Yan Prefecture, beneath the Sky Bridge.
"In the early years of Jian Yuan, our Emperor ascended the throne.
The barbarians of the Northern Frontier seized the opportunity to break their treaty and advance south, ravaging the lands of Yan Prefecture. Their advance was like a broken bamboo.
Where the barbarian iron hooves passed, mountains and rivers shattered, and the land lay barren for a thousand miles!
The mighty Tian River was dammed by the corpses of the common people, causing it to cease its flow!
At this critical juncture of survival, a white-robed youth appeared out of nowhere, with a white steed and silver spear, wearing a demon mask, and fought his way out of the perilous pass!
Facing thousands upon thousands of troops, the youth seemed determined to sacrifice himself for the nation!
Unexpectedly, he, alone on his horse, charged headlong, fighting his way in and out seven times, his battle robe stained with blood, forcing back the myriad barbarian cavalry a thousand paces and winning a moment of respite for the Great Qian Kingdom!
Hundreds of thousands of the people of Yan Prefecture, thanks to his desperate battle, were spared from suffering!
The common people believed him to be a gift from heaven and affectionately called him:
General Tian!
Those barbarian cavalry were known as invincible throughout the land, their might causing all to tremble.
Our Great Qian Kingdom successively assembled its most elite troops for defense, yet still felt powerless.
When the two armies faced each other, General Tian led seven thousand white-robed soldiers, breaking through the enemy formation from the flank.
The seven thousand white-robed soldiers, following General Tian, seemed divinely aided, their spirit piercing mountains and rivers!
The hundred thousand barbarian cavalry were thrown into disarray by the seven thousand white-robed soldiers, fleeing in panic for a hundred miles, leaving tens of thousands of corpses behind!
This battle changed the fortunes of the world, our national morale soared unprecedentedly, and confidence was regained!
Later, the Son of Heaven issued a decree: 'By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Heaven bestowed upon our court the divine general, General Tian, whose divine might is unparalleled, who turned the tide when it was about to collapse and propped up the falling edifice, driving back the barbarians seven hundred miles. The nation is elated, and the barbarians are terrified! I am greatly pleased and hereby posthumously confer upon him the title of Divine Might General Tian, and grant him the Divine Might Mansion! By imperial order.'
..."
People gathered here, listening to the storyteller extol the deeds of General Tian, their cheers and cries intermingling.
A young woman in green, of unparalleled beauty, her eyes flickered.
Luo Qingxue's gaze passed through the crowd, looking at the portrait of General Tian behind the storyteller, her face full of admiration, her nose stinging.
Without General Tian, she and countless other young women would have been abducted by the barbarians and suffered humiliation!
Only those who had witnessed the great battle of Yan Prefecture could understand her feelings.
The stability of Yan Prefecture, and indeed the entire Great Qian Kingdom, was fought for by General Tian and his soldiers, with blood and sweat, one saber strike at a time!
Behind Luo Qingxue, a young man sat in a carriage, clad in a white robe, handsome and unrestrained, peerless in the world.
However, his face was deathly pale, and he coughed from time to time, appearing as a frail scholar with a sickly body.
Liang Xiao thus stayed behind Luo Qingxue, wrapping his outer robe tighter, his face expressionless, listening to the story.
This was the seventh time he had accompanied Luo Qingxue to listen to stories, yet she never tired of them, staying here for so long just to hear this particular tale of General Tian.
"As the saying goes: Suddenly heard of a heavenly general, crossing the passes again and again!
Who could have imagined that he, pitying the suffering of the common people, would sacrifice his life for the nation and die on the battlefield, his unparalleled fame turned to dust!
In the decisive battle that day, General Tian sacrificed his life to kill the enemy, defeating the barbarians, yet his remains were never found..."
The storyteller was overcome with emotion, wiping away tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve.
The crowd below was already sobbing.
"Alas, great masters and generals are not to be trifled with; a thousand armies shy away from the white robe!"
Luo Qingxue cried out as if in pain, tears gushing like a spring.
"Huh?"
Liang Xiao suddenly heard Luo Qingxue utter such a familiar praise and exclaimed in surprise.
Luo Qingxue knitted her brows, her expression showing displeasure, and she turned to glare at Liang Xiao.
He seemed to be taking pleasure in her misfortune...
Liang Xiao paid no attention to Luo Qingxue's gaze, but rather looked at the portrait of General Tian that had suddenly been hung up today.
Clad in golden armor, ten feet tall, with a waist ten spans wide, wearing a demon mask.
Liang Xiao couldn't help but think to himself: Not a single thing on this fellow resembles me, even the mask is drawn incorrectly...
That General Tian who appeared out of nowhere, if not him, then who else could it be!
Because he could not bear to see the common people suffer, he resolutely stepped forward and achieved victory through unconventional means.
The epic decisive battle was still vivid in his memory.
The Great Qian Kingdom faced barbarian cavalry several times its number, and with the betrayal of rebels, was in imminent danger. To break the stalemate, Liang Xiao could only fight a desperate battle, charging into the enemy lines, barely managing to retreat covered in serious injuries, but was shot off his horse by the enemy while breaking through the encirclement, falling into a mountain ravine with his horse.
Liang Xiao hurriedly treated his shocking wounds and walked back to Yan Prefecture. Finally, exhausted, he collapsed outside the city of Yan Prefecture.
The guard commander of Yan Prefecture recognized the elder Liang, and sent Liang Xiao back to the Liang family, where Liang Xiao managed to save half his life, but was left with a host of internal injuries.
"General Tian! General Tian, one rider against a thousand, breaking through ten thousand..."
At this moment, a group of children, humming a song and holding crude windmills, ran towards the Sky Bridge, passing by Liang Xiao's carriage.
"Big sister, do you also like General Tian?"
Luo Qingxue's beautiful eyes lit up, and she nodded happily.
"Does big brother like him?" a little girl asked excitedly.
Liang Xiao thought for a moment and replied, "He's alright."
Luo Qingxue next to him quickly winked at Liang Xiao, who could only offer a wry smile.
"Then will big brother also drive away the barbarians like General Tian?" the children asked in a jumble.
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment and said, "I'll consider it."
The children left, disappointed.
Luo Qingxue chided, "They are still young. Even if you are cowardly, you should at least satisfy them with a well-intentioned lie!"
Liang Xiao sighed, "Next time, I will."
But he truly did not want to be narcissistic.
"Liang Xiao, do you want to hear my true feelings?"
Luo Qingxue suddenly asked.
Liang Xiao responded nonchalantly, "Speak."
"The man of Luo Qingxue, even if he is not as divinely powerful as General Tian, should be a heroic man who cares for the common people and dedicates himself to the nation! Look at you, idling about all day, making no progress, your words and actions are frivolous. Do you feel no shame whatsoever!"
Liang Xiao thought for a moment and said, "No."
Luo Qingxue felt as if her heartfelt words had sunk like a stone into the sea, and she became even more angry. She had considered countless answers from Liang Xiao, but never expected him to be so shameless.
Why was he born into a life of wealth and status, yet unwilling to contribute even a tiny effort for the country and its people?
Luo Qingxue suppressed her anger, staring at Liang Xiao, feeling utterly disheartened.
"General Tian sacrificed himself to bring about national stability and save us, ten thousand people, from dire straits! You have listened to General Tian's story seven times with me, yet you have always remained indifferent, without any sign of emotion, which fills me with despair!"
"All along, I have wanted to discuss breaking off our engagement! I apologize, I, Luo Qingxue, am humble and not worthy of you, the noble Young Master Liang!"
Liang Xiao nodded, "That is acceptable."
"You, a spoiled brat, will not receive any respect even if you enjoy wealth and status your entire life!"
"Perhaps."
From beginning to end, Liang Xiao was recalling that day's bloody battle, responding to Luo Qingxue with indifference.
Even if he wanted to take up his spear and fight again, he had to face the severe injuries and lingering ailments that battle had left him.
Luo Qingxue was almost spitting fire. She turned and glared at Liang Xiao again, only to find that Liang Xiao's gaze finally held a trace of solemnity.