Chapter 140 Part 2

 

The departure from the city was scheduled for midnight that very night. When the news was released, the crowd was excited and countless people volunteered to follow the commander. In the end, eight hundred warriors were drawn by lot from among the bravest fighters to serve as death-defying vanguard troops. These eight hundred made their preparations, ate their fill, and then rested to preserve their strength for the night’s operation. The rest carried out their roles according to the plan: readying for flanking attacks and the final breakout. They fed the horses, sharpened weapons, gathered the remaining arrows and torches, and coordinated the assault, all in anticipation of this desperate, final push.

An extremely tense and busy day passed, and night fell quietly.

The skies above the besieged city were pitch-black, deathly still, with not a glimmer of light to be seen. Only in the darkness above the city walls, from time to time, the figures of night watchmen passed by. From the outside, there was nothing unusual.

Pei Xiaoyuan stood alone on the dark arrow tower.

In the dark shadow of the night, he faced the distance, his eyes fixed on the direction of Beiyuan, heart surging with emotions too fierce to contain.

What thoughts stirred within him at this moment—perhaps only he himself would ever know.

He then turned his eyes again, gazing towards another place farther away that he could not possibly see. He stood like this in the cold night for a long time, and finally, his figure moved slightly.

He was afraid that if he continued to watch, cracks would appear in his harden heart, and he might never again be able to resolutely mount his horse and do what he had to do.

Indeed, from the instant he resolved to break into the forbidden palace under cover of night, he had been prepared for all that this night would bring. If not tonight, then tomorrow—or the day after that. Yet, everything about her really ended so abruptly on that snowy night by the Wei River. Was he truly without regret?

The injured finger seemed to be aching silently again.

However, in that very moment, it was as if he had gained a new, even limitless, strength and courage. Because in that direction—there was her, and that tiny life barely born, whose sex was still unknown, whether a son or a darling little daughter, counted down with care and joy to arrival. No matter the distance, whether near as breath or far as the edge of the world—whether the tender murmurs of love beside a pillow, or a silent back turned on an unfamiliar road—it made no difference. So long as they existed, he felt as though clad in armor, becoming even more fearless than before, to guard their peace.

He stopped looking, turned around, walked down the arrow tower and returned to his tent.

It was time to set off. Qingtou silently helped him put on his armor piece by piece, secretly glancing at him from time to time. Suddenly, he fell to his knees, hugged his boots, sobbing and begging, snot and tears all over his face: “Master, don’t go! Please, just leave it to someone else. No matter what, think about the Princess! And—”

He seemed to have grasped a life-saving straw and wiped away his tears and snot. “Master, you still don’t know whether it’s a young master or a little princess! Master, don’t you want to know? The Princess must have sent a message! But it was blocked on the way to Yuanzhou! Master, just wait a little longer and you will get the news…”

His voice slowly faded away again and he looked up at his master.

There was a fire stick burning in the tent, its flames bright and roaring, casting his face in a pale light. He said nothing, standing still as the young servant wept and pleaded at his feet. After a moment, he undid the collar of his freshly fastened armor and reached into his robes to draw out a small pouch. From it, he retrieved a talisman—warmer than his palm, as if it had been held close to the heart for long. The talisman was damaged, oddly misshapen, as if once violently broken. He lowered his head and looked at it silently for a moment. Then, turning it over to the side engraved with his name and official rank, he drew a sharp dagger and carved a few lines on the back, stroke by stroke. When finished, he gently rubbed his thumb over the inscription a few times, then returned the talisman to its pouch. Pulling his legs free from the arms still clinging to him, he stepped out from under the tent flap and bowed slightly as he exited.

Jinwuzhui was already waiting for him quietly in the snow outside the tent. Like a heavenly steed, it had carried him through countless bloodbaths. Tonight, it was waiting here again, loyally welcoming its master and waiting for a new mission.

Pei Xiaoyuan put the thing in his hand into a leather bag hanging on the horse’s body, tied the bag carefully, touched its head which leaned docilely, and then told Qingtou who followed him: “It’s in your hand now. When the team leaves the city, you can ride it.”

As if sensing some farewell in the air, the horse leaned towards him again, then tugging gently at his sleeve with its mouth. He hugged its neck, and leaned his cold face against the horse’s head that she had leaned against on that snowy night, closing his eyes and staying there for a moment. He touched its left ear, whispered “go back”, and then let go.

“You take it to the Princess!”

After giving the order, he did not look back, left the kneeling and sobbing servant behind him, took the reins from another servant nearby, climbed on the horse, urged the horse to go towards the city gate.

Only when you miss someone, you know that the thread will never break. Only when you miss someone, you know that the sea is not the deepest thing.

It was just a temporary separation. One day, on a certain spring day, he would meet her again. She would walk toward him in a pomegranate-red dress, gracefully and unhurried. And he would be that young man again—whose heart skipped the moment he saw her.

Hopefully, then, she wouldn’t blame him for being rude.

As if it was fate, or perhaps possessed by spirit from the past, tonight, they were the very same eight hundred men from years ago. The eight hundred soldiers that had never really died. Everyone was ready, standing firm behind the city gates, waiting only for his signal—to charge out once more.

Dong Gongfu led all the remaining soldiers to line up and stand solemnly on both sides of the road. As they rode on their horses through the mud and snow on the road, the soldiers knelt silently in groups, performing military salutes to him and the people behind the city gate.

“Open the gate!”

Pei Xiaoyuan shouted.

The fire sticks suddenly ignited in large areas, and the city gates gradually opened. Suddenly, Gu Twelve rushed out from the queue on the side of the road and asked to join again.

He failed to win the lot and knelt in front of the horse to block the way. The soldiers pulled the city gate.

“Is it any different where you kill the enemies?” Pei Xiaoyuan said calmly.

“There is someone waiting for you in Chang’an. If you are a little luckier, you can go back and see her in the future, isn’t that good?”

Pei Xiaoyuan looked ahead at the dark night light that slowly came into view as the city gate opened. He drew his sword, then drove his horse past Gu Twelve and left the city.

The bell indicating the third watch rang along the quiet palace buildings.

Xuyu opened her eyes from a startling dream filled with fire and sounds of fighting. Cold sweat soaked her back, and her heart pounded as if every vein beneath her skin might burst. Ignoring the chill of the floor, she threw off the covers, rushed barefoot across the bedroom, and flung open the western window.

The northwestern winter wind surged over the palace walls and into her room, like a ferocious beast that had been lurking outside her window for a long time, suddenly rushing into the window, blowing her long hair and the curtains behind her into a wild frenzy.

In this night wind—perhaps the same breath of air once touched by someone far away—she seemed to smell the acrid scent of fire and fresh blood. She felt the pulse of a fierce, restrained heartbeat pounding from afar. All of it crashed down on her in an instant, drowning her completely.

Countless fire arrows flew from the direction of Dache City, and the flames streaked across the night sky, illuminating the nearby snow-capped peaks. The Xifan people woke up from their sleep and looked up in alarm to see, beneath the canopy of flaming arrows, a lone rider tearing toward the gates of their camp like a falling star. The sword glinted cold beneath the flames, illuminating the rider brightly. His brocade-clad armor gleaming, and his young face carved with unyielding resolve. Though his fingers had yet to stained with blood, death already burned in his eyes.

The son of the fallen god of war had returned—tonight, he was the god of war reborn. Unstoppable. Unchallenged. And all who stood before him would be swept away.

Without any dodging or evasion, battle erupted from the very first breath. Pei Xiaoyuan brought down the Xifan gatekeeper who rushed at him with a spear in one clean stroke, and with a splash of hot blood, he cleaved open the camp gate without any pause and charged straight in.

Behind him, like a tidal wave bearing a thousand banners, a surge of cavalry thundered in pursuit, hooves pounding in unison. In an instant, the quiet chill of the snowy night was completely shattered.

Everything was going according to his plan. Caught completely off guard, the Xifan main camp descended into chaos. They couldn’t make out how many had burst out of the city to raid their encampment, nor could they guess why the supreme commander, Pei Xiaoyuan, would personally risk his life at the forefront—until they saw him lead his cavalry through more than half the encampment and head straight out the other side. Only then did they realize—he meant to abandon the city and the remaining defenders, to break through and escape. Suddenly, shouts were heard everywhere, and the Xifan people soldiers who finally understood scrambled to mount their horses, determined to give chase.

Amid the rain of arrows coming at him from behind, Pei Xiaoyuan rushed out of the Xifan encampment and continued to gallop along the designated road. He and the remaining subordinates who had not been separated and were still following him closely entered the canyon and finally reached the narrowest part.

He abandoned his horse, climbed up a nearby rock where he could stand, and looked down.

Behind him, countless torches, like an array of ants, were chasing towards this place from the direction of Dache City.

He Jin and a dozen soldiers each armed with caltrop mines had gathered nearby. They were divided into two teams, chose their positions, and waited under the snow-capped peaks on the left and right, ready to take action at any time.

“Master, is it now?” He Jin looked at the Xifan people who were getting closer and closer behind him. Even though he had been through many battles, he was still a little nervous and a little impatient.

Pei Xiaoyuan’s eyes reflected the light of snow, and his mind was as clear as lightning. He could already vaguely see the faces of the group of people chasing in front.

“Wait.” He said in a deep voice with a calm face.

There was still a distance of several dozen zhang.

It was still too early. He needed to wait until they get closer and let more people to flock to the central area where the marvel of ‘wrath of the gods’ was about to happen. Then it would be easier for the remaining people in Dache City to escape.

Suddenly, his gaze locked onto a shadow lurking behind a cluster of soldiers. Once he confirmed he hadn’t been mistaken, fury surged through him. Without hesitation, he leapt down from the rock and strode forward with thunderous steps.

“Master, please spare my life! Master, please spare my life!”

Before he could say anything, the man crawled out from behind and begged for mercy. It was Qingtou.

“What did I tell you before we set out? Are you looking for death?”

Pei Xiaoyuan raised the bow handle in his hand and was about to smash it hard on his forehead, scolding him loudly.

This was the first time Qingtou saw such a terrifying master.

Master had never been a person with a bad temper. In the past, no matter what mistakes he made or how big a mess he got into, he would at most frown and scold him, or get angry and try to drive him away, that was all.

He hurriedly hugged his head and said, “It was… it was Jinwuzhui that brought me here. I can’t control it.”

“Where is the horse?” Pei Xiaoyuan suppressed his anger and looked around.

“I… I don’t know. I let it go—”

He Jin raised his foot angrily and kicked Qingtou hard on the butt.

“Blockhead! Get out! Get out now! The farther the better!”

Qingtou rolled on the ground after being kicked, but he suddenly got up and shouted, “Fine! I’ll tell you the truth! I came on my own! Master, if you’re gone, how can I face County Governor and the Princess? When I first arrived in Chang’an, some fortune-teller grabbed me on the street—said he was a half-immortal. He looked at me and claimed I was born under a lucky star, insisted on reading my fate, said I was destined to live to ninety-nine! So… so I came! I will live to ninety-nine! With me here, Master, you’re bound to turn misfortune into fortune tonight—you won’t die!”

The surroundings fell instantly silent.

He Jin was stunned for a moment, then glanced at Pei Xiaoyuan.

“Get out of the way!” he repeated, but this time his voice a little softer than a moment ago.

“Ow!”

Qingtou hurriedly covered the half of his buttocks, limped, and shrank into the corner again.

People had already come here, there was really not much difference between fleeing and not fleeing.

Another burst of arrows came, and there was a loud noise.

The Xifan people were about ten zhang closer.

Pei Xiaoyuan stopped distracting himself and stared closely at the pursuers. After a moment, he said, “Get ready.”

He Jin signaled the soldiers to get ready.

These ten people had received training before leaving the city. When they heard the order, they immediately lit their fire sticks.

Everyone knew what would happen once the fire was ignited.

No one hesitated.

There was a quiet, almost serene kind of solemnity. No one spoke. All eyes turned to that single figure, waiting for his final command.

Qingtou’s face was deathly pale. He crouched on the ground, hugging his head tightly, eyes shut, muttering something under his breath.

At the same time, a Xifan general, who had originally been charging in the lead, seemed to sense something was off. He hesitated for a moment and, unlike the others who continued their pursuit, swiftly climbed a nearby high ground. From that vantage point, he looked carefully in their direction. When he spotted a soldier holding a black, round object, his initial confusion only lasted a heartbeat—then, in an instant, realization struck. His eyes flew wide open. He stared across at that lone figure, his face contorting in sheer disbelief and horror.

He turned his head sharply and shouted in Xifan language to the countless Xifan soldiers nearby and behind him who were still chasing frantically: “Retreat! Retreat! He will provoke the wrath of the gods! The wrath of the gods is coming! Pass it on! Retreat! Everyone retreats!”

The torch shone his face. This man was Li Meng, who assisted the Xifan army in the battle.

The group of soldiers near him were confused for a moment, then realized what he meant, and they were all extremely terrified.

“The wrath of the gods!” “The wrath of the gods!”

Amidst the cries of fear, more and more Xifan soldiers turned around and fled. They trampled on each other, and scattered in panic, trying desperately to escape from this place where the wrath of the gods might befall them in the next moment and bury them completely.

At this moment, the sharp sound of whistling arrows suddenly rose into the sky from the Xifan camp several miles away. There were three sounds in succession before the sound dissipated.

This was a signal that the military situation in the Xifan army had changed and they needed to withdraw urgently. An old soldier like He Jin, who had fought against the Xifan many times, knew it.

At this time, a Xifan messenger on horseback also rushed over from the direction of the main camp and shouted at Li Meng: “General Li! It’s bad! We just received a pigeon message from Zhongdu! He Du borrowed Li’s troops and is heading towards Zhongdu. The commander wants you to return quickly to discuss countermeasures!”

The sound was swallowed up by the noise, but it could still be heard faintly.

He Jin and the others were all stunned by this scene, feeling as if they were in a dream.

“They ran away! They ran away!”

Qingtou, who was holding his head and waiting to die, suddenly jumped three feet high.

“I told you! I’m a lucky star! Thank Heavens I came today! Even His Majesty praised me once! I’ll live to ninety-nine! Master, you must record my achievements in the victory report you send to the Princess—”

A stray arrow whizzed towards his chest.

He Jin reacted in the blink of an eye. He lunged forward and tackled him to the ground.

The sudden turn of events was like plunging from the dark pits of hell straight into a world of dazzling light.

Even Pei Xiaoyuan was unable to recover for a moment. His eyes showed a slightly confused look, as if he could not believe it. He looked up at the sky above his head, closed his eyes, stood still for a moment, then suddenly opened his eyes again. His eyes had regained their light, and he suddenly raised his bow and shot an arrow at Li Meng.

Li Meng was also a rare and powerful general, with skills that were unmatched by ordinary people. He hastily jumped off the high ground and dodged the first arrow, but the second arrow came like lightning.

He grabbed a Xifan soldier who was turning around to flee nearby and used his body as a shield. Then, he jumped onto an ownerless warhorse, leaned over the horse’s back, turned around and glared at Pei Xiaoyuan hatefully, then galloped away.

A month later, the Yuanzhou Road was reopened, and the report on the war was finally delivered to the court in full.

That night, while the Xifan army was retreating in a panic, the soldiers in Dache City and those outside the city jointly pursued them. At dawn, they withdrew their troops and seized a large amount of baggage and rations that the Xifan army camp had not had time to take away. The previous dilemma was solved. Afterwards, the rest of the people continued to defend the city, while Pei Xiaoyuan led a team of people and horses, and they kept going, according to the original plan, to Hexi.

Judging from the time, he should have arrived.

The final decisive battle was about to come.

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