Snowfield Battle
The faint, hard-won stream flowing within the stone hall of Guzhu Fortress ultimately failed to wash away the pervasive aura of death. Xuanweizi sat cross-legged in the shadow of the cold stone wall, the large, dried dark red bloodstains on the front of his indigo robes resembling brand marks. His ashen face, illuminated by the flickering light of the pine torches, possessed a jade-like, brittle luster. His deep-set eyes, once holding galaxies, were now merely two desolate pools. Each weak breath was accompanied by a creaking sound from deep within his chest, like a broken bellows, as if it might cease at any moment. Xiao Yuxuan stood guard beside him; the faint warmth deep within his dantian, protected by Xuanweizi's life force, now throbbed uneasily, as if sensing the dying gasp of an exhausted lamp. He forcefully circulated the "Guarding Qi" technique, attempting to transfer a faint trace of his will to that withered body, but it was like a clay ox entering the sea, only touching a cold and boundless emptiness.
Outside the stone hall, the night at Guzhu Fortress was dominated by a different, more expansive and piercing cold. The howling mountain winds, whipping up fine ice pellets like countless icy steel needles, lashed against the crumbling fortress walls, emitting a chilling wail. The sky was a heavy, leaden gray, pressing down on everyone's hearts. Suddenly, tiny, salt-like snowflakes began to fall, initially gentle, but quickly transforming into dense, fluffy snowflakes that blanketed the fortress's ruins, its jagged rocks, and the rugged mountain paths outside, rapidly covering them with an ever-thickening layer of cold, pristine white.
The bitter cold, like an invisible giant hand, suddenly tightened its grip on everyone's throats. Although the worry of running out of water was temporarily alleviated by the repair of the "Xuanji Yuheng" and Xuanweizi's water diversion, a deeper crisis—the extreme cold and the lack of food—had already emerged like a ferocious beast with its jaws wide open, revealing its hideous fangs.
"It's...it's snowing!" The soldier on guard at the broken window of the stone hall said in a trembling voice, his breath instantly turning into frost in the cold air.
Sun Qian strode to the window, the biting wind whipping snowflakes against his face. He reached out and grabbed a handful of snowflakes that were rapidly piling up on the windowsill; they were icy cold to the touch. His sharp gaze pierced through the swirling snow, fixed on the mountain path outside the fortress, rapidly covered in snow, yet still revealing a long, winding line of torches approaching—the Qin army's pursuers hadn't stopped because of the sudden snowfall! Like hyenas that had smelled blood, they braved the bitter cold, pressing closer step by step!
"The snow has blocked the mountain roads, making it difficult for the Qin army's supplies to move. This is a golden opportunity!" Sun Qian turned around abruptly, his voice like a blade tempered by ice and snow, carrying an unwavering determination and a hint of desperate madness. "However, the bitter cold and lack of food are also our death warrant! Trapped in this fortress, we will only freeze and starve to death! There is only one way to survive—take advantage of their unstable foothold and the fierce snowstorm to launch a preemptive attack! Burn their provisions and seize their winter gear! This is a way to survive against all odds!"
To take the initiative?! In such a blizzard and freezing weather?!
Everyone was shocked, even Wang Ben and Gu Yan's eyes flashed with disbelief. The Qin army outside the fortress far outnumbered their own and held the advantage of terrain; fighting in the wind and snow was tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock!
“Mr. Sun…” Gu Yan’s voice trembled slightly from the cold, and his swollen face appeared even more stiff in the firelight. “The wind and snow blinded our eyes, the bowstrings were frozen and brittle, and our steps were difficult… How can we fight?”
"The snowstorm is difficult for me, but even more difficult for the enemy!" Sun Qian's eyes burned with the ferocity of a lone wolf. "They outnumber us, so we must win by surprise! We must use chaos to control chaos! The snowstorm is our best cover!" His gaze swept over the crowd like lightning. "Wang Ben! Gu Yan! Select twenty men who can still wield a blade and are not afraid of death! Prepare short weapons and flammable materials! Master Xuanwei..." He looked at the figure in the corner, as withered as a dead tree, and his voice lowered, "Please... show us another way to survive!"
Xuanweizi's withered head twitched extremely slightly, as if using his last ounce of strength. He didn't open his eyes; his lips, stained with dark red blood, moved slightly, his voice so faint it was almost inaudible, yet as clear as an ice bead falling into Sun Qian's ears: "The wind... rises from the northeast... snow... covers the southeast slope... deep forest... huge rocks... can conceal one's form... wait for the wind to turn northwest... fire rises... then chaos will ensue..."
Sun Qian's eyes flashed with a sharp light! The opportune moment and favorable terrain that Xuanweizi sensed with his remaining Qi were the key pieces of his plan! "Good!" Without further hesitation, he gave a stern order, "Wang Ben! Take ten men, carrying tinder and oil, and lie in ambush among the dense forest and rocks on the southeast slope of the fortress! Wait for my command! Gu Yan! Lead the remaining ten men and follow me out of the fortress gate to make a feint and attract the Qin army's attention! Once their formation is disrupted by the fire Wang Ben has set, immediately launch a fierce attack on their supply depot! Seize their grain! Seize their fur coats! Burn what they cannot seize!"
His gaze finally fell on Xiao Yuxuan: "Yuxuan! Your heavy responsibility still lies in 'guarding'! Guarding this fortress! Guarding this hall! Guarding the seriously wounded! Guarding... Master Xuanwei! Waiting for our return! This is our last foundation, and we cannot afford to lose it!" He emphasized the word "guarding" heavily, carrying the weight of a great responsibility.
Xiao Yuxuan nodded vigorously, gripping the cold bronze short sword in his hand. The arrow wound under his ribs throbbed faintly with pain from the chill, while the warmth in his dantian was weak yet tenacious. He knew that his current "defense" was more crucial than charging into battle.
No further words were spoken. Wang Ben and Gu Yan quickly selected men. Those chosen silently smeared all the oil and resin they could find onto the arrows and short pieces of kindling, struggling to wrap their thin, tattered clothes tightly with their frozen, stiff fingers, their eyes filled with a resolute determination to die. Ji Zhai silently distributed the few remaining, relatively intact short halberds to the group.
The heavy wooden door of the stone hall was slowly pushed open a crack.
Waaah—!
A biting, knife-like wind, carrying large clumps of snowflakes, surged in like white demons! The wind whipped the torches wildly, almost extinguishing them! The piercing cold made everyone shiver involuntarily.
"Go!" Sun Qian roared, squeezing through the crack in the door first. His figure vanished instantly into the raging snowstorm outside, like being plunged into a rolling white tidal wave. Wang Ben and Gu Yan followed closely behind. The twenty-odd assassins disappeared silently into the dark area at the foot of the southeast slope, a place covered in snow, interwoven with jagged rocks and withered forests, like ghosts blending into the snowy night.
The stone hall door was quickly closed and bolted shut. Only Xiao Yuxuan, Ji Zhai, the severely injured and unconscious Li Xin, and a few others remained inside, along with Xuan Weizi, who was barely breathing in the corner. The howling wind and snow were blocked by the heavy stone door, becoming muffled and distant, adding to the oppressive atmosphere. The light from the pine torches appeared even weaker and dimmer under the biting cold, making the tense and pale faces of the group look ghostly.
Time crawled slowly amidst the extreme cold and agonizing wait. Each breath felt like an eternity. Xiao Yuxuan gripped his short sword tightly, standing guard behind the door, intently listening to the sounds outside the fortress. He heard nothing but the howling of the wind and snow. The warmth in his dantian struggled to circulate under the biting cold, protecting his heart and resisting the all-pervasive chill. Ji Zhai paced anxiously in the hall, his gaze frequently drifting to the chaotic, snowy world outside the window, filled with worry about the unknown.
I don't know how much time passed.
Southeast of the fortress, deep within the dark, snow-covered forest, a blinding orange-red flame suddenly erupted without warning!
Next up is the second one! And the third one!
The fire was fueled by the wind, and the wind fanned the flames! Wang Ben and his men made their move!
The flames stood out starkly and fiercely amidst the swirling snowflakes, spreading rapidly and igniting the dead trees and piles of fallen leaves! Thick smoke billowed, mingling with the acrid smell of burning grease, and could be faintly smelled even through the heavy stone gate and the swirling snow!
"Fire!"
"Enemy attack! Down the southeast slope!"
From the direction of the Qin army outside the fortress, came chaotic shouts, the frantic clanging of bronze gongs, and the furious roars of officers! Clearly, this sudden fire had completely disrupted the Qin army's deployment and drawn most of their attention!
The time has come!
"Kill—!" A roar, seemingly suppressed for centuries and filled with despair and rage, like the howl of a wounded tiger, suddenly exploded from the snowstorm not far in front of the fortress gate! It was Sun Qian!
Immediately afterwards, the sounds of clashing weapons, furious roars, and piercing screams erupted like boiling water from the direction of the main gate outside the fortress! Gu Yan and his ten elite warriors, like vengeful demons emerging from the snow, seized the moment when the Qin army's attention was drawn to the raging fire in the southeast and launched a desperate, all-out attack! Their target was the heavily guarded supply wagons within the Qin army's ranks!
"Hold on! Hold on! Don't panic! It's a feint!" The Qin army officer's roar sounded hoarse and desperate in the wind and snow.
More roars, the clash of weapons, and the screams of the dying mingled together, and the battle instantly became fierce!
Inside the stone hall, Xiao Yuxuan's heart was in his throat! He could almost imagine the horrific scene outside the fortress, a scene of wind, snow, blood, and fire! Every clash of weapons, every piercing scream, struck his heart like a hammer blow! He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, his nails digging deep into his palms, causing a sharp pain, but he couldn't suppress the surging anxiety and killing intent within him!
"Uh..." In the corner, Li Xin, who had been unconscious, suddenly let out a weak groan, his body twitching unconsciously. Ji Zhai immediately went forward to check on him.
Just then!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A heavy thud, like muffled thunder, suddenly exploded on the heavy wooden door of the stone hall! Wood chips flew everywhere! The entire door shook violently! The bolt groaned under the strain!
"There are people inside! Break down the door! Charge in!" came the fierce roar of Qin soldiers from outside the door! Clearly, a Qin army squad had taken advantage of the main battle to circle around to the back of the fort, discovered the stone hall, and attempted to break down the door!
Xiao Yuxuan's pupils constricted sharply! Every muscle in his body tensed instantly! The warm current in his dantian surged violently at the warning sign! It's here! His battle is about to begin!
"Mr. Ji! Protect the seriously injured!" Xiao Yuxuan roared, his body moving like a cheetah poised to pounce, suddenly dodging to the side and pressing himself against the cold stone wall beside the door!
Clang!
A deafening crash! The already rotten door bolt finally snapped under the repeated impacts! The heavy wooden door was violently flung open! A biting wind, carrying large clumps of snowflakes, and three elite Qin soldiers clad in leather armor and wielding bronze longswords pounced in like hungry wolves! The leader, his face contorted with rage and his eyes gleaming with bloodlust, thrust his longsword straight at Ji Zhai, who appeared to be the most unsuspecting person in the hall!
Now!
A fierce glint flashed in Xiao Yuxuan's eyes! The instant the door was kicked open, he used the door panel as cover and darted out from behind it like a ghost! The bronze short sword in his hand carried a resolute ruthlessness as it pierced upwards like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, viciously stabbing into the unprotected armpit of the Qin soldier in front!
Pfft!
Scalding blood splattered onto the cold air and snowflakes! The Qin soldier's forward momentum suddenly halted, and he lowered his head in disbelief, letting out a hoarse, escaping sound!
Without hesitation, Xiao Yuxuan struck first, then drew his sword and spun around! Using the momentum of the spin, the short sword drew a chilling arc, slashing fiercely at the wrist of the second Qin soldier who was stunned by the sudden death of his comrade!
Click!
A sickening cracking sound of bones breaking was accompanied by a piercing scream! The Qin soldier's right hand, along with his bronze sword, fell to the ground! He clutched the blood gushing from the severed wound on his wrist, screaming as he fell backward!
The third Qin soldier reacted extremely quickly, roaring as his longsword, accompanied by a fierce gust of wind, slashed straight at Xiao Yuxuan's back! The speed was swift and the angle was tricky!
Xiao Yuxuan's old strength was exhausted, and new strength had not yet been generated! The arrow wound in his ribs was tearing with pain from the violent movement! He had no time to turn around and block! The shadow of death instantly loomed over him!
A close call!
"Hit!" A low shout rang out! A dark figure whistled through the air and slammed into the Qin soldier's face! It was Ji Zhai! In his haste, he hurled a heavy bronze dagger as a throwing weapon!
Bang!
The short halberd's head slammed into the Qin soldier's nose! Blood spurted out instantly! The Qin soldier, in pain, froze in his tracks!
This moment of hesitation could mean the difference between life and death!
Xiao Yuxuan endured the excruciating pain, his body snapping as he lunged to the side! The cold blade grazed his back, tearing through his thin clothes and leaving a trail of blood! The instant he fell to the ground, his short sword lashed out backward with incredible speed!
puff!
The sword blade moved from bottom to top, precisely slicing into the abdomen of the Qin soldier who was slightly leaning forward due to the wound to his face! The sharp bronze blade cut through the leather armor straps, tearing through the flesh and reaching even the internal organs!
"Ugh—!" The Qin soldier let out a deafening scream. His long sword clattered to the ground. He clutched the horrific wound from which his intestines were gushing out with both hands, staggered back a few steps, crashed heavily into the door frame, and slowly slid to the ground, his body convulsing violently.
In the blink of an eye, of the three Qin soldiers who broke through the door, two were dead and one was seriously injured!
The pungent smell of blood instantly filled the cold stone hall, mingling with the scent of wind and snow rushing in from outside, creating a nauseating and bizarre odor.
Xiao Yuxuan gasped for breath, struggling to his feet while leaning on his short sword. The wound on his ribs had reopened due to the fierce fighting, and warm liquid was seeping out, soaking his clothes. Each breath was filled with tearing pain and a strong smell of rust. The warm current in his dantian, which had been released after the outburst, seemed even weaker, like a candle flickering in the wind.
Ji Zhai strode forward, picked up the Qin soldier's longsword scattered on the ground, and cautiously pointed it into the snow-covered darkness outside the door. Outside, the shouts of Qin soldiers could still be heard, but they were clearly terrified by the horrific scene of their comrades dying instantly inside, and for a moment dared not rush in.
For now... we've held on.
Xiao Yuxuan leaned against the cold stone wall, his gaze sweeping over the three corpses on the ground that were still twitching slightly, then looking at Xuan Weizi, who was still sitting cross-legged in the corner with his eyes closed, seemingly unaware of the life-and-death struggle, and finally landing on the faint flame that was stubbornly leaping in the cold wind in the center of the stone hall.
The sounds of fighting and snow outside the hall seemed to fade into the distance.
Guarding one's Qi is like guarding a city.
Guarding this broken body, guarding this ruined city, guarding this dying embers…
This cold, bloody, and desperate snowy night is far from over.
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