The sky was torn open, and Black Dragon faced the thunderbolt. And Flowing Light enwrapped it. With a bang, Spirit Light crackled through the sky. Black Dragon introduced the thunderbolt technique. Xu Linghe waved the Flowing Light Sword and rushed straight into the sky. Di army was separated by Jin’s columns and then encroached gradually until being annihilated completely. The corpses piled up like a mountain in the jade mine. Black Dragon gleamed blue with each scale sucking in the thunderbolt. Xu Linghe swept away, and Black Dragon down-thrust at Xu Linghe. Thunder and lightning shook the earth and trembled the mountains. Instantly, the top of the mountain was peeled off half. The loose stone flew toward the jade mine. The devil army knew escaping techniques, so they could easily avoid the boulder. However, the Jin soldiers were flesh of common people and unable to resist the attack. Seeing the boulder crashing to the Jin army, Xu Linghe ran straight to the Jin army camp, gathered Spirit Power and lifted the boulder with the hands. Black Dragon fell onto the boulder to release the thunderbolt. The thunderbolt was burning through the boulder. Then, the boulder was burned hot and scorched Xu Linghe’s hands with heart-piercing pain. However, if he loosened his hands at that moment, the Jin soldiers would be crushed into meat sauce. Xu Linghe would not let the brothers who were fighting dauntlessly die. His faith supported him. Black Dragon gave another blow. Under the thunderbolt, the boulder was burnt with smoke and began melting. One drop, two drops… Xu Linghe’s clothes were burnt, but he condensed his spirit and gathered Qi. Then, Spirit Power began aggregating. When the sparks splashed, he lifted Black Dragon and threw toward the cliff. Black Dragon was bound by the sudden spiritual power. Xu Linghe smashed the boulder on time, and his hands were as fast as lightning. After the spirit light, the giant tail was smashed into half. Black Dragon roared and rushed to the sky. Seeing the Emperor Qi flee away, Di soldiers had no desire to continue fighting. This war killed or injured half of the Jin troops and fifty thousand of Di soldiers. Di Qing was defeated utterly. He had thought he could win the battle easily, but out of his expectation, he encountered Xu Linghe halfway. And Di Qing’s two hundred thousand troops were reduced to one hundred and fifty thousand. Jin had only twenty thousand soldiers left. Although the battle was horrifying, the weak part finally defeated the strong one. The peace and harmony in Jin City were gained by lives. Di army withdrew from the Southern Front. Black Dragon’s injury impaired Di soldier’s morale. Although the devil soldiers were demonic souls, they had been killed numerously by the Hongjun Crossbows. Di army was defeated and ran away. Di Qing had forgotten Lin Xiaosa, and his one hundred and fifty thousand troops ran to the West. Di Qing tried to subjugate the Jin City, but was stopped halfway by Xu Linghe. Di army suffered great loss. But as long as Di Qing was alive, the Qi Kingdom belonged to him forever, and the Jin City was a part of the Qi Kingdom.

After cleaning up the jade mine and burning Di army’s corpses, Xu Linghe led the troops to the South. Madam Yu had to guard the Shili Town. When the main forces entered the Southern Front, the Front had been scared along the way. Not far from the Shili Town, they found the inkling: each corpse had been eroded by naga poison. The wounds were deep to the bones, and the faces had been frightfully destroyed. Wild dogs engulfed the corpses in the ditch. Xu Linghe flipped his spiritual fingers to scare those dogs to flee away. The main forces hurried to the Shili Town, and could hear the killing sound in the distance. Xu Linghe rushed to the center of the town, followed by Jin army’s Marshal. With few steps, Di army’s corpses fell from the sky, and their spouting brains scared the soldiers to hide immediately. Di army flooded up, and Madam Yu gave another palm, but the soldiers were too tenacious and bounced back from the ground and fought to Madam Yu. Blood dyed the Shili Town red. Lin Xiaosa’s sharp saber cleaved Madam Yu’s flesh open, and she was numb with hurt. Soldiers resisted painstakingly. Lin Xiaosa beat Madam Yu so heavily that she had no power to fight back. Di soldiers joinlty attacked the old woman. And she was about to be the soul of the sabers. At that moment, her reinforcement rushed up, and Xu Linghe’s Spirit Power separated the offensive. Lin Xiaosa was forced to retreat tens of meters away. The two looked at each other. Madam Yu gasped for air and staggered, as if her arms and legs were out of joint. The soldiers rushed to help her. Madam Yu narrowly passed by the God of Death and was grateful to Xu Linghe. In terms of of the past, Madam Yu’s daughter, Ming Zhu injured Xu Linghe’s wife. Then, the affair was over and the situation had changed. Her daughter would not come back to life. And Xu Linghe saved Madam Yu’s life. Therefore, Madam Yu’s inner conflict was solved and decided to live well from now on.

“Xiaosa, how have you been?”

The feelings between brotherhood were unforgettable. Even if they met each other on the battlefield with weapons, Xu Linghe would not hurt his brother. Lin Xiaosa gave a palm with his one hundred percent of Spirit Power. The roof was blown over, and the room was broken a hole. Xu Linghe dodged the attack and flew to the roof. Xu Linghe would not blame his brother, because they served for different Masters, and had their own difficulties. Lin Xiaosa gave another palm. But the Jin army’s Commander in Chief just ducked it without attacking actively. So the Jin soldiers rushed up in order to protect their Commander in Chief.

“Retreat.” The soldiers did not dare to go forward, but watched the battle far away. Lin Xiaosa slashed to Xu Linghe, and Xu Linghe’s front clothes were stained with blood after some cuts. But Lin Xiaosa still could not be ruthless to his brother Xu Linghe, and held his leather whip tightly and entangled. Jin’s soldiers could not bear to see it any longer, waved longspears and rushed up. Lin Xiaosa flew to the back mountain, and Xu Linghe followed him closely.

“Xiaosa.” Lin Xiaosa stopped and threw away his whip.

“Fate does play tricks on people…” Lin Xiaosa let out a long sigh, but could not anything else for the sake of Xiaoli.

“”We are always brothers. You have difficulties, and I have responsibility.”

Xu Linghe’s thoughts wandered to the past. Many years ago, Xu Linghe had been arrested by Emperor Di. He was young and met Lin Xiaosa who had been taken as a hostage at that moment. They had the same fates, and made friends since childhood. No one could expect that the brothers of the old days could not resist the fate. Lin Xiaosa had the things to protect, while Xu Linghe had his own beliefs. The authority launched wars under the guise of justice. However, all were highfalutin. Always the children who had not enough strength were the victims. Yan Shen could see through it in time and withdrew from the desires, then, he was greatly awakened and took things lightly. However, Di Qing was always obsessed with Authority. Lin Xiaosa was threatened and went against his will. Xu Linghe understood him very well.

“Take care…”

Lin Xiaosa quietly stared at the receding figure. When could they meet again after parting each other today? Lin Xiaosa returned to Di army’s barrack. Di Qing had been waiting for him. Lin Xiaosa’s look told that he had failed to attack the Jin City. Lin Xiaosa just wanted to get a dead drunk so as to forget the unhappiness in his heart. With a few hard gulps, he drank a bowl of liquor. Burning hot sprang up. With a twitch on the nose, tears were full of Lin Xiaosa’s eyes. Thinking about his brother’s wound was so deep to see the bones, Lin Xiaosa took more gulps. Xu Linghe did not change, and Lin Xiaosa himself did not change, either but was manipulated by fate. Di Qing lost the battle and gnashed teeth with great hatred of Xu Linghe, thinking that Xu Linghe was his invincible opponent. Why did Xu Linghe not stay in Kunlun, but run to the human realm add more trouble? The more Di Qing thought, the more furious he got. He kicked the table over and the wine bowls were smashed on the ground. Di Qing felt his hatred was not vented fully, and gave two kicks to Leng Cang. It was because Leng Cang killed Yan Bao that trouble proliferated one after another, even the Qi Kingdom was separated from then on. Leng Cang had to tolerate it. Even if the Emperor wanted to kill him, Leng Cang did not dare to disobey the order.

Di Qing suspected that there was a spy in the army, because he had planned perfectly, but was intercepted halfway by Xu Linghe. There must be something wrong in it. Di Qing glanced at the camp coldly. Who was the spy? Lin Xiaosa did not care about it, because no one understood his sorrow. According to Di Qing’s plan, they could return to the capital in three to five years or so. Thinking about the wife and child, Lin Xiaosa walked out of the camp in low spirits and sat on the haystack. He held a wine gourd in a gloomy mood. Coldness in December was piercing to the bones. Night wind drilled into the neck and chilled the back to disperse the alcohol flavor directly. Lin Xiaosa came back to the camp, but the fire had burnt out. He had no choice but to blow on his hands and wrap himself in the quilt to the dawn.

Awakened by the noise of little soldiers, Lin Xiaosa walked out of the camp. The sun finally came out after many cloudy days. Wind blew away the gloomy clouds. The moment he came out of the camp, the sunshine glared too brightly to eyes. Lin Xiaosa screwed up his eyes.

“Dad.” A chubby girl ran to him under the sunshine. Lin Xiaosa did not believe it and rubbed his eyes. When the soft body flung into his arms, Lin Xiaosa finally believed it.

“Senior Brother Xiaosa.”

The woman stood far away, waited until the man stretched out his big hands, and ran to him. At that moment, Lin Xiaosa thought nothing but the time could stop, because there were two women who he loved most in his arms.

“How can you get to the military camp. It is a forbidden area.”

“I am the princess of the Qi Kingdom, and the Marshal’s wife of the Qi Kingdom…”

The woman looked at her Senior Brother Xiaosa proudly. The little girl could not bear to see her mother’s arrogant look. In fact, mother missed father so much. The little girl was struggling to free from her father’s arms, because she thought she had grown up and that her father could not hug her any more. The child’s mind was inherently unusual. How could adults understand?

“Dad, I want to go to Kunlun.”

Xiao Mi’er looked serious. Di Li’s mouth twitched. The child always acted impulsively. Kunlun was not the human realm. It was not so easy to get there. Xiao Mi’er pouted her mouth, her eyes full of tears. Lin Xiaosa picked up her daughter and comforted her. According to his understanding of Di Qing, Lin Xiaosa thought Di Qing would not allow Mi’er to Kunlun.

“Dad.” Xiao Mi’er hoped her father could take her to Kunlun.

“Mi’er wants to go to Kunlun…”

Di Qing stood beside the camp, happy to see his little niece’s smile. Xiao Mi’er felt too scared to come to Di Qing. Di Qing’s smile faded away, and he thought why Xiao Mi’er was not so lovable. Seeing the unhappy look on the Uncle’s face, Xiao Mi’er threw herself into her mother’s arms with fear. Di Li saluted to her brother. Since she had become the Princess, she was unable to do things freely, including playing and joking with her brother. Things could not go back. Time changed everything, changing the closest one to a stranger.

“Senior Brother, thank for your consideration. Otherwise, when can I see Senior Brother Xiaosa?”

Di Li knelt on the knees. Lin Xiaosa felt somewhat bitter. It would be great if they were in the North Desert. They would accompany each other day and night. However the etiquette in the Central Plain weakened the love between family members, couples, and parents and children. Di Qing tried to help his sister up, but was stopped by Di Li.

“Let me finish my words.”

“Little sister, don’t stand on the ceremony.” Di Qing helped his sister stand up and knew that she must have something to ask for.

“I want to go back to the North Desert with Senior Brother Xiaosa.”

Di Li had made up her mind and did not want to see her husband in a dilemma. He was not interested in political trickery at all, but was forced to go on this road. He used to be integral, but why did his pinky lack half just after some months? Di Li felt heartbroken for her Senior Brother Xiaosa. He was fettered because of her, Di Li thought. Lin Xiaosa should have enjoyed a carefree and happy life, but now was hindered by worldly wrangles. Di Li did not want to see it. How could her husband be controlled by her brother? It was true that her brother was the Emperor, but so what? Di Li would not allow her husband to be wronged.

“Mi’er, come to play with Uncle…” Di Qing shifted the topic. The Qi Kingdom was at a crucial moment. How could his younger sister add trouble here? Di Qing tried to hold up Mi’er, but Mi’er dodged. Di Qing humored her.

“Uncle, take me to Kunlun, and Mi’er wants to play with Senior Brother Douya.”

“Mi’er, get down. Your uncle is very busy.”

Lin Xiaosa wanted to hold Xiao Mi’er, but was blocked by Di Qing. Lin Xiaosa’s heart sank. Di Qing’s dissatisfaction to Xiaoli was demonstrated to Lin Xiaosa and forced Lin Xiaosa to take a stand. Di Qing still kept the illusion of a good brother in front of Xiaoli and never let her see through it. For his wife and daughter, Lin Xiaosa had no choice but to be controlled by fate.

“The country is in imminent danger. Every common man has his obligation. How can Xiaosa stay out of it?”

Lin Xiaosa showed his attitude. And the corner of Di Qing’s mouth rose. Lin Xiaosa’s sensibility was a good thing, because it could save a lot of trouble. Di Qing put down Xiao Mi’er and walked to his camp.

“Brother Xiaosa.”

“Mi’er, go to play with mom. Dad has things to do.” The little girl was reluctant to let her father leave, holding Lin Xiaosa tightly.

“Don’t Senior Brother Xiaosa miss the hometown?” Di Li stared at the man.