Chapter 43

It had only been two days, yet the two commanders were one sick and one dead. The few major generals looked extremely serious, and the atmosphere was heavy to the extreme.

However, when their gazes swept over Wang Liu's corpse, there was a clear trace of a strange smile on their lips. Everyone had heard of Wang Liu, but none had ever seen him in person.

No one doubted the cause of Wang Liu's death. After all, Wang Liu was known for his excessive indulgence in pleasure, which was evident to all.

"General Feng, now that the Xuanwei Camp can only be led by you, how should we handle this matter? Please, General Feng, make the decision!"

The other deputy generals were far less experienced and respected than Deputy General Feng.

The major generals spoke in unison, and Qin Sang also echoed their words.

Deputy General Feng waved his hands repeatedly, "I am inexperienced and unlearned, I dare not take the responsibility... In my opinion, we should report this to the Commander, and let him make the decision."

The Commander had been in a coma all along. Qin Sang followed the generals into the command tent and was startled to see the Commander's sunken features and waxen complexion.

Indeed, illness strikes like a mountain collapsing.

The military doctors were ordered to forcibly wake the Commander. Deputy General Feng briefly explained the situation to him. The Commander's lifeless eyes suddenly widened, his face flushed with a sickly red, and he began to cough violently, his lips trembling.

From his lip movements, it seemed he was saying "useless."

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the Commander struggled to hand over the command seal to Deputy General Feng before fainting again.

By the time they had decided how to handle Wang Liu's funeral, it was already dawn.

Qin Sang returned to the military tent and found Wu Chuanzong waiting inside.

"Sir," Wu Chuanzong hesitated, "How should we handle General Wang's funeral? I heard that the two women in the tent are to be executed?"

It seemed that Wang Liu's scandal had spread throughout the camp overnight, and even Wu Chuanzong knew about it.

Qin Sang was not surprised. Wang Liu was known for his arrogance and had offended many people, who were happy to spread his misdeeds.

"Don't talk recklessly outside," Qin Sang lounged lazily on the bear skin seat, "Deputy General Feng has issued a gag order. General Wang died from overwork and concern for military affairs. Those inside and outside the tent naturally have to die... Hmm?"

Qin Sang sat up straight, "Do you have a fancy for one of them?"

Wu Chuanzong's face turned bright red, and he waved his hands, "No, no... Sir, don't misunderstand. I just heard that the two girls were forced by General Wang. Back in Hening County, if it weren't for you, we would have either starved to death or been killed by marauding soldiers. I always hoped for a way out, and you came. I think their situation now is similar to mine back then..."

Qin Sang said, "Oh," during this time, Wu Chuanzong had always adhered to his principles, and Qin Sang had never interfered.

"The county magistrate's wife committed suicide in prison last night after learning the truth. The girls are still alive. I will go and request Deputy General Feng to arrange for you to handle the aftermath, but do it cleanly."

"Yes!"

...

Gu Ling Mountain, the ancient path.

Before the new Commander was appointed, the Xuanwei Camp was temporarily led by Deputy General Feng.

Without Wang Liu's obstruction, and with accurate intelligence from the scouts, the location of the ancient path was found. Deputy General Feng immediately dispatched half of the troops to feint an attack on Gu Ling Pass to mislead the enemy, while Qin Sang led the First, Eighth, and Supply Camps to open the path through the ancient path.

Qin Sang stood on a mountain peak at the entrance of the ancient path, looking at the continuous mountains ahead, which were not very clear.

Although the vegetation was dense, upon closer inspection, some areas still showed signs of artificial excavation.

It was hard to imagine how, with human effort alone, such a perilous ancient path could be carved out in these rugged mountains.

"Do you remember where it is?"

Qin Sang turned to the herbalist beside him.

This herbalist was the one Wang Liu had captured, claiming to have encountered immortals on Gu Ling Mountain. Wang Liu kept him alive to silence others.

After finding the herbalist, Qin Sang had several conversations with him. He didn't seem crazy, but he was terrified by the fierce soldiers.

The herbalist trembled and pointed into the depths of the ancient path, "I remember, it's right there."

Following the herbalist's finger, Qin Sang's face suddenly darkened, and he coldly shouted, "Dare to lie to me! Could you, a mere herbalist, have come this far?"

"I dare not, I dare not..."

The herbalist's legs were shaking, almost losing his balance, "I... I entered the mountain from that side, there's a path for beasts, where... where we could ride donkeys. Later, they were eaten by wolves, and I was afraid... I... I got lost..."

Qin Sang's expression eased, and he nodded, "Go down the mountain and start clearing the path!"

It was not easy for the three camps to clear the path. Some trees in the ancient path were so thick that they could not be cut down, and they had to create new passages alongside.

Fortunately, their goal was a surprise attack, and the supply camp had a large warehouse at Deya Pass, so they carried minimal supplies. The troops were lightly equipped, and the narrow path could still be navigated.

After becoming familiar with the task, the three camps spread out, and their speed increased. In just half a day, they had advanced a considerable distance. At this rate, it wouldn't take long to clear the ancient path.

Qin Sang had been busy for half a day, finally arranging the manpower. Just as he was about to take the herbalist into the mountains to search, there was a sudden commotion ahead. A soldier rushed to report, "General, there's a cliff collapse ahead, blocking the ancient path."

"Rockslide?"

Qin Sang's expression changed. If the ancient path was blocked, it would not only delay the military operation.

"What's the situation? How severe is it?"

The soldier stammered, "A section of the cliff broke off and fell, it looks like... like it was cut by a knife."

The soldier looked bewildered.

Hearing this, Qin Sang's heart suddenly stirred, and he said, "Take me there quickly."

The soldiers at the front had already gone deep, passing through two mountains before Qin Sang saw the broken cliff. Indeed, as the soldier described, a section of the cliff had broken off, with a smooth, mirror-like fracture, as if cut by a knife.

The fallen rocks blocked the ancient path completely.

"Send someone to get the supply camp to bring tools to clear the path!"

Qin Sang issued the order absentmindedly, then looked around and eagerly used his martial arts to climb the highest peak nearby.

The herbalist said that the immortals they saw flew in this direction!

Could there really be cultivators fighting in Gu Ling Mountain?

Qin Sang was eager and used his fastest speed to reach the peak.

The peak had collapsed, the rocks were shattered, the ancient trees were broken, and the vegetation was flattened.

In addition, there were traces of fire, and more astonishingly, there were ice crystals left on the vegetation in some dark areas, as if this area had experienced all four seasons in one night.

This scene made Qin Sang suddenly think of the riverbank, and he was both surprised and delighted.