Chapter 8, Hostage-taking

These damn bastards. My bloodied teeth are about to shatter. Send someone to call for reinforcements

The soldiers around me fell one after another, only to be quickly replaced by others, their bodies rapidly piling up into a wall

"Of course, if it were us, we would do the same!" Qi Tianyou shouted, "Fang Bao, your horse is fast. Take someone with you and immediately go to request reinforcements!"

This won't do! Qi Tianyou shouted back: "They are not those bear tribe warriors! Their purpose is not to steal food, but to destroy it!"

"Push the burned cars aside, hurry up! You bunch of rookies!" shouted an angry cavalry lieutenant.

Several new recruits, in a flurry of activity under the command of the officer, disregarded the flames and valiantly pushed the vehicle ignited by the torches away from the convoy, ultimately managing to contain the fire

The white tassel and black armor, along with the visor helmet, are their symbols; the golden spear glimmers with the afterglow of the blazing sun, radiating boundless intent to kill

At that moment, new shadows appeared on the distant horizon, and once again, a cavalry unit emerged before everyone's eyes

So this is how it is?

The vast universe granted him a chance for rebirth, and he did not know what that meant, but he understood: only a life earned through his own efforts truly belongs to him

I see you dare, but she is...

I saw it! ... ... Qi Tianyou, your people are charging from their flanks!

"Heng Changshun, the officer of Henglu, is right over there, next to the carriage in the middle; the one on horseback is him." A soldier pointed out the direction to Qingshui.

The sharp cold gleam of the Huya dagger was less than one centimeter from the woman's throat, and her lightly brushed, startled gaze was filled with terror as she looked at the blood-soaked soldier. Qingshui Qing lowered his voice and shouted, "If you dare to take another step forward, I will kill her"

You dare! Heng Changshun shouted and took action

At that moment, the heart soaked in blood also grew cold

With a blood-soaked hand, he severed his head: "Anyone who dares to flee, this is your fate! Remember, on the battlefield, never turn your back to the enemy! Otherwise, you are merely hastening your own death!"

A visage as beautiful as a flower appeared before the crowd, that flash of stunning brilliance had already fiercely pierced towards the exquisitely delicate jade neck.

Heng Changshun is a robust man in his thirties, with scars on his face that indicate he is a seasoned veteran who has experienced the trials of battle.

Qianshuiqing has met with the travel officer, and I am here on the orders of the Muwei Academy to request that the travel officer dispatch troops for reinforcement. Qianshuiqing arrived before the horse did. With a sudden, sharp neigh, Qianshuiqing, covered in blood, had already fallen off the horse. Immediately, soldiers came to help him up.

More than ten bolts of flying electric light struck fiercely at the chest of an attacking knight, who continued to charge for several dozen meters before finally collapsing. Immediately after, another cavalryman fell during the wild charge.

What else is there?" Heng Changshun asked angrily

Hurry and go reinforce! The shallow waters are roaring fiercely

A river of blood has formed ahead, and the convoy of five hundred people in the rear has finally begun to move.

In the next moment, a rain of arrows once again shot into the air like a swarm of locusts. The blazing sunlight was obstructed by the cloud of arrows, causing the sky to flicker intermittently, resembling a light bulb with unstable voltage.

Among the distant cavalry, a rider in white robes stood out like white snow on a dark mountain, calm and elegant. However, the owner of the white robe bore a face full of fierce killing intent, his delicate features distorted to an extreme degree. A slightly sharp voice trembled as it emitted a cold, clear sound: "Kill"

Deploy the siege engines, archers advance, calibrate the distance to 120 meters, indiscriminate fire, release!

... ...

In the next moment, they were already within arm's reach

The powerful voice awakens the fierce battle spirit, drenched in blood, shouting: "Fight to the end, never retreat!"

The iron hooves strike the ground, like flowing stones hitting a waterfall, stirring up the surroundings, the momentum of the onslaught is as unstoppable as a mountain flood

One torch after another arrived in succession, and the flames began to spread fiercely like a prairie fire. In the blink of an eye, a large cart was engulfed. A soldier cried out in despair, beating at the flames on his body. By the time the fire was extinguished, he had already turned to char.

Unbeknownst to him, this phrase repeatedly echoed in Qianshuiqing's mind. His thoughts were clear, and he only knew that he had to kill, to fight fiercely and kill, carving out a realm of life amidst this blood-soaked darkness.

He smiled slightly and said, "Since that is the case, perhaps I, a humble person, have a way to resolve this matter."

Three thousand new recruits have begun to initially adapt to the state required for combat: they are starting to learn how to relax, adjust their body posture, and even occasionally share a few jokes to mask and alleviate the tension within.

Gazing at the five hundred departing warriors, Qianshuiqing could no longer contain the surging blood within his chest and abdomen, and with a cry, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood

Qian Shuiqing immediately took a step forward, walking to the window of the carriage. Heng Changshun frowned upon seeing him approach the carriage without greeting, but ultimately said nothing.

In terms of strength, they may not be as formidable as the bear tribe warriors; however, in terms of fighting spirit, they are by no means inferior to the former. Furthermore, in terms of formation arrangement, tactical command, and the number of soldiers, they far surpass the bear tribe warriors

This name astonished everyone

You are talking nonsense! Qianshuiqing scolded loudly

"Run!" a new recruit finally shouted

Then, a voice in the carriage sighed: "So that's how it is... You are called Qianshuiqing, right? I truly apologize; I want to help you, but... I am powerless. I am just a protected person. General Heng... he is not under my command."

A soldier replied loudly: "This is an order from above, and we have no choice. You can go and speak to them yourself."

At this moment, looking back at the battlefield, the cries of battle resound through the heavens, as blood-soaked warriors fall one after another. The elite cavalry of the one embracing the flying snow possesses exceptional horsemanship and superb martial skills. That general in white, under the clear blue sky, is like a deity descending from the heavens, exuding an awe-inspiring presence. Wherever he goes, flesh and blood are scattered, and wails of sorrow fill the air.

Although there are many fallen knights, even more knights are charging forward with greater speed and ferocity, drawing ever closer

As he spoke, he intentionally or unintentionally touched the gold medal on his chest

"Damn it! They have at least two thousand people! Perhaps Bao Feixue has sent out all his three thousand cavalry!" shouted a furious cavalryman.

The shallow water, clear and cold, cast a glance at Heng Changshun, revealing a hint of disdainful mockery in the eyes of Fang.

The cavalry of the Flying Snow Guard surged forward like a tide amidst a rain of arrows, stirring up clouds of dust and carrying an imposing momentum as they launched a vast and formidable attack

When the crisp sound of 'bang' echoed, it was Qi Tianyou's crescent spear colliding with Bi Kongqing's snake gun, creating a dazzling burst of golden sparks that radiated intense and brilliant light

Those were eyes so bright that a single glance would make them unforgettable, resembling the stars in the night sky, captivating and enchanting.

A glint of ferocity flashed in Heng Changshun's eyes: "Kid, I don't want to argue with you, but if you dare to speak nonsense again, be careful that I will break your bones. You probably don't know what I exchanged for this position of travel officer, do you?"

He sighed, for the one sitting in the car was unexpectedly a young girl, a girl with a melodious voice who should not have appeared on this battlefield of slaughter

Qian Shuiqing flew alone to this moment, shouting angrily: "A bloody battle ahead, a retreat behind, do you consider yourselves soldiers of Iron Blood Town?"

You!!! Heng Changshun's eyes were bloodshot. That streak of blood clearly indicated to Heng Changshun that this rookie, whom he referred to as a novice, was indeed capable of doing anything.

Mu Xue looked in astonishment; it was indeed the new recruit Qian Shuiqing, who had been praised by Qi Tianyou.

"It is shallow water, Qing. You must immediately go to the back and bring those five hundred people up for reinforcement! I don't care what method you use, but you must not let those guys leave!" Qi Tianyou shouted frantically.

As Qi Tianyou stated, the second cavalry unit deployed in a whirlwind formation, no longer wielding long spears and sharp blades, but rather holding bright torches. Over a thousand torches formed a massive fire dragon, charging towards the grain convoy with an overwhelming force that seemed capable of incinerating all living things. Fearless of death, they sacrificed their lives to break through the cavalry's blockade, solely to throw the torches in their hands. Over a thousand torches formed a massive fire dragon, charging towards the grain convoy with an overwhelming force that seemed capable of incinerating all living things. Fearless of death, they sacrificed their lives to break through the cavalry's blockade, solely to throw the torches in their hands.

Although his time in the military has not been long, he is still somewhat familiar with the legend of the knife-patterned gold medal

If you do not wish to die, then you must also use these corpses as shields and engage in endless resistance time and again

"Then we will hold our ground for three days," Mu Xue declared. "I know these bastards; they won't stop until they have killed us all! They are making such a big fuss, and it is certainly not just to destroy the grain." He thrust his spear, piercing an enemy's chest, then dodged a cavalryman's lunge, turning to thrust again, this time into the horse's belly. The warhorse let out a mournful cry as it fell, and before the cavalryman could rise, he was hacked to pieces by the swarm of sword and shield bearers.

Heng Changshun coldly glanced at him and then said: "I am tasked by the flagbearer to protect important individuals on their journey to Panshan. My mission is to ensure the safety of the key person in the vehicle at all costs. As for the safety of the supply convoy, I truly have no power to assist."

The blood-soaked eyes narrowed, narrowing further, becoming as small as needles

Heng Changshun was furious, but at that moment, the person he was protecting was in his hands, leaving him no choice but to comply

"Mu School, there are too many of them, we cannot hold them off!" Fang Bao shouted, his arm already bearing an additional wound, a testament to a cavalryman's spear. However, Fang Bao did not hesitate to pierce through both his and the book's chest.

Charge! The sound of blood-soaked battle echoed with a rugged, heroic tone

Qian Shuiqing smiled lightly and said, "This method is actually very simple, it is to... hijack you."

Several sword-and-shield warriors charged forward, only to be met by a swift sweep of a spear from Qingzhen, which shattered their iron shields, sliced through their necks, and sent blood spraying into the air.

Qian Shui let out a faint sigh

"Do you think that if they kill us all, you will be able to escape?" Qianshuiqing shouted.

The Iron Cavalry of the Flying Snow Guard charged towards the grain convoy with a wild demeanor that seemed to shatter the void, engaging in a powerful collision with the thousand bloodied elite riders for the first time

Remember: Defeat, there are no excuses. The only cost of failure is death

"It is the cavalry of the Water Stop Kingdom!" someone shouted loudly

Different objectives lead to different tactics

A flash of cold light pierced the sky, drawing a rainbow of flowing colors, dazzling the eyes of onlookers and shattering windows and doors

to ! ''

He sighed, for he ultimately had to make a difficult choice. Had the passenger in the car not been a woman, perhaps this choice would not have been so difficult.

"You must hold on until we return!" Fang Bao shouted fiercely

Embrace the Flying Snow

The members of the Tiger and Leopard Camp and the personal guard squad of Bao Feixue have engaged in combat twice, and both sides are already well acquainted with each other's strengths and weaknesses

Wait a moment! The shallow water is calling out loudly

He was able to move freely and carry out wanton slaughter even under the full-scale assault of Qi Tianyou

Heng Changshun quickly clasped his fists and replied: "I am but a humble person, not a general. You may simply call me Heng Changshun. It is not that I do not wish to help, but our numbers are truly too few. Even if we were to go, it would be like a drop in the bucket, utterly futile. If we do not take this opportunity to leave, I fear we may bring disaster upon ourselves. I am not afraid of dying on the battlefield; I fear failing to protect you. If we were to be defeated and something were to happen to you, that would be an unforgivable sin."

Every warrior adorned with a gold medal bearing the mark of a blade is a true master! That medal is earned through the blood and lives of their enemies, and it is vastly different from ordinary medals

In the shallow waters, a pang of pain struck my heart as I turned to look at Heng Changshun and said, word by word, "Who is the important figure in the car that is deemed more significant than the provisions for our four thousand soldiers and twenty thousand iron-blooded troops?"

Then, he stood up

Which one is your head

Qianshui Qing respectfully greets Your Excellency, hoping that Your Excellency will graciously permit my subordinates to participate in the battle, to protect the military provisions and our troops. Qianshui Qing expresses profound gratitude for Your Excellency's great kindness

Amidst the piercing thunderous winds, a thousand iron-clad cavalrymen advanced with steady strides, beginning to enter the blood-soaked battlefield ahead

"It is the leader of the Snake King, Bi Kongqing. Damn it, I saw that guy. Everyone else is in black, but he is dressed in white. That son of a bitch, why is he still alive!" Fang Hu shouted angrily

"It is!" shouted Fang Bao, casually pointing to a cavalryman. The two of them swiftly mounted their horses and galloped away towards the rear.

However, they are not moving forward, but rather backward

A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he fixed his gaze on Qianshui Qing, his voice low and icy: "Kid, if anything happens to the young lady, I will make you remember what it means to regret being alive"

A gentle voice, like that of a lark in a secluded valley, emerged, and its owner said: "General Heng, can we really not go help them?"

"Head, look!" Fang Hu exclaimed.

Qi Tianyou!" Mu Xue shouted once again

A large number of cavalry gradually withdrew to their positions, dismounting from their steeds and driving the horses to fill the gaps in the chariot formation. They raised their spears and equipped themselves with triangular shields, forming a dense thicket of weapons.

He is like a god of death, traversing the battlefield with unmatched prowess.

The pale and heroic howls resonate across this land, filled with the rising blood and imbued with colors of resilience and grandeur. The blood of the warriors boils, accompanied by layers of piercing screams, sweeping through the vast sky

His three thousand Iron Guards traverse the land, and their combat strength is certainly not inferior to any unit of the Dragon Tooth Army

He sighed, for the world is full of helplessness; a single person's life can indeed be worth that of countless others.

On that medal, a vivid bloodstain from a knife slash caught the eye, and a sudden chill ran through Qingshui's heart.

They must quickly evacuate the battlefield; the situation of the grain protection team is indeed dire, and it is very likely that they cannot hold out for even a day

Dense spears stood like a forest, cold armor glimmering with a chilling light. They were a group of humanoid killing machines, strong, cruel, cold-blooded, and frenzied. Like a pack of vicious wolves, they relentlessly devoured everything before them.

Qianshuiqing's attention finally turned to the luxurious carriage in the middle, adorned with a weeping mandarin duck flower, engraved with the emblem of a gun and shield, and drawn by eight fine steeds.

At the moment when the two cavalry units clashed, a tremendous sound erupted, as if a tornado had risen from the ground, sweeping in all directions, blood splattering, and lives rapidly fading away. Both sides consisted of battle-hardened warriors, and each encounter inflicted tremendous casualties on the other, so severe that it caused deep sorrow in the hearts of all who witnessed it

The convoy of five hundred has already set off, with a food protection team blocking the front. They have ample time to retreat

A glimmer of light flashed past the car window, reminiscent of the twinkling of stars

She knelt down heavily in front of the carriage, sinking deeply into the shallow water.

... ...

The cavalry, at the cost of casualties, staunchly prevented the enemy's advance, providing the archers behind them with several additional rounds to fire. A volley of whistling arrows, burning through the clouds and shattering the momentum of the pastoral fields, surged towards the vast celestial realm, propelled by a fierce wind, piercing the chests of the still-watered iron cavalry

Then, he let out a furious roar: "Everyone be careful! That is the personal guard of Bao Feixue! Feixue Guard!"

After this battle, if the enemy does not retreat, let your troops disperse among the new recruits according to their respective units for deployment. Those new recruits need leadership to maximize their combat effectiveness. You yourself... must also await the deployment from Principal Mu

The third cavalry unit finally made its appearance at this moment

A long sigh echoed from within the carriage

Heng Changshun ... ... what a magnificent display of strength!

Without uttering a word, Qianshui Qing'er leaped onto the warhorse and galloped fiercely towards the rear.

... ...

Commander of the Triple Heavens, General of Jingyuan City, and the foremost general of the Kingdom of Zhishui, Bao Feixue

Fight to the end! Never retreat! All the soldiers shouted together

Taking a deep breath, Heng Changshun stepped back a few paces and finally shouted, "All troops, heed my command! The target is the forward position. Reinforce our soldiers! Fight to the death and do not retreat!"

That palm unexpectedly stirred up a thousand waves of blood within his body

The iron hooves struck the ground, thunderous roars echoed, the earth trembled, and a line of black shadow appeared at the far end of the horizon. In the blink of an eye, it had magnified, moving with the speed of a whirlwind, charging forth with a momentum reminiscent of swirling remnants of clouds.

Qian Shuiqing looked at everything before her, her heart had already begun to feel numb

His spear has unknowingly thrust and retracted countless times amidst the forest of weapons, stained with the blood of many, and he himself cannot clearly recount it

The tiger's tooth in hand drooped weakly.

If it were not for this person, perhaps the Kingdom of Tianfeng would have perished long ago, not just ten times.

With a grand gesture, five hundred elite soldiers immediately formed ranks and surged forward with a powerful momentum, fiercely charging towards the front lines.

The long spear soldiers began to emerge from the formation, raising their spear tips upwards in preparation to fend off the rampaging cavalry that could break through at any moment

Heng Changshun let out a cold snort: "Kid, I am also someone who has crawled through the battlefield. If Mu Xue cannot hold off Feixuewei for even a day with these four thousand men, then he truly has lived in vain. It seems that Bi Kongqing and Feixuewei have been waiting here for quite some time, but he clearly did not expect that this time Mu Xue brought along three thousand new recruits to escort the supplies; otherwise, it would have been much easier for him. With the addition of those three thousand new recruits, it will not be so easy for him to secure an easy victory. We have ample time to leave, and we can set off only after they depart."

Fight to the end! A young voice passionately calls out the wild ambitions of the heavens, awakening the indomitable spirit within the body and igniting a will of steel

He has long been intolerant of those who stand by and do nothing in the face of death

The strike capable of shattering stone surged with immense power and crashed into Qingshui's back. Qingshui did not flinch or evade, but instead braced himself to endure this thunderous blow, causing his entire body to fly onto the carriage, pinning the beautiful woman inside beneath him

Find a trustworthy person to call for reinforcements, and have them come to our aid immediately, as the enemy may send more troops at any moment

The nearest city from here is a day and a half's journey away, and it takes three days for a round trip" Qi Tianyou shouted back

It is cavalry, at least a thousand cavalrymen, clad in dark armor with white tassels atop their heads. Beneath the iron helmets that cover their faces, pairs of bloodthirsty eyes burst forth with a violent intent to kill. This is the resentment accumulated over a century of enmity, fully unleashed at this moment.

Advance to the formation! Switch to full defensive mode! Mu Xue finally, unwillingly, issued the command to retreat and defend. Fortunately, the Thousand Cavalry Guards were seasoned veterans, not in a hurry to fall back. Instead, they spontaneously formed a tight formation, using their bodies to block the enemy's advance, buying time for their comrades to retreat

The chilling cries of anguish, the unwilling howls, the soaring blood, and the heroic scene of men falling from their horses together create a tragic tableau

Heng Changshun shook his head: "You do not need to know"

"Do not tell me who she is! Even if she is the daughter of the Wild King, Princess Tianfeng, if you do not send reinforcements, I will still kill her with one strike!" Qianshuiqing shouted loudly. With a slight exertion, Huya left a blood mark on her snow-white neck. Amidst a faint sound of pain, a trickle of fresh blood slowly flowed out, drawing a vivid red line between her snow-white skin and silver neck.

Oh? The voice inside the carriage sounded a bit excited: "What method are you talking about? If I can help, I will definitely assist."