Chapter 9

Those three dark figures looked around but saw nothing, so they turned back, shouting something that Su Ning couldn't understand towards the city tower. The blinding light on the city tower then retreated, and the three people were about to enter the city, with the drawbridge slowly being raised... What a good opportunity!

Su Ning suddenly stood up, charged forward, and covered someone's mouth with his left hand. Feeling a warm breath, Su Ning, without hesitation, stabbed the soldier's neck with the dagger in his right hand. Instantly, Su Ning felt a warm liquid spray onto his hand. At that moment, he didn't feel anything; his mind was so agitated that he didn't think, and his body moved almost on its own, following the actions and procedures he had simulated countless times in his mind. In fact, Su Ning hadn't initially planned to do it himself.

In this moment of distraction, which lasted only a few breaths, Niu Geng and another soldier also moved with Su Ning. One each, one stab each, the three soldiers were silently eliminated, leaving only a pool of blood. But with no light, Su Ning wasn't overly stimulated; he just felt a slight shock in his heart, and everything was over...

"Ning, it's over, let's go in!" Niu Geng's voice rang out. Su Ning came to his senses, dropped the dead soldier he was holding, and casually covered them with some snow. He then followed the group into the city. The city gate was large, but there was no one around. The drawbridge was slowly raised, and Niu Geng and the others closed the city gate. Su Ning pointed left and right, and Niu Geng understood. He waved his hand, and half the soldiers followed him to the left, climbing the stairs to the city wall. Su Ning waved his hand again, and the other half of the soldiers followed him to the right, climbing the stairs to the city wall.

Su Ning felt something slippery in his hand. He had just killed someone, but he didn't feel anything. Was he naturally suited to killing? Shaking his head to dispel this terrifying thought, Su Ning gripped his dagger tightly and led the soldiers up the city wall. There were some voices on the wall, but he couldn't understand what they were saying. They were probably all Turks, no Han people. But this was a bit troublesome. The soldiers facing outward weren't hard to deal with, but the ones walking back and forth and those sleeping against the wall were problematic.

As soon as they appeared, they would be discovered.

Just as Su Ning was feeling troubled, three patrolling soldiers suddenly walked towards the stairs where Su Ning was. Were they going down? Su Ning was overjoyed and his heart raced. What incredible luck! Just three patrolling soldiers, and they were coming over? Su Ning immediately led the soldiers down the stairs, hiding behind them, preparing to deal with them once they came down. Su Ning assigned three soldiers to get ready, and as the footsteps approached, he nodded, and the three soldiers gripped their daggers tightly.

The three patrolling soldiers appeared, holding torches and swords. The three soldiers immediately moved, one each, covering their mouths with their left hands and stabbing their necks with their right hands. It was over. The torches were safely taken by the three soldiers, and they would use them as a signal. Now, except for the sleeping soldiers, the patrol soldiers on this side of the city wall were probably dealt with. Su Ning immediately led the soldiers up the city wall. Once at the top, he cautiously poked his head out to observe.

After confirming there was no danger, Su Ning waved his hand, and the soldiers, gripping their daggers, quietly walked up the city wall, silently approaching the backs of the Turkish soldiers facing away from them. At this moment, Su Ning saw that Niu Geng's group on the left was also ready. Su Ning waved his hand, and Niu Geng waved his hand too. The soldiers immediately moved, covering the mouths of the Turkish soldiers with their left hands and stabbing them with their right hands. The Turkish soldiers fell to the ground, and the sleeping ones were also killed. Su Ning looked around; there were no more Turks on this side of the city wall.

Su Ning called Niu Geng: "Take a few men to monitor the other directions of the Turks, don't alarm them!" Niu Geng nodded and left. Su Ning took a deep breath, picked up a torch, and, with the three soldiers, waved the four torches, left and right, left and right, left and right, the signal agreed upon with Li Jing.

Li Jing was anxiously waiting, having arranged for over a dozen soldiers to keep a close eye on the Dingxiang city tower. At the first sign of movement, they would immediately attack. He was very worried that the inexperienced Su Ning might not be able to complete this extremely difficult task. It was too dangerous. How could he have believed in this inexperienced child? Why did he not oppose it when the child persuaded him? It seemed this kid always had a way of making others agree with him, a powerful ability indeed!

But that task, it shouldn't have been given to him! The hundred soldiers weren't a big loss, but this one person's value was worth all the troops here! If he was discovered, the entire army could be wiped out, and the kid's life would be in grave danger. He had finally found a talent and was preparing to cultivate him. If he were lost, how would he face it? The more Li Jing thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. He anxiously stood up, ready to leave the camp to check, but just as he stood up, the tent flap was lifted, and a soldier rushed in anxiously: "General! A signal appeared on the Dingxiang city tower! Just as agreed, four torches! They succeeded!"

Li Jing was stunned: "What! They succeeded?! Quickly, take me to see!"

The soldier bowed: "General, please!"

Li Jing left the tent and looked at Dingxiang city. Sure enough! This kid succeeded? If he really did, this would be a great achievement! Li Jing looked at the city tower, and sure enough! Four torches, left and right, left and right, just the signal agreed upon with the kid. Ah! It worked! It worked! Overjoyed, Li Jing shouted: "Mount up! Move out! Capture Jiali!"

Su Ning was tired from holding the torch, his shoulders aching, but there was still no movement. Niu Geng ran over: "Ning, this isn't good. We've already taken out three, and if we keep going, we'll be discovered. When is the general coming?"

Su Ning rolled his eyes: "How should I know? I want to know when the general is coming too!" Su Ning looked towards the camp, and saw a large, dark mass, similar to what he had seen when he first arrived in Tang. If he guessed correctly, it was Li Jing's army: "Geng, the general is here. Lower the drawbridge, open the city gate, and welcome the general!"

Niu Geng shouted excitedly: "Yes!"

Inside Dingxiang city, Yang Zhengdao, the grandson of Emperor Yang of Sui, who was supported by the Turks, was drinking wildly, watching the palace dancers. Yang Zhengdao laughed loudly from time to time, but his laughter carried a faint, indiscernible sadness. The Sui dynasty was no more, and this so-called Sui, supported by the Turks, had no meaning. Everything had to be done according to Khan Jiali's wishes, and he was just a puppet, well-fed and well-cared for, but with no real status.

Even more hateful were Khan Chuluo and Khan Jiali, who had taken over his grandmother... Hey, what grandmother? Her appearance, like a thousand-year-old beauty, had not changed since he first saw her. Time seemed to have no effect on her. How could anyone be like that? But wasn't his grandmother just like that? None of his so-called beauties could compare to her. Grandmother, grandmother, hah, if she weren't his grandmother, who cared about her age?

The hateful Jiali! I must! I must kill you! I must kill you!

"Khan! Khan! Bad news! Tang troops have entered the city! Many Tang troops! They are coming this way! Coming this way!" A guard ran to Khan Jiali, who was drinking with Empress Xiao, and shouted in panic. Jiali was drinking, preparing to have a good time with Empress Xiao. How could a woman in her fifties look like this? Just as he was about to lose control, he suddenly heard this news and was furious, kicking the guard away: "Nonsense! How could Tang troops come here!"

The guard, crying, got up: "Khan! It's true! It's true! The main Tang army has entered the city! Many cavalry! The whole city is in chaos, and we can't resist! Khan, run! If we don't run, we're finished!" Jiali also heard the sounds of battle and saw the fire. A cold wind blew, and Jiali broke out in a cold sweat, his lust dying. He quickly stood up, thinking that if the Tang army hadn't come with all their might, which Tang army would dare to advance so far alone? This meant the main Tang army was here! Damn! It's bad! Run!

Jiali quickly thought this through and pulled Empress Xiao up: "Quick! We must run!"

Empress Xiao was anxious: "But, Zhengdao..."

Jiali, impatient, said: "Forget him! Run! He will escape!" Empress Xiao closed her mouth, looking towards the Sui palace, her face full of pain...

Yang Zhengdao, after drinking another bottle of wine, walked to the window and looked outside, his face bitter. Hah, today's Dingxiang is particularly lively, even at night, the noise doesn't stop! It should be curfew! Why, why are there flames everywhere? Why are there sounds of battle? Why does it feel like the city is under attack? Why is the palace in chaos? Why are the palace maids and eunuchs running around? Why is it like Luoyang back then? What's going on?!

"Prince Sui! Prince Sui! Prince Sui! Bad news, bad news! Tang troops have entered the city! Tang troops have entered the city!" A eunuch stumbled over, his face panicked, shouting loudly. Seeing the eunuch's panicked look, Yang Zhengdao was also alarmed: "What, Tang troops have entered the city? Impossible! Impossible! No news, where did the Tang troops come from? Where did they come from? Where is the Khan? Where is the Khan? Quickly, have the Khan protect me!"

The eunuch, panicked, said: "I don't know, I don't know, he probably ran! The city is full of Tang troops, Your Highness, you should run too! The city is full of Tang troops, probably tens of thousands! Li Shimin sent over a hundred thousand troops to attack the Khan before the New Year, and half of them are probably here! How can we resist? Your Highness, run! Li Shimin is probably coming for you!"

Yang Zhengdao suddenly realized: "Right! Right! It must be! Li Shimin is coming for me! Quickly, help me escape! Find someone to protect me!"

The eunuch looked around and cried: "Your Highness, run! Who will protect you? They all ran! Your Highness, take care of yourself!" The eunuch suddenly stood up and ran away, leaving Yang Zhengdao dazed, watching the horses galloping towards him, his mind blank.

"I never thought you could succeed, and I never thought you would dare to kill, and I never thought you would recover so quickly after your first kill. When I first killed, it took me a day to recover. You, covered in blood, don't feel uncomfortable?" Li Jing, riding a horse and holding a blood-stained spear, laughed.

Su Ning, also holding a blood-stained spear, laughed: "Hey, once you understand, it's just that. I've seen my master kill before, but when it was my turn, it was a bit uncomfortable. This red stuff is really not pretty, but what can you do if the guy wants to kill you? You have to finish him off!"

Su Ning swung his spear forcefully, looking like a great general. Li Jing chuckled: "I keep my word. This great victory, the first credit goes to you! If you can capture Jiali or Yang Zhengdao, that will be enough to make you a marquis! Your talent is truly terrifying. In that moment, my soul almost left my body. Who knows, this move, did your master teach you, or did my brother teach you? This isn't one of my twenty-four moves."

Li Jing was still scared. This kid, seeing his own blood, lost his senses. The Turk with a curved sword was about to split his head, but in the blink of an eye, this kid dodged, turned his body in an incredible way, and then turned back, a spear suddenly appearing in his hand, piercing the Turk. The Turk's curved sword was just a few inches from his head...

Su Ning thought, that was learned from Zhou Xingchi, the "Bashu Backstab Spear"! Li Jing didn't know who Zhou Xingchi was, so he attributed it to his master: "That was taught by my master, called the 'Backstab Spear.' I learned it by watching my master fight with the Bearded Guest. I thought it was very powerful and looked good, so I learned it. Who knew, in that split second, I could use it. This shows my talent and my excellent martial arts, hehehe, Uncle, why did you hit me?"

Li Jing put away his spear: "That's what I should say. Your face is really thick! Alright, no more nonsense. Follow me to capture them. I don't know if Jiali and Yang Zhengdao have run. If we don't catch them, the credit won't be as impressive. You want to live a life of ease? Not yet!"

Su Ning was alarmed: "Uncle! Where is that damn Jiali? Where is Yang Zhengdao? I'll capture them for you! Wow, hey? This Sui palace is pretty nice. Uncle, how does our Emperor's palace compare to this?" Li Jing sneered: "A bunch of barbarians, how can they understand our Chinese art? This palace is called nice? In Chang'an, it would be a baron's or viscount's palace, how can it compare to the imperial palace? My residence is five times bigger! Don't be envious, look at you! What will you get for your credit? Find them! Capture Jiali and Yang Zhengdao for me!"

"Jiali ran! I am Yang Zhengdao! Prince Sui Yang Zhengdao!"