Chapter 167 - 165: The Turning Lance
The surviving martial artists, including Liu Ziwen, looked towards the corpse-laden peak where Song Changming stood, their expressions filled with reverence.
If not for Song Changming, these two thousand cavalrymen might have been utterly annihilated.
Only heaven knows how many people Song Changming just killed.
Not only was the mightiest General Fei swiftly beheaded by him, but even those more formidable generals fell under Song Changming’s Dragon Pattern Saber.
Amidst thousands of troops, Song Changming took the enemy general’s head as if it were nothing.
Aside from Song Changming’s forceful slaughter, their ability to hold off this wave of cavalry was largely due to the advantageous terrain of the mountain paths, preventing the cavalry from charging back and forth.
Song Changming sheathed his saber, not lingering longer, and headed directly towards the direction of the departing carriages.
At a fork on the downhill road, there were more cavalry corpses on the ground, causing Song Changming’s expression to change slightly.
Then he saw several overturned carriages, increasing the anxiety in his heart.
The killing intent that had just subsided began to boil once more.
If anything happened to the two elders at home or to others, he would find it difficult to suppress the violent urges within.
Song Changming picked up speed; as they galloped along, the number of cavalry corpses on the ground gradually increased. After the horse ran about another kilometer, he finally saw familiar figures.
Liu Dingsheng sat cross-legged on a large rock, seemingly resting while remaining vigilant, with several guards keeping watch below.
Seeing Song Changming and Liu Ziwen returning successively on horseback, those guards breathed a collective sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden was lifted.
"Elder Liu, how’s the situation?" Song Changming inquired.
He could tell that Liu Dingsheng had also made a move this time.
The fact that it forced the elderly Liu Dingsheng to take action was enough to indicate that the convoy had just faced some turmoil.
"Everyone else is fine, just your father, who was frightened and fainted; the situation is looking quite grim now," Liu Dingsheng sighed.
Upon hearing this, Song Changming immediately went behind the large rock, where he saw Song Ping’an taking Song Father’s pulse.
Beside, Song’s Mother and Song Yu looked worried, their faces filled with anxiety.
Seeing Song Changming’s return, Song’s Mother was momentarily stunned, then shook her head bitterly and said, "It seems your father won’t hold on this time."
Hearing this, Song Changming felt an immense heaviness on his heart.
Although he had already seen half a year ago that Father Song’s time was near and had prepared himself mentally, convincing himself that birth and death are natural.
Yet, facing the imminent death of a loved one with whom he had shared so many years, his heart still felt deeply pained.
"Brother Song, I’m sorry." Song Ping’an, feeling the weakening pulse of Song Father, was filled with immense guilt.
He had done his utmost to protect the two elders, but in the end, he couldn’t help Father Song make it through.
Song Changming, of course, wouldn’t blame Song Ping’an.
At that moment, Father Song’s Qi Blood turned rosy as he slowly awoke.
He seemed to know his time was running out and first looked to Song Yu.
"Take good care of yourself and your child, do not wrong yourself because of your husband’s family. Changming is strong now and can back you up, after all, you two are family..."
Tears in her eyes, Song Yu agreed to each of his words.
This was how Father Song spoke when giving his last instructions and bidding farewell to his loved ones.
After speaking with Song Yu and Song Ping’an, he held Song’s Mother’s hand.
"The greatest regret of my life is you, who endured hardships with me for so many years, working tirelessly and never leaving. Live well from now on..."
Finally, when he looked at Song Changming, his breath was already much weaker.
Song Changming could perceive the signs of this last moment of clarity in Father Song, which was fading away, indicating he was in his final moments.
"Just now, I seemed to see Zan’Er and Zhou’Er complaining about me... well, I kept them waiting too long..." Father Song’s words gradually became incoherent and incomplete.
The Zan’Er and Zhou’Er he mentioned were Song Changming’s elder brothers.
Even at his end, Father Song could not forget his eldest and second sons, which had been the pain of his life.
"Perhaps you were mistaken, Father, how could my elder brothers ever blame you?" Song Changming replied.
"Changming, you are my greatest pride in this life, and I have you to thank for reaching this age safely; my later years have been satisfactory. The only regret is not being able to see more of you.
Seeing you reach greater heights, seeing you marry and have children, surrounded by grandchildren..."
"I have one last request; in the future, take my ashes and bury them outside Donglai County City, in that old Song Family Village. I wish to go nowhere else, alright?"
"Alright!" Song Changming nodded without hesitation, fulfilling Father Song’s last wish.
"It’s a pity about my Bisho Silkworm, didn’t get to see the five patterns..." Father Song’s eyes gradually became unfocused and lifeless.
Song’s Mother and Song Yu, mother and daughter, cried bitterly.
Though Song Changming did not cry aloud, he also felt deeply distressed.
He wasn’t born a member of the Song Family, but having traveled here, he treated the elderly couple as his real foster father and mother.
He knew he had to adapt to these things; in the days to come, in the pursuit of eternal life, such separations between life and death would continue to unfold.
This is also the price of longevity.
After a cremation, only an urn of ashes remained.
"If we are to bury him, we must wait until the army from Anyang recaptures Donglai County City," Liu Dingsheng heard Father Song’s last request and he knew Song Changming would certainly carry it out, so he couldn’t help but say.
Song Changming shook his head, softly and slowly saying, "It was my father’s dying request, how could I neglect it?"
Liu Dingsheng hesitated, then realized something, "You can’t be thinking of going back now?"
"Yes." Song Changming directly revealed his intention.
Although Father Song’s death was primarily due to his time running out.
But without this commotion and that cavalry relentlessly chasing them, Father Song might have lived a few more days.
Therefore, he resolved to return to the County City, firstly to bury Father Song and allow him to rest in peace sooner.
Secondly, to settle this matter and clear his mind!
Liu Dingsheng fell silent.
He understood Song Changming well and vaguely guessed that Song Changming was likely to cause an uproar upon his return.
And since Song Changming had already made up his mind, persuasion from others would probably be futile.
It’s just that the County City is highly dangerous now, even though Song Changming is exceptionally skilled, he is, after all, alone; this expedition into the dragon’s den and tiger’s lair made Liu Dingsheng quite worried.
"This matter is too risky..." In the end, he couldn’t help but say.
"If things become impossible, I won’t force myself," Song Changming said.
Liu Dingsheng heard this and knew further words were of no use, so he asked, "Is there anything you need me to do?"
"I’ll still need you, Elder, to help look after my mother and Third Sister," Song Changming said.
"Alright." Liu Dingsheng nodded in agreement.
When the convoy finally left the boundaries of the County City and was relatively safe, Song Changming immediately turned around and rode off alone.
To be cautious, Song Changming also left Dahuang and White with Song’s Mother to guard them along the way.
To Song’s Mother and the others, he only said he was going to bury Father Song without saying much more, lest he caused them unnecessary worry.
Riding swiftly all the way, Song Changming quickly returned to the County City the same way he had come.
By now, the County City was ablaze everywhere, black smoke billowing as if it had experienced a heavy bombardment; the ruins in the city stretched endlessly.
Corpses were even more numerous, countless in number.
As Song Changming set foot into the city, he was greeted by the overwhelming scent of blood filling the air.
The city was shrouded in scorching smoke, making the sun and moon invisible; it was utterly dark.
Like a city in purgatory, there was no trace of past peace and harmony.
"Help, save me!" In a nearby house, civilians who hadn’t managed to escape were desperately calling for help.
A few members of the Dinghai Water Gang were grabbing women from the house and dragging them inside.
"Little lady, if you don’t have enough money or food, resist, and your child will be fed to the Fog Beast!" One of the Dinghai Water Gang members threatened, insolently.
Just as he finished speaking, a towering figure entered the house unknowingly.
"Who are you?"
"What, think you’re going to be a valiant hero?!"
"You think you understand the plight in the city right now..."
Before several members of the Dinghai Water Gang finished their sentences, a flash of saber light swept past them.
In an instant, their heads flew off, and their faces froze in shock, dropping to the ground with their former arrogance still evident.
"Benefactor..." The woman clutched her child, knelt on the ground, and repeatedly bowed.
"Escape while you can." Song Changming said nothing more, stepping out and leaving.
Towards the Dinghai Water Gang, his heart was filled with even greater loathing.
This Dinghai Water Gang had connections with the Bandit Army led by the Dongcang Three Dragons, as Song Changming had previously pieced together the clues.
He was even forced to kill one of the Dongcang Three Dragons, Luo Haolin, who came seeking revenge on him.
But at the time, he hadn’t thought about it in terms of war.
He never expected that over half a year later, things would escalate to this extent.
Donglai County City had indeed fallen into their hands!