BLPSG Chapter 49: Autumn passes and winter comes again

The seasons on the grassland seem to change especially quickly.

In the blink of an eye, the lingering warmth of summer vanished completely. 

Autumn gave way to winter, and snow fell gently from the sky, covering the ground like a thick quilt.

The harsh winter arrived.

The fall of Changyuan shattered the morale of the Northern Barbarians. 

They were forced to retreat northward, returning to their original territories as winter set in. 

The northern lands temporarily quieted down.

It was now February of the following year.

The emperor had become numb to the frequent reports of victories on the battlefield. 

“Xie Bufeng seems to have good luck,” he remarked, setting aside a battle report. 

“But luck always runs out eventually.” He sipped from his tea cup, appearing remarkably relaxed.

Then, as if recalling something amusing, the emperor chuckled softly, and the tension in his demeanor eased.

In the afternoon, only the emperor and Xian Gonggong, who had just delivered the battle report, remained in the study. The room was heated, making one feel drowsy.

The heat in the room made people drowsy.

After hearing his words, the old steward quickly smiled and agreed.

The emperor pressed his fingers to his forehead, pausing for a moment. “Since the Northern Barbarians have retreated from Changyuan and suffered consecutive defeats, returning to the grasslands, Xie Bufeng… is no longer of any use, is he?”

After a brief bout of anger, the emperor had realized that the young Xie Bufeng possessed some military talent. 

He had decided to exploit it. 

Win, and drive away the Northern Barbarians. Lose, and Xie Bufeng would lose his life. It seemed like a profitable deal.

Now that the Northern Barbarians had left Changyuan and returned to their own territory, it was time.

“Your Majesty speaks wisely,” Xian Gonggong immediately nodded in agreement.

Once the fires of war ignited, they wouldn’t be easily extinguished.

The steward bit his lip, unable to shake the thought: Although the Northern Barbarians had left Changyuan and temporarily returned to the grasslands, as long as they had strength remaining, they wouldn’t give up so easily.

The steward understood this, and surely the emperor did too.

But the news of victory had clouded the emperor’s judgment. 

In his eyes, if Xie Bufeng could defeat the Northern Barbarians, then they weren’t as formidable as the legends claimed. If one young man like Xie Bufeng could do it, others could too.

Compared to the now feeble Northern Barbarians, securing his throne was more important.

The emperor’s head grew heavy again, and he slowly closed his eyes, resting without further words.

Xian Gonggong, who had served by his side for decades, knew the emperor’s intentions. It was almost as if he was instructing the steward to handle Xie Bufeng right in front of him.

This was a task the steward was well-versed in.

Despite his friendship with Wen Qingci and his role in delivering items to Xie Bufeng, the steward understood that present safety outweighed future considerations.

As the emperor feigned sleep, the steward discreetly summoned someone to the side chamber, passing on the order to eliminate Xie Bufeng.

“Remember, act discreetly, and don’t arouse suspicion,” the steward whispered. “Take advantage during the chaos of battle.”

The battle reports had already described Xie Bufeng as godlike in the eyes of the soldiers. If his death appeared suspicious, it would cause a major uproar in the army.

This was not good news.

“Yes, I will follow your command,” the subordinate understood, immediately saluting.

“Very well, you may leave.”

“Understood.”

Their hushed conversation was just loud enough for the emperor, who pretended to sleep, to hear.

As the footsteps faded away, the emperor’s furrowed brow gradually relaxed, and he sank into a peaceful slumber.

Following the orders, the subordinate left the imperial palace, heading toward the northern lands.

Xian Gonggong clenched his fists and returned to his position. The eunuchs and palace maids rotated shifts by the emperor’s side, but it wasn’t yet time for him to leave.

After half an hour, someone finally relieved him.

Despite the late hour, Xian Gonggong didn’t return to his quarters. Instead, he headed straight for the Imperial Medical Bureau. He needed to inform Wen Qingci about the situation.

…

With the Northern Barbarians’ temporary retreat, the war had paused. Regular supplies to the garrison ceased, and Wen Qingci lost contact with the northern lands.

Fortunately, months ago, he had already sent everything necessary to Xie Bufeng. The young man, now renowned, was no longer an easy target for bullying.

Upon receiving Xian Gonggong’s message, Wen Qingci left the Imperial Palace and made his way to the suburban clinic.

Experience and common sense told him that the northern winter lasted nearly half a year. 

Recently, the average temperature had plummeted to around minus twenty degrees Celsius. In such conditions, inadequate warmth could lead to death on the battlefield.

Both the Northern Barbarians and the Wei Dynasty troops needed rest during this harsh season. But once the coldest days passed, the situation would change.

The borderlands were always on the brink of a new war. Since communication between the palace and the northern lands had ceased, Wen Qingci had to rely on his own people.

He had asked his senior brother to send a skilled healer from the Valley of Divine Physicians. 

Now, in the medical clinic, Wen Qingci personally requested the healer to go to Changyuan and keep an eye on the northern developments.

Soon, another half month passed.

Winter persisted, but temperatures had slightly improved. The military camp was tense, on high alert.

At dawn, the silence of the long night shattered by the sound of trumpets. Prepared troops assembled, facing north.

The Northern Barbarians had finally arrived.

Unlike last year, this time, everyone’s gaze held no fear or nervousness—only excitement.

“Line up and march forward.” The deep voice echoed from beneath the black armor.

The wild wind lifted Xie Bufeng’s slightly curled hair, and his amber eyes gleamed with a murderous intent. His lips curved into a smile.

Not only was he not afraid, he was even looking forward to this battle.

“Yes, General!” 

Xie Bufeng mounted his horse and rode forward.

——Until today, he still retains the habit he had in Guangchi Camp and always stands at the front of the team.

After several military exploits, even though he was deliberately suppressed, Xie Bufeng still became the General Dingyuan stationed here at a terrifying speed.

The soldiers around him discovered that compared to “Your Highness”, Xie Bufeng preferred the title of General.

Perhaps it was because, in these past months, they had analyzed their previous failures or regained some strength during the winter.

This battle was tougher than last year.

As the sun rose, its cold rays fell upon the armor, blinding the eyes.

Xie Bufeng’s arm bore a fresh sword wound, staining his silver armor crimson. But the young man, born without pain receptors, didn’t even glance at it.

He swung his heavy sword relentlessly, riding toward the Northern Barbarians’ camp.

Suddenly, several glimmers caught Xie Bufeng’s eye.

Soldiers in Northern Barbarian armor drew their swords, charging straight at him.

Xie Bufeng avoided their attacks, chopping one in half at the waist.

But this bloody scene didn’t faze the others. They had abandoned thoughts of life and death.

They kept swinging their swords, stabbing at Xie Bufeng’s throat and heart.

And they found the right moment and slashed at Xie Bufeng’s wrist with sword.

And then, they smiled, slowly.

Xie Bufeng’s wrist guard absorbed the blow, but the force traveled up his arm, shattering the metal. Beneath it lay a serene blue gem.

In the next instant, as one of the small medicinal jade beads broke, the hidden gem Xie Bufeng had carefully concealed in his wrist guard fell to the ground, landing in a pool of blood.

It was not until the man was knocked off his horse did the painless young man realize what had just happened.

The medicinal jade…

Xie Bufeng’s eyes widened instantly.

The young general’s expression shifted from composed to panicked.

Ignoring the ongoing melee and the Northern Barbarian soldiers closing in, Xie Bufeng acted on instinct. He dismounted and reached into the bloody puddle.

“General!!!”

His frantic actions stunned those around him.

The attackers exchanged glances, excitement gleaming in their eyes. 

Disguised as Northern Barbarian soldiers, they recalled the incident from Xie Bufeng’s early days in the army. 

Taking a gamble, they struck where they suspected he had hidden the jade.

To their surprise, Xie Bufeng truly cared about that string of medicinal beads!

Amid the chaos, a warhorse inadvertently trampled Xie Bufeng’s arm, but the unflinching youth remained focused.

Half-kneeling in the blood-soaked ground, he searched for the jade as if retrieving the morning that Wen Qingci had once tied in his hair.

In that moment, Xie Bufeng forgot he was on a battlefield.

As his fingers touched the familiar cold surface, an unexpected sound reached his ears.

—A blade sliced through armor, cleaving across Xie Bufeng’s spine. The pungent smell of iron and blood filled the air.

Yet, at that instant, a chilling smile graced Xie Bufeng’s lips.

Carefully clutching the broken medicinal jade, he stood up.

found it.

The next moment, he spun around, wielding his sword like a madman, striking down the group of people.