The war drums thundered like roaring thunder as the three armies set out together. Pei Yan, clad in a purple robe and silver armor, rode his horse to the front of the formation. Tian Ce held a spear on the left, while Xu Jun brandished a sword on the right. The rest of the commanders followed, and tens of thousands of troops surged towards Huiyan Pass like a dark cloud.
Pei Yan sat straight, his handsome eyes gleaming. He spurred his Black Gold Steed, moving like a black cloud, then suddenly reined in all four hooves, coming to an abrupt halt. Both above and below the pass, tens of thousands couldn’t help but inwardly cheer. The horse was indeed a fine steed, but Pei Yan’s horsemanship was also rarely seen in the world.
Pei Yan looked up with a smile, channeling his Yuan Power. His clear voice reached tens of thousands of listeners: “Prince Xuan, to face you on the battlefield is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Would you care to exchange a few moves with Pei Yan, to leave a legendary tale here at Huiyan Pass?”
Atop the fortress, Yu Wen Jinglun hadn’t expected Pei Yan to openly challenge him before both armies. If he accepted, he might not win, but if he refused, with over a hundred thousand eyes watching, he’d be ridiculed across the land. Teng Rui also frowned slightly.
Pei Yan called out again: “That day at Zhenbo Bridge, Prince Xuan resorted to sneak attacks. For months, I’ve been unable to forget Your Highness’s skills, yet I regret we couldn’t properly determine our strengths. Would Your Highness grant me another lesson today? I’d be honored to face both Your Highness and Hall Master Yi simultaneously.”
His words, filled with vigor, echoed far and wide before Huiyan Pass, clear to soldiers of both armies. At Zhenbo Bridge, Yu Wen Jinglun and Yi Han had indeed ambushed the frenzied Pei Yan. Now, as the armies faced each other, Pei Yan’s words greatly embarrassed Yu Wen Jinglun. The Huan army, known for valuing martial prowess and revering heroes, felt they couldn’t back down after hearing Pei Yan’s challenge.
On the Hua Dynasty side, drums and shouts erupted, shaking the heavens.
“Yu Wen Jinglun, you bastard, are you afraid of our Marquis?”
“Yeah, you’ve got the guts for sneak attacks but not to face our Marquis head-on!”
“Coward, just crawl back home!”
Yu Wen Jinglun felt conflicted. Yi Han suggested, “Your Highness, perhaps I should duel with Pei Yan.”
“Unwise,” Yu Wen Jinglun shook his head. “Pei Yan surely has a deeper motive. We mustn’t act rashly.”
The impatient King Yiping nearby said, “Who cares? Let’s charge out with tens of thousands. He won’t be able to duel then.”
Teng Rui, however, gazed at a spot within the Changfeng Cavalry formation. Seeing his apparent discovery, Yu Wen Jinglun waved for silence, and those atop the pass fell quiet, hearing only the taunts from the Changfeng Cavalry below.
“Could it be the ‘Heavenly Extreme Formation’?” Teng Rui seemed to mutter to himself.
Yu Wen Jinglun called out, “Master!”
“Ah,” Teng Rui snapped to attention, hurriedly explaining, “Your Highness, Pei Yan has deployed the ‘Heavenly Extreme Formation’. This formation uses bait to lure the enemy deep inside, which is why Pei Yan personally issued the challenge. We can accept, as only a small portion of their forces will be at the front, tasked with luring us in. This could be our opportunity.”
Yu Wen Jinglun grasped the idea: “Master means we should calmly engage this small force, including Pei Yan, without being overly aggressive or advancing too far?”
“Not quite, Your Highness. Look there,” Teng Rui pointed towards the Changfeng Cavalry. “Ning Jianyu’s position is a formation eye.”
Yu Wen Jinglun nodded, “Indeed, his ‘Ning’ character banner is unusually large and high today.”
“Exactly. When Pei Yan duels with Your Highness or Hall Master Yi, he’ll feign defeat to lure Your Highness into the formation. Once activated, it will flow like water, endlessly, separating and isolating our forces like ripples. However, their formation’s eye is on Ning Jianyu’s position. If Your Highness leads troops to capture him, it’s like cutting off the water source, and the formation will fall into chaos. Then, when King Yiping charges with the main force, we can break the formation.”
Yu Wen Jinglun still had doubts: “Your nephew set up this ‘Heavenly Extreme Formation’, but isn’t he worried you’d recognize it? Is Pei Yan playing some trick?”
Teng Rui sighed, “The ‘Heavenly Extreme Formation’ is recorded in the ‘Celestial Military Strategy’, accessible only to the sect leader. My nephew assumes I haven’t learned this formation, but he doesn’t know that years ago when my master was in high spirits after drinking, he once explained this formation to me.”
Yi Han said, “Your Highness, we can try. As long as we’re not lured into the valley, we needn’t fear Pei Yan’s tricks!”
Below the pass, Pei Yan still sat on his horse, smiling calmly, gazing up at the fortress.
Yu Wen Jinglun chuckled, “Very well, Master Yi, let’s go meet Pei Yan!”
Yi Han smiled, “Your Highness, I’ll cover for you.”
Teng Rui advised, “Your Highness, once their formation activates, you and Master Yi should stop pursuing Pei Yan and directly attack Ning Jianyu. When Ning falls, the ‘Heavenly Extreme Formation’ will be in disarray for a moment. I’ll then have King Yiping lead the main force to attack, giving us a chance at victory.”
“Rest assured, Master.” Yu Wen Jinglun laughed heartily, his spirits soaring. He called out, “Bring me my sword!”
Ming Fei, in full armor, stepped forward, presenting the “White Deer Sword” with both hands.
Three cannon blasts sounded, and war drums began to beat. Pei Yan watched as the Huiyan Pass drawbridge lowered, and Yu Wen Jinglun and Yi Han rode out with a large contingent. He couldn’t help but smile.
The autumn wind surged past the front of the pass, billowing Pei Yan’s purple battle robe like a floating purple cloud. He silently channeled his Yuan Power, focusing his spirit, watching Yu Wen Jinglun and Yi Han approach on horseback. With a smile, he said, “Prince Xuan, Hall Master Yi, Pei Yan has been waiting for you!”
Atop the fortress, the Huan army’s war drums suddenly intensified. In that instant, it was as if the wind and clouds changed color, battle intent filled the air, and the Huan army’s morale surged.
Yu Wen Jinglun slowly raised his right hand, and the drums abruptly stopped, as if his gesture had suppressed the tumultuous sky. At that moment on the battlefield, only the fluttering of battle flags in the autumn wind and the occasional neighing of war horses could be heard.
Yu Wen Jinglun and Pei Yan locked eyes for a moment, each silently admiring the other. Though they had fought before, it was always in the chaos of battle, never face-to-face like this before their armies. Pei Yan observed Yu Wen Jinglun sitting atop his Snow-Treading White Cloud Steed, his posture as steady as a deep pool or towering mountain. Yu Wen Jinglun was tall, with broad features, a high nose, thin lips, and honey-colored skin, strikingly different from the Central Plains Han people. Yet his features were handsome, with a hint of dragon patterns at the corners of his mouth – truly the “physiognomy of an emperor” as described in ancient texts. Pei Yan felt a twinge of awe, then smiled and said, “Thank you, Prince Xuan, for deigning to exchange moves with Pei Yan.”
Yu Wen Jinglun laughed heartily, his expression even more spirited: “How could I refuse Marquis Pei’s invitation! Without you as an opponent, wouldn’t this world be too dull?”
Pei Yan bowed slightly on horseback: “Your Highness is too kind. I just thought that with Hua and Huan at war, it would be a shame if we, as commanders, didn’t have a duel before our armies. Now that Your Highness has agreed to fight, Pei Yan can die without regrets.”
“Then please, Marquis Pei, show me your skills.” Yu Wen Jinglun spoke no more, slowly raising the White Deer Sword at his side. The blade gleamed coldly, reflecting the autumn sun, as he charged towards Pei Yan like a tempest.
Seeing Yu Wen Jinglun’s approach, with sword strikes like a fierce storm, Pei Yan dodged to the side. His right hand, infused with Yuan Power, met Yu Wen Jinglun’s blade with a loud clang, sparks flying. They separated instantly, their horses galloping apart, only to turn and charge at each other again at their masters’ command.
After dozens more exchanges, Pei Yan squeezed his horse’s flanks, shouting. His long sword flashed a cold light at his side as he charged towards the oncoming Yu Wen Jinglun.
Yu Wen Jinglun saw Pei Yan’s sword aiming for a horizontal slash. He lowered and twisted his wrist, sweeping the White Deer Sword upwards diagonally from behind, intending to deflect Pei Yan’s blade. Just as Pei Yan was about to reach him, Yu Wen Jinglun’s vision blurred, and Pei Yan’s figure vanished.
Yi Han, covering from behind, sensed danger and leaped forward like lightning, darting into the fray.
As Pei Yan neared Yu Wen Jinglun’s horse, he suddenly flipped to the left, gracefully passing under the horse’s belly like a purple butterfly, then emerging from the right. His sword strike changed from a slash to a direct thrust, catching Yu Wen Jinglun’s White Deer Sword just as he hesitated.
This thrust carried Pei Yan’s full power. Yu Wen Jinglun barely managed to keep hold of his weapon by quickly channeling his Yuan Power, but the impact left him unsteady, his body tilting backward. Pei Yan had already returned to his saddle, his long sword flashing a dazzling light as he thrust toward Yu Wen Jinglun’s chest.
Just as this lethal strike seemed unavoidable, Yi Han shot forward. With a clang, his sword crossed before Yu Wen Jinglun’s chest, blocking Pei Yan’s killing blow.
Having narrowly escaped death, Yu Wen Jinglun remained calm. He let his body fall back, his war horse charging forward, carrying him swiftly beneath their crossed swords. By the time he reined in and turned, Pei Yan and Yi Han were already locked in fierce combat.
Knowing Pei Yan would likely feign defeat once Yi Han joined, Yu Wen Jinglun simply raised his precious sword and joined the attack from behind. After all, Pei Yan had initially challenged them both, so he couldn’t be accused of fighting unfairly.
The Changfeng Cavalry roared at the sight, but the Huan army’s war drums drowned out their curses. Pei Yan, facing two opponents, gradually felt overwhelmed. Finally, unable to withstand Yi Han’s sword pressure, he let out a thunderous shout, his long sword simultaneously blocking both sword and saber. His body fell backward, and his Black Gold Steed, sensing its master’s peril, suddenly reared up and galloped back towards the Changfeng Cavalry formation.
Seeing Pei Yan indeed retreating in defeat, Yu Wen Jinglun felt greatly reassured. He exchanged a glance with Yi Han, lowered his hand, and led the troops who had left the pass in pursuit.
Hearing the thunderous hoofbeats behind him, Pei Yan smiled slightly. After riding another hundred paces or so, the Changfeng Cavalry came to surround him. Pei Yan turned back, laughing loudly, “Your Highness, let’s play again next time!”
Yu Wen Jinglun, still in hot pursuit, laughed back, “I’m not satisfied yet, why is the Marquis quitting so soon?!”
As they spoke, the Changfeng Cavalry’s horns blared, their formation shifting to encircle and divide Yu Wen Jinglun, Yi Han, and their troops layer by layer.
Yu Wen Jinglun, remembering Teng Rui’s instructions, stopped pursuing Pei Yan as he retreated step by step. Instead, he and Yi Han charged directly toward the distant “Ning” character banner in the formation.
Pei Yan’s expression changed. He shouted, “Stop them!”
Yi Han, feeling triumphant, let out a long whistle as he cut and charged through the ranks. Like a ghost, he flashed up from his saddle, his piercing whistle carrying a surge of sword energy. Countless sword shadows sent the Changfeng Cavalry tumbling outwards. He was unstoppable, and Yu Wen Jinglun followed closely behind. Before long, they had broken through with their troops to Ning Jianyu’s position.
Ning Jianyu’s spear danced like a silver dragon, trying to fend off their combined sword and saber attack. But Yi Han’s sword generated a vortex of energy that slightly hindered Ning’s spear movements, allowing Yu Wen Jinglun’s saber to slash into his right flank armor. Even though Ning wore a Golden Thread Armor beneath his battle armor, he felt the powerful blow, his blood surging as he fell backward.
Yi Han struck again, cleaving the “Ning” character banner’s pole in two.
As the “Ning” banner fell, the Changfeng flag formation fell into disarray. Pei Yan, seeming stunned, raced over from afar.
Atop the pass, Teng Rui saw clearly and knew the opportunity couldn’t be missed. He lowered the command flag, and war drums sounded. The long-waiting King Yiping let out a wild roar and charged forth with his troops.
A fierce, chaotic, bloody battle unfolded south of Huiyan Pass.
Cui Liang stood atop the highest siege tower, gazing up at the distant figure on the pass ramparts. He sighed inwardly: Uncle, there’s one thing about the Heavenly Extreme Formation that our ancestor never told you when he explained it to you: the formation eye is meant to deceive the enemy—
In truth, I used this Heavenly Extreme Formation merely to lure your forces out of the past.
The formation flows like water, endless and ceaseless, hoping to wash away all this bloodshed and slaughter.
He raised his right hand decisively. With this gesture, brilliant fireworks filled the clear autumn sky.
On the pass, Teng Rui looked up at the sky full of fireworks, feeling increasingly uneasy, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint the source of his unease. As he pondered, sudden shouts of killing erupted from the northern military camp behind the pass. A commander rushed up to the city wall: “Master, it’s terrible! Tens of thousands of troops are attacking our camp from the north!”
Teng Rui was shocked. Tens of thousands? Where did tens of thousands of troops come from north of Huiyan Pass to assist Pei Yan in a pincer attack?!
He rushed down from the wall and looked into the distance. He saw their camp engulfed in flames and thick smoke. Before he could react, a white-clad figure wearing a silver mask led a large force like a whirlwind, charging straight for the pass gates.
The masked figure’s face was hidden, but their long sword danced up and down, each strike taking a life. As they swept forward with their troops, Huan soldiers fell like wheat before a scythe, leaving a trail of death and injury.
Teng Rui was startled to see that the attackers were from the Yue Luo clan, and he sighed in despair: the situation was dire!
He made a quick decision, climbing back onto the city wall and issuing a signal with the flag. Yu Wen Jinglun and Yi Han, who had sensed something was amiss, were shocked to hear their own horn signaling an enemy rear attack. The situation was urgent and they needed to retreat immediately.
The Huan army, well-trained, ceased fighting as soon as the horn sounded and began a well-organized withdrawal. However, a new wave of enemy forces surged in, with tens of thousands of troops assaulting from their rear, causing chaos in the Huan army’s ranks. The dead piled up near the gate, blocking the way and preventing a swift retreat from the northern pass.
Teng Rui, in a moment of desperation, ordered a horn to be blown. The troops led by King Yiping, upon hearing the signal, instinctively followed orders and blocked the advancing Chang Feng cavalry from the south.
Yu Wen Jinglun, understanding the situation immediately, led his elite soldiers in a gradual retreat to the north of the pass.
Behind them, the Chang Feng cavalry pressed on, advancing step by step, crossing over Huiyan Pass and pursuing Donglai.
On September 13th, the fifth year of Emperor Hua’s reign, the Chang Feng cavalry clashed with the Huan army in front of Huiyan Pass. The Huan army fell into a trap and was lured out of the pass, with their main force encircled by the Chang Feng cavalry.
On the same day, thirty thousand elite soldiers from the Yue Luo clan launched a surprise attack on Huiyan Pass, joining forces with the Chang Feng cavalry to encircle the Huan army. The Huan army suffered a catastrophic defeat, with the Yiping army annihilated and Yu Wen Jinglun’s right flank sustaining heavy casualties.
King Xuan, Yu Wen Jinglun, led the central and left forces in a series of retreats, fleeing north to Donglai. Pei Yan, commanding the Chang Feng cavalry, and the Yue Luo Holy Leader combined their forces to pursue.
Unable to withstand the pressure, the Huan army disintegrated further and retreated north. In their panic, they crossed the Juanshui River, where several of their warships were sunk or set on fire, resulting in numerous casualties from drowning.
Pei Yan and the Chang Feng cavalry reached the Juanshui River, where local fishermen from Donglai and Yuzhou came to their aid with boats. Civilians quickly constructed floating bridges in the shallower parts of the river, allowing the Chang Feng cavalry to cross and continue their pursuit of the Huan army northward.