That scene could be described as a tiger entering a flock of sheep.
Since arriving in this world, Lu Xuan discovered that his physical abilities were far superior to those of his previous life, and they were only getting stronger. In just two years, he went from a novice to the top assassin in the Great Horse Camp. This was all thanks to this constantly improving physique.
After opening his mutton soup restaurant, he hadn't had a direct confrontation with anyone for over half a year. He didn't even know where his physical limits lay. Today, he completely unleashed all his fighting power, displaying a strength that made those Turkic soldiers cry out "devil!"
Lu Xuan transformed into a bloody machine. His heavy broadsword was wielded like a meat grinder, hacking the throngs of Turkic soldiers to pieces as if they were vegetables.
Nearly forty Turkic soldiers, more than half of whom had fallen in just a few breaths. The rest could only shout things like "Demon! Eternal Heaven, save me!" and flee in all directions.
Seeing that there were no more enemies in sight, Lu Xuan let out a long breath. His previously trembling right hand regained its stability. That level of explosive power didn't come without a price. He could now feel his right hand starting to ache, and his physical strength was noticeably declining.
However, it wasn't without effect; at least in a very short time, he managed to carve out a path for himself.
Lu Xuan randomly selected a warhorse and, before the rest of the Turkic soldiers arrived, spurred it toward the eastern exit.
On the other side, Lieutenant Li and Lai Xi didn't possess Lu Xuan's individual combat prowess to charge into enemy lines. Although both were highly skilled fighters, capable of easily taking down one or two Turkic wolf guards in a one-on-one fight, the two agile warriors felt completely helpless against the dense formation of the Turks.
Fortunately, Lu Xuan had provided two military crossbows beforehand, which allowed the two to keep up. However, as the enemy's formation continued to tighten, their space to move became increasingly limited. Eventually, they were cornered in a pile of rubble.
"Are there any more crossbow bolts?" Captain Li asked Lai Xi.
"It's gone."
"Me too. Did that kid surnamed Lu manage to break through?"
"Definitely. He's the most skilled knife-wielder I've ever seen. He'll definitely break through."
"Then I'm relieved. It's a pity you won't get the reward for my head..."
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Chapter Thirteen: Breakthrough
Outside the Great Horse Camp, Mr. An was half-reclining in his tent, a short knife between two fingers. The tip of the knife was being flicked back and forth across a sheepskin map.
What lies further east of Red Stone Gorge?
The bald man standing nearby quickly responded.
"It was a small town built by the Tang Dynasty people and used as a post station. There weren't many people there."
How many days will the journey take?
"If it's a fast horse, it will probably take about ten days."
"Do you think they brought enough supplies for ten days or so?"
The bald man was stunned for a moment before realizing that Mr. An was asking about Lu Xuan and his group.
"I doubt it will be enough. Even if it was enough before, with what the Turks have done, they probably won't be able to take much with them. But do you really think they can break through from inside?"
“It’s not that I think they can do it, it’s that they definitely can. But like you said, after they break through here, they’ll definitely travel light to shake off the Turks, so their supplies probably won’t be enough. So, you take a team and set off now to wait for them on their likely route…”
..............
Lieutenant Li and Lai Xi were exhausted. Using the underground river as a cover, they almost broke through the encirclement. But at the last moment, a Turkic soldier spotted them, ruining their attempt. Hundreds of Turkic soldiers had surrounded them, and their numbers were dwindling. Their hiding places were dwindling, and they were about to be completely encircled.
"Lord Rashid, that's enough. I'm a traitor, and it seems the heavens aren't planning on letting me go back. You should leave; I'll try to stall for time for you!"
"Shut up! I told you, before we get back to Chang'an, no one but me can kill you." Lai Xi held his long sword across the neck of a Turkic soldier. Then he dragged Lieutenant Li forward. But more and more soldiers were closing in; they had nowhere to run.
The two stood back to back, helpless. Lieutenant Li raised his hand, wiped the blood from his face, and said between breaths.
"At least twenty Turkic soldiers' heads. If this merit were in the army, it would be enough for me to get promoted."
"Alright, when we get to Chang'an, I will personally petition the Emperor to reward you, so that your merits and demerits can be offset. At the very least, I can save your life."
"That's great! Who wouldn't want to live if they could avoid death? We agreed that when we go to Chang'an, you have to put in a good word for me. But do you even have any influence?"
Without turning around, Rachel casually drew a short sword from her waist and tossed it to Lieutenant Li.
"This is the imperial sword bestowed by the emperor. In case of enemy activity, it can be used to execute first and report later."
Lieutenant Li took the ornate short sword and stroked it lightly. A strange glint flashed in his eyes.
"I guess I've finally met the Emperor. I've been a soldier for so many years and fought dozens of battles for the Tang Dynasty, and I've never seen His Majesty before. That's good, it's fulfilled one of my wishes. Tonight, I can finally get a good night's sleep."
The two men chatted and laughed, but their tone grew increasingly bitter, for they both knew there was no way out. Until the Turks themselves broke into chaos.
A disturbance erupted behind the Turks. First came a series of heart-wrenching screams, then a surge of people could be seen behind the Turks. It looked as if a large number of enemies were charging into their formation.
However, when the camera pans to their rear, it becomes clear that the enemy consists of only Lu Xuan. But in front of him is a group of Turks who are fleeing desperately as if they've seen a ghost.
Lieutenant Li and Rachel exchanged a glance, each seeing a flicker of hope in the other's eyes. Gathering their strength, they drew their swords and charged towards the chaos. In the face of life and death, strength was squeezed from the very marrow of their bones.
Thanks to the complex terrain of Red Stone Gorge, the encirclement formation was incomplete; only seven or eight Turkic soldiers could actually face the two of them. The rest were separated by the boulders.
The two charged towards the chaotic area where the Turks were fighting, one wielding a knife and the other a shield. After a flurry of left and right charges, they actually managed to clear a path. What they saw coming towards them was Lu Xuan's heavy horse-slaying sword, which cleaved three Turkic soldiers into six pieces.
In the afterglow of the setting sun, Lu Xuan was covered in blood, with unspeakable flesh and organs still clinging to his body. He looked as if he had emerged from a carnage. The heavy broadsword in his hand had more than a dozen nicks and chips. Minced flesh dangled from those jagged nicks. No wonder the surrounding Turks looked as if they had seen a ghost. They didn't even dare to face him. This appearance, even on the battlefield, would be extremely gruesome, definitely not suitable for children.
Even in this desperate situation, Lieutenant Li and Lai Xi were still taken aback. Firstly, they hadn't expected Lu Xuan to return to rescue them. Secondly, the opponent's godlike combat prowess was truly awe-inspiring. Such a fierce general was indeed born for the battlefield.
Ancient books record that legendary warriors of antiquity could single-handedly defeat hundreds of enemies, moving freely among armies of ten thousand. Lieutenant Li, a veteran of many years, had never witnessed such a feat, believing it to be mere exaggeration. But today, he had to admit that perhaps those legendary, unparalleled warriors capable of single-handedly charging into battle truly existed.
In ancient battlefields, close combat was the norm. This placed extremely high demands on the soldiers' mental fortitude. It is said that newly recruited soldiers would break down if they suffered more than 10% casualties on the battlefield.
A well-trained regular army can hold out until 20% casualties. Those that can hold out until 30% or even 40% casualties are the elite of the army—elite troops composed of battle-hardened veterans. As for those who fight to the last man, they are almost always remembered for their deeds. However, it is precisely because of this that such a situation is so rare.
The Turks who came were definitely elite troops. However, the environment inside Red Stone Gorge was simply too narrow. They couldn't form a large formation to surround and kill Lu Xuan, and their arrows were weakened to the extreme in this pile of rocks. This allowed the enemy to break through their formation several times, eventually killing hundreds of them.