"You messing with us?!"
"We've already crossed the river twice—now you want a third time? Are you addicted to it or what?"
"You're insane! Completely insane! There are fifty or sixty thousand pursuers right behind us, and you still want to turn back across the river? You think you'll even make it across alive?"
"Besides, going back means another half a month on the road! I can't move anymore. If you want to die, go by yourselves!"
Xie Sishu sat down heavily, refusing to budge.
Lu Shuhua gripped his sword and said, "Deputy General Yu, I still think we should go find General Zhao, or stay here to defend the city. You're our commander—you don't have to obey everything he says."
"Sigh…"
Yu Song removed his helmet, running a hand through his hair, clearly torn. "Thousand-Commander Chen, are you sure about this? If we turn back again, we won't run straight into the enemy army?"
He couldn't make sense of this route.
But the last two crossings had proven one thing—
Chen Sanshi didn't make reckless decisions.
He had his own logic and reasons. If others didn't understand, it only meant they weren't seeing far enough.
Yu Song's strength wasn't his biggest asset—his humility was. He knew when to take charge and when to let someone else lead.
"There's a chance," Chen Sanshi admitted, tracing a line on the map, "but not a big one. After we leave the city, we head into the central region, pass through Longyang County, and cross the Hongze River again along the base of Yingzui Mountain. Right now, all the pursuing armies have been drawn to Jinquan Prefecture. The central lands are nearly empty. The only thing to watch out for is the enemy stationed in Yangchun Prefecture—avoid attracting their attention at all costs."
"Yangchun Prefecture?"
Hearing that, Lu Shuhua's eyes flickered with realization. A spark of understanding crossed his face. "I've got an idea—if we can get through Longyang County, we could link up with the troops inside Yangchun Prefecture and launch a pincer attack!"
"No."
Chen Sanshi cut him off instantly. "We don't have enough troops. By the time we reach Longyang County, Yangchun Prefecture will have already heard the news and be on alert. If we go there, we won't be rescuing them—we'll just be marching to our deaths."
He tapped the map again. "Our top priority is still to cross the river. Think about it—all major armies are behind us right now. This is the one moment when Luotian Pass is left undefended. If we move fast, we might just catch them completely off guard and make it out alive."
"Alright then!"
Yu Song clenched his jaw. "To hell with it. I'll follow you. My eight wives and twelve kids are still waiting at home. I promised I'd teach my sons martial arts myself when I get back!"
"Deputy General Yu?"
Lu Shuhua and Xie Sishu exchanged glances, still confused.
They didn't understand how, in the middle of this campaign, a Thousand-Commander had become the one calling the shots—while a Lieutenant General obeyed him without hesitation. It was almost as if Chen Sanshi was the real commander now.
"But let's make one thing clear first," Yu Song said with a strained grin. His pale face twitched in pain. "If we run into a Meridian-Connecting cultivator, I can't fight anymore. You'll have to handle it yourself."
"Hopefully, that won't happen."
Chen Sanshi mentally calculated the distance and time. "If we leave immediately, we can cross before the rebels at Yangchun notice our movement."
"Good!"
Yu Song pushed himself up, but his injuries made him stagger. Using his weapon as a crutch, he steadied himself. "Pass down my order—leave Jinquan before dawn. Keep marching!"
"Yes, sir!"
Lu Shuhua, Xie Sishu, and Yan Changqing didn't dare question the order.
"Deputy General Yu, are you alright?"
Chen Sanshi fished through his pack and pulled out a small porcelain bottle—an elixir his senior brother had given him before they set out. "Here, this is precious medicine."
Yu Song didn't stand on ceremony. He took it and swallowed the pills, color slowly returning to his cheeks. After a moment, he looked north toward Yangchun Prefecture and said coldly, "General Sha forced me to follow you east across the river back then. Looks like he meant for us to die out here, didn't he? You knew that all along, didn't you, Thousand-Commander Chen?"
Chen Sanshi said nothing—but his silence was answer enough.
"Heh."
Yu Song let out a harsh laugh, his usual calm gone. "Petty bastard. He lost in the Elite Selection and couldn't take it. Fine. But instead of challenging you fairly after returning, he plots against his own comrades on the battlefield! To cover it up, he even dragged me and my three thousand men into this mess!"
"There are several Martial Saint Bodies among us—each one the future hope of the Eight Great Camps and the northern frontiers! And that Cao Fan—he's the Crown Prince's heir! If he's the future emperor of the Great Sheng Dynasty, then the dynasty's finished!"
He spat to the side. "I came from the Xuanwu Garrison. You know what we despise most? People like that!"
"Xuanwu Garrison?"
Chen Sanshi blinked. "Deputy General Yu, what year did you join?"
"Longqing Year 58," Yu Song said, eyes distant with memory. "The man I respected most was General Tang. He led from the front—fighting to his last breath atop the city walls, never taking a step back. Not like these cowards who stab their own brothers in the back. If the Eight Great Camps fall into their hands, the whole army will crumble in less than ten years."
Year 58...
Chen Sanshi frowned slightly.
The Xuanwu Garrison was wiped out in Year 57. Which meant Yu Song had never met Wang Zhi and didn't know that the so-called "General Tang" had followed them all this time—still just a Hundred Commander, limited by his cultivation.
"Thousand-Commander Chen," Yu Song said after a moment, "you're young, but your cultivation's high and your mind's sharp. The northern border will depend on people like you in the future. That's why you have to survive—no matter what. As your commander, it's my duty to make sure you do."
"You honor me too much, Deputy General."
Chen Sanshi looked eastward, where the sky was already paling. "It's time to move."
"Yeah. Move out!"
…
Yanzhou.
"Second Brother, did you see it?!"
Rong Yanqiu burst into the command tent, eyes wide with excitement. "The grain depots! Little Junior Brother is still alive—not just alive, he burned down the entire Jinquan Prefecture granary and its supply route!"
When she first saw the report, she almost thought it was fake.
A mere three thousand men, split up and surrounded, not only survived but managed to destroy the enemy's most critical food supply. No matter how the situation in Mingzhou developed afterward, this was an unquestionable feat of great merit.
"Yeah."
Cheng Wei lazily tapped at his abacus. "That's good news. The cost of this war just doubled for Western Qi. Zhong Wuxin's probably fuming right now. Even if our little junior's dead, I'd say it was worth it."
"Dead?"
Rong Yanqiu's joy froze instantly, like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her. "Second Brother, what do you mean by that?"
"What do I mean? Ninth Junior Sister, you're no fool," Cheng Wei said slowly, still fiddling with the abacus beads. "After this battle, where else can they go?"
"…"
Rong Yanqiu's voice dropped. "Is it… already too late?"
"There's no need to think about it," Cheng Wei said calmly. "Whether it's us or Senior Brother, none of us can reach them in time. But that's fine. Little Junior saved us a lot of trouble. I'll remember him. I'll even burn paper for him every year on his death day."
"I'll burn you instead!"
Rong Yanqiu snatched the abacus and glared. "Second Brother, cut the nonsense and tell me—how can Little Junior survive this?"
"…"
Cheng Wei sighed helplessly. "Ninth Junior Sister, forcing me won't help. There's truly nothing that can be done. Unless they find a path that doesn't exist, they're doomed. Better to prepare the paper offerings early."
"Bullshit!"
Rong Yanqiu muttered furiously, "Just because you can't find a way doesn't mean Little Junior can't. You didn't think of burning the grain depots either, did you? Always tapping that stupid abacus—you've probably shaken the brains out of your head."
"Well…" Cheng Wei admitted grudgingly. "You're right about that. The kid's mind is sharper than mine—almost as good as Fourth Brother's. Let's just hope heaven favors him."
…
Four hundred li west of Jinquan Prefecture, at General Zhao Wuji's encampment.
"They left? How could they just leave?!"
Zhao Wuji's face froze as he read the report brought back by the gyrfalcon. "They didn't come to join me? Then where the hell are they going? Wutong Prefecture is the only defensible point left!"
"Marshal! Bad news!"
"Two hundred li west of here—Western Qi's army! Twenty thousand strong, led by two Profound Manifestation experts!"
"Chen Sanshi knew already, didn't he?"
Zhao Wuji grabbed his brush with shaking hands. "Wait—no, I'll go to them! I'll join them myself!"
But it was already too late.
Even the gyrfalcon carried messages with a delay.
By the time Zhao Wuji received the news, Yu Song and his men had likely been on the move for several days. And with the Jinquan pursuers still behind them—even if Zhao broke through—by the time he reached Jinquan Prefecture, tens of thousands of enemy troops would already be there.
"That kid…"
Zhao Wuji slumped down on a rock, his expression bleak. "He even fooled his own allies…"
Even he had believed—wholeheartedly—that the Reserve Camp was marching to reinforce him.
Well then…
Whether they lived or died, he didn't know. But for that kid to have the courage and cunning to pull off a move like this—if he lived, the Eight Great Camps might just produce another Fang Qingyun. No, perhaps even someone greater.
"I regret it so damn much…"
If only Zhao Wuji had adjusted his strategy earlier—his Liangzhou forces wouldn't have been driven to this point.
He stood, shouting hoarsely, "All units! Break out!"
…
Yangchun Prefecture, Rebel Army Main Camp.
Dong An stood before a massive wall map, his face grim. On the table before him sat a half-played chessboard—the same match he had once begun with Chen Sanshi. He held the black pieces, while his unseen opponent held white.
But now, he could only guess the next move across the board. Every misjudgment he made meant irreversible disaster. He had already been wrong once. He couldn't afford another mistake.
For him, this was no longer about victory or defeat.
It was about honor—the pride of a general commanding his men.
A single incompetent commander could doom three entire armies—that saying was being tested right here, right now.
Losing to Fang Qingyun would've been one thing.
But if he, Dong An, lost to a young upstart—a boy who had barely trained in martial arts for a year—what face would he have left to live? How could he ever challenge Fang Qingyun again?
"Click."
Finally, he set down a black piece heavily. "Die!"
The Jinquan Prefecture garrison had yet to return with any report.
That meant their grain was gone.
And likely, Jinquan Prefecture itself had already fallen.
Such terrifying speed!
They'd crossed the river twice already—on foot! Unless their warhorses could magically swim battle-ready across rivers, how could that even be possible?
"There must be a mutant steed—one of the rarest in the world," Dong An muttered to himself. "But how could a mere Thousand-Commander possess such a creature? It doesn't make sense. So… this defeat is excusable."
He was trying to comfort himself.
"Still," he murmured coldly, "it ends here."
He closed his eyes briefly, replaying every possible calculation—supplies, logistics, morale, all running through his mind. His brain was made for war, honed for it since birth.
By his estimation, whether the Reserve Camp tried to join Zhao Wuji's remnants or stay behind to defend Jinquan Prefecture, both paths led to death. Within two days, news would come—of their annihilation.
"Marshal! The grain's arrived!"
"Then continue the assault! Do you really need to ask me for that?"
"But Marshal," a subordinate hesitated, "you've ignored the situation inside Yangchun Prefecture for days now. Shouldn't we revise the siege plan? Why waste time watching a few thousand scattered remnants?"
"You understand nothing!"
Dong An roared, eyes blazing. "The soldiers in the city are static! The real danger lies in the unexpected! Now that the supplies are here, keep up the attacks. As long as the Reserve Camp isn't dead, I won't leave this tent for a single breath!"
In the blink of an eye, two days passed.
"Marshal, you should eat something… It's been five days since your last meal."
"Reports! Where are the reports from the pursuing army?!"
"Report—!"
"Message from Jinquan Prefecture!"
At the sound of hurried footsteps, Dong An abruptly stood up.
A soldier burst into the tent, rain still dripping from his armor. He dropped to one knee, opened his mouth to speak—but no words came out.
"What are you hesitating for?!"
Dong An's bloodshot eyes flared. He lunged forward, grabbing the soldier by the collar beneath his breastplate and nearly lifted him off the ground. "Why aren't you talking? Don't tell me they actually linked up with Zhao Wuji and fought all the way to Wutong Prefecture!"
The soldier stammered, "N-no, not that…"
"Hm."
Dong An exhaled in relief—until the soldier went on, "B-but they also haven't been wiped out. We don't know where they went. Our armies… hit nothing."
"Hit nothing?"
Dong An's eyelids twitched violently. "Say that again—clearly!"
"Marshal," the soldier said carefully, "the forces sent in pursuit weren't just from the east bank of the Hongze River. Even Meishan Prefecture, north of the Wushui River, sent troops. Altogether there were forty to fifty thousand men.
"But…
"When they reached Jinquan Prefecture, they found only an empty city.
"The remnants of the Reserve Camp had already vanished."
"A second time… vanished into thin air?!"
Dong An's mind went blank. He shoved the soldier aside and strode back to the wall map, his forehead quickly beading with sweat as if he'd just fought three hundred rounds in battle.
The Reserve Camp's situation was clear—pursuers both before and behind, and they couldn't possibly have gone south across the Wushui River.
That left only one direction—
North!
Through the central territories.
But for what purpose?
"Rumble—"
Thunder split the air.
The sky, clear moments ago, suddenly filled with dark clouds. Lightning flashed, and rain poured down in sheets.
In that instant, Dong An understood.
They were going to attack by surprise!
If they'd truly gone north, they'd reach Longyang County in two or five days at most, and could strike in coordination with Sha Wenlong and the others trapped inside Yangchun Prefecture—attacking from both sides to catch him off guard and possibly break the siege entirely!
Then, they could push on toward the Jianmen Gorge and assist Lü Ji's reinforcements to open a new front.
A brilliant move.
Truly brilliant.
Unfortunately for them—he had figured it out first.
"Pass down my command!"
Dong An's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Full alert throughout the army! Dispatch five thousand troops south—set up camp fifty li from here. If the enemy attacks the camp, they are not to resist—retreat in disarray and lure the garrison of Yangchun Prefecture into pursuit. Once those fools leave the city, spring the trap right here!" He jabbed the map with his finger. "Understand? The moment they leave their walls—they die!"
He could finally see through that boy's plan completely.
"Outsmarted by his own cleverness!"
"If Sha Wenlong and the others had stayed holed up like turtles, they'd have been a tough nut to crack. But now—now it's simple. Even if some of them manage to break out, they'll never stir up trouble again in Mingzhou. Once we reclaim Yangchun Prefecture, we can rebuild a secure supply line at leisure."
He gave a cold laugh. "That kid's actually doing me a favor. Smart, yes—but still too young!"
"Brilliant!"
The deputy generals exchanged grins. "If this works, the Liangzhou army is finished!"
…
Inside the besieged city.
"Chen Sanshi didn't join Zhao Wuji's forces. He's heading this way."
Sha Wenlong narrowed his eyes. "What a bold move. But he actually pulled it off—he's already reached Longyang County."
"He's coming here?"
Cao Fan's eyes widened. "What for? To help us break the siege?"
"I'm not sure," Sha Wenlong said flatly. "But whether that's his plan or not, I'm going to make it his plan."
He glanced at the storm outside. "This rain will probably last a few more days. A surprise force emerging in weather like this will definitely throw the rebels into chaos. That'll be our chance to break out!"
"Is that really possible?"
Cao Fan frowned. "Dong An's a war fanatic. You think he wouldn't have considered that possibility?"
"So what if he has?"
Sha Wenlong swept his gaze over the gathered officers. "Your Highness, we're not sending out everyone. Out of ten thousand, if even one thousand break through, that's enough. Better that than waiting to rot in here."
"You make a fair point," Cao Fan said grimly. "But will Chen Sanshi follow through? Even if we manage to break out, they'll likely suffer heavy losses. And after that… there's nowhere left for them to run."
"He doesn't get a choice!"
Sha Wenlong's tone was ice-cold. "Military orders are absolute. Even if that kid refuses, Yu Song will obey. That's the law of the Eight Great Camps! Even if it means their deaths, there's no room for hesitation!"
…
Longyang County.
Chen Sanshi lowered his spear, exhaling softly.
[Technique: Dragon Spear of Nation-Suppression — Transforming Strength (Mastery)]
[Progress: 755/1000]
He'd been in Mingzhou for several months now.
Every day without rest, pushing his limits, using every spare moment to strengthen himself. With Yu Song badly injured, any high-ranking enemy would have to be faced by him alone. Fortunately, he lacked no resources—only the best medicines, pills, and treasures. He was close to reaching Minor Achievement in Transforming Strength.
Once he broke through, he could channel Internal Force directly into his weapon—his power would more than double. Even against a Meridian-Connecting general, he'd stand a real chance of victory.
"The west and the Jianmen Gorge fronts have both erupted into battle," he said, heading toward the resting soldiers. "But they won't be breaking through anytime soon. We can't count on reinforcements—we'll have to rely on ourselves."
"Thousand-Commander Chen, what's our next move?"
Yu Song asked, "Do we cross the river directly?"
"Before crossing, we need a diversion—a feint attack on the enemy camp," Chen Sanshi explained. "Otherwise they'll realize what we're doing too quickly. If they react while we're halfway across the river, the garrison at Yangchun could send troops to cut us off. And if our speed slows even a little, the main army behind us will catch up."
"Understood."
Yu Song nodded. "Bai Tingzhi, I'm assigning the feint to you. Can you handle it?"
"No problem!"
Bai Tingzhi grinned. "Give me Old Xu—I'll take him with me!"
"Be careful," Chen Sanshi warned. "This feint will be even riskier than the last. You're bound to take heavy losses."
"Don't worry, sir."
Xu Wencai clasped his hands and said, "I'll do everything I can to minimize our losses without arousing the enemy's suspicion. But the timing of the feint might have to be delayed by half a day. Would that still work? I'd rather wait until the rain stops—fire will be more effective then. With limited manpower, we can use the combination of fire, drums, and banners to confuse the enemy."
"You're saying the rain's about to stop? Old Xu, you understand the weather now?"
Chen Sanshi nodded. "Fine, I'll allow it. You have one full day to prepare—handle it yourself."
"Yes, sir!"
Xu Wencai turned and left to make the arrangements.
"That old fellow's a real talent," Yu Song said with a chuckle. "Brother Chen, I can't believe you found such a gem back in Poyang County. Man doesn't even have a title—what a waste."
Over the long journey, everyone had seen Xu Wencai's worth with their own eyes.
The only pity was that he had no cultivation.
"Yeah," Chen Sanshi replied quietly. "If we make it out of this alive, I'll personally write a memorial to the Emperor. Maybe I can get Old Xu an official rank. He deserves better than this."
In this world's military, almost all positions were held by martial cultivators.
Even Fang Qingyun had once been a martial prodigy.
"Alright," Yu Song said, taking a deep breath. "Then let's get ready to move."
Just as he was about to order the men to march, a gyrfalcon swooped down from the stormy sky. Judging by its direction, it had come from Yangchun Prefecture.
Chen Sanshi caught the message and read it in silence. His face hardened, and for a long while, he said nothing.
Yu Song frowned. "What is it?"
Chen Sanshi finally answered, "General Sha has issued an order. He wants us to change direction and attack the enemy camp from the rear—to help them break the siege and completely destroy the rebels outside Yangchun Prefecture."
"Isn't that what I suggested before?" Lu Shuhua said quickly. "Should we give it a try?"
"Try your ass!"
Yu Song snapped, slamming his fist on the table. "At this point, you still don't trust Thousand-Commander Chen's judgment? Without him, you think we'd even still be alive?"
Lu Shuhua fell silent.
Yan Changqing stepped forward and added, "He's right. Even I can see it now—this order is just sending us to die. They want to use our deaths to buy their escape route."
"That's not the point!"
Yu Song's tone grew harsher. "If this were a normal situation, Sha Wenlong is the Marshal—if he orders us to die, we'd have to obey! But have you all forgotten what that bastard did before?
"To get rid of Thousand-Commander Chen, he kicked us out of Yangchun Prefecture and forced us to cross east!
"Tell me—does a man like that deserve our loyalty?"
He paused, eyes flashing coldly. "Oh, and maybe you don't know this yet.
"Remember that time at the Yuyang Sect?"
"The Yuyang Sect?" Xie Sishu murmured.
"Yeah," Yu Song said darkly. "I was with Sha Wenlong that day. When I told him we'd received a signal arrow for help, he said he was afraid it was a trick to lure him away—and refused to move! Later I found out he wanted someone else to do his dirty work.
"He wanted the Yuyang Sect's Master, Huang Tianrong, to kill Thousand-Commander Chen for him! That way, Cao Fan could take the credit and rise higher!"
He clenched his jaw. "If I survive this, I'll personally submit a memorial accusing him. And you think I'd risk my men's lives to save that bastard? No chance!"
"But Deputy General Yu…" Xie Sishu said hesitantly. "Those are just suspicions. There's no real evidence. And military orders are absolute…"
Yes.
Military orders were absolute.
That was exactly what troubled Chen Sanshi the most.
If the commanding general ordered them to assist the breakout but they refused because of danger, it wouldn't just be insubordination—it would be treason.
And the blame for defying orders would fall on the highest-ranking officer present—Yu Song.
"Who's afraid of that?"
Yu Song barked a laugh. "If I say we're not going, then we're not going! If they want to punish someone for it, they can punish me!"
"Deputy General," Chen Sanshi warned quietly, "that's a capital offense."
"Capital offense?" Yu Song grinned, his face pale but his eyes burning. "We're not even sure we'll live through this anyway. And if we do survive—well, we burned the enemy's granaries, didn't we? That's a great merit to balance it out.
"Thousand-Commander Chen, you've got connections. When this is over, just say a few good words for me. That'll do."
"Alright."
The situation was too serious to argue. Chen Sanshi nodded. If things truly came to that, he'd find a way to plead for Yu Song later.
"Move out!"
Yu Song's voice rang through the rain. "Follow the original plan—Bai Tingzhi leads the feint attack! Everyone else—prepare for the third crossing of the Hongze River!"
…
Yangchun Prefecture City.
"It's almost time."
Sha Wenlong looked out the window at the dark sky. "According to my orders, they'll attack in two hours. Once the chaos begins outside, we'll launch our own assault. Our target is the northern wall—we'll punch through and head straight for the Jianmen Gorge.
"General Lü has already begun his campaign there. He sent word that if we can escape Yangchun, he'll do everything he can to meet us halfway."
"Understood."
Cao Fan hesitated. "But… what if they don't follow the order? After all, this mission is practically suicide—they'd be dying just to cover our escape."
"Yu Song came from the Xuanwu Garrison," Sha Wenlong replied coldly. "He won't disobey."
"Still, to be safe," he continued, "we'll wait inside the city first. Once we hear the commotion outside, then we'll move. No point risking everything too early."
By the time the hour of the Rat arrived, dark clouds hung low over the city—pressing down as if the heavens themselves might collapse.
Inside the walls, the surviving soldiers had already finished gearing up in silence, ready to charge out the moment the signal came.
It had been more than five months since their arrival in Mingzhou—half a year of relentless war.
After so many battles, living and dying side by side, Cao Fan had grown attached to these men. Something inside him had changed.
Back in the capital, in the royal palace, he'd never understood what it truly meant to fight as one with his soldiers.
"I guess I can finally say I've really led men into battle," he said softly. "But General Sha, if we break out tonight, there'll be maybe a thousand of us left at most. Wouldn't the losses be too heavy? Maybe… we should hold the city a little longer?"
"Your Highness, you know as well as I do that our supplies are completely gone. We've slaughtered nearly all the warhorses too—barely a few are left alive. If we drag this on, everyone will starve to death anyway. Hungry men can't hold the line forever. Some are already restless. If we wait any longer, a mutiny might break out. Besides…"
Sha Wenlong paused before continuing, "Their lives aren't worth as much as yours, Your Highness. Even if ten thousand, twenty thousand, or fifty thousand die—as long as the Crown Prince survives, it's worth it!"
"Report—!"
A scout burst in mid-conversation, drenched and bleeding, barely managing to stay on his feet before collapsing onto one knee. "Outside the city—battle has begun!"
"How's the situation?"
Sha Wenlong demanded, "Did they attack the enemy camp as ordered?"
"Flames everywhere!" the scout panted. "The enemy ranks are in chaos! The rebel army has retreated fifty li!"
"Good! That means they're following orders!"
Sha Wenlong drew his broad saber and shouted, "Brothers! With me! Break out of the city—tonight, we fight our way to freedom!"
"Kill!"
The gates of Yangchun Prefecture burst open.
Nine thousand soldiers charged out, with another one thousand staying behind to cover their retreat.
At first, everything went smoothly.
But when they reached the plains forty li outside the city, enemy troops suddenly surged out from every direction—dense ranks like a sea of blades.
"Don't panic!"
Sha Wenlong barked, "Hold the line! They'll pull back soon to deal with Yu Song's troops—their numbers will drop fast!"
But the situation spun out of control.
Instead of thinning, the encirclement only tightened, the enemy ranks swelling by the moment.
"How… how can this be?!"
Sha Wenlong's mind reeled. "They had barely three thousand men! Even in a surprise attack, that should've forced at least ten thousand of the enemy away to chase them down! Don't tell me—they ran?!"
"Sha Wenlong, prepare to die!"
Through the chaos, the enemy's Profound Manifestation Realm general, Xiang Tian, charged in with an elite unit.
"Not good! We can't break through! Fall back, now—fall back!"
Sha Wenlong had no will to fight. He grabbed his weapon and turned back toward the city, shouting, "Your Highness, stay close to me!"
But leaving was always easier than returning.
After a full night of brutal fighting, only the thousand men left behind in the city managed to prevent total annihilation. When dawn finally broke, the survivors staggered back through the gates—bloodied and broken.
Out of ten thousand, only three thousand remained.
"Ahhh!"
Sha Wenlong roared with rage, storming toward the scout who had brought the earlier report and nearly cleaving him in half with his blade. "Bastard! Didn't you say you saw them with your own eyes? That they were fighting to the south, crushing the rebels?"
"It's true, General! I swear, I saw it with my own eyes!"
The scout's voice trembled, tears welling up. "I don't know why they pulled back so soon!"
"Caw—!"
The piercing cry of a gyrfalcon cut through the air.
Sha Wenlong's hands trembled as he unrolled the latest message.
"Bastard—!"
His voice cracked with fury. "Defying orders! That damn Chen—he defied me! The battle outside was a decoy! They've already slipped past Eagle-Beak Mountain and are heading east—to cross the Hongze River for the third time!"
The third crossing!
"I knew it…"
Cao Fan's face stayed calm. "Of course Chen Sanshi wouldn't risk his life for us."
"He's not even a Lieutenant General!" Sha Wenlong spat. "Before I sent him off, I assigned him one! How dare Yu Song defy me too—has he grown tired of living?! I'll kill him myself! When this is over, I'll hang his head on Liangzhou's gate for everyone to see!"
They could have held the city longer.
But now, with only three thousand men left, the fall of Yangchun Prefecture was inevitable.
"Why the third crossing? Are they still heading south?" Cao Fan frowned. "Trying to flee?"
"They won't escape. Not a chance."
Sha Wenlong's eyes burned with wrath. "We still have troops at Meishan, and more coming in from the flanks. They're running straight into our jaws!"
…
Meanwhile, in the rebel main camp.
"Hyah—!"
Dong An rode hard at the head of five thousand elite soldiers.
The fools at Yangchun Prefecture were already as good as dead—their fall was only a matter of time. His real target was Chen Sanshi.
That boy had humiliated him twice. This time, he would personally cut off his head to vent his fury.
"Listen up!" Dong An shouted. "Whoever brings me Chen Sanshi's head gets a thousand taels of gold and the full resources to reach the Meridian-Connecting Realm! Now charge!"
"Kill!"
"Whoa—!"
Dong An yanked the reins hard, frowning as he saw his own troops ahead—men who should have been engaging the Reserve Camp remnants—standing around idly with blank faces.
"What are you doing just standing there?!" he bellowed. "Where are they?!"
"Th-there's… there's no one here, sir!" one soldier stammered.
"No one? Nonsense! All that racket earlier—what was it then? A feint?!"
Dong An froze. His expression shifted as the realization hit him like a hammer.
"If they didn't attack Yangchun Prefecture… then where could they—"
His voice cut off. His vision went black. He toppled straight off his horse.
"Marshal!"
"Marshal, are you alright?!"
…
No one knew how long he lay there. When Dong An finally opened his eyes, his hair seemed grayer, his face sunken and hollow. The proud general from days before looked suddenly like an old man at death's door.
"Quick…"
His voice was faint, ragged as if the life were draining out of him. "They must have crossed the Hongze River… a third time. Tell Old Jia—yes, he was on the east bank last time, wasn't he? Tell him—stop Chen Sanshi at all costs!"
"Also, send word to Liang Jinian at Meishan. Tell him to assess the troop deployments at Luotian Pass according to the situation. Under no circumstances can the enemy forces be allowed to leave the Great Wilderness—if they do, we'll never catch up again."
"Yes, sir!"
"Help me up… help me up…"
No one present could understand how a Grand Marshal at the Profound Manifestation Realm could look so utterly defeated just because the enemy had escaped. They hadn't even lost a battle, and yet he looked like a man whose soul had been crushed.
With help, Dong An struggled to his feet, forcing a bitter laugh. "Three times! He's tricked me three times! Every single time, I was just half a step too slow… just half a step!"
But that half step was fatal.
If someone could overlook Mingzhou from the heavens, they would see clearly—Chen Sanshi and his troops had once again slipped past the main army by a hair's breadth, brushing right against their flank. They'd practically passed each other face-to-face.
Dong An had fought wars his entire life. How could he have been outplayed like this?
Was this Fang Qingyun's teaching?
No—impossible.
Even Fang Qingyun couldn't pull off something like this.
At best, he would've burned enemy supplies and seized another city, but this boy… this young soldier had done something far more terrifying.
He wasn't just surviving—he was leading.
Leading the noses of hundreds of thousands of soldiers around like they were blindfolded!
With only three thousand men, he was playing games with an army of over one hundred thousand!
And now… this was the last chance.
If Luotian Pass fell, it would be like releasing a tiger back into the wild—there would be no catching them again.
…
Hongze River.
Chen Sanshi led his troops across the river once more.
Qianxun and its beast unit found a safe place to hide and rest.
Bai Tingzhi and Xu Wencai, who had stayed behind to cover the rear, returned on time—but their losses were heavy. Out of 900, barely 600 made it back alive.
"My lord!"
Xu Wencai gasped for breath as he delivered the report. "Yangchun Prefecture won't hold much longer. Our scouts say that last night Sha Wenlong's forces failed to break out and retreated to the city. Only three to four thousand are left. After a few more rounds of assaults, they'll either die in the city or abandon it and get hunted down to the last man."
At those words, Lu Shuhua, Xie Sishu, and Yan Changqing all broke into cold sweat.
It was clear now—Dong An had set a perfect trap from the start, a web meant to swallow them whole. Had they not followed Chen Sanshi's plan to make the third crossing of the Hongze River, they would have been the ones crushed inside it.
At this point, not a trace of arrogance remained in any of them.
Even the most stubborn officers had been completely convinced by Chen Sanshi's calm, flawless decisions. Without realizing it, he had already become the de facto commander of their entire force.
"Thousand-Commander Chen," someone asked quietly, "we've crossed the river again. What now?"
"Yeah," another said, "the main army will be chasing soon."
"We'll follow your orders—no objections this time."
"…"
"Rest here for three days."
Chen Sanshi finally spoke. "After that, we march south. There's a good chance we'll have to fight another hard battle on the way, then we'll decide our next move."
He already had a general plan in mind, but war changed by the hour. It was pointless to reveal too much too soon.
From Eagle-Beak Mountain to here, nearly twenty days had passed.
The distances looked short on the map, but in reality, they were brutal. That was why the pursuing forces had always been left far behind, unable to catch up.
They needed this rest—not only because the men were exhausted, but also because he was on the verge of a breakthrough.
Whatever came next, someone had to stand at the front.
Yu Song was still severely wounded—stabbed several times, one strike missing his heart by less than half an inch. It would take at least two months for him to recover. Until then, Chen Sanshi had to bear the burden alone.
"Hu…"
Suppressing his fatigue, Chen Sanshi took out his remaining spirit rice ointment and consumed every bit of it. Then he picked up his spear and began training.
Three days later, he felt it—the barrier inside his body finally loosened.
He had broken through countless bottlenecks before, but this one came smoother than ever.
As his spear dances grew faster and fiercer, he felt the surging force within him transform. The power that once came in waves was now a continuous tide—then an unending storm—until it swelled into a roaring tsunami that filled the heavens.
"Buzz—"
The Five-Tiger Soul-Breaking Spear in his hands vibrated wildly, singing with power. The strength in his body flowed through the weapon like molten iron, merging with it completely.
[Technique: Dragon Spear of Nation-Suppression — Transforming Strength (Minor Achievement)]
[Progress: 0/2000]
[Effect: …, Strength Stored in Weapon]
Transforming Strength—Minor Achievement! Strength fused with the weapon!
[Strength Stored in Weapon: Each strike builds upon the last; force layered, weight deep.]
Unlike before, where power was gathered in bursts, now Chen Sanshi could store strength through the weapon itself—each swing growing stronger than the last.
It was a style reminiscent of the Moon-Splitting Manor's Moon-Cleaving Saber Art—so long as his strength didn't falter, the power would keep building, strike after strike.
Of course, it had its limits—it couldn't increase endlessly.
Still, after testing it briefly, Chen Sanshi was sure: if he faced an enemy like Xu Kai again, he could finish the fight in five exchanges at most. No more tactical retreats or counter-tricks.
As for the Meridian-Connecting Realm…
He had never faced one in a drawn-out fight. The last two times, he'd simply killed them before they could resist, so he didn't truly know how strong they were. But he was certain of one thing—he could handle it.
And that was enough.
Profound Manifestation Realm experts were rare, and in Mingzhou, there was only one true Martial Saint—Zhong Wuxin of Western Qi.
Those kinds of people were far, far away.
As long as he could face the Meridian-Connecting Realm head-on, whatever happened next—he could deal with it.
"Move out!"
"Head south!"
Three thousand soldiers, battle-worn but alive, packed their gear and once again set forth.