Chapter Ninety-Six: The Resolve to Enter the Fray

Time passed little by little, and the battle between offense and defense gradually reached a fever pitch. Beneath the city walls lay layers upon layers of corpses, wooden debris, and stones, while atop the walls, personnel continuously carried away the dead and wounded. This small Huaso City seemed like a merciless meat grinder, ruthlessly crushing one vibrant life after another.

Ye Pei, covered in blood and grime, glanced up at the sky and thought, “If reinforcements don’t arrive soon... we’ll have no choice but to abandon the city.”

Shortly after the battle began, under Jiang Zhongqing’s protection, Chen Mo ascended the city wall once more and conveyed the same message to Ye Pei, Yang Tianrui, and Huang Jifeng, who were directing the fight from three different points.

“We fight for one more hour. If reinforcements don’t come, we retreat.”

Neither Yang Tianrui nor Ye Pei objected, but Huang Jifeng asked, “Why? We can still hold the city.”

Chen Mo sighed, “This isn’t our war. Why risk more of our men’s lives? They have nowhere else to turn but the Sacred Sacrifice Domain; we must take responsibility for them.”

...

Ye Pei summoned a messenger and said, “Tell Chen Mo to start preparing for withdrawal.”

After the messenger left, Ye Pei looked toward the only remaining arrow tower not far away and took a deep breath. Wang Yifei, standing beside her, anxiously asked, “Commander Ye, are you recovered?”

Ye Pei shook her head. “No, but we can’t wait any longer. That arrow tower poses too great a threat.”

Earlier, Ye Pei had used her exceptional agility to leap and destroy three other arrow towers belonging to Lin Yuzhe’s forces, but the toll on her was heavy. Facing the last arrow tower, she could hardly make another charge and had to return to the city wall to rest. During that assault, she sustained an arrow wound, which was only hastily bandaged.

Now, a dozen archers from that tower incessantly fired arrows, disrupting their defensive rhythm. At least a hundred soldiers had already fallen to their volley.

Stepping back, Ye Pei said gravely, “General Wang, take charge of the defense here.”

Before Wang Yifei could reply, Ye Pei took a few running steps, leapt gracefully from the city wall, and glided straight toward the arrow tower.

“Ye Pei’s coming again! Fire!”

The archers in the tower immediately spotted her and responded, releasing seven or eight sharp arrows.

With a long cry, Ye Pei swung her spear in front of her, seemingly creating an invisible force field that shattered all the incoming arrows. In an instant, she landed on top of the arrow tower.

“Haha! This is the move we’ve been waiting for!” As Ye Pei landed, the dozen or so archers on the tower suddenly turned and leapt down. Below, soldiers extended nets to catch them safely.

“Bring it down!”

A loud shout came from below. Two wooden wheels on one side of the arrow tower, already tampered with, suddenly detached, causing the entire tower to tilt heavily and nearly collapse.

“Damn!” Ye Pei’s heart sank. She sprang to leap back to the city wall, but the falling tower provided no leverage. The tower was nearly as tall as the city wall, and as it tilted, Ye Pei barely managed to brace herself but couldn’t reach the wall’s height. With arrows still raining down, she struggled to maintain her agility mid-air and soon began to fall toward the ground.

“Commander Ye!” Wang Yifei atop the city wall saw this and panicked. Ye Pei and Jiang Zhongqing had barely survived a siege by two thousand outside Huaso City before; now there were seven or eight thousand enemies below. How could Ye Pei survive alone?

---

Ye Pei, however, was not filled with despair—there was simply no time for it. Moments before landing, facing the enemies below wielding weapons, she twisted mid-air, swinging her spear in a wide arc. Instantly, the surrounding foes were repelled, and she somersaulted to land firmly on the ground.

But the Lin army showed no intention of giving her a breather and quickly surrounded her.

Back on the city wall, Chen Mo, protected by Jiang Zhongqing, ascended again but found no sign of Ye Pei.

“Strategist! Commander Ye went alone to destroy the enemy’s arrow tower but was ambushed and trapped in the enemy ranks!” Wang Yifei rushed over, anxiety evident.

“What?!” Chen Mo was shocked and rushed to assess the situation, but Jiang Zhongqing shouted loudly, “Pei Ge! Swift as shooting stars, under the sparse moonlight...”

“Jiang Young Hero, no!” Wang Yifei, quick and sharp-eyed, grabbed Jiang Zhongqing around the waist to hold him back. “If you go down, you won’t get back up!”

Chen Mo also caught up, restraining Jiang Zhongqing. “General Wang is right; calm yourself.”

Jiang Zhongqing’s eyes turned bloodshot, his hand gripping the sword trembling violently. “Pei Ge’s life hangs in the balance! How can I survive atop the city wall while he fights below?”

Chen Mo saw the situation below and shouted, “If you go down, you’ll die too! All troops, intensify the attack!”

He then hurried toward the south city gate where Yang Tianrui was stationed.

“General Yang! Commander Ye is trapped in the enemy ranks below. Please lead a small elite force out the east gate to rescue him!”

“Hm?” Yang Tianrui raised an eyebrow. “Give me some men, and I’ll saddle up.”

Chen Mo quickly assigned seventy or eighty elite soldiers. “Follow General Yang closely! Go out the east city gate and rescue Commander Ye!”

This was likely the best plan they could muster. Opening the west city gate at the front was impossible without risking the city’s fall. So Yang Tianrui led his men lightly equipped through the eastern gate, which was currently unassailed, riding swiftly around the southern or northern battlefield to reach the front lines and aid Ye Pei. Even so, the odds were daunting. Whether Ye Pei could hold out until Yang Tianrui arrived was uncertain, and charging through seven or eight thousand enemy troops with only seventy or eighty men was a desperate gamble.

Back at the west gate of the main battlefield, Chen Mo spoke quietly to Jiang Zhongqing, who had kept his head bowed beside him. “Jiang Young Hero, you can accompany General Yang to rescue Brother Ye.”

Unexpectedly, Jiang Zhongqing suddenly roared out the unfinished sword technique.

“Swift as shooting stars, under the sparse moonlight, the desolate autumn wind—scatters frost like drops!”

A brilliant sword light shot straight from the city wall toward Ye Pei’s location. In an instant, Jiang Zhongqing appeared beside the bloodied and struggling Ye Pei.

The two exchanged a glance without words. Ye Pei’s eyes showed a hint of something new before she plunged back into the fray.

“Sigh...” Chen Mo sighed deeply. “Retreat is impossible now; we can only hope for reinforcements from Jiazhou.” He had nearly finalized the withdrawal of the outer city troops and came up to the wall to inform Ye Pei and others to prepare for a strong push and retreat, but now Ye Pei was trapped in enemy ranks.

“Xiao Mo!” Suddenly, a clear voice rang out. Chen Mo turned to see Zi Qingrong rushing up.

“Strategist... we... can’t stop Miss Zi...”

“Xiao Mo, I saw Brother Yang lead men out the east gate. I also heard them say Commander Ye... Yezi? What happened?” Zi Qingrong looked around anxiously, not spotting Ye Pei.

Chen Mo urged, “The city wall is dangerous. Please wait in the outer city!”

Zi Qingrong ignored his warning. “Tell me! Where is Yezi?”

Chen Mo’s expression faltered, then he tilted his head. “He and Jiang Zhongqing are trapped in the enemy ranks below.”

Zi Qingrong was stunned and tried to rush to the wall, but Chen Mo shouted sharply, “Enough!” and struck her unconscious as she passed by.

“Carry Miss Zi to the command tent on a stretcher!”

Watching Zi Qingrong being carried away, Chen Mo climbed to the city gate tower, frowning at the scene below.

On the flank, Yang Tianrui and his men, lightly equipped and riding swiftly, had avoided interception by the southern enemy forces. They successfully circumvented to the western battlefield edge and launched an assault toward Ye Pei’s position.

“Move faster...” Chen Mo maintained a calm exterior but was deeply anxious. Ye Pei and Jiang Zhongqing were already staggering and might not hold out much longer. Yang Tianrui’s group was still far away, and at their current pace, it would take at least half an hour to reach them.

On horseback, Yang Tianrui wielded his great saber with superhuman strength, unleashing power beyond ordinary men’s imagination. Yet even so, it was difficult to break through the dense enemy ranks.

Still, these two chaotic fronts somewhat eased the pressure on the city’s defenders.

Nearby, Ye Pei faced a tall, muscular general of Lin Yuzhe’s forces.

This general had deliberately waited until Ye Pei faltered before emerging for a duel. When Ye Pei had previously rampaged through their ranks, this man had cowered behind.

“Ye Pei! Remember, the one who will kill you is Dong Yang!”

“Hmph...” Ye Pei sneered coldly. “Those who can kill me may exist, but it’s definitely not you!”

Dong Yang laughed harshly. “Even at your weakest, you dare talk big?”

Leaning her spear on the ground, Ye Pei said, “Even if I’m missing limbs, taking out a lowlife like you is but a blink of an eye!”

Dong Yang flew into a rage, raising his great saber and charging as if to cleave Ye Pei in two.

Ye Pei’s pupils contracted instantly. She swung her spear, charged at Dong Yang, and nimbly twisted aside his downward strike. Before Dong Yang could withdraw his blade, Ye Pei stepped on the shaft, leapt up, twisted in midair, and thrust her spear like lightning, piercing Dong Yang’s throat the next moment.

Pulling out her spear and watching Dong Yang fall with disbelief in his eyes, Ye Pei’s tired eyes surveyed the shrinking Lin soldiers around her. A mocking smile curled at her lips. “Though I may be at the end of my strength, you delicate blades dare to act recklessly?”