Xiao Yichen's figure stood out like a solitary peak among the men in black. Despite the surging tide of enemies all around him, his eyes showed no fear, only an unwavering determination to protect. Each swing of his sword sent a spray of blood through him, and each turn skillfully evaded fatal attacks. His clothes were soaked in blood, indistinguishable between his own and the enemy's, but his blood-stained figure only made him appear more valiant.
Lin Wan'er followed closely behind Xiao Yichen, her eyes filled with worry and admiration. She knew that Xiao Yichen was under immense pressure, fighting against countless men in black all by himself. These men in black were like phantoms in the darkness, rushing towards Xiao Yichen from all directions. Their swords gleamed coldly in the sunlight, each glint a deadly threat.
The longsword in Xiao Yichen's hand seemed to come alive, dancing according to his will. When the black-clad man on the left thrust forward, he twisted his wrist, the blade coiling around the opponent's weapon like a serpent, and with a forceful twist, disarmed him. At the same time, the black-clad man on the right raised his knife to slash at his shoulder, but he remained calm, slightly shifting his body to avoid the blow, then using the hilt of his sword to strike the black-clad man's head, knocking him unconscious.
However, there were simply too many men in black; as soon as one wave fell, another surged forward. Xiao Yichen's strength was rapidly waning, but he gritted his teeth and persevered. He knew that if he collapsed, Lin Wan'er would be in dire straits. Only one thought occupied his mind: to protect Lin Wan'er, no matter the cost.
"General, be careful!" Lin Wan'er called out anxiously from behind. She saw that Xiao Yichen had several more new wounds on his body, blood flowing continuously, and her heart ached as if it were being torn apart. She wanted to help, but didn't know what to do, and could only stand by helplessly.
Just then, a man in black broke through Xiao Yichen's defenses and rushed towards Lin Wan'er. He held a short sword, his eyes flashing with cruelty, clearly intending to take Lin Wan'er hostage. Lin Wan'er's eyes widened in terror. She instinctively tried to back away, but her body crashed into the wall, leaving her with nowhere to retreat.
"Hmph, little girl, come with me!" the man in black said with a sinister grin, raising his short sword and thrusting it towards Lin Wan'er.
"No!" Xiao Yichen roared, a resolute glint in his eyes. Ignoring the attacks from the other men in black around him, he charged towards Lin Wan'er. Just as the short sword was about to pierce Lin Wan'er, Xiao Yichen arrived. He shielded her with his own body, the short sword plunging deep into his back.
"General!" Lin Wan'er exclaimed, tears welling up in her eyes.
"I'm alright, Wan'er, don't be afraid," Xiao Yichen said through gritted teeth. He endured the excruciating pain in his back and stabbed the man in black to death with a backhand strike. Then, he turned to face the other enemies.
Xiao Yichen was already severely injured, but his aura remained undiminished. His eyes became even sharper, like burning flames, instilling fear in the hearts of the men in black. He once again brandished his longsword, engaging the men in black in an even fiercer battle.
Seeing that Xiao Yichen could still fight despite his severe injuries, the men in black became somewhat flustered. They began exchanging glances, seemingly discussing a new strategy. One of the men, who appeared to be the leader, shouted, "Everyone, attack together! He can't hold on much longer!"
Then, the men in black launched another frenzied attack. They no longer fought individually, but formed a tight encirclement, simultaneously attacking Xiao Yichen. Swords and blades rained down on him, and he faced unprecedented pressure.
Xiao Yichen took a deep breath, concentrating all his energy to prepare for the next attack. His body swayed as nimbly as a willow branch in the wind, weaving between the swords and blades. He would sometimes parry with his sword, and sometimes use skillful footwork to evade the attacks. Each dodge and parry consumed a great deal of his strength, but he persevered stubbornly.
During a fierce exchange, Xiao Yichen discovered a weak point in the men in black's encirclement. Seizing the opportunity, he charged towards that spot. Like a ferocious cheetah, he broke through the men in black's defenses. The men in black were stunned by his sudden action and were momentarily unable to react.
Taking advantage of the situation, Xiao Yichen led Lin Wan'er towards a secluded corner of the General's Mansion. He knew that they might be able to find some temporary shelter there. His steps were unsteady, and the excruciating pain from the wound on his back almost made him faint, but the belief in his heart sustained him as he continued forward.
"General, your injuries are too severe. Let's find a place to hide for a while," Lin Wan'er said, supporting Xiao Yichen with heartache in her eyes.
"Alright, Wan'er, let's go." Xiao Yichen nodded.
They arrived at a small courtyard filled with clutter. The courtyard was surrounded by high walls, with only one narrow entrance. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er hid inside the courtyard, temporarily escaping the pursuit of the men in black.
"General, please sit down and rest for a while. Let me take a look at your wound," Lin Wan'er said. She helped Xiao Yichen sit on a rock and then carefully examined the wound on his back. The wound was deep, and blood was still flowing. Lin Wan'er's tears flowed again.
"Wan'er, don't cry, I'm not in pain," Xiao Yichen comforted her, trying to make his voice sound stronger, but his weak tone betrayed him.
Lin Wan'er tore a strip of cloth from her clothes and gently bandaged Xiao Yichen's wound. Her movements were very light, as if she were afraid of hurting him. While bandaging, she heard footsteps coming from outside the courtyard.
"General, they're catching up!" Lin Wan'er said nervously.
Xiao Yichen gripped his longsword tightly. "Don't be afraid, Wan'er, let's fight them."
At this moment, the men in black had arrived at the entrance of the courtyard. They saw Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, and smug smiles appeared on their faces.
"Hmph, let's see where you can run now!" said one of the men in black.
The men in black slowly entered the courtyard, their weapons gleaming coldly in the sunlight. They cautiously approached Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, seemingly wary of something.
Xiao Yichen stood up, his body swaying slightly, but his eyes remained fixed firmly on the man in black. He shielded Lin Wan'er behind him, preparing for the final battle with the man in black.
"You guys, come on!" Xiao Yichen shouted, his voice echoing in the courtyard, full of fearless courage.
The men in black were intimidated by Xiao Yichen's imposing aura, but they still charged towards him. Xiao Yichen once again brandished his longsword, engaging the men in black in battle. Despite his severe injuries, his swordsmanship remained sharp. Each swing of his sword wounded one of the men in black, but he himself also suffered a reopening of his wounds due to excessive force, and blood seeped out again.
Lin Wan'er watched anxiously from the sidelines, her heart filled with emotion at Xiao Yichen's tenacity. She knew she couldn't let Xiao Yichen fight alone any longer. She looked around and spotted a wooden stick. She picked it up and charged towards one of the men in black.
"You villains, you're not allowed to hurt the general!" Lin Wan'er shouted. She swung her wooden stick at the man in black, and although she wasn't very strong, she still managed to make him flustered.
Seeing Lin Wan'er join the battle, Xiao Yichen felt both moved and worried. "Wan'er, go back quickly!" he called out.
"No, General, I want to fight alongside you!" Lin Wan'er said firmly.
With the combined efforts of Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, the men in black were once again caught in a fierce battle. They hadn't expected Lin Wan'er to suddenly join the fight, and so bravely at that. They began to panic, and their attacks became chaotic and disorganized.
Just then, the guards from the general's mansion heard the commotion and rushed over. Seeing the general and Lin Wan'er fighting the men in black, they immediately joined the battle.
"Protect the general!" the guards shouted.
The arrival of the guards instantly reversed the situation. Under the combined attack of the general, Lin Wan'er, and the guards, the men in black began to retreat steadily. They tried to escape, but the guards of the general's mansion would not let them go easily.
After a fierce battle, the men in black were finally driven back. The general's mansion returned to peace, but it was now a scene of devastation, littered with blood and corpses.
As Xiao Yichen witnessed all of this, his heart was filled with self-reproach and guilt. He knew that it was all because of him that the General's Mansion had suffered such a great disaster.
"General, don't blame yourself. You've done your best," Lin Wan'er comforted him, holding Xiao Yichen's hand with tenderness in her eyes.
Xiao Yichen looked at Lin Wan'er and smiled slightly, "Wan'er, thank you. I'm so grateful to have you by my side this time."
Sweat beaded on Xiao Yichen's forehead, sliding down his cheeks and dripping onto the ground, raising tiny specks of dust. His eyes remained sharp, fixed on the man in black before him like an eagle's, but the veins on his hand gripping the longsword bulged from excessive force, showing the immense pressure he was under.
The men in black surged forward like a tide, their figures swirling and dancing in the sunlight, forming a black vortex. Each one was like a highly trained assassin, their movements swift and ruthless, their weapons flashing with a fierce wind, creating gusts of chilling sound. The clash of swords echoed in the air like the tolling of death's bell.
Xiao Yichen fought against multiple opponents, his swordsmanship flowing like clouds and water, each move precisely blocking the attacks of the men in black. He would sometimes sidestep an oncoming longsword, sometimes swipe his sword to deflect a short sword thrust at him, his figure nimbly weaving among the men in black. But as time passed, he could clearly feel his stamina rapidly draining away. Each swing of his sword required more strength than before; each dodge became increasingly difficult.
The men in black seemed to sense Xiao Yichen's fatigue, and their attacks intensified. One of them launched a surprise attack from Xiao Yichen's left, wielding a curved blade and sweeping it horizontally towards his waist. Xiao Yichen noticed the attack, whirled around, and parried the blade with his longsword. The swords clashed, producing a crisp sound, and the powerful impact sent a shiver down Xiao Yichen's arm.
Before Xiao Yichen could recover, two more men in black attacked from his right. One thrust his sword at Xiao Yichen's chest, while the other swept his chain towards his legs. Xiao Yichen gritted his teeth, leaping to avoid the chain attack on his legs, then sidestepping in mid-air to narrowly dodge the sword aimed at his chest. However, this series of difficult maneuvers had exhausted him, and he landed unsteadily.
"General!" Lin Wan'er called out anxiously from the side, her eyes filled with worry. She saw that Xiao Yichen had multiple wounds on his body, his clothes stained red with blood, while the men in black continued to surge forward as if there were no end in sight. Her heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, aching terribly.
Xiao Yichen steadied himself and shook his head slightly at Lin Wan'er, signaling her not to worry. He knew he couldn't show any weakness now, otherwise not only would his own life be in danger, but Lin Wan'er would also be in dire straits. He took a deep breath, trying to regulate his disordered breathing and refocus his energy on the enemy before him.
However, the attacks from the men in black showed no signs of abating, like a relentless storm. Like a pack of tireless wolves, they sensed their prey's weakness and pounced even more frantically. Under this dense barrage, Xiao Yichen gradually became overwhelmed. Although his swordsmanship remained exquisite, his strength was far less than before.
During a brief exchange, a man in black broke through Xiao Yichen's defenses, his longsword slashing towards Xiao Yichen's shoulder. Xiao Yichen tried to dodge, but his body reacted a fraction of a second too slowly. The blade grazed his shoulder, and blood gushed out, staining half of his body crimson.
"Ah!" Xiao Yichen couldn't help but cry out in pain, his face growing even paler. This strike had worsened his injuries and caused him to lose even more strength.
When Lin Wan'er saw Xiao Yichen injured, tears welled up in her eyes. "General, please stop hitting him! Let's think of another way!" she cried out.
Xiao Yichen did not respond to Lin Wan'er, a resolute glint in his eyes. He knew there was no other choice but to continue fighting. He endured the excruciating pain in his shoulder, raised his longsword again, and thrust it towards the man in black. Every step he took was incredibly difficult, but there was no sign of retreat in his eyes.
Seeing Xiao Yichen still resisting despite being injured, the men in black laughed. "Xiao Yichen, you're at your last gasp. Still trying to fight back? Today is your death day!" said one of the men in black, who appeared to be the leader.
As he spoke, the leader of the men in black personally joined the battle. He wielded a massive battle axe, which gleamed coldly in the sunlight, radiating a chilling aura. He strode towards Xiao Yichen, each step carrying a powerful sense of oppression.
"Hmph, come on!" Xiao Yichen responded coldly, his voice weak but full of defiance.
The leader of the men in black walked up to Xiao Yichen. He didn't attack immediately, but instead looked Xiao Yichen down with a condescending gaze. "You didn't have to die. If you had just handed over the General's Mansion's secrets, I could have spared your life," he said.
"Dream on! Even if I, Xiao Yichen, die, I will never submit to you despicable scoundrels!" Xiao Yichen roared angrily. He gripped his longsword tightly, preparing to meet the attack from the leader of the men in black.
The leader of the men in black sneered, "Then you can die!" With that, he raised his battle axe and brought it down fiercely towards Xiao Yichen. This axe strike contained immense power, accompanied by a whistling sound, as it pressed down towards Xiao Yichen's head.
Xiao Yichen felt the power of the axe blow and knew he couldn't take it head-on. He used all his strength to roll to the side, barely avoiding the fatal strike. But the axe still grazed his back, leaving another deep wound.
"General!" Lin Wan'er exclaimed, running towards Xiao Yichen without regard for her own safety.
"Wan'er, don't come any closer!" Xiao Yichen shouted, not wanting Lin Wan'er to be in danger.
But Lin Wan'er didn't listen to Xiao Yichen. She ran to his side and helped him to his feet. "General, we'll face this together," she said firmly.
Xiao Yichen looked at Lin Wan'er, feeling both moved and helpless. He knew that Lin Wan'er's courage might lead her to an irrecoverable situation, but he was also touched by her deep affection.
The leader of the men in black laughed when he saw Lin Wan'er running towards him. "Haha, it seems we can wipe them all out today." He raised his battle axe again and walked towards Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er.
At this critical moment of life and death, the guards of the General's Mansion finally arrived. Seeing the General and Lin Wan'er in danger, they immediately shouted and rushed towards the man in black. "Protect the General!" Their voices echoed in the air, filled with determination and resolve.
The arrival of the guards brought a glimmer of hope to the situation. They engaged in a fierce battle with the men in black, temporarily relieving the pressure on Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er. However, the men in black outnumbered the guards, and the guards gradually found themselves unable to hold them off.
Xiao Yichen knew he couldn't let things continue like this; he had to find a way to break the deadlock. He looked around, trying to find usable terrain or objects. Suddenly, he noticed a corner not far away piled with miscellaneous items, including some wooden barrels and planks. An idea struck him.
"Everyone, retreat that way!" Xiao Yichen shouted to the guards. He helped Lin Wan'er and walked towards that corner. Hearing Xiao Yichen's order, the guards fought their way back, converging in that direction.
Seeing Xiao Yichen and his companions' actions, the men in black gave chase, trying to stop them before they arrived. However, the guards fought desperately, buying time for Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er.
Finally, Xiao Yichen and his group arrived at the corner piled with miscellaneous items. Xiao Yichen said to the guards, "Everyone, pile up these wooden barrels and planks to block them!"
The guards immediately sprang into action, piling barrels and planks together to form a makeshift obstacle. The men in black pursued them, attempting to break through the obstacle, but were valiantly stopped by the guards.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Xiao Yichen sat down on the ground to adjust his condition. Lin Wan'er looked at him anxiously from the side, "General, how are you?" she asked.
"I'm fine, Wan'er, don't worry," Xiao Yichen comforted her. His voice was still weak, but there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
At this moment, a brief stalemate ensued. The men in black lurked menacingly outside the barrier, while Xiao Yichen and the others bought time to recover their strength inside. But everyone knew that this was only a temporary calm; the battle would soon resume, and they had to devise a better strategy before then, or they would still face certain doom.
In this predicament of overwhelming odds, Xiao Yichen and the people of the General's Mansion are fighting for survival. Their fate is like a candle flickering in the wind, swaying under the dark conspiracies and cruel attacks, but the flame of hope in their hearts has never been extinguished. It is their steadfast commitment to their homeland, their loved ones, and justice.
Lin Wan'er's gaze was fixed on Xiao Yichen's slightly weary yet still tenacious figure. Her heart ached as if pierced by countless needles. She knew that if this continued, Xiao Yichen would be exhausted to the last drop of strength by these men in black. Watching the increasing wounds on Xiao Yichen's body, the blood spreading like glaring red lines across his clothes, Lin Wan'er's eyes reddened, tears welling up, but she stubbornly held them back.
"I can't just hide behind the general anymore. I have to do something," Lin Wan'er said silently to herself. She bit her lower lip until it turned slightly white, and a resolute glint flashed in her eyes. She began to carefully observe her surroundings, hoping to find a way to help Xiao Yichen.
At this moment, the corner piled with clutter they were in had temporarily blocked the attack of the men in black, but this was only a stopgap measure. The men in black roared incessantly outside the barrier, brandishing their weapons, trying to break through the defenses erected by the guards. A tense atmosphere filled the air, and every second seemed to stretch on endlessly.
Lin Wan'er's gaze swept quickly through the pile of clutter. Suddenly, she spotted a somewhat worn but still sturdy long stick. Her eyes lit up, and she quickly ran over to pick it up. The stick felt rather heavy in her hand, but Lin Wan'er felt a surge of strength within her. She gripped the stick tightly, as if holding onto her last hope.
"I need to help relieve some of the pressure on the general," Lin Wan'er thought to herself. She quietly moved to the edge of the obstacle and observed the men in black outside through the gaps between the barrels and planks. She saw that the men in black were concentrating their attack on one point, where the guards were already struggling to hold on.
Lin Wan'er took a deep breath; she knew her chance had come. She suddenly burst from behind the obstacle and ran towards the area where the black-clad men were attacking most fiercely. Her action surprised everyone present, including Xiao Yichen.
"Wan'er, come back!" Xiao Yichen called out anxiously, his voice hoarse from exhaustion and tension. But Lin Wan'er did not hesitate at all; her eyes were only on the men in black trying to break through the defenses.
Lin Wan'er swung her long staff, striking a man in black who was attacking a guard. The staff whistled through the air and slammed into the man's back. Caught off guard, the man was thrown forward by the sudden attack, his weapon falling to the ground.
"Ah!" The man in black screamed. He turned his head and glared at Lin Wan'er. "You little brat, how dare you ambush me!" With that, he lunged at Lin Wan'er.
Lin Wan'er felt a pang of fear, but the thought of Xiao Yichen's injuries sustained while protecting her replaced her dread with courage. She raised her long staff again and charged towards the man in black. She mimicked Xiao Yichen's fighting style, using the staff to parry the man's attacks and then launching counterattacks.
Although Lin Wan'er's martial arts skills were not particularly refined, her sudden appearance disrupted the black-clad men's rhythm. The guards, encouraged by Lin Wan'er's actions, rallied, strengthened their defenses, and temporarily suppressed the black-clad men.
Seeing Lin Wan'er successfully repel the men in black, Xiao Yichen felt both gratified and worried. He knew that what Lin Wan'er had done was extremely dangerous, but her bravery also made him incredibly proud.
"Wan'er, you did a great job, but you must be careful," Xiao Yichen shouted.
Lin Wan'er nodded to Xiao Yichen, "General, I will." Her face was covered in sweat, but her eyes were unusually firm.
However, the men in black did not give up. They adjusted their tactics; some continued attacking the obstacles, while others surrounded Lin Wan'er. They clearly did not want this suddenly appearing young girl to ruin their plans.
Lin Wan'er felt a surge of nervousness as she watched the men in black approach. But she knew she couldn't back down. She gripped her long staff tightly, standing still and warily watching the men in black around her.
A man in black charged at Lin Wan'er first, wielding a short sword and moving with incredible speed. Lin Wan'er had no time to dodge and could only use her long staff to block. The short sword struck the staff with a crisp sound. The powerful impact made Lin Wan'er's arm go numb, and she almost lost her grip on the staff.
But Lin Wan'er didn't give up. She twisted the long staff forcefully, deflecting the short sword. Then, before the man in black could react, she swept the staff towards his leg. The man in black couldn't dodge in time and tripped over the staff, falling to the ground.
Seeing their companion tripped by Lin Wan'er, the other men in black became even more enraged. They charged towards Lin Wan'er, forming a circle around her. Lin Wan'er was trapped in the middle, her situation extremely dangerous.
Just as the man in black was about to attack Lin Wan'er, Xiao Yichen, disregarding his injuries, rushed out from behind the obstacle. Like an enraged lion, he pounced on the man in black. His longsword flashed with power, each strike aimed at the man in black's most vulnerable spot.
"You bastards, how dare you hurt Wan'er!" Xiao Yichen roared, his eyes filled with rage and killing intent. Under his fierce attack, the men in black panicked, and the encirclement loosened slightly.
Lin Wan'er was deeply moved when she saw Xiao Yichen come to her rescue. "General, you are injured, don't worry about me," she cried out.
“Nonsense, I won’t let you get hurt,” Xiao Yichen said, his tone unwavering.
While Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er were preoccupied with each other, the men in black launched another attack. They seemed to realize they could no longer give Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er a chance to catch their breath, and this attack was even more ferocious.
Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er stood back to back, facing the attacks of the men in black together. Xiao Yichen used his superb swordsmanship to block most of the attacks for Lin Wan'er, while Lin Wan'er did her best to assist him with her long staff. There seemed to be an unspoken understanding between them; in this life-or-death moment, they trusted and supported each other.
During the battle, Lin Wan'er spotted a wooden barrel in the distance, seemingly filled with liquid. A thought struck her. She called out to Xiao Yichen, "General, let's lure them to that barrel!"
Xiao Yichen immediately understood Lin Wan'er's meaning and nodded. Then, they began to move towards the wooden barrel, fighting and retreating simultaneously. The men in black pursued relentlessly, unaware of Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er's intentions.
Finally, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er retreated to the wooden barrel. Lin Wan'er picked up a long stick and struck the barrel hard, causing it to crack and spill liquid onto the ground. A pungent smell filled the air; Lin Wan'er knew it was wine.
"General, light the fire!" Lin Wan'er shouted.
Without hesitation, Xiao Yichen pulled a tinderbox from his pocket and threw it at the spilled wine. Instantly, flames erupted and spread rapidly. The men in black were startled by the sudden appearance of the flames and quickly retreated.
Some of the men in black were unable to dodge in time and were burned by the flames. They screamed and struggled in the fire. The fire grew larger and larger, forming a natural barrier that temporarily blocked the men in black's attack.
Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er took the opportunity to return behind the obstacle. They breathed a sigh of relief as they watched the black-clad man being blocked by the flames.
"Wan'er, you are so smart." Xiao Yichen praised, looking at Lin Wan'er with eyes full of love and satisfaction.
"General, you taught me all of this," Lin Wan'er said with a smile. Although her face was covered in sweat and dust, her smile was exceptionally bright.
However, they knew this was only a temporary relief. The men in black wouldn't be held back by the flames for long, and they had to devise a new strategy as soon as possible. Moreover, Xiao Yichen's injuries were worsening, and he needed immediate treatment. Despite these numerous difficulties, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er did not give up. Their eyes remained filled with a burning desire for victory and unwavering trust in each other; they would continue to fight for survival and justice.
The guards from the general's mansion also gathered around, their eyes filled with admiration as they looked at Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er. "General, Miss Lin, it's so good to know you're alright," one of the guards said.
"Everyone has worked hard. We cannot let our guard down and must continue the fight," Xiao Yichen said. Although his voice was weak, it carried an undeniable authority.
Illuminated by the flames, Xiao Yichen, Lin Wan'er, and the guards of the General's Mansion once again prepared for battle. They would face the challenges ahead and protect the General's Mansion and the justice in their hearts.
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