Changmao was still intercepting at the east gate, so she wasn’t entirely without opportunity.
But if she died, there would be nothing left.
Moreover, just now, when she had forcefully lifted that Nanrong royal male to intimidate the Nanrong army, it seemed she had used excessive force and slightly injured her arm. Her tense muscles now showed some signs of weakness.
Seeing Bai Qingyan calm down, Lu Ping waved for the Bai Family guards and Dengzhou army to advance: “Clear the way!”
The Dengzhou army had victory within their grasp, and their eyes were already bloodshot from killing. Now that the Nanrong’s defeat was obvious, they fought while retreating, having long lost the strength to resist.
“Cut a path straight to the east gate!” Bai Qingyan’s gaze swept over the Dengzhou soldiers also engaged in bloody battle as she called out loudly, “Capture the Ghost-Faced General alive!”
Although the Ghost-Faced General had only recently gained fame, his several battles against Great Yan’s rising military star Xie Xun had been quite spectacular. Since Dengzhou was so close to Nanrong, the Dengzhou army naturally knew that Nanrong had become very different after gaining this Ghost-Faced General.
If they could capture the Ghost-Faced General alive, the Dengzhou army would never again fear that damn Ghost-Faced General!
The Dengzhou army’s roars shook heaven and earth, gripping their long blades tightly as they fought even more desperately.
How could Lu Ping not hope for the young miss to meet the young master? He stayed close to Bai Qingyan’s side, quietly instructing the Bai Family guards to find opportunities to carve out a bloody path first and escort the young miss safely to the east of the city.
At the east gate.
Dong Changmao saw the Nanrong people shouting something atop the city wall. The east gate slowly opened, and the Ghost-Faced General charged out first at the head of his troops…
Dong Changmao, who had been leading men in hiding, leaped onto his horse, drew his sword, and called out loudly: “Intercept and kill the Rong barbarians! Capture the Ghost-Faced General alive!”
Seeing that their comrades had all broken through the city, with such achievements… these Dengzhou light cavalrymen waiting here had no share. How could they not be anxious?
Now that the east gate was open, the Nanrong people would surely retreat through the east gate. Their chance for merit had come!
Each Dengzhou soldier’s blood boiled. Hearing Dong Changmao draw his sword and shout, they were like injected with adrenaline, howling three times.
“Intercept and kill the Rong barbarian dogs! Capture the Ghost-Faced General alive!”
“Intercept and kill the Rong barbarian dogs! Capture the Ghost-Faced General alive!”
“Intercept and kill the Rong barbarian dogs! Capture the Ghost-Faced General alive!”
Dong Changlan’s sword point directed toward the east gate: “Kill!”
“Kill…”
Three thousand light cavalry suddenly appeared on the hidden high slope, successively charging with drawn blades toward the direction where the Nanrong army was rapidly emerging from the east gate, galloping at full speed.
Dust flew everywhere as three thousand iron cavalry surged like a tide, hoofbeats growing urgent, battle cries growing fiercer, shaking heaven and earth as if to pierce through the nine heavens.
The general beside the Ghost-Faced General, seeing this scene, couldn’t help but feel chilled and shouted: “General! There’s an ambush! General, take the grain and go first… We’ll cover the rear!”
Bai Qingyu calculated the time it would take for Dong Changmao and the others to charge down – they definitely couldn’t stop him. With one hand controlling the reins, he used the other to remove the sword from his waist and toss it to that general: “Pass the order – don’t get entangled in battle! Cut a bloody path! Taking the grain back to Nanrong is important! This grain is the key to whether our Nanrong can survive this winter!”
This time, Dong Changmao didn’t have the light cavalry archers shoot arrows. Before coming, Dong Qingyue had specifically instructed that they absolutely must not use bows and arrows… and that Dong Changmao should only briefly obstruct them before letting the Nanrong leave, just to give the emperor an explanation!
Otherwise, once the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked – the Dong Family would not have a good end. Only with strong enemies at their side… would the emperor value the Dengzhou army.
Dong Changmao knew that his elder brother was now feigning death, and that his brother was currently in Nanrong training their Dong Family’s private soldiers. Dong Changmao also had to do what he should do well to assist the Dong Family and his elder brother!
Father had said that originally, regarding matters concerning the Dong Family’s survival, father hadn’t wanted him, a concubine-born son, to participate. It was elder brother Dong Changlan who vouched for him… saying he was willing to place his life in his hands, which was why elder brother chose to have him feign death and go to Nanrong to train troops, leaving Dong Changmao, this concubine-born son, to remain in Dengzhou city to assist him.
For his elder brother’s trust, Dong Changmao was willing to sacrifice everything, even be ground to powder and crushed to pieces!
This staged battle didn’t last long. Dong Changmao let the Nanrong army go, then immediately led the light cavalry in pursuit…
When Bai Qingyan’s group reached the east gate, only severed limbs and broken bodies remained, along with masterless fine horses from both the Nanrong and the Dengzhou army.
The blood-red setting sun illuminated Dengzhou city after its recent great battle, illuminating the distant magnificent and expansive mountain ranges, painting the city walls of Dengzhou in warm colors, and gilding those distant mountains with a layer of golden light.
Bai Qingyan, mounted on her fine horse, cast a very long shadow…
The fine horse beneath her restlessly stamped its hooves, wanting to lick the grain scattered all over the ground, but it didn’t like the bloody smell mixed with the grain, snorting hot breath from its nostrils.
The wind carried a strong smell of blood. She gazed at the boundless grassland, looking at the sea of clouds rolling over the distant mountain peaks, and at the eagles soaring with spread wings in this blood-red sunset. A sense of loss, like a giant python, coiled tightly around Bai Qingyan, making her unable to breathe.
In the end, she still hadn’t caught up to see A’Yu.
Lu Ping looked at Bai Qingyan’s silhouette outlined by the afterglow, gently spurred his horse forward, and said softly to Bai Qingyan: “At least, young miss now knows… that the young master is safe.”
Seeing A’Yu’s smooth movements mounting and riding his horse, presumably… he was healthy now!
Lu Ping’s gaze fell on a sword beside the corpse of a Nanrong general in the distance. He quickly dismounted, ran through the mud mixed with blood, and picked up that precious sword.
This precious sword wasn’t inlaid with any gems, but its totem was special. When Lu Ping was in Nanrong… he had seen the Ghost-Faced General wearing this very sword. He recognized it!
After all, that Ghost-Faced General was their Bai Family’s legitimate young master – Lu Ping remembered every detail about him!
“Young miss! It’s the Ghost-Faced General’s sword!” Lu Ping brought the precious sword back and handed it to Bai Qingyan, mounted high on her horse.
Bai Qingyan came back to her senses, took the sword from Lu Ping’s hands, and drew it to look…
The sharp blade had already become notched and curved. These notches and curves… weren’t something that could have been caused by such a brief battle just now.
Moreover, it still bore fresh blood of different colors, both new and old.
It seemed… A’Yu had used this sword.
Bai Qingyan remembered Xiao Rongyan once saying that the Ghost-Faced General was extremely skilled with the sword.
Her eyes moistened, but her lips… curved into a slight smile. A’Yu could still use a sword – didn’t this prove even more that A’Yu was healthy now?
Today, she had seen A’Yu from afar and knew that A’Yu’s health was currently acceptable. This was enough.
The siblings still had another day!
She believed that in just a few years… when mother’s birthday came, A’Yu would be able to return home to celebrate mother’s birthday.
Bai Qingyan sheathed the precious sword and gripped it tightly in her hand, gazing toward the distant mountains.
Now, what Bai Qingyan should think about was finding a precious sword worthy of A’Yu, so that on the day he returned home… she could place the sword in his hands.
Bai Qingyan hung the precious sword at her waist, yanked the reins, and turned her horse around: “Return to the city!”