"By my command! Slaughter everyone!"
Wang Yuepi raised his arm and countless Northern Qiang cavalry in black armor surged past him into the city with his battle cry!
The men guarding the gate of North Watching Pass could scarcely resist before they were quickly overwhelmed.
Northern Qiang cavalry troops wielded curved sabers with thick spines designed for battle. Each slash sent a head flying through the air. Blood and gleaming blades filled the entrance to the city.
Chaos spread throughout. Some people wailed in despair, others ran in all directions, while a few took up weapons to fight back. Ultimately, no matter their choice, they all met the same fate... to be cut down where they stood.
Among the residents of North Watching Pass, many were skilled fighters from the Central Plains. Despite their fierce resistance, they only lasted a few breaths longer against the well-trained army forces before being hacked to pieces.
Qi Anjiang stood on the city wall, watching it all unfold.
In that moment, he truly realized...
The North Watching Pass was finished.
Some soldiers stood beside him on the wall, but none dared to descend. They trembled all over and clutched their weapons desperately.
"Comm... Commander Qi..."
A voice sounded beside him. Qi Anjiang turned slightly to see the young soldier who had sought his reassurance before.
"Commander Qi..." The boy’s eyes were filled with terror, and he was barely able to hold onto his spear. Choked with tears, he cried out, "Commander Qi... How long until the imperial army arrives?!"
Qi Anjiang lowered his eyes. He did not answer, and gripped his broadsword tighter, as he saw someone ascending the stairs to their hold on the wall.
Qi Anjiang felt a strange relief when the Northern Qiang troops arrived, sparing him from answering the young soldier’s question.
The burly man on the black bear led this group of Northern Qiang soldiers. Only now, as they approached, could Qi Anjiang truly grasp the sheer size of this man. With a sinking feeling, he realized he barely came up to the giant’s navel.
"Oh..." Wang Yuepi grinned. "There are actually soldiers still guarding the city? At first, I thought you would all flee long before we got here."
Qi Anjiang looked at the Northern Qiang soldiers surrounding him and his men and said in a low voice, "The people of North Watching Pass don’t know what the word flee means. Maybe you can teach me?"
Wang Yuepi was momentarily stunned, then chuckled, scratching his head. "Ha! I see. So, you don't know?"
Qi Anjiang found his vague words baffling and chose to stay silent.
"Judging by your uniform..." Wang Yuepi extended a finger as thick as a sausage at Qi Anjiang. "You’re the highest-ranking officer here. So, are you genuinely ignorant, or are you just pretending, with so many people here?"
Qi Anjiang frowned at Wang Yuepi. "Are you mad? What nonsense are you spouting?"
"Heh, don't worry." Wang Yuepi raised a hand, halting the Northern Qiang soldiers ready to rush forward. Gazing down at Qi Anjiang, he said, "I’ll help clear out these people for you, so you can speak freely."
As Wang Yuepi finished speaking, the Northern Qiang soldiers around him drew their curved sabers in unison, aiming at the remaining city guards.
Qi Anjiang glared furiously at the huge man. "What are you doing!"
Wang Yuepi waved his hand, and a flurry of blades flashed forward. Most of the city guards were beheaded before they could even resist. The few who managed to block the initial attack didn’t last long before falling to the ground.
The young soldier beside Qi Anjiang was scared to his limits. After barely blocking the first strike, he screamed and leapt down from the city wall!
The wall wasn’t high, and Qi Anjiang saw the young soldier stumble as he landed, then limp away into the vast desert.
"How pitiful..." Wang Yuepi’s low voice rumbled.
A Northern Qiang soldier drew his bow, which arched like a crescent moon.
Qi Anjiang quickly looked out into the desert. The young soldier, who had run a fair distance, collapsed into the dust with a thud. An arrow sprouted from his skull.
"No one can escape the arrows of the sons of the steppe," Wang Yuepi said, grinning at Qi Anjiang.
Qi Anjiang, eyes blazing with fury, lunged at the pleased enemy commander, but before he could take a step, two Northern Qiang soldiers restrained him by his shoulders, and pressed their sabers to his neck.
"Alright, alright." Wang Yuepi patted Qi Anjiang’s cheek. "Now you’re the only one left. You can speak freely. Tell me... where is the Ruen army now? How many days until they reach the North Watching Pass?"
"They’ll be here soon! They're right outside the city! You’ll all die here! None of you will escape!" Qi Anjiang screamed with a crazed fervor.
"Right outside the city?" Wang Yuepi squinted his eyes. "Well... It seems you truly don't know."
Qi Anjiang felt a vague sense that something was deeply wrong, but he couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
Wang Yuepi began to walk away through his crowd of soldiers. Just before descending the wall, he turned back and said, "The Ruen Dynasty is truly ruthless... It's too bad for you all, but they're willing to sacrifice their own to try to deal with us."
What does he mean? The unease in Qi Anjiang’s heart grew stronger. He lunged forward, shouting, "What do you mean?! Tell me, damn you! What do you! What do you mean?!"
This time, Wang Yuepi didn’t look back. He continued down the stairs, and Qi Anjiang heard a deep voice from below.
"That one is useless now. Kill him. Inform the soldiers that by nightfall, everyone must report back with twenty ears. If anyone is short, it will be one lash per ear."
Qi Anjiang froze and stopped struggling.
The Northern Qiang soldier in front of him slowly drew his curved saber.
Qi Anjiang took a deep breath and drew his sword from his belt.
"You will all die," Qi Anjiang said with certainty as he watched the Northern Qiang soldiers charge at him. "Someone will avenge us."
Qi Anjiang raised his sword high.
The curved sabers flashed in dazzling arcs as they descended upon Qi Anjiang.
"He will repay you for everything you have done at the North Watching Pass today"—Qi Anjiang swung his sword with all his strength—"and give you all what you deserve!"
Blood spurted into the air.
His sword slipped from his hand, and hot blood gushed from his mouth. His vision began to blur, and Qi Anjiang felt he could no longer keep his eyes open.
In his haze, he seemed to see someone standing with their back to him, a long sword hanging at their waist, silver hair billowing in the wind. The figure turned to him and said, "Uncle Qi... I want to come home..."
Qi Anjiang struggled to lift his hand to reach that figure. His hand slumped with his last breath.