A gentle breeze stirred his hair as Lý Dương gazed at Văn Ôn for a long moment, softly praising, "General Văn is truly a tiger among men! To storm a camp alone—such valor is rare Under All Heaven! After tonight, your name is destined to rise to renown!"
Ôn, humbly, replied, "This humble general dares not accept such praise!"
With that, Văn Ôn subtly observed Lý Dương. Noticing the man's extraordinary demeanor, his eyes gleaming with wisdom and an uncommon air, Ôn speculated inwardly and probed, "Is Lord Lý a strategist under the lord Tôn?"
Dương, always discreet in his actions, had served Tôn Bặc by devising plans in the shadows, his name little known. That Văn Ôn was unaware of him was only natural. Seeing Ôn's keen perception, Dương praised, "The general speaks true! I, Lý Dương, act under our lord's command, secretly laying plans to seize the city tonight! The task is half done; we need only await our lord's arrival to complete this great endeavor!"
With that, Dương bowed to Văn Ôn and Quản Vân, saying, "Your contributions will be fully reported to our lord! For now, many affairs remain in the city. I humbly request Brother Trọng Nhan to take charge of administrative duties and pacify the city!"
Quản Vân, bowing low, said, "I obey Brother Lý's command!"
Lý Dương nodded, then turned to Ôn, ordering, "General Văn, I boldly task you with overseeing the military camp, calming the troops. Any who disobey may be dealt with according to military law!"
Văn Ôn replied gravely, "This humble general obeys!"
After making arrangements, Lý Dương produced a pre-written letter and said softly, "Shadow Agent, deliver this letter to our lord as swiftly as possible!"
From the darkness, a figure clad in black, face concealed, glided forth with agile grace and said respectfully, "This subordinate obeys!"
The black-clad figure took the letter and vanished into the night with swift movements. As for this man's origins, he was one of the thirty loyal retainers who risked their lives to escort Tôn Bặc to Hoa Dương. The other twenty-nine were also death-sworn vassals, recruited by Bặc from the ranks of wandering martial artists and outlaws of the rivers and lakes, deeply trusted by him.
Initially, Bặc used these death-sworn vassals as guards, until he met Lý Dương. Dương advised employing them for intelligence, assassination, and message delivery, prompting Bặc to transform the thirty into spies, forming the Shadow Agent Thirty Corps, answering only to him.
All members of the Shadow Agent Thirty Corps discarded their true names, adopting the title Shadow Agent when operating. Lý Dương watched the Shadow Agent depart, smiling inwardly, "The Shadow Agent Thirty Corps has finally found its true stage!"
Lý Dương then sank into recollection, remembering when he first entered service. Born to a humble family, with no one to recommend him as a filial and incorrupt candidate, he could only work as a minor manager in a medicinal herb shop. Years later, the Tôn family acquired the shop, and he chanced to meet Tôn Bặc.
Bặc, then in his youth, was spirited and dashing, with a refined appearance and extraordinary bearing. By fortunate circumstance, they met. Lý Dương and Tôn Bặc, upon their first encounter, discussed classics and history, analyzed ancient tales, and debated the rise and fall of Under All Heaven.
Lý Dương then asked Bặc, "Young Master Tôn, Under All Heaven is now mired in chaos, with hardship everywhere and the people suffering in the fires of war. Where does your ambition lie?"
Tôn Bặc, young and brimming with heroic zeal, boldly pointed to the sky, saying, "The heavens above!"
Then to the earth, "Under All Heaven!"
Finally, pointing to himself, "I alone reign supreme!"
Lý Dương, hearing this, regarded Tôn Bặc as a Youthful Great Emperor, filled with admiration, and said, "With my meager talents, I wish to join you in achieving great deeds! Please accept me."
Tôn Bặc smiled faintly, saying, "Very well!"
With that, Bặc strode ahead, and Lý Dương instinctively followed, as if serving a sovereign. Only then did Bặc suddenly ask, "What is your name?"
Lý Dương, realizing he hadn't introduced himself, respectfully replied, "Reporting to the young master, I am surnamed Lý, named Dương, courtesy name Hi Quân!"
Bặc clapped his hands, praising, "Lý Dương, Lý Hi Quân? A fine name."
With a soft sigh, Lý Dương returned from his reverie, murmuring with a smile, "Trường Lạc is but a narrow stage; the vast Under All Heaven is our lord's true arena!"
Far off in Trường Lạc, the sounds of slaughter echoed through a corner of the sky, the clash of blades and swords ringing like death knells, with crimson blood flowing ceaselessly. Amid this blood-soaked scene, a figure in iron armor stained red with blood, wielding a short blade, laughed maniacally, "Tôn Nghĩa, Tôn Nghĩa! Even fleeing here, you've reached a dead end! Offer your head to this general!"
This was none other than Trương Giang! Opposite him stood Tôn Nghĩa, his armor shattered, body marked with several blade wounds, looking utterly battered. After Tôn Nghĩa ordered a retreat, he led four hundred men through forests and streams, using rugged terrain and strategic choke points to resist the enemy.
Giang's army, initially fierce as dragons with soaring morale, grew exhausted after half a day of pursuit, their soldiers weary. Giang ordered rests along the way, but Tôn Nghĩa's forces harassed them, forcing him to resume the chase.
By evening, Giang's troops, having only sipped water and eaten dry rations, were utterly spent. Trương Giang, realizing Tôn Nghĩa's intent to lure him, persisted in the pursuit out of pride and stubbornness, heedless of his army's fatigue.
As Giang wavered on withdrawing, a scout rushed in, overjoyed, reporting, "General, Tôn Nghĩa's army is heading toward the Dịch River!"
Trương Giang, elated, exclaimed, "Heaven aids me! To cross the Dịch River, one needs boats! Has Heaven not ordained Tôn Nghĩa's doom by driving him there?"
With that, he ordered his army to march straight for the Dịch River. There, the two forces clashed fiercely, with countless casualties, blood staining the river, turning it into a slaughterhouse, a purgatory on earth.
Tôn Nghĩa and Trương Giang fought hundreds of bouts, neither prevailing. Returning to the present, Tôn Nghĩa, leaning on his sword, coldly said to Trương Giang, "Trương Giang, after hundreds of bouts, your body bears countless wounds. Why persist in bravado?"
Trương Giang, enraged, cursed, "You court death!"
His short blade slashed with a dazzling arc, but Tôn Nghĩa nimbly dodged with agile footwork, countering with a sword aura. Tôn Nghĩa's inner energy was formidable; despite his wounds, his swordplay remained unhindered.
Trương Giang roared savagely, "Raging Sea Blade Art: Mad Sea Strike!"
The Mad Sea Strike unleashed a roiling killing aura, like a tsunami within the blade's arc, aiming to engulf Tôn Nghĩa. Nghĩa dodged with agility, striking with a shout, "Cold Water Palm!"
The Cold Water Palm struck Trương Giang's chest. Giang felt his meridians seize, his blood congeal, and a chilling cold grip his body.
Tôn Nghĩa sneered, "Trương Giang! Your life is mine!"
With that, his sword slashed toward Giang's neck. But Trương Giang swiftly circulated his inner energy, shattering the hidden force, his vitality surging like a dragon as his short blade parried Nghĩa's attack.
Nghĩa, undeterred, unleashed another move, shouting, "Cold Yin Finger!"
The Cold Yin Finger released a pervasive chill, freezing the air as it shot toward Trương Giang. Giang summoned his inner energy to shield himself and infused his blade, aiming to shatter the Cold Yin Finger. Yet he underestimated the technique.
As his blade dispersed the Cold Yin Finger, the chilling yin energy surged through the inner force in his blade, invading his body. Trương Giang felt a bone-deep cold seize his vitals, and he collapsed.
Tôn Nghĩa, sneering coldly, lunged to finish him, certain of victory. Suddenly, a stranger intervened, blocking Nghĩa's strike. Nghĩa, startled, retreated, silently observing the newcomer.
Tôn Nghĩa glared and asked darkly, "Who are you?"
The stranger replied, "Who I am, you're unworthy to know!"
Enraged, Nghĩa charged, shouting, "You court death!"
Tôn Nghĩa unleashed the Weak Water Sword to slay the stranger, but the man was no ordinary foe. He struck with a palm, its inner energy dark and ghostly, effortlessly repelling Nghĩa.
Nghĩa, thrown back, thought in shock, "This man's inner strength is profound—he's no commoner!"
Having subdued Nghĩa, the stranger carried the unconscious Trương Giang away. Nghĩa, seeing Giang escape, turned his blade on Giang's soldiers.
Pointing his sword, Tôn Nghĩa shouted, "Hear me, enemy troops! Trương Giang is dead—surrender, and you shall not be killed!"
The chaotic battlefield fell silent at Nghĩa's command. Giang's exhausted and battered troops, hearing Nghĩa's call, began surrendering one by one.
After accepting the surrendered troops, Tôn Nghĩa briefly reorganized and led them to join Tôn Bặc. Meanwhile, Tôn Bặc was receiving an uninvited guest—none other than the stranger who had just repelled Tôn Nghĩa!
Tôn Bặc gazed at the stranger calmly, asking, "You infiltrate my camp at night—what is your intent?"
As he spoke, Bặc emitted a faint inner energy to intimidate the stranger. The stranger countered with his own inner force, clashing like dragons and tigers, neither yielding, their aura shattering objects around them.
After a moment, the stranger smiled slyly, saying, "Tôn Bặc, Tôn Đức Dương! You hide your strength well! With such formidable inner energy, you could be a great general. Why squander it vying for a petty Trường Lạc? Join my lord, and your stage will not be this narrow place, but…"
His face took on a haughty air as he declared, "Under All Heaven!"
Tôn Bặc, unmoved, asked coolly, "Who is your lord?"
The stranger laughed, "My lord is the Governor of Hoài Nam, appointed by the reigning emperor, commanding countless elite troops, valiant generals like clouds, and fierce commanders like rain. Last year, he conquered the districts of Vị Thành and Tấn, annexing them to Hoài Nam. To the north, he eyes Trường Lạc; to the south, he can strike the districts along the Giang Thủy. His might is unmatched, even the provincial authorities tread carefully!"
He looked at Tôn Bặc, smiling, "Tôn Đức Dương, a wise bird chooses its perch. My lord is a hero of our time—serving him is no disgrace!"
Tôn Bặc, silent, said coldly, "What of it, though your lord be the Governor of Hoài Nam? I, Tôn Đức Dương, born in this age of chaos, know not yet who shall claim Under All Heaven!"
The stranger laughed wildly, "Like an egg striking a stone, overestimating your strength!"
His eyes glinted with faint killing intent as he said, "I hope you remember this day, Tôn Đức Dương!"
Tôn Bặc said nothing, waving to dismiss the guest. The stranger cast a cold glance and departed. Half an hour later, Tôn Nghĩa arrived with his troops to join Bặc. Stepping forward, Nghĩa clasped his fists, saying, "This humble general, Tôn Nghĩa, pays respects to our lord!"
Seeing Nghĩa covered in wounds, Bặc, grieved, said, "Brother Nghĩa, you've endured much! The Tôn family's success owes much to your efforts!"
Nghĩa bowed, saying, "Elder brother, you humble me—all is for the Tôn family!"
Bặc laughed heartily, "All for the Tôn family! Brother Nghĩa is truly a righteous vassal of our house. Were our father alive, he would be overjoyed!"
With that, he waved, ordering, "Take General Tôn Nghĩa to treat his wounds!"
Tôn Nghĩa suddenly protested, "My lord, wait! I have something to report."
Bặc, sensing its importance, said gravely, "Speak!"
Nghĩa bowed, saying, "Today, in battle, I nearly slew Trương Giang when a stranger intervened to save him! His inner strength was profound, and I could not match him, allowing him to escape with Trương Giang."
Bowing again, he said, "I beg elder brother to punish me!"
Tôn Bặc frowned, knowing Trương Giang's survival would bring future trouble. Suddenly, he realized the stranger who visited him tonight might be the same one Nghĩa described. This suggested a deeper conspiracy, possibly orchestrated by the Governor of Hoài Nam!
With a soft sigh, Tôn Bặc said gently to Nghĩa, "This matter is not your concern. Rest and recover."
Nghĩa nodded and withdrew to tend his wounds. Soon, only Tôn Bặc remained in the tent, gazing at a map toward Hoài Nam, silently devising strategies. Suddenly, a black-clad figure glided in with agile grace, knelt, and offered a letter, saying, "Shadow Agent pays respects to our lord and presents a letter from Strategist Lý!"
Tôn Bặc rose, took the letter, and read it. After a moment, he laughed loudly, "The great endeavor is accomplished!"