Chapter 16: Commander, I Will Guard Toyota County For You

A dim blade light emerged, flashing out like a bolt of lightning.

The Demon-Transforming Xiantian expert only had enough time to raise his outstretched arm to block.

*Clang—*

The long saber struck the arm, producing the sound of clashing metal.

A half-section of the arm, densely covered in black scales, fell to the ground.

"Ah—!"

With his arm severed, the Demon-Transforming Xiantian expert's aura instantly collapsed as he let out a painful roar.

With a flick of his long saber, Yu Lin swept the blade under the Xiantian expert's armpit, slicing through the remaining stump of the severed limb.

The Xiantian expert let out a wretched scream and tumbled backward.

Yu Lin held his saber horizontally, sweeping the blade toward Young Master Ouyang on the other side.

Holding a soft sword, Ouyang's face was already pale. With nowhere left to retreat, he gripped the soft sword with both hands to meet Yu Lin's strike head-on.

*Clang—*

The soft sword shattered. Ouyang was forced back several steps, collapsing onto the ground. A mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips as he lost consciousness.

A half-step Xiantian expert could not even block a single strike from Yu Lin.

Not far away, the Xiantian expert entangled with Zhang Yuan had no idea the situation would turn out this way; a look of horror washed over his face.

"End this quickly—"

Yu Lin gave a low shout, pointing his saber toward Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Yuan's saber paused mid-motion, the originally diagonal draw transforming into a heavy downward cleave.

*Clang—*

*Clang—*

After three consecutive strikes, the Xiantian expert's blood qi fluctuated violently, and the blood wounds on his body burst open.

Zhang Yuan suddenly whipped his saber outward. The blade curved around the broken spear in the Xiantian expert's hand and slammed into his chest.

Before the expert could recover, Zhang Yuan had already stepped forward. His hands, like pillars supporting a mountain, transformed from palms into fists, striking heavily against the expert's chest.

Mountain-Shaking Fist Technique: Moving Mountains and Lifting Peaks!

*Boom—*

The sound of a heavy drum strike rang out. The Xiantian expert's body was thrown backward uncontrollably, blood spraying from his mouth.

Zhang Yuan pressed forward. His right hand curled and then extended, followed by a half-leaning strike, bringing his elbow crashing down.

Iron Armor Fist: Sky-Suspending Elbow.

*Boom—*

As the elbow struck the Xiantian expert's neck, Zhang Yuan could feel the sickening crack of breaking vertebrae.

The retreating expert's body jerked; his knees buckled, and he fell heavily to his knees.

*Hum—*

A surge of Xiantian aura dissipated, transforming into a pillar of qi light.

The Xiantian expert had fallen!

Zhang Yuan had personally slain a Xiantian expert!

His body trembled as a chaotic light screen rose in his mind, filled with a crimson mist.

Bright red droplets of blood rolled down, a river of light and shadow drifted, and beads of comprehension condensed.

This time, green orbs also appeared.

Before Zhang Yuan could contemplate his gains, Yu Lin's voice rang out again: "Come, kill him—"

Yu Lin's saber pointed directly at the Demon-Transforming Xiantian expert, who was staggering away with his severed arm.

Zhang Yuan reached out, pulled his long saber from the corpse of the fallen expert, and flung it forward.

He chased the flying saber with rapid strides.

Sensing the wind behind him, the fleeing Demon-Transforming expert threw his body to the side.

*Thud—*

The long saber embedded itself into a tree trunk ahead, vibrating with a loud ring.

Zhang Yuan arrived immediately after, leaping into the air and delivering a kick.

Mountain-Shaking Fist Technique: Crushing Mountains and Clouds.

The one-armed Xiantian expert barely managed to turn around, using his remaining arm to block.

*Boom—*

Like being struck by a charging stallion, the expert's body flew backward, his feet plowing a long furrow into the ground.

Zhang Yuan took a breath, grabbed the saber stuck in the tree, and swung it toward the retreating expert.

*Pfft—*

The head of the combatant flew off, and a fountain of blood sprayed a yard high, drenching Zhang Yuan's face and head.

A second pillar of light signaled the fall of a Xiantian expert!

Having killed two Xiantian experts in succession—even if they were both heavily wounded—Zhang Yuan was now surging with murderous intent, his eyes bloodshot.

"Good, good, good—"

Behind him, Yu Lin laughed toward the sky, blood spraying from his mouth as his body fell backward.

Zhang Yuan rushed over and caught Yu Lin's body. The two collapsed to the ground, and the battle helmet rolled off Yu Lin's head.

Only then did Zhang Yuan see that Yu Lin's face was ashen; he was clearly at the end of his strength.

"Heh, this old man never actually reached the mid-stage of the Xiantian realm. I was merely using a secret method to stimulate my final potential for one last strike. If you hadn't killed them, we would already be dead."

Yu Lin coughed blood, his hand gripping Zhang Yuan's arm.

Zhang Yuan tried to help him up, but Yu Lin pressed him down and shook his head.

"Kid, I am doomed. Don't bother."

Staring intently into Zhang Yuan's eyes, Yu Lin took a deep breath, blood frothing from his lips.

"I don't care how you increased your cultivation so quickly, nor how you mastered the Mountain-Shaking Saber Technique so fast. I only know one thing: you are a soldier of Great Qin."

"Remember everything I am about to say."

A look of sorrow appeared on Yu Lin's face, the divine light in his eyes beginning to fade.

"It was I who failed the people of Fengtian County, and the soldiers of the entire city."

"My orders were to hold Fengtian County for one month, but I stubbornly held out for three."

"This time, Great Qin's plan was to abandon Fengtian to exchange it for the five counties of Northern Yan. Fengtian County did not need to be defended to the death."

If they hadn't defended it to the death, at least a thousand soldiers wouldn't have died.

If they hadn't defended it to the death, so many civilians wouldn't have perished.

Yu Lin's persistence had indeed harmed everyone.

"The idea that Great Qin has no abandoned territories is merely something written in history books to fool the common people. But I, Yu Lin, am unwilling. I am so unwilling..."

Yu Lin's eyes grew dim. His hand gripped Zhang Yuan's arm as if using his last ounce of strength.

Even knowing that retreating by order was not technically losing territory, Yu Lin remained unyielding.

He had disobeyed orders to stay.

Zhang Yuan did not know whether to feel hatred or respect.

In his very bones, Yu Lin possessed the bravery and glory of a Great Qin soldier.

But this persistence had cost too many lives.

"Kid... you... tell Zhao Changming... tell him... go, just go..."

Yu Lin's voice faded into a low murmur, becoming inaudible.

His breath slowly ebbed away, nearing its end.

Zhang Yuan's gaze fell upon Yu Lin's armor.

A flicker of determination appeared in his eyes.

His palm pressed gently against Yu Lin's chest, which was ceasing to rise and fall.

"Commander, I will help you defend Fengtian County."

***

Atop the walls of Fengtian County, all the defending soldiers waited in anxious anticipation.

The distant pillars of light signaling the deaths of three Xiantian experts filled them with panic.

If the Commander fell, Fengtian County could no longer be held.

They, too, would likely all perish.

Even if they had accepted their fate, it did not mean they didn't want to live.

Three Yan Xiantian experts had surrounded Yu Lin, and now three pillars of light had risen.

Who was the survivor?

Clenching his teeth, Zhao Changming gripped his spear, his eyes fixed on the small woods.

In the distance, the Yan army formation moved slowly; at least three Xiantian experts were heading toward the woods.

Having served with Yu Lin for so long, he knew the man's combat strength.

The Commander could not possibly return—

"That is—"

A figure in crimson battle armor stepped out from the woods!

The crimson armor reflected the setting sun, shimmering with a faint golden light.

Dragging a long saber, the figure strode forward, the green Xiantian qi condensing upon the blade.

As the blade swung, it felt as if a mountain were collapsing.

One strike, three cavalrymen slain!

Mountain-Shaking Saber Technique!

The Commander of the Red Scale Army, Yu Lin!

The crimson-armored warrior moved as if through an empty realm, his blade carving a bloody path straight back toward Fengtian County.

Standing below the city, the crimson-armored general halted his steps and slowly raised his saber horizontally.

On the city walls, Zhao Changming raised his arms and shouted, "Our Great Qin—!"

The soldiers on the ramparts cheered with excitement, "Majestic—!"

In the distance, the "clang-clang" of gongs rang out.

The surrounding Yan army slowly retreated.

The crimson-armored general turned, stepped onto the mottled wall, and ascended the two-zhang-high rampart in three strides. The surrounding soldiers cheered "Great Qin is majestic!" as they welcomed him with excitement.

The crimson-armored general said nothing, dragging his saber as he headed straight for the military camp.

Following closely behind, Zhao Changming looked puzzled. Only upon reaching the military camp and entering the Li family estate did he speak in a low voice, "Commander, are you injured? How severe is it? Do you need—"

Before he could finish, the crimson-armored general, who had paused, slowly turned around. He lifted his faceplate and removed his helmet.

Zhao Changming trembled violently, his eyes widening.

"How... how... is it... you...?"

(End of Chapter)