Chapter 005: The Turkic Invasion

"Can't you understand human language?" Cui Jingyu shouted

Duan Yiyun let out a furious roar, leading his soldiers at full speed, colliding with the Turkic cavalry at the forefront, and a fierce battle ensued

A sharp whistle sounded, and Danfei turned her head to see another Turkic soldier charging towards her on horseback, brandishing a sword.

Danfei touched her chest and calmed her breathing. After a long while, she lay down again, but she could no longer fall asleep

Danfei struggled desperately, unable to breathe. The man's grip tightened increasingly, and she could almost hear the creaking sound of her own throat bone.

That is the king of the deer in the mountains, possessing a pair of beautiful large antlers, its body as pure white as frost and snow, tall and robust, clever and cunning, yet so graceful and noble. Few hunters have ever seen it; its existence is like a legend

The warm, large hand of the father rested on her shoulder, his tall figure appearing like an ethereal shadow under the glow of the fire and the cover of the night. The wind swept the ashes between the two, and the flames painted the sky a deep red, as if they were immersed in a sea of blood

She cried out in terror

The Turkic soldier contentedly released his grip

Travel south without looking back... There, you will find everything you desire

Danfei sniffed. Hongling suddenly raised her head alertly, looking towards the northwest, and slowed her pace

Cui Jingyu bent down to lift an injured soldier onto the horse's back when he suddenly heard Duan Yiyun shout: "Be careful—"

This sentence, like ice water falling into a hot oil pot, instantly caused an outburst of exclamations

The city gate closed with a bang

Cui Jingyu twitched the corner of his mouth and shouted, "How old are you? Have you reached adulthood? Fighting is no child's play; swords and blades are blind. Hurry up and find a place to hide!"

Father's voice was deep and resonant, filled with concern

Danfei knelt in the snow, breathing heavily, her face pale, and her hand gripping the dagger trembled uncontrollably

"Afei?" Madam Chen lifted the curtain of the carriage, "What has happened again?"

Danfei raised an eyebrow, "Are you afraid? Shall we switch places?"

General Sha Zha has issued an order! The lieutenant stubbornly insisted, ignoring Duan Yiyun, and turned to command the soldiers, "Close the city gates!"

Cui Jingyu was astonished, furrowing her brows

The warhorse fell to the ground with a mournful cry. The Turkic soldiers angrily shouted and jumped off their horses. Danfei had already grasped the saddle, but suddenly his ankle was ensnared by a rope, and he was immediately pulled backward by a tremendous force

Cui Jingyu's face turned purple with anger, and he immediately lashed the horsewhip fiercely, charging towards Duan Yiyun, who was engaged in a fierce battle with the Turkic soldiers.

This is her first time killing someone

One large and one small figure traversed the forest, crossed the streams, and climbed over the hills, finally arriving at the mountain peak. Danfei stood on the rocks at the summit, as a warm breeze rustled past, mingling with the scent of charred wood in the air. She looked down and was horrified to discover that a sea of flames engulfed the area below!

In her dreams, she still appeared as a child of about ten years old, wearing the deer-hide boots made by her mother, carrying a bow and arrows, and closely following her grandfather as they wove through the forest

At this moment, the entire city of Shaming was also stirred, with countless soldiers hastily rushing up to the high city walls. The city gates were slowly closing. Duan Yiyun, clad in military attire, rushed to the top of the city and shouted angrily at the gate officer: "There are still civilians who have not entered the city, why are you closing the gates?"

Arrows whizzed past, grazing the ears. Countless civilians fell to arrows, filling the heavens and earth with dying screams and desperate cries. Horses neighed, weapons clashed, and the battle grew increasingly brutal

Danfei lunged towards Hongling, when another arrow shot towards her, and she swiftly dodged. In a moment, the Turkic soldier had closed in behind her. Danfei did not have time to mount her horse; she drew her dagger, crouched to evade the blade, and fiercely slashed open the belly of the Turkic warhorse.

A gust of north wind swept in, carrying the flurries of snow that had fallen from the treetops. The icy snowflakes landed in Danfei's collar, causing her to shiver involuntarily.

"My lord, where shall we go next?" The survivors, having endured the calamity, are filled with fear and unease

Danfei made a decisive decision, jumped onto the donkey cart, and prepared to drive forcefully into it

A sharp sound echoed in his ears. Cui Jingyu turned around, and two arrows collided right before his eyes, creating a burst of sparks.

The Turkic soldier struck down a woman in one swift motion. The woman did not even have time to scream before she suddenly fell to the ground, her hot blood splattering half of Danfei's body

scared silly

Danfei was concealed among the bushes on the mountainside, gazing down the slope with a serious expression

As the carriage drove out of the city gate, a sudden flutter surged in Danfei's heart, prompting her to instinctively pull on the reins

A voice filled with arrogance and indifference emerged

In the next moment, an arrow pierced the back of a Turkic soldier. The man let out a loud cry and fell from his horse. Danfei lay down in the snow as the uncontrollable horse leaped over her.

The massive and sturdy city gate slowly closed. Madam Chen's figure and cries were also shut behind the gate. The citizens who had not yet managed to enter the city let out desperate cries.

The citizens who could not escape into the city scattered in panic. The Turkic cavalry charged recklessly, and although Duan Yiyun led his troops to resist, countless civilians still fell victim to the Turkic blades. The air was filled with their anguished cries, and blood stained the white, pristine snow. The snowfield was momentarily as brutal as a hellish battlefield.

Father! Duan Yiyun's eyes were bloodshot.

It was a chill that instinctively sensed danger, like a cold wind blowing from behind, causing one to shudder

Danfei hesitated for a moment, shook her head, made a gesture, and then turned to run towards the forest

"Afei!" Mrs. Chen let out a piercing scream

Not only the travelers on the official road, but also the common people living outside the city were all alarmed, rushing towards the city gate in a competitive manner

The red dragon whinnied not far away. Danfei came to her senses, rolled over, jumped up, and ran wildly.

Cover the civilians entering the city! Duan Yiyun led a team of soldiers charging out of the city

As the Turkic army was about to approach, the horn was already sounding at the city gate, calling Duan Yiyun and the others back to the city

Danfei rode on Hongling, fleeing with a group of common people. Several Turkic cavalrymen encircled them, attacking anyone they encountered. A man running ahead of Danfei was struck by an arrow from the front, screaming as he fell from his horse

Cui Jingyu's heart raced as he suddenly pulled the reins and shouted: "Come back quickly!"

Tossing and turning until dawn, Danfei got up, served her mother breakfast, and then prepared to leave the city to pay respects to her deceased father

Behind them, the city gate was slowly closing again

"How dare you!" Duan Yiyun shouted angrily, striking the lieutenant down with a single punch. "As long as I, Duan Yiyun, am here, who dares to abandon the common people outside the city to their deaths?"

The next day is the Laba Festival. Madam Guo and Madam Chen got up early and began to select various grains and beans in the house, preparing to make Laba porridge. Danfei came over to pay her respects and helped her mothers pick the beans together

Having spoken, they cast a reluctant glance at Shaming City and quietly departed along a hidden path with a group of people

The common people outside the city were momentarily taken aback, but soon understood and began to rush towards the city gate without a care for anything else

The sound of the horn was followed by another, carrying a fierce and domineering sense of invasion. This is no longer a simple small-scale plundering as in previous years. This should be a fierce invasion!

Mother, hold on tight! Danfei is closely following the horse-drawn carriage on her red Ling.

The man’s eyes were wide open in shock, his mouth agape but unable to produce a sound. He futilely clutched at the bloody wound on his throat, collapsing into the snow. He convulsed for a moment, then took his last breath.

The pedestrians on the official road were in a state of panic, shouting in alarm, and hurriedly turned their horses and carriages back towards Shaming City

Danfei suddenly awoke, gasping for breath

Indeed, Lady Dan is thoughtful.

Danfei shook her head and stood up unsteadily

"What is the matter?" Mrs. Chen asked, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Danfei yanked the reins fiercely, dodging the incoming arrows. Hongling tripped over a corpse on the ground, and Danfei shouted as she fell to the ground. A Turkic cavalryman galloped past her, swinging a bloodied saber. Danfei suddenly dropped down, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow

The captain shouted loudly: "The Turkic army is only a few miles away from the city. General Sha Zha has ordered to prepare for battle at the city gates!"

Dan Fei Jun Se Dao: "Nowadays, I fear that there are Turkic soldiers everywhere; only by heading into the mountains can we find temporary refuge. Come with me."

The blood stained a large area of snow red, a vivid and glaring crimson. Danfei felt dizzy, her limbs momentarily weakened, unable to stand up.

Cui Jingyu understood her meaning. Since it was too far away, it was unlikely that she would make it back in time, so she had no choice but to seek another escape route

Afi

Yeye took her to hunt deer, and they were looking for a completely snow-white deer

However, how could there be such a large herd of horses in the cold winter months?

Yay! Yay

The disordered common people finally found a clue and fled towards the Southern Mountain under Danfei's guidance

Danfei rode his horse and shot arrows, shouting: "Villagers, do not run around. All of you head south and hide in the mountains! Hurry!"

Weapons are raised, warhorses neigh, and soldiers are fighting fiercely. The mountains and forests, as well as the houses, are all consumed by raging flames, and everything resembles a hell on earth

The small vehicle slowly drives along the snow-covered road. The city gate gradually recedes behind.

Mother, we must return to the city!" Danfei said anxiously, "Hongling is perceptive and would not act out without reason; it must have sensed some danger.

The cavalry led by Duan Yiyun engaged in battle with the Turkic soldiers, resulting in significant casualties on both sides. Cui Jingyu's swordsmanship was inferior to that of the Turkic soldiers, but his archery was exceptional, providing assistance from the side as countless enemies were shot down from their horses

The long knife strikes in the snow

"Mother, hold on tight! You go into the city first, and I will come to find you later." She raised her dagger and stabbed it fiercely into the donkey's rear.

What happened? Danfei bent down and patted its neck

The flames of the Torch Festival burned brightly throughout the night, and as dawn broke, one by one, the lights were extinguished. Shaming City returned to its former tranquility.

Dan Fei made a decisive move and fiercely struck the donkey pulling the cart. The donkey, in pain, let out a startled cry and began to gallop with the cart. Madam Chen fell inside the carriage, calling out loudly for her daughter

The soldiers turned their horses around and galloped back

Danfei felt relieved. The city walls were solid and thick, and there were heavy troops stationed within the city; Shaming City was a secure fortress

The donkey cart had just been running for a moment when everyone heard a deep and resonant horn sound coming from behind the distant hill. In that place, a flurry of snow was kicked up, as if a demon had rolled out from the ground, causing the accumulated snow to burst forth.

The man cursed in Turkic, pulling on the rope. Before Danfei could get up, he was dragged down again. A massive shadow loomed over him, and his throat was tightly gripped by a pair of rough hands

The gale rushed towards her. Danfei grabbed a handful of snow and threw it across, seizing the opportunity to roll away

At the very moment when the city gate was about to close completely, a sudden commotion erupted from within the gate. In an instant, a figure leaped into the air, kicking aside the soldier who was closing the gate, and stepped out over the heads of the people.

What should we do? Upon seeing this, Madam Chen was also frightened to the point of shedding tears

At the moment when the city gate was breached by the crowd, a dark mass of Turkic troops appeared on the hillside several miles away. Steel arrows rained down, arriving before the cavalry, instantly drawing back the curtain on the massacre. The civilians struck by arrows fell to the snowy ground, screaming in agony. The crowd became even more frenzied and chaotic, filled with cries and the sight of blood.

Seeing that the journey was difficult, Dan Fei made a decisive decision and helped her mother onto the donkey's back

Dear daughter, if you wish to hunt down the White Deer King, you must head south

The massive city gates slowly closed. Danfei rushed to the gates with her mother, only to see thousands of citizens congesting the road. Someone accidentally fell to the ground, and was immediately trampled by the crowd, unable to rise again. The people emitted desperate cries, sounding utterly tragic.

"The Turks are attacking the city!" a man shouted in terror.

The items for the worship ceremony were loaded onto a donkey cart. Madam Chen sat in the cart, while Danfei rode a horse. The mother and daughter took advantage of the dim morning light to exit through the back door of the Liu family.

When Danfei heard the sound of the horn, it was as if struck by lightning, and the color drained from her face.

Madam Chen hesitated and said, "But today is the anniversary of your father's death..."

Dan Feidao: "We will take the official road. At the end of the year, there are many merchant caravans coming and going, all loaded with goods. Traveling light and unobtrusively is actually better for us."

Cui Jingyu shouted in exasperation as he rushed into the city gate along with Duan Yiyun and the others

The donkey, in agony, began to run wildly, breaking through the crowd in the blink of an eye and charging into the city gate

On the distant hillside, a handsome young man waved to him from afar. He had just saved her, and now she had saved him. The two of them were even.

Cui Jingyu reined in his horse before Dan Fei, looking down at her from a position of superiority, his clear black eyes revealing a hint of impatience. Dressed in military attire, with a longbow in hand and a tall, upright figure, he exuded a strong and masculine aura. This made Dan Fei regard him with newfound respect.

A Turkic cavalryman discovered Danfei. Sensing the danger approaching from behind, Danfei hurriedly rolled to the side, and the arrow struck the snow. The Turk was surprised and let out a whistle, pursuing with great interest.

That is the sound of the Turkic cavalry's horn

Hong Ling displayed an anxious expression and unexpectedly came to a halt. Dan Fei let out a surprised gasp, continuously soothing her horse. However, Hong Ling refused to take another step.

At the very moment she opened her mouth, Danfei felt the tremor coming from the earth. It was a sensation she had been familiar with since childhood—a vibration transmitted by the pounding of thousands of horses.

Cui Jingyu's pupils constricted sharply, in disbelief

"No," Danfei shook her head, "Perhaps I am overthinking it. Let us go."

The dinner that evening was quite lively, as the Liu family of three gathered together and also invited Mrs. Chen and her daughter. After the meal, they set off a round of fireworks in the courtyard before dispersing.

Danfei came to her senses and shook her head. She looked around, and the winter countryside appeared desolate, with white snow blanketing the mountains and fields, only the traces of cart wheels marking the road. People who had left the city were making their way along the official road. Most of them were southern merchants, rushing to return home for the New Year with the last batch of goods. The snow-covered countryside looked vast and silent, with nothing amiss.

Having said that, without allowing her mother any hesitation, Danfei immediately ordered the coachman to turn the carriage around and head towards Shaming City

"Afei has long been prepared," said Madam Chen. "Tomorrow, I will leave the city with her early in the morning, striving to return before nightfall."

Jing Yu!" Duan Yiyun urged.

"Are you injured?" asked Cui Jingyu

"Yeye also does not want the two of us to take risks, does he?" Danfei said anxiously, "Let us return to the city now, and we can go out to pay our respects once things have settled down."

Two years ago, when her father led the militia to fend off the Turks, she and her mother hid within the city. This was the first time in her life that she found herself on the battlefield, confronting slaughter and death

"Afi." Mrs. Chen lifted the car window to look at her, "What is it?"

The arrow shot from the side intercepted the arrow aimed at his back!

Since there is nothing to be done, we should quickly escape. The Turkic army will be upon the city in a moment!" Cui Jingyu said, drawing his bow and shooting down a Turkic soldier who was approaching them.

The Turkic army is pressing forward, presenting a state of siege around Shaming City

Her father personally crafted a small bow and arrow for her, holding her hand to teach her how to draw the bow and shoot. He took her into the mountains, teaching her to hunt, to set traps, and how to discern the movements of wild animals from their tracks and droppings. Little Danfei was a qualified hunter, able to hunt deer by the age of ten

Mother ... ... "Danfei hesitated to speak.

Three Turkic soldiers riding on horseback were consecutively struck by arrows and fell from their horses

The room was silent and pitch dark, with only the white deer lamp by the bedside emitting a faint, starlit glow

Danfei dreamt of her biological father again. He appeared just as he did in life, tall and handsome, with a bright smile on his face. His broad and strong hands lifted her high into the air

At this moment, as the city gate is being opened, all those waiting to exit the city are crowded in front of the gate. The official is loudly urging people to line up properly, checking the exit documents in turn. Anyone who appears to be suspicious is taken aside and questioned repeatedly.

Outrageous! Duan Yiyun shouted, "How can we disregard the common people? Even if it comes to the last moment, we must allow them to enter the city. Leaving them outside the city will only leave them at the mercy of the Turks!"

Danfei looked at the woman's wide-open eyes, gasping in fear.

The person rushed past Danfei. Danfei clearly saw the person's appearance and was taken aback.

"Tomorrow marks the anniversary of Lord Cao's passing," Lady Guo said. "Have the incense, candles, and paper money for the offerings been prepared?"

Danfei let out a whistle. The red-winged horse galloped over. Danfei deftly removed the bow and knife from the body of the Turkic soldier, leaped onto the horse, and then extended his arms, drawing the bow, releasing a volley of arrows like shooting stars.

"Return to the city!" Duan Yiyun shouted as he struck down an enemy soldier with a single blow.

The Turkic soldiers surged over the hills like a swarm of ants, encircling the city of Shaming. The battle horn echoed across the sky

General Duan angrily said: "Quickly prepare for battle, do not make any mistakes! The matter of your refusal to obey orders just now will be addressed after the war!"

Danfei turned her head and cast a proud and provocative glance at him, then without even looking, she drew her bow and released an arrow. The arrow pierced through the throat of a Turkic soldier

Danfei lit the white deer lamp and placed it by the window. She lay on the bed, touching the dagger left by her biological father at her pillow, and fell into a peaceful sleep

Life has taught Danfi many lessons. The appearance of the Turkic scouts often signifies the imminent arrival of Turkic cavalry

That is the scouting eagle of the Turks

Enough with the nonsense! Dan Fei exclaimed, "You go support Duan Yiyun, and I will evacuate the civilians!"

It would be better to bring along a few more servants.

When it was the turn of Danfei and her daughter, the official recognized Danfei and did not make things too difficult for them. After asking a few questions, he allowed them to leave the city.

"If the city gates are not closed, the lives of the entire population will be at stake!" General Duan, whose arrival was unknown, roared, "Send the order down, close the city gates!"

This is not the sporadic raids by Turkic marauders that used to occur from time to time, but a genuine war. The Turkic Khan has assembled a formidable army, advancing upon the sands, brazenly encroaching upon the territory of the Tang Dynasty

The red mare neighed restlessly, raising her front legs to kick. Danfila tightened the reins and looked up at the sky. Several black dots were gliding high above.

In that very moment, the dying girl suddenly leaped up, bending her knees to deliver a fierce kick to the man's groin. As the man doubled over in pain, the dagger hidden in the girl's sleeve slipped out, a flash of silver cutting through the air. The man felt a chill in his throat, and blood gushed out violently.

Danfei experienced severe convulsions, followed by a complete loss of strength, and her eyes became vacant.