Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 679: If He Can Do It, so Can I

The first day of the siege was intense and brutal.

Unlike the troops of the capital, who dismissed a winter campaign as a pointless endeavor, the forces of the Cui Clan and the Cao Gang had personal grudges against the Wang Clan, making them willing to fight tooth and nail.

During the months-long siege of Puyang, many of the Cui Clan’s troops had fallen before the city walls. How could their comrades not want to avenge them? As for the Cao Gang, their deep-seated loyalty and gang-like solidarity turned their vendetta into a matter of personal honor—after all, their leader had been struck by surprise and left in a vegetative state. A call for vengeance was enough to drive these men of the jianghu into a frenzy.

Adding to the mix were the fanatical Blood God Cult disciples, who seemed willing to trade their lives for a shot at advancing in rank. Together, this motley coalition managed to mount an assault that burned with fervent determination, defying the icy winds and snow.

At the forefront of the attack, Xue Canghai wielded the Blood God Saber with devastating precision. The cult leader himself fought like a berserker, charging forward as though he were a common soldier, fully prepared to die.

Clang!

With a leap that resembled a toad springing from water, he unleashed Scattering the Gods and Buddhas. A defending general in full armor was cleaved in two before his troops’ horrified eyes, causing the surrounding soldiers to scatter in terror.

A wielder of the Vicious Blood Saber Art at the level of the Profound Mysteries was essentially a walking disaster on the battlefield. Xue Canghai alone could crack open a massive breach in the city’s defenses with ease. Ordinary soldiers were no match for him, paralyzed by the aura of bloodlust he radiated. Only a warrior of similar caliber could stop him.

The Wang Clan knew this well from the prolonged siege of Puyang. As soon as they saw Xue Canghai leading the charge, their guest general Yu Deju, eighteenth on the Ranking of Earth, immediately stepped forward. His long sword struck out with blinding speed, targeting Xue Canghai’s vital points.

These two were old adversaries, having clashed repeatedly at Puyang. Each time, Yu Deju had managed to drive Xue Canghai back, forcing him to rely on a formation of Blood God Cult elders to hold the line. But as the attacker this time, Xue Canghai could not rely on his protective formation. Gritting his teeth in frustration, he was forced to retreat from the wall after a short exchange, his momentum broken.

Meanwhile, on another section of the wall, Wan Dongliu faced off silently against Wang Zhaoling. The two carried out seven or eight rapid exchanges, their weapons flashing as spears thrust and parried in deadly precision. Unable to find an opening, Wan Dongliu was forced to retreat, leaping down from the wall, achieving nothing.

Wang Zhaoling, however, was left deeply unsettled.

This Wan Dongliu... He’s been hiding his strength really well. He never really looked like much, yet he’s actually so strong. If not for the fact that these are our defensive walls, a duel between us might have lasted for hours. How is someone like him so well-hidden?

Boom!

The sound of a battering ram echoed as it slammed into the city gates.

Snapping back to reality, Wang Zhaoling barked out orders. “What are you standing around for? Prepare the rolling stones!”

On the battlefield below, Cui Yuanyong watched the carnage with a somber expression. As the commanding general, he could not afford to personally join the assault. His responsibility was to monitor the overall situation and adapt to any developments.

In this kind of war, the commanding general himself was often the greatest vulnerability.

Cui Yuanyong did not need to look far to know that Wang Daozhong was somewhere nearby, watching him intently, ready to pounce at the first sign of weakness.

He did not know whether Wang Daozhong had truly reached the third layer of Profound Mysteries or if, like his late brother, his breakthrough after absorbing the Sea Emperor’s yin qi left significant flaws, making it more of a pseudo-third layer. But here, without the presence of someone like Xia Chichi or Black Tortoise to exploit those flaws, it did not matter—he was effectively someone who was truly at the third layer.

In the realm of mortal warfare, a figure at the third layer of the Profound Mysteries could single-handedly shift the tide of an entire battle.

As more top-tier experts at the third layer of the Profound Mysteries joined battles in the future, one could not help but wonder if traditional warfare would become entirely obsolete. Zhao Changhe’s arrow across the river was proof enough of this absurdity. Even now, Cui Yuanyong and his allies could not think back to it without shaking their heads in disbelief. A lifetime spent studying military strategy, formations, and logistics—what was the point when an arrow like that could rewrite the rules entirely?

“Cult Leader Xue’s position looks promising...” Cui Yuanyong muttered to himself after observing the battlefield for a moment. “He has a divine artifact he hasn’t used yet. We need to find the right moment for him to use it. Mister Lu...”

Lu Ya, a guest general ranked on the Ranking of Earth, bowed respectfully. “I’m here.”

“Go assist Cult Leader Xue. See if you can create an opportunity for him to deploy his divine artifact and breach the wall. If the members of his Blood God Cult can form their battle formation, the results will be devastating. We’ve seen its effects repeatedly over the past few months.”

“No!” Lu Ya shook his head. “My duty is to protect you, young master.”

Cui Yuanyong smiled. “I am no weakling, Mister Lu. I’m at least at the first layer of the Profound Mysteries and on the Ranking of Man. I’m protected by thousands of troops, how likely is it that something could happen to me? Go.”

Lu Ya hesitated. “Even so, it would be unwise for me to act first. I should be tracking Wang Daozhong’s position—where he goes, I follow. If I leave prematurely, it gives Wang Daozhong too much freedom to strike wherever he chooses. If he targets Wan Dongliu...”

“This is a direct order.”

Lu Ya sighed, reluctantly bowing in acknowledgment. “Yes, young master.”

The moment Lu Ya left, the tension around Cui Yuanyong’s position visibly increased. His personal guards tightened their ranks, surrounding him protectively. The captain of the guard even suggested he dismount his horse, pointing out how conspicuous he was.

Just look at what happened to Cao Boping when he made himself a target, standing on the prow of his ship. Shot dead in full view of everyone.

If Wang Daozhong also decided to shoot an arrow, why would he be unable to replicate that feat? Was there really that much of a difference between Wang Daozhong and Zhao Changhe? Did they not basically possess the same kind of threat?

Meanwhile, on the city wall, Wang Daozhong stood at a high vantage point, gazing out at the enemy’s main formation several miles away. The distance felt eerily similar to that fateful riverbank.

On impulse, he took up his bow and tested his aim. Damn it, I can’t even see the target properly. How in the world did Zhao Changhe manage to do that?

Even imagining how Zhao Changhe pulled the bowstring to send an arrow that far was incomprehensible. He shifted his aim toward the chaos on the wall below, but the battlefield was too disorganized to make out any clear targets. Any shot would likely strike friend and foe alike.

Watching him from the side, Gui Chen raised an eyebrow and asked slyly, “Why not give it a try?”

Wang Daozhong hesitated.

“What’s the matter?”

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“I’m not shameless. Do you think I’m like Zhao Changhe, utterly devoid of dignity?” Wang Daozhong scoffed, about to lower his bow. But suddenly, he froze, his sharp eyes catching sight of movement within the opposing formation. Lu Ya had left Cui Yuanyong’s side, heading toward Xue Canghai to provide support.

Wang Daozhong was stunned. “Lu Ya dared to leave Cui Yuanyong? Has Cui Yuanyong lost his mind?”

An elder of the Wang Clan standing nearby added urgently, “With Lu Ya occupied with Yu Deju, we should take this chance to crush Wan Dongliu!”

Gui Chen interjected with a sly smile, “Crushing Wan Dongliu? Why not go straight for Cui Yuanyong? Mister Wang, you are currently at the third layer of Profound Mysteries, far stronger than you were at the second layer. The protective formation around Cui Yuanyong is hardly the fortress he imagines it to be. They’re taking a risk, and this... might be the key to our victory!”

Wang Daozhong’s heart stirred. “You’re right... Wan Dongliu is only a diversion. Cui Yuanyong is the true commander. If we take him down, the battle is won!”

The Wang Clan’s generals hesitated instinctively, not because the plan was unsound but because it felt risky for their leader to venture directly into the enemy’s main formation. Yet, on reflection, there seemed to be little real danger. Cui Wenjing was not present, and neither was Zhao Changhe. Cui Yuanyong, who was only at the first layer of the Profound Mysteries, could hardly be considered a threat.

The thousands of troops protecting him would be no more than paper tigers to an expert at the third layer.

Perhaps it was time to rethink conventional military strategy—this opportunity was too good to pass up. If Zhao Changhe were to return, things would undoubtedly grow far more complicated.

“If Zhao Changhe can strike at the enemy’s leadership, why can’t I?” Wang Daozhong declared, his mind made up. Seeing no objections from his subordinates, he leaped forward, sword in hand. “Hold the city walls firmly, monitor any movements within the city, and be cautious of any agents of the Demon Suppression Bureau. I will return shortly!”

“Langya has been thoroughly scoured. How could there possibly still be any agents of the Demon Suppression Bureau left here?”

* * *

Near the city’s key storehouses, several figures who had been lurking in the shadows for days raised their heads as they watched Wang Daozhong leave. A glint of determination flashed in their eyes.

Wu Weiyang and his companions, cloaked in the robes of Taiyi Sect disciples, had infiltrated the city from Jiangnan. After days of reconnaissance, they were intimately familiar with its layout.

The moment Wang Daozhong departed, the group sprang into action, moving rapidly toward the granaries.

No one had anticipated that what lay hidden in Langya were not some random remnants of the Demon Suppression Bureau—they were all Ranking of Man experts, four of them at that.

“Stop! What are you—”

The guard’s words barely left his mouth before blades flashed. Heads rolled.

The general overseeing the granaries, a formidable martial artist at the ninth layer of the Profound Gate, did not last even a single exchange against the four attackers.

Outside the city, Wang Daozhong flew like an arrow, his sword flashing with deadly light as he charged toward Cui Yuanyong on horseback. “A whelp like you dares to command an army? Unless you’re hiding your father somewhere, no one can save you!”

Clang!

The sound of sword meeting sword rang out, accompanied by a sudden surge of purple qi that filled the battlefield. It swept across the landscape like a tide, brimming with the unmistakable sword intent of Qinghe—if Cui Wenjing went berserk and let out his entire supply of qi in one go to suppress the entire battlefield, even that wouldn’t scream “Cui Wenjing is here” louder than this purple qi.

“So you really were hiding your father!” Wang Daozhong spun around in alarm, but what he saw was not the renowned family head of the Cui Clan.

Instead, it was a seemingly insignificant soldier within the ranks, now casting aside their helmet. In one hand gleamed a divine sword, radiating an overwhelming sword qi that rushed forth with unstoppable force.

The youthful face beneath the helmet left Wang Daozhong momentarily stunned.

It was Cui Yuanyang.