Super System in the Early Tang Dynasty

Chapter 235 The Pursuit (Part 2) - Second Update

The remaining Tuyuhun tribes had very little food left, let alone any for these "meat-eating" animals. However, the snowmelt from the ground was plentiful each day. Many died on their horses. But it was the dead of winter, and the flesh didn't decompose, so it could still be eaten. Although these barbarians still preferred to eat live prey, now was not the time to be picky.

Cao Hua slumped on his horse, his body thin and weak, utterly devoid of strength—not even the strength to contemplate suicide! He awaited that day, and sometimes, he wished it would come sooner, for that would be a release for him.

He endured hunger, constantly haunted by the shadow of death, like a taut rope awaiting a sharp pair of scissors. Besides despair, his only feeling was regret—regret for not resisting that day, for even committing suicide would have been better than being shrouded in the fear of death. He felt a pang of envy, envy for his fallen companions. Occasionally, he felt the sachet rubbing against his chest with the horse's swaying, and only then would a sliver of warmth and a desperate hope for survival flicker in his heart…

On that day, the ropes binding him were cut, and he knew that the moment was finally coming. Besides longing and reluctance, his heart was filled with the joy of impending liberation.

Just as he was thinking this, a barbarian rudely pried open his mouth, took a bowl, and poured something into his mouth.

His mouth opened and closed weakly, and a warm, light meaty flavor wafted out of his mouth.

The smell of meat, the smell of meat... tears streamed down Cao Hua's dry face. He didn't know why these barbarians were feeding him meat broth. He was too exhausted to think about it anymore. His nose, slowly regaining its sense of smell, greedily inhaled the aroma of meat. He struggled to lift his head, wanting to drink another mouthful of the hot broth, just a small sip, just one more small sip like before would be enough. But the barbarian had already taken the bowl and left, watching Cao Hua, spitting out some curses...

Just as Cao Hua was quietly awaiting death, the barbarians rode away on horseback, grinning maliciously.

Fu Yun gritted his teeth as he looked at the hundred or so rations he had abandoned, hoping in his heart that the Han Chinese who led the army was as 'merciful' as the rumors suggested...

Wang Erlang had been leading his soldiers in pursuit of the remnants of the Tuyuhun tribe for several days, and the majority of the Tang army had not yet caught up. He gazed into the distance, where the undulating mountains were faintly visible. He knew that in a few more days, these Tuyuhun remnants would be able to enter the mountains, and at that time, capturing Fuyun would be virtually impossible.

"I wonder when Brother Xue will be able to catch up," Wang Erlang thought.

The two split up to pursue the enemy. Wang Erlang, with his superior eyesight, chased straight towards the remnants of the Tuyuhun tribe, while Xue Rengui took a wrong turn and it was unknown when he would be able to find him.

If they could combine their strength, attacking from both the south and the north, they might be able to defeat these thousands of defeated soldiers. Taking the head of a general amidst a thousand troops would not be impossible. However, he was not confident of success if he were alone, and the thought of the lives of his hundreds of brothers behind him made Wang Erlang abandon the risk.

He rode a black horse that was no longer very strong, carried a silver spear on his back, and rubbed the gourd at his waist with one hand. The words 'Bigu' were engraved on the gourd—if it weren't for this Bigu pill, he would not be so relaxed now.

Unfortunately, the ingredients for the Bigu Pill are rare, and consuming too much of it is not beneficial. Otherwise, if it were promoted in the army, the territory of the Tang Dynasty would have expanded to an unknown extent! Wang Erlang stroked the gourd in his hand and thought with some regret.

Wang Erlang is now completely different from the pale-faced scholar he was a few years ago.

He was now robust, with a thin, long scar running down his face. His chest, exposed by the wind-blown robe, bore countless scars of varying depths. He exuded an aura of unapproachability that inspired awe, and his eyes, opening and closing, made it impossible to meet his gaze.

He led a hundred or so soldiers, their expressions solemn and their demeanor measured, slowly following behind the remnants of the Tuyuhun army, leaving their marks. Suddenly, his ears twitched, and he spurred his horse forward, the soldiers behind him immediately following.

More than a hundred dark figures stood out conspicuously in the snow.

Wang Erlang rode his horse closer and saw over a hundred live cannibals abandoned by the remnants of the Tuyuhun tribe. At this time, a few were still groaning, most of the rest were pale, and a very few had already died.

Wang Erlang stared at the hundred or so Han Chinese lying on the ground, their clothes tattered and groaning. His eyes were bloodshot, his heart filled with uncontrollable rage, and he felt as if his teeth were about to grind to dust. Although there were only a hundred or so people here, he couldn't help but think of how many Han Chinese had suffered at the hands of those people over the years!

"What a splendid Fu Yun! If he falls into my hands, I will tear him to pieces!"

Standing next to Wang Erlang, Zhao Zheng looked at the hundred or so Han people lying on the ground, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

"Erlang, we don't have enough food for them to consume. Moreover, this is probably a tactic by the remnants of the Tuyuhun tribe to delay our journey..."

Wang Erlang touched the yellow gourd in his hand, feeling a little more at ease. He gritted his teeth and said, "I have my own plans. You should tell the brothers to set aside some warm clothing and boil some snow water."

A year of war had hardened Wang Erlang's heart, making him as ruthless as a butcher and as cruel as an iron man. Yet, whenever he saw his own people in distress, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He knew it was Fu Yun's scheme, but he could only accept it.

The snow water boiled, and Wang Erlang took out his yellow gourd, poured out several dark brown pills the size of longan fruits, and threw them into the boiling water. The pills dissolved instantly upon entering the water, and the snow water turned a light dark brown.

Wang Erlang hadn't used this Bigu Dan (a fasting elixir) very often. Each time he used it, he diluted it with water. While it did have a slightly satiating effect, it didn't seem particularly miraculous. This time, naturally, was no different…

……

Cao Hua lay in the snow, feeling colder and colder. He didn't know why no one had come to end him. There was no more room for him to think.

Just when he thought he was about to freeze to death, a warm sensation suddenly surged from his lips into his abdomen. He felt something envelop his body. He felt something slowly seeping into his bloodstream from his abdomen, giving him a surge of strength.

Cao Hua struggled to open his eyes and saw only a young, handsome face, weathered by time. A dignified aura emanated from that face, giving him an inexplicable sense of security.

He looked at the person in front of him and knew that he was not one of those barbarian tribes.

"I'm rescued?" He was still somewhat incredulous. Before he could think any further, he was wrapped up and tied to a horse again.

……

Just as Wang Erlang was feeding the kidnapped and abandoned Han people with the dissolved medicine of the Bigu Pill, the sound of horses' hooves, which gradually enveloped the horizon in darkness, rushed into Wang Erlang's ears.

Wang Erlang looked up and saw over a hundred barbarians on the horizon, riding strong horses, shooting towards him like flying arrows!

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Thank you "reamaker" for the monthly pass! (To be continued.)