BLPSG Chapter 47: Military achievements

The dim oil lamp illuminated the general’s tent, casting light on the motionless figure lying on the ground.

 

Nearby, a cautious onlooker took a step forward, extending a finger toward the man’s nose.

 

The next second, he bounced back as if he had been electrocuted.

 

“Dead…”

 

“He’s really dead!”

 

With just one hand, Xie Bufeng had strangled him!

 

The cold glint on the blade illuminated Xie Bufeng’s cheek.

 

But the young man remained focused on wiping the medicinal jade, not even bothering to lift his eyes.

 

All the soldiers who had been sound asleep were now wide awake, staring in fear at the direction where Xie Bufeng stood, instinctively stepping back.

 

At this moment, the young man before them was no longer the “prince of Yongdu”, he had become a true monster in their midst.

 

After half a cup of tea, officers and soldiers were brought into the tent.

 

Their first sight of the soldier lying there with wide-open eyes shocked even those accustomed to life and death on the battlefield.

 

“According to military law…” The reprimand had barely left their lips when the young man, having finished wiping the medicinal jade, slowly raised his head.

 

“I killed him,” Xie Bufeng said calmly.

 

His gaze shifted to the corner of the tent, where a bundle lay quietly, filled with belongings.

 

Casually wrapping the medicinal jade around his wrist, he smiled and added, “According to military law, deserters are executed.”

 

The others finally snapped out of their stupor and turned their gaze toward the corner.

 

The bundle was neatly packed, and the man was dressed in warm clothing—a clear sign of a hasty escape.

 

The young man’s face, half-illuminated by the lamplight, revealed an inscrutable expression.

 

Xie Bufeng suddenly stood up and walked straight out of the tent.

 

His foot rolled over the wrist of the lifeless body as he stepped past.

 

Before leaving, he tossed a final remark: “Besides, he wanted to steal something he shouldn’t have.”

 

Xie Bufeng was right, the first rule of the Wei Dynasty’s war law was that deserters would be executed immediately.

 

But until now, no one had ever truly followed through on it.

 

And even if it made sense, he shouldn’t have walked out as if nothing had happened.

 

Yet, in that moment, no one dared to stop Xie Bufeng.

 

Even the officer who had been brought here involuntarily took a step back—

 

Years ago, he had glimpsed the emperor from a distance in the palace.

 

But even the emperor on the throne had never exuded the aura Xie Bufeng possessed now.

 

The cold wind from the borderlands tousled the young man’s slightly curled hair.

 

The distant sound of southern horses’ hooves reached his ears.

 

Changyuan Town wasn’t far from Yongdu, and many crucial supplies during wartime were directly transported from there.

 

Xie Bufeng had grown accustomed to a solitary life, yet at this moment, he felt inexplicably lonely.

 

Finding a sheltered spot outside the tent, he sat down, hugging his knees.

 

The sun gradually rose from the other end of the desert, painting the sky a faint red.

 

Before the morning bugle could sound, footsteps suddenly approached Xie Bufeng.

 

Looking up, he saw a soldier in battle armor standing before him.

 

A red ribbon denoting his status was wrapped around the soldier’s arm—he was responsible for transporting supplies from Yongdu.

 

“Your Highness, these are gifts from Consort Lan. Please inspect them to ensure nothing is missing.”

 

The soldier saluted Xie Bufeng and unloaded a wooden crate from the cart.

 

He glanced back and repeated, “If anything is missing, you can find me at the easternmost camp before noon today and relay the message to Yongdu.”

 

Not wanting to attract attention, he hurriedly left.

 

Xie Bufeng hesitated for a moment, then opened the crate.

 

—The box wasn’t large, but its contents were meticulously arranged.

 

Each side was padded with cotton, and in the middle lay various types of medicine.

 

Seeing this, Xie Bufeng’s fingers paused.

 

Despite the early hour, the temperature was at its lowest.

 

Although he should have changed into warmer clothing immediately, the young man stubbornly bypassed everything and reached for a porcelain bottle.

 

His heartbeat quickened.

 

After a moment’s hesitation, he picked up the item.

 

…Were these medicines prepared by Mother Consort or Wen Qingci?

 

Was he still worried about him?

 

Back on the pleasure boat, he hadn’t spared a glance at the medicinal supplies Wen Qingci had sent.

 

But now, a feeling called “anticipation” spread within Xie Bufeng.

 

Taking a deep breath, he slowly rotated the porcelain bottle in his hand.

 

In the next instant, the densely written characters on the bottle caught his eye.

 

…Having spent half a year by Wen Qingci’s side in the Imperial Medical Bureau, he had already engraved Wen Qingci’s words in his heart.

 

Xie Bufeng recognized it at a glance: the words on the porcelain bottle were not written by Wen Qingci.

 

This was probably written by some imperial physician at the request of Consort Lan.

 

The young man’s fingers lost strength and the porcelain bottle instantly fell from his palm and landed on his thick cotton coat.

 

An inexplicable feeling of loss enveloped him.

 

After a long while, Xie Bufeng finally took out the cotton-padded clothes from the wooden box.

 

A cool breeze blew by, and he suddenly smelled a faint bitter fragrance.

 

The young man subconsciously clenched the cotton coat in his hands, trying to find clues to verify his guess.

 

But then, his fingertips felt a familiar chill.

 

——The clear blue medicinal jade was illuminated by the faint morning light, making it look extremely clear and moist.

 

Xie Bufeng leaned against the edge of the tent, looked up and smiled at himself.

 

An indescribable feeling of bitterness arose in his heart.

 

…What on earth was he expecting?

 

He should stop being so self-indulgent.

 

Wen Qingci is like this to everyone, he is not special.

 

How could Wen Qingci go to so much trouble just for a rabbit?

 

…

 

With the house outside the palace as a cover, Wen Qingci has been going out of the palace frequently in recent times.

 

He would stay in his mansion for a while, then change to a low-key carriage and head to the clinic in the corner of Yongdu.

 

The carriage swayed gently, and Wen Qingci closed his eyes, carefully sorting out his thoughts.

 

After returning to Yongdu, he gained a deeper understanding of the art of incense.

 

As far as Wen Qingci knows, incense balls with added adhesive are different from ordinary incense seals and have a shorter shelf life.

 

Generally speaking, the best use period is only one year.

 

In a blink of an eye, he had been in the palace for more than half a year. If these incense pills were really made by the original owner, then they will soon expire and cannot be used anymore.

 

If the person who poisoned the food wants to continue, he should come to restock the stock soon.

 

The location of this “replenishment” is most likely related to the medical clinic in Yongdu.

 

After all, this is the most direct place to get in touch with the Valley of Divine Physicians.

 

During this period, Wen Qingci came to the clinic many times.

 

He had already deeply imprinted the scenery along the way and the time required for the journey in his mind.

 

Thinking that they were about to reach their destination, Wen Qingci opened his eyes.

 

However, the next moment, the carriage suddenly stopped ahead of time.

 

Through the wall of the carriage, he heard the coachman ask in slight surprise, “Miss Su, why are you here?”

 

“I’m here to see Physician Wen.”

 

“This…” The coachman was a little embarrassed.

 

Just as he was hesitating about what to say, the curtain of the carriage was suddenly lifted by someone from the inside.

 

Before we knew it, it was already the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, and the sunlight in Yongdu had become much warmer.

 

The faint light shone on the moon-white clothes, softening Wen Qingci’s facial features in an instant, making him less cold and more gentle.

 

Even though they had been seeing each other every day recently, the coachman was still stunned when he saw this scene.

 

The clinic is located in a back street and there are not many people around.

 

Seeing that the destination was approaching, Wen Qingci simply got off the carriage.

 

The girl standing opposite him blushed slightly.

 

She was stunned for a moment, then she remembered that Wen Qingci was no longer just an imperial physician.

 

“The commoner Su Yuzheng greets Master Hanlin.”

 

The young woman in light green smiled at him and nodded slightly in greeting.

 

After saying that, she blinked her round, deer-like eyes and walked towards Wen Qingci.

 

“Miss Su, please don’t be so polite. Just treat me as an imperial physician,” Wen Qingci paused and asked her, “I wonder what is the important matter that Miss Su came to see me for?”

 

Ever since Wen Qingci sent Xie Bufeng to the border, Concubine Lan no longer came to see him as often as before.

 

Wen Qingci was really surprised when he suddenly saw Su Yuzheng.

 

Ever since Wen Qingci sent Xie Bufeng to the border, Consort Lan no longer visited him as frequently as before.

 

Suddenly, when he saw Su Yuzheng, Wen Qingci was genuinely surprised.

 

The girl bit her lip and suddenly turned her gaze toward Wen Qingci. She said, “Recently, I’ve heard quite a few rumors about Physician Wen, but I believe you’re not that kind of person.”

 

Wen Qingci remained silent.

 

After speaking, Su Yuzheng felt uneasy. Those rumors were not pleasant stories. She wondered if mentioning them would anger Wen Qingci.

 

Thankfully, Wen Qingci merely smiled and didn’t say more.

 

He shifted his gaze, looking several meters away at the small clinic.

 

The street was a one-way road, and during their journey, Wen Qingci hadn’t seen any other carriages.

 

Was Su Yuzheng waiting here for him?

 

But how did she know he would come to this place?

 

As a physician, Wen Qingci’s presence in the clinic wasn’t unusual. However, this particular clinic was inconspicuous. Based on speculation alone, no one would choose to wait here.

 

Wen Qingci always kept a low profile when coming here.

 

Logically, Su Yuzheng shouldn’t even know about the clinic’s existence.

 

Just as they were about to enter the clinic, Wen Qingci suddenly stopped, turned to Su Yuzheng, and casually asked, “How did Miss Su know I was coming here?”

 

“Well,” Su Yuzheng replied without much thought, “my aunt mentioned it recently. She said this clinic belongs to the Valley of Divine Physicians, so I thought I’d try my luck.”

 

Aunt.

 

When Wen Qingci heard that word, he clenched his fists.

 

Su Yuzheng’s aunt was none other than Consort Lan.

 

…How did Consort Lan know this clinic was related to the Valley of Divine Physicians?

 

If his understanding was correct, even the emperor wouldn’t be aware of this clinic’s existence.

 

Su Yuzheng’s casual remark seemed to unintentionally reveal the truth to Wen Qingci.

 

Originally, he had planned to exchange a few pleasantries with her and then bid her farewell.

 

But hearing this, he changed his mind.

 

“…Indeed,” Wen Qingci paused. He suppressed his doubts and directly admitted to the connection, smiling as he turned to Su Yuzheng. “Miss Su, if you have no urgent matters, why not come in for a cup of tea before leaving?”

 

With that, he led her into the clinic.

 

Behind the small courtyard was a tea room where Wen Qingci often rested during his visits.

 

The room was filled with various items—rare herbs, tonics, and tea he personally prepared—brought by his senior brother from the valley.

 

The clinic owner was also associated with the Valley of Divine Physicians.

 

Wen Qingci had learned from their conversations that both the late valley master and his senior brother treated him well.

 

The white tea in the porcelain cup exuded a herbal bitterness.

 

Su Yuzheng took a sip and furrowed her brow.

 

But Wen Qingci seemed oblivious to the bitterness, savoring the tea’s aroma.

 

He didn’t ask Su Yuzheng how Consort Lan knew about the clinic’s connection to the Valley of Divine Physicians.

 

Instead, he paused, smiled, and asked, “Miss Su, what rumors have you heard about me?”

 

His gaze involuntarily fell on Su Yuzheng’s amber eyes.

 

Unlike Consort Lan, Su Yuzheng was clearly not good at keeping secrets.

 

Wen Qingci planned to use Su Yuzheng to convey his message to Consort Lan.

 

He would wait for her to come to him.

 

Su Yuzheng saw that Wen Qingci’s pair of black eyes, like glass, were no longer as calm as usual.

 

Instead, it revealed a strange sense of nostalgia and…sadness?

 

The girl paused, clenched the teacup in her hand, and whispered everything she had heard.

 

The smile on Wen Qingci’s face also became fainter and fainter.

 

–

 

Even Xie Bufeng himself hadn’t realized that he was born for the battlefield.

 

Perhaps the Northern Barbarians initially intended to plunder supplies, surviving the aftermath of the Disaster.

 

But the weakness of the Wei Dynasty’s army fueled their ambitions.

 

Taking Longyuan Town wouldn’t satisfy them, especially when their war fervor was high.

 

Shortly after Xie Bufeng arrived in Longyuan Town, true warfare began.

 

At dusk, the sound of trumpets echoed.

 

The Northern Barbarian troops charged out of the city gates toward the Wei Dynasty’s stationed forces.

 

Xie Bufeng’s Guangchi Camp was the first to engage.

 

The Wei Dynasty’s army had been lax in training for years, and their commanders lacked military expertise. In contrast, the Northern Barbarians employed straightforward tactics, without any twists or turns.

 

Thus, both sides fought chaotically, purely head-on.

 

While the capital was still warm, the border air was filled with coldness.

 

The chilly wind carried fragments of green grass, brushing against Xie Bufeng’s cheek.

 

Although the Northern Di war horses are short in stature, they are extremely maneuverable. They not only move very fast but are also extremely flexible.

 

It is undoubtedly a nightmare on the battlefield.

 

But there was not the slightest fear in Xie Bufeng’s heart.

 

At the moment he rode forward, the young man had only one thought in his mind – 

 

Kill.

 

Xie Bufeng smiled slowly. He didn’t think he could return to Yongdu alive, so he just wanted to take a few more people with him to be buried with him.

 

“Is Xie Bufeng mad?” whispered the soldiers of Guangchi Camp.

 

“Why is he so fast?”

 

For these soldiers, the battlefield was a place of inevitable death. Once the fighting began, fear and reluctance gnawed at their hearts.

 

Unconsciously, they slowed their horses, unwittingly fueling Xie Bufeng’s madness, making him even more relentless.

 

Horses possessed an uncanny intuition. With a neigh, the other warhorses that had lagged behind suddenly quickened their pace.

 

The situation spiraled out of control.

 

“What’s happening to them?”

 

“I… I don’t know…”

 

Among the Northern Di troops, soldiers exchanged hushed words.

 

Though their conversation was interrupted by their commanding officer’s glare, the sudden anomaly had distracted them.

 

Then, like a phantom, the black warhorse descended upon Guangchi Camp.

 

In the army, weapon choice was free. At this life-or-death juncture, Xie Bufeng cared little if his martial prowess was exposed.

 

He gripped a heavy sword tightly and charged toward the Northern Di ranks.

 

In this first battle, Xie Bufeng paid no heed to strategy or victory.

 

Driven by bloodlust, he acted on instinct alone.

 

The battlefield resounded with clashing armor and chaos.

 

But Xie Bufeng’s ears heard something more—a symphony of fear.

 

Slaughter purged the evil from people’s hearts, and with it came an unrelenting terror.

 

The vast Northern Di territory encircled the entire Wei Dynasty in a northern half-moon. Xie Bufeng’s previous post in Suzhou shared a border with Northern Di lands, and their languages bore some resemblance.

 

“Run! Get away from the man with the heavy sword!”

 

Xie Bufeng chuckled slowly.

 

He realized he enjoyed hearing those fear-laden voices.

 

This chaotic battle allowed him to act freely, beyond any commander’s orders. The terrified voices guided him forward.

 

Those who had feared him a moment ago now found him suddenly at their side, wielding his sword…

 

The fearful rarely fought with all their might.

 

Xie Bufeng’s movements met no resistance.

 

Terrifyingly, an arrow pierced his shoulder, blood flowing freely. Yet the youth didn’t flinch, his actions remained uninterrupted.

 

The Northern Di soldiers didn’t recognize him or the legends surrounding him. To them, this youth felt no pain, a living god of death.

 

With each neigh and scream of the warhorses, opponents fell under Xie Bufeng’s blade, becoming lifeless bodies.

 

The atmosphere thickened with fear.

 

Xie Bufeng, like a bloodthirsty hawk, reveled in the ecstasy of killing.

 

Soon, a vacuum formed around him—no one dared approach.

 

The Wei Dynasty’s sole advantage was its numbers.

 

Today, influenced by Xie Bufeng, the previously defensive Wei troops stirred with newfound determination.

 

In the end, the battle unfolded differently from anyone’s expectations—

 

The once indomitable Northern Di forces retreated to Changyuan Town.

 

Against all odds, Wei emerged victorious!

 

As the bugle sounded, soldiers parted to create a path for Xie Bufeng.

 

His once pristine silver armor now bore no trace of its original color, soaked entirely in blood—both enemy and his own.

 

This battle had been too frenzied, too dazzling.

 

The image of Xie Bufeng swinging his heavy sword hung in everyone’s minds.

 

Countless eyes watched, unable to erase the brilliance of his valor and achievements.

 

The Wei Dynasty inherited the strict military merit system from its predecessor.

 

A century ago, the previous dynasty had forged its empire through countless battles, laying the foundation for this rigorous system.

 

After clearing the battlefield, a terrifying truth confronted the general at the camp—Xie Bufeng had achieved unparalleled merit in this war.

 

If the news of Xie Bufeng’s deeds reached Yongdu, it will likely provoke the emperor’s wrath more than the defeat in the war.

 

…

 

The Gobi Desert fell silent. Within half an hour, the logistics team had cleaned the battlefield, leaving no trace of the carnage.

 

Soldiers celebrated their hard-won victory, but Xie Bufeng remained disinterested.

 

He hadn’t expected his first war to end like this.

 

And he… had survived?

 

With a jug of wine, Xie Bufeng sat by the stream.

 

As he took a few sips, a soft sound reached his ears.

 

—A lone lamb had come to drink from the stream.

 

He recalled the lamb he had found years ago, much like this one.

 

“Come here.”

 

Setting the jug aside, he touched the lamb’s head.

 

The soft and warm touch suddenly made him think of Yongdu and that person again in the evening.

 

Xie Bufeng couldn’t help but slowly tighten his arms.

 

Because he used too much force, after a few seconds the lamb in his arms began to struggle wildly due to the pain.

 

The young man finally fixed his eyes on it and slowly loosened his arms.

 

The lamb struggled away and ran to the other side of the stream.

 

The young man looked at the setting sun in the distance and slowly narrowed his eyes.

 

At this moment, another thought suddenly came to Xie Bufeng’s mind.

 

——Return to Yongdu.

 

Once the flame fueled by desire is lit, it cannot be extinguished.

 

The pleasure brought by killing and victory activated Xie Bufeng’s originally numb heart.

 

He suddenly realized that he should not have waited, but should have gone and snatched it!

 

*

 

Within two days, the battle report from Changyuan Town was transmitted back to Yongdu.

 

Along with this, there was also news of Xie Bufeng’s merits.

 

After hearing the battle report, everyone except Wen Qingci was shocked.

 

“What did you say?!” The man on the dragon throne widened his eyes and suddenly started coughing uncontrollably. After a long while, he said in a hoarse voice, “Send me the battle report!”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty…” The person who delivered the letter was shaking hands.

 

Wen Qingci, who was originally standing aside, stepped back and gave up his place.

 

He pretended to be nonchalant as he packed up his medicine box, and at the same time saw out of the corner of his eye——

 

The emperor was reading the battle report very quickly, and the color became worse with every word he read.

 

At last, the emperor once again pressed his hand heavily on his forehead.

 

He took a deep breath, took out the Fuxuan Flower pill he carried with him and swallowed it.

 

However, the next second, he started coughing uncontrollably again: “Cough cough cough…Xian Gonggong…”

 

The old steward immediately handed over the handkerchief.

 

This time the emperor’s cough was more severe than before. By the time everyone reacted, there were already blood spots on the bright yellow silk handkerchief.

 

The fear of death and failure came over him in an instant.