61: Two Clearances

As soon as these words were spoken, both Armies immediately raised their weapons, and the clanging was incessant!

She Jian also raised his long halberd, grasping it in his hand.

Li Chengliang turned back, looking at Nurhaci in surprise, while Huerhan, kneeling on the ground, widened his eyes, revealing an expression of disbelief.

"General Li, is this an admission of guilt?" She Jian asked with a playful smile, holding his long halberd.

"General, Huerhan is my adopted son; in my heart, he is like my own son," Nurhaci whispered to Li Chengliang.

Upon hearing this, Huerhan's forehead broke out in a cold sweat, his body trembled uncontrollably, and tears rolled into the dirt.

"Alas, give this old man some face; withdraw your Army. In the future, I will personally go to meet the Great General," Li Chengliang sighed, saying to She Jian.

"Lin Yue, what do you think?" She Jian did not answer Li Chengliang but turned to ask Lin Yue.

Lin Yue felt all eyes in the room focused on him. He could see Li Chengliang's faint smile, Li Rupo's surprised expression, and Nurhaci's somewhat forlorn yet slightly surprised look upon seeing him.

He finally understood the meaning of what the fortune-teller in Heyeno City had said that day: 'Every sip and every peck, all has its destiny.'

He recalled how he had given all his money to the old man, then on a whim bought some gifts for his comrades' children, then took an ounce of gold from Nurhaci, then had an epiphany in the Mountain God Temple which caused him to miss the repayment, and then Pan Feng's great battle with Huerhan, and finally, their meeting here today.

Did that old man calculate all these things back then?

At this moment, he was chilled to the bone!

"Lin Yue, what do you think?" She Jian asked again when he saw Lin Yue in a daze.

"This humble general thinks it's better to retreat," Lin Yue said in a deep voice.

Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and Li Chengliang smiled faintly.

From the moment She Jian asked Lin Yue, he knew the outcome.

Nurhaci showed a grateful expression; he had gambled correctly on this step!

"Hmm, then let's retreat," She Jian said in a deep voice, turning his horse around, but then suddenly stopped.

"Lin Yue, go kill him," She Jian said, pointing his long halberd at Huerhan.

Lin Yue was stunned, but quickly composed himself, drew his Miao Blade, and took a few steps forward.

Under the disbelieving and grief-stricken gaze of the Nuzhen Tribe, he swung his blade.

Huerhan's head fell to the ground, finally rolling to Nurhaci's feet.

Nurhaci, expressionless, picked up Huerhan's head and held it in his arms.

Pan Feng's loyalty increased by 5 points, reaching unwavering loyalty.

When a Military General of the In-Flow rank or higher reaches unwavering loyalty, the player is rewarded with 1 Lucky Treasure Chest.

The player has slain a Second-Rate Military General, and as the first player to slay a Second-Rate Military General, the player is rewarded with 1 Silver Military General Recruitment Order.

An unexpected gain, Lin Yue thought.

However, slaying a Second-Rate Military General should have rewarded him with 100,000 Merit Points, but it wasn't given, likely because Pan Feng captured him.

"The matter here is concluded, General Li, This humble general bids farewell," She Jian said.

Li Chengliang nodded faintly.

Then Lin Yue flipped onto his horse and returned to camp with the Army.

After a few steps, Lin Yue suddenly reined in his horse, turned around, and returned alone.

Li Chengliang looked at him strangely, not understanding why he had gone and then come back.

The Nuzhen Tribe's atmosphere tensed, and they once again raised their swords and spears, the entire Army on alert.

"A peck and a sip; the favor of that day, now we are even."

Lin Yue tossed an ounce of gold, which Nurhaci steadily caught.

"The next time we meet, it will be a fight to the death," Lin Yue said in a deep voice.

"It's a pity I can't become good friends with the General and share a cup of wine," Nurhaci said with a forced smile.

Lin Yue said nothing, spurred his horse, and quickly caught up with the Army.

Nurhaci watched Lin Yue's receding figure until he disappeared into the sunlight.

"Thank you, General, for your assistance. Nurhaci can only repay you by serving you in life and remembering you in death!" Nurhaci knelt and kowtowed.

"He is your adopted son, and you are my adopted son; it is all as it should be," Li Chengliang sighed, "I am old; when one gets old, one always thinks of past things."

"I still remember when you came to me, you were only fifteen or sixteen, and now you have so many children."

Nurhaci remained with his head on the ground, never looking up.

"I will not dwell on the matter of Nikan Wailan.

Today's incident is also the last time," Li Chengliang said.

"Yes, General!" Nurhaci responded.

"A strange person told me that after I die, you will rebel with the Seven Grievances.

Tell me honestly, did you hate me for accidentally killing your grandfather and father back then?" Li Chengliang stared at Nurhaci and asked.

"This humble general would never dare!

Back then, General, you treated me like a father and son. Nurhaci only feels gratitude towards you!

Without you, Nurhaci would not be where he is today," Nurhaci said quickly, pressing his head even deeper into the ground.

"Get up, I believe you.

They say you rebelled against the Great Ming. I, Li Chengliang, only know of the Great Qin and have never heard of a dynasty called Great Ming. Do not let non-existent matters harm the father-son bond between us."

Li Chengliang helped Nurhaci up, and seeing dirt on his forehead, gently brushed it away for him.

"Go back, and do not harbor strange people again. They are unruly and will eventually bring disaster upon themselves."

"Yes, General."

Then Li Chengliang's tone changed, and he scolded:

"Li Rupo, you come back with me and be confined for half a year!

There's nothing about you that resembles your elder brother at all!"

Nurhaci watched Li Chengliang's Liaodong Iron Cavalry ride away, remaining silent for a long time.

Everyone was silent, afraid of disturbing him.

"Eighth Brother, come here," Nurhaci beckoned, and a young man walked over.

"Remember today's humiliation!

All of this, everything, is because of weakness!"

"Ama, I, Huang Taiji, dare not forget for a moment!" Huang Taiji said resentfully.

Huerhan was one of the few Second-Rate Military Generals in the tribe, and he was like a brother to him.

Huerhan's fate today was a result of saving him that day. Thinking of this, his heart was twisted in pain.

Moreover, he always had a feeling in the back of his mind that the Miao Blade in that Military General's hand should have been his!

"Good child, give Huerhan a grand burial. You go and do it yourself."

"Yes!" Huang Taiji said, then took Huerhan's head and went to find a good spot.

Nurhaci looked at the grassland where the Qin Army had just been, now empty.

His eyes gradually became resolute.