166: Chapter 0166 Even Grandmasters Can Be Killed

The next morning.

The surface of the Cang River was shrouded in icy mist.

Warships flying flags with the character "Bai" sailed north along the river.

Although they were sailing against the current, the river flowed slowly in winter, so there was little resistance.

Compared to marching across icy, snowy land where they would need to cross mountains and ridges, traveling by boat to Qin Water was faster, and crucially, it saved their strength.

In the middle of the fleet, on an exceptionally large warship, stood a general with a face as sharp as if carved by a knife.

He gazed forward, his expression cold and stern, his eyes revealing a hint of unease.

This man was Wu Baoxiang, a fifth-rank General Dingyuan, and the commander of the White Kings Army leading the reinforcements to Qin Water.

Although his military achievements were mediocre, he was a cautious person who rarely made mistakes, which was why Prince Bai favored him.

In fact, if not for the fact that several of Prince Bai's major generals were busy dealing with Prince Qing and the Prince of Yan, coupled with the "betrayal" of General Shi Yong, this expedition would not have fallen to him.

Therefore, Wu Baoxiang cherished this opportunity all the more. If he could deal a heavy blow to the Zhenbei Army in one stroke, his future would undoubtedly be bright!

However... ever since he received the troop deployment letter sent by Master Gao Jinyi yesterday, they had been sailing north, but he had yet to see any secret guards delivering messages along the way.

Logically, even if it was freezing cold, they should have been continuously reporting military intelligence so that they could adjust their battle preparations at any time.

An experienced old general like Master Gao Jinyi wouldn't fail to understand this...

"General Wu, why the worried look? We will arrive at Qin Water in two hours."

On the rear deck, a long table had been set up.

A long-bearded man wearing Taoist robes was painting a landscape.

It depicted the Cang River and the warships sailing north.

"This 'Painting of the Northern Arrival at Qin Water' by this humble Taoist will surely help His Highness Prince Bai achieve victory in the first battle!"

Wu Baoxiang turned back and looked at the Taoist, feeling a bit apprehensive in his heart.

Li Cunmo, the master of the fifth pavilion of Yanyu Pavilion, had once been a monk in a Taoist sect, but was later expelled for becoming an assassin.

This man was skilled in using a rare iron brush weapon, and the ink he wielded contained deadly poison, which was why he was also known as the "Poison-Ink Taoist"!

Wu Baoxiang forced a smile: "Daoist Priest Li, it is truly abnormal that we haven't seen any secret guards delivering battle reports. I am worried that something might have happened to Master Gao Jinyi."

"Rest assured, I have tested Master Gao Jinyi's martial arts, and he is only a hair's breadth away from being a Martial Arts Grandmaster."

On the other side, a burly man with braided hair, who was wiping a serrated spear, spoke in a low voice.

"In the Zhenbei Army, perhaps only Lin Xiao himself, if he took action, would have a chance to kill Master Gao Jinyi."

"But Master Gao Jinyi is so shrewd, how could he possibly go one-on-one with Lin Xiao? Therefore, nothing will happen."

He was Mao Buba, the master of the ninth pavilion of Yanyu Pavilion!

This man was skilled in using a spear, capable of stabbing at close range and throwing it from afar. He was gifted with extraordinary talent and a body as strong as an ox, going shirtless even in the dead of winter.

These two, along with Lou Suifeng, had already defected to Prince Bai.

To ensure a head-on blow against the Zhenbei Army, these two great experts were dispatched, leading dozens of elites to lurk within the main army.

Although Wu Baoxiang was the commander, he was trembling with fear in the face of these two murderous martial arts experts.

"That's true, perhaps I am overthinking it..."

Just as Wu Baoxiang was muttering to himself, he suddenly saw a horse rapidly approaching on the shore.

A man pulled out a White Kings Army command flag and waved it vigorously.

"It's a secret guard!"

Wu Baoxiang was overjoyed and hurriedly ordered the ship to pull over to pick the man up.

"Report to General Wu! Something has happened at Qin Water!"

The secret guard said with a panicked expression: "Master Gao Jinyi has been killed by Mu Wanying of the Mu Family Army!"

"Now, the five thousand garrison troops in Qin Water city have all defected to the Zhenbei Army. You cannot continue north!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Baoxiang and the others' expressions changed drastically!

"What did you say!?"

Wu Baoxiang said incredulously: "Master Gao Jinyi... is dead!?"

"Mu Wanying of the Mu Family Army? That woman is only in her twenties, how could she have such cultivation!?" Mao Buba frowned and said.

The secret guard said with a mournful face: "It is absolutely true! Our secret guard brothers have almost all been wiped out!"

"I had great difficulty disguising myself to get out of the city, I haven't slept all night, and I had to steal a horse on the way to come and report this!"

"My lords, this humble one would never dare to tell a single lie!!"

Wu Baoxiang hurriedly asked: "Wasn't the Zhenbei Army supposed to arrive only today? Was the intelligence wrong?"

The secret guard shook his head: "The Zhenbei Army didn't come, only that woman from the Mu Family came..."

On the ship, there was an eerie silence.

Li Cunmo let out a series of strange laughs: "A woman captured a commandery city guarded by five thousand men and even killed Master Gao Jinyi... truly impressive."

"Daoist Priest, do you mean... this matter is unbelievable?" Wu Baoxiang asked cautiously.

"General Wu, do you believe it? If a woman under Lin Xiao had this ability, wouldn't he have unified the world long ago?"

The secret guard was going crazy, "I... what I said is all true!! General Wu! You must believe me!! This humble one is loyal to His Highness Prince Bai, and I risked my life to come and report... ah!!"

Before he could finish speaking, a spear pierced through his mouth and came out from the back of his head!

Wu Baoxiang was startled; this spear strike was too fast!

"Disrupting army morale, it's clearly an attempt to buy time for the Zhenbei Army!" Mao Buba said coldly: "General Wu, don't be fooled."

Wu Baoxiang felt uncomfortable in his heart; he actually believed it seventy or eighty percent.

After all, if the Zhenbei Army were to send someone to disrupt morale, there would be no need to fabricate such an outrageous "lie."

However... looking at the attitudes of Li Cunmo and Mao Buba, if he were to order a retreat... he dared not think about it!

There was no other way. Wu Baoxiang knew he lacked military achievements and was not a big shot in the White Kings Army, so he had to bite the bullet and continue north for now.

Another incense stick of time passed, and a small fishing boat actually came from the opposite direction?

In the dead of winter, how could a fishing boat appear on the Cang River?

What made Wu Baoxiang even more astonished was that there was no one rowing the boat; only a man in black stood at the bow?

The man had fair skin, looked very young, and stood with his hands behind his back, as if he were a young master from some aristocratic family out for an excursion.

But after it got closer, Wu Baoxiang recognized the facial features, and his soul nearly left his body!

"Lin... Lin Xiao!?"

He had seen the portrait; this man was the God of Death, Lin Xiao!!

Li Cunmo and Mao Buba had already seen the person coming, and upon hearing that this was Lin Xiao, they were greatly shocked, but then greatly delighted!

"What a bold General of the Zhenbei Army, he actually dares to come alone to court death!?"

"Haha, he must think that the White Kings Army doesn't have many experts, so he wants to take advantage of the fact that there are few people on the ship to capture the leader first. This man is best at playing petty tricks."

Li Cunmo joked: "General Wu, he is coming for you!"

Wu Baoxiang's face turned green, "You two, don't joke around. Since Lin Xiao is here, perhaps Qin Water has really fallen! Should we retreat first?"

"Retreat? That is what cowards do!" Mao Buba snorted coldly, "It's even better that he came. With Old Li and me joining forces, even a Martial Arts Grandmaster can be killed!"

"Quickly have the archers wear him down for a few rounds, and we will kill him without any effort!!"