Sunset over a Lonely City (Part 2)

The pungent stench of blood that filled the stone hall was churned up by the biting wind carrying snowflakes that rushed in from outside, transforming into a nauseating, rusty smell. Three Qin soldiers' corpses lay strewn across the entrance, their warm blood rapidly freezing into dark red ice crystals on the cold ground. Xiao Yuxuan leaned against the cold, piercing rock wall, his bronze short sword supporting his swaying body. The arrow wound in his ribs had completely reopened, each rapid breath accompanied by a tearing pain. Warm liquid seeped out continuously, soaking his clothes, only to quickly turn cold and viscous in the biting cold. The warmth deep within his dantian, after the desperate outburst just now, was as faint as the last firefly in the cold night, threatening to be extinguished at any moment.

Ji Zhai gripped a blood-stained Qin soldier's longsword tightly, its blade pointing towards the howling wind and snow in the darkness outside the door. Outside, the Qin soldiers' angry shouts and heavy footsteps were approaching; clearly, the fierce battle just now hadn't deterred the enemy, but had instead provoked an even more ferocious counterattack!

"Hold the door shut!" Ji Zhai roared hoarsely, using his shoulder to brace against the wooden door that had been slammed shut and whose bolt had broken. Xiao Yuxuan mustered his strength, dragging his leaden legs, and staggered to the door, using his body and remaining strength to hold it shut! The cold door panel sent a chill through his thin clothes.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

An even more violent impact slammed into the door like a hammer blow! Each impact caused the door to tremble violently, splintering wood everywhere! The immense force transmitted through the door, causing Xiao Yuxuan and Ji Zhai's blood to surge and their wounds to throb with excruciating pain! The roars of the Qin soldiers outside the door could be clearly heard:

"Break down the door! Kill them!"

"There aren't many left breathing inside! Charge in!"

Despair, like a cold, venomous snake, coiled around their hearts. Inside the stone hall, the heavily wounded Li Xin groaned in pain as he lay unconscious. In a corner, Xuan Weizi sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, his figure as still as a stone statue, his breath so faint it was almost imperceptible. Hold on? How much longer could they hold on?

At that critical moment, when the door was about to be completely smashed open!

Outside the fortress, the battle situation at the main gate suddenly changed!

boom--!

A deep, thunderous roar, far louder than any previous explosion, mixed with the shrill, desperate screams of countless people, pierced through the howling wind and snow and the sound of the door being slammed, like a death knell from hell, and crashed into the stone hall!

Immediately following was a terrifying tremor, like a landslide!

The entire Guzhu Fortress, along with the ground beneath everyone's feet, shook violently! Large amounts of dust and rubble rained down from the dome of the stone hall! The wooden door, which had been violently pounded, suddenly stopped shaking!

"What's going on?!" The shouts and banging of the Qin soldiers outside the door stopped abruptly, replaced by horrified cries: "The sky has fallen?! The earth has collapsed!"

"It's...it's Lei Huo! It's Lei Huo! The central army's...the central army's supply wagons have exploded!"

"Run! Run!"

Chaos! Utter chaos! From the direction of the Qin army outside the fortress, there were no longer roars of high morale, but screams, howls, and chaotic footsteps of panicked soldiers fleeing as if the end of the world had come! The sounds quickly faded into the distance, as if the fierce Qin army outside the fortress had collapsed instantly after a terrifying explosion!

Xiao Yuxuan and Ji Zhai, standing behind the door, exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes filled with disbelief and astonishment. What had happened? That terrifying explosion…could it have been Sun Qian and the others?

The footsteps outside the door completely disappeared, leaving only the wind and snow still raging and roaring outside.

Ji Zhai cautiously peered through the crack in the door. He saw a scene of utter devastation near the fortress gate; the snow had been trampled into a muddy mess, littered with abandoned weapons and several mangled corpses. Further away, amidst the swirling snow, flames and thick smoke could be faintly seen rising from the direction of the Qin army, their figures scattering in chaos like ants fleeing from a disturbed nest.

"They... seem to have retreated? They've broken out?" Ji Zhai's voice trembled with the shock of surviving a disaster and was filled with immense confusion.

Xiao Yuxuan's tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and a tremendous feeling of exhaustion and the excruciating pain of his torn wounds instantly overwhelmed him. His vision went black, and his body slid limply down the cold door to the ground, panting heavily, each breath carrying a heavy smell of blood and a bone-chilling cold.

I don't know how much time passed.

Heavy, unsteady footsteps echoed through the wind and snow, approaching from afar.

"Open the door...it's us..." A hoarse, dry voice, like sandpaper scraping, rang out from outside the door. It was Wang Ben!

Ji Zhai and Xiao Yuxuan, who was struggling to get up, pushed open the heavy wooden door.

Outside, amidst the wind and snow, several figures, seemingly crawling out of a pool of blood from hell, staggered in, supporting each other. Leading them was Sun Qian! He was covered in blood, his dark brown short jacket almost blackened, clung tightly to his body by congealed blood and melted snow. His left arm hung limply, a deep, bone-revealing wound running from his shoulder to his elbow, flesh torn open, revealing the white bone beneath. His right hand gripped a chipped bronze longsword, its blade stained with a viscous, dark red substance, while his other hand clutched a bulging, equally blood-soaked leather pouch.

Wang Ben supported Gu Yan, who was nearly unconscious. Gu Yan's right leg was twisted at an unnatural angle, clearly broken; half of his face was swollen, and his eye was reduced to a slit. Behind them followed seven or eight other soldiers, equally wounded and staggering, each covered in stolen Qin army furs and felt blankets, some clutching bulging sacks of grain. Their faces and bodies were covered in frostbite, blood, and soot, their eyes filled with exhaustion, numbness, and a bewildered sense of relief at having survived such a ordeal. Of the twenty-odd men who set out, less than half had returned.

"Mr. Sun!" Ji Zhai and Xiao Yuxuan rushed forward to support the swaying Sun Qian.

Sun Qian was helped into the stone hall. His gaze first swept over the Qin soldiers' corpses on the ground and Xuanweizi, who was still lying in the corner with his eyes closed, before finally landing on Xiao Yuxuan and Ji Zhai. His dry lips moved slightly: "They held on... good..." His voice was so hoarse that it was almost unrecognizable.

"Outside...that explosion?" Ji Zhai asked anxiously.

"Grain carts..." Wang Ben gasped, carefully setting Gu Yan down, his voice trembling with lingering fear. "They were Qin army grain carts! Piled high with millet, dried meat... and... and cans of sulfur and kerosene! When we rushed in to seize the furs and grain, one of our brothers... was shot by a Qin crossbow bolt, his torch falling into the sulfur pile..." A flicker of painful lingering fear crossed his eyes. "With a bang... they were all... all gone... men and carts... blown into the sky! The Qin soldiers who were close... were reduced to dust... even a hundred generals were blown halfway through their bodies... the rest... were terrified... and their camp shattered..."

So that's how it is! That terrifying explosion was actually caused by an accidental ignition of sulfurous oil in the Qin army's supply wagons! A devastating explosion that destroyed everything in its path instantly shattered the Qin army's central command and completely crushed their morale!

“Grain…grain…and warm clothes…” Sun Qian struggled, handing the heavy, blood-soaked leather pouch to Ji Zhai. Inside were millet grains mixed with blood and snow water, a few pieces of frozen dried meat, and a small packet of precious salt. He glanced at the Qin army fur coats and felt blankets he had looted from the crowd, a faint glimmer of light in his eyes: “Quick…distribute them…the seriously wounded…wrap them up first…”

Ji Zhai and Xiao Yuxuan acted immediately. They carefully wrapped the stolen furs and felt blankets, reeking of blood and sweat, around the unconscious Li Xin and the other seriously wounded. They then distributed the cold millet and dried meat from the fur bags to those who could still swallow. The food and warmth were like sweet rain, temporarily quenching their parched and desperate hearts.

Xiao Yuxuan stuffed a piece of cold jerky into his mouth and chewed it with all his might. The rough meat fibers scraped his throat, carrying a heavy taste of blood and salt, yet it tasted like the most exquisite delicacy in the world. He tore off a relatively clean piece of felt lining, dipped it in lukewarm water—difficult to collect from the "Xuanji Yuheng" outlet—and carefully wiped the dark red bloodstains from Xuanweizi's mouth and clothes. The old Taoist's breath was as weak as a spider's thread, but his chest still rose and fell very faintly.

Sun Qian refused to wrap himself in the fur coat, instead sitting against the cold stone wall, letting Wang Ben hastily wash the gruesome wound on his left arm with strips of cloth dipped in icy water. The excruciating pain made the veins on his forehead bulge, and cold sweat pour down his face, yet he remained silent, his gaze fixed on the still snow-shrouded darkness outside the stone hall, his eyes sharp as a hawk's.

“Although the Qin army has been defeated, its main force has not been lost… Once the snow stops, they will surely come back again…” Sun Qian’s voice was hoarse and low, with a kind of insightful coldness, “This fortress… cannot be defended for long.”

His words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the faint flame of hope that had just ignited in everyone's hearts. Yes, an unexpected explosion had routed the Qin army's vanguard, but the main force of the Qin army was still at the foot of the mountain. Once the snowstorm subsided, the Qin army, having regrouped, would surely launch an even more ferocious retaliation! Guzhu Fort, this dilapidated fortress, was ultimately nothing more than a magnificent tomb in the face of absolute power.

The stone hall fell silent once more. Only the agonizing groans of the seriously wounded, the crackling of the burning torches, and the ceaseless howling of the wind and snow outside the door could be heard.

Ji Zhai gazed at the tenacious, flickering flame in the center of the stone hall, his compassionate gaze sweeping over the faces etched with weariness, pain, and despair. He slowly walked to Sun Qian's side, his voice carrying an unprecedented heaviness and resolve: "Mr. Sun is absolutely right. Guzhu Fortress is already a dead end. However… the Mohist way is not merely about defensive tactics, but also about the will to 'stop the fighting.' If this body and this will can temporarily halt the advance of the enemy and secure a sliver of life… even if it means being shattered to pieces, Ji Zhai… will gladly accept it!"

He whirled around, pointing to the deep, narrow passage leading to a cave in the mountain's interior, reeking of a foul stench. His eyes burned with an almost martyr's light: "Deep within the cave, the source of the evil curse remains! This is a deadly weapon! Mr. Sun! Please lead those who can escape, taking advantage of the ongoing snowstorm and the Qin army's disarray, and immediately descend the mountain through the southeastern secret passage! I... will stay!"

Leave? !

Everyone looked at Ji Zhai in shock!

“Mr. Ji! You…” Xiao Yuxuan exclaimed.

"What are you staying here for?" Wang Ben asked urgently.

Ji Zhai gave a bitter smile, a smile tinged with the unique sorrow and determination of the Mohists: "Deep within the cave lies an ancient Mohist mechanism that the Qin army has yet to discover—the 'Earth Fire Pivot'! It draws upon underground sulfurous gas, mixes it with oil, and seals it within a sealed stone chamber using a massive stone mechanism! It was originally a device for mutual destruction, a weapon of annihilation! Simply activate the mechanism, detonate the 'Earth Fire'! The entire Guzhu Fortress, along with everything within a hundred feet, will be reduced to dust and a sea of ​​fire! If the Qin army dares to attack this fortress again… then let them… perish in the flames along with this filthy evil!"

Let's perish together!

This cruel and ruthless plan sent a chill down everyone's spine! A deathly silence fell over the stone hall!

Sun Qian stared intently at Ji Zhai, his sharp gaze seemingly piercing his soul. After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice hoarse: "Detonate the mechanism... how... how will you escape?"

Ji Zhai calmly shook his head, his gaze fixed on the deep, deathly passageway: "To activate the mechanism, one must delve into the heart of the cave, igniting the flames with one's own body… There is no way to retreat." He paused, his voice carrying a strange sense of relief, "Having spent my life adhering to the doctrine of 'non-aggression,' I now use this crippled body to perform the act of 'stopping war'… Though it contradicts the principles of defense, it aligns with the Mohist righteousness of 'promoting the benefit of the world and eliminating its harm'… This is Ji Zhai… the best end."

He looked away from everyone, turned, and walked toward the entrance to the narrow passage leading to hell. His indigo-clad figure appeared exceptionally lonely and imposing in the dim firelight.

“Mr. Ji!” Xiao Yuxuan struggled to stand up, but Sun Qian pressed him down.

Sun Qian slowly stood up, the sharp pain in his left arm causing him to sway slightly. He walked behind Ji Zhai, unfastened the chipped, blood-stained bronze longsword from his waist, and held it out to Ji Zhai's back with both hands. Though the sword was damaged, it still carried the sharpness of blood and an indomitable will.

"This sword... has accompanied me in battle for many years, slaying countless enemies and protecting my comrades." Sun Qian's voice was deep and solemn. "I present it to you, sir, not for killing, but... to bid you farewell!"

Ji Zhai stopped in his tracks. He didn't turn around, but slowly raised his right hand and took the heavy, cold, broken sword. His fingers brushed across the congealed dark red scabs on the blade, as if brushing against countless departed souls. He didn't speak, but gripped the broken sword tightly in his hand, as if holding a heavy entrustment and a silent farewell. Then, without lingering, his figure resolutely disappeared into the thick darkness of the narrow passage.

Inside the stone hall, all was deathly silent. Only the wind and snow howled outside the door, like a mournful song bidding farewell to a hero.

Sun Qian turned around abruptly, his face showing no hesitation, only an iron-willed determination: "Wang Ben! Gu Yan! Immediately awaken those who can walk! Gather all warm clothing, food, and water! Carry the seriously wounded! Descend the mountain through the southeast secret passage immediately! Hurry!"

The order was absolute! The will to survive once again overwhelmed the sorrow! Everyone immediately sprang into action, preparing to evacuate as quickly as possible.

Xiao Yuxuan took one last look at Xuanweizi. The old Taoist was still sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, his breath weak. He gritted his teeth and, with Wang Ben's help, wrapped a Qin army fur coat tightly around Xuanweizi's withered body, then carried him on his back. The old Taoist's body felt light as a feather, as if only a skeleton and a layer of skin remained.

"Go!" Sun Qian roared, leaning on a hastily made wooden cane, and led the way to a collapsed corner of the wall in the southeast direction that Ji Zhai had pointed out earlier. There, several huge broken stones had been moved aside, revealing a dark opening that could only be passed by one person bending over—the last way out for Guzhu Fortress.

The group, supporting each other and carrying the seriously wounded, like a pack of injured wolves, silently and swiftly slipped into the cold, damp, musty-smelling narrow passage and disappeared into the darkness of the mountainside.

Inside the stone hall, only the stubbornly flickering pine torch remained, casting its faint light on the cold stone walls, the corpses on the ground, and the deep, narrow passage leading into the heart of the mountain that had swallowed Ji Zhai's figure.

Guzhu Fortress, this death fortress standing atop a snow-covered peak, completed its final mission before the embers of the setting sun were completely extinguished. Outside the fortress, the scattered torches of the Qin army flickered like will-o'-the-wisps in the wind and snow. Inside the fortress, all was deathly silent, except for the entrance to hell, which seemed to be silently waiting... waiting for the inevitable apocalyptic fire that would burn everything to ashes.

The defenders have left.

The duty to defend a city is to perish with it.