Chapter 1095: The War of Torment

Worried about the situation at the Tianfeng Battalion, Ling Feng did not linger in the Canglong Sanctum. After regulating the elemental force within his body for a short time, he set out at once for the Blackwater Plains.

He knew exactly what he needed to do. He could not allow himself to drown forever in the sorrow of Mu Qianxue's departure. Greater matters awaited him.

For now, at least, Mu Qianxue was safe. She would only grow stronger!

He too had to grow stronger, so that he could remain by her side and protect her as before!

"Hall Master, I am grateful for your care these past few days."

Ling Feng bowed deeply to Bai Su. Under Bai Su's escort, Ling Feng safely exited Canglong Sanctum's territory.

"I was entrusted with escorting you, nothing more. It was Xue'er's request."

Bai Su lifted a hand lightly, glanced at him, and said, "You could have waited until you were fully healed before leaving."

"That will not be necessary. I have troubled you long enough."

Ling Feng bowed once more. "I'll take my leave, Hall Master. I will always remember that within the demon race, there are still those as kind as you. There should not be war between humans and demons."

"You are a good man, at least in my eyes. No matter what happens, you are Ling'er's lifesaver. I only hope I will never stand against you on the battlefield."

Bai Su smiled faintly, though there was bitterness in it.

"There will not be such a day."

Ling Feng shook his head with a small smile. Silver Wolf Demon Emperor was dead. He would likely never step into Nanjiang again.

Once Mo Feng secured his authority in the army and took command of the troops, Ling Feng planned to go straight to the Dongling Immortal Pool, toward a much broader world.

His path to strength could not slow!

"It is a pity you are not of the demon race. Otherwise you would have been the perfect match for Linger."

Bai Su's smile deepened as she thought for a moment, then drew a jade pendant from her sleeve. Her voice softened. "This was a gift I once prepared for Xue'er. Now that she has left, I will give it to you. She departed in haste and left you nothing. Take this as a keepsake."

Ling Feng received it carefully. The jade pendant was simple, yet on its surface was carved a single character: "Xue[1]."

He clenched it tightly. In truth, Mu Qianxue had already left him something far more precious, her divine blood. Half the blood flowing in his veins was now hers.

That was the gift imprinted in his very bloodline, unforgettable and eternal!

Ling Feng put the pendant away with care, nodded firmly to Bai Su, and said, "Thank you, Hall Master. This disciple takes his leave!"

He saluted once more with a fist-and-palm salute, then employed his movement art and sped toward the Blackwater Plains.

Only when his figure vanished into the depths of the forest did Bai Su sigh. "Foolish girl. Crying alone in secret is not your style."

"Mother..."

From the treetops, a slim figure dropped down. It was Bai Linger, the mischievous little demon girl. Yet in the past few days, she had cried more tears than she had in her entire life.

"Alright, alright. When did you become such a crybaby?"

Bai Su gently brushed her daughter's cheeks, smiling as she wiped away the tears.

"I... I had my heart broken," Linger sniffled.

"And what of that? Is heartbreak so terrible?"

"But... But it was my first love!"

"Long Fei never liked you in the first place. At most it was a crush!"

"What kind of mother are you! I... I am not speaking to you anymore!"

...

Blackwater Plains.

Though the Canglong Sanctum had been thrown into upheaval, the frontier battlefield knew nothing of it. The war here was far from finished.

On the Blackwater Plains, brutal fighting raged every day.

"It has already been five days..."

Inside the command tent, nearly every general was wounded. Commander Xu Zhongda had even lost an arm and was now a one-armed commander.

Had Jiang Xiaofan not taken a blow for him, he would have lost his life as well.

If the generals suffered so, the soldiers beneath them fared even worse.

Tianfeng Battalion had lost more than half its men under the demon coalition's relentless assaults. Even the elite Black-Armored Cavalry had suffered over ten thousand casualties!

There were no reinforcements, and there was no hope of victory. The demon coalition seemed intent on breaking the Tianfeng Battalion's will through sheer torment.

"Report! The demon coalition has launched another assault on the right-flank stronghold!"

The messenger stumbled into the tent, gasping for breath. His words landed like a hammer, driving the generals to the brink of collapse. They had only just repelled an attack half an hour earlier.

"Damn those bastards!"

Xu Zhongda seized a large sword, his teeth clenched. "Vice-General Jiang, let me go! I have rested long enough!"

"No, I will go!"

Jiang Xiaofan's eyes were bloodshot. For five days and nights he had not slept, fighting at the front in every battle.

"No, Xiaofan. Your body will give out!"

Mo Feng gripped his shoulder tightly. "You are Brother Feng's sworn brother. I cannot allow anything to happen to you. Let me go this time."

"Here there are no princes, only soldiers!"

Mo Feng's eyes were just as red. In these five days he had seen too much blood and sacrifice. Weakness was a luxury the battlefield did not allow.

"Precisely because I am Big Brother's brother!"

Jiang Xiaofan stood with unshakable resolve. Beneath his armor his body was already covered in wounds.

"Xiaofan, you..."

Mo Feng stared at him. The young man's eyes burned with iron will, hardened by blood. Was this still the same simple, honest youth he had once known?

"Forgive me, Brother Feng!"

Jiang Xiaofan drove a fist into Mo Feng, knocking him unconscious with a single blow. Seizing the Sword of Silent Awe, he roared, "Fight to the last! Even if not one of us remains!"

"Vice-General Jiang, you..."

The officers looked on in shock. His decision was absolute, without hesitation.

"Watch after Jingwang!"

Jiang Xiaofan drew in a deep breath, gripped his sword, and charged out of the camp.

Kill!

The armies clashed once more. The human troops were spent in both body and spirit. For the Tianfeng Battalion, every battle was torment.

An inhuman torment!

As they watched their comrades fall one after another, each man knew that tomorrow, or even the next moment, it could be their turn.

1. 雪 Xue - Snow ☜