Chapter 119: Rescue

Seeing the arrows raining down upon them, the three shouted, "Retreat!" and scrambled back into the house. At that moment, the front gate, unable to withstand the heavy bombardment, collapsed with a thunderous crash. It was densely studded with arrows, a sight that made one’s heart shudder in alarm.

Murong Yan dived into the house, but suddenly remembered her Peach-Blossom Horse was still outside. "Oh no!" she cried, and turned to rush back out. The Silver-Bearded Guest and Xue Yingxian, unaware of the reason, followed her out to protect the commander. Battling the incoming feathered shafts, the three of them managed to drag the horse safely inside.

As the arrow storm showed no sign of stopping, they wondered if they were simply sitting here waiting for death. Before long, the barrage shattered the roof tiles, and more and more arrows pierced through into the room. Outside and inside, the ground was littered with the bodies of fallen enemy soldiers, their pained groans still echoing intermittently. The three of them, parrying the arrows, felt a chill run through them at the gruesome scene.

Xue Yingxian, his temper flaring, cursed in anger, "Staying here is waiting for death, and charging out is a dead end anyway. We might as well rush out and fight them to the bitter end!" He was just about to charge out on his lame leg when the Silver-Bearded Guest grabbed him firmly. "Xian'er, don't panic! Listen, do you hear anything outside?"

Xue Yingxian cocked his ear to listen. After a moment, he looked puzzled. "Master, other than the sound of the enemy's arrows and their shouting, there is nothing else!"

However, joy appeared on Murong Yan's face. "No, there is a sound! Another troop has arrived!"

The Silver-Bearded Guest nodded, "Commander Murong’s perception is profound indeed! But I wonder if this troop is friend or foe?"

The three listened intently, and the sound of the approaching force grew louder. Soon, they heard the clash of weapons and mutual shouting. Suddenly, the arrows stopped, and silence descended upon the room. Overjoyed, the three cried, "Reinforcements have arrived!" They grabbed their weapons and charged out.

In the distance, Xiao Ling and Li Yiqing were leading a troop, locked in fierce combat with the enemy. The three of them immediately joined the fray, wielding their weapons like three ferocious tigers. The enemy, already struggling to hold their ground, could not withstand the onslaught of these three tigers. "Oh, daddy, mommy, run for your lives!" they shrieked, scattering in all directions.

Seeing the situation turning against him, Du Anxun whipped his horse and fled. Murong Yan, her willow-leaf brows raised and almond eyes wide, cursed, "You dog, where do you think you're going?" She spurred her horse and gave chase.

As she closed the distance, Murong Yan raised her embroidered velvet blade, ready to strike him down. Suddenly, Du Anxun looked back and threw something bright and glittering, shouting, "Murong Yan, take my flying sword!"

Startled, Murong Yan pulled back, hovering her blade in mid-air to parry the incoming hidden weapon. When the object neared, she struck it with her blade. With a crisp "clang," it was split into two pieces. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was only a piece of white jade from a belt.

Murong Yan was fuming. "Du Anxun, you are truly cunning! Using a scrap of jade to scare me!" She also silently reproached herself: *I have been through countless battles, yet I was frightened by a mere trinket.* When she spurred her horse to resume the chase, Du Anxun was already far away, leaving her full of regret.

Suddenly, a black shadow streaked past. It was the Silver-Bearded Guest, moving with the speed of lightning, and in the blink of an eye, he was before Du Anxun’s horse.

"Old Sage, catch him! Don't let him get away!" Murong Yan shouted in delight, urging her horse forward.

Before she could reach them, Du Anxun tumbled from his horse and fell to his knees with a thud. "Old Sage, spare my life! I, Du Anxun, will never do evil again!" He kowtowed repeatedly, begging bitterly, while his left hand stealthily reached for a small dagger at his waist.

"Old Sage, watch out!" Murong Yan cried out. Simultaneously, she raised her embroidered velvet blade and struck down with all her might.

A flash of cold light, a spray of blood—before Du Anxun could even let out a sound, his head fell to the ground and rolled away. His corpse collapsed with a thud, his left hand still clutching the gleaming dagger.

"This wicked thief is truly treacherous!" The Silver-Bearded Guest, disgusted, kicked the body, sending it flying several feet away.

Murong Yan stepped forward, picked up the severed head, and wiped the blood off on the ground. Regardless of its filth, she tied it to her saddle. "My father-in-law was killed by this very scoundrel! If he hadn't incited Feng Rusong to besiege Black Earth City, my father-in-law would not have starved to death. Today, I will bring this head back to offer in his memory!"

She then turned to the Silver-Bearded Guest and bowed. "Old Sage, why not return to the camp with me to talk?"

The Silver-Bearded Guest waved his hand. "Commander Murong, you are too kind. I, an old man, will not interfere in your affairs." He performed a one-handed salute and departed.

Unable to force him to stay, Murong Yan ordered her troops to march without delay toward the enemy camp. This time, the entire army was filled with high morale, sweeping back like a whirlwind.

Far ahead, the enemy camp stood before Black Earth City. Murong Yan organized her troops, who drew their long blades, and she took the lead. Seeing her soldiers looking fierce and determined, she nodded to herself.

She spoke loudly, "Soldiers! I once considered the Dream Lotus Mountain faction as allies against foreign aggression, and I held back for their sake. But they have colluded with the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom, dreaming of invading our homeland and taking Black Earth City. How can we tolerate this? Think of how many of our people have died at their hands! How many of our families have suffered because of them! We can endure no more! We must have our revenge!"

The soldiers, filled with grief and indignation, cried out in response, "Revenge! We want revenge!"

Murong Yan raised her embroidered velvet blade high, pointing toward the front. "Charge! Kill them all!"

She spurred her horse, and the Peach-Blossom mare galloped so fast that she quickly left the ranks behind. Suddenly, a signal rang out, and the enemy officers shouted in a panic, "Fire! Fire!"

A hail of arrows flew like locusts. Murong Yan remained calm, dancing her blade to deflect the incoming shafts. In an instant, she reached the enemy barricades. With a pull of the reins, her horse gave a long whinny, leaped into the air, and soared over the fence, plunging straight into the enemy ranks.

The enemy soldiers fled in terror, but were driven back by their own rear guard, who cut down several retreating men. With no choice, they returned to surround Murong Yan, brandishing their weapons.

"Those who stand against me will die! Those who yield will live!" Murong Yan shouted, her voice like a bell. She swung her blade in a whirlwind of steel, cutting through the enemy as if slicing through vegetables. The soldiers were terrified and dared not approach.

As the enemy rear guard tried to force them forward, Xiao Ling, Li Yiqing, and the cavalry arrived. They charged in like demons, their weapons flashing, throwing the enemy into a panic.

"Brothers of Dream Lotus Mountain! Do not throw your lives away for Feng Rusong and Du Anxun! You joined the righteous army to resist tyranny and the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom! But now, they have betrayed you to establish a puppet regime and collude with demons. Do not be deceived any longer! Lay down your weapons!"

These words acted like a spell, and the enemy soldiers’ expressions changed. One by one, they dropped their weapons and raised their hands. Even the rear guard, unable to maintain order, surrendered their steel. Some even turned their weapons around to join the fray.

Murong Yan rode forward, commanding, "Lay down your arms and surrender!" Soon, the entire enemy force had surrendered and become prisoners.

Just as Murong Yan was counting the captives and searching for Feng Rusong, she saw a snowflake-dappled horse flash past behind a tent and flee into the distance.

"Don't run! After him!" Murong Yan abandoned the prisoners and set off in hot pursuit. Xiao Ling followed close behind, fearing for her safety. Li Yiqing, meanwhile, remained calm, brandishing his Golden Dragon Claw and shouting at the captives, "Don't... don't... don't move! Whoever... whoever... whoever moves will... will... will not live!"

Back to Murong Yan, who was closing in on Feng Rusong. She shouted, "Feng Rusong, stop running! You are at the end of your rope! Surrender, and I will spare your life, assuming you were merely bewitched by Du Anxun!"

Feng Rusong, sweating profusely, looked back and cursed, "You little vixen, stop chasing! Even if I die today, I will never surrender! At worst, I'll take you down with me!" He grabbed his Treasure Carved Bow, drew an arrow, channeled his internal energy, and fired.

Murong Yan, in mid-pursuit, heard the wind whistle. She saw the arrow coming and swung her blade. With a "clang" and a shower of sparks, she deflected it.

"Feng Rusong, you dare use sneak attacks? This only adds to your crimes! Today, I will not spare you!" Infuriated, Murong Yan pushed her horse even harder.

"You little vixen, don't push me too far! If I escape today, I will settle this with you another day!" Feng Rusong drew another arrow, channeled his energy, and shot again. With a "whoosh," the arrow flew like lightning toward Murong Yan.

"Clang!" Murong Yan parried the shot once more.

"Feng Rusong, you are still resisting at such a desperate hour. It seems there is no keeping you alive!" Murong Yan was now truly enraged.

Feng Rusong, his scalp tingling, drew a third arrow. As he pulled the bow, he put too much force into it. With a sharp "crack," the Treasure Carved Bow snapped in two.

Feng Rusong felt a wave of despair. *Treasure Carved Bow! You have been with me for decades, through thick and thin, and now you break here! This is a bad omen! Is my life at its end? I might as well fight this little vixen to the death!*

With that thought, he turned his horse, leveled his Plum Blossom Spear, and charged forward.

How this battle will end, please see the next chapter for the conclusion!