Wei Zhao led Jiang Ci southward. Seeing figures in the distance at the edge of the forest, he turned and released her right hand, looking at Jiang Ci, and said calmly, “You go back first.”

Jiang Ci slowly withdrew her left hand, looked at him without speaking, and walked towards the forest with her head down, brushing past Pei Yan. Zhou Mi hurriedly followed.

Pei Yan, with a cold face, watched Wei Zhao leisurely walk up to him before revealing a smile. “Third Young Master seems to be in good spirits, climbing mountains and appreciating the moon.”

Wei Zhao smiled, “The Young Lord has returned quite timely.”

The two walked side by side towards the camp. Wei Zhao said, “The situation here is settled. We need to hurry back to reinforce Qingmao Valley.”

“Of course, we’ve been waiting for you, Third Young Master.”

Jiang Ci returned to the military camp to find the soldiers busy breaking camp. She hurried into her small tent. Cui Liang was inside and called out when she entered, “Xiao Ci.”

“Mm.” Jiang Ci knew they were about to move out and hastily packed her essential items.

“Xiao Ci, last night—”

Jiang Ci panicked, knowing Cui Liang must have inquired at the field hospital. She smiled and said, “I got lost in the mountains yesterday, so—”

Cui Liang didn’t ask further. After she finished packing, they left the tent to see Pei Yan and Wei Zhao approaching side by side. Cui Liang suddenly said, “Xiao Ci, stay with me on this journey.”

“Alright.” Jiang Ci tied her bag to her waist. As she looked up to see Pei Yan and Wei Zhao approaching, she lowered her eyes and stepped behind Cui Liang.

With the camp packed up, thirty thousand Changfeng Cavalry assembled, awaiting orders. Everyone in iron armor gleaming coldly, holding reins, spirits high and fighting spirits intense, looked towards the people under the command flag.

The Changfeng Guard led over a black stallion. Pei Yan mounted with a leap, followed by Ning Jianyu and others. The purple command flag swept through the air, horns blew in unison, war horses neighed, and swords and halberds shone. The soldiers shouted in unison as they mounted, each unit following the command flag in formation, galloping westward.

The retreat horn sounded, and the Huan army withdrew from the trench in an orderly manner, like flowing water.

Under the royal flag, Yu Wen Jinglun and Teng Rui exchanged glances before turning back to the main tent. After entering, both fell into deep thought. Yi Han and several generals were puzzled but sat quietly below, not saying much.

A cavalry officer entered the tent, knelt, and reported, “Your Highness, we’ve interrogated the prisoners. We’ve captured twelve in total: nine are locals from Hexi, two are soldiers from the Cloud Cavalry, and one is from the Changfeng Cavalry.”

Yu Wen Jinglun and Teng Rui exchanged glances again, with Yu Wen Jinglun’s lips hinting at a smile. He waved his hand, “Master Yi, please stay.” The other commanders hurriedly bowed and left.

Yu Wen Jinglun pondered for a moment before looking up, “Master Yi, I have a question. Please don’t take offense.”

Yi Han quickly replied, “Your Highness flatters me.”

“You’ve faced Pei Yan twice in battle. I’d like to hear your assessment of him.”

Yi Han’s gaze sharpened instantly, but his words were extremely calm, “In the battle at Changfeng Mountain Manor, I found him extremely adept at exploiting every opportunity, skilled in psychological warfare. In the incident at the envoy’s residence, I found him to be deep and cunning, planning each step meticulously, leaving nothing to chance.”

“Master Teng, what about you? You’ve been responsible for gathering intelligence on Pei Yan for years. How would you assess him?” Yu Wen Jinglun turned to Teng Rui.

Teng Rui took a sip of tea, the corners of his lips curling up slightly, and leisurely spoke three sentences: “A hero of his generation, a cunning hero in chaotic times, a hero on the battlefield.”

Yu Wen Jinglun chuckled, “Master’s three ‘heroes’ are quite insightful.”

Yi Han showed interest, “Please elaborate, Master.”

“Pei Yan possesses unparalleled talent and martial skill, with strategies surpassing others. Looking across the world, only Your Highness can stand as his equal, making him a hero of his generation. He is ambitious, highly skilled, and doesn’t sweat the small stuff when doing great deeds. He can even be called unscrupulous, with actions not lacking in cruelty and viciousness. In chaotic times, he would be a cunning hero. But he also has the breadth of vision of a great general, the demeanor of a hero, decisiveness and determination, an eye for talent, and the ability to use it well. His subordinates include many capable individuals and fierce generals, making him worthy of being called a hero on the battlefield.” Teng Rui spoke at length.

“Master Teng seems to have quite a high opinion of Pei Yan,” Yu Wen Jinglun smiled. “However, I’m more interested in what you said after that.”

Teng Rui’s smile deepened with meaning as he slowly said, “In my view, regardless of whether he’s a hero of his generation, a cunning hero, or a battlefield hero, he is ultimately someone who plays with power and authority.”

Yu Wen Jinglun nodded, “Indeed. If one were to say that Pei Yan is fighting for some grand cause of national righteousness or the common people, striving to turn the tide and battling on the battlefield, I would be somewhat skeptical.”

“The so-called national righteousness is just Pei Yan’s grand words to win people’s hearts and boost morale. If we talk about his fundamental purpose for being willing to come out and fight this battle, it’s nothing more than the two words: power and authority,” Teng Rui said. “If he can take down Boyu Mountain, he can occupy the Longbei Plain; if he can achieve victory against our army, the area north of Hexi Prefecture will all be under his sphere of influence.”

Yi Han gradually understood, “Plus, with Wang Lang dead and the Hua Emperor handing over all military power in the north to Pei Yan alone, he effectively controls half of the Hua Dynasty’s territory.”

“Yes, but this half of the country is not so easy to control. There’s one faction in particular that Pei Yan must be wary of.”

Yi Han thought for a moment and said, “The Gao clan of Hexi?”

“Correct. The Gao clan of Hexi is the Hua Dynasty’s premier noble family, with immense power that even the Hua Emperor is quite wary of. The Gao clan has deeply entrenched roots from Hexi to Donglai, and they even have their private armed forces. The Prince of Zhuang is a rising star in the capital, overshadowing the Crown Prince, all thanks to the Gao clan’s backing.”

Yi Han suddenly realized, remembering the earlier report about the interrogation of prisoners, “Master, are you saying that Pei Yan is now using our army to eliminate the Gao clan of Hexi? Even the Changfeng Cavalry’s retreat to Qingmao Valley, forcing the Gao clan to act, was part of his plan?!”

Teng Rui just smiled, not answering.

Yu Wen Jinglun looked at Teng Rui and nodded, “Master’s reasoning is very sound, not far from what I was thinking. The key now is, does Pei Yan’s use of this ‘borrowing a knife to kill someone’ tactic prove that he’s not actually in Qingmao Valley?”

Yi Han also said, “Indeed, he could stay out of sight, letting the Gao clan’s people come up to die, and then come out to clean up the battlefield when the time is right.”

“Pei Yan is not a man to do anything without benefit, and by the same logic, he seeks to gain the maximum benefit from everything he does. If he were in Qingmao Valley, not showing his true face for over ten days and just letting the Gao clan’s troops die, it would be better for him to rush to Niubi Mountain, decisively deal with Boyu Mountain, and then come here.”

“Master, are you suggesting that Pei Yan is very likely not in Qingmao Valley, but has gone to Niubi Mountain?”

Teng Rui stood up solemnly, “I request Your Highness to make a decision.”

Yu Wen Jinglun remained silent for a long time before asking, “Master, how many of those ‘Sun-shooting Bows’ have been made these days?”

Teng Rui replied, “With the sample bow and understanding of the manufacturing secrets, production has been quick. We now have five thousand bows.”

Yu Wen Jinglun walked to the tent entrance with his hands behind his back, gazing south. In the twilight, the clouds were thickening, dark, and heavy, as if about to press down on the vast earth. His eyes gradually brightened, like a sharp sword about to be unsheathed, or like a fierce tiger choosing its prey.

He remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, his voice steady yet with an undisguisable sharp edge: “We have rattan armor for defense and Sun-shooting Bows for attack. Let’s take a gamble! Even if Pei Yan is truly here, confronting him is my lifelong wish. It looks like there will be heavy rain tomorrow, which will be advantageous for our army’s general attack. Everything will depend on you two.”

Yi Han and Teng Rui exchanged glances before bowing deeply, “Yes, Your Highness.”

Qingmao Valley was the last natural barrier for the Huan army’s southward advance, easy to defend but difficult to attack. The steep mountains on both sides and the long, deep, narrow valley made it easy to defend but not suitable for camping. Therefore, in recent days, Tian Ce had been coordinating the rotations of the Changfeng Cavalry, Cloud Cavalry, and Gao clan’s troops on the front lines, while the main camp was stationed about half a mile south of the valley entrance.

Tian Ce lifted the tent flap and entered to find An Cheng polishing his thick-backed sword. He took a few big gulps of water, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and smiled, “Don’t you think you haven’t had enough killing these days?”

An Cheng laughed, “I’ve been itching for action after spending over a year with the Prime Minister in the capital. Finally on the battlefield, but not allowed to charge out and kill to my heart’s content. Just defending like this, I’m not frustrated, but this sword is getting restless.”

“Once the Marquis arrives, I’ll let you go out and kill to your heart’s content. For now, our task is to hold Qingmao Valley,” Tian Ce said with some worry. “I’m afraid if the Huan army launches a general attack, the Gao family’s troops have suffered heavy casualties, the Cloud Cavalry has also suffered severe losses, and the Changfeng Cavalry brothers seem to be somewhat fatigued—”

“Don’t worry, this is a valley, not flat ground. Even if the Huan army launches a general attack, we have the advantage of terrain. With the support of strong crossbows, we can hold out for two or three days,” An Cheng smiled. “The Prime Minister has always planned for every contingency. What are you still worried about regarding our Prime Minister?”

“You’re right.” Tian Ce smiled and looked at the sky again, muttering to himself, “It looks like there might be heavy rain tomorrow. Hopefully, the Huan army will stay quiet for a couple of days, and we’ll have achieved a great victory.”

To rush to the aid of Qingmao Valley, the army led by Pei Yan moved very quickly. The sound of hooves traveled from east to west, passing through Jing Prefecture by dusk.

Seeing the command flag in the distance, Ning Jianyu rode over, “Marquis!”

Pei Yan pondered for a moment before saying, “Set up camp at Qingshan Bridge ahead. Rest for two hours and wait for those behind to catch up before moving out.”

Ning Jianyu, knowing that horses and soldiers couldn’t gallop day and night without rest, passed down the military order.

Everyone dismounted by Qingshan Bridge. Jiang Ci sat beside Cui Liang and saw the Changfeng Guard come to light a campfire. She couldn’t help but glance at Wei Zhao.

However, Wei Zhao was smiling and talking with Ning Jianyu. Jiang Ci quickly looked at Ning Jianyu’s expression and felt relieved.

Cui Liang handed Jiang Ci a dry biscuit, “On a forced march, we can only eat some dry rations.”

Jiang Ci accepted it with both hands, giving Cui Liang a sweet smile. Just as she was about to bite into the biscuit, she saw Pei Yan’s ice-cold gaze sweep over. She hurriedly shifted and turned to the side.

Cui Liang spoke while eating, “Prime Minister, I estimate that if the Huan army’s scouts return via Yanming Mountain to report, they’ll know about the situation here by tonight or early tomorrow morning. We won’t arrive until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest. I wonder if General Tian and the others can hold out for this day?”

Ning Jianyu raised his sword eyebrows and smiled, “Ziming, don’t worry. If Tian Ce and An Cheng can’t even hold out for this one day, they might as well not continue serving in our Changfeng Cavalry.”

Pei Yan also nodded and smiled, “It should be fine. Tian Ce has fought against the Huan army for many years and knows their battle tactics well. Moreover, it’s not flat terrain. It won’t be easy for Yu Wen to swallow up my Changfeng Cavalry. Ziming, you can rest assured.”

Cui Liang said no more, but suddenly there was a commotion not far away, with soldiers shouting for some unknown reason. Pei Yan frowned slightly, and Chen An hurried over. After a while, he returned with a beaming smile, holding a wild rabbit, “Marquis, the brothers caught this while relieving themselves. They all say you should have a taste of fresh meat.” He was about to gut it with his sword.

Pei Yan’s face clouded over. Ning Jianyu quickly coughed, and Chen An, noticing Pei Yan’s expression, felt his heart sink. His hand loosened, and the wild rabbit scampered away.

Pei Yan said coldly, “Do you know where you went wrong?”

Chen An hesitated for a moment, then said softly, “The Marquis should share the same hardships as his brothers. Whatever the brothers eat, the Marquis should eat too.”

“What else?” Pei Yan’s voice grew more severe.

Chen An’s face reddened. He suddenly straightened his chest and said loudly, “This precious blade of Chen An should be drinking the blood of our enemies!”

Pei Yan’s expression softened slightly. “It’s not wrong for our brothers to catch a wild rabbit when relieving themselves. But for you to bring it back and use your saber, that’s where you erred. Let this be noted for now. When we reach Qing Mao Valley, you’ll have a chance to redeem yourself.”

Chen An performed a crisp military salute and shouted, “Yes, Marquis!”

Pei Yan turned away from him and smiled at Wei Zhao, “These young ones don’t know better. I hope Magistrate Wei isn’t offended.”

Wei Zhao smiled faintly, “I’ve long heard of Young Lord’s strict military discipline.”

Xu Jun secretly gestured to Chen An, asking him to sit down on his right. But Chen An’s face flushed red, and he saluted again, “Marquis, I’ll go patrol!”

Watching his retreating figure, Xu Jun cursed under his breath, “That stubborn mule!”

Ning Jianyu laughed, “If anyone understands stubborn mules best, it’s our Marquis. Just wait and see. When we reach Qing Mao Valley, he’ll turn into a fierce tiger. The Huan army will regret messing with a wild rabbit!”

Cui Liang looked at the nearly pitch-black sky, then grabbed a handful of soil and sniffed it. “There’s likely to be heavy rain in the west these next two days.”

Pei Yan smiled, “That will be even more advantageous for Tian Ce’s defense.”

From afar, Chen An’s booming voice suddenly rang out, “Listen up, brothers! Tomorrow we’ll show the Huan army the might of the Changfeng Cavalry. Those who dare to offend our Changfeng Cavalry will be annihilated!”

Thousands of voices roared in response, “Those who dare to offend our Changfeng Cavalry will be annihilated!”

Chen An seemed extremely satisfied. He burst into laughter, then suddenly began to sing. The Changfeng Cavalry joined in, their rough and heroic voices echoing by the Qingshan Bridge.

“The sun shines high, iron cavalry like the wind;

Three armies obey, morale like a rainbow;

Steeds neigh, sweeping like dragons;

Brothers-in-arms, life, and death we share;

Mountains move, spirit pierces the sky;

Guarding the land, only us, Changfeng!”

The song soared to the heavens, like a giant dragon roaring in the sky, proudly surveying the vast earth.

“Steeds neigh, sweeping like dragons;

Brothers-in-arms, life, and death we share;

Mountains move, spirit pierces the sky;

Guarding the land, only us, Changfeng!”

The wind howled across the plain, but the sound of the Huan army’s iron hooves and battle cries was even more violent than the wind.

The rain poured down, washing away the blood on the ground, as if trying to erase the evidence of this bloody slaughter.

The blade of An Cheng’s thick broadsword had long since curled. He couldn’t remember how many Huan soldiers he had killed, nor how many Changfeng Cavalry brothers remained by his side.

The wind and rain made his silhouette resemble a lone wolf. His eyes were filled with bloodlust and killing intent as he led the remaining few thousand Changfeng Cavalry in a desperate defense before a small hill.

From the north, faint screams could be heard. The Huan army must be massacring the city. “Lord Pei, An Cheng has failed you. We couldn’t hold Qing Mao Valley, nor could we defend Hexi Prefecture!”

Seeing these few thousand brothers being pushed back step by step by the Huan army, each fighting ten enemies, their bodies indistinguishable between blood and rainwater, unsure if it was their blood or the enemy’s, An Cheng’s heart ached terribly. Yet he still summoned his Yuan Power and shouted, “Hold on, brothers! The Marquis will be here soon!”

He let out another long roar, becoming one with his blade as he plunged into the wave-like Huan army. His broadsword slashed left and right, sending anyone in his path flying.

Amidst the slaughter, his gaze swept towards the south, silently praying: “Old Tian, hang in there. If only your thirty thousand men could retreat across the Hexi Canal and rebuild the defense line, we might still have a chance to prevent the Huan army from marching south. I, An Cheng, will use my life today to buy you this slim chance!”

His eyes blood-red, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. His blade generated a rounded force, displaying invincible valor. Dozens more Huan soldiers fell to the ground.

Under the royal banner to the north, Yu Wen Jinglun looked somewhat displeased. “Fifty thousand men taking so long to deal with ten thousand Changfeng Cavalry? We’ll be laughed at when word gets back!”

His words angered the two generals beside him. They roared and led another five thousand men to attack. But An Cheng and the Changfeng Cavalry fought like madmen, each man fearless of death, entangling the Huan army so they couldn’t push forward.

Teng Rui also found the situation troublesome. The capture of Qing Mao Valley and occupation of Hexi Prefecture had gone as smoothly as planned, but they hadn’t anticipated such desperate resistance north of the Hexi Canal. He turned his head and said, “Your Highness, we must cross the Hexi Canal quickly. If Pei Yan arrives and uses the canal to rebuild the defense line, our plan to march directly on the capital will be hindered. It’s a pity we’ve run out of arrows, otherwise we wouldn’t need such bloody close combat.”

Yu Wen Jinglun’s eyes gradually brightened. He said slowly, “We won’t wait for Master Yi. I’ll take to the field myself!”

He took the precious sword offered by his subordinate. Under his helmet, his brows were full of sharp intent, carrying endless killing intent, shooting towards An Cheng amid the battlefield.

A cool morning breeze blew against their faces. The iron hooves of the warhorses flashed brilliantly in the rosy light, kicking up yellow mud and grass.

Pei Yan and Wei Zhao rode side by side. Seeing that they had passed Hanzhou, with the spirited shouts of the Changfeng Cavalry still audible behind them, Pei Yan felt elated. He smiled and said, “Third Brother, to be honest, we haven’t had a proper match yet. After we drive the Huan army back, let’s have a good fight!”

Ning Jianyu rode up and laughed, “I’ve heard that Magistrate Wei’s martial arts are extraordinary. Would you allow Ning to witness them firsthand?”

Wei Zhao rode leisurely, his form steady despite the gallop. His voice came unhurriedly to Ning Jianyu’s ears, “You flatter me. General Ning, with your white robe and silver spear, your reputation shakes the border. I’ve long admired you.”

Pei Yan smiled and was about to speak when he suddenly heard an urgent horse gallop that sounded somewhat familiar. His heart skipped a beat. His right hand exerted force, and his black stallion let out a long neigh, its four iron hooves stopping steadily in place.

Soon, on the yellow dirt road ahead, two men were frantically whipping their horses, getting closer and closer. Pei Yan’s smile gradually faded. He slowly raised his right hand, and messengers before and after passed on the order to halt the advance.

Changfeng Guards An Lu and Dou Zimou, their heads covered in sweat and their military uniforms stained with blood tumbled from their horses and knelt before Pei Yan’s mount. They seemed to have collapsed, breathing heavily. Pei Yan’s heart sank, but his voice remained extremely calm: “Speak.”

“Marquis,” Dou Zimou was gasping for air. An Lu shouted, “Marquis, the Huan army has breached Qing Mao Valley. General Tian led the troops back to Hexi Prefecture, but before they could close the city gates, the Huan cavalry broke through the north gate. Hexi Prefecture has fallen!”

Ning Jianyu drew in a sharp breath, his handsome face showing disbelief. Wei Zhao’s brows also tightened, his body unconsciously straightening.

Ning Jianyu looked towards Pei Yan. Pei Yan’s face had sunk like a statue. An Lu didn’t dare raise his head and continued shouting, “Big Brother An ordered us to report to the Marquis. Hexi Prefecture can’t be held. Our brothers have suffered heavy casualties. General Tian and Big Brother An are leading the retreat southward!”

Cui Liang had rushed up in time to hear clearly. He was also shaken by this earth-shattering news, instantly sobering up. Seeing Pei Yan still not reacting, he shouted, “My Lord, the Hexi Canal!”

Pei Yan was awakened by his shout. He let out a fierce cry, turned his horse around, and furiously whipped his steed, galloping towards the southwest.

Ning Jianyu controlled his wildly beating heart. With a wave of his banner, the thunderous sound of hooves urgently galloped southwest, startling crows from the roadside forests. They flew across the sky like dark clouds, seeming to shroud the hearts of every Changfeng Cavalry soldier.

The rain gradually subsided, but the slaughter intensified.

Teng Rui’s brows furrowed slightly as he watched the bloody battle before him, like a scene from hell. Deep in his heart, a flicker of pity also flashed.

Only about a thousand Changfeng Cavalry remained around An Cheng, but each fought with demonic ferocity as if they were evil spirits released from hell. They killed so fiercely that even the Huan army began to feel fear. Although they pushed the defenders back step by step, they couldn’t break through the defense line forged by those willing to die.

Yu Wen Jinglun was engaged in a blade-to-blade duel with An Cheng. An Cheng’s blade technique was inferior to his, and his stamina was long exhausted. But with desperate moves and an inexhaustible tenacity and fighting spirit, he forced Yu Wen Jinglun to exert all his strength yet still couldn’t take him down.

Teng Rui heard approaching hoofbeats and turned his head in delight: “Master Yi, has Hexi Prefecture been pacified?”

“Yes, the Gao clan put up quite a fight. The street battles were rather difficult, but we’ve finally subdued them.” Yi Han looked towards the front, his brows furrowing. “This An Cheng is quite ferocious.”

“Have the arrows been replenished?”

“We’ve brought them. There was a batch of arrows in the rear courtyard of Duke Gao’s mansion. They’ll meet our urgent need.” Yi Han smiled.

Teng Rui clapped his hands together. “Excellent.” He waved his command flag, and the horns began to wail. Yu Wen Jinglun heard clearly and let out a hearty laugh. With three swift strikes, he forced An Cheng back two steps. Yu Wen Jinglun leaped onto his warhorse and galloped back to the royal banner.

The horns sounded several more mournful notes, and the Huan army retreated like the tide. An Cheng knew something was amiss. He looked up to see rows of archers moving to the front of the Huan formation, nocking their cold, glinting arrows. Despair and hatred surged within him simultaneously. He looked back at the Hexi Canal half a mile to the south, then gazed towards the northeast, and let out a bitter smile: Lord Pei, An Cheng can no longer accompany you!

He suddenly let out a long howl. When it ended, he shouted in rage, “Brothers, let’s fight them to the death!”

The thousand remaining Changfeng Cavalry responded in unison. Though every man bore grave wounds, each face showed a resolute expression of willingness to die. Roaring, they charged towards the Huan army.

Yu Wen Jinglun watched these thousand death-seekers charge forward and smiled coldly. His right hand swiftly pressed downward.

Pei Yan furiously whipped his mount, galloping wildly on the southwestern road. His back was soaked with layer upon layer of sweat, the veins on his forehead bulging, his eyes gradually turning blood-red. His purple battle robe fluttered violently in the wind as if it might be torn away. A fear he had never experienced before gradually spread and occupied his heart. He didn’t even turn back to see if the main army was keeping up, just frantically whipping his horse, letting the fine rain soak his eyebrows and sideburns.

Ning Jianyu followed closely behind him, his eyes seeming to burn. As they galloped, he felt he could hear the pounding of blood in his body. Tian Ce, An Cheng, can you hold on?

Several riders led the way, with ten thousand following, galloping past hills, across plains, towards the endless southwestern wilderness, towards the Hexi Canal that symbolized their last glimmer of hope.

The rain finally stopped.

Pei Yan and Ning Jianyu were the first to gallop up a small hill, finally seeing the Hexi Canal in the distance. But they also saw the black mass of tens of thousands of Huan soldiers, and in front of the Huan formation, on a small hill, the thousand Changfeng Cavalry death squads.

Pei Yan’s sharp gaze pierced through the rain of arrows, immediately finding the figure that had accompanied him for eighteen years. He also saw the sky full of arrows whistling towards those thousand brothers, the sound of “thud thud” tearing his heart and lungs. He watched helplessly as crossbow bolts rained down like a downpour towards that familiar figure; he watched helplessly as that man, pierced by countless arrows, slowly fell to his knees in the yellow mud.

Pei Yan’s eyes nearly burst from their sockets. He could no longer hear any sound in his ears, not even his own and Ning Jianyu’s roars of rage. Like a mad tiger, he transformed into a god of death, stirring up a purple storm as he charged directly at the Huan army.

Seeing that the strong crossbow volleys had finally struck down the last thousand men, Yu Wen Jinglun smiled with satisfaction and said in a deep voice, “Advance at full speed, cross the Hexi Canal!”

The sound of horns shattered the sky. The Huan army surged forward like a tide, stretching for miles. Iron hooves trampled wildly, crushing the corpses of the Changfeng Cavalry as they galloped towards the Zhenbo Bridge over the Hexi Canal.

Seeing the Huan army’s iron hooves rollover An Cheng’s body, Pei Yan’s eyes nearly popped out. With a thunderous roar, his long sword left his hand, flying like a bolt of lightning through tens of thousands of horses and men. It pierced through the body of the Huan soldier who had just ridden over An Cheng’s corpse, then embedded itself in the back of the front man. Both men fell from their horses simultaneously.

Yi Han’s ears twitched violently. He suddenly turned his head and urgently said, “Pei Yan has arrived!”

Yu Wen Jinglun was secretly alarmed. He quickly raised his right hand, and the horns sounded several times in quick succession. The Huan army reined in their horses as one.

Pei Yan galloped down the small hill and charged into the Huan formation. His palms struck out repeatedly, waves of Yuan Power sending Huan soldiers flying outwards.

With his Yuan Power nearly exhausted, he finally reached the front of the formation. He let out an angry roar and leaped from his horse, soaring through the air. His feet kicked out in rapid succession, trampling on the heads of dozens of Huan soldiers. His right hand snatched a long sword as he urgently bounded towards An Cheng’s corpse.

Yi Han sprang forth, a cold light flashing as he blocked Pei Yan’s advance. Pei Yan had no choice but to counter. Their long swords clashed like violent rain beating on banana leaves, both striking out with lightning speed as they became entangled in combat.

Chaos erupted in the rear of the Huan army. Yuweng Jinglun swiftly turned his head to see an increasing number of Long Feng cavalry pouring in from the small hill to the northeast. Realizing that the main force led by Pei Yan had arrived, he made a quick decision: “Counterattack!”

The well-trained Huan army swiftly transformed their rear into the vanguard, launching a fierce counterattack. Battle cries rose from both sides, turning the area north of Hexi Canal and before Zhenbo Bridge into a living hell.

Yuweng Jinglun, however, paid no attention to the clash of armies. His eyes were fixed on Pei Yan, who was locked in combat with Yi Han. Unable to resist, he spurred his horse forward, his “White Deer Blade” aimed at Pei Yan’s back as he leaped into the air.

Pei Yan, hearing the sound of the blade, was startled. But Yi Han’s sword, wreathed in spiraling Yuan Power, had ensnared his sword tip. In his urgency and anger, Pei Yan filled his body with true qi, leaping into the air to avoid Yuweng Jinglun’s blade. His purple robe was torn in half with a ripping sound.

The aerial maneuver left Pei Yan’s sword momentum slightly stagnant. Yi Han’s long sword suddenly flashed with an intense cold light. Unable to withstand it, Pei Yan was sent flying backward, his chest feeling as if it had been struck heavily, causing him to cough up blood. As he was about to land, Yi Han and Yuweng Jinglun, with sword and blade, launched a joint attack.

The arriving Long Feng cavalry seemed to have gone berserk, each man roaring as they engaged the Huan army in mortal combat. Ning Jianyu, Chen An, and Xu Jun’s voices thundered like great peals of thunder as they fought unstoppably through the ranks, sending Huan soldiers flying like scattered leaves.

Wei Zhao, astride his horse on the small hill, frowned as he observed the battlefield. Cui Liang, panting heavily, rushed to his side and, after carefully observing the scene, urgently said, “Lord Wei, we’re outnumbered. We can’t keep fighting like this. We need to hold the Hexi Canal to plan our next move.”

“Hmm.” Wei Zhao nodded, “But look at the Young Lord’s condition, I’m afraid—”

Cui Liang made a swift decision, turning back to find several hornblowers and flag signalmen.

Wei Zhao gazed into the distance at the figures of Pei Yan fiercely battling Yi Han and the man in royal robes. His brow furrowed deeply before he finally spurred his warhorse down the small hill toward the heart of the battle.

Pei Yan was struggling to fend off both Yi Han and Yuweng Jinglun while also trying to protect An Cheng’s body from being trampled by war horses.

Yi Han saw his opportunity clearly and inwardly rejoiced. As Yuweng Jinglun’s blade forced Pei Yan to dodge to the right, Yi Han changed his stance mid-air with graceful poise, spinning behind Pei Yan. Hearing the wind at his back, Pei Yan had no choice but to lunge forward, his right foot kicking toward Yuweng Jinglun to block his killing blow.

Before Pei Yan could regain his footing, Yi Han’s sword plunged from above. Pei Yan desperately rolled sideways. Yi Han’s blade pierced through his armor, the cold edge of the sword grazing his skin before embedding itself in the soil.

Yi Han’s sword had plunged deep into the earth. Although Pei Yan had avoided being stabbed, his armor was pinned down. As he tried to summon his qi to rise, Yuweng Jinglun’s powerful blade came crashing down. Pei Yan blocked with his sword, but Yi Han let out a long laugh and struck out with his right fist, landing a solid blow on Pei Yan’s back.

Despite Pei Yan’s preparation and the protective qi around his heart, the punch still caused him to vomit blood violently. Yuweng Jinglun swung his blade down again. Pei Yan desperately summoned his qi, pulling out Yi Han’s long sword as he rolled rapidly on the ground. But Yi Han had already snatched a long sword from a nearby soldier and lunged forward, piercing Pei Yan’s left shoulder.

Having taken both a punch and a sword strike, Pei Yan’s true qi began to dissipate. He struggled to maintain his stance, fiercely guarding An Cheng’s body.

Yuweng Jinglun exchanged a glance with Yi Han. The “White Deer Blade” swept horizontally towards Pei Yan, while Yi Han thrust his sword towards where Pei Yan would inevitably dodge. Just as Pei Yan stumbled, his body about to collide with Yi Han’s sword tip, a white figure flew through the air. Yi Han, greatly alarmed, quickly withdrew his sword to defend himself, barely blocking Wei Zhao’s devastatingly skillful move.

Yi Han, unaware of the newcomer’s identity, found his swordsmanship and cultivation level to be on par with his own. With no time to ponder, he was forced to retreat step by step as Wei Zhao pressed his attack, using unorthodox footwork and reckless moves that seemed to disregard his own life.

Wei Zhao laughed heartily, “Young Lord, are you alright?”

But Pei Yan seemed not to hear. He forced back Yuweng Jinglun with several swift sword strikes, then bent down to cradle An Cheng’s body in his arms, his entire form shaking violently.

Two of the Huan army’s great generals, seeing their lord in danger, rushed forward to block Pei Yan’s casually swung sword.

Freed from the engagement, Yuweng Jinglun saw that Yi Han was being pushed back by Wei Zhao. His “White Deer Blade” swept from right to left, slashing towards Wei Zhao.

Wei Zhao didn’t dodge, continuing his assault on Yi Han instead. His sword strikes were like rainbows, and Yi Han, having fought several battles, found his true qi slightly depleted and his sword movements somewhat sluggish. Wei Zhao let out an ear-splitting battle cry, his long sword slicing across Yi Han’s ribs.

Yi Han spat blood and stumbled backward, falling to the ground. However, Wei Zhao had also been struck on his right leg by Yuweng Jinglun’s treasured blade. He staggered several steps, countered with a sword strike, and then engaged Yuweng Jinglun in combat.

The sound of horns rose, and the Long Feng cavalry, hearing the signal to form ranks, gradually slowed their chaotic assault and began to gather. Their scattered formation slowly coalesced into small units, which then expanded into larger formations. They gradually formed a two-winged flying formation, like a dragon or a phoenix, pushing back the Huan army that outnumbered them several times over.

Ning Jianyu and Chen An led these two wings, gradually converging towards Pei Yan and Wei Zhao at the center of the formation.

Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, Teng Rui quickly waved his command flags, and the Huan army also formed into ranks. Yuweng Jinglun, knowing he could no longer take Pei Yan’s life, helped the injured Yi Han up and retreated to their lines, surrounded by their officers.

The horns of both armies sounded, flags waved, and they found themselves in a standoff north of the Hexi Canal.

Jiang Ci, closely following Cui Liang and escorted by a thousand Long Feng cavalry, galloped to the commander’s banner. Seeing Pei Yan’s blood-red eyes and seemingly disoriented state, Cui Liang urgently said to Ning Jianyu, “Prolonged fighting is pointless. We must cross the Hexi Canal!”

Chen An roared, “Why retreat? Let’s fight them to the death!”

Ning Jianyu’s gaze swept over Pei Yan, who was tightly holding An Cheng’s body. His heart ached terribly, but he maintained some clarity of mind. He nodded and said, “Listen to Ziming. Let’s withdraw across the Hexi Canal first! Ziming, you take some men to escort the Marquis back first. I’ll cover the rear!”

Cui Liang decisively said, “Good!” He waved his command flags, and the Long Feng cavalry moved in an orderly fashion according to the signals, with various units crossing the Zhenbo Bridge one after another.

Wei Zhao shouted in Pei Yan’s ear. Pei Yan jerked his head up, startled. Wei Zhao picked up An Cheng’s body with his left hand and grabbed Pei Yan’s chest with his right, ignoring the sharp pain from the sword wound on his right leg as he flashed across the Zhenbo Bridge.

Yuweng Jinglun, seeing the Long Feng cavalry retreating in an orderly manner across the Zhenbo Bridge, knew that once they joined forces with Tian Ce’s remaining troops and defended the Hexi Canal, it would be difficult for his forces to advance south. Extremely dissatisfied, his face darkened as he waved his hand, and the left and right armies attacked.

Ning Jianyu’s white robe had long been dyed red with blood. He pushed Chen An away, saying, “I’ll cover the rear. You go quickly!”

As Chen An was about to speak, Ning Jianyu made several swift spear thrusts, forcing Chen An to retreat. Seeing the stern expression on Ning Jianyu’s face, Chen An had no choice but to lead several units of soldiers across the Zhenbo Bridge.

Ning Jianyu led the rear guard of three thousand soldiers, defending the head of the Zhenbo Bridge. He held his spear across his horse, looking defiantly at the approaching Huan army. With a thunderous shout, he declared, “Ning Jianyu stands here! Those who don’t fear death, come and meet your doom!”

His roar was like a thunderclap in clear skies, shaking the Huan army to their core. They involuntarily halted their advance, and for a moment, the battlefield, filled with killing intent, seemed to freeze.

The Huan army had exhausted their arrows in the earlier assault that killed An Cheng and others. Yuweng Jinglun, seeing Ning Jianyu’s imposing and heroic figure, felt his eyes burn with irritation. Annoyed, he drew the last few long arrows from his quiver, took a deep breath, and released them in rapid succession towards Ning Jianyu.

Ning Jianyu let out a hearty laugh, his silver spear whirling like a windmill. The arrowheads struck the spear, sending sparks flying, but each arrow fell harmlessly to the side.

Yuweng Jinglun, carefully observing Ning Jianyu’s spear technique, finally took a deep breath and shot his last three arrows.

Ning Jianyu deflected the first arrow, but the second was already at his chest. He quickly leaned back, and in the blink of an eye, saw the third arrow shooting towards his left ribs. In a moment of inspiration, he swiftly rolled up his white robe with his left hand, forming it into a long stick, and knocked the last arrow to the ground.

On both banks of the Hexi Canal and before the Zhenbo Bridge, the Long Feng cavalry erupted in cheers, while the morale of the Huan army inevitably faltered.

Teng Rui quickly weighed the situation in his mind and approached Yuweng Jinglun, saying, “Your Highness, it seems we can’t annihilate them today. Our soldiers are exhausted, and continuing the assault will result in heavy casualties. We still need to return troops to guard Hexi Prefecture.”

Yuweng Jinglun suppressed his dissatisfaction and let out an angry snort. Teng Rui signaled with his flags, and the Huan army’s rear and right wings swiftly retreated towards Hexi Prefecture, while the remaining three armies stayed in formation north of the Hexi Canal.

Ning Jianyu laughed loudly, “Little Yuweng, let’s settle this another day!” He then led his rear guard of over three thousand men in a slow retreat across the Zhenbo Bridge.

On the scorching summer day, as soon as the rain stopped, the sun blazed fiercely in the sky.

After crossing the Zhenbo Bridge, Ning Jianyu called out to Cui Liang, “Ziming, help me keep watch!” He then rushed towards the commander’s banner.

Under the commander’s banner, Wei Zhao channeled his power and violently tore open Pei Yan’s armor. Blood flowed profusely from Pei Yan’s left shoulder, but he seemed oblivious to it. He sat on the ground, expressionless, tightly holding An Cheng’s body.

Ning Jianyu arrived and hurried forward to support Pei Yan. “Marquis!”

Wei Zhao stood up and stepped back, shaking his head slightly as he observed Pei Yan’s expression.

Jiang Ci pushed through the surrounding Long Feng Guard and saw Pei Yan’s shoulder wound. Noticing that Cui Liang wasn’t nearby and that Military Physician Ling and others hadn’t arrived yet, she forced herself to remain calm. She quickly took out medicinal wine and salve from her pouch, crouched in front of Pei Yan, and said, “General Ning, press his acupoints to stop the bleeding!”

Ning Jianyu quickly moved his hand like the wind, pressing several acupoints on Pei Yan’s shoulder.

Jiang Ci swiftly applied the medicinal wine to Pei Yan’s wound. Pei Yan’s body shuddered, and he raised his head. Jiang Ci, assuming he was in pain, hurriedly said, “My Lord, please bear with it. It will be over soon!”

Pei Yan’s gaze slowly swept over Ning Jianyu and Wei Zhao, then blankly looked at the Long Feng cavalry soldiers surrounding them. After a long moment of stupefaction, he finally turned his gaze to An Cheng’s body in his arms, riddled with arrows like a porcupine.

His eyes blood-red, teeth clenched, he reached out with trembling hands and began to pull out the arrows from An Cheng’s body, one by one.

With each “thud,” black blood flowed, revealing the arrow holes in An Cheng’s body. His face bore expressions of anger and unwillingness, his eyes wide open, silently facing the sky. The Long Feng cavalry soldiers all felt a wrenching pain in their hearts. Whether unable to bear the sight of An Cheng’s tragic state or Pei Yan’s anguished expression, they all turned their heads away.

As Pei Yan pulled out arrow after arrow, the pain and regret in his eyes deepened. Ning Jianyu and Wei Zhao stood silently nearby, both at a loss for words.

After removing the last arrow from An Cheng’s body, Pei Yan pushed away Jiang Ci, who was applying medicine to his wounds. He leaned forward slightly, holding An Cheng tightly against his chest.

Jiang Ci pushed to the ground and looked up to see Pei Yan’s tightly closed eyes and trembling body. She saw two streams of tears rapidly falling from the corners of his closed eyes.

Those tears seemed tinged with blood. Pei Yan slowly raised his head, and through his blurred vision, the blazing sun overhead appeared like An Cheng’s radiant smile. No longer able to contain the surging waves of emotion in his heart, he tilted his head back and let out a long, anguished cry: “An Cheng!”