In August of the 568th year of the El Tieno calendar, the site of the Tianguan of the north gate of the El Tieno calendar

In the surprise attack a few days ago, the North Gate Tianguan was captured by the Elder Tino army. The Shi army originally wanted to take advantage of the situation to break through and take several provinces on the border of Reins, but they were held back by a large number of refugees scattered near the Tianguan at the North Gate.

Due to the sudden collapse of the North Gate Gate, Reynes's command system at the border collapsed, and the settlement and supply of refugees were all interrupted. The famine combined with the epidemic caused the situation to get out of control, and when the epidemic began to spread to the Shi family's army, the army was inevitably dragged down.

According to the Shi family's style of acting, as long as the knife cuts through the mess quickly, buries these refugees who have no combat effectiveness alive, or burns them clean, the obstacles can be cleared immediately, but from the moment the Shi family broke through the North Gate Tianguan, huge international pressure was exerted.

Qinglou and Bailu Cave successively issued an exhortation in an almost threatening tone that they hoped that the Shi family would attach importance to the spirit of humanity and promised to provide material assistance;

may not care about the White Deer Cave, which is a mortal enemy, but Shi Chong is still deeply jealous of the threats on both sides of Wulian and the Free City, forcing him to restrain his subordinates, separate the refugee area, and let aid materials in.

In the past, when there was a famine in the Hua family's territory, there were instances of the Hua family withholding the aid materials sent by Reines to supply them to the military and not distributing them to the people, but this time Shi Chong did not do the same. Because, the attitude of the Wang family and Bailudong is very strange, it seems that they are waiting for an excuse to make trouble and directly intervene in this war, as long as they are caught by them, they may take drastic action to attack.

"Wu Lian's movements are very fast, but Wang Wu is notoriously war-averse, although he is very protective of the mountain monkey of Reins, but will he start a war for this? The orc army on the border is just for show, don't worry......"

Paying attention to the evolution of the situation, Hua Tianxie once said this, and Shi Chong, who was opposite him, said with a smile: "The world says that Wang Wu hates war, but it was he who personally killed the invincible Kublai Khan in the Hibiscus Rebellion. Just because you don't like fighting doesn't mean it's not lethal, so it's better to be cautious......"

Because of this thinking, the Shi family changed their previous style, not only restrained the soldiers from invading the ten-mile radius of the refugee camp with military orders, but also made special way for the road to allow rescue materials to be delivered.

"Reyns has not practiced martial arts for a long time, the domestic army and garrison are third-rate forces that are unbearable to actual combat, although the reform was carried out after King Lancelot ascended the throne, but the time is too short, and it has not been effective, if you want to fight with us openly, then the only way is to let the forces of the Demon Guild participate in the war, and at the same time transfer the five-color flag back from overseas. ”

Hua Tian heretical expressed his views on this war, which was recognized by Shi Chong.

"That's right, according to the right path of military science, we should take a surprise attack at this time, and quickly take the border provinces of Reyns before the five-color flag is assembled in Reins, and go straight to the hinterland, compressing the five-color flag's activity space. Anyway, we don't need to worry about supplies, and even if we can't find food locally, the Reyns people probably taste good......"

Speaking terrifying words, Shi Chong said: "However, these military strategies are meaningless now, even if they can be brought to the ground, as long as the result of the Heavenly Position Battle is undecided, the so-called results are just a dream bubble, so let's slow down!"

In a bygone era...... No, even if you go back 10 years, it's hard to imagine. After occupying more than ninety percent of the enemy's territory, besieging the capital, and gaining overwhelming absolute superiority on the battlefield, the previous tactical victories were all wiped out because of the defeat of the commander's duel, and he was driven out of the country.

In the past, this kind of thing was ridiculous to say, but now it is taken for granted. Even if he can pour the power of Eltino, mobilize millions of male soldiers, defeat Reins, and besiege the royal capital of Jixia, as long as a decisive battle caused by a few strong heavenly masters can cause heavy casualties.

When the Heavenly Position War started, there was a series of disasters in the radius of the heavens and the earth. Whether it is one person, hundreds of thousands of people, or millions of people, as long as they are within that range, they can only be slaughtered.

Just the aftermath of the Heavenly Rank Battle was already so powerful, let alone let a few Heavenly Rank masters come out and specifically attack the army. Compared to the power of the heavenly position, the existence of mortals is too small.

Having said that, no matter how powerful the heavenly master is, he can only use his strength in destruction just like Li Yu's sword tried the world that day. If there is only one person, even if he can kill everyone on the Wind Continent with his own strength, he still cannot become the overlord who rules the entire continent. The army composed of ordinary people is completely worthless in the Heavenly Position War, but whether it is Lancelot or Shi Chong, they all need to raise such a group of forces, which is indeed a very ironic thing.

In addition to those who started the war, those who faced the war, there are also those who are beyond this war, and they are busy with it.

※※※

Returning to the Continent of Wind from an overseas island, Izumi Sakura crossed the land of Reyns and headed straight for Altinor, preparing to go to the White Deer Cave to meet her mentor Lu You and confirm some doubts in her heart.

Hurrying from the air, she saw the Shi army's army slowly advancing, surround Kigru in a slow but dense formation.

(Why do you want to do this?) Kiglo is a remote and barren place, with no ability to resist, as long as you use thousands of cavalry, you can trample on it, and you can take it in one day, why should the Shi family use such a cautious attitude like a great enemy? What are they worried about?)

With such doubts in her heart, Izumi Sakura couldn't guess Shi Chong's plan, so she just cast her eyes suspiciously on the Longteng Mountain Range in the distance.

Whether it's over there or here, I can't feel the breath of the dragon clan, where are the golden dragoons who helped the Shi family break through the North Gate Tianguan? Have they returned to Shenglong Mountain?

Originally hoping to meet the clansmen here, Izumi Sakura, who asked for details, pounced into the air, and was about to continue to rush towards the White Deer Cave, when a familiar aura made her stop and turn her head to look at the refugee area in the direction of Tianguan at the North Gate.

"She's here...... How?"

Looking down from the sky, the refugee camp has expanded rapidly in recent days, and the scale of the camp is extremely large, even if she is at a high altitude, Izumi Sakura still feels all kinds of surging negative emotions below, and she is fiercely rushing into the sky.

"That's right, if you want to find you, you should start from this kind of place......"

With a little smile, Izumi Sakura landed from a high altitude, and as the clouds passed by, the refugee area under her feet became clearer and clearer, and she floated to the ground, and soon found the target she was searching for.

Surrounded by the center of a large number of patients, the white clothes that they used to wear in the past have been changed to coarse cloth civilian clothes, which have been stained with yellow dirt by the dust, and in order to move neatly, they have also changed to pants, and their long black hair is tied up in a long braid, hanging down the back of their heads, Fenghua has rolled up his sleeves and is administering acupuncture treatment to the patients in front of him.

Without saying a word, Izumi sat down next to Fenghua, rolled up her sleeves as well, and began to be her assistant, helping to take care of the sick.

Just like the first meeting between the two women at the North Gate Tianguan, they did not talk or say a word, concentrated on healing the sick, and were busy until dark.

※※※

The environment of war and famine has always been a breeding ground for the spread of epidemics, and this time is no exception, and the plague has spread in the refugee camps, and the situation would have been even worse had it not been for the timely arrival of a group of doctors sent by the Free City.

At present, among the three major divine doctors recorded in the Qinglou Sect Scroll in the past 100 years, the medical Taoism of the Western Queen Mother inherited by Fenghua focuses on acupuncture and moxibustion, which stimulates the vitality of the patients themselves and drives away the disease through the acupoints. However, when the patient's vitality is not vigorous enough and the increase is limited, it should be used in conjunction with drugs.

Fortunately, the Qinglou Alliance is very generous this time, and all kinds of medical herbs are sent over in an endless stream, so that Fenghua can prescribe medicine with confidence, and the medical personnel who are responsible for decocting the medicinal soup will deal with it as soon as possible.

When it got dark, Izumi Sakura took the hot tea handed by the waiter next to her, drank it all in one gulp, and listened attentively. I didn't notice any of the sound of the army, only the moans of the surroundings, the intermittent cries, the smell of herbs in my nose, and my head felt dizzy after smelling it for a long time, so I had to lift the curtain of the tent and ventilate it comfortably.

"Fortunately, this batch of medicinal materials can be sent in, otherwise it would probably be a corpse smell that is permeating here, I didn't expect the Qinglou Alliance to be so generous, Sister Fenghua's face is really big. ”

"I'm sorry, but ...... I don't think so. ”

Smiling and handing the hot tea in his hand to Izumi Sakura, Fenghua closed his eyes tightly, and whispered: "After a few contacts, I found that there are masters in the Shi family's camp who are proficient in black magic, if he is allowed to do whatever he wants, most of these million refugees will be slaughtered, and the Yin Soul will become a weapon to boost the strength of the Shi family through black magic." Qinglou was aware of this, so he used a tough attitude to stop the Shi family's massacre. ”

Izumi Sakura was shocked, she didn't expect to hear such an analysis from Fenghua's mouth, although it made sense, but ...... It's still hard to imagine that Fenghua would come into contact with something on such a dark side.

"To be a doctor, in addition to technology, you must also have accurate judgment. I want to be able to save people as much as possible, so I have to understand all kinds of things, light and dark. ”

In a soft tone, Fenghua explained his mood. As far as Quan Ying is concerned, she is full of gratitude to Fenghua, if it weren't for the last time she helped herself, consumed the true yuan, and sent a life-protecting holy light in her body, then in the battle of the North Gate Tianguan, when she was attacked by Hua Tianxi, she would have died of incense and jade, and it would be impossible for her to survive to this day.

"Sister Fenghua, thank you, I've been ...... I haven't even been able to say thank you. ”

Fenghua smiled and nodded, didn't say anything, but looked a little shy, although she had encountered this kind of scene many times since practicing medicine, but for people's heartfelt thanks, she could not get used to it, and accepted it calmly. Although I was overjoyed by these thanks, I was still embarrassed to think about how to deal with them.

By settling the rest of their clan in the Free City, the West Queen Mother still has enough money left behind, and the clansmen also have enough life skills to make a new life. What I expect from them is to live independently and keep their distance from Shangri-La.

The lady in the magic house treats herself very well, and the feeling of warmth is even a bit like ...... Relatives, on the contrary, are not like what a woman in a dark world should do. I am very grateful for this, but I believe that this is just a special case, if that lady treats everyone like this, the Qinglou Alliance will never develop into today's scale, so for the happiness of the clan, I hope they will keep their distance from Shangri-La and not be involved in the Qinglou Alliance.

And after breaking away from the Western Queen Mother Family, the burden that has been pressing on him is gone, and the whole person seems to be much more relaxed, and for the first time, he can look at the future with a completely unburdened mood. No one no longer arranges how to go in the future, no one makes decisions for themselves, the lightness of being free from shackles, the joy is as if it is about to fly off the ground, and when the prison door opens, I can't wait to flap my wings and fly out.

Actually, I don't know which direction I should go in the future, but these are things that can be explored slowly, but I'm afraid ...... That's a route that goes against your loved one!

"Sister Fenghua, I have a question for you, why do you want to stay here......? Where's his side?"

In a trance, Fenghua heard Izumi Sakura ask this question. Needless to say, both women knew who "he" was, because no one else had such an important place in their lives at the same time except the man.

On the other hand, Izumi Sakura is indeed very puzzled, because judging from the situation of the Japanese delegation, between Lancelot and Fenghua, there is vague affection, after the battle of Kunlun Mountain, Lancelot does not say anything, but he is even worried about Fenghua in his heart, and has been searching with Tianxin consciousness. Fenghua must also have affection for Lancelot, so why did she come here without saying goodbye?

Izumi Sakura's intelligence made her vaguely guess that Fenghua was in a conditional exchange with the Qinglou Alliance, so Qinglou would make a big contribution to the rescue of the Japanese remnants, however, since Fenghua was a free body, why didn't he even take action to send a message of peace to Jixia? This is something that he can't understand.

"Izumi Sakura, the reason why I didn't go back to him is the same as the reason why you left him, I think. Feng Hua smiled shyly: "He...... 's personality is too strong and too domineering, there are many things, it's better to do them separately, if you are with him, you won't have a chance to do it. ”

Izumi Sakura seemed to understand at first, but when Fenghua lifted the curtain of the tent and listened to the moans of the patients outside, her brows showed a sad look, and she suddenly understood Fenghua's intentions.

Superb medical skills, gentle heart, Fenghua is a natural healer, at the moment of freedom, the most hope to do is to use his own strength to reduce the pain and injury of this continent.

Saving lives is a good thing, but in this strange and changeable world, pure kindness behavior, there are also different value explanations, saving a life, sometimes it will bother some living people.

Doctors save people regardless of whether they are rich or poor, as long as it is life, Fenghua wants to save it, but if she has "her own side", then when she saves the enemy, "her own side" must be very troubled.

With the current situation, Lancelot is ambitious to use troops against Altino, and the Shizi family will preemptively take the North Gate Tianguan, Reins will not show weakness, and will immediately take retaliatory action, and a big war is about to break out.

In such a situation, Fenghua's situation is very embarrassing. As long as there are dead and wounded, no matter which side of the injured is, she wants to rescue, but in Lancelot's side, this kind of behavior is very eye-catching, Fenghua should have made a choice the moment he followed him, and the damned enemy let them die, so that he could save him indiscriminately, which not only displeased him, but also made it difficult for him to face his generals.

"Actually, I want to see him, I really want to see him...... But I was scared because if I did see him, I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to refuse his request...... Not good. ”

Fenghua whispered, the slender figure looked very lonely in the dim light, when the cold wind sent cold, Izumi Sakura couldn't help but reach over and shake her, passing on some warmth to the past.

I can understand this sister's plight very well, because I also hope to be able to completely solve the problems on the dragon family's side, and then return to my husband's side, otherwise, when the dragon clan and Reynes are hostile, for the sake of the clan, I may do something against my own interests.

The husband's personality is similar to his own, he is so stubborn and stubborn, and he can't tolerate any betrayal, so he must make a good choice and choose his own belonging without regrets when he is fully prepared.

But Sister Fenghua is different from herself, her gentle personality makes her never make a real choice, even if she relents for her husband's plea and returns to Reines with him, but after hearing the news of war somewhere, she will still be sad, and she will not hesitate to tear up her original promise, but also come out to treat the enemy's wounded, and if this continues, it will only make the friction between the two sides worsen.

"So, the best way is to hide from him until the day comes when I can make a decision......"

"Huh......?

Izumi Sakura is really worried about her husband, although Sister Fenghua has been freed from the shackles of the Western Queen Mother's family, the things she is now voluntarily carrying are far heavier than herself, and it is more difficult to let go.

"Well, I think...... When there is no war in the Wind Continent, and there is no division between us and us, there will be no obstacle between me and my husband!"

Fenghua said softly, and Izumi Sakura, whose previous conjecture had been confirmed, could only smile bitterly at her husband's sad situation.

Thinking about it, even I am a little funny, with my own personality, how can I allow to share a man with other women? I still have to worry about that man's situation? But, forget it, as long as I am happy, I hope to see my husband happy, and I am happy to see Sister Fenghua have a good home...... Perhaps, this is also Sister Feng'er's mood!

"Sister Fenghua, don't you think this requirement is too strict?"

"Will it?"

Fenghua smiled and turned her head to look at Izumi Sakura, although there was no brilliance in her blind eyes, but compared to her expression at this time, a wordless rhyme made Izumi Sakura speechless.

"Why do you think that? War is not an act that living beings must do more than eat and sleep!"

Fenghua said: "Listen to the voices of those patients outside, in fact, most people are like them, they don't want to encounter any war, they want to live a peaceful life, but because they are involved in the struggle for power, they have to leave their homes and be displaced...... From the beginning to the end, it has always been a small number of people who have started wars, but the majority of people have borne the bitter consequences, and I think this kind of thing is really unreasonable. ”

It seemed that there was some commotion outside, Fenghua tied his braids again, and left to investigate the situation outside regardless of the heavy exposure in the middle of the night.

Izumi Sakura thought about everything that Shicai Fenghua said, and she was very touched, as if she had thought of something, but she couldn't sort it out clearly......

Reins's counterattack was faster than Shi Chong had expected. The day after Izumi Sakura arrived at the North Gate Tianguan, an army of about 40,000 people, hastily formed by absorbing the garrisons of several nearby provinces, was personally commanded by Nier and Gengoro, and began to engage in contact with the Shijia army that invaded the country.

The composition of the garrison, most of which belong to local militia groups, has not received formal military training, and is not strong in combat power, Nier has a lot of complaints about this, however, compared to mobilizing troops to attack, directly assemble garrisons from the western provinces to form an army, this is relatively fast, in order to declare to the people of Reyns the determination to defend the country, it is good to be able to block the enemy every minute and second earlier.

"Trouble Nier, you block the Shi family first. With you and Mr. Gengoro, it should be possible to prevent the Shi family from continuing to go deeper, and when the army is mobilized, it can be counterattacked in a big way. ”

"Whatever you want, but if you move too slowly, before you mobilize the army, I will sweep all the Shi family's miscellaneous pieces out of the country, don't blame me at that time. ”

Nier hinted at her intention to defeat the Shi family's army with her own strength, and Xiaocao smiled, "If you can really do that, this is naturally the best situation." ”

"It's normal for the two of us to go on the expedition. Niel also knew that she and Gengoro were the best candidates to be sent by the Reynes side at present, and the elder brother must sit under the command and command all kinds of administrative work, after all, as an emperor, it is not suitable to charge at the forefront of every battle.

"However, if you want to use the Heavenly Position Battle to decide the victory, at least when Xiao Wu and I are away, there must be someone else to command the army, right? ”

As long as the army marches to the area of Kiglu, the five-color flag that has broken away from the North Gate Tianguan can come over to rendezvous, and Bai Qianlang will be a competent commander of the army at that time, but Gengoro can see that a small part of the reason why Nier made this request is because of the loneliness factor.

She had just returned from overseas, and she was going to be separated from her family and stationed outside again, so she must have felt lonely, right? Therefore, Gengoro also said that he suggested that there be one more lieutenant general to participate in this campaign.

"However, you are flying directly to take charge of the army, unless you are a Heavenly Rank Master, who can keep up with you? The current Heavenly Rank Master Group, there is no manpower to send out again!"

Gengoro's request can be understood, but Lancelot, who thinks about the actual personnel issues, loses his brain.

"No, you don't have to use the power of the heavenly position, war is such a thing, in addition to strength, luck is also very important, Your Majesty hopes to lend me your luck. ”

"Luck...... You don't think ......?"

"Yes, there is a Reins First ...... by His Majesty's side Oh, no, he is the most powerful man on the Continent of Winds, and with him accompanying the army, we will be invincible and invincible. ”

"The third ...... After you came back from Japan, your heart seems to be even darker!"

"One to the other...... Your Majesty. ”

With the addition of this deputy general candidate, Gengoro and Nier were ordered to lead the army to fight, but in fact, Xiaocao did not make much preparations for war.

At the same time, the new army at home is also being trained, and it will take half a year at the earliest before it can be put into the battlefield. Therefore, at present, as far as possible, we should not mobilize these new troops, which are in the process of being reorganized and trained, and only use local garrisons to fight.

Anyway, if the key to the decisive battle is the Heavenly Position War, then the meaning of the army's existence is the function of assisting in sweeping and managing after the Heavenly Position War, which is enough for the garrison, not to mention that in his own eyes, Shi Chong's actions are extremely unusual, although he actually attacked Reins, but the speed and oppressiveness of the army are not great, and the main Golden Dragoon is withdrawn, which makes people feel that he wants to take Reyns strongly.

It is necessary to find out the exact intentions of the enemy before throwing the main forces into battle, but there is still too little information to be used to make a judgment, and it is necessary to observe again before making a decision.

And because of the previous agreement between Lancelot and Gengoro, when Gengoro and Niel set off, a seriously ill injured patient who wailed loudly was pushed out of the ward.

"Hey, what do you want to do? I'm a seriously injured and sick person, where are you going to push me to? Ahh......hh Hey, can you give some face? I'm a dignified Prime Minister Zuo, can I not go?"

The Sheter, who wanted to spend a leisurely life in a luxurious hospital room, was forcibly dragged out and sent to the battlefield. The natural holy power of the former Queen of Reins, although it can't save the seriously injured right prime minister, it is easy to heal the Sheters.

With Yuyuki's own wishes, he would rather continue to lie in the ward and recuperate comfortably, than to heal so quickly and be pushed out to fight to death, but he was still taken out of the army by Gengoro and Nier in the end.

The expected battle soon broke out, but the Shi family did not seem to have any intention of fighting a decisive battle, not only did they disperse their army, but they immediately turned around and withdrew as soon as they encountered a large number of forces from Reyns. This situation added to the difficulty of responding to the battle, because the scattered Shi army, using the mobility of the cavalry, could pull out a long distance in a short time.

"Damn, what kind of war is this?

Niel was stunned by the situation in front of her, she expected a tough battle to be fought, but she knew that the enemy would flee when she saw her army, and she would not be able to fight at all, so what should she do if it goes on like this?

Gengoro was not surprised by this situation, because when he discussed with Xiaocao before, he had already noticed all kinds of unusual things about the Shi family's dispatch of troops this time, and he also expected that the other party would most likely not be hard-hitting, but it was still beyond his expectations to be able to implement the retreat strategy to such a point.

Tens of thousands of troops, scattered into hundreds, dozens, and horses, became the most difficult rogues to deal with, spreading through the territory of Reins and plundering places. The existence of the Forty Thieves at the beginning has fully demonstrated the difficulty of such horse thieves, and now if there are hundreds of Forty Thieves, fortunately they will be intercepted in the border area, otherwise if they enter the hinterland of Reyns, the situation will be difficult to control.

"There is no way, if we want to be more mobile, we should be superior, Miss Nill and I separated, slaughter the enemy's cavalry, there is snow to lead the army to move slowly, when encountering a small group of enemy soldiers, attack with all their might, if the number of enemy troops exceeds a thousand...... Then retreat, or call for help. ”

The transformation warriors of the Shi family cannot be calculated by ordinary standards, if more than a thousand transformation soldiers change together and become more than a thousand powerful orcs, this batch of hastily mobilized local garrisons to form a miscellaneous army is not the elite of the five-color flag!

"If the situation is not right, immediately issue the fireworks flag, and Miss Nill and I will be back immediately, remember, when we are away, whenever there is an order from Prime Minister Xue, you will do it in the opposite direction, so that at least the whole army will not be wiped out. ”

In such a bizarre form, the messy battle on the Reyns border began. As Gengoro originally expected, most of the enemy's army was composed of reformed warriors, and it was a bit troublesome to deal with, and it was not forcibly broken by the power of the heavenly position, which ordinary people could not handle.

"But what the hell is Shi Chong thinking...... Although I have always heard that he does not value the lives of his subordinates, what is the point of being sent out to be a victim like this?"

The battle was going well, and Gengoro easily wiped out every enemy squad he encountered, but the doubts in his mind continued unabated.

And when he was fighting with Nier, there were also people who compiled the records of each of their battles and constantly summarized the characteristics.

※※※

"In three days, one hundred and twenty battles in a row, it has been confirmed that Yamamoto Fifty-six is cultivating the Heavenly Demon Skill of the Demon Clan, and the martial arts are also mixed with the tricks of the Bai Family, the Demon Clan, and the White Deer Cave, as for the detailed situation, it needs to be further observed.

As for Gengoro Amano, this man is very cunning, after the third battle, he picked up a thousand catties of boulders, poured the power of heaven into it, threw boulders to kill the enemy, all the corpses are flesh and blood, we can't distinguish any martial arts numbers from it, or possible internal strength, it is very likely that he has discovered that we are snooping in the dark. ”

After reading the report in his hand, Hua Tianye sneered. It's not possible, the other party has already noticed it 100%, in fact, compared to anyone in Lancelot's camp, this man named Gengoro Amano, has surprisingly little relevant information, as if he has deliberately hidden his martial arts in countless shots since his debut, so that it is extremely difficult to collect information about him.

"If you can't find out in martial arts, you can focus on your origins. ”

But this investigation policy is a step late, judging from the surname Amano, this man is from Japan, so his information cannot be found on the Continent of Wind, however, Japan has sunk, all the information has disappeared, and it is undoubtedly a step slow to search now.

This man once claimed to be Lu You's first apprentice, how much truth is there, due to the unfathomable nature of Lu You's actions, it is still impossible to see, but the information collected from many aspects shows that Gengoro once showed the martial arts of the Star Sage Kadar, which makes his origin more difficult to understand.

"The three sages exchanged martial arts with each other, and this situation also appeared in the next generation of disciples, if Gengoro was a disciple of Lu You, and it would not be surprising that he learned the martial arts of White Deer Cave and Kadar from his master...... Or is it the other way around?"

There was nothing to be seen on the information, and Hua Tian simply asked the person sitting opposite.

"I heard that you have fought with Gengoro Amano, in your opinion, what is the strength of this person?"

What is surprising is that Hua Tianxie was not in the Shi family's territory at this moment, nor did he invade Reins with the army, but came to Shangri-La alone and appeared in a wine shop.

He is not a person who has leisure to play like Cao Shou, and the reason why he came to the free city is mainly for the drunkard in front of him.

The other party did not ask him to sit down here, but Hua Tianye ignored the other party's wishes and sat down honestly and unceremoniously. Looking at the other party's embarrassed appearance with a cloak and a messy beard, full of strong alcohol, and stains on his clothes, he fell on the table, but he was still holding the wine bottle in his hand, which looked a little similar to the image of the sword immortal Li Yu when he was wandering the rivers and lakes in the data.

"Anyway, it's also an old friendship, you won't draw your sword against me, right? ”

The sentence that came out with a sneer did not make the other party react in any way. Maybe he didn't have the will to draw his sword and do it, or maybe ...... He was already drunk and fainted.

"Escaping has never been a good way to solve problems, I really think it's ridiculous to see you so willing to fall, one of the three great divine swords, as long as you have the will, you can set off a storm on this continent at any time, why bother to get drunk here?"

There was no answer, and the person lying on the opposite side did not have any movement, sound, or continuous breathing, and if it weren't for the continuous breathing, I really suspected that this person had died of death.

"Keep getting drunk here, but that doesn't mean you can escape ......"

Taking out an invitation card from his bosom, Hua Tianye sneered and threw the invitation on the table.

"Whether you are drunk or sleeping, as long as you are still breathing, you can't avoid grievances. Twelve days later, your old friend will be present at the celebration of Altino, and he will be looking forward to seeing you again, so be sure to see it too. ”

After saying these two sentences briefly, Hua Tianxie turned around and left. From beginning to end, he didn't say a word to Amakusa Shiro, and he wasn't sure if the most important guest of honor would be invited to the National Day ceremony, however, Shi Chong seemed to have great confidence in the invitation, thinking that Amakusa could not be indifferent after reading the content of the invitation.

※※※

Not only Shangri-La's Amakusa Shiro, but also the land tour of White Deer Cave has also come to visitors.

Lu You has been in retreat for 2,000 years, and even if the King of Eltinor, or the former lord of the Great Stone Kingdom, asks to see him, he will definitely be turned away, but this visit is an exception. As Lu You's closed disciple, it should be a matter of course to ask to see Master, however, Lu You rarely left a message a few days ago, expressing his reluctance to meet this female disciple.

But this visitor was much more stubborn than Hua Tianxie, and when she learned that Lu You was unwilling to meet her, she did not retreat, but expressed a very resolute intention to move forward.

"I am back at the academy today, I just want to see my master, please get out of the way, otherwise I will have to offend. ”

Although her attitude was peaceful, Izumi Sakura fully expressed her insistence that even if she had to use force to forcibly exclude her, she would see her master today.

"Senior elders, please let me pass, you are all my elders, and I don't want to have any conflict with you. ”

In terms of seniority, as a disciple of Lu You, Quan Ying, has a higher rank than any elder, but the White Deer Cave pays attention to respecting the virtuous and the elderly, for these elders who have been in the White Deer Cave for hundreds of years, Quan Ying is extremely cautious, in order to show her respect for the master, she even lowered her head, however, the human wall on the opposite side did not mean to give way.

"Offended. ”

There is no need to use weapons, Izumi Sakura went up the mountain this time, she didn't have a weapon on her body, and she hoped that it could be resolved peacefully, however, even if she didn't bring her usual red gun, she didn't think that anyone in the White Deer Cave could stop her except Master Lu You, and she could stop the surging power that had initially entered the strong heavenly position.

The extreme difference in strength, and within a few clicks, Izumi Sakura confirmed this prediction, and the battle was basically going on in a one-sided manner. And with her strength at the moment, looking down from top to bottom in the hand, she suddenly found a rather interesting fact.

In just a few years, the impact of exploding two Vitality Caves in a row is very huge. It has been a while since the liberation of the Vitality Cave in Japan, and changes have appeared in various places, but this group of elders has not advanced to the heavenly position because of this, and from the perspective of tricks, the response mode has also been ossified, and they are afraid that if two more Vitality Caves explode, they will not grow much further.

However, many of the young swordsmen and immortal Daoists who formed a sword formation next to them, or attacked with combined forces, or pulled mana to attack the enemy, had already reached the pinnacle of the earth realm, as long as they continued to exercise and penetrated the heart of heaven, they would immediately become first-class figures in the White Deer Cave.

The signs of the change of generations are so obvious, but there is no matching self-confidence on their faces, indicating that they are not aware of their own potential and development, Izumi Sakura can't help but sigh. In this kind of sect that has been inherited for a long time, it is not easy for a young disciple to come out and obtain the position that his strength should be, however, if it weren't for the various knowledge that has been passed down from the White Deer Cave to lay a good foundation for them in martial arts and oriental immortal arts, even if the vitality of heaven and earth changes suddenly, they would not have benefited so much.

For the sake of the White Deer Cave, perhaps all these elders should be knocked down now, however...... Just as he still has a glimmer of hope for the dragon clan, he also hopes that the children of Bailu Cave can discover the future path for themselves, not relying on the guidance of others.

After a few rounds of fighting, it was the etiquette that Izumi Sakura did to the master, after that, she no longer kept her hands, a few turns, went around to a pond, tread the water, and when the rest of the people performed light skills, stepping on the green lotus leaves to chase them, one of the thirty-six stunts of the White Deer Cave, Nanhua Water Sword, quickly stopped them.

More than 100 water columns were staggered and horizontal, cutting the sword array to pieces, and everyone's coherent movements were stagnant, followed by the water sword in a spiral way, sweeping towards the surroundings, and soon the elders and disciples were defeated.

After easily achieving the victory she deserved, Izumi Sakura jumped away and headed towards the location of the Ice Cave of the Back Mountain Enchantment.

In addition to the magnificent buildings, library, and garden in front of the mountain, the mountain behind the White Deer Cave is forbidden for ordinary disciples to enter, while the elders and the seven disciples know that there are two forbidden places behind the mountain, unless they get Lu You's permission, all trespassers will be killed, one is the enchantment ice cave where Lu You lives in seclusion, and the other one, even Quan Sakura has never entered.

All she knew was that it was a hillside staircase that went up, and there were seven arches on the way, but what was the end of the staircase? and where it led?

This is not the time when it should be eventful, Izumi Sakura came to the ice cave, through the layers of spells and blockades, and when she arrived at the entrance of the cave, bursts of icy cold air came straight through, and there was a chilling uneasy feeling that blocked Izumi Sakura's way.

In the past, she was just puzzled, vaguely knowing that it was the master who blocked the entrance of the cave with peerless sword qi, and anyone who trespassed would be attacked by sword qi, but after she began to advance to the strong heavenly position, she could clearly see that this was the master's change of environment with the strong heavenly position.

Now that it makes sense, it's easy to crack it. Condensing the power of the heavenly position, two forces of the same level collided, when the sword qi was disintegrated, Izumi Sakura felt a pain in his heart, obviously he was still a little behind the master's strength, which was not surprising, although the trip to Japan made his strength greatly improved, but he was not arrogant enough to think that he had surpassed his teacher.

The last time I left here, it was after the battle of Ku'er Mountain, and I came here with a dragon spear to meditate and meditate. The bone-chilling atmosphere of the ice cave is still the same, but I didn't expect it to come back in such a form. The wall of ice on the opposite side, which never melts, is where the master's flesh is kept, and Izumi Sakura bows respectfully before speaking.

"Master, why don't you want your disciple to meet you?"

A majestic but gentle tone came slowly from behind the ice wall, and there was not a trace of displeasure in it.

"With your martial arts, you can easily sneak into the back mountain, why do you want to break in through the main entrance?"

Since Tao Qian, the head of the White Deer Cave, left, the number one faction in the world, there is no real master in charge, with the cultivation of the heavenly position, Quan Ying can directly escape into the mountain behind the White Deer Cave, and no one will find out, even if Lu You sends a message to stop her in advance, this ban will not work.

"I am a disciple of Bailu Cave, a disciple of Master, I returned to my own sect and met my master, why did I sneak around?"

Izumi Sakura shook her head and said, "Master, you are a person I respect, it is my honor to be able to worship under your disciple, if you also agree with me as a disciple, I hope to return to the master with my chest up." ”

This is the main reason, but in addition, Izumi Sakura is also in the mood to protest to the master. That's why he wanted to return to the White Deer Cave head-on, and Lu You, who saw through this, left an order to refuse to meet in advance, and frustrated this disciple who intended to challenge the master's authority.

"I still remember...... Back then, Elder Shensi took you up the mountain, and more than ten years passed in a blink of an eye, and before you knew it, you were already so old......"

What Lu You said was the past when the elders of the Dragon Clan brought Quan Sakura to the White Deer Cave. The dragon clan that has become extinct, finally has the inheritor of the blood of the clan master, not only female, but also has an incurable lifeless vein physique, the dragon clan who does not live to be ten years old, helpless, can only turn to the White Deer Cave for help, Elder Shen Si took the immature spring Sakura here, came here to ask Lu You for help, made an exception to get an audience, and promised to help, and left the head of the little dragon clan.

With the strength of the strong heavenly position, Lu You revitalized the blood veins for Quan Ying, washed the marrow easily, and expelled the blood clots in her body every day, which allowed her to prolong her life for ten years. But the power of the strong heavenly position cannot completely cure this terminal disease after all, Lu You predicts that Izumi Sakura, who has been postponed from the date of death, will not be able to live beyond the age of twenty, and the only way to survive is to find the Nine Heavens Ice Toad, which has disappeared from the world during the Kyushu War.

From not living to be ten years old to breaking through the twenty limit, Izumi Sakura didn't think that she would be where she is today, but if it weren't for the master's life-saving and upbringing, she wouldn't still be able to stand here, so although there have been some misunderstandings between master and apprentice in recent days, Izumi Sakura is still grateful to her master.

"The apprentice has returned from a catastrophe, and his martial arts and experience have reached a higher level, which is really congratulatory, but ...... I heard you seem to have a new name?"

"Master once taught me that my name and title are all skin, and no matter what changes my name has, I am still the same...... It's just that the name Izumi Sakura sounds more pleasant to the ears now, doesn't Master like to hear it?"

With a bit of rhetorical questioning, it seems to be another provocation, but the gentle smile on Izumi Sakura's face makes people feel that this is like her coquettishness to her master.

Before coming back, Izumi Sakura thought about it a lot. The best way is to ask a person in person, but if you continue to use roundabout clichés and continue that feeling of deceit, it seems that you can't really solve the problem.

Izumi Sakura felt tired. Obviously he is his own clan, but he sees himself as an obstacle, if he really doesn't want a female patriarch, he is not attached to it, but because he can't watch the dragon clan go in the wrong direction and ignore, he repeatedly stops the clansmen.

It's the same with White Deer Cave. After seeing Oda Xiang and Amakusa Shiro's master and apprentice, Izumi Sakura sighed deeply, why is there no such sincere emotion between herself and her master?

What is the purpose of the master's acceptance of these disciples? Just as the fifth senior brother Li Yu said, except for the unknown senior brother and the third senior brother Tao Qian, the remaining disciples are either local wealthy families, or a prince, and after being included in the sect, the power of Bailu Cave has greatly increased, which can be said to be a combination of power that each needs to take what it needs.

The existence of this closed disciple of his own means the union between the Dragon Clan and the White Deer Cave, right? However, even if it was for the sake of interest union at the beginning, after many years of getting along with master and apprentice, did he have no feelings at all? Izumi Sakura knew that it was not just like this, at least not herself, and this time, in addition to asking the master about his doubts, he also wanted to know how much master-apprentice love was left.

"Hmm...... Japan seems to be a good place, but this time I came back and changed a lot......"

Lu You sensed Izumi's change, and it was a change that was completely different from his own teaching policy.

Quan Ying's talent is intelligent, the progress of cultivation and martial arts is average, when she was a child, she was taught in front of her teacher's knees, Lu You taught her etiquette and response, and all the skills she learned were all in the hope that she would keep her manners, know how to advance and retreat, and become a great clan lord who did not disgrace the name of the dragon clan.

With this kind of teaching policy, Izumi Sakura quickly learned to become a teenager, like a little adult, all behaviors are polite, and she is a beautiful little lady, but there is a little less intimacy between master and apprentice, just like the cold ice that cannot be dissolved in an ice cave, and there is an extra layer of transparent barrier that cannot be broken through.

Lu You doesn't feel any regrets, because this is the orthodox education of Bailu Cave, including himself, it is all educated by this system, and the excellent Quanying Club means that his own education method is right.

However, perhaps he is really old, when he sees the smile of the apprentice, a little timid, looking forward to his response, he suddenly feels that he has missed something over the years?

"What did you see and hear when you went to Japan this time, and would you like to say it?"

"But...... Japan has already ...... "I can't figure out why Master has this question, Izumi Sakura turned her head sideways, guessing Master's intentions."

"Although the land is sinking, there is still something left...... It doesn't matter, Master wants to hear everything you have experienced, so you can say it with confidence!"

Izumi Sakura suddenly realized that it was in this way that the master responded to her request. I didn't want to hear about the progress of the young juniors' martial arts, nor did I want to know the results of my old rival Shiro Amakusa, but I just wanted to hear her account of her trip to Japan.

No longer hesitating, Izumi Sakura did not ask why the master abandoned herself and left alone at the North Gate Tianguan that day, but just sat down in the ice cave with a smile and talked about what she had encountered and seen during her trip to Japan.

Although the temperature inside the cave was extremely low and frozen, Izumi Sakura felt a hint of warmth. Looking back, I am afraid that I have never been so warm here in the past, and I have always sat cross-legged on the ice alone, or listened to Master's teachings, or meditated and meditated, and I have never talked to Master like this, talking and laughing.

When it comes to his relationship with her husband Lancelot, Master seems to be noncommittal, which is an expected reaction, but there is some emotion, after all, if even Master has such an attitude, he really can't think of any elders who are willing to bless his choice and marriage.

“...... So, that's probably it, before I go up to Longshan, I hope to come and see you, Master. ”

After a short period of time, Izumi Sakura finished saying what she had to say, like a daughter who had not been out of the cabinet for a long time, returned to her parents' house, and talked to her father, which was quite a novelty, and the overall atmosphere felt very good, but in the end, she had to face something stinging.

"You...... Don't you do it?"

"Why do you want to do it?"

"Am I not a hateful old man who blindly obeys justice and does not take anyone in his eyes for the sake of his own beliefs?

A voice came from behind the ice wall, "I left you seriously injured at the North Gate Tianguan, and let you face the danger of life and death alone, don't you have a grudge against me?"

Izumi Sakura had thought about this many times, and before this moment, she wasn't even sure how she would answer, until now.

"I used to be dissatisfied, and even ...... I hated, on the way here, I really wanted to ask you, Master, I am your apprentice, and I have never been disrespectful to Master, why did you abandon me when I needed help the most?"

Izumi Sakura took a breath and said, "However, after just talking to you, Master, I suddenly felt calm. The teaching of Bailu Cave is based on Confucianism, but in your heart, it should be based on law and Confucianism, right?

Through training and life-and-death struggles, you are a talent who has been achieved through the period of the Kyushu War, so I hope that your disciples will have the same experience as you, and then grow into a martial arts realm like you, right?"

"You have gone through the experience of the North Gate Tianguan, whether it is martial arts or spirit, you have grown, which is exactly what I expected at the beginning. After the Kyushu War, the new generation in the human world has no real talents, and this is all because it is too peaceful and lacks enough life and death training. ”

Lu You said: "Since you have entered my door, how can you be at the same level as those vulgar people, I expect my disciples to have more achievements than me, so I will never let you escape the opportunity to temper, if you have any dissatisfaction with me, and want to be like your fifth senior brother, use your strength to seek justice, then just let it go." ”

As expected, Izumi Sakura heard these words that she had been mentally prepared for.

According to her understanding, it seems that most male warriors have such a concept, using life and death as elimination, if it is not the fittest who can survive, then grace and affection do not exist. In a turbulent era of frequent struggles, entrusting one's emotions to those who are not strong enough will only make oneself suffer the pain of loss repeatedly.

But why do these people never think about the party being tested? If they can pass the test and survive such a dangerous situation, and make great progress in martial arts, this is the best situation, but as long as one mistake makes a mistake and dies at the North Gate Tianguan, then what is their own life for the Master? Is it an inferior product that has caused failure and has been abandoned? Is there an example of failure that he will give up when teaching other disciples in the future?

Izumi Sakura doesn't think that the master is completely cold-blooded and ruthless to him, but he has become accustomed to putting "righteousness" on the master-apprentice relationship, in order to cultivate excellent disciples, he can't spoil with personal feelings, and only by ruthlessly pushing the young lion off the cliff can he have a strong and roaring day.

He doesn't care how his disciples see him, and he doesn't care if the master and apprentice will turn against each other, a master should care more about the achievements of his disciples, more about the relationship between master and apprentice. As long as the disciple becomes a talent, even if he eventually betrays the master, it doesn't matter, in fact, the disciple who is determined to defeat the master is often more able to stimulate his own talent and fighting spirit, and get a strong impetus for progress.

Thinking of this, Izumi Sakura suddenly had a hint of enlightenment.

"Master, why did the fifth senior brother betray the White Deer Cave...... Isn't it...... Isn't it ......"

The voice trembling with doubt was not due to intellectual uncertainty, but only emotional reluctance to admit it, but this small struggle quickly lost its meaning.

"Yes, although he doesn't belong to my White Deer Cave, Yu'er's martial arts are still better than me now, and it is comforting for the Wind Continent to produce such a strong man, and to be a teacher. ”

It was not said very clearly, but the pride in the tone was already very clear.

In the past, I couldn't help but be curious, and when I looked through the poetry manuscripts of the fifth senior brother Li Yu in the White Deer Cave, and speculated about his human temperament, Quan Ying always felt very strange, and after actually meeting Li Yu, this confusion expanded to the point that it was beyond addition.

In terms of personality, the fifth senior brother's loyalty to the master and his respect for the master and his brothers are probably far greater than his own. In terms of talent, he is a genius in the sword that even the master can't recognize, and he is a prince, and his future is limitless, and he will definitely be able to carry forward the martial arts of Bailu Cave to a new realm in the future, and he is a talent that should be retained.

With the power and status of the White Deer Cave in Al Tieno, there is no need to please the royal family at all, Quan Ying can't understand why the second senior brother of Gongjin obeyed the order of Al Tino and destroyed the Tang Kingdom, so that the fifth senior brother almost died, and then betrayed the master and became a big problem for the White Deer Cave.

In addition to these, Quan Ying couldn't figure it out, since they were already mortal enemies of each other, when the fifth senior brother fought in the rivers and lakes and fled with serious injuries many times, why didn't Bailu Cave take the opportunity to eradicate this number one enemy? Even, legend has it that the fifth senior brother once fought with the master, and was defeated and vomited blood, if the master had killed him with a heavy hand at that time, the current situation would be completely different.

Now I can see very clearly that the whole thing is a "tempering" process arranged by the master for the fifth senior brother. The result seems to be satisfactory to the teacher, but this method will never be agreed with by himself.

"Gong Jin is the only one among my disciples who can understand my thoughts, and faithfully carry out the work I have assigned, only in this matter, he takes all the responsibility, otherwise, Yu'er's anger will be directed at the White Deer Cave, which is a good thing for Yu'er and the White Deer Cave itself. ”

What's so good? Izumi Sakura knows that she can't be in the same step as her master, and although she is like father and daughter, there are often times when she can't go the same way.

"When I passed by the ruins of the Tianguan of the North Gate, I heard someone mention that the Three Sages once had a secret agreement, and for a period of time after the Kyushu War, they wanted to plunge the human world into turmoil again, and cultivate outstanding talents who could resist the return of the demons in the troubled times. ”

Izumi Sakura shook her head and smiled, "I originally wanted to check this matter with Master, but it didn't seem necessary. While I want to say something for those who have been dragged into troubled times, you probably won't listen, so I have a question for you. ”

"What more do you want to know?"

"If my original illness has not been cured, I can't practice martial arts, and I'm always just a weak woman, then, am I still your disciple?"

The incomprehensible question made Lu You's voice come from behind the ice wall for a while.

“...... Although this is not in line with my expectations of my disciples, if this is your inevitable life, then you are still my disciple, and you can take refuge in the White Deer Cave, and as long as I am still here, no one can hurt you. ”

"That's enough. You are my Master, and although I disagree with your teaching policy, I cannot make any criticism, thank you, Master, for your tolerance. ”

Izumi Sakura bowed down to the ice wall, then got up and said with a smile: "When you left the North Gate Tianguan, did you expect that I would return to this ice cave one day to draw my sword against you?" However, there are no absolutes in the world, and I just want to tell you that I have no grudge against you when I return to the White Deer Cave this time, and I want to come...... This may be the best rebellion for you. ”