Chapter 148: An Old Acquaintance Once Met

His seductive pupils paused, then swiftly slid toward the corner of his eye. Upon seeing the person who had entered, a flower-like smile blossomed on the handsome man's face: "It's you. Is there something you need from me?"

The newcomer was the young general, Sikong. The moment he stepped inside, the quiet atmosphere within the felt tent was instantly and completely shattered. A drowsy guard rubbed his hazy eyes and looked at him.

Sikong waved a hand at him and frowned, saying, "Get out! I have something to discuss with the military strategist!"

The guard acknowledged the order, hastily scrambled up, and walked briskly out of the tent.

Qingyun smiled, put down the book in his hand, turned his gaze toward him, and said, "Whatever the Commander wishes to say, please speak freely."

Sikong withdrew his gaze from outside the tent and stared at him piercingly. "Qingyun, do you know who our opponent is in this campaign for Nanggong?"

A subtle ripple crossed Qingyun's eyes as he looked at him. "What does the Commander mean by this?"

Suppressing his eager excitement, Sikong lowered his voice and said, "It's your old lover, walking right into a trap!"

Qingyun let out a snort of suppressed laughter and chuckled, "Sikong, your words become more and more amusing by the day. What 'old lover'?"

Sikong blinked his eyes and said, "Are you feigning ignorance or are you truly unaware? The commander-in-chief dispatched by Zhonggong this time is a female general. Do you know who she is? It's Kaiming! That female soldier of Zhonggong whom I captured and you let go—Kaiming!"

Upon hearing this, Qingyun's expression remained completely unchanged. With unruffled calm, he said, "Commander, you are mistaken there. That prisoner back then was personally captured by Qing, as the soldiers saw quite clearly. How did it become your achievement? Furthermore, if you claim I let the criminal escape, you must have evidence; one cannot make such careless accusations. Ah, fortunately, His Majesty the Emperor of Gong is wise and knows that Qing was wronged."

Unable to best him in argument, Sikong hummed dismissively and said, "Who doesn't know this mouth of yours, capable of talking a dead man back to life? The Emperor may have been fooled by your acting, but I, Sikong, am not blind. I am perfectly clear on the matter—you definitely have designs on that female soldier."

Qingyun smiled and nodded. "Before the Commander, Qing will make a frank confession. Indeed, I do have designs on that female soldier..."

Sikong raised a finger, just about to point it at him, when Qingyun immediately cut in, interrupting his impending accusation: "Yet as it happens, she feels nothing for me! Qing was abandoned by her and returned to our country in utter disgrace."

Sikong glanced at him with disdain. Qingyun looked at him sincerely and continued, "If the General and the Commander were to grow distant from Qing because of this matter concerning Kaiming, it truly would be a grave injustice to me. Ever since I was abandoned, my heart has long since turned to ashes, and I have only a single-minded desire to serve my country and exhaust my meager strength. I shall never again entangle myself in petty romantic attachments! I beg the Commander to convey to the General by whatever means possible: Qingyun's heart can be attested to by the sun and the moon!"

Hearing this stirring and impassionate speech, Sikong gradually felt hesitation take root in his heart. Every word he uttered was entirely reasonable; with a formidable enemy at the gates, they truly ought not to disrupt their own formation first.

Observing his shifting expression, Qingyun continued to persuade him, "Besides, this battle concerns the life and death of Nanggong. Qing bears the heavy responsibility of military strategist, and devising strategies is my inherent duty. If the General harbors misgivings toward Qing, discord between generals is a grave taboo. To prevent any mishaps, Qing can refrain from going to the front lines and instead hold the fort and guard the camp in the rear for the General. Commander, what do you think of this arrangement?"

Sikong weighed his words. If Qingyun did not go into battle, he would not have to face Kaiming, which would also indirectly avoid suspicion. Moreover, holding the rear could alleviate Nanggong's worries from behind. He nodded on the spot and said, "In that case, I still need to discuss it properly with my father."

Knowing the matter was settled, Qingyun smiled and said, "I must trouble the Commander to convey Qing's sincerity."

Having had this conversation and believing he had resolved a major worry, Sikong felt pleased, chatted amicably about some trivial matters, and then rose to take his leave.

Qingyun escorted him to the tent flap, then turned back. The gentle smile that had lingered on his face rapidly faded, slowly replaced by a solemn expression.

He walked slowly to the table, his fingers brushing over the disordered pages of the book, and let out a cold laugh. "Are you leading the troops, Kaiming? I never expected to meet you again under such circumstances."

Zhonggong's forces arrived at dusk. As it was already late, the two armies had no intention of fighting; they merely set up their camps opposite each other, glaring like tigers watching their prey. Kaiming observed Nanggong's camp. The locations chosen for these outposts were exceptionally brilliant: backed by a towering mountain and close to a flowing river, it was a backdrop of mountains and water—an absolute prime location for a foothold.

In contrast, when she looked at their own camp set upon a vast and barren plain—a few stark and exposed stockades—it was as desolate as desolation could be.

After snatching a sound sleep that night, the two sides arrayed their battle formations at dawn. Amid the deafening sounds of gongs and drums, warriors from both sides stepped forward as usual, clashed for a few bouts of strength, and then withdrew back to their camps.

The returning soldiers held their opponents in deep contempt: "They seem like nothing much after all. Their martial arts are mediocre and their strength is lacking. General, let's fight another round this afternoon, and watch me capture the lot of them!"

Kaiming hurriedly stopped them, saying, "An arrogant army is bound to be defeated; never harbor any underestimation of the enemy!"

The soldiers remained unconvinced.

Kaiming found it strange. Why had Sikong, who always loved seizing the credit for the vanguard, failed to appear at the opening today? Could he not have come? But Nanggong's commander-in-chief was his father; no matter what, he would not fail to show up. Could Nanggong be plotting some conspiracy?

When battle resumed in the afternoon, the vanguard commander smugly spurred his horse forward and brandished his spear before Nanggong's formation. Suddenly, a streak of silver light burst out from the Nanggong ranks, mounted on a brilliant crimson steed, and hurtled straight toward the arrogant commander.

The Zhonggong commander had harbored prior contempt and did not guard against the astonishing speed of the silver streak. Before he could even raise his spear in his daze, the opponent simply swept and thrust, instantly piercing him through on horseback, killing him on the spot.

Zhonggong's ranks erupted in uproar. The silver streak did not hesitate, swiftly pulling the reins to charge straight toward the center of the Zhonggong forces, the tip of his long halberd pointing precisely at the female general beneath the grand banner bearing the character "Commander."

Indignant at such audacity, two Zhonggong commanders shouted and leaped to the front, flanking him front and rear. Yet the silver streak wielded the painted halberd in his hand with exquisite agility, rendering the two commanders utterly unable to get close to his body.

Only then did Kaiming steady her focus and clearly make out the face within the silver streak: clad in silver armor and overflowing with heroic spirit, it was none other than the long-awaited young warrior Sikong.

She could not help but smile. Seeing Sikong felt almost like meeting a long-lost old friend; her heart harbored no hostility, replaced instead by a peculiar sense of nostalgia.

Seeing Sikong's unmatched valor, she turned her head to the side and gave a low command: "Xuan, go and test him."

Xuan had been watching with eyes blazing and excitement barely contained. He immediately answered in the affirmative, hoisted the long spear in his hand, dug his heels into his horse's flanks, and unceremoniously charged into the three-way combat circle.

Seeing yet another person rush out, Sikong parried the blow and discovered to his shock that his opponent's arm strength was by no means weak. After exchanging a few moves, they proved evenly matched, prompting both men to silently reflect that they had truly met their match this time.

Realizing the situation was turning against him, Sikong suddenly wheeled his horse around and galloped back toward his own camp. Unwilling to let him go, Xuan leveled his long spear, spurred his mount, and chased close behind.

As Xuan drew near, Sikong thrust his halberd backward. Anticipating this move, Xuan evaded it. After running a few more steps, another halberd thrust came hurtling back. Xuan laughed aloud, "Is that the only underhanded trick you have?"

Sikong cursed inwardly, burning with fury.

Xuan nocked an arrow to his bow and shouted sharply, "Watch out! I'm about to return a grand courtesy to you!"

Sikong was startled, flailing his painted halberd wildly behind him as he bolted forward. Several warhorses leaped out from the Nanggong ranks, galloping toward the two of them.

Xuan had merely been putting on a bluff. Seeing the enemy forces charge forward, he promptly lowered his bow and arrow and whipped his horse back toward his camp. Passing the corpse of the fallen commander, he reached down, scooped the body up into his arms, and rode straight back to his own camp.

Zhonggong retrieved the body to make other arrangements. Both sides sounded the gongs to withdraw troops and silenced their banners and drums.

Kaiming gazed intently at the returning Xuan and asked, "How do you rate Sikong's martial prowess?"

Xuan curved his lips into a smile and replied, "On par with mine."

Noticing the subtle shift in his expression, Kaiming was somewhat astonished. "You seem rather happy?"

Xuan smiled. "He is a formidable opponent."

Kaiming looked at him in puzzlement. Was this the mutual appreciation found only between masters?

"The overall situation must take precedence in all things," she said in a low voice.

Xuan merely smiled. "Understood."

Returning to his camp, Sikong stripped off his armor while cursing up a storm: "When did Zhonggong produce such a formidable general? Why didn't any of you report this to me?!"

This last question was hurled at the soldiers helping him remove his armor, startling them so that they trembled in fear. "We truly had no idea..."

"What are you all good for?!" Kicking a junior soldier away, Sikong flung his armor down heavily, scratched his disheveled hair, and sat fuming on a stool inside his tent.

A guard cautiously stepped forward to tidy his hair. As a comb swept through, it snagged on a few tangled strands. With a sharp gasp, Sikong slammed his palm against the table, glared fiercely at the guard, and roared, "You can't do a single thing right! Clumsy fools!"

The guard lowered his head, not daring to utter a sound. Seething with irritation, Sikong poured himself some water to drink.

The tent flap lifted, and a young man in plain robes walked in with a smile. His voice arrived before he did: "Who has managed to displease our esteemed Commander yet again?"

Seeing him as if encountering a savior, the guard hastily called out, "Military Strategist, the Commander is upset because of a Zhonggong warrior!"

Sikong shot a sideways glare at the guard. "You talk too much!"

The guard fell silent. Qingyun smiled, waved a hand to signal the guards to leave. They obeyed, and the junior soldiers stripping armor inside the tent also scrambled up from the floor and fled.

Qingyun sat down beside him and raised his eyes to look at him. "I witnessed the earlier clash as well."

Glaring at him, Sikong snapped, "You still have the nerve to say that? Didn't you promise me you would hold the rear and not go to the front lines?"

Qingyun aggrievedly pouted and said with utter innocence, "I certainly didn't go to the front lines. Surely even glancing from afar in the rear isn't forbidden? You are asking far too much of me."

Sikong hummed dismissively and turned his face away, ignoring him.

"No matter what, I am still the military strategist. Properly understanding the battle situation cannot be considered overstepping bounds, can it?" Qingyun looked at him with a smile. Sikong remained silent, unable to actually refute his words.

Frowning in thought, Qingyun asked, "Did the Commander find today's Zhonggong warrior rather familiar?"

"Familiar?" Sikong paused slightly, earnestly recalling the opponent's appearance, and nodded. "It seems... there is a bit of an impression."