228: Young General

"Stop, everyone! Your captain is in my hands!" A cold, clear, and melodious shout rang out, crisp and loud, instantly drowning out the clamor of the battlefield.

The people caught in the melee instinctively stopped and turned to look.

They saw the massive Polar Ice Bear with one of its huge paws pressing down hard on Wang Tian's chest. No matter how he struggled or how his earth-yellow armor shimmered, he couldn't break free at all. Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, and he looked utterly wretched.

On the other side, Wang Kai's rock-like hand gripped Wang Liu's neck like an iron pincer, pinning him entirely to the ground. Wang Liu's face had turned a liver-colored purple due to suffocation and fear.

The battlefield instantly fell into a deathly silence.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the small town.

A handsome youth with short hair casually swung his sword, slicing open the skull of a Second-Tier Zombie as easily as cutting tofu, then precisely flicked out a green crystal core.

His movements were stylish and deft. He led over an exceptionally magnificent steed—the horse was snow-white all over, without a single stray hair, and only its four hooves seemed to be surrounded by faint white clouds, as if it were treading on clouds when running!

The youth vaulted onto the horse, his posture as straight as a pine tree. He looked up at the sky, frowned, and shouted, "Where is Wang Tian? Where did he take the team? It's almost dark! Contact him and tell them to withdraw and return to camp!"

The few underlings beside him looked at each other, appearing somewhat at a loss.

"What is going on?!" The youth's voice carried an unquestionable authority, scaring a nearby cavalry squad leader into scrambling over, rolling and crawling.

"Re... reporting, Commander! Captain Wang Tian said his younger brother ran into some trouble, so he took some men to help resolve it..." the squad leader reported, trembling with fear.

"Trouble?" The youth's eyes, sharp as a hawk's, narrowed slightly, flashing with displeasure. "Hmph! Lead the way! I want to see what kind of trouble requires the use of my entire cavalry squadron!"

He lightly squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs, and that magnificent Cloud-Treading Steed let out a long neigh. The sound was clear and melodious, seemingly containing some kind of peculiar power that invigorated everyone's spirit.

The youth took the lead, signaling for the squad leader to guide the way in front. His red cloak snapped in the wind behind him, like a moving ball of fire.

On the other side, the restrained Wang Liu was still clamoring.

"Wang Liu! You forcefully abducted a civilian woman; you deserve to die!" Wang Kai roared, swinging his rock-like palm and striking Wang Liu's face hard!

"Slap!" With a crisp sound, Wang Liu let out a miserable howl, spitting out two bloodied teeth, and half his face instantly swelled up high.

Wang Liu spat out the blood foam in his mouth, glaring at Wang Kai with venomous eyes, and cursed incoherently, "Damn it... don't be arrogant... our Commander is nearby... when he arrives... you... you all will be dead meat!"

"You dog bastard! Still daring to talk tough!" Wang Kai's anger grew even more intense, and he landed another series of backhand slaps, hitting Wang Liu until he saw stars and his face swelled like a real pig's head, making him unable to even speak.

"Leaving such scum alive is just a disaster! Finish him off!" Beside them, Wang Sheng, who also hated evil with a passion, saw this and leveled his spear. The spear tip shimmered with a cold light, ready to pierce directly through Wang Liu's chest!

Just at this critical juncture— "Hum!" A sharp sound of something piercing through the air suddenly rang out!

A longsword with an antique design and a blade shimmering with cold light, as if possessed of life, shot over from the distance like a bolt of lightning. With a crisp "clang," it precisely deflected Wang Sheng's sure-hit spear!

The immense force made Wang Sheng's arm go numb, and the spear nearly slipped from his hand!

"Stop!" A youth's clear and majestic roar exploded like a thunderclap, traveling from far to near!

Wang Kai was intimidated by the aura contained in that voice and instinctively let go of his hand, causing Wang Liu to fall to the ground like a pile of mud.

Everyone involuntarily turned their heads to look in the direction the voice came from.

The golden glow of the setting sun spilled over the scene as a figure came galloping toward them on an unparalleled, magnificent white horse.

The white horse raised its head and let out a long neigh. The sound was as clear as jade striking jade, piercing straight into the clouds, and it carried a strange, subduing power—the restless warhorses in Wang Tian's cavalry squadron instantly calmed down upon hearing it, standing still in unison. Their eyes even became more spirited, revealing an indescribable excitement.

When it galloped closer, everyone finally saw its true form: its frame was even more robust than Wang Tian's black mutant horse, and it was snow-white all over, with not a single stray hair to be found on its body. The mane at the top of its head shimmered with a faint golden light, and when hit by the setting sun, it seemed to flow like crushed gold, its luster dazzlingly gorgeous. Its tail was long and slender, swaying lightly with the wind, and its four limbs were strong and long, with every step exuding a sense of steady power.

Most miraculously, its four hooves seemed to always be treading on a mass of flowing, hazy white clouds, with dreamy light lingering within the clouds, and light mist seemingly dispersing wherever it stepped.

Zhu Lingyun's pupils suddenly constricted, and his heart trembled—he clearly sensed that the aura of this magnificent white horse was at least at the Second-Tier level or above!

And the youth on the horse's back captured everyone's gaze at a single glance.

He wore a suit of bright silver chainmail that was exquisite and splendid, with layers of armor plates. As the setting sun fell upon them, they refracted a cold, chilling light, as if they could repel the surrounding twilight. On his head was a Phoenix-Wing Swallow-Plume Helmet, with clear patterns and matte edges. Behind him, a scarlet cloak snapped in the wind, its edges brushing through the air and creating a faint whistling sound.

Most eye-catching of all was the antique sword box floating behind him—the box itself wasn't exaggerated, yet it exuded a heaviness accumulated over years. It had four sword slots, three of which were already occupied by longswords of various designs, their sword tassels swaying lightly.

The sword that had just deflected Wang Sheng's spear was now whistling through the air, nimble as a swallow returning to its nest, and it slotted securely and perfectly into the last hole.

The youth gave a soft shout, tilted his body slightly, and vaulted off the horse's back. His movements were as smooth and fluid as moving clouds and flowing water, not even causing the horse to take an extra step.

His posture was as straight as a pine tree, and he appeared to be at least 1.85 meters tall. Although his face still carried some lingering youthfulness, his brow surged with a burgeoning heroic spirit. The unique authority of a strong warrior radiated from him without reservation, making no one dare to underestimate him in the slightest because of his age.

This appearance made people involuntarily think of that young hero from history books who conquered the wolf mountains—Huo Qubing! The same heroic spirit, the same youthful vigor, and even the same sharp, commanding spirit between his brows were identical.

After dismounting, the youth strode toward the crowd with the gait of a dragon and a tiger. When he stood still, everyone was finally able to carefully observe his face.

He was indeed a handsome, beautiful youth, with heroism radiating directly from his brows—if anyone else were dressed like this, it might seem "flashy," but on him, because of that heroic spirit that rushed straight at one's face, it was not only not abrupt but instead highlighted his flamboyant style as a young general.

Even Li Xueli, who was "acknowledged" in the team to be indifferent to the opposite sex, couldn't help but glance sideways, secretly sighing in her heart: This youth is truly handsome, and he carries an air of arrogant, youthful heroism that makes it impossible to look away.

The youth stood before the crowd, and his aura suddenly dispersed, so startling that it made people's hearts tighten. An invisible pressure enveloped the entire field like a rising tide. The members of the Demon Hunting Squad instinctively felt a sense of vigilance, and they all retreated half a step in unison, their hands unconsciously gripping their weapons tighter.

A single thought popped into everyone's mind: This person is likely that legendary Commander from the West Suburb Base!

But no one expected that this Commander would be so incredibly young—even though his majesty and spirit far exceeded his peers, the touch of callowness between his brows that hadn't completely faded was like a brand on his face, impossible to hide.