Records of the Burning Beacon in Sumeru
Sand blotted out the sky, and the setting sun was blood-red. Huang Zhong stood alone atop a hill, his great sword still dripping with blood. Though he had won the battle against Hou Cheng, it had cost him a great deal of strength. In the distance, dust and smoke billowed as Lü Bu's army surged forward like a tidal wave, the thunder of hooves shaking the earth.
"Come!" Huang Zhong roared, his eyes showing no fear. He knew full well that facing Lü Bu's army head-on would be like throwing an egg against a rock. Only by luring them into an ambush could they hope to survive. He turned his horse and galloped toward the Crossing Valley of Sumeru.
Lü Bu sat upon his Red Hare horse, staring at Huang Zhong's retreating figure and sneering. "Old fool Huang Zhong, this day shall be your last!" He dug his heels into his mount and led his army in hot pursuit.
Crossing Valley of Sumeru was a perilous place, flanked by towering mountains with a narrow path running through the middle. Tighnari and Collei had long since hidden the Sumeru soldiers above the valley. Tighnari held his bow, his gaze fixed intently on the valley entrance, while Collei gripped her weapon tightly, waiting nervously yet excitedly.
"Master Tighnari… will they really come?" Collei whispered.
Tighnari smiled gently. "Rest assured. General Huang Zhong will lead them here. We need only wait for the right moment to give them an unforgettable 'surprise'."
Before long, Huang Zhong appeared at the valley entrance, followed closely by Lü Bu's army. After entering the valley, Huang Zhong deliberately slowed his pace, occasionally glancing back to taunt them. Enraged, Lü Bu urged his army forward even faster, completely ignoring the hidden dangers of the narrow pass.
Once most of Lü Bu's forces had entered the valley, Tighnari gave the order: "Loose arrows!"
In an instant, countless arrows poured down like rain from above. Chaos erupted among Lü Bu's soldiers, and screams filled the air.
Wei Xu and Song Xian, two of Lü Bu's top generals, quickly ordered their men to counterattack. They brandished their weapons, trying to form a proper defense. Yet within the cramped valley, their troops could not maneuver, and they could only take hits passively.
Seeing the moment had come, Huang Zhong turned his horse and charged back into the fray. His sword sliced through the air with fearsome power, and many more soldiers fell before him.
Wei Xu let out a furious shout and galloped toward Huang Zhong. Unfazed, Huang Zhong dodged his attack, then swung his sword toward a vital spot. Wei Xu desperately blocked with his spear, but Huang Zhong's strength was overwhelming, numbing his arms. In that split second, Huang Zhong struck, slashing Wei Xu's shoulder. Wei Xu screamed and fell from his horse.
Watching Wei Xu fall, Song Xian panicked and rushed to help. Collei seized her chance, leaping down from above to stand before him.
Song Xian glanced at the young girl before him and scoffed. "A green-haired brat dares block my path!" He thrust his spear at her.
Collei dodged nimbly, searching for an opening. Remembering Tighnari's tactics, she spotted a flaw and struck hard, driving her weapon into Song Xian's waist. Caught off guard by her speed, Song Xian stumbled back, clutching his wound.
At that moment, Tighnari also descended from the valley slopes. He nocked an arrow, drew his bow, and fired. Song Xian could not evade; the arrow struck his throat, killing him instantly.
Furious at the deaths of his two generals, Lü Bu brandished his Sky Piercer Halberd and attempted to break through the encirclement. But the Sumeru soldiers attacked fiercely, and the valley bottleneck left his army decimated.
"Retreat!" Lü Bu had no choice but to order a withdrawal. He ground his teeth in secret, vowing revenge. With Lü Bu's retreat, the Sumeru army won a complete victory.
Huang Zhong, Tighnari, and Collei met in the valley, joy shining on their faces.
"Without your ambush, we would surely have been defeated today," Huang Zhong said gratefully.
Tighnari shook his head with a smile. "You honor us too highly, General. This victory belongs to us all. Still, Lü Bu will not let this go easily. We must remain prepared."
Collei cheered beside them. "If they come again, we will defeat them once more!"
The afterglow of the setting sun fell upon them, illuminating their hard-won victory. The Battle of Crossing Valley in Sumeru would go down in legend, told across the land. Yet many more unknown challenges and battles awaited them. Together, they would stand side by side and guard the peace of Sumeru.