On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

The miasma of the Blackwater Marsh hung like a sticky shroud, covering the remains of Blackrock Castle.

The charred ruins of the buildings were barely visible in the gray-green fog, and the air was filled with a mixture of odors that was so strong that it was sickening - the pungent smell of blood, burnt food, sulfur and saltpeter, the stench of poisonous insects and decaying corpses, and a cold and dead silence that penetrated deep into the bones.

Inside the fort, soldiers from the Jingbian Battalion were silently clearing the battlefield, collecting their comrades and the bodies of bandits that had been blown to pieces. Their numb faces were etched with fatigue and the heaviness of surviving a disaster.

On the cliff behind the fort, the dark red bloodstains and broken vines were particularly glaring on the slippery moss.

Mao Mengji's skinny body leaned against the cold rock wall. His dark light armor was covered with knife marks and scorched marks from poison powder burns. The hideous scar on his face was twisted in pain, his lips were black and purple, and his breathing was rapid and weak.

He forced himself to hold on to his last bit of clarity, his skinny fingers pointed at the dark green mud swamp rolling below the cliff, his voice hoarse and broken: "Looking for him, alive or dead... the body. Gu Beichen cannot be alive..."

Before he could finish his words, his body trembled violently, a mouthful of black blood spurted out, his vision went black, and he fainted completely.

"General!" The deputy general's eyes were bloodshot and he screamed, "Military doctor, hurry!"

The accompanying military doctor rolled and crawled forward, tearing off the leather armor on Mao Mengji's shoulders and neck. He saw a small wound with the skin around it turning blue-black and spreading rapidly to all sides.

"The poison powder has entered the blood and is extremely toxic. Quickly, dissolve the miasma-avoiding pill in water to clean the wound, and use the golden needles to seal the meridians to prevent the poisonous blood from attacking the heart!" The military doctor's voice was trembling as he hurriedly tried to rescue the patient.

The soldiers held their breath, their eyes filled with anxiety and fear.

General Mao is their soul.

"Search, search for me!" The deputy general's eyes were red as he pointed at the cliff and roared, "Ropes, grappling hooks, go down to the swamp, search every inch of it for me. I'll find him alive or dead. If you can't find Gu Beichen, don't come back!"

"Yes!" Several brave soldiers gritted their teeth and obeyed the order. They quickly tied the ropes and embedded the hooks deep into the cracks in the rocks. Regardless of the poisonous miasma and dangerous mud below, they slid down the cliff and their figures disappeared into the thick dark green.

Yanjing Headquarters, Purple Palace.

The charcoal brazier could not dispel the chill of deep winter, and the atmosphere in the hall was as heavy as lead.

Lin Zhen, wearing a black armor and a coiled dragon, stood in front of a huge map of the northern border with his hands behind his back. His eyes were as calm as the abyss, but contained thunder.

Holding several bloodstained reports, Xiao Hanzhou spoke in a low, rapid voice, "Master, urgent news from Blackstone Fort! General Mao has been poisoned and is unconscious. The military doctor says the poison has reached his lungs and he's in critical condition. Gu Beichen has fallen into the muddy Death Marsh and his life is unknown. The Jingbian Battalion is searching for him with all their might!"

"Ling'er!" Lin Zhen's voice was cold.

"Here!" Chu Xiling's indigo work clothes were spotless, and there was a barely perceptible solemnity on her cold face.

"Immediately bring the Ministry of Works' medical officer and all available antidotes, and ride fast horses day and night to Blackstone Fort. Save Mao Mengji at all costs!"

"Yes!" Chu Xiling bowed, turned around and left quickly.

"Also..." Lin Zhen's eyes swept across the map, "The battle situation of Blackstone Fort."

"The Burning Thunder breached the city, killing over 300 enemies and capturing 120. The remaining bandits from the three groups and the Black Scaled Death Squad were completely destroyed. We also seized some unpurified poison saliva and some semi-finished products, which we burned." Xiao Hanzhou said, "However, our army suffered 87 casualties and 153 serious injuries, most of whom were caused by the Burning Thunder Death Squad and close combat."

"Generous compensation, double it!" Lin Zhen said firmly, "The seriously injured will receive full medical treatment, and the families of the fallen will be provided with lifelong care by the government!"

"Yes!" Xiao Hanzhou replied, his voice deepening. "However, urgent news from the northern border: the 30,000 cavalrymen of the Rouran Left Wise King have broken through the Wild Wolf Plains 300 miles outside the Fengxue Pass. The vanguard cavalry have reached the Eagle's Beak Pass. The Gaochang Eagle Division, with 20,000 infantry and cavalry, has stationed itself in Sunset Valley, less than a hundred miles from our border, and the beacon fires have been lit."

There was dead silence in the hall.

The air seemed frozen.

Rouran Gaochang...finally arrived.

"The movements of the Vulture, Snow Wolf, and Wind Falcon." Lin Zhen's voice was calm.

"The chiefs of the three tribes have all led their elite cavalry to gather in the designated defense zone. However..." Xiao Hanzhou's face was filled with worry. "There are constant conflicts among the three tribes. Wulianghetai and Tuoba Xiong almost had a fight over pasture and water. Their forces are less than 30% complete."

"Internal and external troubles." Lin Zhen's eyes flashed coldly. "Send an order. Instruct the Ministry of War to personally lead the troops to the three defense zones with this prince's golden sword. Reiterate the military order. Anyone who delays military operations, retreats in battle, or engages in private fighting and internal conflict will be executed without mercy, their tribes will be confiscated, and their wives and daughters will be enslaved."

"Yes!" The messenger responded loudly and rushed out.

"How many troops are there in the northern border?" Lin Zhen's gaze returned to the map.

"Your Highness!" The military official stepped forward. "The Jinwu Guard stationed at Fengxue Pass has 10,000 main troops, the Shenji Battalion has 3,000, and the border troops have 20,000. However, the Rouran cavalry is fierce, and the Gaochang are skilled in archery and horsemanship. If the two combined to form a force of 50,000, our army would be overwhelmed."

"We lack manpower to make up for our weapons," Lin Zhen said in a steady voice. "Ling'er reported before we left that the production process for the stable dose of Burning Sky Bombs has broken through and can produce 50 per day. The grenade launcher has been improved, with its range increased to 250 steps and its accuracy increased by 30%!"

A glimmer of light flashed in the eyes of everyone in the hall.

"Send a message to the Ministry of Works. The Burning Thunder Division will work tirelessly around the clock to produce burning thunder and grenade launchers. Prioritize their distribution to the elite troops of the Northern Divine Machine Battalion and the Jinwu Guard!" Lin Zhen ordered. "Also, send a pigeon to Hu County to mobilize 3,000 flintlock musket troops from the Deepwater Port Marine Battalion. Send them north as quickly as possible to support Fengxue Pass!"

"Yes!" The Ministry of Works accepted the order.

"Xiao Hanzhou!"

"The disciple is here!"

"Contact the Huitong and Fengyu ships, requisition all pack horses and carts, and form a Feihuo Battalion dedicated to transporting and escorting the Burning Sky Thunder. Store ice cellars at post stations along the way to ensure low-temperature storage for foolproof safety!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

"Cheng Xuan!"

"exist!"

"Lead the elite troops of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to infiltrate the Rouran and Gaochang military camps and spread rumors that Gu Beichen has been executed and that his Sky-Burning Thunder is a fraudulent device that has been used to deceive the world and steal their reputation. It is actually a borrowed knife to kill people and deplete their national strength by luring foreign invaders. If they persist in their delusion, the Daqian Heavenly Soldiers will bring the thunder of divine punishment to plow through the land and exterminate their descendants!"

"understand!"

"This prince..." Lin Zhen turned slowly, his black cloak fluttering in the wind. "I will personally go to Fengxue Pass to guard the northern border. If the Rouran and Gaochang dare to encroach on my territory, I will make them pay with blood!"

Blackrock Castle, temporary medical tent.

The strong smell of medicine mixed with blood and decay was suffocating.

Mao Mengji lay on a crude wooden couch, his face black, his lips purple, his breathing weak and threadlike. The wounds on his shoulders and neck were swollen and festering, and the black blood that flowed out gave off a foul stench.

The military doctor was sweating profusely and inserted needles into all the acupuncture points, but he was unable to stop the spread of the poisonous gas.

"The poison has entered the heart, there's no way to save him." The military doctor's voice was desperate.

The curtains were suddenly thrown back.

An indigo figure rushed in amidst the wind and snow.

Chu Xiling's cold face bore the weariness and dust of a long journey, yet her eyes remained sharp as ever. Ignoring the oppressive atmosphere within the tent, she quickly walked to the bedside, leaning over to examine the wound. Her nose twitched slightly, and a hint of solemnity flashed across her cold eyes.

"Spores of swamp toadstool, mixed with curare sap and some kind of nerve-paralyzing toxin." Her voice was clear and calm. "Take aqua regia, dilute it tenfold, clean the wound, dig deep into the rotten flesh, and reveal the bones!"

The military doctor was horrified: "Master Chu! This thing is extremely poisonous and corrosive!"

"If the rotten flesh is not removed, the root of the poison will not be eradicated!" Chu Xiling's voice left no room for doubt. "Take the silver needle and test the poisonous blood!"

The silver needle entered the black blood and turned black instantly!

"It really contains sulfur arsenic..." Chu Xiling's eyes flashed, "Take raw egg white and administer it orally in large quantities to neutralize some of the toxins. Also, take green vitriol solution and administer it intravenously. Quick!"

Although the military doctor was surprised and suspicious, he did not dare to delay and immediately did as he was told.

Chu Xiling did it herself. Her eyes were as focused as a hawk behind the glass goggles. Holding a special small silver knife, she accurately cut away the black rotten flesh around Mao Mengji's wound until the white bones were exposed!

Rinse with diluted aqua regia, making a sizzling sound and emitting pungent white smoke!

The rotten flesh instantly carbonized and fell off! The severe pain caused the unconscious Mao Mengji's body to twitch violently!

Chu Xiling remained calm and moved as fast as lightning.

The green vitriol solution is slowly injected into the vein through a special hollow silver needle.

Raw egg white was forced into the food.

Time passed by minute by minute.

The tent was dead silent, with only the dripping sound of medicine and Mao Meng's faint breathing.

Fine beads of sweat oozed out of Chu Xiling's forehead, and her cold face was filled with unprecedented concentration.

Finally, the blackness on Mao Mengji's face faded away at a speed visible to the naked eye, his breathing gradually became steady, and the blood flowing from the wound turned dark red.

"The poison has stopped..." The military doctor's voice trembled with disbelief.

Chu Xiling breathed a sigh of relief, a hint of fatigue flashing in her cold eyes.

"Clean the wound, apply wound medicine with ice flakes, keep the temperature low, observe closely, and feed mung bean and licorice soup every half hour to detoxify!"

"Yes! Yes!" The military doctor responded repeatedly, looking at Chu Xiling with awe.

Fengxue Pass, city wall.

The cold wind was like a knife, blowing up snow foam all over the sky and lashing at the cold battlements and the solemn soldiers.

Lin Zhen was wearing a black dragon armor, and his scarlet cloak fluttered in the wind. His eyes were like lightning, piercing through the wind and snow, looking into the distance at the vast snowfields in the north.

On the horizon, one could vaguely see a mass of dark riders like a surging tide, with flags waving and swords and spears like a forest.

The horn sounds of the Rouran cavalry were low and distant, carrying the wildness and murderous aura of the grassland, penetrating the wind and snow.

The sound of the Gaochang Eagle Division's war drums was as dull as thunder, striking the hearts of every soldier defending the city.

"Report!" The scout dismounted, knelt on one knee, and spoke hoarsely, "Your Highness, the Rouran vanguard of 5,000 cavalry has reached Yinmapo, ten miles outside the pass. The Gaochang Eagle Division of 10,000 infantry and cavalry is stationed in Sunset Valley, remaining motionless, seemingly waiting and watching!"

"The Rouran want to be the vanguard?" the deputy general sneered.

"Order!" Lin Zhen said calmly, "Shenji Battalion, move up to the city walls. Load your grenade launchers with Burning Sky Bombs. Target Yinma Slope. Once the enemy is within 200 steps, fire freely!"

"Yes!" The messenger ran.

"Golden Guards, heavy cavalry, armoured and armed, assemble inside the pass and attack upon command!"

"Order!"

"Border troops, archers, rolling logs and stones, kerosene and gold, prepare!"

"As ordered!"

Lin Zhen's eyes swept across the three cavalry units standing ready for battle outside the city.

Wulianghetai of the Vulture Tribe and Tuoba Xiong of the Snow Wolf Tribe had solemn expressions and complicated eyes.

"Wulian Hetai, Tuoba Xiong," Lin Zhen's voice pierced through the snow and reached the ears of the three men clearly. "This battle concerns the survival of Northern Yan and the honor and disgrace of the three tribes. Anyone who kills the enemy in battle will be rewarded! Anyone who kills a general and seizes a flag will be rewarded handsomely! Anyone who fears the enemy and is afraid of fighting will be subject to military law, have their clan exterminated, and have their head hung! Don't say I didn't warn you!"

The two men were shocked and responded in unison: "We will obey your highness's orders!"

The wind and snow are getting stronger.

The iron hooves of the Rouran vanguard crushed the ice and snow, slowly approaching like a black torrent.

The ferocious face and the reflection of the scimitar were faintly visible in the wind and snow.

The horn sounds became more and more rapid, with bloodthirsty excitement.

Two hundred steps... one hundred and fifty steps... one hundred steps...

"Shenjiying, release!" Lin Zhen pointed the golden sword forward!

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!" The dull sound of firing rang out!

Dozens of dark sky-burning thunders cut through the wind and snow, and with a shrill scream, smashed into the dense cavalry formation of the Rouran vanguard!

“BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!”

Terrifying, earth-shaking explosions rang out one after another, and scorching flames mixed with thick smoke and sharp metal fragments shot up into the sky, instantly engulfing the charging Rouran cavalry.

People and horses fell to the ground, blood and flesh flew everywhere, the cries of war horses and the howls of soldiers seemed so faint amid the sound of the explosion.

The charging formation was instantly torn into several huge gaps, and charred corpses and burning debris were scattered all over the ground.

"Oh, Changshengtian! What is that?!" The surviving Rouran cavalry screamed in horror!

The momentum of the charge was stagnant!

"Jinwu Guards, attack!" Lin Zhen shouted!

The heavy gate of Fengxue Pass burst open, and Mao Mengji's deputy general led the charge. The heavy cavalry in black armor was like a black steel torrent, with thunderous hooves, stirring up snow foam all over the sky, and slammed into the chaotic Rouran vanguard.

The cold spear tip easily pierced through the leather armor, and the heavy horse hooves crushed the fallen enemies.

Wherever it passed, people and horses fell to the ground, and it was unstoppable.

"The Vulture Tribe, the Snow Wolf Tribe, the Wind Falcon Tribe, follow me and kill!" Wulianghetai roared, and the three cavalry tribes were like tigers out of the cage, waving scimitars, encircling from both wings, and fiercely strangling the defeated Rouran cavalry!