Mountain Patrol Military Officer
Chapter 558 - 422: "How can it be said we have no clothes? Together with you, we wear the same robe, sharpen my spear and halberd, together with you as foes. (5K asking for monthly tickets)

Chapter 558: Chapter 422: "How can it be said we have no clothes? Together with you, we wear the same robe, sharpen my spear and halberd, together with you as foes. (5K asking for monthly tickets)

"Commander, the General has already made a move!"

The next day at dusk, as the sky began to darken, the entire Chuanchong Pass was cloaked in a silent snowfall laden with an indescribable tranquility.

A Red-armored Han man briskly strode through the snowy corridor, entered a grand hall, and quietly bowed to a tall figure standing by the window, gazing at the heavy snow outside.

Pei Yanhu faced the icy wind like a knife outside the window, looking at the vast gray sky, his tiger eyes drooped as if deep pools bearing countless emotions brewing within, finally letting out a long breath of white mist through his nose and mouth.

He slowly turned sideways; by now, this remaining Commander no longer carried the majesty and authority he once had. Looking at the Piaoqi under the Nine Colonels, he spoke with a voice mellowed by past hardships, "I have been both anticipating and dreading this day!"

"Too many have died... former comrades, brothers, family. One moment they’re joking with you, the next they’re falling into a pool of blood, devoured by Demons, leaving no remains behind."

"But this day will inevitably come. Sooner or later, we must fight those beasts to the death—a destiny already sealed for us!"

"Only this time your General’s crisis might change something. After all, within ’crisis’ lies both danger and opportunity."

"At the very least, this time we are taking the initiative to attack!"

As he said this, Pei Yanhu’s tone became somewhat urgent, and then those tiger eyes widened, his voice deepened,

"This time, a single error could jeopardize everything. You bear a heavy burden leading the troops. Once deployed, the Devil Race at the Southeast Defense Line’s Jingyuan Prefecture and the Southwest Defense Line’s Huxia Pass will surely support, perhaps even alarming other Devils. One wrong step can cost many of you your return, do you fear?"

Opposite him, Lu Ming stood straight, his expression stern, eyes blazing with firm determination, "Even if it costs my life, I will ensure the return of my General and brothers!"

Pei Yanhu nodded, the emotions in his eyes quickly receding, "Good, go get ready!"

"Our Mountain-cutting Army ought to lift its head high, not to fight a cowardly war!"

"Come, sound the drums!"

At this moment, the Commander’s voice became exceedingly bold!

Not long after,

"Dong"

"Dong"

"Dong"

"....."

The heavy and increasingly urgent sound of drums shattered the dark sky heavy with snow, echoing through the modest Chuanchong Pass with the wind!

At this time, all around inside the Chuanzhong Pass, the slightly noisy inns, taverns, and din quieted down as the drumbeat reached every ear.

"Ceng"

"Ceng"

"Ceng"

The sound of tables and chairs scraping against the ground began to echo, one figure after another stood up from the tables, gazing in the direction of the drumbeats.

No shouting or clamor, many eyes showing a tension and relief that the moment had finally arrived!

"We are going to war!"

Someone sighed deeply.

They were at the frontline border, the tidings of the front readily knew the seal of the Ten Thousand Mountains had broken, the Devil Race was redeploying, ready to reemerge—news from Jingguan City confirmed this, and the rear had been in full battle preparation, with over ten thousand cavalry of the Ninth Mountain rushing into the pass the previous night!

Drums signified deployment!

The rumors were indeed true!

Just over a dozen days ago, when the Mountain-cutting Army urgently proclaimed the gathering of information on Demons falling into the Prefecture, speculation spread that the Army would take the initiative this time within the border.

Wanting to switch from passive to active, seizing the moment to harass before the Devil Race completed its redeployment!

Now with the sound of drums, it confirmed this, yet many remained pessimistic—when the Devil Race breaks the seal and returns, surely it would be with great force. Currently, most of the Mountain-cutting Army inside the border are remnants, down to merely tens of thousands of troops, who also need to defend inside the border. Even if they attack, what use is there for the meager number of troops sent out?

"This time, the troops going out might be annihilated! Why must the Mountain-cutting Army do this, why not wait for reinforcements from the rear, holding the line firmly within the border!"

"Even with the Ninth Mountain Army’s reinforcements, it’s not enough!"

"Best to retreat to Jingguan City, Laozi stays here...."

In a tavern in the west of the city, someone spoke up, revealing timid thoughts, thinking it’s best to stay inside to defend the city, to retreat to Jingguan City, and while speaking, remembered something, their expression became somewhat regretful, cursing under their breath.

This was a young man clad in brocade, one sent to guard the front line by family order based on the Ninth Mountain’s command—a son of a concubine neither pampered by a grandmother nor loved by an uncle, with quite a bit of resentment.

They were not allowed to leave the Chuanzhong Pass and had to regularly muster at the Mountain-cutting Army to receive assignments, some family members he knew perished executing tasks outside.

Previously living richly and freely, now forced to stay on the frontline where death and danger loom, his heart harbored resentment, vented at this moment.

However, he hadn’t finished speaking when a hand covered his mouth.

It was an elder brother from the same clan at the same table, who leaned towards the fellow’s ear, face stern, speaking lowly, "If you want to die, don’t drag us with you. The Ninth Mountain Army is here; do you know the consequences if word spreads?"

"As long as that esteemed person is here, we must adhere to the rules, shut up!"

Saying this, the elder brother glanced around the hall at others, preparing to apologize.

At this, a bearded man in half-sleeved robes, wearing a bamboo hat, and carrying a Ring-Headed Great Saber sitting sideways at an adjacent table took over the conversation,