Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

Night falls, covering the earth like a huge piece of black silk. However, beneath this seemingly peaceful darkness, thrilling scenes are quietly unfolding across the country.

In some villages, cries of grief shook the air, as people wailed and wailed, heartbroken. Some wailed endlessly, "Why am I so miserable?" Their voices were filled with despair and helplessness, as if fate had played a cruel joke on them. Others secretly rejoiced that this hidden danger had been discovered early, otherwise, if it had been allowed to develop, the entire village would have suffered a devastating disaster. Still others cursed with gritted teeth, "This scourge should be eradicated as soon as possible, otherwise our entire village will suffer! It's like a bad apple spoiling the whole barrel!"

At the same time, the soldiers of the Northwest Army Camp, like arrows from a bow, swiftly rushed to every corner, launching a fierce pursuit. Armed with weapons, their faces solemn and their eyes sharp, they spared no trace of suspicion. Some spies were caught on the spot and escorted back to camp in dejection; others were mercilessly slain in their desperate resistance, their blood staining the ground beneath their feet. Of course, a few cunning spies escaped in the chaos, disappearing into the night.

That night was a mingling of chaos and order. Shouts and fighting rang out, and flames lit up the night sky. But despite this chaotic scene, the soldiers remained highly alert and organized, carrying out their mission in an orderly manner, ensuring that all spies were captured.

Upon hearing the unusual movement, some of the swiftest Huns lurking in the area immediately fled in panic. Seeing a group of men and horses approaching them with such force, the Huns instantly bolted like frightened birds, fleeing across the vast expanse of fields. To better conceal themselves in the vast northwest, they had chosen not to ride on horseback, a decision they hadn't anticipated would ultimately lead them to a desperate situation. Despite their desperate efforts to escape on foot, they were ultimately outmatched by the mounted pursuit at a crucial moment. As time passed, more and more soldiers gathered from all directions, joining the pursuit. The Huns at the forefront now felt like moving targets.

As a Hun soldier desperately ran, a battle-hardened soldier quickly drew his longsword from his sling and deftly drew his bow and arrow, his movements flowing smoothly and in one breath. With a whoosh, the arrow flew free, striking the Hun's calf with lightning speed. The wounded Hun screamed in agony, blood gushing from his calf. But he gritted his teeth, endured the excruciating pain, and dragged his injured leg forward. He knew full well that with numerous pursuers on his heels, if he couldn't escape quickly and cross the border to hide before nightfall, tonight would be his death, and the crucial intelligence he had gathered would be lost.

A moment later, with a whoosh, a sharp arrow pierced the air, accurately piercing the Hun's calf. He screamed, his body trembling violently, and he lost his balance and fell to the ground. However, even so, he did not give up resistance. Instead, he endured the excruciating pain and struggled to crawl forward.

Seeing this, the men quickly galloped to his side, dismounted, and rushed forward, pinning him down. One of the strong soldiers mercilessly tore off his limbs, while the others, taking ropes, expertly bound him. Then, they carefully placed the now defenseless captive on horseback and stuffed a rag into his mouth to prevent him from crying out. After this, they galloped the captive toward the prisoner's detention center.

After dealing with this man, they didn't dare to rest for a moment, continuing their search for their next target. Thus, for a long day and night, our brave and fearless Northwestern soldiers toiled tirelessly, searching every corner for traitors and Huns. Their efforts paid off, and they eventually captured nearly every traitor and Hun they could find, imprisoning them all.

The guards subjected these prisoners to rigorous interrogation day and night, attempting to extract valuable intelligence from them. Knowing that mercy towards the enemy on the battlefield often translates to cruelty towards oneself, the soldiers in charge of the capture operation were energized, their morale high, and their single, unwavering conviction: to completely eradicate all the termites lurking in this land!

After a thrilling purge, the Northwest Army was reduced to a mere handful of its once mighty force. Even so, the few remaining infestations still caused concern. To thoroughly eliminate these hidden dangers, an elite squad was quickly dispatched. They spread out and carefully searched every corner for any potential enemy lurkers.

At the same time, a reward notice spread throughout the streets and alleys: Anyone who could provide valuable clues or information would receive a generous reward of five taels of silver! As soon as this news came out, it immediately caused an uproar.

The people of this land had long detested the Xiongnu's atrocities. They knew full well that these invaders, with their arson, murder, looting, and other atrocities, had brought untold suffering and disaster. Therefore, many went not simply for the generous bounty, but more out of a sense of national justice and a determination to eliminate the potential threat. Thus, men, women, young and old, spontaneously joined the patrols.

Hard work pays off. After several days of tireless efforts, they finally yielded fruitful results. Numerous spies who had slipped through the net were apprehended, including some well-hidden spies. Even more unexpectedly, during this massive manhunt, some previously undetected spies panicked and revealed their whereabouts, undoubtedly bringing great surprise to the soldiers.

As the spies were uncovered one by one, the situation gradually stabilized. People's lives returned to their former tranquility, and the Northwest Army was able to regroup and continue to shoulder the sacred mission of defending the country.

After the relentless round-the-clock manhunt and the swift and resolute purges over the past few days, Jing San felt as if his spine had been torn out, so exhausted that he couldn't even straighten his back. His brothers beside him were also complaining bitterly, one after another: "Brother Jing, we're almost exhausted! Every day we eat cold, hard, dry steamed cornbread and drink ice-cold tea. When we're really thirsty, we can only stuff handfuls of bloody water into our mouths. It's so cold and hungry! Can we please give us a day off?"

Jing San was already exhausted at this time, and he didn't even have the strength to speak. However, when he saw these brothers who had been with him through thick and thin, he couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility. He forced himself to cheer everyone up and said, "Brothers, hold on! We have almost done this work. As long as we work harder and work hard for a whole morning, we can finish it! We just received news from the camp that they are preparing a grand celebration banquet for us tonight, with plenty of good food and wine, and we can even have a day off! Everyone, work hard and finish the remaining work, then we can go back to the camp to have a good rest and enjoy ourselves!"

After hearing this, the subordinates, although still exhausted, thought of the sumptuous celebration banquet in the evening. No matter how cold and tired they were, they gritted their teeth, struggled to get up from the ground, and walked towards their respective mission targets with heavy steps.

At dusk, King's Landing seemed to be shrouded in a golden veil, appearing particularly lively. In the vast expanse of grass, bonfires were burning one after another, like stars twinkling in the night sky.

On the edge of the snowy landscape, groups of soldiers sat around fires, warming themselves. Their loud chatter, laughter, and banter filled the night with life and energy. Above the roaring flames, tender lamb skewered on wooden sticks sizzled, emitting an alluring aroma.

Some soldiers excitedly sang resounding military songs, their stirring and heroic voices echoing in the cold air, seemingly dispelling the winter chill. Others sat quietly by the fire, gazing intently at the dancing sparks. The rising flames from the firewood illuminated their bright and resolute faces, as if telling the stories and dreams deep within their hearts.

On this night of utter silence and a sparsely lit moon, Li Jing stood alone at the edge of the camp, silently gazing at the vast expanse of grass not far away. He saw soldiers gathered in groups of three or five, some loudly frolicking, some fiercely fighting. The sound of laughter and shouting blended into a bustling scene. However, Li Jing was not at all affected by the joyful atmosphere before him. His brow was furrowed, his expression solemn, and his mind was filled with thoughts.

He knew full well that the present tranquility was but a fleeting illusion before the coming storm. While the current operation to eliminate the traitors had been a resounding success, the real test lay in the fierce battle that was about to unfold. This battle would undoubtedly be brutal, with countless brave and fearless warriors falling in pools of blood, and perhaps even at a horrific cost. Thinking of this, Li Jing's heart grew heavier, as if a huge rock had weighed down his heart, suffocating him.