"Withdraw the troops?!" Even though Murong Buguan had mentally prepared himself, he couldn't help but change his expression upon hearing Xue Qiming's demand.
Before Murong could respond, Wangyue Pi, who was lying at Xue Qiming's feet, suddenly became agitated. He extended a struggling hand and mumbled indistinctly, "No! Don't!"
"Behave yourself!" Xue Qiming spat. Infuriated, he delivered another kick to Wangyue Pi's side, causing the general to spit out a mouthful of blood.
Wangyue Pi swallowed the rest of his words. It didn't look like he planned on speaking again.
Murong Buguan and the others were filled with anger witnessing their general's suffering up close. Fearing Xue Qiming's skill and Wangyue Pi's life, they could only glare at him from a distance.
"Alright, alright." Xue Qiming waved dismissively, frowning. "I'm running out of patience. Are you withdrawing or not? If not, your general's life is forfeit, think carefully."
Murong steeled himself and gritted his teeth to agree to the terms when a loud shout came from behind.
"We will not withdraw! We cannot retreat!"
Everyone turned to see a small figure stumbling out from the army formation. Who else could it be but Guarjia Aduo?
Seeing Guarjia Aduo running over while panting, Xue Qiming furrowed his brow even deeper. "And who the hell is this? Who let this runt slip out of their pants?"
It seemed Xue Qiming was truly out of patience. Seeing Guarjia Aduo nearing, he reached out and grabbed Wangyue Pi by the hair, lifting him up and clamping his left hand tightly around his throat.
Xue Qiming's gaze grew deeper, no longer concealing the killing intent in his eyes. In a chilling voice, he said, "Tell me now... Are you going to retreat or not?!"
Seeing Xue Qiming's stance, Murong dared not hesitate any longer and pleaded, "Please spare him! Retreat! We'll withdraw!"
"There will be no retreat!" Guarjia Aduo finally stumbled over, panting heavily, and upon hearing Murong's words, his face twisted with fury. "Who dares to retreat?! I will report them to the Grand Commander! Anyone who wants to retreat will be guilty of treason!"
Murong Buguan, who was enraged already, felt his heart skip a beat as he saw Xue Qiming's expression growing darker. He spun around and slapped Guarjia Aduo fiercely across the face. The furious blow sent Guarjia Aduo spinning in place.
"Take him away!" Murong barked with rage. The others no longer hesitated and immediately pinned Guarjia Aduo to the ground. Guarjia Aduo cursed with all his might as he was dragged back into the depths of the Northern Qiang formation.
Eventually, Guarjia Aduo's furious curses faded into the distance. Murong took a deep breath, turned to Xue Qiming, and said, "We... will retreat. Please do not harm Commander Bear any further."
Xue Qiming gave Murong a playful glance and gestured toward the people behind him.
Murong understood, beckoned someone over, and whispered a few words. That soldier immediately rushed into the formation. Soon, a commotion arose within the Northern Qiang army, and then the troops turned their horses around. The rear became the new front, and the cavalry vanguard slowly trotted away.
The Northern Qiang army was retreating.
For a moment, the walls of Liangzhou were silent in awe, and then erupted into thunderous cheers. Countless people wept with joy, embracing one another as tears streamed down their faces.
"Sir! The Northern Qiang army is retreating!" shouted a guard next to Zhou Tong.
Zhou Tong looked around in a daze. The walls were filled with exultation, as if it were a long-awaited holiday. He murmured, "They really... really retreated..."
Zhou Tong naturally understood why the soldiers were so overwhelmed with emotion. Everyone here had stood on the wall with the resolve to die if it came down to it.
Many of them were even untrained citizens of the city, hastily conscripted the previous night. Most of them had believed they would perish here today. And yet... because of one man, they saw a renewed hope of survival.
Zhou Tong stared at that man's figure below the city walls, lost in thought. From such a distance, it seemed like a tiny silhouette. But in Zhou Tong's eyes... no, in the eyes of the entire Liangzhou Prefecture, that figure loomed immensely tall, like an unscalable mountain, steadfastly guarding the gates of the city.
The Northern Qiang army had retreated five li. Those who had accompanied Murong Buguan were all sent back by him. Now, only three people remained on the battlefield, Xue Qiming, Wangyue Pi, and Murong Buguan.
Xue Qiming looked curiously at Murong and asked, "You're quite an interesting fellow, sending everyone away. Aren't you afraid I'll change my mind and kill both you and your general right here?"
"The sons of the steppes never fear death. For us, death is merely the final destination," Murong said, lowering his gaze. "Besides, if even Commander Bear isn't your match, it makes no difference whether I am alone or with a group."
"Heh, quite bold," Xue Qiming said with a grin, giving him a thumbs up. "Your general must be a big deal in Northern Qiang, right? Thinking about it, I kind of don't feel like letting him go after all."
Murong's expression remained unchanged as he replied slowly, "I've heard that martial artists from the Ruen Dynasty value their word and honor above all else. That's the reason I chose to trust you."
"Oh?" Xue Qiming tilted his head. "You know a lot about our jianghu?"
Murong paused before he revealed, "My... my mother was from the Ruen Dynasty."
Xue Qiming's interest was piqued. "So, do you consider yourself part of the Ruen Dynasty or Northern Qiang?"
"Naturally, I am a son of Great Qiang," Murong answered without hesitation, letting out a cold chuckle. "There are countless like me in Great Qiang. If we were all considered people of the Ruen Dynasty, Great Qiang would lose many fine sons."
Xue Qiming frowned. "Countless?"
Murong Buguan let out a cold snort. "If blame is to be laid, it lies with your Ruen Dynasty. Do you know how many of your women are sold to Great Qiang by Run Dynasty merchants every year?
"My mother was purchased by my father for two yaks. Such a thing could never happen in Great Qiang. Only your Ruen Dynasty could do something so disgraceful."
Murong raised his head slightly, his words filled with pride for his country. "You don't understand us, but we are always learning about you. Your Ruen dynasty is rotten to the core, so Great Qiang will surely replace it."
Xue Qiming's expression darkened. "Understand what... You're talking like you know everything..."
Murong abruptly stepped forward. "The army has retreated. Aren't you going to return my general?!"
Xue Qiming sneered. "Of course, I'll return him. You even said the Ruen Dynasty jianghu values honor and keeping one's word, how could I not?"
Murong's face lit up with joy and he was about to speak, but Xue Qiming suddenly grabbed Wangyue Pi by the hair and tossed him into the air, shouting angrily!
"If you know all about the jianghu... then have you ever heard of the viciousness of the jianghu?!"
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Xue Qiming's fists moved like lightning, each one landing brutally on Wangyue Pi's vital points. With each blow, a mist of blood erupted from Wangyue Pi's body as he convulsed uncontrollably mid-air.
"Don't let him go!" Xue Qiming shouted, landing a final punch squarely on Wangyue Pi's spine, sending him hurtling toward Murong Buguan.
It all happened in an instant. Murong Buguan had no time to react before it was over. He saw Wangyue Pi's massive body flying toward him and, with no time to think, hurriedly reached out to catch him.
Just as he was about to catch Wangyue Pi, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him, moving faster than he could react. Murong was startled and found himself meeting Xue Qiming's cold gaze. The next moment, searing pain shot through his knees.
"Ahh!!!" Murong let out a wretched scream and collapsed to the ground. Both his legs bent backward unnaturally, his knees shattered under Xue Qiming's stomp. Wangyue Pi's body fell on top of him. The general was still alive but was barely hanging by a thread.
Xue Qiming was already walking away. The wind carried his voice into Murong Buguan's ears.
"Just a half-breed. What's there to be proud of?"