Chapter 210: Chaotic Battle (Part 3) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Seeing the imminent battle below the city, Shen Tang hesitated for a moment: "But Banbu, he can't defeat Gong Xichou!"
He barely managed to keep pace with Gongxi Chou at a great cost, and the latter hadn't even revealed his trump card yet. Anyone with eyes could see it was a certain death situation. If they didn't stop the rescue now, Commandant Yang would surely die! Gong Shuwu said calmly, "I know."
He understood Yang Duwei's choice better than Shen Tang did.
Shen Tang raised her voice: "Do you know why you haven't—"
Gong Shuwu: "It is a blessing to be able to fight to the death for glory."
If he were Commandant Yang, he wouldn't want anyone interfering at a time like this. If it were before the outbreak, stopping it would be fine, but now that there's no turning back, if someone else jumps in to stop it, wouldn't his choice and sacrifice be completely meaningless?
I'd rather die here.
Shen Tang tried to refute, but ultimately didn't speak. She couldn't impose her own values on others, and could only mutter to herself with her head down, "Even so... one shouldn't be so careless with one's own life... As the saying goes, it's better to live a wretched life than to die a good death..."
“Everyone has their own ambitions,” Gong Shuwu said softly. “...Moreover, he did not disregard his own life. He cherished the lives of the soldiers and civilians of Xiaocheng behind him, and he was willing to do anything even though he knew it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.”
They cherish life, but not their own.
With his family and relatives all here, where can he retreat to?
Shen Tang could only helplessly reply, "Okay, I understand."
After speaking, Gong Shuwu finally released his hand from her shoulder. He was genuinely afraid that Shen Tang would jump down without a word. He was not only worried that she would ruin the duel, but also that Shen Tang's reckless charge would get her killed by Gong Xi Chou. This Gong Xi Chou was the strongest he had ever seen!
To have such strength at such a young age.
It's not impossible for him to reach the twentieth rank of Marquis in the future. If Gongxi Chou is lucky enough to live to see that time...
A barely perceptible hint of envy flickered in Gong Shuwu's eyes—his talent wasn't bad, but it wasn't quite at the level of a "prodigy." He was neither the best nor the worst. Without a fortuitous encounter or a life-or-death epiphany, his potential for growth was limited.
Beneath the city wall—
The energy of heaven and earth was thrown into chaos by the martial energy of the two.
Gong Xichou squinted at his opponent, whose aura already surpassed his own. Never in his life had he been so cautious. Neither of them made the first move, engaging in a battle of wills. The sweat dripping from their foreheads seemed about to freeze.
Gong Xiqiu was able to remain calm, but Yang Duwei was not.
The longer it drags on, the worse it will be for him.
Finally, Commandant Yang made his move.
One second Yang Duwei was an ordinary person, the next he was like a ferocious beast that had been gathering strength and lying in wait for a chance to strike. With a push of his feet, he shot out, his figure so fast that he was almost just a blurry afterimage, and he was right in front of us in the blink of an eye.
A high-pitched roar escaped from his throat.
"Fate has come—"
Gong Xiqiu's expression was solemn, and he dared not be careless in the slightest.
Thump!
The moment their weapons clashed, two equally intense bursts of martial energy, both brimming with killing intent and fighting spirit, collided violently, neither willing to yield an inch. Immediately following, a shockwave erupted from the two, carrying with it sand and dust. The ground beneath their feet, unable to withstand the impact, cracked and caved in.
Gong Xiqiu and Yang Duwei both felt numbness in their hands and tightness in their chests at the same time.
A sweet, fishy taste welled up in my throat.
Gong Xiqiu's expression changed slightly, but he managed to forcefully swallow it back. Yang Duwei, after all, had been forcibly promoted, and his body was already overburdened. He immediately spat out a mouthful of bright red, turbid blood, not even glancing at it. Before Gong Xiqiu could recover, Yang Duwei launched another reckless attack. His arm muscles bulged, and as the force increased, even the arm guards of his martial armor cracked!
"ah--"
He opened his mouth and roared angrily.
Finally, a great ripple appeared on Gong Xichou's face.
A loud bang!
Gong Xichou lost his balance and was sent flying by the immense force of Yang Duwei's sudden upward thrust. He rolled several meters through the air before finally regaining his footing. Drip, drip—bright red blood, like small snakes, dripped from his arm guards and fingers onto the ground.
Drops of blood cruelly bloomed on the yellow earth beneath their feet.
He had barely landed after flying out when Commander Yang charged in, accompanied by a tremendous burst of martial energy. His martial energy was neither dazzling nor vibrant, just like his own low-key presence, yet it completely captivated the eyes of tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides, holding them spellbound for a single moment!
At this moment, Commander Yang unleashed his full martial spirit, unleashing powerful and unrestrained attacks with complete focus and self-forgetfulness. In his eyes, the world was empty; there were neither the twelve thousand rebel soldiers besieging the city nor the garrison soldiers struggling to hold out on the city walls.
His eyes were only on Gongxi Chou.
To be precise, it was Gongxi Chou's fate!
Overwhelming fighting spirit made Commander Yang seem like a god of war in that instant, and even Gong Xichou suffered a great loss.
We have no choice but to accept this loss.
Another deafening roar shook the ground and gravel. The soldiers on both sides had their ears ringing and couldn't hear anything else. Shen Tang and the others were prepared and activated their methods to protect their ears, barely suppressing the nausea caused by the ringing.
Shen Tang said, "Are these two even human?"
Any one of them could shatter the walls of Xiaocheng with a single punch! They're practically walking meat tanks!
This time, Qi Shan and Chu Yao held down Shen Tang's shoulders.
The scene was thrilling, but Wu Lang/Shen Xiaolangjun's skinny frame shouldn't go down there and cause trouble; he didn't look like he could withstand even one punch from those two. Qi Shan said with a forced smile, "What else could they be but humans? Monsters?"
Chu Yao also chimed in, "Wu Lang, Wu Lang—please calm down. It's not time for you to go down yet."
Shen Tang couldn't help but look longing, murmuring, "One day, I too will have such powerful martial courage..."
Chu Yao: "..."
Qi Shan: "..."
They all had a very ominous premonition.
When Wu Lang/Shen Xiaolangjun had only literary talent and no martial prowess, he was already able to drive Yang Duwei, a tenth-rank Zuo Shuzhang, crazy. Now that he has martial prowess, won't he soar to the top?
The fierce battle off the field continues.
Gong Xichou took the full force of Yang Duwei's attack head-on. The veins on his forehead bulged from the force, the soft flesh of his cheeks taut like iron, and a three-zhang-diameter crater split open beneath his feet, with most of his calves sinking into the mud. As the two equally violent martial energies collided and exploded, yellow sand rushed into their faces, blinding them, and outsiders could not immediately see the situation of the two men.
All that could be heard were the clanging sounds of violent collisions of martial energy.
As the gust of air subsided, the yellow sand gradually dissipated, and the situation became clear to both armies, leaving everyone stunned.
Click, click.
Cracks covered the snake-scale armor, and the chest armor was mostly torn open, falling to the ground and revealing most of the well-defined, bulging muscles of the upper body. Gongxi Chou finally gasped for breath, sweat streaming down his forehead, soaking his tattered inner shirt.
Gong Xichou's upper body armor still provided some protection, but Yang Duwei was in a much worse state—his upper body armor and inner shirt were completely torn, his wounds were crisscrossed, and large patches of blood seeped from his skin, soaking the ground beneath his feet and pooling into small blood puddles.
Judging from appearances alone, the outcome is already decided.
That is indeed the case.
Unlike Gong Xichou, who still retained most of his fighting strength, Yang Duwei was at his last gasp. His breathing was heavy and labored, much like the hoarse sound escaping the throat of a dying beast. Every thrust was expended with all his strength, and every thrust aggravated all his wounds.
The upper body was covered with crisscrossing wounds, some of which were so deep that the bone was visible.
It's enough to make your scalp tingle.
My heart was tossed about by the rise and fall of his chest.
These injuries were inevitable.
Because Commander Yang attacked with all his might, disregarding any techniques or moves, neither dodging nor evading, trading injury for injury. Looking at Gong Xichou's wretched state, a gleeful smile appeared on his bloodied face, and he laughed heartily, "That's exhilarating!"
He added, "That was truly exhilarating!"
I've never felt so good before.
Gong Xichou smirked and gripped his cracked, dark green whip tightly—to be honest, this was the first time in his life he'd been beaten so badly, but instead of being angry, he felt a surge of joy! Yes, joy! A joy that came from the bottom of his heart, from the very depths of his soul!
It seemed that even the pent-up anger that had been building up inside him since the massacre of his clan had been completely dispelled at once. He felt completely refreshed, his mind was clear and lucid, and he couldn't even feel the pain from his wounds. Vibrant and surging martial energy coursed freely through his meridians.
Both armies were only concerned with their victory or defeat, but—
Gong Shuwu noticed something that annoyed him.
He muttered, "Is this even human?"
Shen Tang: "Yuan Liang said these two are human, not monsters."
Gong Shuwu's lips twitched: "Gong Xichou has broken through."
Shen Tang: "...Breakthrough on the battlefield???"
A walking meat tank plus? ???
Gong Shuwu nodded: "It's not just Gongxi Chou..."
Commander Yang also broke through his limits in this battle, overcoming a bottleneck that had hindered him for a long time, and is now an eleventh-rank Right Vice-Chief. Without this fierce battle, he probably would never have reached the threshold of the eleventh rank in his entire life. The further a martial artist advances, the more difficult it becomes.
No one noticed because their fight was so intense, their martial energy was surging and fluctuating, making it difficult to detect without careful observation.
Shen Tang: "..."
Gong Shuwu breathed a sigh of relief: "I should die without regrets."
Aside from not being able to live to protect the people in the city, I have no other regrets. However—that's how things are in this world; a perfect and fulfilling life is too hard to achieve.
From another perspective, Yang Duwei's ability to scout the path to the underworld ahead of time, allowing his family to reunite, could be considered a kind of "perfect ending." Gong Shuwu, reflecting on his own experience, couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow and couldn't bear to witness Yang Duwei's death.
On the other side, Gong Xichou also said, "I'm very happy too!"
This is what he, as a martial arts master, pursues.
What war, what interests, what life and death, none of them can compare to the exhilaration of fighting to the fullest. It's just a pity that the man who brings him this joy is about to reach the end of his life, and the opponent he finally found will soon be gone forever.
Life is so lonely.
The sound of the drums also carried a heavier, more sorrowful tone.
Captain Yang's eyes remained bright, showing no trace of the sorrow of impending death. His aura was unstoppable, and his fighting spirit soared. He squeezed out the last of his strength, unleashing a burst of power that shone like a golden crow, charging forward once more with unstoppable momentum.
only--
He was the fading light of the setting sun, while Gongxi Chou was still the blazing sun high in the sky. Just as waves crashing against giant rocks on the beach, no matter how powerful or unstoppable they may be, they will eventually be shattered! The war drums on the city wall paused for a moment.
The drumhead seemed unable to bear the weight, and the drum sounded mournful and hoarse.
It's all over.
Both Gong Shuwu and Zhai Le closed their eyes in unbearable pain.
Qi Shan and Chu Yao were also filled with emotion.
Especially prayers for good deeds.
He had done his homework before coming to Xiaocheng, thoroughly investigating all the capable people around the former prefect Yancheng, including, naturally, the information on Commandant Yang. This man was indecisive, mediocre in talent, and somewhat pedantic in character; he was just an ordinary person, not to mention leaving a name in history books, after a year or two, no one would remember who he was or what his name was.
His existence will be mercilessly erased by time.
Qi Shan sighed softly to herself.
Life is like this—
Before he could finish his reflection, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that someone was missing beside him. In that instant, his mind went blank, and upon hearing a faint gasp, he desperately wanted to jump down and grab Shen Tang back. Qi Shan cried out in terror, "Shen! You! Li!"
Chu Yao: "..."
He desperately needs a heart medicine right now.
Because something happened off the field that made his heart stop! Not only did Chu Yaoqishan need heart medication, but Zhai Le said he needed one too. With the final blow, Commandant Yang failed to kill Gong Xichou, meaning he would also die.
only--
The expected death did not come.
He felt his body being thrown in the opposite direction by a tremendous force, rolling several times on the ground before being caught by Zhai Le, who had reacted quickly. Commander Yang was startled and stared wide-eyed. Gong Xi Chou's fatal blow had not landed.
At the critical moment, it was blocked by a long sword—the blade was three feet and four inches long, and only slightly wider than two fingers, with nine golden dragons of different shapes wrapped around the hilt. Although the sword's design was simple, it could be described as "beautiful" overall.
A beautiful sword...
That's really rare.
Upon seeing that familiar longsword, the three people on the field all changed their expressions, but their reactions were completely different.
Commander Yang glanced at Shen Tang, then at the sword in Shen Tang's hand. His chest heaved violently, aggravating his wound, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. Zhai Le reacted immediately, crying out in horror, "Brother Shen!"
The upcoming battle is no child's play.
You could really die!
Gongxi Chou showed mercy last time, but he absolutely will not in a duel!
In contrast, Gong Xiqiu's reaction was much calmer.
He looked at his confidante, Mama Tang, who was blocking his way, and said with a hint of disappointment, "What is Mama doing out here at this time?"
He saved Zhai Le from his own hands last time, and now he wants to save Commandant Yang. Does he really think Yang won't have murderous intentions?
No, Shen Tang never thought so.
Pain in the tiger's mouth indicates disordered qi and blood.
He remained calm and said, "I'm repaying a debt of gratitude."
Shen Tang, who was facing Gong Xi Chou, knew better than anyone the killing intent emanating from the former, but he still had to do what he had to do.
Gong Xichou narrowed his eyes: "Repaying a debt of gratitude? A debt of kindness?"
Shen Tang said, "Because he gave me some money. For the sake of the money, I can't let him die here. Anyway, the outcome of your duel is already decided, so saving him now wouldn't be breaking the rules. As far as I know, duels only determine victory or defeat, not life or death. Being able to escape with one's life or be saved is the skill of the loser, right?"
For some reason, Gong Xichou recalled a fragment of memory.
He asked, "Give me money? Taxes?"
I remember that as soon as Commander Yang came up, he asked him if there was any interception of tax silver.
Yang, the captain who was half-dead, roared in anger.
"I didn't deliver it!"
(σ)σ:*☆Hey
This was the first time Tang Mei had summoned the "Motherly Sword" in front of Commander Yang.
I've got 3115 monthly votes. If I can reach 4000 monthly votes this month, will I get another chance to draw a prize...?
well
Data usage is so cold, it chills you to the bone.
(End of this chapter)
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