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Just past the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), the sky was still as black as ink, but a faint gray-white tinge had begun to appear on the eastern horizon, foreshadowing the approach of dawn.

Wang Bodang's 3,000-strong feint force was advancing on the official road leading to Liyang.

The road was once flanked by fertile farmland, but now it is overgrown with weeds due to years of war. The waist-high withered grass rustles and moans in the night wind, adding to the desolation.

The troops deliberately maintained a state of outward relaxation but inward tension. Torches flickered sparsely in the wind, casting intermittent light on the soldiers' tired and tense faces. Many flags were displayed, but most were tattered and flapped in the night wind, barely creating the illusion of a large-scale military operation.

The wheels creaked and groaned as they rolled over the uneven road, mingled with the low groans of wounded soldiers. All the sounds were amplified and echoed across the desolate wilderness, pounding on everyone's nerves.

Wang Bodang rode his warhorse, walking in the middle of the column. His wounds throbbed with pain from the horse's jolting, but he frowned, forcing himself to endure the discomfort. His gaze constantly scanned the unfathomable darkness on either side of the road. The wind in the wilderness carried a biting chill, whipping up dust and bits of dry grass that stung his face. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and decaying grass, along with an invisible, unsettling sense of oppression.

"General,"

A lieutenant rode closer and said in a low voice, "The scouts report that there is nothing unusual ten miles ahead. But... this is too quiet."

Wang Bodang nodded slightly; his intuition was also sending out warning signals.

It's so quiet.

Even the usual chirping of insects and calls of birds had vanished, as if all living things in this world had sensed the danger and hidden themselves away long ago. Only the sound of the wind remained, ceaseless and endless.

"Pass down the order: quicken your pace and remain vigilant. Especially on the flanks, keep a close watch on those bushes and low hills!"

Wang Bodang knew that the mission of his isolated army was to act as bait, to attract Wang Shichong's attention and buy time for the Wei princess to advance south. He was prepared to die, but he hoped that his death would be worthwhile, and that he could delay the enemy for as long as possible.

The column continued forward, but the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. The soldiers subconsciously gripped their weapons tighter, quickened their pace, and their formation unconsciously became more compact, losing some of their feigned nonchalance.

After traveling another five or six miles, the sky seemed to brighten a bit, and the outlines of undulating hills in the distance could be vaguely seen, resembling crouching giant beasts. The official road narrowed slightly here; to the right was a dense forest of dead trees, their bare branches reaching towards the sky like ghostly claws; to the left was a dry riverbed, strewn with rocks, and beyond that, endless desolate meadows.

suddenly!

"Whoosh!"

A whistling arrow suddenly pierced the night sky with a sharp cry, its mournful sound seeming to tear apart the black curtain of heaven!
"Enemy attack! Raise your shields!"

Wang Bodang's roar erupted almost simultaneously with the sound of the arrow!
However, it was still too late.

The next moment, a deafening battle cry erupted from the withered woods on the right side of the road! Countless dark figures surged out of the forest like ghosts, and arrows rained down like a storm! The dense whistling sound instantly drowned out the wind!

"Puff puff!"

The dull thud of a blade piercing flesh, the thud of a shield being struck, the screams of soldiers falling from arrows, the neighing of warhorses startled... all sorts of sounds mingled together in an instant!
The front and middle sections of the Wagang army were thrown into chaos! Most of the torches were extinguished by the rain of arrows, the light dimmed abruptly, and figures swayed wildly in the darkness, with people falling down screaming in agony.

"Don't panic! Form a circular formation! Move towards the center!"

Wang Bodang roared at the top of his lungs, wielding his long spear to deflect several arrows aimed at him. His personal guards quickly raised their shields, protecting him in the center.

At the same time, countless torches lit up on the dry riverbed to the left, illuminating the densely packed enemy figures. They surged across the riverbed like a tide, rushing towards the flank of the Wagang Army! The heavy footsteps and the clanging of armor merged into a terrifying sound wave, and the earth trembled slightly.

An ambush! And a premeditated double ambush!

Wang Shichong's army was not completely deceived. At least one elite force had already anticipated their movements and set a deadly trap!
"They are Wang Shichong's elite troops from the Jianghuai region!"

Some veterans recognized the approaching enemy from their attire and fierce tactics, their voices tinged with despair. The Jianghuai Army was Wang Shichong's most skilled and battle-hardened force, renowned for its bravery and ruthlessness.

The Wagang Army was caught off guard and engaged in battle hastily. Although they were all veterans, they were exhausted after the disastrous defeat at Tongshan, with many wounded. Suddenly attacked and outnumbered, their formation immediately fell into chaos. Before their circular formation could be fully formed, they were fiercely cut in and divided by two enemy forces!
The battle instantly escalated into its most brutal melee phase. Blades flashed wildly in the dim light of dawn and firelight, the sounds of clashing metal, roars, screams, and shattering bones filling the air. The stench of blood permeated the air, overwhelming the smells of dust and withered grass.

Wang Bodang's eyes were bloodshot with rage. The enemy was clearly well-prepared, with far superior numbers, and had chosen the most advantageous terrain for their surprise attack. He brandished his long spear, charging left and right like a mad tiger. Each strike of his spear sent up a spray of blood as he tried to stabilize the lines and reconnect the fragmented troops.

"Come closer to me! Come closer to me!"

His roar sounded so faint in the chaotic battlefield.

But the Jianghuai army's attack was simply too fierce. They coordinated perfectly, with swordsmen and shieldmen pressing forward, spearmen thrusting from behind, and archers hurling arrows from afar, reaping lives indiscriminately. The Wagang soldiers fought desperately, often trading one or two enemy casualties for each one who fell, but the enemy seemed endless, constantly surging in from the darkness and across the river.

As dawn broke, the pale light of day barely illuminated this carnage. The scene before them was suffocating: the official road and the wasteland on either side were littered with layers upon layers of corpses, many riddled with arrows. Blood soaked the dry earth, forming patches of dark red mud. Severed limbs were everywhere, and the groans of the dying echoed endlessly.

Wang Bodang's personal guards were dwindling, and several deep knife marks appeared on his armor, blood seeping from beneath the torn plates. He looked around, his heart sinking. Of his three thousand men, more than half had already perished, confined to a narrow section of the official road; annihilation was only a matter of time.

"Wang Bodang! Prepare to die!"

A thunderous roar erupted! The enemy forces parted, and a burly Sui general, clad in heavy armor, charged out on horseback, wielding a massive spiked club, heading straight for Wang Bodang! The general was none other than Lang Feng, a fierce warrior under Wang Shichong!
Lang Feng's face was ferocious, his eyes flashing with bloodlust. His spiked club, accompanied by a whistling sound, crashed down on Wang Bodang with the force of Mount Tai!

Wang Bodang gritted his teeth and bravely raised his long spear to block!

"clang--!"

A deafening clang of metal clashing rang out! Wang Bodang shuddered violently, his hand splitting open, blood instantly staining the shaft of his spear. He was already injured and weaker than usual, while Lang Feng, having rested and prepared, delivered a powerful and heavy blow that nearly knocked him off his horse! His warhorse also let out a mournful neigh and staggered back several steps.

"Hahaha! The Wagang bandits are nothing but this! Tong Shan didn't die, but today this place will be your burial ground!"

Lang Feng laughed wildly and raised his spiked club again. Wang Bodang, panting heavily, glanced at his men who were still struggling and falling one after another, a resolute look flashing in his eyes. He knew that he probably couldn't complete the delaying mission entrusted to him by Lord Wei.

But he must at least tear off a piece of flesh from the enemy!
"Men of Wagang, fight to the death, never retreat!"

With all his might, Wang Bodang let out a heart-wrenching roar, urging his warhorse forward recklessly, and charged at Lang Feng with his spear!
Hearing their commander's roar, the remaining Wagang soldiers around them seemed to be injected with a powerful stimulant. Their previously scattered fighting spirit was rekindled, and they let out a final roar, colliding wildly with the surging enemy!
...............

As dawn broke, the brutal scene of this carnage became even clearer—corpses lay strewn about, broken halberds and spears were stuck in the muddy pools of blood, and those who were not yet truly dead groaned in pain, their cries mingling with the howling of the cold wind.

Wang Bodang was covered in blood, his armor shattered, and each breath aggravated his numerous wounds, the excruciating pain nearly causing him to faint. He leaned against the long spear embedded in the ground, barely managing to stay upright. The last hundred or so remnants of the Wagang army stood back to back in a small circle, putting up a futile and desperate resistance. Lang Feng's Jianghuai army surrounded him layer by layer, pressing forward relentlessly, their blades gleaming with a cold, icy light.

Lang Feng himself did not personally take action again. He reined in his horse and stood on the outside, a smug smile on his face, enjoying the last struggle of the Wagang Army.

"Wang Bodang! Why make our men sacrifice themselves in vain? Lay down your weapons, and I might grant you a proper burial!"

Lang Feng's voice was filled with smug arrogance.

Wang Bodang spat out a mouthful of blood, hissing, "Wagang... has no cowards who live on their knees! Kill me if you want, don't even think about it..."

Before he finished speaking, a sudden change occurred!
A powerful pressure emanated from the air, making it seem heavier.

The oppressive aura did not originate from the battlefield, but rather from a low but rather steep hill to the side and rear of the battlefield.

The sky had brightened a bit more, and objects a hundred paces away could now be vaguely seen. At the top of the mound, two figures had silently appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.

A woman dressed in a light blue outfit, covered by a moon-white gauze robe, stood tall and slender, her long, black hair flowing like a waterfall, gently swaying in the rising morning breeze. Her face was exquisitely beautiful, but at this moment her delicate brows were furrowed, and her clear, autumn-water-like eyes were looking down at the tragic battlefield below, revealing a clear sense of pity.

But what truly shook everyone who noticed them was the person beside her.

He stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in a simple blue robe, exuding an air of refined elegance. He looked to be no more than thirty years old, his expression calm and composed, as if he were strolling leisurely in his own courtyard.

However, those deep, star-like eyes merely swept across the battlefield, yet they seemed to contain a supreme will that saw through all things and disregarded life and death. He stood there, his figure not particularly imposing, yet he seemed to merge with the mound beneath his feet and with this world, naturally becoming the center of the world.

The two men's appearance was so abrupt, yet so natural, as if they had always been there. The two sides, locked in fierce combat, were momentarily stunned, and many soldiers subconsciously slowed their movements, looking at the mound with suspicion and uncertainty.

Lang Feng also noticed the two men, especially when the man in the blue robe's indifferent gaze swept over him. He felt a strange unease, as if he had been glanced at by some primordial beast. But he immediately flew into a rage. Who were these ignorant martial artists who dared to spy on the army's battle?

"Where did this coward come from! Daring to spy on our army's formation? Get out of the way! Otherwise, you will be killed without mercy!"

Lang Feng raised his whip, pointed towards the mound, and shouted sharply, trying to dispel the inexplicable unease.

Yi Huawei seemed not to have heard his shouts at all. He didn't even glance at Lang Feng, his gaze calmly sweeping across the battlefield, watching the lives that were still fighting and still falling.

Shan Wanjing tilted her head slightly, looking at Yi Huawei with a questioning look in her eyes.

Yi Huawei took a light step forward.

This step, however, was not taken on a solid mound, but rather it was taken in mid-air, as if there were invisible steps supporting him, his figure was as graceful as a cloud, and he slowly rose into the air about three or four zhang above the ground!

His green robes fluttered slightly in the wind as Yi Huawei hovered above the mountain of corpses and sea of ​​blood.

Just then, the dawn broke through the clouds, and a ray of golden light shone down, enveloping him as if gilding him with a sacred and inviolable halo. The soldiers below had to crane their necks to see his calm and indifferent face.

At this moment, everyone, whether it was the Jianghuai Army launching a frenzied attack or the remnants of the Wagang Army desperately resisting, was stunned by this miraculous scene!

The sounds of fighting, shouting, and screaming miraculously subsided, and countless eyes converged on the figure standing in mid-air, filled with shock, bewilderment, and disbelief!

Lang Feng opened his mouth wide, the words of rebuke stuck in his throat, his eyes wide as copper bells, almost doubting that he was dreaming.

In that moment of utter silence, when heaven and earth fell silent—

Yi Huawei parted his lips slightly, and a calm yet supremely majestic and powerful voice clearly reached the ears of everyone on the battlefield below—no, it resounded directly in the depths of everyone's heart and soul!
"stop."

The two simple words, like an invisible giant bell, swept across the entire battlefield the moment they were struck, silencing all noise and cleansing the killing intent, fighting spirit, and madness in everyone's hearts!

"Om-!"

All the soldiers, whether they were raising their swords to strike, raising their spears to thrust, or fighting to the death, felt at that moment an indescribable and irresistible force descend from the sky, as if an invisible hand had forcibly soothed all their intense emotions and extinguished all thoughts of fighting.

"Bang!"

A crisp metallic sound rang out.

It's like a signal.

Then, "Clang! Clang! Clang...!"

Countless soldiers' arms went weak and numb, unable to grip their weapons any longer. Knives, spears, swords, halberds, bows, crossbows… even shields slipped from their hands and fell, crashing to the cold ground with a series of crisp sounds. (End of Chapter)