There's no Turning Back

Xuanqin had started military operations against North Chu after the autumn harvest this year. By now, November, the two countries had been fighting for nearly three months.

As expected, North Chu's army was retreating steadily, already losing nearly half of its territory.

Originally, although Xuanqin's national strength was stronger than North Chu's, it was not to the extent of a crushing advantage. This was due to two key points - one was that Xuanqin's cavalry was unstoppable, and the other was that Xuanqin's cultivators were undefeatable. As a result, North Chu's army was completely no match for Xuanqin's.

North Chu originally had a very powerful cavalry that was enough to contain Xuanqin's cavalry. But that army was buried in the Hengduan Mountains.

The Tiance Cavalry of a hundred thousand, North Chu's strongest cavalry! Able to hunt demonic beast wolves in the night! Overnight, buried under willow catkins.

If the Tiance Cavalry were still around, then even if Xuanqin wanted to wage war against North Chu, they would have to think twice about it... At least it wouldn't have started so quickly.

Now with the Tiance army gone, Xuanqin's Tiger Wolf Cavalry was like entering an uninhabited place.

The terrain of North Chu - to the southwest were the Hengduan Mountains, which were hilly areas. And once past the Hengduan Mountains area, it was plains.

The plains stretched across half of North Chu.

Xuanqin took advantage of North Chu's lack of readiness at the beginning, disregarding losses and aggressively attacking, directly pushing the battle line to the plains. By then, North Chu was no match in battle on the flat plains due to inferior cavalry, and was retreating steadily all the way back to Wuyi City.

Wuyi City was at the end of the plains after the Hengduan Mountains.

This Wuyi City was built against the mountains, relying on another mountain range of North Chu, a mountain range across the middle of North Chu, dividing North Chu into two sections.

Therefore, this Wuyi City was the gateway to this mountain range, and also the last line of defense for North Chu.

After all, beyond Wuyi City, it was plains again all the way to the capital of North Chu.

If Wuyi City could not be defended, according to Xuanqin's previous offensive momentum, North Chu would have to declare its destruction.

At this time, night had fallen. In the wartime command post converted from the town master's residence in Wuyi City, North Chu's General Li Zhan was discussing military affairs with a group of subordinates.

They were discussing Xuanqin's siege tactics during the day, and deliberating on how to defend against Xuanqin's next wave of offensive.

"It's going to snow soon..." someone said, "Once it snows, Xuanqin will have to withdraw. As long as we can hold on until the snow falls, North Chu will be saved."

"Hold on?" Someone angrily shouted, "Hold on with what? They have cultivators in the sky and cavalries on the ground, while we are mere mortals... Trying to smash eggs against rocks, nothing but futile attempts!"

When he mentioned cultivators in the sky, everyone in the room couldn't help but look dismayed. During the day, when Xuanqin attacked the city in full force, almost all the cultivators North Chu could send to battle had died... Including North Chu's Sword God Jiang Xiaobai and Older Master Mo, a guest official of the Li family. North Chu had no more cultivators left.

When he mentioned cavalry on the ground, everyone in the room couldn't help but look towards the end of the seats, at the silent man there... Li Shiwen, the best cavalryman of North Chu who died at his hands.

"This offensive, Xuanqin was actually also hurt and lost momentum. They should regroup and fight another day," someone analyzed, "Why don't we take this opportunity to preserve our strength and secretly transfer the remaining troops. Retreat to Wuling City behind the mountain, trade ground for time, and wait for the snow to fall."

At his words, many people were moved. Having been defeated again and again, already losing half of the territory, these people only thought, what's the harm in losing another city?

"That is a big mistake! We know it's going to snow, so does Xuanqin!" Someone presented an opposing view, "If they don't take Wuyi City down, the problem they'll face is, all their previous efforts would be wasted, and they'll have to start all over again next spring. Based on this, I assert, they will launch another full-scale attack on the city tonight, maybe even tonight, and it will definitely be absolutely crazy, fighting to the death!"

At his words, some were cautious, some changed color, some were afraid, and some were determined...

Someone said, "In a war between countries, the losses are huge. If they can't take it in one attack, I don't think they'll come again next year..."

The discussion below was intense, but General Li Zhan sitting above did not say a word. Until it got more and more intense, and finally suddenly quieted down.

Li Zhan stood up, leaned on the table with his hands, and looked around at everyone below with bloodshot eyes. His voice was gentle and slow:

"Since Xuanqin invaded, we have been fighting and retreating all the way, losing more than 70 major cities, countless minor cities, half of North Chu; hundreds of thousands of dead and wounded soldiers, and countless displaced and dead civilians. We retreated here. You are all knowledgeable about military affairs. Once Wuyi City is breached, beyond is flat plains, more civilians, the capital Danyang..."

He stopped for a moment, took a light breath, looked around at everyone, and then said word for word, "At this point, no more retreat! No retreat! Only fight to the death! The city stands or falls, we live or die with it!"

After he finished, everyone below was awe-inspired, no one dared to speak, or even breathe.

After a long while, Li Shiwen at the very end of the seats stood up. His voice was hoarse from not speaking for too long: "Tonight Xuanqin will definitely launch the final offensive. I request to guard the city tower!"

Li Zhan glanced at him lightly, with no emotion, and replied: "Granted!"

Late at night, Li Shiwen wore silver armor, held a silver spear, and sat quietly on the parapet of the city wall, looking into the darkness outside.

His armor was damaged, with indelible black bloodstains; his spear was damaged, with irreparable bloodstains and scratches.

In the cold wind, in the darkness under the city wall, was a beast after beast that preyed on men. His face was expressionless.

What was he waiting for, it seemed like he was waiting for Xuanqin's attack, but also as if waiting for... death.

He didn't get to wait for Xuanqin's attack. His wife's late night meal came first.

Yu Chi Zhen carried a lantern and food box, climbed onto the city wall and found Li Shiwen. She stood on the city wall, looking up at Li Shiwen.

"I heard they're going to attack again tonight..." she said, "Have something to eat!"

Li Shiwen jumped down from the parapet, took the food box from Yu Chi Zhen. Looking at this woman who had suffered with him, trembling in the cold wind on the city wall, he said, "It's cold up here, go back down first."

Yu Chi Zhen could have stayed in Danyang as a so-called hostage, but she still came with him bringing their child... From Linxian City retreating all the way to Wuyi City.

After marrying him, she said she heard he was this kind of person - Li Shiwen, the youngest general in North Chu, the undefeated battle god who struck fear into Xuanqin's heart with his lone army.

But she didn't expect that after marrying him, he hadn't won a single victory... He even forgot what victory felt like.

Yu Chi Zhen obediently turned to go back downstairs, but after a few steps she suddenly turned back again, looking at him earnestly and said, "You said Xiao Ping'an went to find Shi Yin... But I will be with you forever, in life and death."

Her voice was still gentle and weak, blown crooked by the cold wind, seeming to take a long time before reaching Li Shiwen's ears.

When he heard it, Yu Chi Zhen had already gone down the city wall. He stood alone in the cold wind, holding the food box, with tears streaming down his face.