Chapter 84: Nothing More Than an Old Soldier

Jiang Chen stared intently, recognizing the man—it was Old Wu. Although he had not revealed his true purpose upon arriving at Qishan, he had been quietly vigilant, hoping to find Old Wu quickly and take him away from this land of turmoil.

He never expected that the elusive Old Wu would make such a grand appearance, leaving Jiang Chen utterly astonished. Although he was aware that Old Wu had once been a legendary figure, seasoned in countless battles, witnessing him galloping on horseback was still beyond belief.

Was this truly the same butcher Wu Kuishan, with his shrewd eyes, who would hum tunes after a couple of drinks?

Cries of amazement echoed from both armies. At first, the Tianfeng Camp surely assumed he was a secret weapon sent by the Qishan encampment, but upon closer inspection, Old Wu wore no military attire and carried no weapon—his presence was utterly baffling.

The Qishan soldiers were equally perplexed. None knew who this man was or why he had suddenly appeared between the two armies.

Jiang Chen noticed Old Wu’s target was the prison wagon. He wanted to unveil the true identity of the man inside, but to charge alone and accomplish such a feat—was it even possible?

He couldn’t help but worry, then remembered Wu Yue.

“No, I can’t let Old Wu act so recklessly; how could I explain this to Yue’er later?”

Jiang Chen turned urgently to Duanmu Qing, requesting, “Lend me a horse.”

Duanmu Qing looked at Jiang Chen, puzzled, “What are you planning?”

At that moment, Zhao Feihu, never one to mince words, teased, “Young Master Shi, this isn’t the time for your antics. Behave and stay put.”

His tone, however, had softened somewhat, even hinting at genuine concern for Jiang Chen.

As they spoke, Old Wu had already reached the prison wagon. His sudden arrival puzzled Qi Zhaoxuan, who thought, if this man was sent by the Qishan camp to charge the enemy, surely he was far too old.

Moreover, the stranger wore not a single piece of standard military uniform—no armor, no weapons, not even a saddle, none of the signature gear of the Qishan cavalry.

Old Wu, with his lone horse, looked as if he had emerged from some remote mountain village, suddenly driven mad and charging straight at them.

The Ten Riders of Gale, stationed nearby, saw Old Wu approaching and immediately raised their golden hooks and silver spears, bracing themselves.

Qi Zhaoxuan sneered, “Why the panic? He’s just an old soldier at most.”

Two of the Ten Riders advanced, one blocking the prison wagon, the other riding out to meet Old Wu.

Old Wu’s horse was at full speed. Before the opponent could even accelerate, the two met head-on in the whistling wind.

At the first encounter, Old Wu deftly dodged the spear thrust at him, then extended his arm and yanked his opponent off the saddle, dragging him across the ground for over ten meters before letting go.

When Old Wu turned his horse back toward the Tianfeng Camp, a golden hook and silver spear were now in his hand. The fallen rider lay on the ground, a mangled heap, dead in the most gruesome manner.

Qi Zhaoxuan’s heart trembled. The Ten Riders of Gale were Tianfeng Camp’s trump card, always leading charges and serving as the army’s sharpest spearhead.

Each Rider was a veteran forged by countless battles, their riding and spear skills, as well as their battlefield tactics, second to none.

Yet such formidable warriors, faced with an unremarkable old soldier, were slaughtered like chickens and dogs, utterly powerless.

Old Wu charged again without hesitation. The rider blocking the prison wagon, enraged by his comrade’s tragic death, gathered strength in his spear, aiming not at Old Wu himself but at his inferior pack horse.

This man was indeed cunning, not relying on brute force, but ruthlessly exploiting Old Wu’s greatest weakness—his mount.

Mounted combat depends heavily on horsemanship, and without a fine steed, skill cannot fully shine.

Old Wu had journeyed from Long River to Qishan, and it was already a struggle to find even this pack horse—where could he possibly get a true warhorse?

The opponent’s spear strike was precise and powerful. Old Wu dared not take it lightly; as the spear neared the horse’s leg, he expertly pulled the reins, causing the horse to rear up and narrowly avoid the attack.

Cheers erupted from the Qishan soldiers, all impressed by Old Wu’s extraordinary skill.

Regardless of his identity or why he fought the Tianfeng Camp, seeing those arrogant bastards suffer was a delight to all.

“Who is this old man, truly?”

Even Zhao Feihu, whose standards were famously high, grew curious about Old Wu’s background.

Jiang Chen again requested Duanmu Qing, “Lend me a horse. I need it now!”

“You…” Duanmu Qing began to speak, but seeing Jiang Chen’s stern and imposing expression, he paused.

Duan Yuquan, hearing Jiang Chen’s request, immediately asked, “Young Master Shi, do you know this elder?”

“He’s my father-in-law. At his age, his reckless actions trouble me greatly.”

“Your father-in-law?”

Jiang Chen’s answer was enigmatic, but he no longer intended to stand by. With a leap, he seized a horse from an armored rider and charged toward the Tianfeng Camp.

Ahead, Old Wu had just defeated a second foe and swept his spear across the prison wagon.

With a loud crash, half the wagon was destroyed, revealing the bloodied man inside, who was not Han Yuyang.

“The charade is over. Are you still planning to linger here?” Old Wu demanded loudly.

Qi Zhaoxuan, unwilling to concede, was furious that his elaborate scheme had been foiled by an unknown old soldier.

“Kill him!”

With that command, the remaining eight of the Ten Riders of Gale moved to encircle Old Wu, hoping to restore their lost honor.

In the ensuing chaos, golden hooks and silver spears collided violently, sparks flying, the battle reaching an astonishing fever pitch.

Jiang Chen burst into the fray, unarmed but riding boldly, unstoppable like a dragon entering the sea. Two riders, keeping pace with him, were knocked to the ground as Jiang Chen turned his horse into them.

“Old Wu, your reckless ways make it impossible for me to explain to Yue’er.”

“You rascal…”

Just then, from the distant Qishan valley, war drums sounded, echoing across the battlefield.