Years turn into wind

Chapter 145 Fighting

At this moment, in Ling Xiaotian's study, the flickering candlelight illuminated his worried expression. Suddenly, soft footsteps were heard outside the window. Ling Xiaotian was startled for a moment, then quickly drew the dagger from his waist and whispered, "Who?"

A familiar figure jumped in from the window. Han Lin was covered in dust, his face solemn. "Marshal, this is urgent. We must act immediately."

Ling Xiaotian frowned, his gaze sweeping past Han Lin before shifting to Cheng Yuwei, who had walked in behind him. Though her face looked a little tired, her eyes remained resolute. Seeing her safe and sound, Ling Xiaotian felt a sense of relief, but then another complex emotion took over. He walked over to Cheng Yuwei and asked softly, "Do you know how worried I was?"

Cheng Yuwei met his gaze and smiled apologetically: "I'm sorry to have made you worry, but we have made a new discovery."

Without waiting for them to say anything, Han Lin detailed the battle at the warehouse and the markings on the map. Ling Xiaotian's expression grew increasingly serious as he spoke, and the dagger in his hand trembled slightly.

"It seems the enemy before us is far more cunning than we imagined." Ling Xiaotian's eyes were like knives. He turned and ordered, "Gather all your trusted officers. Let's formulate a plan immediately."

Cheng Yuwei looked at the man in front of her, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. He was not only the person with whom her destiny intersected, but also a steadfast and reliable ally. She gently took Ling Xiaotian's hand and whispered, "Let's go together."

He turned to look at her, a hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes, and he gently held her hand: "Yes, let's do it together."

A few hours later, in the war conference room of the Marshal's Mansion, everyone gathered around a map on the central table, whispering in a low voice. The atmosphere was tense, the candlelight casting a dappled and solemn shadow. Han Lin pointed to the red mark on the map and said, "This is an enemy stronghold. We need to raid it."

Just as everyone was concentrating, a loud noise suddenly erupted from outside, and everyone in the room looked toward the door in alarm. Ling Xiaotian's eyes grew cold, "It seems the enemy is one step ahead of us."

"Get ready to fight!"

Inside the Grand Marshal's mansion, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed as soldiers quickly assembled. The flashes of swords and sabers shone coldly in the darkness. Cheng Yuwei, standing beside Ling Xiaotian, could sense the icy fighting spirit emanating from him. She knew this battle would determine the Grand Marshal's mansion's survival.

"Everyone, get ready!" Ling Xiaotian shouted, his voice like the sound of a drum, striking everyone's heart. The soldiers responded in unison, their fighting spirit high.

However, at this moment, a sinister laugh echoed from the darkness. Several figures emerged from the shadows, led by none other than Ling Xiaotian's nemesis—the mysterious warlord Feng Sheng, who secretly controlled the villainous forces.

"Tsk tsk, Marshal Ling is really prepared for a rainy day. I didn't expect that his wife is here too." Feng Sheng's gaze fell on Cheng Yuwei, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

Ling Xiaotian gripped the sword tightly in his hand, his eyes as sharp as a torch: "Feng Sheng, how dare you trespass into my house today? Are you seeking death?"

Feng Sheng sneered and clapped his hands. Dozens of men in black immediately surrounded the entire courtyard. Cheng Yuwei noticed the change in the atmosphere and her heartbeat quickened, but she remained calm. She knew she couldn't show any fear at this moment.

Han Lin stood on the other side, scanning the enemy's situation with his eyes, and whispered to Cheng Yuwei, "If there's a chance later, you and Marshal Ling will go first, and I'll hold them here."

"No, we have to face it together." Cheng Yuwei said firmly, without any sign of retreat in her eyes.

At this moment, Ling Xiaotian had already attacked. He rushed towards Feng Sheng like a tiger, the flash of his sword, and the sound of metal clashing was particularly harsh in the dark night. Feng Sheng swung his long sword, barely blocking the attack, and sneered, "Today, you and I must decide who is stronger!"

The sound of fighting echoed throughout the mansion as the two factions engaged in a flash of swords and sabers. Though Cheng Yuwei lacked martial arts skills, she took advantage of the chaos to sprinkle the prepared medicinal powder on the enemy. Suddenly, several men in black were blinded by the powder and fell to the ground groaning in pain. Han Lin seized the opportunity and attacked, knocking them down one by one.

Just as the battle reached a stalemate, a sharp whistle sounded. Feng Sheng frowned and looked back at the surging flames in the distance. It seemed that reinforcements were coming. He gritted his teeth and waved his hand: "Retreat!"

The men in black quickly retreated, leaving behind only corpses and blood on the ground. Ling Xiaotian watched them disappear into the night, his fists clenched, a cold glint in his eyes.

"Yuwei, are you okay?" As soon as the battle ended, he immediately turned around to check on Cheng Yuwei.

She shook her head gently, with a tired look on her face, but smiled and said, "It's okay, it's just hard work for you."

Ling Xiaotian reached out and held her in his arms, whispering, "I will never let anyone hurt you."

In this brief moment of tranquility, the two snuggled up to each other, as if they were the only ones left in the world.

The moonlight shone across the courtyard, casting a particularly warm shadow on the two people hugging. Ling Xiaotian's chest rose and fell, the lingering anger from the battle still lingering, but the breath of the person in his arms gradually calmed him. He gently lifted Cheng Yuwei's chin, his eyes filled with tenderness: "Yuwei, you know, you are not only my advisor, but also the person I care about the most."

Cheng Yuwei's heartbeat quickened as she gazed upon the resolute face before her, a complex wave of emotions welling up within her. Having traveled through time to this unfamiliar era, she had never imagined such an emotional connection would develop between her and a warlord. Ling Xiaotian's dominance and gentleness, his toughness and tenderness, had already, without her realizing it, seeped into her heart.

"Xiaotian..." She called his name softly, with a slight tremor in her voice, as if responding, as if confirming the authenticity of this feeling.

Ling Xiaotian smiled slightly, his eyes deep and amused. "Why, are you scared? I'm a tough guy, but I'm afraid I'm making you uneasy, right?"

Cheng Yuwei couldn't help laughing. She shook her head with a firm look in her eyes: "No, I know who you are and what I want in my heart."

The distance between them was so close, their breaths intertwined, as if the whole world had stopped at this moment. Ling Xiaotian lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead, his movements gentle and full of protectiveness. Cheng Yuwei closed her eyes, feeling this rare warmth.

But just then, the sound of light footsteps from afar broke the tranquility of the courtyard. Han Lin hurried over, his face solemn. "Marshal, we have discovered a spy lurking in the mansion. He just tried to escape from the study, but was stopped by our soldiers."

Ling Xiaotian's eyes instantly turned cold. He let go of Cheng Yuwei and regained his composure: "Take me to see it."

Seeing this, Cheng Yuwei adjusted her composure and followed Ling Xiaotian closely. The two of them walked into a dimly lit corridor, their footsteps the only sound. The candlelight flickered, as if trembling with fear at the revelation.

Inside the study, a man in black was tied up, kneeling on the ground, his face filled with fear and despair. Blood stained the corners of his mouth, evidently from a struggle. Ling Xiaotian stood before him, a cold glint in his eyes. "Tell me, who is your master?"

The man in black lowered his head, clenched his teeth, and said nothing. Han Lin sneered, waved his hand and had a bucket of water brought, and threatened, "We have plenty of ways to make you talk."

Just as everyone was holding their breath, Cheng Yuwei suddenly stepped forward and said lightly, "Let me try." She took out a small bottle, poured out a few drops of clear liquid, and handed it to the nose of the man in black.

After a moment, the black-clothed man's expression changed slightly and his breathing became rapid.

The muscles on the man's face began to twitch, his pupils dilated, and his breathing became rapid and ragged. Cheng Yuwei stood before him, her gaze firm and a hint of coldness. "This is a potion you've never seen before. It will render you defenseless in a short period of time. Now, tell us, to whom do you pledge allegiance?"

The man's tightly closed lips trembled a few times, clearly struggling fiercely with his inner fear. Ling Xiaotian stared at him coldly, his gaze as sharp as a torch, awaiting an answer. The atmosphere in the room was oppressive and suffocating, and everyone held their breath, as if afraid to miss even a single detail.

Finally, the man could no longer endure the torture brought by the drug, and his voice became hoarse and trembling: "I... I am loyal to Lin Changqing. He sent me here... to collect confidential information from the military government."

Hearing this name, Ling Xiaotian's brow furrowed, a sharp, cold glint flashing in his eyes. He had long suspected Lin Changqing, the warlord who had been stirring up trouble in secret and colluding with various factions, but he had never imagined he would infiltrate his own residence so quickly.

Cheng Yuwei was also slightly stunned, and began to think rapidly in her mind. She had heard Lin Changqing's name many times since she traveled through time. As Ling Xiaotian's mortal enemy, he was cunning and always unexpected.

Ling Xiaotian took a deep breath and said coldly: "Take him away and keep him under strict guard." Two soldiers immediately stepped forward and dragged the man in black out, leaving a mess of blood on the ground.

Han Lin stepped forward, his expression solemn: "Marshal, it seems that Lin Changqing can no longer hold back. This time he risked sending people to sneak into the military mansion, I'm afraid this is just the beginning."

Ling Xiaotian nodded and glanced at Cheng Yuwei with a hint of subtle worry in his eyes: "Yuwei, this may be very dangerous. I don't want you to get hurt."

Cheng Yuwei forced a smile: "Xiaotian, this era is full of ups and downs. Since I have chosen to stand by you, I will not back down."

Their eyes met, as if they had found a firm belief in each other. The tension in the air gradually dissipated. Ling Xiaotian approached her and whispered, "Thank you for your continued support."

Cheng Yuwei felt a surge of warmth in her heart and gently held his hand: "No matter how difficult the future is, I will face it with you."

As the night deepened, the courtyard returned to peace again, but everyone knew that a bigger storm was brewing in the darkness.

The night was as dark as ink, and the entire Marshal's Mansion was shrouded in silence. Yet within this calm, countless undercurrents surged. Ling Xiaotian sat in his study, his brow furrowed, the cup of tea in his hand already cold. He carefully reflected on the truth revealed by the man in black, and his heart grew increasingly uneasy. Lin Changqing's movements were faster than expected, and his influence should not be underestimated.

Cheng Yuwei pushed open the study door and quietly walked in. Seeing his solemn expression, her heart ached. She knew Ling Xiaotian had always been resolute and unyielding, but tonight, a hint of fatigue shone in his eyes that was hard to conceal.

"Are you still thinking about that spy?" She walked over and handed him a cup of freshly brewed hot tea.

Ling Xiaotian looked up, seeing the concern in her eyes, and felt a warming sensation in his heart. He took the teacup and took a sip. The light aroma eased some of his fatigue. "Yes, Lin Changqing moved too quickly. It seems we are far from prepared."

Cheng Yuwei sat down opposite him, a serious look on her face: "Xiaotian, how confident are we in resisting Lin Changqing's forces?"

Ling Xiaotian was silent for a moment, then whispered, "If it were just the visible military strength, I'd be 70% confident. But Lin Changqing is adept at plotting, and that's the real headache."

"Then we'll start with his scheme." Cheng Yuwei's voice was firm, her eyes gleaming with confidence. "Although I'm not a military strategist, we can use my knowledge of chemistry to create some 'special' weapons and defensive measures to catch him off guard."

Ling Xiaotian was stunned for a moment, then a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes: "Yuwei, you are really my think tank. I didn't expect you could deal with it in this way."

The two exchanged a smile, and the atmosphere became much more relaxed. Cheng Yuwei looked at his face, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. She knew that she could no longer let go of this person in front of her, even though he was in such a dangerous situation. Ling Xiaotian also raised his hand and gently stroked her face, tenderness flowing in his eyes.