“The general… he… beheaded himself…”

At the Tiger Gorge Pass city gate, a soldier dressed as a Yang household guard rode urgently to the scene. The junior officer guarding below the city had people raise the chevaux-de-frise from afar.

That household soldier tumbled awkwardly from his horse’s back while still several zhang away from the chevaux-de-frise, saying in panic: “Report to the general urgently—a Xiling army has appeared in the city! The border garrison has fallen, and the general’s household was also attacked! Madam and the young master have both been captured!”

The Xiling army’s assault outside the city was fierce. Hearing these words, the junior officer immediately scolded coldly and sternly: “Audacious! You dare speak such nonsense to disturb military morale! The Xiling barbarians are all blocked outside the city—how could they fly through the heavens and burrow through the earth to enter? Quickly apprehend this spy!”

A squad of soldiers immediately stepped forward to seize that household soldier.

That household soldier hastily took out his general’s household waist token as proof, shouting urgently: “This humble one is a soldier of the general’s household. Every word spoken is true!”

He said in despair: “The Xiling people have truly broken in! Several villages near the border garrison have all been slaughtered! They’ve already killed their way into the city! Report to the general urgently—deploy troops to eliminate that Xiling force and rescue Madam and the young master!”

The city gate was full of defending troops. That household soldier’s crying shouts quickly caused considerable disturbance among the army.

The junior officer’s expression turned ugly. But seeing that household soldier’s face and body both bearing bloodstains, and the general’s household waist token couldn’t be faked, although he still didn’t believe a Xiling army could appear inside the city, he no longer dared make rash decisions.

Because his heart was displeased that the other party had loudly broadcast the city’s abnormal situation at the gate entrance, disturbing military morale, he only commanded his personal guards in a gruff, harsh voice to watch the person first. He himself turned to go up the city tower to find Yang Shuo and report this matter.

On the city tower, Yang Shuo was directing the defending troops: “Continue toppling rolling stones and logs. You must suppress the Xiling offensive momentum!”

The Tiger Gorge Pass city tower was built at extremely high elevation, forming a gentle slope with the great desert outside the pass. When the Xiling people attacked the city, they could only charge upward against the gentle slope, extremely exhausting physically.

On the Tiger Gorge Pass city tower, rolling stone and log launch openings had been set up early when building the city walls. Rolling stones and logs pushed down from the city tower would roll to the bottom following the battlefield’s slope below.

When under attack, the defending troops inside the pass didn’t need to exit the city to meet the enemy but could still deal a heavy blow to enemy forces.

Thanks to this, Tiger Gorge Pass had always been easy to defend and difficult to attack, becoming one of Great Liang’s gateways together with Hundred Blades Pass on the southern border.

After that junior officer rushed up the city tower, he walked to Yang Shuo’s side and whispered the situation below at his ear.

Yang Shuo looked sideways. His face with short beard was very martial and imposing, clearly not believing such an abnormal situation could occur in the city.

His gaze fell on the blood-stained general’s household soldier waist token in the junior officer’s hand. Only then did his expression show a few traces of gravity. After brief consideration, he said: “Follow me to take a look.”

The junior officer quickly led Yang Shuo down from the city tower, calling that messenger household soldier forward.

That household soldier walked near with his head lowered.

Yang Shuo said: “Raise your head.”

That household soldier raised his head with slight hesitation.

Yang Shuo said: “Whose subordinate are you? I find your face unfamiliar.”

That household soldier didn’t answer, only bowing to present an object: “Madam and the young master have been invited by my master to be guests. My master wants to take this opportunity to also reminisce with the general about old times.”

Yang Shuo looked at the blood-stained hairpin he presented—precisely what his wife had pinned in her hair this morning. His expression instantly turned cold and severe.

The junior officer was right beside Yang Shuo. Hearing these words, he was also completely bewildered.

The other party was actually impersonating a general’s household soldier?

Yang Shuo demanded: “Who is your master? Where are my wife and children now?”

The enemy hound disguised as a household soldier still half-bowed, maintaining a posture that appeared very respectful to others: “General, you’ll know once you go.”

The junior officer hastily said: “General, you must not! There must be deception in this!”

But the enemy hound said warningly: “Madam and the two young masters are all waiting for the general.”

Pausing, he slightly curved the corner of his lips: “If the general refuses to go, my master can only present the great gift prepared early this morning to the general.

“The general won’t want to see this great gift.”

Yang Shuo looked at his deceased wife’s blood-stained hairpin in his hand. His entire body’s aura turned cold, severe and oppressive as he continued questioning that enemy hound: “Where is your master now?”

The enemy hound respectfully answered: “Right in the wine house at the street entrance ahead.”

The junior officer knew Yang Shuo and his wife had deep feelings. Now that the other party had produced Lady Yang’s personal item, Yang Shuo couldn’t possibly ignore it. But the other party’s earlier words about a Xiling force appearing in the city conducting massive slaughter—whether true or false was unknown. The junior officer could only continue advising:

“General, Madam and the young master being captured at this time is truly too suspicious. If you must go, you must bring more troops!”

The enemy hound seemed unsurprised by this, saying: “My master said if the general is uneasy, he may bring people along, but… it’s best they’re all trusted confidants the general can rely on.”

The last sentence was rather meaningful.

Yang Shuo stared at that enemy hound scrutinizingly, instructing his personal guards: “Muster three hundred men to accompany me.”

He also turned to instruct the junior officer: “Have the vice general temporarily command the battle in my stead.”

That enemy hound had kept his speaking voice suppressed ever since Yang Shuo came down.

The defending troops at the city gate only heard him shout about Xiling forces in the city. After Yang Shuo personally came down to see him, he immediately took a contingent of troops and left together with him. Inevitably discussions arose.

To stabilize military morale, after Yang Shuo departed, the junior officer shouted sternly: “What are you looking at! What are you looking at! Move your hands and feet faster! The city gate is right in front—could you not know whether Xiling barbarians slipped into the city from under your own noses? Just one fool urgently seeking the general spoke without restraint and falsely reported military intelligence. Military law will deal with him later! If you all fail in defending the city, military law will deal with you the same!”

The defending troops were cowed by the junior officer’s words. Only then did they continue transporting supplies up the city tower.

–

The enemy hound led Yang Shuo to stop at a wine house facing the street. Yang Shuo raised his head to look upstairs.

Because this place was already not far from the city gate, with the Xiling people attacking the city, nearby common people and merchants had long been evacuated. At this moment, looking around, there was no one in sight.

The enemy hound made a “please” gesture: “My master is upstairs.”

Yang Shuo brought four personal guards to go upstairs with him, while the rest stood guard at various key points nearby.

When the group reached the door of the second-floor private room, the enemy hound guarding outside the door lifted the door curtain. Yang Shuo looked at the young man savoring tea by the window. His dark-complexioned face in that instant actually also revealed a trace of pallor.

Pei Song raised his hand to pour clear tea into the empty cup opposite, not turning his head, only smiling at the corner of his lips: “General Yang seems quite unhappy to see Song?”

Yang Shuo had the four personal guards remain outside the door like the enemy hounds. He entered alone and sat down opposite Pei Song: “You… how can you be here?”

Pei Song’s lip-corner smile didn’t diminish: “Naturally to see the general.”

He answered lightly and casually, but in this instant, Yang Shuo’s heart sank again and again.

If he could appear inside the pass, then was what that enemy hound said earlier about a Xiling army appearing in the city also true?

How did he bring such a group into the pass?

Too many doubts and shocks piled up in his heart, almost becoming the last straw crushing rationality.

Yang Shuo was silent for quite a while before asking: “Where are my wife and children now?”

Pei Song’s tea-savoring motion paused slightly, then he said mildly: “General, rest assured. Your lady and the two young masters are all safe. Given the general’s past grace in letting Song exit the pass, Song couldn’t possibly mistreat your lady and the two young masters, could he?”

Yang Shuo took out that blood-stained hairpin and placed it on the table.

Pei Song glanced at it and smiled faintly: “Your lady didn’t know Song had past dealings with the general. When Song brought people to the household to receive your lady, she wanted to use the hairpin to threaten self-harm. The subordinates trying to save your lady inadvertently let her injure herself.”

Yang Shuo didn’t know whether he believed this explanation or not, only saying: “I want to see my wife.”

“That’s fine.” Pei Song answered very readily. When putting down the teacup in his hand, he raised his eyes: “However, General Yang should be able to guess that Song specially invited the general here because there’s a matter to discuss with the general.”

Yang Shuo was silent for several breaths before saying: “As long as it’s not something that violates righteousness, I can agree to anything.”

Pei Song’s form leaned back, speaking casually yet coldly: “Song wants General Yang to throw open the city gates?”

The muscles on Yang Shuo’s face tightened inch by inch as he slowly said: “I must respectfully decline.”

Pei Song looked toward the window: “Song knows what the general is concerned about. Song won’t always cooperate with Xiling. That Hanyang could form a marriage alliance with Chen Kingdom in former times to borrow troops and attack us. Now Song is merely borrowing troops from Xiling to return to Liang territory. After the general opens the city gate, Song has methods to exonerate the general and absolutely won’t let the general be tainted with the infamy of betraying and surrendering to Xiling.”

His long eyes slightly lowered, the smile at his lip corner carrying a trace of bitterness: “In former years when my father guarded this place, drinking wind and swallowing sand, dedicating himself wholeheartedly—just because that Emperor of the Wen clan grew suspicious, he was summoned back to the capital, then wrongfully imprisoned. Our Qin family spent more than ten years reduced to treacherous subjects and traitorous sons cursed by everyone.

“After my mother died of illness, my father also suffered madness during exile, forgetting completely both the pain and injustice of those years. But Song cannot forget.”

The hand resting on the desk clenched into a fist. The slightly bitter smile at his lip corner carried unwillingness and mockery: “Song has always harbored great grievance toward this corrupt and decaying Wen dynasty.”

He looked at Yang Shuo again: “The general was able to help Song exit the pass earlier—presumably you also still remember my father’s past grace of recognition and favor. Why doesn’t the general lend Song a hand and together with Song restore this realm, returning the common people of the world to peaceful prosperity?”

These words as he spoke them were very sincere and heartfelt.

But Yang Shuo said: “If Young Master sincerely wishes to discuss with this subordinate, why go so far as to hold this subordinate’s wife and children hostage?”

Pei Song narrowed his eyes: “Song only hopes the general won’t make the wrong choice.”

Yang Shuo didn’t continue the current topic. After a bitter smile, he asked about matters unrelated to the present: “Young Master changed your name and entered the court for many years. Have you ever investigated the Western Frontier’s circumstances after the Great General was wrongfully exiled?”

Pei Song didn’t answer.

Yang Shuo looked at the tea cup with rising steam before him, speaking to himself: “After the Great General was transferred back to the capital, the Founding Emperor dispatched the Gao family—who at that time still stood equally with the Ao faction—to take over the Western Frontier. Later, after the Founding Emperor passed, the Gao family was defeated in the heir struggle. The Ao faction became imperial relatives by marriage. The Ministry of Finance became increasingly harsh with military resources allocated to the Western Frontier. The Gao family deliberately used the soldiers’ dissatisfaction with the court to scheme rebellion, secretly embezzling the soldiers’ pay. During the most difficult days, the soldiers below went three consecutive years without receiving pay.”

Speaking to this point, he exhaled heavily: “The Western Frontier should have fought the court at that time. That we were spared calamity was because Prince Changlian, who was still being constrained everywhere by the Ao faction, argued forcefully with the Ministry of Finance, obtaining the long-overdue military pay for the Western Frontier and personally coming to the Western Frontier to deliver it into the soldiers’ hands.

“The Gao family viewed Prince Changlian as a thorn in their eye and flesh disrupting their plans, wanting to eliminate him first on the road. Later when the Gao family’s actions were exposed, it was also Prince Changlian who barely escaped death and stabilized the Western Frontier soldiers, preventing the uninformed soldiers from being deceived by the Gao family into rebelling together.”

Complex emotions surfaced in Yang Shuo’s eyes: “It was also then that Prince Changlian learned from us about the Great General’s wrongful accusation. He promised us that after returning to the capital, he would certainly investigate this matter in secret. Once enough evidence was gathered, he would definitely vindicate the Great General.

“After returning to the capital, Prince Changlian’s achievement in exposing the Gao family’s deliberate rebellion and stabilizing the Western Frontier was entirely claimed by the Ao faction after they deployed troops. Prince Changlian also didn’t break his word, secretly investigating the Great General’s wrongful case thoroughly. The descendants of many subordinate generals who suffered implication with the Great General all received care from Prince Changlian’s household. To properly settle these people, this subordinate was even secretly entrusted to accept several among my ranks.”

Pei Song’s expression vaguely revealed some ugliness. Although he had once been an Ao clan hound, that Yang Shuo secretly had such past dealings with Prince Changlian—this he didn’t know.

Yang Shuo slowly said: “Now the one possessing this realm—if it were the Founding Emperor and Emperor Shaojing who placed the common people in fire and water, following Young Master, this subordinate would have no second word. But the one who nearly ascended that dragon throne in the capital several years ago… was Prince Changlian!”

Grief appeared in Yang Shuo’s eyes as he said: “Young Master… turn back.”

Pei Song’s face was cold as frost. After a moment, he sneered aloud: “That father and daughter of the Wen clan truly have good methods—striking a blow then giving a sweet date. After harming my Qin family’s entire clan thus, they still deceive you people who received my Qin family’s favor in former times into all speaking on their behalf!”

Speaking to the last sentence, Pei Song’s eyes suddenly turned cold and fierce, the hatred in his eyes intense as if substantial: “Do you want to say that old thing Wen Shi’an’s mistakes have nothing to do with that father and daughter?”

He sneered coldly: “If not for overthrowing the Ao faction and incidentally winning you all over, would Wen Yuanji have been so kindhearted?”

As if realizing his emotions were excessive, Pei Song slowly leaned back against the chair back. His tone also recovered calm, as if the earlier loss of composure and fury were only illusions: “But it’s no wonder the general either. That father and daughter are most cunning and hypocritical, extremely skilled at such false benevolence and false righteousness performances. How many in the court have been deceived by that father and daughter—who knows?”

He stared at Yang Shuo: “It’s not too late for the general to surrender to Song now.”

Yang Shuo sighed deeply and closed his eyes, seemingly already understanding that further words were useless.

Seeing him thus, Pei Song’s cold smile concealed malice: “Has the general made his choice?”

Yang Shuo still didn’t speak.

Pei Song said playfully: “Does the general think what Song prepared for the general is a performance where the general sacrifices his wife and children to preserve Tiger Gorge Pass’s safety?”

He lightly clapped by the window.

The enemy hound below who received the signal immediately shot a signal arrow toward the sky.

Yang Shuo followed the sound and looked out to see the originally deserted street. He didn’t know from where appeared a group of Xiling soldiers with blood-stained armor. Some still held freshly severed heads in their hands, clearly having just slaughtered the nearby neighborhoods as well.

Xiling people had quite high brow bones. Their rather dark complexion and curly hair were also extremely recognizable. Yang Shuo was certain he couldn’t be mistaken.

His expression changed abruptly. When he braced against the desk to rise, he even knocked over the teacup before him: “You…”

Pei Song only smiled lightly: “After today, everyone will know it was the general who helped Song attack into Tiger Gorge Pass.”

Pei Song looked at Yang Shuo’s shocked expression, saying unhurriedly: “Does the general want to bear the infamy of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country, then watch helplessly what fate your wife and children will meet falling into the city people’s hands, or… open the city gates and cooperate with Song?”

Rumors of Xiling spies in the city had long spread throughout the neighborhoods. Now with Xiling people infiltrating the pass conducting massive slaughter, with Pei Song insisting Yang Shuo let them into the pass—this great crime of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country, he Yang Shuo could never wash clean no matter what.

Yang Shuo looked at the approaching Xiling army below, hatred and fury mixing in his eyes as he clenched his teeth tightly.

Should he bear the infamy and watch his wife and children die miserably at enraged people’s hands, or truly confirm this infamy in exchange for his wife and children’s safety…

This dead-end road—did he still have room to choose?

Yang Shuo’s face twitched. Suddenly he roared loudly, overturning the tea table before him with one sweep. Drawing his sword, he wanted to slash at Pei Song.

However, Pei Song was also of military general origin. Dodging to the side, Yang Shuo’s fierce sword blow deeply chopped into the wood beside the window.

The personal guards of Yang Shuo and enemy hounds guarding outside the door heard the fighting sounds inside. They hastily lifted the curtain to rush in but became entangled in combat right at the doorway.

Pei Song wanted to draw the sword at his waist to engage. Yang Shuo’s sword edge fiercely pressed sideways. That wooden window lattice then shattered. The sword edge’s remaining momentum continued slashing toward Pei Song.

Pei Song didn’t have time to draw his sword. He directly used the scabbard to block, then kicked toward Yang Shuo’s lower body. While leaning back to avoid Yang Shuo’s sword edge continuing to slide and slash along the scabbard, he finally grasped the hilt and drew the long sword from its sheath, blocking Yang Shuo’s strike horizontally.

Movement came from the window opening. Enemy hounds climbed up grasping eagle claw hooks. Eagle claw hooks were immediately thrown toward Yang Shuo. Unable to dodge in time, his shoulder and back were hooked through along with his armor, seeping dark bloodstains. His leg was also slashed by Pei Song taking advantage of the opportunity, bleeding profusely.

The situation inside the private room reversed dramatically for a time.

Fortunately, the personal guards remaining downstairs saw things going badly and also charged upstairs. Relying on superior numbers, they finally dealt with those several enemy hounds at the private room entrance, rushing to Yang Shuo’s side in time to help him up: “General!”

Yang Shuo shouted: “Quickly capture this traitorous leader for me!”

The personal guards swarmed forward to surround and capture Pei Song. The enemy hounds blocked them in time.

Pei Song knew Yang Shuo wanted to capture him alive to break the deadlock. Understanding that staying longer in the current situation made no difference, while withdrawing from the window opening together with the enemy hounds, he coldly glanced back at Yang Shuo: “Song will certainly properly inform your lady of the general’s choice!”

Once Pei Song left, the enemy hounds inside the room also no longer lingered in battle, all withdrawing with him.

Only then did Yang Shuo’s knees weaken, almost unable to stand.

The personal guards supported him in a flurry, shouting: “General!”

Yang Shuo pointed toward the city gate direction, urgently shouting: “Quickly deploy troops to eliminate these Xiling barbarians in the city! Absolutely cannot let them approach the city gate!”

However, it was ultimately too late.

The eight hundred Xiling soldiers who followed Pei Song entering the pass through the border garrison tribute passage split into several groups to slaughter throughout the city. After Yang Shuo was lured away by that enemy hound, Xiling barbarians had already driven the city’s common people toward the major city gates—precisely to crush the defending troops’ morale inside the city.

When negotiations failed, Pei Song also simply ordered the Xiling force remaining nearby on standby to attack toward the gate.

More enemy hounds changed into blood-stained defender armor, mixing in the crowd shouting: “Yang Shuo let the Xiling people into the city early on! Yang Shuo is a traitor!”

Although the defending troops at the gate were shocked and suspicious, seeing those Xiling people driving city residents and slaughtering them at will like cutting melons and vegetables, they couldn’t help but believe.

The city gate hadn’t been breached yet, but inside the city blood already flowed like rivers. This desolate scene brought the city defenders’ fury at their commander’s betrayal and heartbreak over common people being thus slaughtered to its peak.

No one listened to the officers’ commands anymore. Some roared as they charged toward the Xiling forces in the city. Others shouted “Yang Shuo betrayed and let Xiling people into the city” as they abandoned armor and fled.

The city gate defenses suddenly became precarious.

The Xiling army outside the city seemed to discover the chaos among defenders on the city tower. They immediately blew horns and attacked the city again with full force.

When Yang Shuo led his personal guards rushing back to the gate, he saw the vice general hoarsely roaring to fill the gate position with men, bracing against the gate—absolutely cannot let the Xiling people ram it open.

Unexpectedly, Xiling people had already climbed up the city tower along scaling ladders, desperately fighting hand-to-hand with the city defenders.

Yang Shuo instantly felt the world spinning. When the vice general came forward in panic and sorrow to explain the situation, his ears were filled with buzzing, completely unable to hear what the other was saying.

He waved his hand somewhat weakly, indicating the other needn’t speak further, his face full of ashen despair: “I already know everything.”

–

Xiao Li saw Lady Yang and her child’s corpses on the road rushing toward the general’s household.

At that time, the entire street was full of common people fleeing south in panic, yet there was a carriage bearing the Yang household emblem slowly traveling in reverse toward the long street that was now empty with only scattered disorder everywhere.

When Xiao Li led the Wolf Riders riding close, he only then saw it was a woman in coarse cloth who had severed the carriage reins and grasped them tightly at her shoulder, using her body’s meager strength to pull the carriage.

She didn’t know how long she had dragged the carriage, but the clothing at her shoulder had already seeped bloodstains.

Seeing this group of people blocking her way on horseback, that woman’s expression went from terror to readiness for death—merely an instant’s matter. She didn’t even raise her head again, only saying exhaustedly: “Madam and the young master have already departed. There’s nothing valuable in the carriage. This servant only wants to collect Madam and the young master’s bodies. I beg you military lords to show mercy and let this servant leave.”

Xiao Li’s eyelids lifted sharply: “In the carriage are General Yang’s wife and young master?”

The maidservant heard something different in his words. Only then did some hope mixed with tearful light appear in her eyes: “You… are Liang army?”

She suddenly choked up endlessly, kneeling and pleading: “I beg you to avenge Madam and the young master…”

Xiao Li didn’t speak. His personal guard said: “Who are you? How did Lady Yang and Young Master Yang meet with misfortune? Speak in detail!”

The maidservant cried sorrowfully: “This servant was originally a menial maid in the general’s household. A group of bandits impersonating border garrison soldiers raided the general’s household. After Madam dispersed us and fled by carriage with the young master, I saw everywhere in the city people saying Xiling people had broken in, so I followed along fleeing south. Along the way, I saw Madam and the young master’s carriage. Lifting the curtain to look, I only then knew Madam and the young master had both already met violent ends…”

As she spoke, she had already risen and lifted the carriage curtain. The woman inside wore elegant clothing. Even in death, her face carried a composed expression. The young child also bore some resemblance to Yang Yue. Xiao Li determined these were indeed Lady Yang and her child.

Only Lady Yang’s hair had not a single proper ornament, clearly she had been plundered even after death.

Xiao Li’s thin lips pressed tight, his voice cold and severe: “What happened?”

The maidservant cried: “The carriage was abandoned near Beggar Alley. When this servant discovered Madam and the young master, there were still many beggar children scavenging valuables in the carriage. If not that the carriage horse’s reins had already been severed and led away by someone, and this carriage was too cumbersome and inconvenient to bring while fleeing, I fear even the carriage would have been seized by that group of beggar children…”

These words made all the Wolf Riders following Xiao Li show hidden anger on their faces.

Xiao Li gripped the reins tightly, his entire body’s aura cold and severe.

Yang Yue had already told him everything that happened at the general’s household. Pei Song capturing Lady Yang and her child was nothing more than to coerce Yang Shuo.

But Lady Yang had already fled with her young child, yet still died by poison in the carriage. There was only one possibility.

—Lady Yang and her child died by suicide.

She knew that taking the young child, they couldn’t escape. To avoid becoming Pei Song’s leverage to coerce Yang Shuo, and also to disperse the pursuers and help her eldest son escape alive, she chose this kind of resolute method.

Did Pei Song resent Lady Yang for ruining his plans, thus deliberately ordering people to abandon the carriage near Beggar Alley?

The hand tightly gripping the reins—the force so great his knuckles made subtle crisp sounds.

Xiao Li called two Wolf Riders forward, instructing them: “Send Lady Yang and the young master back to the Yang household.”

Until he rode away again, that maidservant still knelt and bowed toward the direction he departed with the Wolf Riders, tears streaming as she gave thanks.

–

The war horse galloped urgently. The shops and buildings on both sides of the street passed backward rapidly like floating shadows.

Traveling to streets and alleys near the city gate, everywhere the horse’s hooves trod were corpses. Clearly this place had recently experienced a fierce battle.

In the distance, there were still blood-covered soldiers abandoning helmets and armor fleeing back, shouting loudly: “The Xiling army has already attacked into the city! Tiger Gorge Pass cannot be held!”

“Yang Shuo is a traitor—he opened the city gates to let the Xiling army into the pass!”

The accompanying Wolf Riders heard these words and couldn’t help but all look toward Xiao Li.

They followed him climbing the tribute passage into the pass. After discovering Pei Song’s conspiracy, they rushed toward the city pass without rest—all to prevent Pei Song from forcing Yang Shuo to betray.

Now everything was already too late. For a time, they also didn’t know what to do.

Xiao Li didn’t speak. He led the Wolf Riders halting at the street entrance. Amid this ground full of blood, he looked at the fleeing soldiers madly rushing back ahead, like standing as stubborn rocks in a river of blood.

When a fleeing soldier passed by his side, Xiao Li’s long blade together with its scabbard thrust out, piercing through the other’s armor to lift the person, asking in a cold voice: “Has Yang Shuo truly betrayed and surrendered to Xiling?”

That fleeing soldier said miserably and angrily: “With Xiling forces killing into the city, how could it be false? Flee for your life quickly!”

The broken armor on his body split open during his struggle. He fell entirely to the ground. After getting up, he completely disregarded the fallen armor and still only fled for his life.

Xiao Li’s jaw tensed tightly, frost meaning coating the corners of his eyes and brows. But before the long blade in his hand could leave its sheath, ahead there was already an officer chasing these fleeing soldiers on horseback, drawing his sword to behead people, shouting loudly: “The traitorous general Yang Shuo has already been beheaded and hung under the commander’s banner for public display! Return to the city gate to defend to the death! Any more who flee from battle—immediate execution on the spot!”

The cavalry following that officer all drew swords, riding their horses and slashing at the still-fleeing deserters like cutting melons and vegetables.

This thunderous action finally temporarily halted the desertion trend.

That junior officer also quickly discovered Xiao Li’s group. Across a distance, he asked very vigilantly: “Under whose command are you all?”

Xiao Li’s answer was still that phrase: “Liang camp, Xiao Li.”

That junior officer had clearly heard Xiao Li’s name. Hearing this, he immediately urged his horse close. After seeing the person on horseback was truly Xiao Li, he nearly cried aloud on the spot:

“Lord? Is it truly you? Our reinforcements have arrived?”

The junior officer was carried away by the wild joy of suddenly finding a pillar to rely on, momentarily forgetting that Xiao Li had only recently exited Tiger Gorge Pass. Even if there were reinforcements, detouring from Hundred Blades Pass back to Liang territory then rushing to the Western Frontier—that would be completely impossible in time.

Xiao Li carefully recognized that junior officer, only then recalling he seemed to have seen the other at Yang Shuo’s side before.

He knew Tiger Gorge Pass’s current internal situation was severe. His brow slightly furrowed as he spoke truthfully: “Only these few dozen riders following me.”

The junior officer’s face full of joy slightly withdrew. He also calmed down, knowing that with Tiger Gorge Pass’s sudden enemy assault, reinforcements couldn’t possibly arrive this quickly.

Before the other could speak again, Xiao Li asked: “Yang Shuo betrayed and surrendered to Xiling and was beheaded?”

The junior officer’s eyes instantly reddened. He shook his head, choking up several times: “The general… he… beheaded himself.”