After Chi Shu left with his pursuing troops, the tense atmosphere in the Di camp that had been triggered by the unexpected incident gradually subsided.

The fortress had been besieged for quite some time. Although the Wei soldiers inside still refused to surrender and stubbornly held the narrow passages that favored them, each organized attack met with extraordinarily tenacious resistance. Not only could they not break through, but they continued to lose soldiers. However, it could be predicted that the supplies inside must be nearly exhausted.

According to Chi Shu’s original plan, they had to break the fortress before Wei reinforcements arrived, so they had launched fierce attacks. But with heaven’s help, the reinforcements that came later were blocked by floodwaters, and judging by the water level, it would not recede for some time. This meant the people inside could not hold out much longer. At this point, there was no need to organize more assaults—they just needed to continue the siege for another day or two. When the defenders became weak from hunger and thirst with greatly reduced combat effectiveness, then launching the final attack would surely achieve twice the result with half the effort.

One of Chi Shu’s captains was left in command of the siege. Outside the fortress, some Di soldiers lay scattered on the ground sleeping, while others gathered together discussing the Wei Regent Prince who had appeared alone earlier. A small squad of Di soldiers responsible for watching the fortress built a bonfire upwind, roasting horse meat and letting the wind carry the aroma into the fortress to torment the Wei army inside. A half-drunk officer bit into some horse meat, threw it at his feet, urinated on it, then ordered it thrown into the fortress while Di soldiers who understood the language shouted: “Listen, you inside! Surrender quickly! As long as you come out, you can eat as much as you want!”

This attracted more nearby Di soldiers who followed suit.

The night wind carried the Di soldiers’ clamor and laughter into the fortress, clearly audible.

Jiang Hanyuan was quietly lying in ambush with her soldiers behind the exit.

With a thud, a piece of horse meat was thrown in from outside, rolled several times on the ground, and landed at their feet.

The soldiers could see the Di soldiers’ humiliating behavior outside, all showing angry expressions as they gripped their weapons tightly.

Jiang Hanyuan looked through the observation port, surveying the loose state outside, slowly raised her arm, and gave a low command: “Break out!”

They were all from Qingmu Camp—some were veterans who had followed Jiang Hanyuan from the very beginning, others were newly joined soldiers. Whether they were veterans regarded as the backbone or fresh blood, all of them had held one belief from their first day in camp: members of Qingmu Camp, even if they died, must die fighting the enemy.

No one was willing to accept the fate of being trapped and becoming captives for slaughter. They had gained fame years ago in the battle for Qingmu Plain, and later defended their unique honor in the Battle of the Eight Tribes.

Break out! Either use their lives to defend their honor, shed their last drop of blood on the battlefield, or fight through the encirclement to gain life, just like the miracles they had created time and again before. If they could get through this ordeal, they could truly live peacefully as the female general had said—alive, surrounded by wives and children, with descendants to honor them after death.

What a wonderful life that would be.

The soldiers charged out like tigers emerging from mountains, like raging torrents, following Jiang Hanyuan ahead and their comrades beside them.

The Di soldiers outside were gathering in increasing numbers. Seeing no movement from inside, they became even more arrogant, starting to compete with their companions to see who could throw farther and more accurately. Just as they were getting carried away, a mass of Wei soldiers suddenly poured out from the exit across from them. Arrows followed immediately, and caught completely off guard, more than ten men at the front were struck by arrows on the spot—some covering their shot faces, others clutching their chests and abdomens, crying out in agony. The Di soldiers behind finally reacted in great alarm. Some didn’t even have time to tie their pants and turned to run toward the camp, shouting as they ran: “The Wei people are coming out—”

That captain had also heard the commotion from this direction earlier. Learning that it was soldiers engaging in provocative and humiliating behavior, he had gone to rest, paying no attention. Soon, he heard even louder clamor from there, much greater than before. Initially, he thought nothing of it, assuming the soldiers were fighting each other while drunk—a common occurrence he was used to. He sent subordinates to check, but moments later, hearing something wrong in the sounds, he became suspicious and rushed out himself. Meeting the messenger head-on, he learned that Wei forces had suddenly burst out from the northwest exit of the fortress. Greatly alarmed, he ordered a counterattack. Those Di soldiers who had been scattered and relaxed were initially stunned, but upon receiving orders, they fully reacted, hastily grabbing their weapons and surrounding the enemy.

When Jiang Hanyuan initially explained the battle plan to Yang Hu and others, she concentrated all forces to break out and form a wedge formation as quickly as possible after emerging. The bravest personnel would be positioned at the front triangular point, with both flanks coordinating with the front assault and ready to replace fallen comrades at any time.

This was a combat method that could maximize fighting effectiveness while minimizing casualties in breakthrough battles. The difficulty lay in withstanding enemies several times their number while maintaining formation until successfully breaking out.

This tested not only the martial prowess and courage of the “spearhead” warriors at the front—requiring them to continuously advance and carve out a breakthrough path through the encirclement for those behind—but also demanded that all personnel firmly hold their positions, dare to plug gaps, and ensure the formation was always maintained.

In Jiang Hanyuan’s original plan, she would use herself to draw away Chi Shu and part of his forces, leaving the breakout to Yang Hu and the others. Now that Shu Shenhui had done what she had intended to do, she took the vanguard position with Yang Hu and Cui Jiu on her left and right flanks. After leaving the fortress, taking advantage of the enemy’s unpreparedness, this wedge formation of several thousand men became like a sharp dagger tearing through the Di camp. She and the soldiers closely following beside her cut their way forward, fighting the oncoming Di soldiers in close combat. Blood and flesh flew everywhere, her ears filled with the roars, howls, and successive agonized cries of the melee. By the end, the Di soldiers they encountered didn’t even dare face them directly and retreated one after another. She led her soldiers, carved out a bloody path, charged into the horse corral to seize mounts, then mounted up and broke through the encirclement.

Behind them, torches dotted the darkness as Di soldiers also mounted up in relentless pursuit.

Yang Hu shouted to Jiang Hanyuan: “General, leave this to me and Cui Jiu! We can escape! You hurry to meet the Regent Prince! Don’t worry about us anymore!”

Jiang Hanyuan turned her head, looking toward the vast wilderness under the northern night sky, suddenly wheeled her horse around, and led a contingent of troops galloping away under the cover of darkness.

She pursued for dozens of li in one breath, following the hoofprints left by the earlier passage of men and horses, then turned northwest and continued forward. Gradually, the ground became muddy, making travel difficult for the horses—they seemed to have reached marshland. Continuing along the firm ground where they could find footing, after just a short while, the entire ground was covered by grass, and they could no longer find any traces left by the passage of men and horses.

Instinct told her that Shu Shenhui should be somewhere in this marsh. With red eyes, she anxiously surveyed the surroundings, seeing only desolate darkness, as if placed in a dead, silent world.

But this place was so vast, with heaven and earth boundless and directionless—where exactly was he at this moment?

He was alone, while Chi Shu had a large contingent…

Cold sweat continuously broke out in her palms, mixing with the dirty blood to become sticky and slippery—she could barely even grip her fists.

She steadied herself and was about to order her companions to scatter in different directions to continue searching when she suddenly heard a soldier behind her say, “General, look! Someone’s coming!”

She turned around and saw distant torchlight moving—a large contingent was approaching.

The arrivals should be the forces Chi Shu had taken, and they looked like they were just returning from that direction!

Her heart pounded as she immediately ordered all her subordinates to hide in place. Everyone complied, quickly dispersing their horses and scattering in all directions, concealing themselves in the surrounding darkness under the cover of night.

Jiang Hanyuan crouched behind a nearby clump of grass, watching the large contingent approach from afar and ride past in front of her.

They were indeed the Di soldiers who had followed Chi Shu earlier. But all the troops had passed by—she saw no Chi Shu, nor any sign of Shu Shenhui.

What exactly had happened? Where was Shu Shenhui?

As Jiang Hanyuan wondered in alarm, unexpectedly, one of the horses they had driven away had wandered back from the distance and was heading this way. The movement caught the Di people’s attention. Jiang Hanyuan saw a leader dressed as a noble stop, sitting on horseback as he turned to scan the surroundings alertly.

Night wind blew through the wild grass with rustling sounds. The leader’s face showed suspicion as he hesitated, then sent men back to investigate.

There was no time to think further. The enemy had superior numbers while she only had a small squad. If they waited until being discovered to act, it might be too late.

In this situation, the only option was to capture the leader.

She immediately turned and signaled to her subordinates hidden on her left and right flanks, ordering them to provide cover. They were all trusted confidants who had followed her for years and understood immediately, secretly preparing. The squad of Di soldiers investigating held torches, illuminating the grass on both sides as they drew closer. When only about ten steps remained, her subordinates quickly drew their bows and shot, bringing down several men, then immediately rose and turned, continuing to shoot while scattering in different directions.

The Di leader was startled, knowing there was an ambush nearby, but in the dark with tall grass, he couldn’t tell how many opponents there were. Initially somewhat flustered, he crouched on his horse under the protection of his men to avoid the scattered arrows. After a moment, realizing the enemy probably numbered only ten or so, he became angry with embarrassment and immediately ordered his soldiers to pursue and kill them.

He had not expected that Jiang Hanyuan had already taken advantage of this chaos to quietly circle and approach his vicinity.

“Who goes there—”

A guard beside the leader suddenly saw a dark figure leaping from behind the grass and instinctively shouted. Before he finished speaking, Jiang Hanyuan had already pounced forward.

In her hand, she gripped the moon blade tightly. As the blade once used by the Sage Martial Emperor, saying it could cut iron like mud might be an exaggeration, but it was more than capable of cutting hair and slicing through bone and limb.

She raised her arm and, with one sweep, immediately sliced through the chests of two Di soldiers blocking her path, then rolled quickly along the ground, cutting the legs of several more Di soldiers in one breath, injuring seven or eight men in total. Amid the successive screams, she reached the leader’s horse.

All this was accomplished almost in the blink of an eye. Only then did the leader see who had come and recognize Jiang Hanyuan. He was greatly alarmed, showing an expression as if he had seen a ghost: “It’s you! How are you here!” He hastily drew his blade, but how could Jiang Hanyuan give him the chance? Without hesitation, she stabbed downward forcefully, immediately piercing a bloody hole in the leader’s thigh. Jiang Hanyuan then reached out and yanked, pulling him from his horse and placing her short blade against his neck.

“Tell your men to back off!”

The leader had taken a blade to his thigh with his leg bone broken, in excruciating pain, yet still unwilling to show weakness before his subordinates. Sitting collapsed on the ground, face pale, pressing his bleeding wounded leg, gritting his teeth, he remained completely silent.

Jiang Hanyuan glanced at the countless Di soldiers surrounding them, raised her arm without hesitation, and stabbed several more times into his other thigh.

“Ah—”

Under torture, the leader let out agonized screams.

Jiang Hanyuan didn’t even blink, saying coldly: “As you can see, I’ve broken out, and reinforcements will arrive soon. I know your rank is not low, but if you truly don’t want to live, I’ll grant your wish—at worst, we’ll all die here together.”

The leader truly could not bear the pain anymore, and in his heart, he clearly understood that the Wei female general before him was not someone who feared death.

Since she had broken out and Chi Shu had already perished in the marsh, what meaning would there be if he died under her hands, even if she was killed by his men afterward?

His thoughts racing, the leader made his decision, gritting his teeth: “Release me, and I’ll take my men and leave, never to return!” After speaking, he loudly ordered the surrounding Di soldiers to all withdraw.

With Chi Shu dead, he held the highest position here. Everyone obeyed the command and slowly dispersed.

“Where is my Great Wei Regent Prince? Where is Chi Shu?”

Jiang Hanyuan steadied herself and immediately demanded.

“Dead! They’re both dead!”

Jiang Hanyuan was stunned. When she reacted, her voice had already changed pitch as she shouted sternly: “What did you say?” Her hand suddenly tightened, and the blade cut through the leader’s neck again, with blood gurgling out.

“It’s true! Your man—he and Chi Shu died together.”

He recounted everything that had happened.

Jiang Hanyuan felt as if struck by a heavy blow, nearly unable to catch her breath. She swayed, then, after recovering, leaped up, ordered her subordinates to watch the leader closely, and ran frantically forward to the scene of the incident.

She saw dozens of Di soldiers lying on the ground there—some long dead, others still struggling futilely in pools of blood. The ground was covered with blood and spilled entrails… It was not difficult to imagine what kind of brutal fighting had taken place here just moments before.

She rushed to the edge of the marsh and called out his name loudly toward the front. The sound spread out, startling a flock of wild birds roosting in the distant depths of the marsh. The birds flapped their wings and fled.

“Shu Shenhui! Shu Shenhui—”

Jiang Hanyuan kept calling out, stepping forward. As soon as she set foot in the marsh, she sank.

“Danger!”

She was grabbed from behind by several accompanying subordinates and pulled out.

This long night was nearly over. The sky gradually grew pale. She continued calling, but the only response was the rustling sound of wind passing through the reed beds. Her voice gradually became hoarse, and finally, unable even to stand steady, she slowly collapsed and sat on the ground.

When she had decided on the breakout strategy last night, she had placed herself in a deadly situation with no intention of surviving, even though she was extremely reluctant to leave this world.

Yes, when she was once weak, she had focused only on becoming strong, fighting enemies on the battlefield, indifferent to life and death. However, as the blood on her weapons increased and as she experienced more partings and deaths, her heart had gradually become softer.

To be born human and be able to live well, doing what one wanted to do—what a fortunate thing that would be.

She still had so many things she wanted to do but had not yet done: she wanted to comfort her father, telling him she had completed his unfinished wish and that the northern lands could have peace for a long time to come; she also wanted to send her father to her mother’s side so they could reunite in heaven, never to be separated again morning or night; she wanted to personally see off those soldiers who had fought alongside her but now tired of killing, watching them return to farming, turning swords into plowshares, living the lives they wanted; and also…

She wanted to live, to tell him face to face once more that she was the young soldier from back then, and he was the youth she had loved.

At this moment, her soldiers had broken out and gained a chance at life. She, too, was still alive.

However, was the price that he had taken her place?

Before her eyes seemed to float the handsome young face from many years ago, smiling like frost at dawn, and she could no longer hold back—tears flowed down, rolling along her blood-stained cheeks.

From behind a patch of reeds several zhang ahead came another rustling sound.

Was this the wind’s response to her?

With tears flowing, she raised her head, looking at that dense patch of reeds swaying gently in the wind. In her heart, she could not believe that he, once so alive, had truly sunk like this, sunk into this dark, muddy bottom, never to breathe again, never to see daylight.

“Shu Shenhui!”

She sobbed and called his name loudly again.

“Can you hear me? Where are you? Answer me!”

At that moment, she heard movement from ahead. The sound was indistinct and extremely weak, mixed with the rustling of reed stems and leaves, almost inaudible, but the moment it entered her ears, she immediately recognized it.

Someone was calling her name.

Sisi.

It was his voice!

Her entire body trembled as she widened her eyes, leaped up from the ground, and continuously shouted his name toward the front.

“Shu Shenhui, wait! Hold on a little longer! I’ll be there soon!”