"Boom!"
Another section of the city wall collapsed, and the volunteer soldiers swarmed in. Not to mention the east gate, even the north gate in front of them was in danger. Qu Chu and Qin Lei protected Qin Yin together as they retreated from Ze Tian Palace Hall. The defeat of Lanyan City was inevitable. The Qin Empire had been around for more than 7,000 years. Finally, on this day, the fate of this ancient empire had come to an end.
…
The war drums thundered, and the imperial guards, whose faces were covered with blood, carried the war drums to the city wall. They beat the war drums with all their might and cheered for the Flying Mount Battalion, which was streaming out of the city.
Chu Huaiyin's armor was stained with blood, and his face looked tired. At this moment, the light of dawn fell on his face, making him look exceptionally handsome. With his hand on the hilt of his sword, Chu Huaiyin walked at the front of the Flying Mount Battalion. With an arrogant look on his face, he looked at the volunteer soldiers who were in formation outside the north gate of Lanyan City from afar.
This volunteer soldier used to be the private army of Qin Yi, the Prince of Zhennan. It was an elite army from Bailing City, one of the seven famous cities of the empire. At this moment, there were only 150,000 soldiers left. It was precisely because of the existence of this army that led to the defeat of Lanyan City.
The Flying Mount Battalion was one of the only remaining corps of the empire. At this moment, there were more than 5,000 soldiers left, and the former commander of the Flying Mount Battalion was Long Qianlin. At this moment, Long Qianlin had become the commander of this volunteer soldier in front of them. History repeated itself again and again, just like a reincarnation.
Long Qianlin knew the art of battle formations very well, so he only sent one-third of the troops. 50,000 soldiers lined up on the plain, and all of them were armed with spears and shields. They formed seven circular battle formations, surrounding and protecting each other. Their spears pierced through the gaps between the shields. This was a battle tactic specially created to deal with cavalry.
Among the crowd, Long Qianlin spurred his horse forward. With a slightly proud expression on his face, he cupped his fists and said, "Commander Chu Huaiyin, you are one of the Four Heroes of Lanyan, and also Lin Muyu's brother. Qianlin pays his respects to you. If Commander Chu is willing to surrender, with your ability, Prince Zhennan will at least give you the title of Earl or Marquis. Why do you need to risk your life for the decadent and heartless empire?"
Chu Huairen slowly unsheathed his sharp sword and said calmly, "I have to bear the burdens of the ruler. His Majesty Qin Jin has bestowed me with great honor. Today, I, Chu Huairen, will use my life to protect his daughter, as well as the five million citizens of Lanyan City behind me."
"Hmph!"
Long Qianlin sneered, "Bring it on then!"
Chu Huaiyan turned his horse around and looked at the Flying Mount Battalion behind him. He said loudly, "I know that all of you used to be in the army of Five Valleys City and also Long Qianlin's army. But today, all of you are soldiers of the empire. It is a soldier's duty to protect the country. For the sake of the five million people of Lanyan City behind you, charge forward with me! Even if our corpses are buried in the ground, the soil under our feet will remember us. The mountains and rivers will remember us. Kill! "
The cavalrymen of the Flying Mount Battalion raised their weapons. Their faces were filled with hatred and anger. The sound of hooves gradually became more intense. The five thousand cavalrymen were like a sharp blade that collided with the shield formation. In an instant, blood and flesh were all over the place.
The first rays of the morning sun shone on Chu Huairen's face, but the cloak behind him fluttered. It was as if he was flying higher and higher, just like his dream.
"Yao …"
The moment Chu Huairen's sword tore apart the neck of a volunteer soldier, he laughed. "I'm not a competent brother, but I'm a competent soldier of the empire. Be proud of your brother …"
…
Outside the main battlefield, groups of volunteer soldiers had already killed their way into the city from the east and north gates. According to Marshal Ji Yao's order — massacre the entire city. These volunteer soldiers killed anyone they saw after entering the city. They were like ferocious beasts that devoured the lives in Lanyan City. At this moment, among the fleeing commoners, a young lady carrying a harp and her maid could be seen. There were also a few guards wearing the uniform of the Divine Might Battalion. They were moving against the flow of the crowd and heading straight for the north city wall.
Zhang Wei was holding a long saber and riding his horse as he commanded the imperial guards to retreat. His gaze swept across the crowd and he hurriedly flew over. He said respectfully, "Miss Zhenxiang, the city gate has been breached. Why are you still here? Leave quickly and follow the commoners out of the city. That's our only hope. "
Zhenxiang was carrying a harp, but she shook her head with a smile and said, "General Zhang Wei, you should leave quickly. I want to finish the last part of my journey with him on this ruined city wall."
Zhang Wei's body trembled. His eyes were red as he cupped his fists and said, "The empire has let you down and also let him down."
Zhenxiang smiled. "Thank you for your understanding, General. Go quickly and save more people."
"Yes!"
Zhang Wei spurred his horse away while Zhenxiang carried the harp and walked on the blood-stained stone steps. Step by step, she arrived at the ruined city wall. She slowly put down the harp on the broken wall where the battlements had fallen. She knelt on the blood-stained city wall and looked at the Flying Mount Camp and the volunteer soldiers who were fighting in the distance. She knew that her beloved was dutifully doing his duty among the crowd.
"Xiaoyu, burn the qilin incense for me. Then you should escape too," Zhenxiang muttered.
The maid was startled. Tears flowed from her eyes as she said, "Miss, Miss, Xiaoyu won't leave. Xiaoyu wants to die with you."
"No."
Zhenxiang turned around and looked at her. Her face was filled with gentleness as she said, "You're still young. You haven't met anyone worthy of your love. Your life is still very long. As for me … the person I love is right there. My love will vanish along with him. Once Chu Huaiyi dies, what's the point of Zhenxiang living on?"
Xiaoyu cried like a pear blossom in the rain, "Miss, Miss …"
"Burn the incense and leave. Be obedient."
"Yes, Miss …"
Xiaoyu lit an incense burner. The purple incense was very strange. Wisps of it lingered around Zhenxiang's body. Xiaoyu cried even more fiercely, "Miss, I …"
Zhenxiang gently pulled on the strings of the zither and arranged them one by one. She lowered her head as her tears dripped onto the zither. She held back her sobs as she said, "We live together, and we die together. Zhenxiang was born with love, so I have no regrets even if I die."
Xiaoyu cried as she retreated a few steps. She said, "If there's a next life, I hope that Miss can stay with Commander Chu for the rest of your life. You don't have to suffer the pain of being separated by heaven and earth anymore. Xiaoyu is leaving now."
As she spoke, Xiao Yu leaped up and landed silently under the rubble of the city like the morning sun.
The guards looked at each other before cupping their fists and retreating.
Zhenxiang held back her tears as she looked at the crowd that was fighting below the city wall. She heard Chu Huaiyi's voice and saw the resplendent lights of the Star Plucking Finger exploding in the crowd.
No matter how sharp a sword was, it would not be able to sever the heart of love.
The sound of the zither was filled with desolation. This was the first time Zhenxiang had played the "General's Zither". The sound of the zither was decisive, and it faintly carried the sound of a powerful army. It seemed to resonate with the battle below the city wall.
On the battlefield, Chu Huaiyin's body was riddled with wounds. Even the warhorse he was riding on was riddled with arrows. But as the warhorse galloped, Chu Huaiyin raised his sword again and again, slashing at the bodies of the righteous soldiers. This was like fate. The battle between Chu Huaiyin and Long Qianlin was fate. His love for Zhenxiang was also fate.
The melody on her fingertips trembled continuously. Zhenxiang looked at the person she deeply loved from afar, and her face became increasingly pale. Blood flowed out from her nostrils and the corner of her mouth. The sound of the zither also seemed to weaken due to the passing of life. She forcefully opened her eyes, wanting to take one more look at Chu Huaiyi, but her vision became increasingly blurry.
"Ah …"
Chu Huaiyi roared angrily in the crowd. It sounded like the mournful cry of a dying beast. There weren't many soldiers from the Flying Mount Battalion around him anymore. The Flying Mount Battalion had already become history, just like Chu Huaiyi.
"Bang!"
The glow of battle energy surged as Chu Huaiyi's Star Plucking Finger exploded once again, turning a group of righteous soldiers into a pile of flesh and blood. However, at the same time, a sharp arrow pierced into his chest. Chu Huaiyi howled in pain as he gripped the reins tightly. However, the warhorse that was riddled with wounds had also reached the end of its life, and it slowly knelt down.
Chu Huaiyi struggled to pick up his longsword. He looked towards the city wall and saw a familiar figure slowly lying on the zither.
"Ah ah ah …"
Blood flowed down his forehead and into his eyes. This brave and invincible commander of the empire howled in pain as his tears mixed with the blood. He wanted to look again, but he could no longer see anything. He could only swing his sword and slash at the crowd.
Pfft, pfft, pfft …
Spears pierced Chu Huaiyi's body one after another, but he didn't seem to feel any pain. He waved his longsword crazily, causing heads to fly off. The group of righteous soldiers were so shocked that they retreated one after another. No one dared to move forward anymore. This commander, who was famous for his talent and was one of the four heroes of Lanyan, was like a mad beast.
The righteous soldiers formed a circle around Chu Huaiyi, but no one dared to attack him.
Chu Huaiyi's body was pressed against the spears as he knelt there. His tears and blood continuously splashed onto the yellow soil. Suddenly, he reached into his clothes and used the last of his strength to take out a blood-stained ball. He said in a voice as soft as a mosquito, "Yao, brother … brother is gone …"
…
Outside the battle formation, Long Qianlin was riding on a warhorse. His body trembled slightly as he bowed his head in the direction of Chu Huaiyin and said, "No one is allowed to touch Chu Huaiyin's corpse. Do you understand?"
"Yes, General …" The group of generals cupped their fists.
At this moment, a messenger suddenly galloped over and said loudly, "General, something bad has happened. Lin Muyu has led the Longdan Army Camp's men here. They will arrive at the battlefield in five minutes at most!"
"He's finally here …"
Long Qianlin raised his hand slightly and said, "Block the north gate of Lanyan City with twenty thousand men. Let Lin Muyu and the Longdan Army Camp enter with the remaining one hundred thousand men. Surround them. This is a battle of annihilation!"
A general asked, "General, you want to kill Lin Muyu?"
Long Qianlin's eyes flickered as he said, "If you kill someone's elder brother and they have the ability to kill you, will you spare their life?"
"I understand!"
…
The group of volunteer soldiers slowly dispersed as the Longdan Army Camp entered.
Lin Muyu rode on his warhorse and ignored the volunteer soldiers who were surrounding him. He headed straight for the center of the battlefield and saw countless corpses in the distance. The empire's Purple Yinhua flag was scattered all over the ground. There was a person kneeling at the spot where the most corpses were piled up. His blood-stained commander's cloak fluttered gently in the wind.
That was … Chu Huaiyi!
Lin Muyu felt as if his heart had been pierced by thousands of arrows. His body swayed and he fell to the ground. He scrambled to his feet and stumbled all the way to Chu Huaiyi's corpse. He hugged his ice-cold body and almost couldn't cry. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he hugged Chu Huaiyi's body tightly. He cried out sorrowfully, as if he was a wild beast that had lost its loved one.
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