The rumble of the earth and the cries of battle mingled together. Those faint whimpers went unheard, ignored, as soldiers on both sides fought desperately.
Arrows rained down, filling the sky above the Central Pass. The trenches were already piled high with corpses, and the enemy was closing in on the walls.
Wave after wave of ferocious assaults battered them. The archers stationed at the flanks of the pass were growing less and less effective. The very thing Joseph Qiao feared had happened—the enemy was trying to overwhelm them with sheer numbers and break through the pass.
After letting an arrow fly, Joseph Qiao immediately ducked down from the watchtower and began shouting orders.
"Order the entire army to assemble—prepare for close combat!"
The soldiers, long drilled for this moment, began relaying orders down to the camps at the foot of the mountain. Three enemy battering rams had already reached the second trench. Waves of enemy archers unleashed a frenzied assault on the pass, and soldiers screamed as they fell from the ramparts.
But the enemy’s attack would not relent. They would come in wave after wave until holes were punched through the walls. Joseph Qiao, astride his horse and sword raised high, shouted commands as his troops assembled on the slope. Behind the ramparts, soldiers scrambled up to replace those wounded or killed.
Arrows could already be seen flying into the pass. Amid the chaos, Joseph Qiao rode back and forth, shouting for the gathered soldiers to spread out along both flanks.
Archers hidden in the forests on either side were also suffering heavy casualties. The enemy had stationed large numbers of archers on both flanks, and arrows crisscrossed the air. The worst was yet to come.
"The battering rams are at the base of the wall—destroy them with fire arrows!"
As a general atop the ramparts shouted, Joseph Qiao rushed toward the watchtower, dismounted, and scrambled up.
Halfway up, Joseph Qiao paused, silently watching as two battering rams rolled beneath the walls, the enemy swarming below. The soldiers on the ramparts were more than half lost, unable to hold the line.
"Keep shooting! Don't stop!"
The urgent shouts of Ji Chang echoed down. He looked agitated, grabbing arrows and firing down without pause.
With a resounding crash, a massive ram slammed into the wall. Joseph Qiao felt a faint tremor. Another heavy blow rang out, the sound stark amid the chaos of battle.
Joseph Qiao scrambled down, drew his sword from his waist. The left wall was starting to crumble, sand and stones raining down as the pounding continued. The enemy was tearing the wall apart.
"Take up your bows and follow me!"
After climbing down, Joseph Qiao led part of his troops toward the left wall. The soldiers on the ramparts were now few and far between, unable to stop the enemy's advance.
With another crash, Joseph Qiao grabbed his bow and aimed at a section of wall where cracks were spreading. Stones were exposed, the outer layer of sand crumbling away.
"Pick up your bows!"
Joseph Qiao kept shouting, glancing up at the watchtower—one general tumbled down, but Ji Chang remained.
"Ji Chang, get down, now!"
Joseph Qiao shouted as the cracked earth wall before him began to collapse, stones tumbling down. A thunderous crash sent up clouds of dust. Bow in hand, he quickly ordered the spearmen to move in—there were barely any soldiers left on the ramparts.
Some soldiers kept climbing toward the ramparts, but now they stayed behind instead of going up. Another breach opened in the central wall. After Ji Chang climbed down, he began organizing the troops.
As the dust cleared, Joseph Qiao loosed his bowstring—a single arrow whistled through the haze, striking an enemy. Instantly, a torrent of battle cries poured in through the breach.
A barrage of arrows shot toward the breach, turning the enemy charging in into pincushions. After another round of attacks, the enemy no longer dared to rush the broken wall under the intense fire.
"Counterattack!"
Joseph Qiao shouted, and the soldiers behind the ramparts climbed up, bows ready, launching their attack.
"Yusheng, more enemy battering rams are coming!"
With a sharp sound, Joseph Qiao drew the bone blade from his waist and shouted.
"Charge out with me!"
They could wait no longer. Once one breach was made, the enemy would open a second, a third—until the walls were completely destroyed.
In the instant they charged out, Joseph Qiao drove his bone blade into the throat of a terrified soldier holding a shield. Spearmen burst through the gaping hole, and the archers on the ramparts began firing into the distance.
With a roar, Joseph Qiao stabbed an enemy from behind and looked over—outside the central breach, Ji Chang was already leading his men in a charge.
The attackers wielded short-handled weapons, but more and more spearmen surged out through the breach. Joseph Qiao swung his sword and shouted.
"Drive them back! With me—drive them back!"
The archers caught in the middle, defenseless, were quickly skewered by spears. After stabbing a foe in the belly, Joseph Qiao's sword snapped in two. He shouted for the soldiers to keep charging.
A plan formed instantly in his mind. He began moving toward the pass, as waves of soldiers poured out, though their numbers were still far from enough. He had to hurry.
Returning inside the pass, Joseph Qiao shouted, untying the ropes at the gate, moving aside the stones, and ordered a full assault.
The enemy was already in retreat. This was their best chance. The waiting soldiers rushed to the gate, untying the ropes and scattering the stones. Many hurried over to clear them away, gradually revealing the gate. As it opened, Joseph Qiao grabbed a spear and charged out.
The enemy outside had begun to organize an effective counterattack. The scene was utter chaos, but things still favored their side.
"Move faster! Gather everyone here—we're about to decide the outcome!"
Liang Bing shouted as soldiers kept coming up from the foot of the slope. This was the critical moment—if the enemy didn't charge out, defending the wall to the end would only guarantee its fall.
Liang Bing, spear in hand, mounted her horse and shouted.
"Attack! Keep attacking! Don't retreat! Press the attack—take the pass!"
At the fourth trench, waves of fresh enemy troops surged forward, most armed with spears. Suddenly, arrows shot out from the forest.
Lei Huo led his men around the flank. After climbing up the trees, they began shooting.
The chaos deepened. After killing an enemy, Joseph Qiao's spear broke, so he grabbed a stone hammer, roaring as he smashed it into a shield-bearing foe. With a crash, the enemy fell. Joseph Qiao raised the hammer and struck down, then snatched up an arrow and stabbed it into another enemy's side.
Blood splattered—Joseph Qiao was covered in it. Only one thought filled his mind: drive the enemy down the slope, so they could repair the broken walls and clear the battlefield.
The enemy was far more tenacious than expected. Even after heavy losses, they kept flooding up the slope.
By now, Joseph Qiao had reached the fifth trench, his soldiers charging out behind him. Ji Chang was not far away.
Suddenly, Joseph Qiao felt a chill—a gaze. Someone was watching him. After stabbing an enemy, he dodged an attack. A towering foe was approaching, running and shouting.
Joseph Qiao instantly realized—it was the enemy commander.
"Ah...!"
Parrying the incoming spear, Joseph Qiao roared, kicked up an arrow, grabbed it, and stabbed it into the enemy's neck. Snatching the enemy's spear, he spun it around. With a crash, the enemy, eyes full of murderous intent, thrust his own spear. Joseph Qiao blocked, then retreated several steps.
"You must be Joseph Qiao. I am Liang Bing, Supreme Commander of the Wynn Domain."
With a roar, Joseph Qiao steadied himself. Two soldiers rushed in and were killed by Liang Bing's spear. Joseph thrust his own spear, but Liang Bing deflected it. The two began to grapple, eyes locked on each other.
Liang Bing burned with excitement—he hadn't expected to meet the enemy commander so soon. His cold eyes brimmed with killing intent. Though Joseph Qiao was smaller and less strong, he was agile and quick. Several rapid thrusts failed to land, especially with other soldiers interfering. Roaring, Liang Bing swung his spear at Joseph again.
With a whoosh, the spear swept past Joseph Qiao. He twisted aside, but still felt its power—his footing was shaky. Another enemy closed in, sword aimed at him.
With a sharp whistle, an arrow struck the attacking enemy in the head. Joseph looked left—Lei Huo was perched in a tree, stringing a second arrow. Sensing danger, Liang Bing retreated. Another arrow flew past. Joseph Qiao ducked and charged, spear thrusting at Liang Bing's neck.
But at that moment, Liang Bing suddenly kicked hard, sending a corpse flying. With a crash, Joseph Qiao's spear struck the body, throwing him off balance. Liang Bing's cold eyes glinted as he thrust his spear at Joseph. As the corpse hit the ground, the spear was already at Joseph Qiao's face.