Chapter 292

After she waved his hand away, he didn't say anything. He then grabbed her other hand, kissed it lightly, and his thoughts gradually returned to that year.

"I joined the army at the age of thirteen, starting from an unknown soldier and working my way up to fight the enemy and capture cities, which earned me considerable merit."

"But in the military camp, the credit is distributed layer by layer. The big share is taken by those above, and only the scraps are left for us nameless soldiers."

"I don't know how long it will take to get promoted. If there isn't a suitable opportunity, I'll just be a nobody for the rest of my life."

"So I often did things that others dared not do, such as using myself as bait to lure the enemy forward, breaking through the enemy's defenses at all costs to take the leader's head, or going deep into the enemy camp to burn their supplies."

"This method was very effective. When I was sixteen, the emperor appointed me as General Dingyuan and led my men to fight in all directions."

"That year was also the most triumphant and glorious time of my life. Back then, I was young and arrogant, and I was tricked and trapped in the heart of the mountains."

Logically, one shouldn't pursue a defeated enemy, but the head of the Khitan's greatest warrior general was too valuable.

Seeing their defeated posture of retreating again and again, a surge of passion and impulse welled up in his heart, making him unable to resist leading his men to chase after them.

The young general, clad in black iron armor, rode a magnificent steed and wielded a silver spear with a red tassel, galloping behind the enemy.

Chen Jinghe and Zhang Cheng led five hundred soldiers behind them. No one noticed anything amiss, nor did anyone notice that the three thousand elite soldiers who were originally following behind had quietly fallen behind.

Known as the most valiant and undefeated warrior of the Khitan, he was now fleeing in disarray with his remaining troops.

As he ran, he suddenly revealed a sinister smile, plunged into the lush green forest, and disappeared without a trace, along with the others.

Duan Gan, who had followed rashly in, looked at the unfamiliar and quiet surroundings and realized that something was wrong. Just as he was about to leave, he discovered that the path he had come from had disappeared without him.

Chen Jinghe was unaware of what had happened, and everyone behind him stopped, awaiting further instructions.

"What happened to Fourth Master? Where's that coward?"

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked him, panting.

But the boy's face was grave, and a hint of annoyance lingered in his still-childish eyes. He said coldly, "We've fallen into their trap."

"There must be a formation here, using the natural barrier of this terrain to trap us all."

Zhang Cheng: "Fourth Master, it's not a big problem. We still have people outside, we'll definitely get out of trouble."

After he finished speaking, he ordered someone to call for the brothers outside.

The result was unexpected; there wasn't a single response.

Just as everyone was wondering, Duan Gan heard an unusual sound of wind, raised his hand, and signaled them to be quiet.

The next second, he shouted, "Run!"

Although no one understood why, everyone subconsciously followed his instructions.

Hearing the whooshing sound, Chen Jinghe turned around and his eyes widened in shock. "My God! Run! Run!"

Tens of thousands of arrows rained down on them from above. Some soldiers who didn't have time to react and tried to escape were shot through the chest and fell to the ground, dying with their eyes wide open.

In their chaotic escape, they hid in a secluded area, listening to the continuous sound of arrows outside. Everyone held their breath to prevent the enemy from finding and discovering their whereabouts.

After a while, the sound disappeared.

Just when everyone thought they had escaped a calamity, a shrill scream came from among the soldiers.

The scream nearly broke the already tense nerves of the soldiers. Everyone was startled and turned around in fear, only to see a patterned snake as thick as an arm coiled around the soldier's neck.

Just as the person closest to him realized what was happening and was about to help, a sword gleaming with cold light appeared out of nowhere and severed the snake's head, which was gaping with bloody maw.

With a thud, it fell to the ground, its scarlet tongue still moving.

"Damn it! Damn it!"

The soldier beside him, his face pale, stomped hard on the snake's head, each stomp heavier than the last, as if venting the suppressed fear of escaping death.

Duan Gan shook the foul-smelling snake blood off his sword, glanced at the rotting flesh on the ground, and said in a low voice, "That's enough."

The soldier who had been choked was finally freed from suffocation with the help of others when he felt something soft under his feet and heard a hissing sound.

His body stiffened, and he slowly looked down, his flushed face instantly turning pale.

Duan Gan and Zhang Cheng also heard it, and the two exchanged a glance.

"Something's not right here. Be careful as you walk out, and try not to make any noise."

As soon as Duan Gan took a step, a black and white shadow suddenly darted out, its gaping maw revealing sharp, chilling fangs as it charged towards him.

His eyes narrowed, he grabbed the snake's head with his right hand and pulled its body with his left, tearing it off. Crimson, foul-smelling blood splattered onto his cheek, and a look of disgust immediately appeared on his face.

Then, people around them also encountered snakes darting out from all corners, more and more, and in increasing numbers.

Suddenly someone stepped into thin air and couldn't help but scream. When they saw the snake pit beneath their feet, their eyes widened and a terrified voice squeezed out from their throat.

He frantically shook off the snakes coiled around his feet, some of which were even climbing up onto him.

"Snakes! Lots of snakes here!"

"Help! Help...help..."

Soon he was also overwhelmed by countless intertwined snakes.

Only then did they realize that the ground covered with dead leaves was a snake nest, and every step they took could slip and reveal a tangled ball of snakes inside.

It makes people feel numb and cold all over, their scalp tingles, their minds go blank, and they feel unsteady on their feet, unable to even run away.

"What's the panic! They're just some beasts!"

Duan Gan's shout instantly woke many people, who, like him, brandished their swords and slashed at the surging tide of snakes.

He held two swords, calmly staring at the hissing snakes, their tongues flicking. The ground was littered with severed snakes and black blood that reeked of a foul stench.

"Walk!"

Chen Jinghe understood what he meant: he wanted them to go first, while he would stay behind to cover the rear.

"No, Fourth Master, you go first!"

Zhang Cheng realized this too and shouted anxiously, "You all go quickly, I'll cover the rear!"

Seeing that they disobeyed his orders, the boy angrily shouted, "You bastards! Get out of here now!"

There was no other way; if they delayed any longer, even more people would die. Chen Jinghe gritted his teeth, glanced at him, and hurriedly led his men to flee the area.

With his martial arts skills, he was more than capable of stopping their retreat.

Zhang Cheng, the last one, shouted, "Fourth Master!"

Upon hearing this, the boy's eyes turned cold and sharp. With a side kick, he sent the oncoming snake flying back to its nest, while his two swords flashed with sharp, rapid strokes.

Countless sections of the snake's body fell from the sky.

Taking advantage of the brief respite, he turned and tiptoed away from the snake's nest.

The two of them ran forward with all their might, and soon they saw Chen Jinghe and the remaining soldiers.