Wang Lang’s determination and scale of this military operation to suppress the rebellion far exceeded Wei Zhao’s initial estimates.
The fierce battle at Liuxia Peak had been raging for several days. The main forces of the Second and Third Divisions were holding firm within the mountain encirclement. Wang Lang had dispatched 60,000 troops, but they had failed to break through despite prolonged attacks. Disregarding his unhealed wounds, Wang Lang personally took to the battlefield, leading waves of assaults.
Wei Zhao hadn’t anticipated such an aggressive attack from the severely injured Wang Lang. Left with no choice but to engage, he knew they had to endure until spring when all parties could act together, allowing them to catch their breath.
Ever since the treaty between Hua and Huan was signed, Wei Zhao had recognized the urgency of the situation. He had ordered his followers to continuously stir up conflicts north of the Tongfeng River and secretly plotted within the court. This delayed Hua’s transfer of jurisdiction over the northern territories of the Tongfeng River to Huan until spring. He was unwilling to see the Yueluo Mountain Range divided in two, which would make unifying his people even more challenging in the future.
For this reason, Wei Zhao couldn’t wait until spring. He returned to Yueluo Mountain in the depths of winter, wounded Wang Lang, secretly dealt with the clan leader, and pushed the young clan leader into power, gradually taking control of the military. He had originally thought that after Wang Lang’s injury, there would only be small-scale “suppression” operations. If he could lead the troops to hold out until spring, it would be a great success.
However, Wang Lang, despite his unhealed injuries, personally led 60,000 troops to attack Liuxia Peak, which was completely unexpected.
After much deliberation and repeated discussions with the Grand Commander and others, Wei Zhao decided that he and the Grand Commander would first lead the clan’s main force of 50,000 troops to Liuxia Peak. This would make Wang Lang believe that the Yueluo Clan’s main force was concentrated at Liuxia Peak, luring him to attack Feihe Gorge in the north.
Once Wang Lang withdrew his troops northward, Wei Zhao would lead 20,000 elite soldiers from this 50,000-strong force to Hutiao Beach, while Grand Commander Hong Ye would lead another 20,000 troops to Luofeng Beach downstream of Hutiao Beach, leaving only 10,000 troops to guard Liuxia Peak.
Wei Zhao also ordered the Fourth Division, which was holding Feihe Gorge, to feign retreat on the night of the eighth day of the first lunar month, drawing Wang Lang’s forces towards Hutiao Beach.
If Wei Zhao’s troops could reach Hutiao Beach before dawn on the eighth, they could set up a snow formation and launch a pincer attack with the Fourth Division’s forces, dealing a heavy blow to Wang Lang.
After suffering a major defeat at Hutiao Beach and having his northern retreat cut off, Wang Lang would surely realize that Liuxia Peak was undermanned. He would likely try to escape back to Changle City along Luofeng Beach. At that point, the Grand Commander and the Second Division’s troops would launch a combined attack, completely routing his forces.
When Wei Zhao and the Grand Commander arrived at Liuxia Peak with their 50,000 troops, the battle there had already become extremely fierce. The Second and Third Divisions had suffered heavy casualties. Upon seeing the Holy Sect Leader and the Grand Commander finally arrive with the main army, cheers erupted from within the mountain encirclement. At this moment, Xu Mi, Wang Lang’s top general, was leading over 10,000 men in a storm-like charge up the mountainside, attacking the stone fortifications.
Wei Zhao glanced at the approaching Second and Third Division commanders without saying much. He extended his right hand, and Su Yan, understanding his intent, handed him a bow and arrow.
Wei Zhao shouted, “Vanguard, follow me!”
With his ape-like arms extended, he drew the bow to a full moon, his back as straight as a mountain. He nocked an arrow, leaped out of the stone fortification, and kicked up a band of snow mist. The arrows from his hand shot out like meteors. With a series of loud “clangs,” shields shattered, and the arrows raised a sky full of blood mist. Soldiers around Xu Mi fell one after another, while Xu Mi himself barely avoided this round of arrows by frantically waving his long spear left and right.
Before Xu Mi could recover, Wei Zhao drew the long sword from his back. His sword qi poured down like moonlight, instantly piercing through the chests of several Hua soldiers. Countless blood streaks splattered, staining Wei Zhao’s plain robe with blood, making him appear even more fierce. He charged through the enemy lines, leading over a thousand vanguard troops in a series of attacks that threw Xu Mi’s 10,000-strong force into disarray.
In the distance, among the Hua army, Wang Lang’s face appeared slightly pale. Seeing that white figure moving like a ghost and slaughtering his subordinates with ease, he couldn’t help but frown. “Is that Xiao Wuxia?” he asked.
Someone beside him answered, “It should be him.”
Wang Lang sighed lightly, “He’s indeed talented, but unfortunately—” He raised his command flag, and at the sound of horns, Xu Mi’s forces retreated like the tide. Several thousand archers came forward, releasing a rain of arrows toward Wei Zhao and the vanguard in front of the stone fortification.
Suddenly, Wei Zhao let out a great shout that pained everyone’s ears. Taking advantage of this moment, he brandished his sword and darted out over ten zhang, his sword qi cold and mournful. He carved a bloody path through the Hua archers.
He shouted again, his form like an arrow as he leaped into the air. As he descended, he gripped his sword with both hands and slashed downward, like cleaving waves. The majestic sword qi rippled outward like water. Behind the archers, Xu Mi, who was hastily retreating, dropped his long spear with a clang. He spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward over ten steps, falling onto the snowy ground.
Inside and outside the stone fortification, soldiers from both armies who witnessed this mountain-like, imposing sword strike that killed Xu Mi was dumbfounded. By the time the Hua officials and soldiers reacted, Wei Zhao had already turned back, passing over the archers’ shoulders like a lone wild goose’s shadow, and returned to the vanguard formation.
The well-trained vanguard raised their shields, protecting Wei Zhao as they returned behind the stone fortification. At this moment, the Yueluo Clan members behind the fortification finally let out thunderous cheers, while the morale of the Hua official army was crushed, and they retreated in silence.
Wei Zhao stood proudly atop the stone fortification, his sword held behind him, looking askance at the enemy formation. He shouted, “Wang Lang, you treacherous villain! We, the people of the Yueluo Clan, will fight to the death and avenge our past humiliation!” He took the bow handed to him by Su Yan, and his arrow shot like a meteor across the sky, heading straight for Wang Lang’s command flag.
Wang Lang’s expression changed slightly as he suddenly struck the flagpole with his right palm. The pole moved several chi to the right, and the white-feathered arrow whistled past the left side of the flagpole, frightening the soldiers behind the command flag into ducking their heads.
Wang Lang stared at that solitary, proud white figure for a while, then smiled faintly. “Very well, let him have his moment of glory for now!” He waved his hand and ordered, “Withdraw the troops!”
Wei Zhao leaped down from the stone fortification, and the Yueluo Clan members looked at him as if admiring a deity. His plain robe was stained with blood splatters—all the blood of his enemies—which greatly inspired the Yueluo Clan members.
Wei Zhao handed the bow back to Su Yan and said to Grand Commander Hong Ye, “I estimate Wang Lang will quietly withdraw his main force at night and rush to Feihe Gorge. As soon as he moves, we’ll set out as well.”
The Grand Commander nodded, and Wei Zhao turned to the Second Division Commander: “Wang Lang will surely leave some troops here as a show of force. You should also leave some men to keep up appearances. The rest of your forces should arrive at Luofeng Beach on the night of the eighth to join the Grand Commander in intercepting Wang Lang.”
The Second Division Commander’s face was solemn as he replied, “I will follow the Holy Sect Leader’s orders.”
Clouds obscured the moon in the sky as Wei Zhao, in his plain robe and mask, led 20,000 elite troops swiftly through the endless snowy night.
According to intelligence from their spies, Wang Lang had quietly withdrawn his main force after nightfall and was heading straight for Feihe Gorge. Wei Zhao sent Su Yan to scout the camp at night, confirming that Wang Lang’s main force had indeed withdrawn. He immediately set out with the Grand Commander, each leading 20,000 troops, heading towards Hutiao Beach and Luofeng Beach respectively.
Due to the high mountains, dense forests, and deep snow of the Yueluo Mountain Range, even the finest horses couldn’t gallop through this snowy night. Therefore, for this ambush at Hutiao Beach, the entire army traveled on foot rather than on horseback.
These 20,000 elite soldiers had been selected from troops sent by various encampments and had undergone ten days of intensive training under Su Yan and others before being deployed in this decisive battle.
The surrounding snow-covered forests and icy mountains were a vast expanse of white. The elite troops’ morale was high, and their fighting spirit was strong. However, Wei Zhao was somewhat worried about whether the 20,000 troops led by the Grand Commander could hold Luofeng Beach. Wang Lang was a battle-hardened veteran; even if he were defeated at Hutiao Beach, the Grand Commander’s 20,000 troops might not be able to match him. Wei Zhao could only hope that the Second Division Commander would truly follow orders and dispatch some of the forces from Liuxia Peak to reinforce Luofeng Beach, giving them a chance at victory.
He moved gracefully, swiftly traversing the snowy night. Su Jun and Cheng Yingying followed closely behind, both wearing black veils and carrying powerful bows and sharp arrows on their backs. Su Yan brought up the rear of the two thousand troops, who, in the snow, resembled a fiery dragon, spreading northward alongside this white figure.
As dawn broke, Wei Zhao halted at the entrance of a valley. Zhai Lin, the clan member most familiar with the terrain, approached and respectfully reported, “Holy Sect Leader, beyond this valley, is a narrow passage, and beyond that is Tianzhu Peak, where the path lies.”
Wei Zhao nodded. “Since we have reached the path, let everyone rest for a while. We will set out again in an hour, aiming to pass through the path before sunset. We must reach Hutiao Beach by tomorrow morning.”
Su Yan relayed the order, and although the soldiers were somewhat fatigued, they maintained their formation. After consuming their rations, they either sat or leaned against tree trunks, closing their eyes to rest.
Wei Zhao sat at the mouth of the canyon, focusing his mind and regulating his breath. Half an hour later, he suddenly opened his eyes and leaped to the treetops.
Su Jun and the others sensed a change and drew their weapons in unison. As Wei Zhao landed, he pressed down with his hand to calm them. Soon after, dozens of figures rushed from the southern hillside toward the canyon entrance. The foremost figure, veiled in green gauze and with a graceful figure, was none other than the Little Saintess Cheng Xiaoxiao, who had remained behind to guard Shanhai Valley.
Wei Zhao looked at Cheng Xiaoxiao as she knelt before him and asked, “Has something happened at Shanhai Valley?”
Cheng Xiaoxiao’s voice trembled slightly. “Reporting to the Sect Leader, both the clan leader and Shanhai Valley are safe, but… Miss Jiang has escaped!”
Wei Zhao narrowed his eyes and then smiled. “She certainly has some skills to escape from Shanhai Valley!”
“Miss Jiang fled during the chaos on the night the army set out. I led people to search for her footprints and found her boots at the edge of a cliff. It’s unclear whether she fell or found another way to escape, and we have not discovered her whereabouts since. I know her importance, so I came to report. I apologize for my incompetence, and I ask the Sect Leader to punish me.”
Wei Zhao replied lightly, “It’s fine. After the great battle, I will find a way to bring her back.”
The snow-capped peaks rose and fell, and the branches in the mountains were coated with glistening ice, dressed in silver. The cold wind swept across the mountains, causing Jiang Ci to sway unsteadily.
After a night of fleeing, she could barely see the path ahead, relying only on the stars above to guide her northward. She knew that Wei Zhao was leading his army eastward toward Liuxia Peak, where the fighting was fierce. If she chose to return to the Hua Dynasty, she would surely face great danger. The only viable option was to cross the Tongfeng River to the north, bypass the borders of the Huan Kingdom, and then make her way south.
As she navigated through the snowy mountain forest, she was fortunate to have planned for days, wearing ample clothing and carrying enough food and water, so she was not overly worried. However, as dawn approached, she looked back and saw two long lines of footprints in the snow, realizing that things were not looking good.
At that moment, the first light of dawn illuminated the sky, and she realized she had reached the edge of a cliff, with a deep gorge below. Jiang Ci thought for a moment, then removed her boots and used the snow at the cliff’s edge to create signs of a struggle. She then took out the rope she had prepared from her pack, threw it far, and wrapped it around a large tree at the cliff’s edge. Using the strength of the rope, she climbed up the tree trunk and then threw the rope toward another tree in the distance. She leaped between the trees until she was exhausted, finally reaching the mountainside.
Resting for a while on the mountainside, Jiang Ci knew she had not yet completely escaped danger. She steeled herself and continued into the dense forest.
In the forest, the snow reached her knees. Jiang Ci had removed her long boots, leaving only a pair of thin embroidered shoes. The snow water seeped into her shoes, causing her feet to grow numb, but she gritted her teeth and continued northward.
As night fell, the surrounding peaks and ridges became indistinct in the darkness. The wind howled past her ears, sounding like the cries of ghosts and wolves, causing her to feel a bit frightened. She struck a match, gathered a pile of dry twigs, and lit a fire, which brought her a slight sense of security.
That night, she leaned against a large rock by the fire and closed her eyes to sleep. Having heard from Dan Xue that wild leopards roamed the Yueluo Mountain Range, she was fearful and slept restlessly, waking several times to find the fire nearly extinguished. Each time, she would gather more dry twigs, and when dawn began to break, she ate a piece of flatbread and set off again.
After two days of travel, Jiang Ci arrived at the banks of the Tongfeng River by dusk.
On both sides of the Tongfeng River, the snow lay thick, but since it was already the first month of the lunar calendar, the ice in the river began to melt. Large chunks of ice slowly drifted across the river’s surface, shattering Jiang Ci’s initial plan to cross the ice.
With no other choice, she had to walk along the riverbank. Not far along, her eyes brightened as she spotted a suspension bridge, arching like a rainbow over the Tongfeng River. The bridge was made of bamboo cables for railings and wooden planks laid across. As the cold wind blew, the bridge swayed gently.
Jiang Ci was overjoyed and ran onto the suspension bridge. She did not look down at the terrifying sight of the moving ice and river below. Using her lightness skill, she steadily crossed along the bamboo railings and finally reached the northern bank of the Tongfeng River.
By this time, it was dark. Having crossed the Tongfeng River, Jiang Ci felt a bit more at ease. Just as she was about to light a bonfire, she suddenly heard voices in the distance. Her expression changed, and she quickly climbed up a large tree by the side of the suspension bridge, hiding herself among the treetops.
Before long, the voices grew louder, mixed with the sounds of armor and weapons clashing. The noise gradually intensified, and it seemed that thousands of troops were gathering in the dense forest by the northern bank of the Tongfeng River.
Jiang Ci was alarmed. At first, she thought it was Wei Zhao sending troops to capture her. But then she realized that even if Wei Zhao wanted to capture her, he wouldn’t mobilize such a large force. She suppressed her panic and remained hidden in the treetops, watching below.
After a while, the voices became clearer. A rough voice shouted, “Deputy Commander Dong has ordered everyone to rest and eat in place!”
Over a hundred soldiers settled under the tree not far from Jiang Ci, eating their rations and chatting idly.
“Finally, we’ve made it to Hutiao Beach. Everyone should rest well tonight. Tomorrow morning, when Xiao Wuxia arrives, we’ll have a fierce battle,” one person, presumably Deputy Commander Dong, who was leading the thousands of troops, said.
“Indeed, the Star Moon Sect Leader is no pushover. He’s brought 20,000 troops with him. Although we’ve set up an ambush here, we don’t know if we can successfully capture him.”
Another person laughed, “No matter how powerful Xiao Wuxia is, we hold the advantage of terrain. Once he crosses the river, we’ll cut off the suspension bridge. He won’t have anywhere to escape!”
“Exactly, as long as we can trap him at Hutiao Beach, once General Wang annihilates the Yueluo people at Luofeng Beach, he will surely come to our aid. At that point, even if he grows wings, he won’t be able to escape!”
“Haha, no matter how brave Xiao Wuxia is, he would never guess who let us pass Liuxia Peak and who informed us of the secret path leading straight to Hutiao Beach!”
One person laughed lewdly and nudged the shoulder of the person next to him. “Hey, they say Xiao Wuxia is stunningly beautiful. If we can capture him, I wonder which general will be lucky enough to enjoy him!”
“Get a grip, will you? There are plenty of beautiful girls in Shanhai Valley. If we win this battle, we can directly raid Shanhai Valley. General Wang has promised that as long as we can attack Shanhai Valley, we can pillage for three days. As for the girls, we can enjoy them to our heart’s content. I just worry you won’t be able to handle it!”
Hundreds of people burst into laughter, and their words grew increasingly vulgar. Jiang Ci tightly closed her eyes in the tree.
She never imagined that in her escape, she would stumble upon such a shocking conspiracy. From their conversation, it was clear that Wei Zhao was leading his troops to Hutiao Beach. If he truly fell into an ambush and was defeated, these Hua soldiers would surely massacre Shanhai Valley. Did heaven truly not grant the pitiful Yueluo people even a glimmer of hope?
Moreover, if these Hua soldiers captured Shanhai Valley and pillaged it for three days, would Dan Xue and Mei Ying be able to escape this calamity? They were already pitiful enough; must they also suffer humiliation at the hands of these beastly soldiers?
Her fingers gently brushed over the two silver bangles on her right wrist, and the smiling faces of Dan Xue and Mei Ying appeared in her mind, causing her heart to ache.
As night deepened, Jiang Ci sat motionless in the tree, her limbs gradually growing numb.
Below, the Hua soldiers began to snore lightly or heavily, while the night watchmen walked back and forth beneath the tree. In the darkness, the long spears in their hands reflected a sinister light, making Jiang Ci feel as if lightning had struck her heart. She wanted to jump down from the treetop and rush to Shanhai Valley to warn Dan Xue and Mei Ying to escape quickly. But that lightning also froze her in place, preventing her from making a sound for fear of being discovered by the soldiers.
The cold moon moved westward, bit by bit.
At dawn, Jiang Ci heard the soldiers below moving in unison. She caught a glimpse of them slipping into the dense forest, and with so many people lying in ambush, there was not a sound to be heard, indicating they were well-trained elite soldiers under Wang Lang.
The sky gradually lightened.
At daybreak, a scout rushed into the forest, and Jiang Ci faintly heard him report, “Xiao Wuxia’s troops are five li away!”
Deputy Commander Dong said in a deep voice, “Everyone listens carefully. Once Xiao Wuxia and most of his troops cross the suspension bridge and the horn sounds, we will launch the attack. Wu Qianhu will lead the men to cut the suspension bridge, and the rest should be ready to provide cover!”
In the forest, silence returned. Jiang Ci widened her eyes, peering through the gaps in the branches toward the opposite bank of the Tongfeng River.
The vast snow-capped peaks shimmered brilliantly in the morning sun, but to Jiang Ci, that brilliance pierced her heart.
On the opposite bank of the Tongfeng River, groups of dark figures approached from afar. She saw that familiar white figure leading thousands of troops, moving closer like flowing clouds. She watched as the Yueluo people stepped closer to death, and she saw Wei Zhao about to step onto the suspension bridge. Jiang Ci’s heart was in turmoil.
If she remained hidden in the tree, she could endure until the battle ended, gaining her freedom to return to the Hua Dynasty, back to the cherished Deng Family Village, no longer imprisoned or bullied.
But if she warned Wei Zhao now, he could avoid the ambush, return to Luofeng Beach, and protect Shanhai Valley. Dan Xue and Mei Ying would be safe and not suffer humiliation.
However, if she went out to warn him, the Hua soldiers would surely notice her. At that point, they would only need a sharp arrow to kill her.
Dan Xue and Mei Ying were indeed pitiful, and the Yueluo people were certainly tragic, but was it worth sacrificing her life to save them?
What should she do now?
On the opposite bank, under the morning sun, Wei Zhao’s plain robe billowed as he finally stepped onto the suspension bridge.