This battle came on suddenly and without any prior preparation. Helian Ye was unwilling to continue the attack and ordered a retreat, intending to withdraw from Chishui.
But suddenly the western city gates swung open, and a dark mass of warhorses charged down, flanking from the southwest. Huge radium stones and logs were spread densely across the plain. War and blood engulfed the entire Chishui.
At the same time, all the supplies and troops that the Western Regions had set up camp outside the pass were destroyed. Yuwen Yang, the general of the Western Regions, was shocked and only saw the fleeing assassins when he chased after them. He was furious and sent troops to pursue them.
But then, battle reports kept coming back to the camp, shocking the entire army.
"The mountain pass was breached, the general was killed, and the Qi army entered the city."
"The prince's troops left Yuehu Pass and were pursued by over 100,000 Libei troops all the way to Lichuan. Seven cities in the Yinshan Mountains near Lichuan were attacked one after another, and several cities were lost---"
"The 30,000 troops near Gaozhou were suddenly attacked, the northwest fell, and the losses were heavy---"
Yuwen Yang's eyes widened in fury as he rushed out and grabbed a soldier by the collar, demanding, "How is this possible? Who is leading the Qi army?"
In the battle of Lichuan, almost all of the generals of the Great Qi died. Why would they suddenly send troops out at this critical juncture?
"Your subordinate is unaware. This is an urgent battle report. Various places have been attacked by the Great Qi, and even the Northern Capital has not been spared. The several cities in eastern Yinshan that the Northern Capital had previously seized have all been attacked by the Great Qi---"
"Quickly, break camp tonight and return to reinforce Lichuan. Send scouts to Chishui to inform the young master to withdraw the troops---"
Black war eagles flew across the vast and desolate land, swooping down on the battlefield littered with corpses and blood, emitting a long, mournful cry.
The world was ablaze with red, and countless flashes of swords and blades whistled sharply in the wind, staining the entire Beichuan Plain with blood.
Helian Ye looked at the charging troops and felt uneasy. He sat in his chariot, watching the battle on the battlefield silently.
Helian Qi rode his horse and glanced at the corpse lying under the chariot. Before he could look closely, he noticed dark, venomous worms emerging from the body.
He was startled and quickly dismounted, turning the body over.
What's going on?
"Brother Wang, what's wrong with her?"
Hearing the sound, Helian Ye glanced lightly under the carriage and narrowed his eyes slightly when he saw the Gu worm.
"Corpse-Growing Gu?"
Helian Qi frowned. "What is a Corpse-Generating Gu?"
“Bring her up.”
Upon hearing this, he picked up the corpse and placed it in front of the chariot.
Helian Ye glanced at her carefully, a subtle meaning flashing in his eyes. He positioned Chu Chang Le's body, focused his energy in his dantian, and channeled his power into her back.
With a splattering sound, black blood suddenly gushed out, spitting directly onto Helian Qi's chest. He stared at the person who had opened his eyes, his eyes widening instantly, and let out a scream of agony.
"It's come back to life! It's come back to life---"
Those protecting the chariot immediately turned their heads to look. Upon seeing the bewildered person who had regained consciousness, they were shocked and retreated. The warhorse suddenly let out a long neigh and rolled across the battlefield, causing a violent commotion.
From afar, before the people on the opposite battlefield could even see what was happening, they saw a woman in a wedding dress being led out by soldiers from the Western Regions.
Upon recognizing the person, Shen Yan, the leader, suddenly changed his expression. He stared intently at the girl, appearing extremely deranged.
She's awake! She's actually awake?!
Helian Ye glanced at the expression on the other person's face, raised an eyebrow and smiled.
What kind of look was that? Surprise, madness, distortion, and obsession flashed across it all, like a dying light being rekindled.
"Hahaha, His Majesty actually protected her heart meridian and obtained the Corpse-Generating Gu."
The Corpse-Giving Gu is a type of Gu worm from the Southern Frontier that can absorb poison from the human body, making it immune to all poisons. This Gu can put a person into a state of suspended animation, making them no different from a dead person. It can be nourished by the blood and flesh of a living person for five years, after which the poison in the body will be absorbed, and the person will regain consciousness.
"I had long heard that the Empress had died of poisoning, but I never imagined that His Majesty would raise Gu poison to save her life. He is truly devoted."
A cold wind blew in gusts, and a flock of vultures flew overhead, gradually disappearing into the distance. The entire battlefield was silent.
Their gazes seemed to pierce through the barriers of mountains and rivers, pausing quietly before meeting again.
Chu Changle saw the situation clearly, and a thousand thoughts flooded her mind. Her eyes, which were like a clear spring, were filled with complex emotions.
From the initial shock, fear, and realization, it gradually turned into calm.
She looked across the army at the man in front of the opposing chariot formation, her lips parted slightly, but she didn't know what to say. Her thoughts drifted back, and memories of the time before the poison took effect flooded her mind, causing blood to spill from her mouth.
The setting sun cast golden light across the sky, while the tall grass along the Chishui River stood desolate and forlorn. A cold wind blew up the hem of her dress, as if shrouding her in a phantom.
Shen Yan's excited expression gradually calmed down, but his clear, quiet eyes remained fixed on her, as if afraid that this was just a fleeting dream of prosperity, and that the clouds would disperse and everything would return to tranquility.
On the vast and desolate battlefield, the thunderous sound of war drums resounded through the sky, and the clamor of the fighting army was dazzlingly bright red under the fiery sunset.
Helian Qi snatched Chu Changle's body away, tightened the white double strap around her neck, and spoke viciously.
"Your Majesty, let's withdraw our troops."
Shen Yan raised his hand, and the booming sound of war drums and horns rang out on the battlefield. The Yan army retreated swiftly like a tide.
Give me the person.
Helian Qi raised an eyebrow, a wicked and despicable thought suddenly popping into his head.
"This little princess is so beautiful. His Majesty has been raising her with Gu poison for so long. He wouldn't want her to die like this, would he? How about giving me a few cities in eastern Yinshan to the Western Regions?"
Hearing this, Helian Ye turned back to his golden chariot without uttering a sound.
The generals of Beidu were not satisfied with these words. They had fought for two years, how could they give up so easily? They looked at the arrogant Westerners opposite them with resentment and cursed them as despicable and shameless.
Helian Qi paid no heed to the insults and laughed loudly, "It's up to Your Majesty to choose between beauty and power!"
Shen Yan's gaze was fixed on the girl opposite him, and he said coldly, "Here you go."
"---"
The general of Beidu was shocked, "Your Majesty—"
Helian Qi on the other side laughed even louder, "Good, Your Majesty is truly generous. But although my Western Regions wish to conquer Jiankang in the south, I have heard that the Northern Capital is vast and expansive. Will you grant us the twelve cities of Hedong?"
"Those villains from the Western Regions are truly despicable!"
The generals of Beidu were so enraged by his greedy face that they cursed him vehemently, brandishing their knives as if they were about to charge forward and take his head.
Helian Qi didn't care and tightened the white ribbon in his hand even more, causing Chu Chang Le's face to turn pale instantly.
Upon witnessing this scene, Shen Yan's hands, gripping the reins, bulged with veins.
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