The tremendous impact struck the stronghold gate, making it shake dangerously. The clansmen gripping their spears before the gate grew paler and paler, some even quietly stepping back.

Zhao Hanzhang strode down from the tower and stood at the very front, shouting loudly, “Everyone prepare!”

They fumbled somewhat as they raised their long spears horizontally, swallowing nervously as they stared at the gate.

Zhao Hanzhang shouted, “Behind us are the stronghold’s streets and houses, where our parents, wives, and children live. If we let even one person past us into the stronghold, they will be plundered and slaughtered. So we absolutely cannot allow them to step into the stronghold!”

Zhao Hanzhang roared, “If they dare come, we dare kill—kill!”

The clansmen’s spirits lifted as they shouted back, “Kill!”

After another impact, the stronghold gate crashed open with a boom. Zhao Hanzhang thrust first with her spear, impaling the two men in front. The beam lost its balance and fell. The rebel soldiers behind came rushing into the stronghold gate.

Zhao Hanzhang ordered, “Kill!”

The first row of clansmen holding long spears obeyed the command and thrust forward in unison, piercing through the charging rebels…

“Retreat! Second row advance!”

They pulled out their spears and stepped back to adjust their stance while those behind them simultaneously stepped forward and gathered strength to thrust powerfully forward…

The rebel soldiers gripping swords and blades were stabbed to death before they could even get close.

Shi Lei saw they couldn’t attack from the front and shouted, “Kill your way in from the sides!”

But when Zhao Hanzhang arranged the formation, she had made the flanks thick and the center thin. They simply couldn’t break through.

Shi Lei saw his men being blocked at the gate entrance, falling row after row, unable to advance. Yet when they retreated, the defenders didn’t pursue but maintained their rhythm, firmly holding the gate entrance without giving chase.

The position was too narrow, which was very disadvantageous for the attacking Shi Lei. Furious, he simply leaped down from his horse. His great blade flew to the very front, blocking a row of thrusting spears with one strike. He flipped up and killed two men. Before he could shout “Kill,” the small opening was immediately filled again, and Zhao Hanzhang’s long spear thrust from the side…

Shi Lei rolled into the gate tunnel. Zhao Hanzhang knew she couldn’t let him get close—with his ferocity, he would surely tear open a gap.

So Zhao Hanzhang engaged him in combat. Shi Lei also saw that the Zhao family members could hold firm because Zhao Hanzhang was commanding and adjusting from the side, so he too wanted to lure her out.

“Little girl, do you dare come out and fight?”

Zhao Hanzhang whistled for her horse. “Come if you want—let’s see who’s afraid! Have your men stand back!”

Shi Lei didn’t think he would lose, nor would he stoop to deceiving her about this. His goal was to draw Zhao Hanzhang away, so he magnanimously waved his hand, ordering everyone to withdraw from the gate tunnel.

Zhao Hanzhang’s horse came running at the whistle. She leaped onto it and nodded to Ji Ping and the others nearby, then followed Shi Lei out of the gate tunnel.

Zhao Ming on the stronghold tower had been having men throw stones and shoot arrows downward to reduce pressure on the stronghold gate.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang ride out on horseback, he raised his hand to stop everyone’s actions, watching with eyes full of worry.

Fu Tinghan was also very nervous. He turned and picked up the drumsticks, beating out the first drum stroke. Then passionate, rousing drum beats gradually rose, traveling across the fields one after another, floating into the distance.

Shi Lei, who had withdrawn from the gate tunnel, also mounted the warhorse he’d seized the night before. Hearing the drums, he roared toward the sky, dispersing the pent-up frustration in his chest. His eyes gleaming, he stared at Zhao Hanzhang. “Seems your people have great confidence in you.”

Zhao Hanzhang, seeing him order his men to stand back, raised an eyebrow. “Does General Shi lack confidence in himself?”

Shi Lei knew these subordinates were recruited along the way with basically no loyalty—they had only gathered together to survive.

Having failed to breach the stronghold yesterday, they already wanted to retreat. If they couldn’t achieve a quick victory today, these rebels would turn on him. So Shi Lei never intended to drag out the fight with Zhao Hanzhang.

Of course, if he could cut her down in two strokes and establish his authority, that would be another matter. But Shi Lei wasn’t one to underestimate opponents, especially having fought her twice yesterday and today. So Shi Lei said, “We fight our fight, they fight theirs. I won’t have them interfere in our duel.”

Zhao Hanzhang heard this, and her long spear turned lightly in her hand. She looked at him with firm eyes and chuckled. “Agreed.”

Their gazes locked. Both kicked their horses’ bellies simultaneously and charged at each other. Blade and spear clashed. Shi Lei’s strength was enormous—following Zhao Hanzhang’s spear, he slashed toward her head. Zhao Hanzhang leaned back flat against her horse, dodging his descending blade. As the two horses passed each other, she twisted back and thrust. Shi Lei leaned to the side, avoiding it…

The two crossed paths.

Shi Lei raised his blade and shouted to the rebels, “Attack the city!”

The rebels who had withdrawn immediately surged back toward the city. Zhao Hanzhang didn’t stop them, and the rebels didn’t attack her either, holding their weapons as they rushed toward the stronghold gate.

At the same time, the drums on the tower grew urgent. Stones and arrows became dense again. Zhao Ju and his men, who had been lying in wait in the forest, mounted and prepared when they heard the drums begin.

When they heard this urgent drum pattern, Zhao Ju immediately swung his great blade and roared, “Everyone with me—charge!”

The three drawbridges of the Zhao family stronghold thundered down, crushing and wounding over a dozen rebels. Shi Lei, finding this strange—wouldn’t lowering the drawbridges help them?—suddenly heard hoofbeats and turned to see over a hundred cavalry galloping toward them at full speed.

He froze, then turned to look at Zhao Hanzhang, who was gazing back at him from afar. “You tricked me!”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him and shouted back, “Didn’t General Shi just trick me too?”

As her words fell, Shi Lei charged at her furiously. Zhao Hanzhang kicked her horse’s belly and met him head-on.

Shi Lei was known for his strength, while Zhao Hanzhang countered with agility, borrowing and deflecting his force. Her long spear seemed to curve, not only striking with extreme speed but with extreme precision. No matter which direction Shi Lei dodged, she could thrust ahead of him. After several exchanges, Shi Lei had been stabbed multiple times.

Blood flowed freely from the wounds covering his body. Shi Lei looked at Zhao Hanzhang, who still seemed completely unharmed, and grinned, his eyes flashing red. “Your palms are torn open—you’re running out of strength.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s wrists were numb. She certainly knew her strength was draining, but she remained calm and composed. “General Shi shouldn’t be too confident.”

The drum pattern on the tower shifted. Zhao Qianli increased his speed, charging into the rebels from the side. Cavalry against infantry—as long as they weren’t pulled from their horses, it was basically a one-sided slaughter.

Following the drum beats, Zhao Qianli thrust into the rebels from the side. When he heard the drums change again, instead of breaking through, he led his men in a perpendicular thrust inward, then turned and exited from the same side…

A serpentine opening was carved through the middle of the rebel army. The rebels rushing into the stronghold gate were cut off, and the pressure inside the gate suddenly decreased.

Fu Tinghan, watching from the tower, saw Zhao Hanzhang’s hands trembling slightly and knew she was reaching her limit. He turned to Zhao Ming, who was beating the great drum. “Beat the ninth pattern—order Zhao Ju to aid Hanzhang…”

—