Chapter 107: What Sort of Great Wind General Is That? (Please Subscribe)

The Fire Dragon Demon King struck, and Qin Beifeng’s body was sent flying instantly.

Bones shattered with a crisp, audible snap. Blood, bright and crimson, sprayed from his mouth. His once heroic face turned deathly pale in an instant, his hair disheveled, and his appearance utterly wretched. Many soldiers of the Northern Expeditionary Army watched this scene in disbelief, their widened eyes filled with shock.

How could this be? Qin Beifeng was but a step away from the Heaven-Human Realm. Even if the Fire Dragon Demon King were a Demon Emperor, it should have been impossible to reduce Qin Beifeng to such a sorry state with a single blow!

It made no sense. A chaotic mix of emotions surged in everyone’s hearts, their expressions becoming profoundly complex.

It was at this moment that Duke Cheng Shiyuan, the Guardian of the State, witnessed the scene. His aged face trembled, and his figure, previously standing with hands behind his back, stiffened slightly. The next moment, he sighed, his body appearing behind Qin Beifeng in a flash, one hand bracing his frame.

Under the Duke’s intervention, Qin Beifeng’s rapidly retreating body came to a sudden, jarring halt, as if hit by an emergency brake. Even so, the immense impact caused layers of air currents to explode where the two connected, forming shockwaves visible to the naked eye.

Qin Beifeng clearly realized that the person behind him was Duke Cheng Shiyuan. A flicker of shame appeared on his pale face.

"Duke, I..."

Qin Beifeng opened his mouth slightly, intending to speak, but another mouthful of blood spewed out, forcing his words to an abrupt end.

Duke Cheng Shiyuan’s expression remained unchanged as he probed Qin Beifeng’s body with his internal energy. After a brief scan, his heart sank, and he felt a headache coming on. Qin Beifeng’s injuries were grave. The Fire Dragon Demon King’s demonic essence had invaded his limbs, bones, and meridians, causing catastrophic damage. Beyond the damage to his meridians, what troubled the Duke most was that Qin Beifeng’s entire skeletal structure had fractured.

Even if Duke Cheng Shiyuan could purge the demonic energy and heal the meridians, mending every bone in Qin Beifeng’s body was not something that could be done in a short time. It would take at least several hours.

Under normal circumstances, several hours would not be considered slow. But what time was it now? It was a time when demons were laying siege to the city, and Zhenbei City was struggling to survive under a relentless onslaught. For a great general like Qin Beifeng to be sidelined for hours was effectively the same as him being dead. The battlefield changed in the blink of an eye; no one knew what would happen next. A minor shift could alter the entire outcome of the war.

Qin Beifeng being injured in this moment had a tremendous impact on the entire city and the Northern Expeditionary Army.

Duke Cheng Shiyuan sighed, stabilized Qin Beifeng’s injuries by suppressing the lingering demonic essence, and brought him back up to the city walls. As soon as they returned, soldiers rushed forward to take him, bandaging his wounds and treating him with all their might. It was always better to have Qin Beifeng recover as quickly as possible.

Lying on the stretcher, Qin Beifeng felt overwhelmed with shame. "Duke, I have disgraced myself. This Fire Dragon Demon King has bizarre methods; I don't know why, but suddenly, I was unable to counter him... I hope the Duke will punish me."

Duke Cheng Shiyuan heard the apology but did not say much. He, too, had not expected Qin Beifeng to be defeated so easily by the Fire Dragon Demon King, nor had he expected such severe injuries. Looking at Qin Beifeng’s pale face, the Duke recalled what Cheng Guang had once said. His grandson had mentioned that Qin Beifeng’s identity might be problematic.

Was this unusually severe injury just a smokescreen? If Qin Beifeng possessed a healing technique similar to his grandson’s "Endless Vitality," these injuries could be healed in minutes. If he intended to pull some trick, he would know that, seeing him heavily wounded, the others would lower their guard.

So... was there truly something wrong with Qin Beifeng?

Thinking of this, the Duke felt a throb of pain in his temples. Regardless of the truth, he began to harbor a sliver of suspicion.

"Beifeng, do not worry; this Fire Dragon Demon King is indeed not simple. Rest well and do not move. As long as I am here, nothing will go wrong in Zhenbei City within these next few hours."

After comforting him, the Duke turned to the attending medic. "Take him down to receive treatment."

The medic complied, carrying Qin Beifeng away from the walls. Nearby, Li Bojun watched the stretcher being carried away, his expression quite peculiar. "Duke, this Fire Dragon Demon King is indeed unusual to have defeated Qin Beifeng in only two moves. I shall go and contend with him."

Duke Cheng Shiyuan nodded slightly. "Very well."

With the keen eyes of the Duke and Li Bojun, they had seen no special techniques used by the Fire Dragon Demon King—just a standard exchange. A cultivator of lower rank would likely have been crushed by the mere shockwaves of their battle. But for men of their caliber, the clash had been like a light drizzle. That was exactly why Qin Beifeng’s swift and brutal defeat seemed so strange.

In his shock, Li Bojun subconsciously assumed the Demon King must be hiding something. Duke Cheng Shiyuan also wanted to see if the Demon King had used any secret maneuvers, hoping to verify if Qin Beifeng’s injury was feigned.

Li Bojun stepped into the void, facing the Fire Dragon Demon King.

The Demon King was still basking in the joy of his two-move victory. He felt that the human general of Zhenbei City, the legendary Qin Beifeng, was pitifully weak. He was sure to earn great merit today. When he saw Li Bojun appear, his confidence swelled, and a grin split his face.

"Another one comes. It’s a pity I didn't kill Qin Beifeng just now, but you won't be as lucky as he was."

The Fire Dragon Demon King roared, his muscular, thick body charging toward Li Bojun. In contrast, Li Bojun’s lean frame looked like a child who had yet to grow up.

"Go to hell!" The Demon King grinned hideously, shouting as tongues of fire surged from his mouth, weaving together like a thousand silk threads to form an armor of solidified dragon fire. He threw a punch, the flames surging with terrifying momentum toward Li Bojun.

Facing the attack, Li Bojun showed no panic. He seemed prepared, and because of Qin Beifeng’s suspicious defeat, he was on high alert, intending to use a lethal strike from the start.

Li Bojun stepped through the air, shouting as his internal energy erupted. The luster of various divine abilities flickered around him as he met the charging Demon King with a punch.

One punch birthed a hundred. Countless fist shadows flew out, each one expanding in the wind to become a savage beast, pouncing toward the Fire Dragon Demon King.

Before he could even get close to Li Bojun, the Demon King was startled by the sheer power of the technique. He desperately slammed on the brakes, his face turning pale at the overwhelming aura.

"You old man! You’re trying to kill me right off the bat!"

The Demon King retreated, but Li Bojun’s fist energy was too vast to dodge completely. He could only guard his head with his arms.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

The beasts formed from fist energy struck the Demon King like heavy hammers. He screamed as cracks appeared on his fire-forged armor, which shattered into dust in mere moments. The Demon King’s expression shifted, and as he tried to counter-attack, he found himself gasping for breath under the relentless barrage.

Compared to Qin Beifeng, Li Bojun’s pressure was suffocating. What was happening? Could he beat Qin Beifeng but not Li Bojun? The Demon King’s not-so-bright mind began to doubt his own strength, unable to fathom why two generals of the same level could have such a vast disparity in power.

Struggling under the onslaught, the Demon King’s armor broke, and bruises appeared across his body. Another mouthful of blood sprayed out, and his face paled further.

"Damn it! Do you really think I’m afraid of you? You’re courting death!"

The Demon King roared and transformed into his true form—a horned dragon-snake wreathed in ghostly blue flames, churning through the sea of clouds. With a hideous screech, he stirred the wind and clouds, charging at Li Bojun with the force of a tidal wave.

Li Bojun’s expression remained composed, showing only a hint of caution. "Hmph!"

He snorted, his palm shifting from a fist. As the dragon-snake dived toward him, he slowly closed his hand.

In the next instant, Li Bojun seemed to have gripped something, his palm pausing slightly. At the same time, the Fire Dragon Demon King in the sky felt a sudden chill, his fierce expression replaced by a look of dawning terror. Just as before, he hadn't even touched the hem of Li Bojun’s robe before he decided to run.

He forced his charge to a halt, turning to flee into the dark clouds of demons. "No more! I’m done!"

"Hmph! Where are you running? Divine Martial Art: Danyang Grip!"

With a cold snort, the air around the Demon King seemed to compress instantly, causing a series of explosions. The surrounding void cracked like shattered glass under a terrifying force.

The Demon King froze, his body going rigid as if under immense pressure. He let out a tragic howl as every scale on his body shattered into fine dust. Blood flowed from his mouth, his pale face filled with horror—a single move had brought him to the brink of death.

The gap in strength between him and Li Bojun was even greater than the one between him and Qin Beifeng!

He couldn't believe it! But he was dying. His bones and flesh were crying out in agony, and Li Bojun’s palm was still slowly closing. Once it fully closed, his life would be over.

"Demon Emperor, save me!"

At that moment, a powerful aura surged from the depths of the clouds, washing over the Demon King’s body like flowing water. The pressure vanished, and without hesitation, the Demon King tucked his tail and dove into the safety of the clouds.

Li Bojun did not pursue. He had known all along that he couldn't kill the Demon King; even without rescue, the demon’s physical resilience was far beyond that of a human. The purpose of this battle had been merely to test the Demon King’s strength.

The Demon King was strong, but not an overwhelmingly powerful one. If he could suppress the Demon King in two moves, there was no reason Qin Beifeng should have been so easily defeated. Why was that? Li Bojun pondered, finding that he could no longer understand the situation.

As he was thinking, a figure slowly walked out from the depths of the clouds. Before anyone could see the face, a powerful voice echoed from the sea of demons.

"Heh... Zhenbei City and the Northern Expeditionary Army are truly not simple. Qin Beifeng’s performance earlier made me think I wouldn't even need to intervene, that a few Demon Kings would suffice to trample this city. It seems I must act after all. Duke, long time no see."

The voice began as a whisper but instantly swelled into a thunderclap, making the very space tremble. Following it came a terrifying aura, vast as a storm and deep as an ocean, sweeping across Zhenbei City.

On the walls, soldiers fighting the demons suddenly felt as if a mountain had been placed upon their shoulders. An inexplicable pressure made their movements sluggish. Duke Cheng Shiyuan, standing on the ramparts, lifted his eyes slightly. He felt no panic, but rather surprise. He stepped into the air and, without a single movement, blocked the aura of the Demon Emperor with his own presence alone.

Only then did the soldiers feel relief.

Duke Cheng Shiyuan stood in the void, looking at the figure emerging from the clouds, his aged face cold and emotionless. "Ghost Spider Demon Emperor? I thought you emperors would hide in the shadows until the very end. You’ve grown bold today. What, only one of you came? Do you really think you can trample my Zhenbei City alone?"

The being known as the Ghost Spider Demon Emperor revealed his form. He was gargantuan, his skin a deep, abyssal black. His face was humanoid, yet resembled that of a spider, with twisted features that formed a bizarre expression. His limbs were long and powerful, each finger tipped with sharp, hidden claws that seemed capable of tearing through anything in the world.

Beyond his face, what drew the most attention was his stomach. It was round and bloated, moving occasionally as if something living were trapped inside.

The Ghost Spider Demon Emperor walked out and laughed at the Duke. "How could that be? Today’s events were sudden; you didn't expect them, and neither did I. Even if I had absolute certainty, I wouldn't dare face you alone."

As he finished speaking, another figure appeared abruptly beside him. The figure was shrouded in a turbid mist, making his features hard to discern, though one could see a pair of deep, piercing eyes. He wore a black robe, had a tall, robust physique, long dark hair, and thin, slender fingers with scales on his skin.

Duke Cheng Shiyuan glanced at him and raised a brow. "Soul-Devouring Demon Emperor?"

The Soul-Devouring Demon Emperor under the black robe chuckled, his expression unreadable as he watched the Duke. He said nothing, merely glancing at the surrounding sea of demons before speaking slowly.

"Duke, you are isolated and without aid. If you are wise, you would do well to surrender."

Two Demon Emperors descended over the city, their demonic aura filling the sky and bringing a heavy pressure upon the Northern Expeditionary Army. If the soldiers’ mental fortitude hadn't been so strong, they would have lost their will to fight. The pressure of two Demon Emperors was simply too great. If the Duke couldn't handle them, the city gates would fall, and there would be no hope of victory.

"Heh."

In mid-air, the Duke remained calm. He raised a hand, and a flash of blood-red light appeared. In a breath, a great saber, slightly taller than the Duke himself, was gripped in his hand.

"If you want to fight, then fight. What of it if you are Demon Emperors? I was just worrying about where to find Demon Emperor cores for my grandson. Your arrival is perfect."

Duke Cheng Shiyuan spoke and swung his blade toward the two Emperors in the sea of demons. At the same time, Li Bojun and the senior officers of the Northern Expeditionary Army followed the Duke, slaughtering the surrounding demons. Their goal was not to kill the Emperors—a battle of that level was beyond their reach—but to clear the path and ensure no other Demon Kings could interfere.

Seeing the Duke charge forward, the Ghost Spider Demon Emperor was startled. He clearly hadn't expected the Duke to be so bold. To face two of them without a shred of fear and even take the initiative to attack—was this a lack of respect for their status as Emperors?

The two Emperors acted in unison. Their bloodline divine abilities erupted simultaneously. Behind the Ghost Spider Demon Emperor, a giant palm appeared, covered in eerie black patterns, with threads wrapped around its fingers. As the palm moved, the threads hissed like living things, tearing through the air toward the Duke.

The Soul-Devouring Demon Emperor conjured a phantom of a pitch-black rat, its gaping maw drawing in all surrounding energy. The Duke felt his internal energy being drawn out, pulled toward the rat’s abyss-like throat.

"Blood Sea Berserker Blade!"

The Duke faced the combined attack without a trace of panic, swinging his blade. As it moved, the edge shimmered with the light of martial divine arts, and a sea of blood and mountains of corpses manifested around him. This was the martial art he cultivated—the Blood Sea Berserker Blade! A path proven through slaughter!

The attacks connected in a heartbeat!

*Boom!!!*

After a thunderous roar, the threads from the Ghost Spider Demon Emperor were severed by the Duke’s fierce strike, and the black rat phantom behind the Soul-Devouring Demon Emperor was split down the middle, becoming significantly more translucent and ethereal.

The two peerless demons had been dealt a massive shock in just a single exchange.

"Duke! Your martial divine art... could it be that you have reached the Second Heaven-Human Realm!?"

The Soul-Devouring Demon Emperor, usually calm and unflappable, voiced his shock, his voice rasping with horror. The human Heaven-Human Realm and the demonic Demon Emperor Realm were the same level. Yet, even at this pinnacle of the world, there was room for growth. Evolving divine arts to an incredible degree and comprehending higher levels of natural laws allowed one to break through to a greater realm.

Entering the realm was the First Level. Further evolution of one’s arts and cultivation led to the Second Level. Generally, for any being—human, demon, or monster—reaching this realm was an immense achievement, and many would never progress further. There was no clear path; one could only grope in the dark.

It was precisely because of this that the Soul-Devouring Demon Emperor was so utterly shaken. The Ghost Spider Demon Emperor beside him also gasped, his eyes fixed on the Duke, feeling that this was a disaster. Had they known the Duke had improved his cultivation, they would have waited patiently.

The Soul-Devouring Demon Emperor sighed. Despite the shock and regret of engaging the Duke so early, he felt no true fear. They were both in the same realm. Even if the Duke had improved, it wouldn't change much. In a prolonged battle against two Emperors, the Duke would inevitably exhaust his stamina. They just needed an opportunity to breach the city gates.

Once the gates fell and the demons flooded in, the city would collapse. Even a Second-Level Heaven-Human powerhouse could not change that. If the Duke did nothing, fine; if he fought, they would wait for him to tire and then strike him down.

The Soul-Devouring Demon Emperor smiled beneath his black robe, feeling victory was still within reach. The Duke, looking at them, knew exactly what they were thinking. He hadn't actually broken through to the Second Level; he only had a rough idea of how to evolve his arts. After reaching this realm, progress relied entirely on insight. It could not be rushed.

But even without the Second Level, he had nothing to fear. He saw through their plans instantly. As long as he stood, the gates of Zhenbei City would not fall.

In the blink of an eye, they clashed again. The battle between the three reached the highest level, every move evolving into something unimaginable. The sky changed color, and the world echoed with thunderous drums.

Amidst this, Li Bojun and the officers clashed with the Demon Kings and generals. With Zhenbei City as the center, blood stained the earth for thousands of feet, and the sounds of killing reached the heavens.

Cheng Guang stood on the wall, watching the battle, his heart pounding. He had only seen such battlefields in games in his previous life, but now, he was witnessing it from a first-person perspective. He could smell the blood, feel the tremors in the air, and perceive the danger clinging to him like a shadow. His blood couldn't help but surge.

He could not help in this battle. Individual strength was insignificant here. Even the Duke or the Emperors could not decide the war alone; they could only use their power to influence a critical point to turn the tide. For the city, the critical point was the gates.

He knew that as long as the Duke was present, the gates would not fall. The real question was the traitor. If Qin Beifeng hadn't lost to the Fire Dragon Demon King, he might have only been suspicious, but now, with the Fire Dragon Demon King having been easily routed by Li Bojun, the contrast was too great.

Everyone knew Qin Beifeng was slightly stronger than Li Bojun. This defeat was too bizarre. But because of the proximity of the demons, no one had the time to dwell on it.

Cheng Guang looked toward the tent where Qin Beifeng was resting. He decided to go and watch him. If Qin Beifeng was indeed the traitor, he would have no fear; he possessed the "Demon-Transforming Armor," a bug-like existence that even a Heaven-Human powerhouse could not easily penetrate.

He calmed himself, put on a look of concern, and entered the tent.

A faint smell of blood permeated the air. In the center, Qin Beifeng was looking out the window at the battle between the Duke and the Emperors, his brow furrowing and relaxing with the ebb and flow of the fight. He didn't even notice Cheng Guang enter until he was right beside the bed.

Qin Beifeng looked up, surprised, then smiled. "Young Master, why are you here?"

Cheng Guang wore a look of concern. "Uncle Qin, I was worried about you. You were wounded by the Fire Dragon Demon King, and I wanted to see how you were."

Qin Beifeng looked embarrassed, scratching his cheek. "It makes me ashamed. I should not have been defeated; I don't know why, but my body suddenly lacked strength."

Cheng Guang observed him closely, seeing no signs of deception, which left him feeling somewhat lost. Was Qin Beifeng not the traitor? The Duke and the Emperors were already fighting. If Qin Beifeng were the traitor, why hadn't he moved yet? Was it his injuries?

"Uncle Qin, don't worry about it. Rest well. How are your injuries?"

Qin Beifeng sighed. "It will take some time, at least several hours. I cannot help with the battle outside during this time."

Cheng Guang nodded noncommittally. "Don't rush. Just focus on healing. Zhenbei City should be fine."

He walked to a side table, poured a cup of tea, and sipped it, with no intention of leaving. If Qin Beifeng was the suspect, watching him was worth the time.

Qin Beifeng noticed this, and a hidden smile touched his lips before he suppressed it. It seemed Cheng Guang staying was a pleasant surprise. He checked his internal state, felt he needed more time, and turned his gaze back to the window, watching the battle. The two Emperors were failing to overcome the Duke—they were truly useless. He sighed internally, closing his eyes. It seemed he would have to do this himself.

Time passed slowly.

A quarter of an hour later, at a certain moment, the wounds on Qin Beifeng’s body—which had been faintly bleeding—healed instantly. A shimmer of light passed, and his pale face returned to its usual vigor. His aura became stable and balanced; he looked as if he had never been injured.

This movement caught Cheng Guang’s attention. He put down his teacup and watched. Qin Beifeng smiled, removed the bloody bandages, sat up, and donned his armor.

Cheng Guang was stunned. It had been less than half an hour. How could such severe injuries heal in less than half an hour? There had been no signs of recovery—it was as if time had reversed. Cheng Guang, possessing the Taiji Diagram, understood concepts of time and sensed that some power was at work.

He feigned surprise and joy. "Uncle Qin, your injuries are healed?"

Qin Beifeng nodded, stepping toward him. "Young Master, I am healed. Do not worry." As he approached, his smile faded.

Cheng Guang felt a sudden, sharp danger, like a needle prick against his skin.

Qin Beifeng reached out, placed a hand on Cheng Guang’s shoulder, and shook his head. "However, Young Master, you should be worried about yourself. I intended to come find you after I healed, but it seems that has been saved."

Cheng Guang looked bewildered, though he was cursing inwardly. "Uncle Qin, what are you saying? Why do you want to find me?"

Qin Beifeng’s face turned cold and dignified, as if he were a different person. "I have no more time. Young Master, forgive me."

Without explanation, he grabbed Cheng Guang, stepped forward, and the two of them traversed the void, appearing silently near the city gates.

The soldiers guarding the gates were pleasantly surprised to see him. "General Qin, your injuries are healed!? As expected of you, General!"

Qin Beifeng ignored them. "Open the gates."

The soldiers were stunned. Before they could react, several of Qin Beifeng’s trusted aides were already operating the gate mechanism. The heavy gates began to rise.

The other soldiers looked on, horrified. When one soldier tried to stop the aides, a blade of light flashed. The soldier was about to be beheaded when a laugh echoed.

"Old Qin, what are you doing opening the gates?"

It was Li Bojun. He pressed his thin hands onto the shoulders of the aide operating the gate, saying nothing. The aide trembled, pale-faced. "General... General Li... why are you here?"

Qin Beifeng frowned, deeply surprised. His plan had been to open all the gates simultaneously, but it had been thwarted repeatedly. He had been forced to insert his secretly trained aides into the city guards. He hadn't expected Li Bojun to appear here instead of fighting the Demon Kings.

Li Bojun sighed, patting his forehead. "The Duke anticipated this and told me to keep an eye on you. I didn't know what was happening until I saw you bring the Young Master here and demand the gates be opened. Old Qin, with your status, why join the demons? What is the point?"

Qin Beifeng looked at him, feeling a mix of disappointment and shock. "The Duke anticipated this?"

He had hidden his identity since joining the army. He had married in Zhenbei City, raised a daughter, and even sent her to be trained by the Duke to earn his trust. How could he have been suspected?

Qin Beifeng breathed in, looking at Li Bojun with a smile. "What is the point? It is too bitter. The Great Chu’s hundred generals were trampled by the Duke. The Great Chu palace was trampled by the Duke. The Great Chu empire was trampled by the Duke. Even if the nation is broken, the soul of Great Chu remains. To avenge the fallen, I would gladly be ground to dust. My years of endurance were for this day. As long as I live, the soul of Great Chu lives. Great Chu is not dead."

Li Bojun fell silent. He had not expected Qin Beifeng to be one of the hundred generals of Great Chu. Those men had stood against a million soldiers and died on their feet. Even as an enemy, Li Bojun held them in respect.

Li Bojun looked at him, rubbing his chin. "So, you are the Great Wind General among the hundred?"

Qin Beifeng laughed, his voice growing louder, tears in his eyes. "What Great Wind General... the nation fell before I could even take office..."

Cheng Guang, held by Qin Beifeng, felt a strange sense of absurdity. He had been the Crown Prince of Great Chu. This was a case of "the water washing away the Dragon King's temple." Even if he told Qin Beifeng, the man wouldn't believe him.

He sighed. This was truly difficult. He had originally intended to ruin Qin Beifeng, but now, learning of his history and his desire to avenge his fallen nation, he found himself unable to strike.