Chapter 26

Chapter Twenty-Six: Thunder

The warriors of the Wind Cavalry were chatting, and Xu Daoyan approached, seeing Feng Hua grooming his warhorse with great care. Xu Daoyan could sense the deep bond between man and horse, forged through shared life and death, a bond that ordinary people could never understand.

Every elite warrior had their own story, and Xu Daoyan had a deep understanding of this, just like Bai Shi, Qin Han, and Zhang Chao.

Xu Daoyan came to Feng Hua's side. Feng Hua looked at him and smiled, "Daoyan, what's up?"

Over these days, they all knew about Xu Daoyan, and many villagers said he was a descendant of the Martial Star. Indeed, his strength was formidable, far beyond that of an ordinary child.

"I want to join the army and leave with you tomorrow!" Xu Daoyan said seriously.

"The villagers all say you are a descendant of the Martial Star. Great! If you want to join the army, we would be more than happy to have you," Feng Hua laughed heartily, his voice loud.

"What, a little kid wants to join the army? That's not appropriate, he's too young!" one of the warriors nearby laughed.

Xu Daoyan ignored him and asked Feng Hua, "Can I bring my family?"

If possible, Xu Daoyan wanted to take his mother with him, but the possibility was slim. Still, he held a glimmer of hope.

"Yes, once you become one of the commanders of the Wind Cavalry, you can bring your family to Shilong City. Before that, once you join the army, you can't return home unless it's a special situation. I haven't been home in a long time," Feng Hua smiled, even he couldn't bring his family. Who wouldn't want to be with their family?

Feng Hua took out a letter from his chest and handed it to Xu Daoyan. It read, "Feng Hua, our child is sixteen years old and wants to know what you look like. He always talks about when you will come back. Mother's health is not good, and Father keeps getting sick. Although you send money home, they all want to see you, and so do I!"

A letter from home is worth a thousand pieces of gold!

Xu Daoyan looked at the words, written in a wobbly but heartfelt script. He couldn't read it very well because he didn't know many characters, but he could understand the deep longing in each stroke. His heart ached. He was only thirteen and didn't know where his father was, or if he was like Feng Hua, guarding the border to protect the people.

"Your child will be proud of you, because my father was also a soldier!" Xu Daoyan said.

"We set off at dawn tomorrow and return to Shilong City. We have horses ready. The horses of the Wind Cavalry are very fast, and ordinary horses can't keep up. Their endurance is much worse. Remember to report here at dawn. Time waits for no one," Feng Hua patted Xu Daoyan's shoulder and smiled.

"Okay!" Xu Daoyan responded, turning to leave without any hesitation.

He returned home and left the last of his silver coins in the box where Wu Shi kept money.

That night, he sat in meditation, drawing earth qi into his spleen until it was still dark. Xu Daoyan sensed a powerful aura approaching his home, and his heart raced.

Xu Daoyan opened the door.

Wu Xiaobai and his master stood at the door.

"Daoyan, I know you're leaving today. I promised to give you something, and I always keep my word!" Wu Xiaobai grinned, his two front teeth, which had been knocked out, had grown back, making him look less silly.

"What's so good that it needs to be so mysterious?" Xu Daoyan smiled, curious about what Wu Xiaobai would give him.

Wu Xiaobai took out a suit of armor from the space within his ring.

The armor was entirely purple, with lightning patterns etched on it, looking very sharp. Wu Xiaobai personally helped Xu Daoyan put it on, saying, "It's called the Thunder Armor. If an enemy attacks you with iron weapons, channel your qi into the armor, and it will emit electric sparks, damaging their weapons."

The armor fit perfectly, even better than Feng Hua's. The difference was like heaven and earth.

The purple armor and Xu Daoyan's slightly long black hair made him look much more heroic.

"Wow, I love this armor!" Xu Daoyan was excited; he had never seen anything so good.

"There's more. I know you like wielding spears and staffs. This is the Thunder Spear!" Wu Xiaobai took out a purple spear with two spearheads spaced a finger's width apart, a丈 long, with a sharp tip that glinted in the light.

"Once you channel your qi into it, it will activate the array inside, generating thunder to attack the enemy. Its power is immense, even greater than that of a thunderfire talisman!"

Xu Daoyan held the Thunder Spear and tried to channel his qi into it. The spearhead emitted a sizzling sound, and electric sparks rolled, very impressive!

"Amazing! What level is this?" Xu Daoyan asked.

"My master made it, it's a top-grade human-grade artifact!" Wu Xiaobai said.

"Aren't there only upper-grade ones?" Xu Daoyan was puzzled.

"Usually, immortal masters don't make human-grade artifacts. A human-grade artifact is something you can control at your current level. You can't control earth-grade artifacts. My master can only make human-grade artifacts for you, and a top-grade one is very rare!" Wu Xiaobai had asked his master, saying this would make him forgive him.

His master had no choice but to comply. For him, making a top-grade human-grade artifact was not difficult, and this treasure had great potential for growth, requiring very precious materials.

"Amazing! Amazing!" Xu Daoyan was at a loss for words, waving the Thunder Spear joyfully, his eyes wide with wonder.

"Take this token!" Wu Xiaobai handed Xu Daoyan a black token, saying, "It's called the Ink Token. My master said that if I work hard and he thinks I've improved, he will allow us to communicate over long distances. As long as you have the Ink Token, no matter how far apart we are, we can hear each other's voices!"

"Really?" Xu Daoyan was shocked, finding it hard to believe.

"Yes, Daoyan, it's time for me to go!" Wu Xiaobai looked at Xu Daoyan, "From childhood to now, you look the best today."

"You'll look even better in the future!" Xu Daoyan laughed heartily.

"Goodbye, my brother!" Wu Xiaobai's eyes were red.

"Goodbye, my brother!" Xu Daoyan held the Thunder Spear firmly, his gaze resolute. He was determined to become stronger!

The old man with the hammer remained silent throughout, walking to Wu Xiaobai's side. A flash of light enveloped them, and they vanished from Xu Daoyan's sight.

It was past the third watch, and soon it would be dawn. Xu Daoyan was about to leave.

Wu Shi, dressed in a thin cotton robe, stood behind the door. She hadn't slept all night.

Xu Daoyan turned around. Wu Shi looked at him in his armor, holding the spear, and was momentarily stunned. Indeed, he looked just like his father, their auras were so similar!

"Mother..." Xu Daoyan was very reluctant to leave.

"You look just like your father!" Wu Shi was in tears. She walked into the house, and Xu Daoyan followed, silent.

Wu Shi took out a boiled egg, peeled it, and placed it near Xu Daoyan's mouth, "Come, let me feed you one last time!"

Xu Daoyan bit into the egg, chewed, and swallowed it. His eyes were red. He put down the spear and knelt before Wu Shi, "Mother, I am unfilial and cannot serve you!"

After saying this, he bowed three times, stood up, grabbed the spear, and walked out of the house.

Wu Shi followed him, tears streaming down her face. The morning was cold, the wind biting, and the snow on the ground was beginning to melt. Xu Daoyan walked slowly, not wanting his mother to fall behind. The ground was slippery, and he was afraid she might fall. With his back to her, he shed two tears, which dried in the cold wind.

The camp of the Wind Cavalry was in the village square, not far from Xu Daoyan's home.

Seeing Xu Daoyan in his armor and holding the spear, the elite warriors of the Wind Cavalry were surprised. They had keen eyes and could tell that Xu Daoyan's equipment was not ordinary.

"Uncle Feng Hua, I'm here," Xu Daoyan said as he approached.

"Good kid, I didn't expect you to have such hidden depths. If you join Shilong City, you'll surely cause a stir!" Feng Hua was amazed.

"Alright, mount up!" Feng Hua shouted, and Wu Shi's heart trembled.

Xu Daoyan stepped into the stirrup, mounted the horse, and held the spear in one hand and the reins in the other, not looking back. Feng Hua also mounted his horse, rode up to Wu Shi, and said, "Sister, go back. You have a good son, and I will take good care of him!"

"Thank you, Commander Feng," Wu Shi bowed deeply, her face streaked with tears.

Feng Hua looked at the sky, pulled the reins, and the horse neighed loudly. He said, "Dawn has arrived, let's set off for the city!"

The sound of a hundred horses thundered as they galloped, and Xu Daoyan, in his purple armor, was the most conspicuous. Wu Shi watched as Xu Daoyan rode away, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Didn't expect you to be so capable, kid," one of the Wind Cavalry warriors laughed.

"Indeed, you've transformed into quite a formidable young warrior!" The Thunder Armor and Thunder Spear given by Wu Xiaobai had changed Xu Daoyan's aura significantly.

"Alright, he's still a child, and it's hard for him to leave his mother. We'll talk later," Feng Hua understood Xu Daoyan's feelings.

"Understood!" The other warriors of the Wind Cavalry said no more.

The horses were very fast, covering a thousand miles a day. They set off at dawn and were already near Shiyun Town by mid-morning.

A hundred elite warriors of the Wind Cavalry galloped into the town, and the gates were wide open. No one dared to stop them, for they were the famous warriors of Shilong City.

At this moment, Xu Daoyan looked at Feng Hua and said, "I want to stay in Shiyun Town for a day, in the west of the town."

"What for?" Feng Hua frowned.

"To help the spirits of the soldiers who died in the battle at Pomegranate Village fulfill their wishes. They can only appear at night, not during the day. I'm sure you understand!" Xu Daoyan requested, remembering his promise to Zhang Chao, which he must keep!