81. Introducing a Partner
"Greetings, Immortal Jingwei! Greetings, Your Highness, the Crown Prince!" The commander knelt on one knee and bowed to the two.
"How is the battle going at the front?" Yun Ling asked.
"We are currently in a truce, but I heard that the enemy's generals have begun to move towards this front..." The commander glanced at Durandal.
Durandal nodded at him.
"But since the immortal being has intervened, there shouldn't be anything to worry about." The commander breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, those elusive chains were truly irresistible.
"Ooh~"
The sound of a horn instantly caused a stir in the military camp.
"They're here! Your Highness, what should we do?" The commander looked at Yun Ling.
"All soldiers, retreat ten miles and sit down to rest," Yun Ling ordered the commander.
"What... Your Highness, this place is easy to defend and difficult to attack; it is a good strategic point. Why withdraw?" The commander couldn't help but question Yun Ling at this moment.
"Because I'm afraid I might accidentally harm you," Yun Ling explained.
"Do as His Highness the Crown Prince says." General Durandal patted the commander on the shoulder.
"...Yes."
Having never witnessed the power of immortals, he still harbored some doubts, but since Durandal had spoken, he had no choice but to listen.
"All soldiers, retreat ten miles!" At the commander's order, all soldiers quickly retreated to the rear.
This is the discipline of the Ming Dynasty army: absolute obedience.
At this moment, the expeditionary force of Schicksal saw this scene and stopped their charge, fearing it might be a trap.
"Yun Ling, come here." Seeing that Yun Ling was unusually enthusiastic, Jingwei didn't want to dampen his spirits.
"Yes, Master."
Yun Ling coughed lightly twice, carrying Ruoshui, alone with a sword, facing a thousand troops!
The enemy general, Kallen, frowned subconsciously.
This person's aura was ordinary, and he even looked weaker than an ordinary soldier. Why did he dare to stand in front of the Schicksal Army all by himself?
But she soon understood.
Yun Ling held the Ruoshui Sword and slowly pointed it towards the sky.
The sky was clear and blue, but a drizzle started to fall the next second.
"Is it raining?"
A drop of water slid down Kallen's face, and the next second, a stinging sensation struck.
A tiny wound had appeared on her face!
"Why? Ah!!!"
Screams erupted, throwing everyone behind into chaos.
"There's something wrong with this rain!"
"This is bad! Evacuate this area immediately!"
As the rain intensified, the Schicksal army began to fall one after another.
Blood soaked the land, mixing with the rainwater and turning it a deep, blood-red color.
By the time Kallen realized what was happening, the Schicksal forces had already lost 90% of their strength!
"Oath of Judah, liberation!"
She plunged the cross on her back into the ground, and thirteen spears hurtled towards Yun Ling.
However, before it could even get close to Yun Ling, he simply swung his sword lightly, and all thirteen spears were cut in half!
"What?!"
Her invincible weapon was so easily shattered at this moment.
The rain had not yet stopped, and it killed off the remaining few of the Schicksal Army, leaving only Kallen to struggle on with Oath of Judah.
He feels no guilt whatsoever towards those who invade Shenzhou's land.
"Alright, let's stop now," Jingwei said to Yun Ling.
As Jingwei finished speaking, the rain gradually stopped.
Chi Yuan approached Kallen, looked at the "Oath of Judah" in her hand, and calmly reminded her:
"The weapon you are using exists to protect humanity. Those who are not prepared to 'protect' cannot unleash their true power."
Kallen's eyes were filled with shock and confusion.
At that moment, a blond man rushed out from the side and stood between the two.
Jingwei ignored him and simply warned Kallen, "User of the 'Key,' think carefully about what you are trying to protect."
She then left with Yun Ling.
"Why did Master let her go?" Yun Ling asked curiously.
Jingwei closed her eyes and pondered for a moment.
"That weapon, like the Xuanyuan Sword, possesses a spirit; only those with a heart full of great kindness can wield it."
"I see..." Yun Ling nodded, indicating his understanding.
Perhaps aggression was not their original intention, but since it has been labeled as aggression, the two sides only have positions, not good or evil.
The two returned to the military camp without any damage to their clothes.
"Send someone to clean up the body," Yun Ling ordered.
It's summer now, and if too many corpses pile up together, it could cause a plague.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince is mighty! Your Highness, the Crown Prince is mighty!!!"
The soldiers' shouts were deafening. In just one encounter, they wiped out all the enemies. This power... perhaps the prince has inherited the power of immortals!
"Your Highness, I will report the details of this battle to Emperor Ming truthfully." Durandal blinked, seemingly asking for his opinion.
"Yes, while you're at it, please also tell my father to appoint a new crown prince. My mother has been gone for so many years; it's time to let go of her." Yun Ling nodded.
"This..." Durandal was stunned. Was she really being asked to relay such an important message?
"You should go back with General Durandal," Jingwei instructed.
"...Okay." Yun Ling realized that it was indeed a bit inappropriate; it was better to clarify these things face-to-face.
Yun Ling and Jingwei parted ways for the time being, and Yun Ling followed Durandal towards the capital.
The two traveled on horseback, and it took them several days to return to the capital.
News of the battle had already been sent to the capital by express courier. When Emperor Ming saw that it was Yun Ling who had killed all the foreign enemies, tears welled up in his eyes.
Although Yun Ling would occasionally return to the capital to visit Emperor Ming over the years, his condition was never very good each time he saw him, and he would cough up blood from time to time.
Now that he knows Yun Ling can withstand an army of thousands single-handedly, could it be that he has cured his incurable disease and become an immortal?
He was looking forward to it.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty." Yun Ling arrived at the palace to greet Emperor Ming.
"No need for such formalities. Today, there is no emperor, only an elderly father." Emperor Ming hugged Yun Ling tightly.
"How is your illness?" This was the first question Emperor Ming asked.
"...There is no solution yet." Yun Ling shook his head.
"Is it still... unresolved?" Emperor Ming's eyes dimmed slightly.
"Alright, alright, let's not dwell on sad things. Today, my son and I will have a good chat." Emperor Ming changed the subject directly.
"Father, I have some things to say when I return this time." Yun Ling looked at the Emperor Ming, whose temples were graying, and couldn't help but feel a little guilty.
He doesn't seem to have fulfilled his responsibilities as a son.
"What is it? Speak plainly." Emperor Ming nodded.
"I would like to ask my father to pass the position of Crown Prince to someone else," Yun Ling said bluntly.
"...Sigh, I know what you mean, but none of your siblings are outstanding right now."
Emperor Ming had a headache whenever this matter was mentioned.
It seems that Yun Ling alone possessed all the talents and learning ability, making all of Emperor Ming's subsequent sons far inferior to Yun Ling.
It's also possible that Yun Ling left such a deep impression on Emperor Ming that no matter what they did, he would subconsciously compare it to Yun Ling.
It should be noted that Yun Ling was already able to apologize to the ministers when he was very young, and could even offer many suggestions that would benefit the country, earning him the title of child prodigy.
Even though so many years have passed since the incident at the mountain, there are still many people in the court who support him and are waiting for him to return and inherit the throne.
But Yun Ling's mind was not on this at all, and he had no intention of inheriting the throne.
"By the way, when are you going to have a child so that your offspring can inherit the throne? Your father, the Emperor, can probably hold on for another twenty years, so it's not too late to have one now," Emperor Ming suggested.
"Uh... I guess I'll pass..." Yun Ling's eyes darted around.
"Is there no one you like? How about the current prime minister, Rita? If you like her, I can grant you a marriage." Emperor Ming continued, even taking out a portrait of Rita.
She is indeed a rare beauty...
"Father, my heart already belongs to another," Yun Ling could only say.
"Oh? Who is it? I'll bestow a marriage upon you right away!" Emperor Ming couldn't wait to hold his grandson in ten months.
"Uh...you probably don't have that authority."
"And I can't... wait, you don't actually like...?" Emperor Ming was stunned.
"Exactly."
Emperor Ming fell silent.
He might have been able to grant a marriage to anyone else, but if it were the Immortal Jingwei...
"Ahem, never mind. But you are the Crown Prince, what's wrong with having three wives and four concubines? The most important thing is to leave behind an heir! I will immediately arrange a marriage between you and Rita!"
...