"Damn it, is this damn spear rooted to the ground?"
In the Temple of the God of War, behind the statue of Huo Qubing, stood a weapon, Huo Qubing's weapon, the Crimson-Tipped Lin Shuo.
Everyone wanted to take it, but strongmen like Xu Mancang, Xue Wentai, and Suo Dacheng all tried in vain. No one could pull it out. Xu Mancang became enraged and cursed, thinking that the Crimson-Tipped Lin Shuo was either cast onto the gun seat and fused with it, or it simply grew out of the ground...
"Hahaha, what can grow out of the ground besides crops?" Zhou Fugui couldn't help but laugh heartily at the sight. "Get out of the way, all of you, watch me."
"You? If you can do it, I, Mancang, will ride you like a horse and cross the snow mountain ahead today..." Xu Mancang shouted loudly.
When it came to archery, Xu Mancang was naturally no match for Zhou Fugui, but in terms of strength, Xu Mancang was confident he was superior. This had been the case since childhood. In fact, Xu Mancang had a nickname when he was young: "Mad Bull" from Luoyan Village in Lu Ming Township.
"Hahaha, Brother Mancang, you speak the truth!" Xue Wentai, the great monk from Guanzhong, chuckled with a wide grin after shaking his wrists. "These hands of mine can overturn a strong bull, yet I can't move this piece of scrap metal. If Young Master Zhou Er can take it out, I'll be your ox..."
"One wants to be an ox, the other wants to be a horse," Pan Jianggui said with a smile. "Your demands are quite high. I only hope you keep your word."
Pan Jianggui had long experienced Zhou Fugui's abilities; no matter how absurd the matter, he always managed to surprise them.
"Pah, a word from my mouth is as good as done. Do I ever go back on my word?" Xue Wentai yelled loudly.
"Me too!" Xu Mancang also said loudly.
"Get out of the way, get out of the way. Go make trouble elsewhere." Zhou Fugui pushed aside the two burly men and walked up to the Crimson-Tipped Lin Shuo, carefully observing the ancient weapon.
This ancient weapon, while perhaps a treasure, was dark and lusterless. The spearhead was covered in rust, mottled and likely unusable, certainly not fit for battle. Yet, to say it wasn't magical, the red tassel on the Crimson-Tipped Lin Shuo was still a vibrant red. After countless years, it had not decayed and still hung on the Lin Shuo, swaying slightly in the breeze.
Zhou Fugui was, of course, extremely familiar with this weapon. Whether in dreams or in some celestial realm, Zhou Fugui had spent two years with it.
However, in those dreams or celestial realms, the weapon had not looked like this.
Zhou Fugui pondered for a moment, a hint of emotion crossing his face, then he grasped the spear shaft with one hand.
"Clang!"
The crowd heard a piercing sound. Zhou Fugui held the spear with one hand, and without any visible effort, the Crimson-Tipped Lin Shuo was pulled out and raised high in his hand.
Then, a miraculous scene unfolded. A gust of wind swept by, and a dazzling golden light suddenly appeared in the sky, striking directly onto the tip of the Crimson-Tipped Lin Shuo. Instantly, the spearhead emitted a brilliant radiance, enveloping Zhou Fugui.
The Crimson-Tipped Lin Shuo itself underwent a dramatic transformation. The spearhead, once rusty, now gleamed with a cold, sharp light, like nether iron from the deepest abyss, radiating a soul-stirring luminescence. Even more astonishing was that a faint crying sound, like the wails of vengeful spirits from hell, seemed to emanate from the spearhead. The spear shaft turned a dark, lustrous black, emitting a subtle glow. Faint, dark patterns appeared on its surface, resembling a coiled dragon, its claws and fangs bared, its eyes glaring fiercely, instilling awe and fear.
The onlookers were so stunned they could no longer speak. Xu Mancang and Xue Wentai's mouths hung open, their eyes wide, fixedly staring at Zhou Fugui and the Crimson-Tipped Lin Shuo in his hand.
Four ancient Chinese characters, "Zhen Tian Long Shuo" (震天龙槊), meaning "Heaven-Shaking Dragon Spear," were inscribed on the spear shaft in seal script.
The Zhen Tian Long Shuo was the weapon of Huo Qubing, the Grand Commandant and General of the Cavalry of the Great Han Dynasty, a divine and potent weapon. With it, Huo Qubing had shattered countless armies and slain countless foes.
"My heavens, my brother is actually an immortal!"
"Goodness, this is truly miraculous. In all my years, I've never witnessed such a wonder."
After a long moment, Xu Mancang and Xue Wentai, the two burly men, simultaneously exclaimed in awe.
"Finally, I have a suitable weapon," Zhou Fugui said, ignoring the two burly men. He held the Zhen Tian Long Shuo horizontally, gently caressing the divine weapon.
"The Zhen Tian Long Shuo has found its master," Zhou Fugui remarked. Although he couldn't read seal script, Li Qing could, and he sighed.
"Zhen Tian Long Shuo? Such a powerful name! Hahahaha!" Zhou Fugui, having obtained a divine weapon, or rather, reunited with it, and moreover, it was the weapon of his divinely appointed mentor, Huo Qubing, was overjoyed. He held the Zhen Tian Long Shuo tightly, unwilling to let go, and laughed up at the sky.
Little did Zhou Fugui know, the Zhen Tian Long Shuo in reality was far more formidable than in the celestial realm or dreams.
"My Godly Brother Fugui..." Xu Mancang, having recovered from his shock, still unconvinced, asked Zhou Fugui with a mixture of envy and jealousy, "Can you even wield a spear?"
"That's right, can you wield a spear? Young Master Zhou Er, your skills with the saber and sword are merely mediocre," the others nodded in agreement. Xue Wentai's dejection turned into excitement, thinking he could finally turn the tables. He too, with a gruff voice, shouted loudly,
"If I can't wield it now, can't I learn?"
Zhou Fugui smiled slyly, tightly gripped the shaft of the Zhen Tian Long Shuo, and suddenly performed a flourish, thrusting it towards Xu Mancang and Xue Wentai.
"Swish!"
"Ah!!!"
Amidst the crowd's exclamations, Zhou Fugui, wielding the Zhen Tian Long Shuo, swiftly ripped open the chest of Xu Mancang and Xue Wentai's clothes but did not injure them.
Tearing through clothing without harming the skin, and doing so with lightning speed, shattered the notion that Zhou Fugui couldn't wield a spear.
"My Godly Brother Fugui, I'm convinced, utterly convinced. Mancang is convinced," Xu Mancang said, cupping his hands in salute, his exposed, hairy chest forgotten.
"Godly Brother Zhou Er..." Xue Wentai, also disregarding the black hair on his chest, cupped his hands and said, "Only today do I truly know that there are heavens beyond heavens and men beyond men."
Er Lang Shen? You are Er Lang Shen, and your whole family are Er Lang Shen, Zhou Fugui thought with delight, and he let their words pass with a smile, cursing them inwardly but choosing not to engage.
Zhou Fugui then went to the front hall, bowed three times to the statue of Huo Qubing, and exited the hall.
"We've wasted enough time, let's set off,"
Zhou Fugui, with the Zhuyue Bow on his back, the heavy sword at his waist, and the Zhen Tian Long Shuo carried casually in his hand, exuded an aura of exceptional majesty and dominance. After mounting his horse, he gave the order.
The others exited the hall, mounted their horses, and followed Zhou Fugui forward.
"I say, Mancang, why are you still riding a horse? Weren't you supposed to be a horse? No, you're already a horse. Fugui is ahead, hurry, hurry! And you, Monk Xue, aren't you a bull? Can a bull ride a horse?" Zhou Fugui didn't bother with Xu Mancang and Xue Wentai, but Pan Jianggui relentlessly teased them in a sarcastic tone.
"Hahahaha!"
The crowd erupted in laughter. Xu Mancang and Xue Wentai glared at him.
"Does a bull have to be ridden?" Xue Wentai then said proudly, "I am by no means a man of untrustworthy words. The martial world values trust above all. So what if I become a bull? However, this bull of mine is not for riding, but for eating. As long as Young Master Zhou Er can stomach it, I'll gladly give up this flesh!"
"Hahahaha!"
The crowd burst into laughter again.
"Haha, black meat, old and tough, who could stomach that?" Pan Jianggui roared with laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
The crowd erupted in another round of laughter.
"A horse can ride a donkey, so why can't a bull be ridden?" Bai Ma Wu, a man of the Di ethnic group, pondered for a moment and then laughed. "When a horse breeds with a donkey, it's a mule. What do you get when a horse breeds with a bull?"
"Bang!"
"Ouch!"
"Hahahaha!"
...
"Disperse, disperse. Don't get too close, and don't be too far apart," Zhou Fugui called back loudly to the assembled Yan soldiers. "Secure your mounts, no need to worry about the horses."
What is known as a swamp is land where the surface and sub-surface soil is frequently waterlogged, with hygrophilous and marsh plants growing on the surface, and peat accumulation, or a gley layer even without peat accumulation.
Various vegetation grew on top of the swamp, forming meadows. Beneath the meadows, the water accumulated, forming black, muddy mire. In shallow areas, it reached the knees, and in deep areas, it submerged one completely. It was truly treacherous. Light snow had begun to fall, making the journey even more arduous for Zhou Fugui and his companions.
The difficulty of travel was not the main issue. The most challenging and terrifying aspect was the mire formed by mud and wild grass. If one were to fall in, and no one came to their rescue, it would be impossible to escape on one's own, only sinking deeper and deeper until one was swallowed whole.
Zhou Fugui was experienced in swampy terrain. He first ordered Yelihu and other seasoned scouts to lead the way, trying to stick to firm ground. They moved in groups of three to five, spaced apart, tethered together by ropes or belts, so that if anyone fell into the mire, they could be rescued immediately.
As for the horses, Zhou Fugui had no choice but to abandon them. If a horse got stuck in the mire, trying to save it was almost impossible and would likely cost one's own life.
Zhou Fugui took one step at a time, walking across the meadow. Looking up, under the misty snow, it appeared like a gray-green ocean, with no hills or trees, no birds or beasts, and desolate human habitation. There were no villages or roads, only an infinite expanse stretching in all directions.
The sight alone was enough to induce despair.
"Plop!" Li Qing, lost in thought for some unknown reason, strayed from Zhou Fugui's group and stepped into the mire. Instantly, the muddy water reached his waist.
"Don't struggle!" Zhou Fugui saw Li Qing desperately thrashing in the mud, knowing that struggling only hastened one's demise in such a situation. He shouted urgently, grabbed the rope around Li Qing's body, and then lunged forward, sliding towards him.
Xu Mancang, Suo Dacheng, Xue Wentai, and Pan Jianggui desperately pulled on the rope, preventing both of them from sinking into the mire.