At this moment, Jiang Jin also climbed to the city wall, one hand gripping the merlon, as the Great Demon King thrust forward.
Pfft.
A Quzhao soldier, still holding his blade high, stared with eyes wide open—the Great Demon King had pierced his throat.
Shua.
Jiang Jin pulled the blade free, sending a spray of blood. The Quzhao soldier’s corpse tumbled from the wall.
With a forceful push, she leaped lightly into the city wall.
Quzhao soldiers hiding behind the battlements swarmed toward her.
Jiang Jin’s gaze turned cold. Gripping the blade with both hands, she swung—a flash of steel, blood spreading, severed limbs flying.
After finishing off these men, she charged toward the gate tower: "Lower the drawbridge! Open the city gates!"
By now, Yao Ji, Xie Nanxiao, Shuangjiang, and others, along with the Dragon Shadow Guards, had reached the wall. Hearing her command, they immediately headed for the horse path to attack.
Yao Ji wielded Mo Lin and thrust forward—pfft—two Quzhao soldiers were impaled through.
Xie Nanxiao’s long spear was no less formidable; with a single sweep, it pierced a Quzhao soldier’s throat. Blood splattered as he withdrew the spear and kicked another sneaking Quzhao soldier flying.
Shuangjiang brought her blade down, splitting a Quzhao soldier from head to toe.
Bang, bang. Amid a mist of blood, the two halves of the corpse fell apart, revealing a Quzhao soldier behind them—frozen, trembling, utterly horrified.
He had just watched his comrade run ahead and be cleaved in two, less than two feet away, splattering his face with warm blood.
Before he could react, a pfft sound rang out, and he felt his vision split apart.
His vision… split apart?!
Bang, bang.
The Dragon Shadow Guards sheathed their blades, pulled out Dragon Feather Crossbows from their backs, and followed the others, firing at the endless waves of Quzhao soldiers.
Zhou Sui rode up to the catapults. Raising a hand, he signaled them all to stop.
First, because their own people were gradually climbing up—there was no point in accidentally injuring allies.
Second, the wall would soon be theirs, and damaging it would mean repairs.
Leng Lin pointed forward and bellowed: "Kill!"
The cavalry, crossbowmen, and Jinyang infantry charged ahead.
"Kill!" Qu Tianshi roared as he watched Jinyang soldiers climbing over the wall, brandishing his broadsword and charging forward.
Jiang Jin raised her blade to meet him. Clang—sparks flew. Her tiger’s mouth was slightly numb from the impact. This man had immense strength.
Qu Tianshi was even more astonished. This woman, delicate and small-looking, possessed considerable power—and her speed was terrifying.
Before he could launch a second strike, a cold flash passed before his eyes, and searing pain tore through him.
Shua.
Jiang Jin pulled the blade from Qu Tianshi’s shoulder and neck.
Qu Tianshi staggered two steps, then fell backward, his neck nearly severed, blood gushing like a fountain.
The deputy commander, seeing the county magistrate slain, was both shocked and enraged. His eyes burned with fury: "You seek death!"
He hoisted his double axe with both hands and swung at Jiang Jin.
"Dare to strike my aunt? I’ll hack you into pieces!" Yun Chengyuan slashed downward with his blade.
The deputy commander felt a fierce gust of wind and hurriedly raised his axe to defend.
Clang.
The axe was sent flying. The Buddhist Heart Blade cut through without losing momentum, cleaving his upper and lower body apart like tofu.
Jiang Jin had already stormed into the gate tower. Soon, she spotted the drawbridge mechanism.
Over a dozen Quzhao soldiers inside the tower roared and charged at her.
Jiang Jin brought her blade down, blood spraying like a mist.
Yun Chengyuan strode forward, sweeping the Buddhist Heart Blade horizontally. Several Quzhao soldiers were cut in half like autumn leaves swept by the wind. Cries of agony and screams echoed through the entire city.
In no time, the only living people left in the gate tower were Jiang Jin and her nephew.
Creak, creak, creak…
The heavy drawbridge slowly lowered.
---
Gefeng City.
Yun Ci sat in a wheelchair, flanked by Qiu Liao and Yun Yu. The three of them gazed in the direction of Shanxian County.
"Are you worried about the lord, old Yun?" Qiu Liao said softly.
Yun Ci gave a faint smile: "Not really."
To say he wasn’t worried would be a lie. This was the first expansion of their territory since taking Gefeng.
Though the strategies and plans had long been set, the battlefield could change in an instant. One misstep could spell disaster—especially for a city as resource-poor as Gefeng.
This time, Gefeng’s elite forces had been fully deployed. Only about two thousand soldiers remained in the city, among them fifteen hundred new recruits.
Still, they had kept a large number of Ballista Crossbows and two hundred Dragon Feather Crossbows. If the Quzhao army tried to take advantage of the city’s weakness and attack Gefeng, they had the strength to fight back.
Besides, Gefeng and Shanxian County were not far apart. Scouts had been posted along the route. If Gefeng came under attack, Jiang Jin could quickly lead her forces back to defend—who would be hunting whom then remained uncertain.
Qiu Liao shook his head with a light laugh: "I’m not too worried. The lord… she will surely win!"
"I believe the lord will win, too!" Yun Yu agreed.
He was actually quite disappointed not to take part in the battle, but Gefeng needed someone to guard it.
Not just he—Lu Ping and Qiu Wu had also been recalled from their posts at the iron and coal mines to help defend Gefeng City alongside him.
---
Sanhe Ridge.
Xia Chanyi and a hundred Dragon Shadow Guards lay prone on the hillside, watching two squads of riders thunder past.
"They’re heading to deliver news, right?" one guard asked.
Xia Chanyi nodded: "Mm."
To reach Ze’a Commandery, they’d have to detour through Zhou County; there was no way they’d arrive today. But Zhou County’s cavalry would likely arrive by today—if they dared to come to the rescue.
As she thought this, another group of riders galloped down the official road, each soldier riding a spare horse. The urgency was clear.
"There must be fierce fighting in Shanxian County. Pity we didn’t get to join the battle," the guard lamented.
Xia Chanyi comforted him: "Don’t worry. Taking out Zhou County’s cavalry will be just as good."
Another guard murmured: "I hope Zhou County’s cavalry can muster some guts and hurry over to reinforce them."
Xia Chanyi smiled: "Come on. Time to work."
---
Inside Shanxian City.
Several dozen hastily assembled Quzhao soldiers were charging toward the west gate to reinforce the fight there.
At a corner of the street, two men dressed in Quzhao soldier uniforms stepped out quietly and quickly joined the squad, trailing at the back.
A soldier at the rear, sensing someone behind him, glanced back and saw two comrades with heads lowered. He couldn’t see their faces clearly.
Thinking they were just other soldiers who had heard the fighting and rushed over, he paid no mind and muttered: "Hurry up."
The two replied in low voices and quickened their pace.
The city gate was now close. Cries and shouts of rage grew louder, and the soldiers quickened their steps.
Soon, the squad reached the gate. The young captain at the lead jogged toward the horse path, ready to support those on the wall.
Suddenly, screams erupted behind him.
San Qi—also known as An San—pulled his blade from a Quzhao soldier’s throat. Before the other soldiers could react, he struck again, claiming another life.
The young captain turned around and saw San Qi’s Han face. He roared: "You—you’re a Han spy? Kill him!"
Without needing the order, several Quzhao soldiers charged at San Qi.
San Qi blocked one soldier’s blade with his own. From behind, he heard the whistle of another blade—but he didn’t turn. He thrust forward, piercing straight through an enemy soldier’s heart.
The blade aimed at San Qi’s neck from behind was mere inches away. The attacker grinned in anticipation—then, a sudden, massive force struck him.
His hand slipped, and he stumbled two steps sideways. The moment he steadied himself, an icy coldness pierced his chest. A bloodstained blade tip had emerged from his heart, stabbing through from behind.
