Chapter 79

Perhaps to outsiders, Luo Shixin’s words might seem boastful, but he knew very well that he was speaking the truth. As an inheritor, he understood better than anyone the formidable martial prowess he had inherited, which placed him among the peak warriors of his time.

Just like in martial arts novels, the Seven Disciples of Quanzhen were renowned throughout the jianghu, respected by all, yet their battle records were pitifully weak. It wasn’t because they were incompetent, but because their opponents were always the likes of Dongzhe (Eastern Heretic), Xidu (Western Venom), or even Xikuang (Western Madman) Yang Guo and Jinlun Fawang, all of whom were peak-level figures. Losing to them was not at all surprising.

Li Yunchong walked steadily, his hands coordinated, wielding his halberd with great speed. Since he needed to capture them alive, he held back some of his strength. Luo Shixin observed this and gained a rough understanding of his capabilities. Looking around the Right Brave Guards, the only one who could confidently defeat him was himself. Mo Hu'er and Xue Yong were no match for him, and even if Su Dinging fought on foot, he might not be able to guarantee a victory. This showed the extent of his strength.

Li Yunchong was not particularly moved by Luo Shixin’s words, but he could indeed sense the unparalleled valor of his opponent. Luo Shixin briefly explained the situation in Central Plains and the reason for his covert mission to Goguryeo, then said, "My hearing is much sharper than that of ordinary people. In the tavern, I heard you speaking in Chinese. You know how rare it is to meet someone of the same bloodline in this place. Out of curiosity, I couldn’t help but climb over the wall to eavesdrop. I happened to hear about Doctor Sun Simiao, and that’s why I followed you to investigate."

Li Yunchong was suddenly enlightened and smiled, "I see, it’s a case of family not recognizing family. General Luo, you are too conspicuous here. Let’s go to the tavern and sit down to talk in detail."

"Alright!" Luo Shixin had no doubts. In such a situation, only absolute trust could make both parties, who were unfamiliar with each other, open their hearts.

Li Yunchong let his companions leave first. Seeing that Luo Shixin had no objections, his trust grew. The two headed towards the tavern. Along the way, Luo Shixin retrieved the wine he had hidden on the road. To facilitate his tracking, he had placed the wine in an inconspicuous corner.

The tavern keeper was surprised to see Luo Shixin and Li Yunchong arrive together. Luo Shixin smiled and said, "You can go inside and chat. Don’t worry about me. I have this!" He raised the wine in his hand, found a seat, and started drinking on his own.

Li Yunchong smiled apologetically. Although he found Luo Shixin trustworthy, as a rational adult, he had to be responsible for the safety of the nearly ten thousand clansmen hidden in Mount Taibai. He couldn’t put them at risk for an intangible "trust." He pulled the tavern keeper towards the back yard.

"What’s going on?" The tavern keeper knew that Li Yunchong was always steady and was being groomed as the next clan leader. He hurriedly asked for an explanation.

Li Yunchong recounted how the eagle had detected the跟踪, the ambush that was broken, and how Luo Shixin’s martial arts had impressed him, along with his intentions and a brief overview of the situation in Central Plains.

The tavern keeper stood there for a while, then sighed deeply, "I never thought that in just a few years, the Great Sui would fall like the Qin Dynasty, lasting only two generations." His name was Sun Zengyou, originally a military advisor in the Sui army. He was a scholar with a sense of loyalty and patriotism. Hearing that the Sui Dynasty was effectively defunct, surviving only under the protection of the Turkic tribes, he felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow.

Li Yunchong responded, "Uncle You, do you also find Luo Shixin trustworthy?"

Sun Zengyou nodded and said, "Three strangers suddenly appeared in the village, and I’ve been keeping an eye on them. They went straight to the clinic to inquire about Doctor Sun. Their story checks out. The most crucial point is that you might not have noticed, but Luo Shixin has a genuine Shandong accent, which can’t be faked. This kind of regional accent can only be learned by someone who grew up there. He must have grown up in Shandong. Since our goals align, having an ally is better than having an enemy, especially such a powerful one."

After a brief discussion, they returned to the tavern. Sun Zengyou even took out some dried beans, pickled vegetables, and other ready-to-eat snacks to serve as appetizers.

Since Luo Shixin’s background had been explained, Sun Zengyou also gave a brief overview of their situation. It was largely as Luo Shixin had guessed: they were refugees left behind after Emperor Yang Guang’s three campaigns against Goguryeo. They were native-born but unable to return home, living in hiding in a foreign land, descendants of the Chinese people.

To survive, they had banded together, forming a self-sufficient tribal community, calling each other by clan names, and treating each other like family. They overcame harsh conditions and survived tenaciously. However, Goguryeo, which harbored hostility towards Central Plains, viewed them as a thorn in their side and constantly oppressed and suppressed them. Eventually, they were forced to retreat to the vast and treacherous Mount Taibai.

Using the terrain of Mount Taibai, under the leadership of their chief, Zuo Tiancheng, they repeatedly thwarted Goguryeo’s attempts to exterminate them and established a foothold on the mountain. They remained self-reliant and strong, growing to nearly ten thousand people, including men, women, and children.

Luo Shixin listened and raised his glass in salute several times. Sun Zengyou didn’t detail how they overcame all the difficulties to survive, but it was easy to imagine the hardships and sacrifices they had endured to reach this point.

Sun Zengyou sighed as he recalled the past.

Li Yunchong continued, "My uncle has a daughter who has been weak since childhood. Five years ago, she fell ill with a strange disease that many doctors couldn’t cure. Upon hearing about Doctor Sun, he couldn’t resist going down the mountain alone to invite him. However, his movements were discovered, and he was captured by Goguryeo’s General Gao Hui Zhen. Gao Hui Zhen has long occupied the Inner City, tasked with eliminating us. We have always relied on Mount Taibai to maintain the upper hand. This time, he has seized an opportunity and, in our view, will try to lure us out of the mountains to annihilate us."

Luo Shixin nodded, "If the other side isn’t stupid, they’ll do just that! Who is this Gao Hui Zhen, and how many troops does he have?"

Li Yunchong replied, "Gao Hui Zhen is one of the influential military families in Goguryeo, commanding thirty thousand troops stationed in the Inner City. He is cunning and somewhat knowledgeable in military affairs. According to my uncle, he would be considered average in Central Plains, but in the small country of Goguryeo, he is a significant figure. As for our plan, you’ve heard it. My uncle has been the backbone of our tribe, and we can’t just stand by and let him be captured by Goguryeo."

Luo Shixin said, "I oppose your plan to launch a direct attack. It’s no different from sending everyone to their deaths."

Sun Zengyou said without hesitation, "Even if there’s only a sliver of hope, we must try."

"Ha!" Luo Shixin bluntly mocked, "A sliver of hope, are you dreaming? You have at most three to four thousand combatants. Even if you fight ten to one, defeating Gao Hui Zhen’s thirty thousand troops won’t save your leader. If I were Gao Hui Zhen, I would cut off your leader’s head before losing, and what could you do then? You’d be risking everyone’s lives for nothing."