Translator: Ink Hub

Editor: Yoog

The garrison soldiers didn’t dare breathe loudly. Everyone knew the two commanders were at odds, but a scene like today’s was a first.

Who dared to get involved in this mess?

Luo Yu’s fists clenched subconsciously. Zhang Gui was clearly trying to force Little Wu to his death!

But the angriest one was Wang Shuang. He hadn’t expected Zhang Gui to give him no face at all. With a cold expression, he said:

“Vice Commander Zhang, what is the meaning of this? Do my words carry no weight now?

“Why don’t you take the position of standard commander!”

Just as a dark cloud hung over the fortress, mocking curses from the Qiang soldiers drifted in from outside again.

“Shrinking turtles! Do you dare come out and fight your grandfather?”

“You’re all men who piss standing up; what kind of skill is hiding behind a wall? If you don’t dare to accept the challenge, hurry up and roll back to your mother’s embrace to drink milk!”

The faces of all the garrison soldiers turned iron-green with rage. The Qiang soldiers were bullying them too much!

A mere Qiang cavalryman dared to carry a long spear and ride right up to the edge of crossbow range, patrolling and provoking them. He completely disregarded their existence.

Such scenes had occurred multiple times over the few days they had been besieged, and the Qian army had always kept their gates shut.

But with each provocation, their morale took a hit, sinking to rock bottom. Over time, a seed of fear would be planted in everyone’s heart, and they would no longer dare to face the Qiang soldiers directly.

Hearing the curses, Zhang Gui suddenly had an idea. He smiled apologetically:

“I am wronged! How would this humble officer dare not listen to your orders? I was only thinking of the brothers’ safety. The situation is critical; neither severe punishment nor leniency is appropriate. But this subordinate has a plan that satisfies both sides.”

“Oh? Let’s hear it.”

“The Qiang soldiers have provoked us repeatedly, and we have kept our gates shut, causing morale to plummet. This cannot go on.

“Why not let Little Wu go out and fight the Qiang soldier? If he dares to do so, it proves his courage is commendable, and his previous crimes can be pardoned.”

“Zhang Gui, you’ve gone too far!”

Hearing this, Meng Hu grew anxious and shouted angrily:

“The Qiang soldiers are experts in cavalry warfare. Little Wu is just a new recruit; how could he possibly be a match for a Qiang soldier? You are clearly sending him out to die!”

Zhang Gui crossed his arms and sneered:

“That is not up to him. This Commander has already given him a chance to prove his courage.”

Little Wu’s face was ashen. Go out and die, stay here and die. It was over.

Luo Yu suddenly spoke up:

“Can I go in Little Wu’s place?”

“What?”

Not only Zhang Gui but everyone else was stunned. Luo Yu actually wanted to fight in Little Wu’s place?

Luo Yu spoke expressionlessly:

“Little Wu fearing battle was wrong. As his squad leader, I also bear the responsibility of failing to discipline him properly.

“I will fight in Little Wu’s place. If I win, this matter is settled. If I lose, whether you want to beat, punish, or even behead me, I will submit to the vice commander’s orders!”

“You said it yourself!”

Zhang Gui almost laughed out loud, afraid Luo Yu would go back on his word.

“Commander, is it settled then?”

The surrounding soldiers looked at Luo Yu as if he were a fool. Even Meng Hu and Little Wu couldn’t understand it.

There were no warhorses in the fortress. Luo Yu could only fight on foot. No matter how good one’s kung fu was, infantry against cavalry was certain death. Everyone knew this.

But in Luo Yu’s heart, there was a trace of excitement. He had been worrying about how to boost morale; wasn’t this the perfect opportunity? He could solve Little Wu’s crisis at the same time.

Killing two birds with one arrow!

“Let it be so. Be careful. I will personally watch the battle from the wall.”

Wang Shuang glanced at Luo Yu helplessly and turned to leave. He really didn’t want to see Zhang Gui’s smug expression of a successful scheme any longer.

Zhang Gui’s mood was extremely pleasant. Leaning close to Luo Yu’s ear, he spoke in a voice as thin as a thread:

“I know. You killed Wu Mazi because he tried to steal your military merit, right?

“I know exactly what kind of person he was. As long as anyone else in the squad was still alive, it wasn’t his turn to die.”

Luo Yu neither admitted nor denied it, only asking back:

“So, Leader Zhang is avenging him now? Does that mean other people’s merit deserved to be stolen?”

“I, Zhang Gui, can’t read a single character. I wandered at the gates of hell several times before becoming Vice Standard Commander. He followed me when he first joined the army and sold his life for me many times over the years. We had a good friendship.

“Stealing merit was wrong of him, but it wasn’t your place to kill him!”

Zhang Gui’s eyes turned incredibly vicious.

“So, you have to be buried with him!”

“Leader Zhang, don’t be happy too early.”

The corners of Luo Yu’s mouth lifted slightly. “Who said I can’t win?”

* * *

“Shrinking turtles in the fortress! Go back to your mother’s arms! Hahaha!”

The mocking laughter still echoed over Jiming Fortress. A Qiang soldier rode back and forth, cursing until his throat was a little dry.

When he saw an infantryman walking out slowly and standing with his blade held horizontally, he almost laughed his teeth out. Stabbing an infantryman to death was much easier than stabbing a chicken.

After all, chickens were small; one might miss.

Further away, the observing Qiang soldiers let out a sky-filling chorus of boos, not taking Luo Yu seriously at all.

Luo Yu held his scimitar in his left hand and toyed with a short dagger in his right. He didn’t look afraid; instead, he exuded a sense of confidence.

On the wall, Meng Hu and the others were sweating nervously. Little Wu was kneeling on the ground, praying for Luo Yu.

The distant Qiang cavalryman might look like a small dot now, but once he charged in front of you, he would be a behemoth. Even without the soldier attacking, the impact of the warhorse alone was enough to smash you into meat paste.

Luo Yu’s calmness made Zhang Gui curl his lips in disdain.

“Hmph, playing tricks! Let’s see how long you can pretend!”

“Hyah!”

Under everyone’s tense gazes, the Qiang soldier pulled the reins and urged his horse forward. He slowly raised his long spear, the tip revealing a sharp, deadly glint.

The sound of hooves grew more urgent, but Luo Yu remained motionless.

“Why isn’t Brother Yu moving? It’s over. I killed Brother Yu. Sob.“

Little Wu cried with a mournful face. Zhang Gui even laughed mockingly.

“What ‘exceptional skills’? He’s just a piece of trash scared stiff!”

“Hah!”

The warhorse got closer and closer. The Qiang soldier raised his spear obliquely with practiced ease. In a moment, he just needed to thrust gently, and Luo Yu would become a lonely ghost in the yellow sands.

Luo Yu moved.

With a flip of his palm, the dagger spun in his hand. His right arm swung in a sudden arc, muscles taut like a drawn bow, and he hurled it forward viciously.

The pitch-black dagger cut a straight line through the air and struck the warhorse’s head. The blade sank in with brutal precision, blood splashing.

The warhorse let out a neigh and its front legs buckled on the spot. The Qiang soldier on its back was thrown forward, rolling along the yellow sand until he stopped right at Luo Yu’s feet.

Observers on both sides stood on their tiptoes, craning their necks. All they saw was dust flying; they didn’t know exactly what had happened.

The Qiang soldier had taken a hard fall. He scrambled up in a panic, but before he could draw his blade, Luo Yu smashed a fist into his face, knocking him out cold on the spot.

The dust settled, and the scene on the battlefield finally appeared clearly before everyone’s eyes.

The nearly unconscious Qiang soldier was half-kneeling on the ground, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. Luo Yu’s blade rested lightly against his throat.

The whole field was shocked!

Luo Yu had actually won!

Zhang Gui’s pupils contracted violently, his mouth gawking wide enough to swallow a goose egg.

“Th-this… how is this possible?”

Luo Yu turned around just then to look up at the wall. The trace of mockery and playfulness at the corner of his mouth turned Zhang Gui’s face iron-green.

Shhk!

The blade slid across. Luo Yu held the bloody human head high in the air.

“Victory!”

The defenders, who had been trapped for days in despair and depression, were greatly encouraged in this moment. With red eyes, they punched the air and roared in unison:

“Victory!”

NOTES

Killing two birds with one arrow: Standard idiom for accomplishing two goals with one action.

“Go back to your mother’s embrace to drink milk”: A common, humiliating taunt implying the soldiers are babies.

Infantry vs. cavalry: Historically and in webnovels, infantry (foot soldiers) are at a massive disadvantage against cavalry in open terrain. Luo Yu’s win relies on a specific skill (throwing knife) rather than a direct clash of strength, showcasing his mercenary background (pragmatism/skill) over brute force.

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