the general had lost the fight.

Now he wants to see me—don’t tell me they’re going to press-gang me into service?

I only wanted to earn some favor…

Is it too late to run now…?

…