However, nobody expected Chishui Fenglong's army to march at such a sluggish pace. With days of endless rain, muddy roads, and soldiers falling ill, more than half a month passed before the vanguard finally reached South City. The moment they arrived, a torrential downpour broke out. The howling wind and sheets of rain made it extremely difficult for them even to set up cooking fires and pitch their tents.
Before they could settle in, General Xuanming led the Chenrong Army out of the city to launch a proactive strike. The Chenrong Army was strong, well-equipped, and impeccably disciplined, whereas the Xiyan Army was battered and sickly. As the god of winter, Xuanming excelled in ice-based sorcery. In a single battle, a biting cold rain lashed mercilessly across the vanguard's faces and bodies, leaving over half of them dead or wounded. Realizing they could no longer hold their ground, the surviving Xiyan Army was forced to retreat into the nearby mountains. It was truly the wheel of fortune turning full circle: in the past, it was always Xiangliu who led the Chenrong Army hiding in the mountains, using the favorable terrain to spar with the Xiyan Army; now, driven to desperation, it was the Xiyan Army fleeing into the mountains.
Hearing the news, the corners of Xiangliu's lips curved upward slightly. To avoid giving people anything to gossip about, Rushou stayed in New City to help Xiaoyao stabilize the situation and never came to South City. Even Xiangliu, Haoling's son-in…
Chapter 240