Chapter 622: Holding The Plains In Awe

When the reinforcements from the Bakeyi Tribe arrived, the fire burning the storage area for hay and wool in the Tuli Tribe was still blazing intensely as the thick smoke billowed into the air. The smaller tents were already burnt to crisps, while several larger ones were still ablaze…

The flames in the Tuli Tribe could be seen several li away in the darkness of the night.

And because of that, the reinforcements from the Bakeyi Tribe quickly followed the light and headed toward that direction.

Yan Liqiang led 500 of his cavalry archers and silently stood erect amongst the flame-like rows of rocks. Behind them was the background of the flame itself, as well as the debris of burnt tents and corpses of Shatu people. Such a background would be shocking to see in the dark of the night.

The reinforcements from the Bakeyi Tribe caught a glimpse of the cavalry archers and swiftly headed toward Yan Liqiang’s direction.

While gazing at the incoming reinforcements from his rhinodrake steed, Yan Liqiang took an arrow and slowly drew it on the 50 picul Horned Python Bow that he had previously seized. He aimed at the troops from the Bakeyi Tribe and unleashed the bow in their direction.

The arrow traveled a distance of a thousand meters with a sharp hiss. Before it could reach the Bakeyi Tribe reinforcements, the arrow quickly transformed into a violet red shadow of a Horned Python that seemed to be a hundred meters long under the night sky with its jaw wide open. As if craving to devour something, the shadow rushed toward the incoming reinforcements and crashed into them…

The image of the transformed arrow into a violet red Horned Python s.h.i.+ned brilliantly against the night sky, which only made it seem more lifelike and frightful. Four to five thousand mounted Bakeyi Tribe troops were immediately stunned as they watched a dreadful Horned Python pouncing at them. Hundreds of front-line rhinodrake steeds went weak on their knees and simultaneously knelt on the ground, causing the cavalrymen on their backs to tumble over. Because those cavalrymen were caught off guard, they were quickly disorientated when they toppled off their steeds. Some of them even broke their bones and shrieked in pain too. On top of that, the rhinodrake steeds at the back could not avoid the chaos in time and instantly crashed with the ones at the front. Some of the steeds let out a long neigh and quickly stood back on their feet…

“BOOM…”

The transformed arrow was not aimed at those people but at the raised black flag of the Bakeyi Tribe reinforcement troops, blasting it into smithereens. As a result, the flag was reduced into nothing but a myriad of wood pieces. Due to the force and blistering speed of the arrow, the flag bearer and dozens of calvaries nearby were shot by the wood debris on their faces and necks. Screams were heard as their faces and necks were covered in blood. In the next instant, they were toppled off their steeds.

The troops from the Bakeyi Tribe went into chaos and were forced to stop their attack.

The power of a single arrow had caused the troops to halt in their tracks…

Meanwhile, 500 cavalry archers were looking at Yan Liqiang with fiery gazes from behind.

An archery skill of the Seventh Heavenly Layer enabled the user to shoot arrows of precision —the first time everyone witnessed Yan Liqiang demonstrating such spectacular archery skill was at the Heavenly Lake in Mount Azure Dragon. He managed to silence the members of the Soaring Heaven Sect when he shot the arrow. No one expected to see Yan Liqiang demonstrating the same skills again. It was enough to make someone’s blood boil.

Yan Liqiang slowly put back his bow with a sneer on his face as he watched the thousands of reinforcements drowning in chaos. Even though the number of reinforcements was enormous, these people were considered sc.u.m and useless in his eyes. Besides having a large number of people, they had nothing else that could be deemed worthy.

“Who are these people?” A voice rang out from the Bakeyi Tribe reinforcement troops in the distance after the chaos had subsided.

“I am Qiyun Protectorate General Yan Liqiang of the Great Han Empire!” Yan Liqiang’s voice reverberated in the plains. Even though their distance was a few thousand meters apart and the fact that it was night time, Yan Liqiang could already tell that the person asking the question was the head general of the Bakeyi Tribe reinforcement troops. He was a well-built man who wore armor made of silver scales, and had a golden beard with an aquiline nose. This man was riding on a large black rhinodrake steed as he wielded what seemed like a 200-jin frightful wolf fang mace. The sight of the weapon was somewhat intimidating. On top of that, this person was also closely surrounded by a group of Bakeyi Tribe commanders and followers who were gazing in Yan Liqiang’s direction with doubtful eyes. Yan Liqiang’s arrow had struck fear in many hearts. These people must have heard of Yan Liqiang’s name and ident.i.ty before.

“Who are you?” Yan Liqiang asked.

“I am the champion of the Bakeyi Tribe troops, Balsa…”

“Heh heh, an insect. I’ve never heard of that name before!” Yan Liqiang curled his lips a little.

Balsa was filled with rage upon hearing those words. If it were someone else, he would have led his army toward a battle. However, due to Yan Liqiang’s reputation and the arrow he shot earlier, he hesitated. He had a conversation with himself that he might not be able to dodge the arrow if he were to move forward, yet he could not bear to retreat just like that. Even though Yan Liqiang’s forces were considered meager, all of them seemed energetic. He had come so far, so even if he were to pursue these people all the way to White Stone Pa.s.s, he might not be able to catch up to them…

Just when Balsa was hesitating for a moment, someone beside him scooted over and whispered something into his ears, causing his eyes to immediately turn bright. He then rolled his eyes and revealed a sinister smile on his face…

“I knew that the Great Han Empire appointed a young kid as the Qiyun Protectorate General a long time ago, but I didn’t expect that kid to be you. Since you are the general, why have you come to invade the Gulang Plains and ma.s.sacre our Tuli Tribe today?” Balsa asked in a loud voice.

“Hahaha, the Gulang Plains are originally part of the Great Han Empire’s territory, and also part of the land under my rule. How is it that we’re the ones invading the plains? The Tuli Tribe has sent troops to attack the Wind Border Stockade and kill my civilians, as well as burn down my home. The men who affront the Great Han Empire will definitely pay!” Yan Liqiang’s voice reverberated throughout the night sky as he continued, “Perhaps the Bakeyi Tribe wants a piece of me as well?”

Instead of arguing with Yan Liqiang regarding the owners.h.i.+p of the Gulang Plains, Balsa let out a guffaw and continued in a provoking tone, “So what if that’s the case? However, it will be pointless to just exchange arrows with one another. Since you are the Qiyun Protectorate General of the Great Han Empire, you must be brilliant. Let’s have a fierce battle with each other on horseback if you dare and allow me to teach you what it means to have real skills. If you can best me with your skills, then I will turn around and leave. If you do not have the guts to exchange blows with me, then you will not be allowed to call yourself the Qiyun Protectorate General. You are not qualified for that yet…”

Xiong Gungun and the others began to panic as he listened to his provocations. He quickly cautioned Yan Liqiang, “My lord, please do not accept his proposition. This is a cunning scheme plotted by the Shatu b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. They intentionally goaded you into battle because they know how powerful your archery skills are…”

Of course, Yan Liqiang was aware of Balsa’s deception and cunningness. He would know what kind of stunt Balsa was going to pull the moment he came up to him. Those Shatu people could never hide their wicked ideas from Yan Liqiang.

Yan Liqiang let out a disdainful smile as he gazed at the cunning expression on his opponent’s crude face. He then turned to look at 500 of his guards and said, “Just wait here…” before turning his gaze back at Balsa with the words, “Come then…” As soon as he was done speaking, he shook his reins and rode Snowstorm Cloud toward a five thousand cavalry.

Balsa was indeed excited when he saw Yan Liqiang approaching and let out an enthusiastic roar. With the Wolf Fang Mace in his hand, he clamped his knees together and rushed toward Yan Liqiang as well. The moment he moved forward, Balsa was fantasizing about the immense reputation the Shatu Seven Tribes would gain after killing Yan Liqiang. He even imagined all the money and beauty that would come with the reputation gain too…

Generally, melee combat was always a weakness for those who practiced archery. In Balsa’s point of view, Yan Liqiang seemed like a lamb ready for slaughter based on his slender body and young age. He refused to believe that Yan Liqiang’s archery cultivation base was supreme, and that he was stronger than him in terms of melee combat as well. The 180-jin Wolf Fang Mace in his hand could easily pound this person into puree once he struck the body…

This was a battle between two generals, and this type of duel on a battlefield was quite common.

Everyone held their breath as they watched these two getting closer to each other on the field…

Two rhinodrake steeds galloped steadily. 500 meters… 400 meters… 100 meters… 50 meters…

Balsa’s expression became increasingly fierce. He began brandis.h.i.+ng his enormous Wolf Fang Mace, thus turning it into a windmill…

“GO TO h.e.l.l…” Balsa roared as he was about to smash his mace at Yan Liqiang.

Yan Liqiang jumped from his rhinodrake steed with his iron lance and viciously aimed at Balsa for a stab…

“BOOM…”

Before Balsa could react, he was knocked back by the power several times stronger than the force with which he unleashed with his Wolf Fang Mace. The bones inside Balsa’s hands were the first thing that could not endure the immense strength and were subsequently pulverized. Moreover, both his mace and Yan Liqiang’s spear had smashed into his body. Both him and his rhinodrake steed instantly burst into mere flesh and blood as they were pulverized into the ground…

After the explosion pa.s.sed, many of the Shatu calvaries tried to rub their eyes just to see that their Bakeyi champion was gone. The rhinodrake steed Balsa rode on was gone as well. What was left was a mixture of flesh and blood on the ground. The battlefield was reduced to silence as the Shatu calvaries felt chills down their bones. Even their blood was frozen in place…

The formidable iron spear was bent to an angle of 90 degrees. Yan Liqiang hopped back onto Snowstorm Cloud once more and straightened his iron spear with just a pull from his hands.

“Who else?” Yan Liqiang growled at the troops of the Bakeyi Tribe…

The reinforcements were silent and no one replied to him. Everyone was pale white as they stared at the minced flesh under the moonlight…

Snowstorm Cloud stomped in a circle around the area as it breathed out hot air…

“WHO ELSE?” Yan Liqiang growled again…

Still, no one replied…

Yan Liqiang asked three times and the crowd remained silent. It was only then he turned his steed around toward Xiong Gungun and his troops, “Let’s go!”

Yan Liqiang led his guards and returned. Meanwhile, not one of the five thousand reinforcements from the Bakeyi Tribe dared to follow from a distance…

….

“Have you seen ‘Kung Fu’ before?” Yan Liqiang suddenly asked a baffling question on their journey back.

“What?” Xiong Gungun scratched his head and looked left and right. He noticed that the others were baffled as well before he continued, “This… Your kung fu is really magnificent!”

“Nevermind, forget I asked…” Yan Liqiang sighed and lifted his head to gaze at the moons in the night sky. Sometimes a person could be lonely at certain periods of their lives…