The general atop the camp wall barked an order and the log gate suddenly swung open. A battering ram, used by the Miao to breach city gates, came hurtling straight toward Xue Qiming!
Xue Qiming's pupils contracted sharply. Without a moment to think, he spun around, exposed his broad back, and shielded the little girl behind him.
Xue Niang, cradled in the man’s arms, couldn't see a thing. In the dark, she heard a deafening crash. The man’s body shuddered violently, and then, everything was eerily silent... Even the clamor of the Miao troops seemed to fade away.
She had no clue how much time had passed before the man’s strong arms loosened around her and she could finally see the light again. Instinctively, she raised her head and saw the man rising to his feet. His face was cast in shadow, making his expression unreadable.
"Damn it," the man cursed in a low voice. Xue Niang saw him turn around and face the Miao soldiers once more, exposing his back to her. His clothes had been torn open, revealing reddened skin with a few minor abrasions, but apparently the battering ram wasn't even enough to break the surface.
The man tore off his shirt in one swift motion and tossed it aside. His body was a fortress of knotted muscles, as solid as stone, and intimidating to behold.
"Thanks a lot," Xue Qiming muttered sarcastically, tilting his head and rolling his shoulders. He flexed his joints, and the sound of popping bones filled the air like firecrackers.
Xue Qiming exhaled a breath of stale air, lifting his gaze toward the camp where numerous defenders were staring. He bared his teeth in a grin. "Ah, much better now..."
The girl reached out and tugged at Xue Qiming’s pants, her expression filled with concern. Xue Qiming hastily grabbed his waistband. "Stop pulling! You’re going to pull my pants down."
"Are you alright?" the girl asked.
Xue Qiming smiled broadly and held the girl’s hand. "Just got kicked by a rabbit, that’s all."
With that, Xue Qiming took a deep breath, and his voice echoed through the mountain forest like a great bronze bell.
He lifted his left foot and then stomped it forcefully onto the ground!
The ground shook violently! Countless people nearby fell to the ground, and flocks of birds took flight in alarm from the forest.
As Xiang Damao climbed from the base of the mountain, he was overcome with shock. He had just arrived at the battlefield to the west, where corpses from the Ruen Dynasty and the Miao forces lay scattered everywhere. Nevertheless, the majority of the corpses wore Ruen Dynasty uniforms.
On his way there, he had gathered a few retreating soldiers from the Xuanwei and Xuande battalions. From them, he learned a grim truth; both battalions had been decisively defeated.
Following the battle lines uphill, Xiang Damao noticed an unusual trend. The further up he went, the fewer Ruen Dynasty casualties there were. Not far ahead lay countless Miao corpses, as though they had been crushed by an unstoppable force.
The manner of their deaths was even more gruesome than the piles of corpses. Their bodies bore no sword or blade wounds; instead, their injuries resembled those caused by blunt weapons.
A deputy general beside Xiang Damao frowned, staring at the corpses for a long while before turning to ask the men behind him, "Did the Xuanwei Battalion use war hammers? Or... some other kind of blunt weapon?"
The soldier behind him shook his head blankly. "N-no, I’ve never heard of such a thing... The Ruen Dynasty army doesn’t have any war hammer units..."
"What the hell..." Xiang Damao squatted next to a corpse and gazed up toward the mountainside. The path was littered with countless Miao corpses in the same condition. His eyes were lost in thought.
"This wasn’t done by blunt weapons... it looks like they were trampled by elephants..."
"General..." One of Xiang Damao's soldiers approached cautiously, his face pale with fear. Lowering his voice, he whispered into Xiang Damao’s ear, "General, could it be... that the Heavens are blessing our Ruen Dynasty by sending celestial soldiers to deal with these rebels? Or... maybe these rebels encountered some mountain spirits!"
"Shut your damn mouth!" Xiang Damao slapped the soldier hard, making him stagger. "Stop spreading nonsense about gods and spirits! There’s no such thing!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a thunderous roar echoed across the mountain path, and the ground began to tremble!
Xiang Damao fell to the ground in shock, half his soul seemingly frightened away. He looked around in a daze, terrified of facing what had slaughtered the Miao troops. Behind him, his soldiers turned pale with fear and some even hastily drew their weapons, while others crouched down, trembling.
The soldier who had spoken earlier was the worst of all. He dropped to his knees with a thud and cried out in a trembling voice, "General! We said too much! The mountain god is angry!"
Xiang Damao swallowed hard, fearfully glancing around. He did not dare to say more on the topic either. He steadied himself before he ordered in a quavering voice, "M-move up the mountain!"
No one dared to stand in Xue Qiming's way anymore.
Xue Qiming took Xue Niang by the hand and walked toward the military camp. It wasn’t until they had entered the gates that someone regained their senses. From deep within the camp, a voice shouted, "Protect the general!"
Xue Qiming chuckled and said to Xue Niang, "These days, just about anyone dares to call themselves a general."
"This one doesn't count?" Xue Niang tilted her head and asked, "Then what makes someone a general?"
Xue Qiming thought for a moment. "That guy from Northern Qiang, the tall one who rides a bear, surnamed Wang. He can lead elite troops and win battles. That guy can be a general. As for this one? Heh... stringing along a few peasants to start a rebellion? At best, he’s a ringleader."
As they spoke, the two arrived at the entrance of the central camp. Apart from the front, they were surrounded by armed Miao rebel soldiers on all sides. The soldiers glaring fiercely, yet none dared to step forward.
Xue Qiming swept his gaze over the faces of the Miao rebels around him. Everyone he looked at instinctively lowered their heads, unable to meet his eyes.
"Heh..." Xue Qiming chuckled, lifted the curtain, and led Xue Niang inside.
As soon as they entered, crisp applause echoed through the tent. Xue Qiming looked up and saw a tall Miao man sitting in a large chair. His skin was dark, his build robust with the back of a tiger and the waist of a bear. He wore armor and a headscarf adorned with distinctive Miao designs.
Clapping his hands, the Miao man grinned and said, "Such great martial skills, valiant warrior. Did you cut your way through my army for me?"
Xue Qiming was momentarily startled by his confident demeanor, then muttered, "Not exactly... mainly for the five thousand taels... You’re Bahu?"
"Five thousand taels? What?" Bahu was momentarily taken aback. Quickly recovering, he said, "Never mind, that’s not important. Whatever you want, I can give you more. It would be a waste of your skills if you don't achieve greatness. Why not join me and conquer the world? It’s a legacy that will benefit your descendents for all time!"
Xue Qiming scratched his chest, looking utterly bewildered. "I haven’t even married... where am I supposed to find any descendants?"
Bahu squinted, a glint of cunning flashing in his eyes. "I suggest you agree, valiant warrior! Even if you can kill me, the Dark Miao warriors outside won’t let you leave..."
Xue Qiming chuckled. "Heh... Is that your trump card?"