Section 1: Iron Cudgel Suo Nan, Rescue Master Yu Ya
Author: Gu Zhenren
Date: 2013-02-09
“A lie, how can this be?”
“The change is too fast?”
“Young Master, is it really okay for you to do this?”
The scholars who had just gone to bed and pledged allegiance to Chu Yun were urgently summoned. Upon arriving at the captain’s cabin and hearing Chu Yun’s announcement, they were all dumbfounded.
Chu Yun had actually robbed the treasure ship of Tiange Academy!
How could things change so quickly in such a short time?!
The former captain was tied up and gagged, bound in a corner. A rag was stuffed tightly into his mouth.
Everyone stared, stunned.
“30 nautical miles to the east, my Shu Family warship is under attack. It’s a pity this captain refused to cooperate. I underestimated myself with my ‘Fierce Tiger’! Let him reflect on his actions…”
Chu Yun’s eyes flashed with a cold glint as he glanced at the captain in the corner. Then, he scanned the scholars before him, his voice suddenly rising: “Everyone! Our course has changed, and we are approaching the battlefield. This is our first battle! Let me see your bravery!”
“Yes, Young Master! Yan Que will not fail the Young Master’s expectations!” Yan Que was the first to respond loudly.
“We will not fail the Young Master’s expectations!” Following him, everyone shouted in unison.
The treasure ship accelerated, like a sharp sword, cleaving through the wind and waves, rapidly approaching the battlefield.
This was a sea battle.
Seven warships tightly surrounded one vessel. Fireballs were shot everywhere, colliding with each other, illuminating the entire battlefield.
Master Yu Ya gritted his teeth, doing his best to resist the fierce bombardment from the enemy. He had been sent by Shu Tianhao to travel to Tiange Academy. Unexpectedly, he was intercepted by someone with ill intentions midway.
The seven sea ships possessed extraordinary combat power. He was quickly surrounded, and with his defenses breached, he was now trapped like a turtle in a jar.
“Master Yu Ya, the wise know when to yield! Why must you resist to the end? Our Wei Family Island is flourishing, with far more prospects than Shu Family Island. For you to abandon the dark and embrace the light is the wise choice.” The opposing general repeatedly shouted offers of surrender.
“Shut your dog mouth! Do you really think I, Yu Ya, am a man without integrity?!” Yu Ya immediately cursed in hatred and commanded the Lava Overlord Flower beside him to unleash a blast of Dan fire.
The Dan fire, as large as a carriage and dark red in color, exploded with a bang towards the source of the voice.
From the enemy’s flagship, a shadow of a cudgel emerged. It collided with the blasting Dan fire in mid-air, erupting with a loud bang. The Dan fire exploded, scattering flames like a blooming fireworks display.
“Master, why get angry? Ordinary folk may not know of your abilities, but our Wei Family Island Master has long admired you. If you come to Wei Family Island, you will surely be treated as an honored guest.” The general shouted again.
“Nonsense! If I go to your Wei Family, I fear I will never be free again. The Shu Family Island Master has a broad mind and has shown me great kindness. In this moment of crisis, he knocked me unconscious and sent me onto this ship, telling me to leave. If it were your Wei Family Master, he would have killed me long ago to avoid aiding the enemy! I’ll be damned if I serve such a person!” Yu Ya cursed.
The general also grew enraged: “Since Master refuses the offered toast and prefers the penalty, then do not blame me for being unreasonable.”
“Bah! Are you afraid of me? Come, come, I will fight you for three hundred rounds!” Yu Ya possessed the Lava Overlord Flower, the Bog Oil Toad, and the Mirror of the Heart, all Great Demon Soldiers. Although not skilled in combat, their fighting power was still considerable.
“Charge the entire army, ramming speed! Boarding! Close combat! Remember to capture Yu Ya alive.” The general gave the order, and the seven warship’s firepower intensified. Like seven hungry sharks, they advanced towards the ship carrying Master Yu Ya.
“Quick, alter course, full speed to break out!” Yu Ya’s face paled, and he shouted anxiously.
The Shu Family Army was skilled in sea battles, but they were ultimately outnumbered. They failed to break through, and the seven warships collided with the Shu family’s ships one after another.
Boom!
Seven ramming heads ferociously struck the Shu Family warship, with some even breaching the hull. Eight warships were now linked together. Countless Wei Family soldiers swarmed out, charging forward.
“We swear to protect Master Yu Ya!” A group of soldiers, clad in red, wielding sabers, and wearing copper bells at their waists, steadfastly guarded Yu Ya.
This group of soldiers, numbering only about 30, was unstoppable. Their formed circle was as solid as gold and unbreakable. Countless charging Wei Family soldiers fell beneath their sabers.
“Elite soldiers?!” The Wei Family general’s expression changed drastically for the first time, a look of shock on his face. “What kind of elite soldiers are these? The Shu Family Island has been hiding a batch of elite soldiers!”
Within an army, there were four ranks:杂兵 (rabble), 正军 (regular army), 悍卒 (fierce soldiers), and 精兵 (elite soldiers). The rabble were a disorganized mob, the regular army was a trained force, the fierce soldiers were brave and formed the backbone of the army, and the elite soldiers were the highest rank, often composed of fierce soldiers, who were not only brave but also disciplined and acted as a cohesive unit.
Elite soldiers were rare and usually held by first-rate powers. Wei Family Island was merely a top-tier second-rate power and did not possess elite soldiers.
These elite soldiers wielded demon blades of Lesser Demon level, wore copper bells at their waists, and their ringing echoed during combat. Their coordination was seamless, their saber lights like surging snow waves, forming an impregnable defense line. For every Wei Family soldier who charged, another would fall.
Conversely, these bell-wearing elite soldiers seemed to be aware of each other’s condition. If one was injured, they would retreat into the formation for battlefield first aid. Their replacements would step up, with movements that had no flaws or stagnation.
The Wei Family general looked on, both pleased and astonished: “Good heavens, the Shu Family Island has been hiding deeply! They actually possess the method for forging elite soldiers. If I could acquire this method, Wei Family Island could rise to become a first-rate power. With such a great contribution, the Island Master will surely reward me handsomely!”
Although elite soldiers were formidable, they were not invincible. Not only were there counterbalances between various troop types, but they were also essentially soldiers and could not withstand the might of a general.
The Wei Family general, wielding the Great Demon Soldier, the Iron Cudgel, charged onto the battlefield.
Indeed, the might of a general was unstoppable. He roared, “Sweep Army!”
His cultivation method was activated, creating a colossal phantom image of an iron cudgel that swept across. More than half of the 30 bell-wearing elite soldiers were struck by the cudgel’s shadow and collapsed on the ground, unable to rise.
“Hahaha.” The Wei Family general laughed heartily, clearing a path and advancing towards Yu Ya.
Yu Ya gritted his teeth and stepped forward, engaging him in a fierce battle.
He used the Lava Overlord Flower to block the frontal assault. After ten rounds, the Overlord Flower was heavily injured. Yu Ya was forced to withdraw it and then deployed the Bog Oil Toad. The toad was also severely wounded, forcing Yu Ya to draw out the Mirror of the Heart and unleash random shots.
The Wei Family general was momentarily disoriented by the blinding light but quickly recovered.
Yu Ya’s expression changed slightly. “Who are you? My Mirror of the Heart demon soldier has considerable cultivation, yet it could block my mirror light!”
The Wei Family general spun his Iron Cudgel, stirring up a gust of wind, and laughed loudly, “I am Suo Nan, the Chief General of the Wei Family!”
“So you are Iron Cudgel Suo Nan.” Yu Ya’s heart sank. The opponent had once appeared on the list of Prodigies, his monster tamer title being “Iron Cudgel.” Later, like the Fierce Tiger of Many Stars, he was injured in battle, and his name was removed from the list.
However, it was precisely this injury that caused a significant change in his volatile temperament. He learned to think and became truly capable of handling matters independently.
This time, he was appointed by the Wei Family Island Master to lead the fleet attacking Shu Family Island. By chance, he encountered a Shu Family vessel. He had intended to annihilate it directly, but unexpectedly, he saw Yu Ya’s figure.
His heart instantly rejoiced, knowing Yu Ya’s value. Therefore, he only slowed his attack to wear down his opponent, aiming to capture him alive.
“I didn’t expect Master Yu Ya to know my name, Iron Cudgel Suo Nan! Master, are you still going to resist?” General Suo Nan laughed heartily, closing in on Yu Ya step by step.
“Damn it!” Yu Ya’s expression turned extremely grim. The cultivation methods his demon spirits had comprehended were mostly for weapon forging. Coupled with his own lack of combat prowess, he was no match for Suo Nan.
“Protect the Master!” The remaining bell-wearing elite soldiers shouted in unison. Although they knew they were outmatched, they still formed a human wall, blocking Suo Nan.
“Seeking death!” Suo Nan sneered. “Sweep Army!”
The demon weapon in his hand instantly erupted with brilliant light, which spread out, forming a giant cudgel phantom. Suo Nan took a large stride forward, the cudgel shadow tearing through the air, accompanied by a whistling, fierce wind, as it swept towards them again.
“Worse!” At this moment, Yu Ya’s heart skipped a beat. His eyes turned bloodshot, glaring in vain, unwilling to witness the Shu Family elite soldiers being swept away together.
Suo Nan’s face contorted in ferocity, as if he could already see the next moment, where these reckless elite soldiers would be severely injured by his sweep, their bones cracking and blood spurting.
But just then, an extremely strong sense of crisis suddenly arose in Suo Nan’s heart!
Years of battlefield experience made him react without thinking, shifting the direction of his cudgel to the rear left.
Boom!
A flash of bright saber light shot forward, directly striking the cudgel shadow, and the two cancelled each other out.
Suo Nan felt a tremendous force surge through him, forcing him back five or six steps. His face changed drastically, and looking ahead, he roared in anger and surprise: “Who goes there?!”
A treasure ship could be seen flying towards them. Its hull was majestic and enormous; compared to their sea vessels, it immediately appeared much smaller.
At the bow of the ship stood a young man, his eyebrows like swords and his eyes like stars. His build was imposing, his eyes darting like lightning, and his demeanor heroic. The whistling sea breeze billowed his clothes, further accentuating his strong physique. Most eye-catching was the great saber in his hand.
The blade resembled snow, and its saber energy was icy cold. In the vast night, it was particularly striking!
Yu Ya was stunned, never expecting Chu Yun to appear here in time.
“Young Island Master!” The Shu Family soldiers exclaimed in unison.
“Drunken Snow Saber?!” Suo Nan did not recognize Chu Yun, but he recognized the renowned Drunken Snow Saber. His eyebrows shot up, and just as he reacted, the treasure ship rammed forward with a deafening crash, its ramming horn striking fiercely.
The treasure ship’s momentum was immense, smashing a gaping hole two zhang wide and three zhang long in the hull of a Wei Family Island sea vessel.
Suo Nan was instantly enraged, roaring, “How dare you!” He unleashed his cultivation method again, his Iron Cudgel transforming into a giant phantom, stirring up a roaring wind as it lunged towards Chu Yun.
Chu Yun let out a cold laugh and softly uttered, “Snow Fang.”
Boom!
Saber energy erupted, and the saber light of the Drunken Snow Saber in his hand flared, solidifying like substance. The blade expanded threefold, its width comparable to a door panel.
Suo Nan was startled, his charge halted by Chu Yun’s overwhelming aura. His feet involuntarily slowed down.
