Translator: Ink Hub

Editor: Yoog

The sparks exploding across the sky truly terrified the horse herd. Falling from midair like flowers scattered by a heavenly maiden, over a hundred warhorses neighed and fled in all directions. A dozen Qiang soldiers were instantly swallowed by the firelight, their shrill screams echoing through the field.

The Qian infantry, who had learned to coordinate through the Three-Three System, struck out in all directions. They specifically targeted those who were isolated. Three against one ensured a certain victory; three against three allowed for a disciplined balance of offense and defense. Luo Yu had told them to retreat if they couldn’t win; there was no need for a desperate struggle.

Faced with this nearly shameless tactic and seamless coordination, the Qiang soldiers deep in the woods had long been dazed. The key was that they still did not know how many enemies they faced.

Combined with the overwhelming fire, the Qiang lost all will to fight. Their defeat was like a mountain collapsing, and panicked roars rose one after another, “Retreat! Retreat to the gully quickly! Get out of the forest!”

“Withdraw now!”

The Qiang stumbled out of the dense forest. A group that originally numbered over a hundred was reduced to thirty or forty in the blink of an eye. Vice Centurion Gelan was clever enough to grab a stray horse and leap onto its back, but the others were not as lucky; they could only flee on foot.

Da-da-da!

Before they could evacuate, the sound of horse hooves rang out from the darkness. Over a dozen tall horses emerged into the firelight.

Luo Yu led the way. Meng Hu and Dong Chuan flanked him on either side, with a dozen other soldiers who knew how to ride lined up in a row. Every man held a long spear.

Although they knew how to ride, many were killing enemies from horseback for the first time. They could only recall the cavalry spear techniques Luo Yu had taught them over and over in their minds. Meng Hu had only learned to ride a couple of days ago; his posture on the saddle was very stiff, yet he was eager to try.

The moment the cavalry appeared, the faces of the Qiang soldiers turned ashen.

They never imagined in their wildest dreams that they would one day fall into a situation where they were the infantry facing cavalry.

Luo Yu’s gaze was like a torch, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly. This was the final link in his plan. After being attacked, the Qiang would surely flee along the gully, and Meng Hu had already dispersed the horse herd. Without their mounts, the Qiang were equivalent to having an arm broken. Now, it was time for the cavalry squad Luo Yu had assembled to take the stage and wipe out the remnants!

Luo Yu shook his spear, the cold light of the tip pointing directly ahead. 

“Kill!”

Over a dozen riders pulled their reins simultaneously, constantly gaining speed. Luo Yu was at the front. The others followed his example, holding their spears at an angle and slowly raising them.

“Prepare for battle!” Vice Centurion Gelan roared. “Fight them to the end!”

“Fight!”

The Qiang sounded fierce, but their voices lacked confidence.

“Hmph.”

Luo Yu sneered. He took a deep breath, kept the spear tip pointed straight ahead, and thrust it forward violently!

Splurt!

A Qiang soldier blocking the path was instantly impaled through the chest. His corpse flew out like a kite with its string cut.

Luo Yu was surprised by the power of his own strike. It turned out that killing enemies as a cavalryman was so easy. Although he had learned some spear techniques from his elder brother, Wu Rubai, this was his first time killing on the battlefield.

Cavalry was indeed formidable!

“Kill!”

Luo Yu’s display of divine might also inspired the morale of the others. Every man thrust his spear ferociously, aiming for the chests of the Qiang. Corpses flew backward one after another—some were even trampled to death by the horses.

Luo Yu’s requirement for them was simple: use full strength for the first strike. Every man needed to establish merit! The dozen horses charged through, leaving over ten corpses in the gully.

As expected, the courage of the Qiang was shattered after the first charge. The surviving soldiers had no desire to resist and turned to flee. The following battle was much easier: the cavalry only needed to gallop freely and harvest the heads of the Qiang.

Under the firelight, thick smoke rolled in the forest. The neighing of horses and the screams of the Qiang interwove. The entire battlefield was like a living hell.

Meng Hu had sharp eyes. He immediately fixed his gaze on the desperately fleeing Gelan. Since he was the only Qiang thief who still had a horse, Meng Hu couldn’t let him go easily.

“Don’t run, you dog!”

Meng Hu gripped his spear shaft and urged his horse forward. He got closer and closer to Gelan, his mind filled only with the thought of killing.

Gelan used the corner of his eye to glance at the pursuer. He subconsciously gripped his spear and let out a breath.

The two horses grew closer. Meng Hu was incredibly excited and thrust his spear out. “Die!”

“Hah!”

Just when Meng Hu thought Gelan could only wait for death, the fellow suddenly twisted his waist. He dodged the spear tip and thrust his own spear backward toward Meng Hu’s chest.

A clean and decisive back-handed spear!

Meng Hu was shocked. He subconsciously pulled the reins, and the horse’s hooves leaped high into the air. He avoided the attack by a hair’s breadth, but his riding skills were not yet masterful. He was thrown off the horse on the spot, landing face-first on the ground with a mouthful of dust. His spear also fell to the side.

“Tiger, be careful!”

The others shouted in alarm. Even Luo Yu’s expression changed, but he was too far away to provide rescue.

“Now it’s your turn to die!” Gelan laughed hideously. He raised his spear high to stab the Meng Hu who was just starting to climb up.

“You dare make me lose face! You’re looking for death!”

Meng Hu’s face was iron-blue. He didn’t dodge or hide. He reached out and grabbed the spear shaft, giving it a gentle twist that snapped the spear in two. Gelan was dumbfounded on the spot. How could such a thick wooden pole be snapped so easily?

The situation was critical. He could only desperately urge his horse to trample Meng Hu. To his surprise, the enraged Meng Hu let out a great roar. His hands were like iron pincers as he clamped down on the warhorse’s head. No matter how the horse neighed or struggled, it could not break free from Meng Hu’s arms.

“Down with you!”

Under the horrified gazes of the crowd, a powerful warhorse was actually wrestled to the ground by Meng Hu. His thick iron fists fell like raindrops. The lively warhorse was actually beaten to death.

Half-lying on the ground, Gelan was scared out of his wits. What kind of person was this man to be so terrifyingly brave?

Meng Hu glared at him. He grabbed Gelan’s two legs and lifted him up like a little chicken, throwing him into the distance with all his strength. “Die for me!”

BANG!

Splurt—

A body weighing over a hundred pounds was actually thrown over a dozen paces away. It slammed horizontally against a tree trunk and breathed its last.

“Damn it, I’m so angry!”

Meng Hu indignantly patted the dust off his clothes, only to find his comrades aghast, looking at him as if they had seen a ghost.

He truly was a fierce tiger!

Meng Hu looked awkwardly at Luo Yu and rubbed his stomach. “Brother Yu, I’m hungry.”

* * *

At sunrise, the fire in the forest had long since been extinguished. Thick smoke lingered in the air.

The garrison soldiers, who had fought fiercely all night, were lying on the ground in a mess. They were exhausted. The ground was covered with the corpses of Qiang soldiers.

Of the hundred and fifty Qiang riders, all were dead except for a few lucky ones who escaped. Although they had lost seven or eight brothers, it was already a perfect victory.

The soldiers and the refugees like Shen Li all looked forward.

Luo Yu stood with his horse on the hillside, gazing into the distance. His silhouette under the morning light seemed exceptionally tall and majestic.

Without this man, everyone would have died.

Shen Li subconsciously wrapped the outer robe Luo Yu had given her more tightly. Not only was her body warm, but her heart felt much warmer as well.

When Luo Yu turned around, everyone instinctively stood up. They looked at him with gazes filled with extreme worship.

He had truly done it—he had led them to survive.

“Do not thank me. You fought for these lives yourselves.”

Luo Yu scanned the field and shouted coldly, “From this day on, I hope you remember one sentence.

“He, who fears not death, may seek life!

“He, who fears not death, may seek life!”

The faces of the soldiers were filled with the joy of survival. However, Luo Yu could not find it in himself to be happy. It was all because of a secret letter he held tightly in his hand.

The secret letter had been found on Walige’s body. The content was simple:

A certain general in Yunyang Pass was collaborating with the enemy!

NOTES

Back-handed spear (回马枪): A classic tactical feint in Chinese martial arts where a rider pretends to flee and then thrusts their spear backward to catch a pursuer off guard.

He, who fears not death, may seek life (不畏死者，可求生): A famous military proverb emphasizing that desperate courage often leads to survival on the battlefield.

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