Who are those people over there?
Zhan Xinjia coughed a few more times, his brows furrowed, and asked in a hoarse, broken voice.
Wangcai paused for a moment, "It should be the small team that was waiting outside the valley to provide support that is entangled with the remaining guards from Nanjun at the mine."
Despite wanting to help, Meng Qiao hardened her heart and decided to ignore the little girl in her arms, whose condition was not optimistic.
"Alright, Azhi, don't worry. You're so badly injured, you need to rest properly, otherwise you really won't be able to save your legs. Wangcai, you go first. The horse is tied up outside the valley. Go to the camp and find General Qu to get reinforcements! I'll stay here to take care of Azhi."
Ah Zhi's injured leg can no longer be moved freely. The most important thing right now is to take her to a safe place to rest and wait for reinforcements.
Wangcai, fully aware of the importance of the matter, nodded and hurriedly ran out of the valley.
The two leaned on each other and sat down again by the rock.
Zhan Xinjia drooped her eyelashes listlessly. Her thin face was bloodless and pale as paper. Only her chin was stained with dried blood from her lips. She looked as dirty as if she had been pulled out of a mud pit. Her beautiful peach blossom eyes were also dull and lifeless.
Feeling terribly cold, Zhan Xinjia, lying in Qiaoqiao's arms, coughed violently, her breath barely audible.
Zhan Xinjia hastily wiped her face with her sleeve, still worried, and took a deep breath, struggling to stand up.
"No, cough cough, the people of Nanjun have specially made weapons, our people definitely can't beat them, I have to go help them..."
"Ah Zhi!"
Meng Qiao stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
"Do you know how badly you're injured?! You can't even stand up straight, how can you help? I beg you, please stay here and rest, okay? Don't worry about anyone else."
"Since this mission has been entrusted to me, I am responsible for everyone. I simply cannot stand idly by."
“Ah Zhi…you clearly told me on the way here that benevolence is not for business and compassion is not for military command.”
Meng Qiao was on the verge of tears, clutching Zhan Xinjia's sleeve tightly and refusing to let go, looking at her almost pleadingly.
"Can't we be a little selfish sometimes?"
Zhan Xinjia paused, drew the long sword from Meng Qiao's waist and gripped it tightly. She gritted her teeth and stood up, panting heavily. It took her a long time to swallow the metallic taste that rose in her throat.
The face, blurred by dust and bloodstains, held a gentle yet resolute expression.
"So, I've never been a great general. But that doesn't matter. I still can't accept using those around me as cannon fodder. No matter what, I'll save as many as I can..."
With a relaxed expression, Zhan Xinjia strode towards the direction from which the sound came. A breeze stirred her disheveled long hair, but her back remained as straight as a sword, her spirit unyielding and unbreakable.
Meng Qiao quickly wiped away her tears and caught up with her.
——
The metal shards, accompanied by the sound of wind being cut, sparked as they rubbed against each other in the air, easily blasting a person's body into pieces.
The remaining Canghan soldiers hid behind rocks as cover, surrounded by the scattered remains of their comrades. The stench of blood was so strong that even the heavy snow could not cover it, tormenting the minds of everyone present.
Looking around, the landscape was scarred and ravaged; warm blood had stained the snow a chilling dark red, making the world seem like a living hell.
The wind howls, the snow falls fiercely.
"What do we do now? I'm afraid we won't be able to hold out until reinforcements arrive."
"Sigh, I knew this day would come when I joined the army. But today, destroying the mines of the Nanjun people is a good death. At least no more brothers of Dasheng will die from such strange weapons on the battlefield in the future."
"That's right, what's there to be afraid of? We're heroes too!"
"...But I'm still very scared."
Behind the rock, the group looked dejected and could only exchange bitter smiles.
Now, no matter how scared they are, it's useless. They're unlikely to make it back alive, and it's a pity they won't get to drink the victory wine...
"Commander Zhan! Commander Zhan!! But what if we can't pull off your high-level maneuvers in actual combat? Where is the path to salvation for us mediocre mortals? qAq~~~"
"Simple, just call me if you can't beat them! ψ(｀?′)ψ"
...
It was unclear which timid soldier called out "Commander Zhan" in a trembling voice, but a sword's cry echoed in the wind, clear and resonant. Someone braved the frost and snow, sword in hand, with a carefree and arrogant air.
Her voice was steady yet light, carrying a reassuring and firm strength.
"They're here!"
With a furrowed brow and lowered eyes, Zhan Xinjia took a deep breath, grabbed his longsword, and resolutely charged into the enemy ranks alone.
Clothes fluttered in the wind, and a cold glint suddenly appeared.
Hot, bloody droplets splattered on her neck and cheeks. She expressionlessly raised her finger to wipe away the blood droplets on her eyelashes, then gritted her teeth, turned around and swiftly kicked away the enemy soldiers who were trying to surround her. She then thrust her sword into their bodies and pulled it out abruptly.
Amidst blood and snow, she moved like a nimble swallow, her sword flashing and her figure swift as lightning.
The battle turned dramatically with her arrival, and the previously low morale was instantly boosted and reignited. Some followed her, some stood in front of her, and some protected her from behind. Everyone tacitly protected their commander and fought with all their might.
Zhan Xinjia chuckled softly, drew his sword, and stood shoulder to shoulder with the others.
Well done!
When we get back, we'll all have big bowls of celebratory wine to drink!
Blood splattered like rain, turning her original dress into a deep, indistinguishable crimson. Dodging the incoming projectiles, and amidst the terrified gaze of her opponent, Zhan Xinjia lightly touched the ground with her toes, her figure like an arrow released from a bow, carrying an overwhelming force as she slashed towards her opponent's head.
Numbly raising her sword repeatedly, blood constantly covered her face. Zhan Xinjia felt her body was out of control, numb to the point of losing consciousness, fighting only on instinct.
The world spun before his eyes, and he felt dizzy and his vision blurred. Zhan Xinjia staggered a few steps and knelt on one knee, supporting himself with his longsword.
She struggled to stand up, supporting herself with her sword, and continued walking forward.
With a swift swing of his sword, Zhan Xinjia severed the banner symbolizing Nanjun and kicked the tattered flag off the mountain of corpses and sea of blood.
Her face felt sticky and uncomfortable, but she didn't even have the strength to lift her hand to wipe it, not to mention that her hands were covered in blood.
Her unfocused pupils trembled as she looked down from her high vantage point.
Some people raised their arms and shouted, some excitedly called out her name, and some ran towards her.
Having reached her limit, Zhan Xinjia was finally able to close her eyes in peace. The sword in her hand clattered to the ground, and she staggered and fell to the ground.
She has a clear conscience.
Her consciousness began to blur, and her body felt like it was falling into the deep sea, floating and sinking with the waves, weightless, making it impossible for her to find a foothold. In a daze, Zhan Xinjia heard the sound of a large number of horses' hooves approaching in the distance, and then she was half-lifted up, and she heard Qiaoqiao crying in her ears.
She wanted Qiaoqiao to stop crying, as it was considered unlucky, but her lips moved, and no sound came out from her dry throat.
This time, she really fainted.
Zhan Xinjia didn't know how long she had been unconscious, nor how she was brought back. Bitter medicine was forced into her mouth by prying open her lips and teeth. With a strong will to survive, Zhan Xinjia endured the excruciating pain in her throat and swallowed it down.
In any case, the cold body finally regained some warmth.
Perhaps it was her imagination, but in her drowsy state, she felt that the air was filled with a familiar, faint, and comforting scent of ink and books.
She tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt incredibly heavy, and no matter how hard she tried, she could only glimpse a thin layer of light. Zhan Xinjia tried her best to move her fingertips, and then her knuckles were firmly enveloped and held by another pair of warm hands.
The other person gripped her so tightly that she felt her finger bones ache from the pressure.
The sound of footsteps crunching on snow came from not far away, and someone lifted the curtain and hurried in. A figure flashed before her eyes, as if someone had thoughtfully shielded her from the cold wind outside.
The visitor spoke with great respect.
"Lord Shen, General Qu has important matters to discuss with you in the main tent."
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