Chapter 82: A Pair of Divine Beauties

Quan Zhenzhu huffed and continued, “What about sister? Is she leaving with you too?”
Lu Hu nodded and gently soothed her, “Your sister is a skilled horsewoman and can draw the stiffest bow. The journey ahead is dangerous—I cannot bear to let you risk it with us.”
“I’m not afraid of danger! I want to follow my brother and sister!” Quan Zhenzhu insisted, obstinate as ever.
“You little rascal, if you keep being naughty, your brother won’t like you anymore!” Rarely did Lu Hu put on such a stern face to frighten her.
But at times, a stern word worked wonders.
“Very well then. Brother, be careful. I don’t want to leave you—I’ll miss you so much,” Quan Zhenzhu choked as she spoke, crystalline tears streaming down her cheeks like pearls.
Not wishing to linger, Lu Hu simply picked her up and carried her to Quan Dounan’s grand tent, entrusting her to Xiao Guanyin.
He left the tent and beckoned to Quan Meiyu, who waited at the entrance.
Quan Meiyu was dressed in bright red armor, a hard bow and a quiver of arrows slung across her back. She had already guessed that Lu Hu was comforting her younger sister and, seizing the opportunity, had prepared herself in full.
“Brother, this is the golden armor passed down in our family from mother’s side. She asked me to bring it for you.”
Her beautiful mother-in-law had truly given up her most treasured heirloom.
Lu Hu donned the golden armor and led her to the special stables.
“Yellowcoat, it’s time for us to set out. Pick a swift companion for me—a good sister to carry mine,” Lu Hu stroked the mane on Yellowcoat’s neck, coaxing softly.
Yellowcoat pawed the ground joyfully and neighed, “My god, you truly are a god. Your sister is dressed in red, and my sister is too—Lightning!”
Beside Yellowcoat, a wild red mare neighed, “Brother Yellow, what’s so important?”
This bright red mare was wild and brash—a true untamed filly.
Yellowcoat replied, “Carry this woman in red and you will reach immortality.”
The red mare snorted, “You’d better not waste my effort. If I can’t become immortal, I’ll kick you to death!”
Yellowcoat coaxed her amiably, “Don’t worry, they are a match made in heaven—they will succeed, and so will we!”
Lu Hu and Quan Meiyu busied themselves saddling the horses and fitting their gear.
There were thirteen more wild horses—not to be left idle, as they were swifter than any warhorse.
Lu Hu and Quan Meiyu mounted and rode into the camp.
The soldiers stared in awe: gold armor, golden steed, red armor, crimson mare—strikingly brilliant in the drifting snow.
A matchless pair—gods descended to earth...
“Those skilled in riding and archery, step forward and follow me!” Lu Hu spurred his horse and called loudly as he galloped ahead.

More than thirty riders followed his lead.
Lu Hu had them practice horsemanship and marksmanship, then selected the thirteen strongest among them.
He let each of them choose a wild horse.
“You are now my Thirteen Guardians. Rank yourselves by age—First Guardian, Second Guardian, and so on, up to the Thirteenth. Now choose your own titles.”
“Troublemaker!”
The thirteen quickly sorted out their order.
Lu Hu turned to Shi Taixiang, who stood waiting, and said, “Lead your hundred-man squad and follow us. Let’s go.”
Riding alongside Quan Meiyu, with Bai Dabai tailing behind, they shot out of the camp like arrows.
The Thirteen Guardians followed close.
Shi Gengxiang led Lu Hu’s first hundred-man squad right after.
Most of these men had witnessed Lu Hu’s thunderous power in subduing Shi Gengxiang and revered him as a god from the heart.
Moreover, none of their squad leaders had been killed, so the group remained the most complete and, naturally, stronger than other squads.
With a piercing eagle’s cry, the white-headed eagle king soared into the sky, breaking through the snow mist and flying above Lu Hu’s group.
Before long, the distance between the groups widened.
Lu Hu and Quan Meiyu rode far ahead, though the Thirteen Guardians were not left far behind.
Shi Gengxiang’s squad urged their horses desperately, but fell farther and farther behind.
Yellowcoat and Lightning galloped with flying hooves, their strength undiminished—the deep snow barely slowed them.
They sped through the blizzard like swift arrows, slicing through the swirling snow.
At such speed, the drifting flakes stung the riders’ faces like soft whips.
Quan Meiyu could barely keep her eyes open.
Even for Lu Hu, he could only squint, seeing little ahead—he had to rely on the wild horse beneath him.
Suddenly, from above, the eagle king screamed, “God, be careful! There’s a group coming toward you.”
Lu Hu answered with a shrill cry, “Can you see how many?”
The eagle king swooped and replied, “Twenty-six riders, all armed with weapons and bows, but none in armor.”

“Understood, Brother Eagle, keep watch and report anything unusual.”
“All right!”
Lu Hu neighed, “Brother Yellowcoat, slow down—there are people ahead, and we don’t know if they’re friend or foe.”
Yellowcoat called out loudly, telling Lightning to slow down, and eased his own pace as well.
“Meiyu, ready your bow and arrows—someone’s coming,” Lu Hu shouted to Quan Meiyu as he reached behind for his charged shield, slipping it onto his left arm, gripping the handle, while his right hand readied the electric baton.
Despise the enemy strategically, but never underestimate any opponent in tactics.
Remain vigilant at all times to ensure safety.
Though Lightning slowed, the wind still roared in Quan Meiyu’s ears and she barely heard Lu Hu.
Turning to ask, she saw him raise his gleaming shield and instantly understood, drawing her bow and nocking an arrow.
After about thirty breaths, Lu Hu saw a dark mass in the snowy haze ahead.
He gathered his breath and sent his voice forth: “Who goes there ahead?”
There was a reply, but without Lu Hu’s skill, it was faint as a mosquito’s buzz.
Ordinarily, Lu Hu could have heard clearly, but the rushing wind from their speed drowned out other sounds, and he could not catch the words.
“If you seek the protection of the god, dismount and wait. If you are my enemies, come forth and fight!” Lu Hu called out again.
The group promptly dismounted.
“Meiyu, wait here for the Thirteen Guardians. I’ll go ahead and see,” he said. Even with them dismounted, he could not guarantee complete safety and did not want Quan Meiyu to take any risk.
“I’m going with you,” she answered, her tone brooking no argument.
With her younger sister absent, she no longer concealed the affection she had always kept hidden, no longer calling him “Brother God,” but simply “brother.”
Lu Hu did not argue further, but turned to Lightning, “Stay here, don’t move. I’ll go with Yellowcoat first.”
Unexpectedly, Lightning, worried for her Yellowcoat brother, objected, “Why? I’m coming too.”