[Transmigration] The War God's Consort

Chapter 19

Yes, he regretted it, he regretted it so much!

If he hadn't been greedy for fame and merit, and hadn't listened to the scout's battle report, and hadn't thought his forces were strong enough to lead his troops into battle without reporting or requesting permission, intending to use his 30,000 men to annihilate the lone Flying Feather Cavalry, if he hadn't disbelieved that there really were such a God of War in the world, that there really were such two people that even gods and ghosts feared, he wouldn't be in such a state now!

The scout was not lying. At that time, there were indeed only a thousand Flying Feather Cavalrymen and Ling Yuxiang at that location. Ling Yuxiang's main force had not yet approached. Just as they had scouted, they moved steadily, without arrogance or impatience, and were still far away.

Ling Yuxiang led the Flying Feather Cavalry, clearly the vanguard, relying on their excellent mobility to come and scout out the situation.

However, the scout did not report everything. A large number of Liejun soldiers had been quietly ambushed in the undulating terrain surrounding their camp.

Of course, he wasn't the only scout. However, those who could speak had all been killed and buried in the yellow sand. Wang Jinyong secretly regretted why he hadn't paid attention at the time, why no other scouts had returned, why he had been so easily blinded by the glory of taking Ling Yuxiang's head, and why he had ordered the army to launch a surprise attack without thinking. Fortunately, he remembered that in order to ensure absolute safety, he had exhausted all his men, resulting in a deficit in the camp.

But who can he blame? With such a great achievement right in front of him, how could anyone not be tempted?

With such a great opportunity for promotion right at their fingertips, who wouldn't be afraid of letting it slip away? Who wouldn't want to seize it as soon as possible? And who would have thought that in Baihui Pass, which had been free of war for so long, Ling Yuxiang wasn't the only one eyeing him?

When he led his troops to surround Ling Yuxiang's army, he and his soldiers charged forward with high spirits, eager to make a great contribution and have their names recorded in the merit book. But then they saw that the handsome man in red robes and silver armor, who looked like a god, also arrived at the front of the battle. He deftly drew his bow and nocked an arrow, and without saying a word, he fired an arrow!

"Marshal, watch out!" A skilled general bravely leaped up to block the arrow, only to be struck by it along with the arrow that had pierced his chest! Wang Jinyong still vividly remembers the excruciating pain that went deep into his bones; the force of that arrow was beyond what a human could produce! It pierced through his general's chest, knocking him off his horse, and then pierced his shoulder blade, embedding itself firmly in the ground!

The land in the desert is mostly made of gravel and yellow sand. Although it is much softer than ordinary soil, an arrow that can pierce two people and sink halfway into the ground can really terrify a person!

Before Wang Jinyong and his troops could recover from the shock of the arrow, they heard the man's arrogant laughter, as if he had endless confidence.

A booming, bell-like yet ghostly voice pierced the air, bringing with it endless horror and panic.

"Take a look at your rear camp."

The smoke was obscured by the darkness, but the towering flames shone even brighter. The raging fire in the night distorted the air above, and countless shouts of battle seemed to suddenly erupt from the camp. Countless screams echoed across the sky, and the neighing of warhorses and the beating of bugles and drums made one's heart race. No one could tell how many people there were, but just by looking at the approaching army, one could tell that they possessed extraordinary operational and combat capabilities.

Wang Jinyong's face turned deathly pale instantly. This situation could only mean one thing: their camp had been raided!

After the initial excitement and desire for fame and fortune subsided, Wang Jinyong was finally able to properly reflect on the cause and effect of the matter. Such a large-scale ambush, yet no scouts reported it, only that Ling Yuxiang and a thousand Flying Feather Cavalry were at the front. What was the purpose of this?

Everyone knows that Baihui Pass is strategically important, connecting three kingdoms, and is a piece of fat meat in everyone's eyes. Everyone understands that war may break out at any time. However, before anyone could react, the war was already imminent. What no one expected was that in order to attack such a large city, the usually calm Ling Yuxiang would abandon the steady and methodical approach and adopt such a thunderous method!

Judging from this situation, he clearly intends to devour their entire force of 30,000 men in one fell swoop!

"Ling Yuxiang! Do you know that even if Baihui Pass falls into your hands, it might not be a blessing for the Ling Kingdom! With your current forces, even if you take it, you'll pay a heavy price, only to have Qingli benefit for nothing! If you're willing to withdraw your troops now, our commander will definitely give the Great Ling Kingdom ample benefits!" Wang Jinyong was both shocked and furious. He was a pragmatic man, and the reason the camp was heavily fortified was because most of Baihui Pass's grain supplies were stored there. Since Ling Yuxiang had made a plan against them, it was enough to show that his real purpose was to attack Baihui Pass. This fire had burned their grain supplies, and they wouldn't last more than three days. If Ling Yuxiang cut off their retreat first, under the siege, none of the soldiers inside Baihui Pass might survive for more than half a month.

His analysis wasn't wrong, but unfortunately, the situation didn't go as he predicted. Ling Yuxiang had no intention of dragging the war out for half a month. Since he had launched a swift and decisive offensive, he naturally intended to see it through to the end. Why wait until the enemy erected defensive fortifications? Encirclement without attack was a poor strategy; who knew what the soldiers in the city would do then? In any case, the civilians would be the first to die. Their forces had already been arranged silently, and tonight would be the night they all surfaced!

Ling Yuxiang rode his horse and led his troops, laughing loudly: "If I were to personally attack Baihui Pass, I might really have retreated. Unfortunately, today, it is not me who wants Baihui Pass."

Wang Jinyong had no interest in listening to the meaning behind his words. Seeing that he was unwilling, he felt a sudden fire rise in his heart. Although he was terrified, he thought that there were only a thousand men in front of him. He was not afraid of the others who would not surrender after capturing him. He gritted his teeth and said hatefully, "Then I will wipe you out first and make you pay with your lives!"

Before he could finish speaking, another gust of wind rushed past his ear, and a sharp arrow grazed his cheek, embedding itself firmly in the neck of another general on his right. The arrow sent the man tumbling a long way, the arrow itself embedded deep in the ground.

This time, Wang Jinyong didn't even have the strength to be terrified. The soldiers around him were also filled with horror. Their imposing manner had been completely stripped away. These successive sudden changes almost made everyone stop thinking.

One was already overwhelming enough, so where did this person with martial arts skills almost equal to Ling Yuxiang come from? How could he be so fast?

"I am the one who will take over Parkway."

In the distance, the man in black, holding a bow and carrying a crimson longsword on his back, appeared even more handsome and otherworldly against the backdrop of flames soaring behind him. Two cold, star-like gazes swept across the void and landed on Wang Jinyong. In an instant, he arrived with a cavalry army and let out a long, cold laugh.

"General Wang, how have you been? Are you planning to send another secret letter to Prince Ling this time?"

Wang Jinyong felt a sudden buzzing in his head, and his knees buckled, almost causing him to kneel on the ground.

Seeing his astonished expression, the man let out another cold laugh. When his gaze shifted to the man in red, it suddenly softened with a hint of gentleness and trust: "Unfortunately, this time, even if you send a dozen secret reports with irrefutable evidence, I'm afraid Prince Ling won't listen to a word you say."

Ling Yuxiang received her gaze from afar and heard her words. His heart swelled, and he returned an extremely gentle smile without hesitation. Regardless of whether she could see him or not, her wholehearted trust in him was enough to make him feel like he was on a cloud, his mood soaring, and he almost forgot that he was on the battlefield.

"Wind...wind, wind..."

Wang Jinyong stammered, unable to utter the name of the person who haunted his nightmares. He understood Feng Xinglie's meaning; he knew! He... he actually knew! But if he knew, why didn't he say it back then? Could it be that this person had long harbored ambitions to break away from the Qin Kingdom? The more Wang Jinyong thought about it, the more disoriented and chilled he became, realizing that he was probably doomed today.

The mere presence of Feng Xinglie and Ling Yuxiang was enough to terrify his soldiers, turning their faces ashen, lowering their morale, and leaving them unsure how to hold their weapons steady.

Two great war gods have come prepared. Is it possible to lure them into battle and lose? Has either of them ever been defeated before?

But can we just not fight? Not fighting would only mean waiting to die. Feng Xinglie has always been a man of strong principles, hating evil and being clear about right and wrong. How could he let him go?

"Kill!" Two solemn military orders rang out from the left and right, and the troops rushed in like a tide, instantly filling the entire field of vision. In the darkness, the heads of the soldiers were not clearly visible, but all that could be seen were deadly enemy troops all around!

Then, Wang Jinyong experienced the most grueling battle of his life.

First they fell into a trap, then they saw their military rations being burned, and they were facing an army of unknown size. It is easy to imagine that no soldier would have the confidence or the spirit to go into battle and kill the enemy.

They thought they were fighting like cornered beasts, facing wave after wave of fierce soldiers charging forward with weapons, seemingly fearless. Some even wanted to close their eyes to avoid the agonizing anxiety and life-or-death struggle. However, these were, after all, regular soldiers with much stronger mental fortitude. Despite the fear, the rout, and even the large-scale desertion, a portion of them still fought to the death.

After several hours of fighting, Wang Jinyong was initially delighted to see the enemy army becoming increasingly exhausted, but upon closer inspection, his hopes were once again shattered by a bolt from the blue.

Ling Yuxiang and Feng Xinglie, who had retreated to the rear, suddenly rushed to the front of the formation. One in black and one in red, they rode side by side, their coordination seamless. Wherever they went, it was like a strong wind breaking withered branches. In the cold light of the red blades and green spears, countless lives fell silently to the ground. This time, they held nothing back, and when they struck, they aimed to kill with a single blade or spear. There were not as many gruesome scenes of blood flowing, but it was even more terrifying.

Corpses lay beneath the horses' hooves, and rows of soldiers collapsed like tofu, piling up into mounds. Wang Jinyong's eyes widened, and he roared, "No retreat! No retreat! Their commander being in front is enough to show they're outnumbered! We must hold on!" He might be right, but human instinct made every soldier unconsciously want to get as far away from those two devils as possible!

"Hold on?" The soldiers scoffed. "You want us to hold on? With what? With our lives? Why don't you use your own lives to hold off those two killing gods for even a second? You're both commanders, why aren't you charging ahead and fighting, instead of just shouting orders from here?" They weren't an iron-willed army, they weren't fearless warriors. Faced with such carnage, faced with the unparalleled brilliance of those two war gods, who could remain unmoved and fearless?

They would rather bleed profusely and have their limbs broken than try the two men's "light touch" or "slice" of the water.

Watching the pale-faced, retreating army, Wang Jinyong finally wiped away a cold sweat, filled with regret and despair. Life was nearly nonexistent in the desert, and with no food or water, they faced certain death in this relentless pursuit. Their only hope was to retake Baihui Pass, but the army advanced less than ten feet before being forced back two feet!

It was nearly dawn. The surrounding area was littered with severed limbs and blood. The 30,000-strong army had been wiped out overnight, with fewer than a thousand still standing.

What else could he do? Wang Jinyong sighed bitterly to himself, "My life is over..."

"General Wang, escape to the west." Suddenly a voice reached his ears. Wang Jinyong opened his eyes and saw a man in military uniform standing lightly behind him not far away. He heard the man whisper in the chaos, "Go west, and someone will come to your rescue."

[Border Storm: Chapter Thirty-Eight - A Sudden Upheaval]

Suddenly realizing something, as if grasping at the last straw, Wang Jinyong felt a surge of hope. He didn't know where the strength came from, but he led the charge straight towards the encircling army to the west. The fierce army was suddenly torn open, and hundreds of people followed Wang Jinyong and fled.

Ling Yuxiang caught a glimpse of this out of the corner of his eye, and his expression darkened slightly: "They've held out for so long without any intention of escaping, why would they suddenly think of running away now? Without water and food in the desert, they can't survive for more than a few days. If they encounter a pack of wolves, they'll only die a more miserable death. Could there be a Baihui Pass supply outpost that we haven't discovered yet?"

Feng Xinglie, standing beside him, narrowed his eyes slightly, exchanged a glance with him, and nodded: "It's better to believe it than not to believe it. Our main force is attacking the city tonight, aiming for a swift and decisive victory to annihilate their entire army. Our battle lines are too long. If we don't break through their strongholds, and those escaped remnants gather and launch a sneak attack from somewhere behind, the situation will be unfavorable for us. Tonight, we only achieved a pyrrhic victory. If it weren't for the darkness making it difficult to see who was friend and foe, and disrupting their concentration, we wouldn't have been able to defeat them with just five thousand men. In fact, we didn't kill many people; most of them were scattered."

Ling Yuxiang's admiring gaze fell on her, full of pride for her. He teased her softly, "Isn't it all thanks to my Lie Zu's resourcefulness, meticulous planning, and flawless execution that we were able to win against overwhelming odds despite a shortage of manpower?"

Feng Xinglie's heart raced as he looked at him with deep affection. He glared at him, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed: "You're so irresponsible. We're on the battlefield, and you still have the mind to talk about these things."

Ling Yuxiang only wanted to tease her and relieve the indifference and fatigue brought on by the killing, so he obediently changed the subject.

To pursue or not to pursue?

They had already suffered heavy losses. No matter how effective the surprise attack was, it was still a war, and a head-on clash was unavoidable. Right now, apart from the Flying Feather Cavalry, whose casualties were not heavy, most of the other Lie Army soldiers were dead. Once the fighting stopped, looking at the mountains of corpses around them, they couldn't help but feel sad and desolate, and their morale immediately plummeted.

Looking around, there were probably fewer than a thousand soldiers available.

Feng Xinglie pondered for a moment and said, "The enemy's forces are all under our control. They should not have any extra reinforcements. Even if they have strongholds, a hundred strong men can take them down. The siege is urgent. First, send your Flying Feather Cavalry with the other soldiers to Baihui Pass to notify them of the attack. We will then lead the Dark Pavilion to pursue them. Whether we can catch up or not, we must return to Baihui Pass before dawn. Someone must be stationed there to command the siege."

Ling Yuxiang shared her thoughts and opinions, and immediately ordered Ling Ke and the other three to take away the Flying Feather Cavalry, and to notify Han Ruo and the others to launch a frontal attack on the city. He and Feng Xinglie, without hesitation, led Ye Piao and the others to chase after Wang Jinyong along his escape route.

Although Wang Jinyong fled quickly, he was ultimately at his last gasp. He was clinging to his last breath with a moment of desperate effort, but his movements were far inferior to those of the hundred or so experts like Feng Xinglie. In less than a quarter of an hour, he was surrounded by two teams of Dark Pavilion troops. With his hopes shattered and his spirit broken, he had no will to resist anymore. This time, it was a one-sided massacre by the Dark Pavilion. In just a short while, these deserters were wiped out in large numbers.

Wang Jinyong's horse was shot through the neck by Feng Xinglie's fully drawn arrow. It neighed and fell off the horse. Ling Yuxiang caught up with it with his spear and instantly severed the tendon in one of his legs.

"Still trying to run? Tell me where the stronghold is, and I'll make your death easier." Feng Xinglie followed up with several sharp palm strikes, instantly dislocating Wang Jinyong's limbs to prevent him from committing suicide. As he stood before him, his handsome face beamed with an even more captivating smile, sending chills down one's spine. "Or, you want to try my methods."

As a fellow Qin Dynasty general, how could Wang Jinyong not know that Feng Xinglie's methods of torture were incredibly cruel and terrifying? He didn't have the backbone to let Feng Xinglie crush him inch by inch and throw him into the desert to feed the wolves. How shrewd was Feng Xinglie? If he didn't tell the truth, what other path did he have?

Wang Jinyong coughed up a mouthful of blood and gave a bitter laugh: "Where is there any stronghold? Commander Feng, you know the situation at Baihui Pass better than anyone. It was just that someone reminded us to flee westward in the chaos."

Feng Xinglie frowned slightly, becoming alert. Ling Yuxiang also sensed something was wrong and pressed, "Warn you? Who warned you?"

"You two didn't expect that someone dressed as a soldier could be a spy? Commander Feng, for the sake of our past as colleagues, even though I harmed you once, it was Prince Yue's will. You know that Prince Yue would do anything for his mistress, Lian Ji. Now that things have come to this, just give me a quick death."

Feng Xinglie's expression flashed, and he thought of Lian Ji for a moment, but he didn't have time to ask any further questions. He immediately looked around and started calculating in his mind.

Including the pursuit, more than two hours have passed. It would take at least half a day to get from here to Baihui Pass. The main force of the army is all over there, and they are completely isolated and helpless! Sensing the trap, Feng Xinglie's face immediately tightened. It wasn't that she hadn't noticed the problem, but rather that her and Ling Yuxiang's calculations had gone awry!

A warm breeze gently blew through the air, and swathes of yellow sand rose and fell with the wind.

The fighting had stopped, and Ye Piao, Zi Mo, and the others also felt the atmosphere was strange, so they gathered everyone around the two of them.

"Your Highness..."

A single sentence involuntarily fell silent amidst the somber expressions of the two people, and the surroundings became eerily quiet.

Feng Xinglie and Ling Yuxiang, who were deep in thought, suddenly looked up at the same time, gazing nervously in a certain direction.

In a short while, Ling Yuxiang's eyes grew increasingly serious, and his voice became urgent and rapid: "Judging from the sound alone, there are definitely no fewer than five thousand cavalry."

"Damn it! We actually capsized in a ditch!" Feng Xinglie cursed under his breath, his face equally grim. He glanced at their current situation. They had already fought a fierce battle all night. Chasing after fleeing soldiers was still manageable, but facing an entire elite force, who would have the strength to fight? Five thousand troops! This time, it wasn't in the capital, nor in the deep mountains. They had no terrain advantage, no poison nets or poisons. They were surrounded by an endless desert, with not even a single ambush spot to be found. All their hopes were dashed!

Ye Piao and the others turned pale in an instant. They had no doubt about Ling Yuxiang and Feng Xinglie's hearing; they had been ambushed! Five thousand cavalry! In a head-on confrontation, did they have even a sliver of hope of victory? The members of the Dark Pavilion were all experts capable of taking on fifty men each, but even the most skilled could not withstand being surrounded on all sides. Even the most powerful people eventually ran out of strength. They had already fought a fierce battle all night, and their stamina was long gone. Even against a thousand elite cavalry, they might not be able to retreat safely.

The cavalry marched at an extremely fast speed, and the desert terrain was flat, so it would only take a moment to catch up with them, and even if they wanted to escape, they would have no chance of doing so.

There's nothing I can do to ascend to heaven, and nowhere to hide on earth!

His gaze was fixed on the two people who were deep in thought; if there was any hope left, it depended on them.

Feng Xinglie bit her lip, anxiously thinking, but she couldn't find a way to escape safely. At this moment, she even felt powerless to change the situation.

Just like back then on the summit of Zijin Mountain...

The God of War is not a god after all! His abilities are ultimately within the limits of human power! At this moment, she hated her own incompetence and impulsiveness. Why hadn't she thought of this? Why was she so confident and arrogant? It was because they were too confident, because their analysis was too thorough, that they thought they had everything under control, that no one could see through their plan, and they actually fell for this trap!

The enemy army was relentlessly closing in, step by step, but she could only watch helplessly as time ticked by, utterly powerless! This feeling was almost unbearable! Although she managed to maintain her composure, a hint of unease crept into her words: "Yu Xiang… I…"

A sudden tightening around her waist lifted her into the air. Before she knew it, she was on his horse, wrapped tightly in his red robes and held close to his chest. His gentle, deep eyes and his hot breath were exactly the same as always, intoxicating and reassuring.

"What nonsense are you thinking? You think you're the one who ruined me? That it's all your fault? You're always like this, that's why I can't let go! Shouldn't you be able to let go? It's already happened, do you think regret and self-blame will help? Besides, my opinion is not at all different from yours. If you think you're stupid, then am I stupid as a pig?"

"But ultimately, it's for..."

"A true man should die for the sake of all living beings. Does Ling Yuxiang fear death?"

Although his voice was not loud when he chuckled, it was full of energy and vigor. The members of the Dark Pavilion, who had been somewhat listless, were suddenly filled with a surge of pride upon hearing his words.

Zi Mo looked at Ye Piao and chuckled, "See? Even the prince isn't afraid of death, so what are we death warriors afraid of?"

"Damn it, let's fight them to the death! Even if we die, we'll take a few with us!"

"Yes, Your Highness, we swear to fight to the death, fighting and retreating. Our army is not far away, and they have already entered the battle line. They can't escape either!" The crowd chattered, but the heavy deathly atmosphere had disappeared.

Ye Piao looked somewhat embarrassed by Zi Mo's gaze, but finally took her hand and nodded gently. His cold expression softened slightly: "I'm not afraid of death, let alone dying with you."

Perhaps he had been confused before, and had been awestruck by Feng Xinglie's charisma, but she was ultimately an unattainable star, only someone like the Prince, standing at such a height, could possibly reach her. He respected Feng Xinglie and revered her, but that feeling was too distant, too vague, too unreal.

Ye Piao was an extremely intelligent person, and also extremely restrained in his emotions. Even when he felt confused about Feng Xinglie, he never fell into it. At this moment, he finally saw his own heart clearly. The person beside him was the one who had truly been with him through life and death. He and Zi Mo had entered the Dark Pavilion together, and for many years, one in the open and one in the dark, they had supported each other. They were so familiar with each other that when they were with her, they hardly felt anything special.

Yet at this moment, knowing that they might die together, he actually felt happy.

If someone like him can feel happy, what does that say?

Zi Mo had no romantic feelings for Ling Yuxiang. On her first day in the Dark Pavilion, she felt a connection to Ye Piao, this handsome man with an icy demeanor, as if they were kindred spirits. However, as members of the Dark Pavilion, emotions couldn't be allowed to fester. If they weren't under the Prince's command, they might have become even more cold-blooded assassins. So, even though she had always been interested in Ye Piao, and even though she knew he was used to her presence, she wisely never revealed her feelings.