Translator: Ink Hub

Editor: Yoog

Military flags fluttered in the wind as a murderous aura pressed in from all sides. The name Wanyan Chang sent shivers down the spines of the garrison, their faces turning pale with dread.

Luo Yu, unfamiliar with the name, asked curiously, “Who exactly is this Wanyan Chang?”

“A high-ranking general of the Western Qiang,” Xiao Shaoyou said coldly.

“He is a steady commander with a brutal nature. Over the years, he has led troops across the border multiple times. He even captured Yunyang Pass twice to loot and pillage. He is an old nemesis of the border army. Every time he breaks through the gates, a massacre follows. Countless people in Yunyang Pass have died by his hand.”

“Sounds like a ruthless character,” Luo Yu remarked, his gaze heavy as he looked beyond the city walls.

The Western Qiang formation consisted of about four thousand men. Based on prior intelligence, this was likely their main force. A mere five hundred riders had already thrown the defenders into a chaotic mess. If all four thousand charged, the Great Qian army would surely suffer a crushing defeat.

The two armies faced each other in a solemn, heavy silence.

A single rider galloped out from the Qiang formation, prowling alone outside the city. He roared with a savage voice, “General Wanyan has arrived at the head of his great army! Yunyang Pass is nothing but an isolated city. We advise you to surrender early! Otherwise, on the day the city falls, everything will burn, and the entire population will be slaughtered!”

Luo Yu immediately looked at the three lead generals. He wanted to observe their subtle expressions for any sign of betrayal. If someone were collaborating with the enemy, they should appear uneasy.

However, all three showed the same expression: a mix of tension and a trace of fear. Luo Yu observed them for a long time without seeing anything out of the ordinary. It seemed Wanyan Chang’s fearsome reputation was not just for show.

“I did not expect Wanyan Chang to be the one leading the troops,” Kong Xian muttered, clenching his fists.

“It seems our only choice is to hold the city at all costs. We must wait until the Qiang run out of supplies and retreat on their own.”

A heavy silence followed. They could not win in a direct fight, so holding the city was the only option.

To their surprise, the Qiang rider outside was not just there to deliver a message. He raised a curved bow, aiming far toward the city battlements.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Thud!

Two arrows struck in quick succession, hitting the Great Qian military flag dead center. A piece of the fabric was torn away, fluttering wildly in the wind.

“Wooo!”

“Wooo!”

Waves of cheers and roars erupted from the Qiang formation. Their morale surged to its peak in that instant. The Qiang vanguard officer, Lai’erhua, laughed wildly with arrogant pride. “Little brats of Great Qian, your fate will be just like that flag! Sooner or later, you will be hacked into pieces! Hahaha!”

“Bastard! You go too far!”

Kong Xian ground his teeth, his face turning iron-blue with rage. The morale of the soldiers on the battlements plummeted, yet they felt helpless. It was a taunt, an absolute humiliation.

“General Kong, this humble officer asks permission to fire an arrow to restore our morale!”

A clear voice rang out. Everyone looked up blankly, searching for the source. Finally, their eyes landed on Luo Yu.

“You?” Kong Xian’s brow furrowed. “You want to trade shots with the Qiang?”

“Yes!” Luo Yu repeated firmly. “If we allow the Qiang to remain so arrogant, our morale will drop to the bottom. That will be detrimental to the city’s defense.”

Luo Yu spoke with high-sounding principles, but he was secretly calculating his own gains. If he truly could boost morale, he could ask Kong Xian for a reward. What kind of reward? Naturally, it would be the silver needed to cover his extra recruits’ pay.

“On what basis do you think you can fire this arrow? Do you truly think you are omnipotent?” Li Chengxiao sneered from the side.

“The Qiang excel at horse archery, which is our weakness. If you hit your mark, that is one thing, but if you miss, will the morale not drop even further? You cannot bear that responsibility, can you?”

“Now, General Li, aren’t those words a bit too harsh?” This time, it was Jun Yi who spoke in his defense. “With the enemy at the gates, Brother Luo’s courage to step forward is commendable. Why are you boosting the enemy’s prestige and belittling our own before the arrow has even been loosed?”

“Hmph. I simply do not wish to see him humiliate General Kong,” Li Chengxiao said mockingly. Ever since Luo Yu had rejected his attempt to recruit him, he had found Luo Yu incredibly irritating.

“Luo Yu, have you thought this through?” Kong Xian was also hesitant. He knew Luo Yu had some skill, but Li Chengxiao was right: missing would be a massive humiliation, and morale would tank.

Psst!

Xiao Shaoyou’s voice, thin as a thread, came from behind, “The Qiang bows are strong with a long range. A regular bow won’t reach them.”

“I have thought it through,” Luo Yu said, looking up calmly. “If I miss, I am willing to accept military punishment. I only ask the general to grant me a powerful bow.”

Others could not understand Luo Yu’s confidence. In his small mountain village, following the memories in his head, he had crafted several bows and crossbows. He had spent his spare time shooting for fun, and his archery was exceptional.

“Fine! Centurion Luo is indeed loyal and brave!” Since the words had reached this point, Kong Xian had no reason to refuse. He waved his hand. “Men! Bring me my bow!”

Two personal guards carried over a bow. In terms of the string material and the fine craftsmanship, it far surpassed any standard bow. It was clearly a high-quality weapon.

“The Qiang have powerful bows. You shall use this one.”

“Oh? General Kong has even brought out his favorite bow.” Li Chengxiao’s mocking voice rang out again. “Boy, that is a five-stone bow. General Kong himself cannot pull it; it is a mere decoration. Do you really think you can use that bow to kill the enemy?”

Kong Xian’s face darkened. Li Chengxiao actually dared to mock him as well, even if it was true that he could not draw the bow.

“A five-stone bow? It certainly has weight.” Luo Yu tested the string, looking slightly surprised. He turned to Li Chengxiao. “I wonder if General Li can draw it?”

A typical soldier could only draw a two-stone bow. Elite veterans might draw a three-stone one. Anything higher was reserved for one-in-a-hundred fierce generals. Luo Yu’s counter-question left Li Chengxiao speechless. He said coldly, “You are the one shooting, not me! If you make a fool of yourself, do not blame me for punishing you by military law!”

“Whether I can draw it or not, General Li needs only to watch,” Luo Yu sneered and turned toward the city exterior. He stood on a pile of sandbags, his right foot braced against the city bricks. He nocked an arrow and slowly, steadily, began to pull the string. His silhouette under the sunlight was exceptionally resolute.

Every gaze was fixed on him. Could the seemingly slender Luo Yu truly draw a five-stone bow? Even if he could, would he be accurate from such a distance? Luo Yu’s own men broke into a cold sweat, their hearts pounding. Was their centurion truly as legendary as the rumors claimed?

Under a multitude of stunned gazes, Luo Yu actually drew the bow to a full draw. The bow bent like a full moon as a sharp arrow screeched through the air.

Whoosh!

He followed the first arrow with a second. Two arrows in rapid succession.

The arrows drew a beautiful arc through the sky. The sunlight was piercing, and Lai’erhua could not see the distant situation clearly. Suddenly, he heard the sound of breaking wind. It was right upon him. His hair stood on end, and he violently pulled the reins.

Neigh!

He was half a beat too slow. The first arrow struck the horse’s head dead center. The warhorse collapsed with a shrill cry, throwing Lai’erhua from the saddle.

“Argh!”

Lai’erhua screamed, realizing things had gone south. He scrambled to his feet, trying to run.

Luo Yu wore a slight smile, his lips moving softly, “Hit.”

Whoosh!

Another arrow fell from the sky, piercing through the back of Lai’erhua’s skull. Blood sprayed out in a violent burst.

A deathly silence fell over both armies. Everyone was horrified.

What incredible marksmanship!

“Magnificent!”

“Hahaha!”

Deafening cheers erupted from the city walls. In particular, the new recruits under Lu Qingyun were moved to absolute admiration. These two arrows were incredibly satisfying.

Only Li Chengxiao looked as if his nose had been twisted with rage. Luo Yu had turned and smiled at him after the shot. Li Chengxiao could tell it was a mockery.

Another rider galloped out from the Qiang formation, though he had learned his lesson this time, stopping far from the walls. He roared, “General Wanyan asks, the one who fired the arrows, leave your name!”

“Longxi, Luo Yu!”

NOTES

Five-stone bow: In historical Chinese measurements, a “stone” (dan) was a unit of draw weight. A five-stone bow is roughly equivalent to 300-600 lbs of draw weight, depending on the era’s conversion. Usually reserved for legendary heroes in fiction.

“Longxi, Luo Yu.”: A traditional military greeting when establishing one’s identity to the enemy general by identifying one’s region, followed by one’s name.