Chapter 796: Heaven and Earth Are Vast, So One Must Seize the Day and Night
That personal guard charged straight at Nanke, seemingly about to collide headfirst, sending blood and meat soup splattering everywhere—yet that scene never occurred.
Nanke remained standing in place, steadily holding that bowl of scalding meat soup, while the guard had already passed through where she had been moments before.
It was eerie. The guard had no idea what had happened, dazedly touching his head.
Luobu’s pupils contracted, because he had seen what transpired in that instant very clearly—just as the guard was about to crash into Nanke, she stepped back two paces, and after the guard ran past, returned to her original spot. Her advance and retreat were silent, like a phantom, as if she had never moved.
Such lightning speed, such ghostly footwork—even that great general Jin Yulü, who had farmed for years outside White Emperor City, could not have achieved it.
With his vast experience and knowledge, he knew that only one woman in the world possessed such speed, and it absolutely could not be her.
Luobu quietly glanced at Nanke, then looked at the guard and asked, “What is it?”
“Withdrawal… withdrawal… the demon army is withdrawing!”
The guard said breathlessly, his expression complex—some joy, some bewilderment.
The demon army’s retreat, from any angle, was good news, worthy of joy, even celebration—but… it was too sudden.
Like this guard, the vast majority of soldiers at Banya Horse Ranch, including those from Songshan Military Prefecture, Heishan Military Prefecture, Yonglan Pass, Yongxue Pass, and even as far as the capital, countless people were shocked and overjoyed by this sudden news, then felt a strange emotion.
This war, which began over two years ago, had initially caught the Great Zhou Dynasty unprepared due to the Tian Shu Ling incident and the subsequent court turmoil, giving the demon army some advantage. But afterward, both sides entered a prolonged stalemate, with humanity even holding a slight edge. The demon army, including the Wolf Riders, had suffered heavy casualties on the snowy plains, gaining nothing so far. Under such circumstances, why would the demon army voluntarily withdraw?
What was the Demon Lord thinking? What was that strategist known for cunning schemes, Black Robe, thinking? Was this two-year war merely a farce, or just a show of force to solidify the new ruler’s position in Snow Old City?
Upon hearing the news, Luobu was also somewhat surprised. He had just learned of the death of Ning Shiwei, the divine general of Songshan Military Prefecture, and knew no further details.
Only Chen Changsheng clearly understood why the demon army was retreating.
Over two years ago, the capital had witnessed the Tian Shu Ling incident, while Snow Old City had experienced an even bloodier rebellion.
The demon army’s sudden southward march was never about human lands or wealth—it was to find the Demon Lord’s whereabouts and conceal Snow Old City’s true intentions. To the new Demon Lord, Black Robe, and the Demon Marshal, as long as they could kill the Demon Lord, what did a war and a hundred thousand dead matter?
That night, the Demon Lord finally died in that lake garden in the Cold Mountains. What reason did the demon army have to stay?
To this day, only a very few in the world knew the truth behind the demon army’s retreat. Many soldiers were bewildered, and fellows like Zhexiu and Guan Feibai felt deeply unsatisfied, but ultimately, it was cause for celebration. Even the remote Banya Horse Ranch received rewards from Songshan Military Prefecture.
Among the meager rewards, the most popular with the soldiers were two carts of flying dragon meat—so-called “flying dragons” were, of course, not real dragons, but a type of beast from the Cold Mountains, renowned for its tender, delicious meat, considered by gourmands as the supreme accompaniment to wine.
As night fell over the mountains, over a dozen campfires were lit. Flying dragon meat hung on roasting racks, emitting a strange yet not cloying fatty aroma.
In the distance, faint commotion came from the horse herds, perhaps because the frost grass added at dusk had stirred their mating instincts.
Chen Changsheng sat by a campfire, holding a plate with two freshly roasted pieces of flying dragon meat.
The meat was roasted by Nanke herself, slightly burnt at the edges, but still edible.
He glanced beside him, seeing Nanke’s small face covered in grease, chewing happily.
He suddenly thought that if Zhi Zhi were here, she would be very angry. And what about You Rong?
Then he remembered that fellow named Qiushan Jun was of true dragon bloodline.
For some reason, he felt happy, and even the meat on his plate seemed more fragrant.
Night deepened. Stars fell among the mountains. The horses quieted down. Soldiers by the campfires continued eating meat and drinking wine, their laughter and chatter unceasing.
Chen Changsheng noticed that Luobu’s figure had not been seen all day.
He stood up, looked around, and walked toward the mountain stream.
This stream, formed by melted snow from the peaks, was extremely clear, flowing north toward the desolate plains—unlike most rivers on the continent, which flowed west.
Starlight scattered on the stream like a silver ribbon, very beautiful.
The frost grass on the mountains was already covered in a shallow white fuzz, and now, touched by starlight, it seemed as if it might turn into real frost.
A figure stood alone under the starlight, somewhat lonely.
Chen Changsheng walked over and sat down beside that figure.
Perhaps because the starlight was too bright, the wild beard could not fully conceal the true appearance of that face.
Chen Changsheng confirmed once again that Luobu was very young, only a few years older than himself.
“What are you thinking about?”
Luobu wasn’t eating meat, only drinking wine.
A delicate little wine flask dangled from two of his fingers, swaying gently in the night breeze and starlight, looking very carefree.
Hearing Chen Changsheng’s question, Luobu was silent for a moment, then said, “Thinking of heaven and earth’s vastness.”
Anyone who answered such a simple question with such a phrase would make others feel uncomfortable.
But spoken from his mouth, it didn’t feel that way—as if he were the kind of person who naturally spoke like that.
Of course, if Chen Changsheng’s friend were present, he might still burst out laughing and then use sharp words to thoroughly mock Luobu.
Chen Changsheng did not, because he came from Xining Town, not Wenshui City, and he often pondered similar questions, though he rarely spoke of them.
Before, no one seen; after, no one to come. Gazing at the vastness of heaven and earth, tears fall. In the end, all flows westward.
He thought of that volume of time known as the Western Flow Canon, of the iron chains beneath North New Bridge, of the unknown tomb beneath the National Academy, of all the things that had happened in the past ten years. Emotion welled up. Looking at the beautiful mountains and rivers under the starlight, he said, “Seize the day and night.”
What are you thinking?
Thinking of heaven and earth’s vastness.
One must seize the day and night.
Between the question, answer, and response, there seemed to be no connection, stiff and mismatched, but upon careful savoring, it had its own flavor.
At this moment, in this place, there should be wine.
Luobu glanced at Chen Changsheng and handed the little wine flask to him.
Looking at the flask in his hand, Chen Changsheng hesitated.
Luobu was a little surprised and asked, “Don’t drink?”
Chen Changsheng said, “I’ve been frail since childhood, so I’m careful about such things.”
Luobu never forced anyone to drink. Seeing his reluctance, he smiled and prepared to take the flask back.
But then, Chen Changsheng raised the flask and took a sip.
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(Back in Daqing, the feeling of writing stories has really improved a lot~)