Chapter 18: Forming the Array, Charging the Array

It turned out that Young Master Ouyang was the son of Ouyang Shucai, the Commander of the Western Pacification Army of the Yan Kingdom.

Even in the Great Qin, Zhang Yuan had heard stories of Ouyang Shucai using his late-stage Xiantian Realm cultivation to lead three thousand troops of the Western Pacification Army to stand firm against a Great Qin Martial Dao Grandmaster.

This Commander of the Western Pacification Army was reputed to be a powerhouse destined to become a Grandmaster.

In the lands of the Five Kingdoms and Three Domains, Zhang Yuan knew of no more than thirty to fifty Grandmasters in total; scattered across the various nations, no single country possessed even ten.

A quasi-Grandmaster was a top-tier figure even within a single nation.

No wonder the Yan army launched a night raid tonight; it was all because of Young Master Ouyang's identity.

"Hmph, I don't care what kind of 'Young Master' he is. Prove your worth by taking Fengtian County first!" Zhao Changming shouted, pointing his long spear forward.

He knew Zhang Yuan could not speak.

Zhang Yuan slowly raised his long saber, pointing it downward.

The two Xiantian Realm experts looked at each other and turned to leave.

A moment later, the sound of gongs echoed from the direction of the Yan army camp.

Seeing Yu Lin, they saw no need for a forced assault.

Only the southern part of Fengtian County remained, and the five hundred remnants were clearly fighting to the death. The Yan army was unwilling to force an attack now; their own soldiers' lives were precious as well.

Furthermore, there were two Xiantian Realm experts in the city. If they truly joined forces to fight or escape, the Yan army would find it difficult to resist.

"Our Great Qin is mighty—!"

As the Yan army retreated, the soldiers of the Red Scale Army cheered from atop the city walls.

In the heat of battle, morale was vital.

If the soldiers lost their fighting spirit, they wouldn't even be able to lift their blades.

Watching the Yan army withdraw, Zhang Yuan finally turned back with his saber. Zhao Changming’s eyes flashed with brilliance as he followed him down from the battlements.

Returning to the small courtyard, Zhang Yuan removed his face mask and whispered, "The Commander once taught me the Mountain Saber Technique. Before he passed, he used a secret method to seal his Xiantian True Essence within me."

"This True Essence diminishes every time it is consumed."

"Moreover, my actual combat strength is far inferior to a true Xiantian Realm expert."

Zhang Yuan knew what Zhao Changming wanted to ask.

His cultivation, his combat power, his saber technique.

So, he spoke first.

"I see."

Zhao Changming nodded, looking at Zhang Yuan. "True Essence can indeed be passed down through secret methods, but your saber technique..."

Pausing for a moment, Zhao Changming said softly, "I understand now why the Commander wanted the wounded and the civilians to leave."

"He did it to send you away."

Zhao Changming had long suggested letting the civilians and the wounded leave first, but Commander Yu Lin had never agreed.

This time, after teaching Zhang Yuan his technique, Commander Yu Lin had suddenly sought Zhao Changming to arrange for the wounded and civilians to break through the encirclement and exit the city.

Great Qin emphasized the inheritance of Martial Dao.

Yu Lin had found a talented seed capable of inheriting his martial arts, and thus he sent the wounded and civilians away to ensure his legacy could survive.

Was there selfishness involved?

Yes.

Who among men does not have selfish desires?

Even Zhao Changming, if he encountered a junior disciple with extraordinary talent and cultivation, would have the selfish desire to see them live, would he not?

Looking at Zhang Yuan, Zhao Changming’s expression was complex.

The man Commander Yu Lin had fought to the death to send away had instead returned to Fengtian County.

"I don't know if I have much talent for cultivation, but I feel as though the Commander's Mountain Saber Technique was born for me," Zhang Yuan said in a low voice.

He was still that sixteen-year-old Ninth-Grade Black-Clad Guard.

But the experiences of these past few days, combined with his awakened memories and his insights into cultivation, meant his temperament was no longer that of a sixteen-year-old boy.

He had learned what to say and how to speak.

However, some things were etched into his very bones, things he could not yet change.

Such as that hot-bloodedness, and the glory of being a Great Qin Martial Guard.

"By the way, was that Young Master Ouyang killed by the Commander?" Zhao Changming recalled what the Yan Xiantian expert had said. "There were four Xiantian experts fighting at the time, but only three bursts of energy dissipated from that forest..."

Zhang Yuan did not hide anything, explaining how he had heavily wounded Ouyang Ming and instructed Duan Hong to take him away.

This arrangement made Zhao Changming's eyes light up.

"Ouyang Ming's identity is extraordinary. Perhaps..."

Glancing at Zhang Yuan, Zhao Changming said no more. Instead, he changed the subject, telling Zhang Yuan to rest well and not let the soldiers recognize his identity, before leaving the courtyard.

***

After the continuous battles and strange experiences, a quiet Zhang Yuan was already exhausted.

Daring not to remove his armor, he lay on the bed wearing his combat puppet with the face mask still on.

*By now, Young Master Tao and the others should have escaped the danger, right?*

*Duan Hong should have pursued them with Ouyang Ming by now, right?*

The image of Yu Lin using his saber technique to fight three opponents at once kept surfacing in his mind.

The scene of Chen Youde leading two soldiers to turn back and block the enemy, the image of Chen Wuxiong dragging his battle axe and pushing him away, and the flash of the cavalry's curved saber...

...

A fierce roar of battle jolted Zhang Yuan upright from his bed.

The sunlight outside was blinding.

It was already midday.

Reaching out to grab his long saber, Zhang Yuan stepped out of the courtyard. The guards at the entrance immediately bowed.

"Commander, Vice Commander Zhao said you were injured yesterday and should not be disturbed. Since this morning, the Yan army's offensive has been fierce and continuous..."

The two soldiers reported the battle situation as they escorted Zhang Yuan forward.

As Zhang Yuan stepped onto the city walls, the Red Scale Army was scattered across the hundred-zhang battlements. Longbows were firing, and logs and stones were being rolled and thrown incessantly.

Scaling ladders and catapults were also at the base of the city.

Nearly three thousand Yan soldiers charged like an ant colony, being knocked back by projectiles only to rush up again.

Currently, the Qin army was holding only this southern section of the city; the Yan army could only deploy three thousand troops for the assault.

However, they could rotate their troops to wear down the defenders.

"Commander, you've arrived just in time. I'll hold the wall; go check if there are any dangerous breaches in the streets and alleys behind us," Zhao Changming called out loudly upon seeing Zhang Yuan's arrival.

If it were truly Yu Lin, Zhao Changming would not have said this.

But Zhang Yuan's cultivation was not a true Xiantian Realm; if he fought on the walls, someone might realize his identity.

It would be better to send Zhang Yuan into the city. As long as Zhang Yuan was there, the stationed soldiers would undoubtedly find their morale greatly bolstered.

Zhang Yuan nodded and walked off, dragging his saber.

As he reached the streets and alleys not far from the city gate, the Red Scale soldiers blocking the alleyways straightened their backs.

"Commander!"

"Greetings, Commander!"

Zhang Yuan gave a slight nod of acknowledgment and turned his gaze forward.

The alleys had been blocked by stones and wooden stakes. At a section of a broken bridge, soldiers on both sides were engaged in a crossbow duel within the narrow space.

The reason they had retreated to the southern city was because a river ran through it; by holding the riverbanks and several small bridges, the Yan army could not break through.

"The Pingma Bridge cannot be held!"

Nearby, a soldier shouted.

Zhang Yuan turned and moved quickly, with the guarding soldiers following close behind.

Turning a corner, a squad of Yan soldiers in black armor had already crossed the Bluestone Bridge, pushing the Qin soldiers back.

These Yan soldiers carried heavy shields and advanced in layers, while those behind them held hand crossbows, pinning the Qin soldiers at the bridgehead and preventing them from advancing.

The combat styles of the Qin and Yan armies were similar, but unfortunately, the defending soldiers lacked equipment, and they had long since run out of crossbow bolts suitable for close combat.

*Thud—*

Two Qin soldiers carrying short shields pushed forward against the crossbow bolts, only to be violently slammed back by the heavy shields of the enemy.

The Yan leader charging the shield-bearers was already at the late stage of the Houtian Realm. Moving in formation and utilizing the power of their battle array, a single strike carried the force of two thousand catties!

The two Qin soldiers retreated, their shields unable to protect their bodies. The Yan crossbowmen fired, piercing through them and leaving a spray of blood.

Several Qin soldiers roared and charged out.

Zhang Yuan gripped his long saber tightly, stepped forward, and sprinted.

"Form formation—!"

"Stop him—!"

"Watch out—!"

On the stone bridge, the Yan soldiers recognized the identity represented by the armor Zhang Yuan wore. A wave of alarm went up as the heavy shields locked together, and a fiery red flame rose into the air.

When facing a strong enemy, seek strong reinforcements.

*Swish— Swish—*

When Zhang Yuan was five zhang from the stone bridge, a volley of crossbow bolts came flying toward his head.

"Form formation to help the Commander break through—!"

Soldiers behind Zhang Yuan shouted.

(End of Chapter)