[Transmigration] The War God's Consort

Chapter 50

"What terrifying power! Feng Xinglie is truly no ordinary woman!" Taiyue, standing beside Lianji, couldn't help but take a deep breath and said sarcastically, "If my brother knew that she had practically given up the chance to seize the entire world, he would probably regret it so much that he would turn green with envy."

"Do you really like the world?" Lian Ji asked coolly, snapping out of her shock.

"Uh... Lianji, you can't doubt me. I've already given up everything for you! Lianji..."

Xi Suifeng ignored the couple's bickering for the time being, his handsome eyebrows furrowing once again, and he let out a heavy, displeased snort.

The crowd looked in the direction of his gaze with suspicion, but their anger flared up, and they began to curse him angrily.

After a large number of corpses, a dense crowd once again stepped onto the blood-paved road, and pieces of wood were quickly erected, once again showcasing the pontoon bridge project before people's eyes.

"Damn it!" Does Bai Zhongyan have no humanity left?!

"Damn it! Are those Qing Kingdom soldiers stupid? Don't they know they're going to die? They actually dared to continue building this damn pontoon bridge!"

"Commander Xi, quickly show them your power again!"

"Yes, Commander Xi! We'll fight him every time he comes, until he dares not come again!"

Xi Suifeng shook his head, his gaze fixed on the ground. Luo Yun stepped forward from behind him and said, "While the crossbow carts and catapults are incredibly powerful, they require a lot of supplies. Our reserves of crossbow bolts are still limited, so we didn't build many this time. Transporting boulders of this size will also take considerable effort; they can't be just palm-sized stones. Although our attack has been very effective this time, it's the strongest attack we can launch. In the future, we won't be able to be as reckless. But now Bai Zhongyan clearly wants to use human lives to build these war bridges. Every time we attack, he'll build another one. It's only a matter of time before they're completed."

"Come on over! A few pontoon bridges, how many mudskippers can squeeze in? Do you think all of us on the shore are dead? Are we afraid of them?" Han Ruo glared, his tiger-like eyes filled with ferocity.

"If possible, it's best not to start a war... But if a war really breaks out, I'll let Bai Zhongyan know that I, Xi Suifeng, am not someone to be trifled with!" With those words left behind, Xi Suifeng turned and left, his heart filled with thoughts of the distant future.

Xinglie, where are you now? If you come quickly, you can stop this bloodshed, and I believe you will bring Qingli safely! Just you watch, until you arrive, no matter how difficult it is, I will defend this Jiangdong camp to the death for you!

Chaos in Qingqiu, Chapter 88: The Power of Three Arrows

"Commander, the enemy's pontoon bridge is almost half-built, and our supplies are insufficient. If this continues, they will attack soon!" The senior soldiers looked anxiously back at the tragic scene on the river. Even they, the most ordinary soldiers, felt that this battle was too cruel.

Three days! Three days! The pontoon bridges stubbornly stood erect despite repeated bombardments. The Qing Kingdom's soldiers, after suffering heavy losses once, were mercilessly sent out again. Even these lowly soldiers, who didn't understand any schemes or tricks, felt that it was too cruel.

One or two baptisms of blood might give these young soldiers, fresh off the battlefield, a thrill of achieving glory, but repeated exposure would make them understand the horror of war and feel nauseous at the sight of those crimson organizations. Those who had been overturned and drowned on the other side of the river, unrecognizable as human beings, were just like them! No matter what country they were from, they were still human beings! In these three days, no fewer than ten thousand Qing Kingdom soldiers had died every day! The guilt of slaughtering their own kind sprouted and grew in the hearts of these young men. After three days, when the catapults attacked, some people would involuntarily close their eyes, unable to bear watching any longer.

Are all the strategists and officers of the Qing Kingdom dead? They completely disregard the lives of their own people! Many people were truly chilled by this ruthless method and softened their stance.

Xi Suifeng frowned. Most of the supplies for the crossbow carts and catapults had been used up. This time, they could no longer destroy those pontoon bridges. Finally, they had to come to the point of close combat!

"Give the order: archers, line up on the embankment, shield bearers in front, and fire hard once those men are within range! Don't think of pitying others. Once you've been slashed by their swords and died by their arrows, you'll know that pity can't save anyone! If you want to save them, if you want to save yourselves, don't let them charge!"

"Yes, Commander!" The voice, no longer filled with confusion, was extremely loud.

Upon receiving the order, the soldiers, who had been somewhat demoralized, were immediately energized. They grabbed their weapons and followed the main force, rushing quickly to the first line of battle!

Three thousand archers and three thousand shield bearers formed a magnificent black defensive line on the riverbank, and under their command, they launched a fierce attack on the ever-approaching pontoon bridge!

The well-trained, iron-blooded soldiers on the pontoon bridge also showed their initiative at this moment, no longer letting themselves be slaughtered as they had been in the past few days. Regardless of whether it was due to their commander, at this moment, the various bloody losses of the past three days had aroused their indignation. Unable to be angry at Bai Zhongyan, they transferred this anger to the enemy.

A large number of Qing Kingdom shield soldiers risked their lives to protect a group of archers as they stepped onto the pontoon bridge, and also launched indiscriminate volleys at the east bank of the river!

Each arrow, brimming with power and filled with intense indignation, was unleashed with devastating force! In an instant, a rain of arrows filled the sky above the great river, transforming into a dark cloud that completely obscured the setting sun! The soldiers on both banks, their eyes bloodshot, could no longer see the sun's rays!

"Kill! Kill! Kill! I am a general who has fought a hundred battles, what do I have to fear in death!"

"Charge across the bridge! Charge to the other side!"

"Avenge our fallen brothers! Fight to ensure the survival of more brothers!"

Adversity and desperate situations often ignite fighting spirit, and the fearless spirit of burning one's boats instantly raised the morale of the Qing Kingdom soldiers to its highest point! Their burning passion transformed into sharp arrows, carrying the hopes of so many people to the other side!

"Ah!!!" Both sides screamed in agony. The arrows were launched in time and could not be stopped. Instantly, many of the Liejun archers on the east bank were killed. Many were still soft-hearted because they were shocked by the bloodshed of the previous days. By the time they met with misfortune, it was too late to regret it!

People fell into the river, but more soldiers kept coming to their rescue. They were not afraid of death. Everyone seemed to be twisted into a rope. Every thought was to save more brothers behind them. Although the archers of the Qing Kingdom were far fewer than those of the Lie Army, the losses caused by them were actually one to one!

Having undergone the baptism of blood and the fear of death, the newly recruited soldiers no longer hesitated. Their eyes turned red, and they began to bombard the river with arrows, which rained down like rain.

Xi Suifeng let out a breath. The purpose of using the new military camp for training should have been achieved. The army has expanded by a million, but most of them have no combat experience and are easily swayed by emotions. Without tempering, they will easily be defeated once a war breaks out. Soldiers without battlefield experience will never understand the meaning of killing and will never know the taste of taking lives.

Watching the Qing soldiers painstakingly build a pontoon bridge by using their comrades' bodies, which were riddled with thorns, as a shield, everyone must have felt a profound sense of awe. Only now could they truly be called soldiers.

The pontoon bridges were getting closer and closer to the river embankment. Because of the terrifying catapults, the number of pontoon bridges built was reduced from more than ten to eight. At this time, the fastest one was already approaching the east bank!

"Archers, retreat! Shield bearers, stand by! Infantry, move forward to replace them!" Xi Suifeng's face was cold, befitting a seasoned general who had fought countless battles. He issued a series of military orders in an orderly manner.

However, the bravery of the Qing soldiers was truly unexpected. Driven by the threat of death, their strong will to survive, along with their murderous intent, led to the successful construction of a pontoon bridge on the east bank of the river. A Qing man, with red eyes, allowed several spears to be thrust into his body, grabbed the spear shafts fiercely, roared, and charged forward!

"Brothers! Charge!"

Those behind them moved with ease, finally stepping onto the land and crossing the pontoon bridge built by their ten thousand brothers!

The bloodshed truly began now! Cold instruments pierced flesh and blood time and again! Reason had long since snapped under the onslaught of slaughter! It was a naked battle, devoid of any scheming or trickery!

Eight pontoon bridges were erected one after another, and the Qing army, which surged toward the east bank like a tide, was all ready to die. This really made the Lie army and Ling army on the shore unable to keep up for a while. They retreated step by step, giving up a large open space for the Qing army on the opposite bank to come ashore and gather!

"Damn it, what kind of aphrodisiacs have these bastards taken!" Han Ruo killed a soldier covered in blood who had thrown away his weapon but was still frantically tearing at him with his flesh and blood, and wiped the blood off his face as he said hatefully.

“Bai Zhongyan exploited these people’s psychology, making them feel that they were determined to die. Coupled with our previous bloody attack, it actually provoked these Qing people.” Xi Suifeng’s eyes flashed, and he couldn’t help but frown: “The so-called desperate army will surely win. That’s exactly what he was planning.”

"So what do we do now? Let these bastards wear down our brothers? If we want to take them down, we'll have to pay a heavy price!" After shouting at his soldiers, Ma Zhiyun also stepped forward and asked urgently.

Xi Suifeng's eyes were blazing, and he laughed loudly before charging into battle on horseback!

No matter how many troops they have, no matter how fierce they are, he insists on going against the grain and doing the opposite!

"We'll die together, we'll drink together; we'll bleed together! We are the bravest warriors! Brothers, follow me!"

A single bold statement ignited a surge of heroic spirit! The previously subdued atmosphere suddenly rose under the leadership of the white-haired man, and the blood of the many men boiled with excitement! Han Ruo and Ma Zhiyun couldn't help but let out a strange cry and spurred their horses to give chase!

"Damn it! Commander Xi, slow down, wait for us!"

Xi Suifeng coldly smiled at the riverbank. He knew that once they had their momentum, it would weaken, and then they would be exhausted. As long as he could break their spirit, those Qing soldiers would be isolated and helpless, without any hope. Then he could use words to undermine their morale and expose their weaknesses. Their defeat would only be a matter of time!

Forty-four Flame Riders followed closely behind, each like a streak of black lightning, leading their small groups of personal guards into the enemy ranks! Wherever they went, screams of agony filled the air; by this time, each of them was capable of fighting alone!

The offensive of the large number of brave Qing soldiers was suddenly thwarted by this unexpected cavalry force!

Blood rained down, cold weapons clashed, dusk fell, and the setting sun cast a crimson glow. It was impossible to tell whether the blood had reddened the setting sun or the setting sun had reddened the river's surface.

Faced with such skilled martial artists, even the bravest soldiers felt a bit timid. Under the pressure of the Flaming Cavalry leading the charge, the circle of Qing Kingdom soldiers on the river embankment shrank and dwindled. Countless people rushed across the pontoon bridge, but soon, even more died at the hands of the Flaming Army on the east bank. Xi Suifeng and his men tightened the circle even further, slowly breaking down the connections between the bridges, preventing them from linking up.

After a night of fierce fighting, the battle lines once again reached the area around the pontoon bridge!

Xi Suifeng's white hair was stained with blood, fluttering wildly. He raised his spear and pointed it at the Qing army's banner on the opposite bank. He channeled his true energy and shouted, "I am Xi Suifeng of the Fierce Army. Do any generals of the Qing Kingdom dare to step forward and have a talk with me!"

The charge continued without pause. Several of his Flame Rider brothers, along with a group of personal guards, held off the pressure so he could concentrate on the conversation.

The dense ranks of soldiers on the west bank suddenly parted, and a middle-aged man in white slowly walked out. It was early morning, and he was too far away to see clearly, but Xi Suifeng had already guessed the man's identity.

"Bai Zhongyan!"

"So it's Commander Xi of the Fierce Army! It's a pleasure to meet you!" Bai Zhongyan replied with a forced smile, his personal guards protecting him tightly. However, since there was no fighting on his side, his actions looked utterly ridiculous.

Xi Suifeng reined in his frightened warhorse and said with a cold laugh, "General Bai, I don't want to say anything more. I'll just ask you one question: what is your intention in ordering this army of 600,000 that should belong to General Qingli to attack my Fengcheng?"

Although his voice was cold and hard, it was transmitted through his internal energy and spread extremely far. As soon as he said this, the soldiers of the Qing Army were suddenly stunned, and the circle immediately shrank again, with the faint intention of completely retreating across the pontoon bridge.

Xi Suifeng's question struck a chord with them, hitting them where it hurt most. Though seemingly casual, it was more powerful than any other words in its impact on their morale and fighting spirit. Each of them had asked themselves that question ten or a hundred times. None of them were willing to fight to the death like this. Their eyes, previously reddened by the blood of their comrades, now opened again, clear yet lucid, at this single, sharp question.

Bai Zhongyan was taken aback, not expecting Xi Suifeng to see through his weakness so easily, and he couldn't answer for a moment.

Seeing that he did not respond, Xi Suifeng immediately pressed his advantage and asked again, "If General Bai is unwilling to answer, then I will ask another question. Where does General Bai intend to send these 600,000 troops?"

Upon hearing this question, many people on the pontoon bridge froze, falling into the river. All eight pontoon bridges were now occupied by men from the Lie Army and Ling Army, shouting and preparing to attack the opposite bank! Bai Zhongyan's face immediately turned green. The pontoon bridges, painstakingly built as offensive weapons, had now become their own death knell. If the Lie Army attacked, Bai Zhongyan had no doubt that Xi Suifeng would be the first to aim his gun at his groin!

"This is my king's order, and it has nothing to do with me. I am only acting under orders. As the saying goes, if the king commands a subject to die, the subject must die. The king's orders are hard to disobey. Do you want me to lead this army of 600,000 to disobey the king's orders and be guilty of treason? I am not your self-proclaimed king, the Wind King!" Bai Zhongyan knew he couldn't let him continue, so he vaguely passed the buck and spoke sarcastically.

"Hmph, how absurd! What about me, the Wind Queen? She would never cower in the back and let others die for her! Bai Zhongyan, are you just going to hide in the back and let your soldiers bleed for you? If you have the guts, come and fight me!" When Feng Xinglie was mentioned, Xi Suifeng was obviously agitated, his words sharp and piercing, as if they were arrows that could pierce through Bai Zhongyan!

"I, the commander, will not contend with your mere bravado!" Bai Zhongyan laughed it off, then turned and shouted at Jiang Shang, "Don't forget you still have wives, children, and elderly relatives at home. Do you want the Lie Army to invade our country, destroy our homes, and cause our people to die a violent death?"

Upon hearing this, Shang Rong and the other officers were filled with righteous indignation! What was the point of this? Bai Zhongyan's words were clearly a naked threat, using their families to coerce them into sacrificing their lives!

The situation on the river took another turn, and the Qing soldiers, who had previously regained some clarity, gritted their teeth and charged forward with their swords! They were doomed either way! If their families were to be implicated, they might as well fight to the death!

"Bai Zhongyan, are you even a man?!" Xi Suifeng raised a cold eyebrow.

"Damn it, shameless! Absolutely shameless!"

"If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext. You're just trying to get these soldiers to die for you, yet you're making it sound so noble!"

The Flame Riders couldn't help but curse angrily!

"Hmph, military orders are absolute. Don't think that my Qing Kingdom's army is some ragtag army like your Lie Army. They all know how to serve their country!" Da Zhongyan gave those soldiers who were sent to their deaths a high compliment, but it sounded incredibly sarcastic!

"Brother Suifeng, they've really gone mad! Should we send more men?" Luo Yun rushed forward anxiously. The Qing Kingdom soldiers surged forward again like a tidal wave, each one acting like a madman. As the saying goes, the ruthless are afraid of the mad, and the mad are afraid of those who don't value their lives. Their soldiers were still new recruits after all. If this fighting continued, they would probably be torn to pieces!

Xi Suifeng stared intently and nodded indifferently: "That's the only way."

Seeing Xi Suifeng flee into the distance from the opposite bank, Bai Zhongyan laughed wildly: "You're still a coward! The warriors of our Qing Kingdom are not afraid of death, so what, you..."

Before he could finish speaking, a bolt of lightning struck against the wind, and a deadly arrow swept across the sky!

The Xuanbing Iron appeared in a fleeting moment, instantly silencing the hoarse voice!

Before they could even cry out in alarm, another powerful arrow of black iron came strangely from the side. The proud military flag that was hanging far away was smashed down by the arrogant arrow that shot straight into the wood like lightning. The majestic flag was broken in the middle, like a deflated face, full of gloom, lying on the ground and covered with dirty dust.

Only then did everyone gasp in shock at the sudden turn of events, and the entire Qing Army was thrown into chaos in an instant!

"Don't panic, don't be confused, listen to me..."

Who saw that fierce gust of wind, mixed with a heart full of cold anger, attack them again from behind, its sharp whistling tearing through the sky!

The trusted confidant beside Bai Zhongyan, who was about to take charge of the overall situation, was suddenly silenced by his impassioned words of reassurance to the troops! Time seemed to freeze at that moment. The man opened his mouth wide, staring in disbelief, but no words came out. The chilling iron arrow that had been lodged in his back and chest pierced his bones. The man, who was still on horseback, had his head tilt to the side and he fell headfirst off his horse!

From east to west of the great river, there was no place where people were not in complete shock, and no one could utter a single word!

On and under the bridge, all was silent. The battlefield, which had been filled with the sounds of battle just moments before, had now become tranquil due to this sudden change. Only the rolling river flowed alone between the vast天地 (heaven and earth).

Three arrows in quick succession, each one astonishing, all within a mere instant.

One arrow hits the general! Two arrows hit the flag! Three arrows unleash power!

The two arrows created panic, and with the commander's flag falling, the morale of the army naturally fell into chaos. Such a sudden change made it impossible not to feel uneasy and look back. Although the battle between Jiangdong and Jiangxi was brutal, the battle lines were not long, and could be seen from a distance. This allowed everyone to react to the change in the first instance, thus achieving the effect of stopping close combat.

With everyone's eyes fixed on him, another arrow was fired, killing the strategist who was advising Bai Zhongyan at this critical moment right before everyone's eyes! On one hand, this eliminated the potential threat, and on the other hand, it served as a show of force, leaving everyone in awe and dismay at the three arrows fired in quick succession, drawing their attention away from the dead man and towards themselves!

The massive, jet-black sandalwood bow, shaped like a full moon, stood on the riverbank upstream from the flank of the Qing Kingdom army. A figure held the bow, maintaining an archery stance, and stood high on horseback. His black robes were faintly visible in the morning mist, revealing his slender figure, sharp and imposing presence, and unparalleled elegance!

Good heavens! At that distance, who could shoot such a powerful and accurate arrow? The soldiers were dumbfounded, and almost dropped their weapons.

Three arrows were fired, and with a calm swing of his sword, the man shouted in a clear, cold voice: "Having served under the general for so long, I should be the first to die in a hundred battles! But are you, Bai Zhongyan, Qingli? What right do you have to make these soldiers sacrifice for you? What reason do you have to let these brave warriors not die on the battlefield for the country and the people, but be so cowardly abandoned by the country and by you?"

Bai Zhongyan, who had rolled to the ground, was not dead. He gritted his teeth and lifted his head from the ground, enduring the excruciating pain in his shoulder. When he looked into the distance, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets. He even forgot about the pain! He was also shocked and horrified.

The man rode his horse far away, exuding a heroic air, majestic and awe-inspiring, yet also lazy, carefree, and extremely arrogant!

Only one person! The one who had so arrogantly and domineeringly settled the entire battlefield with those three terrifying arrows was actually just that one person all alone!