Free Web NovelChapter 2115: Chapter 207: Walking the Razor’s Edge at the Cliff’s Brink
After confirming that the other Qi Army had already left and that only Zhongxuan Zun was in Ximing City, the agitated and angry Jin Ling immediately launched a full-scale attack.
The difficult process over the past four days need not be elaborated. With the entire city being surrendered troops and only three thousand loyal soldiers on his side, even Zhongxuan Zun, could no longer withstand the attack and led his troops to leave through the west gate.
He had been waiting for the Qi Army to break through the five cities in the middle of Linwu Mansion, so that the siege of Ximing would be resolved without an attack. But after waiting four days, he ultimately did not see it happen.
The Qi Army certainly noticed the chaos at the Xia Army’s rear and surged forward regardless of the cost. The Xia Army fought desperately and refused to give an inch, using corpses fallen at the front line to buy time and space for the rear to heal its wounds.
The Qi Army was brave, the Xia Army was brave, advancing the life-and-death line was difficult.
Zhongxuan Zun could only retreat.
Zhongxuan Sheng did not kill surrendered soldiers, nor did Zhongxuan Zun commit slaughter. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
The surrendered troops of the entire city returned to Summer. He only took Liu Yitao and a few others, facing Jin Ling’s relentless pursuit.
This was a brutal pursuit-and-kill war.
The vanguard camp, which had been fully replenished during the siege battle, lost five hundred men defending Ximing City.
In this pursuit-and-kill battle, they quickly dwindled to only five hundred men!
One side featured Qi Country’s genius, descendant of a noble family. The other side was Summer Country’s accomplished general, a years-long God Arrives.
Jin Ling personally experienced Zhongxuan Zun’s tenacity, felt the elite nature of this Qi Army.
Zhongxuan Zun personally covered the retreat multiple times, even shattered his Star Wheel twice, yet could never escape the encirclement of Jin Ling’s thirty thousand troops, with his movement space shrinking...
Luckily, at this moment, the defense line of the five cities in Linwu’s center finally broke.
Zhongxuan Zun led his men to blend with the retreating Xia Army, going against the tide, daringly breaking through and finally reuniting with the majority of the Qi Army.
Meanwhile, Jin Ling had to retreat to Ximing City, gather the shattered troops from the frontline, and rebuild the defense line.
The battle in Linwu Mansion officially entered the southern seven cities phase.
...
The December in Summer Country might be colder than in Qi Country.
Seated alone on the wall of Mist Flower City, Zhongxuan Zun seemed completely unfazed by the cold wind.
In white robes, still spotless.
His eyes deeply held a divine glow, firm and powerful.
Sitting there casually, he transformed into an ink painting.
Only the fleeting smile at the corners of his mouth vanished, making him appear exceptionally aloof, unapproachable.
There was no doubt he had accomplished great deeds.
His desperate fight at Ximing City seemed like a nail driven into the belly of the Summer people, making movement difficult, which was a crucial reason for the Qi Army rapidly breaking through the five cities in Linwu’s center.
Then he roamed behind Linwu, repeatedly engaging with the Summer An Country Marquis, leading his army to break through encirclement, heroically returning to the Qi camp!
Upon hearing this, the Qi soldiers cheered loudly.
The Eastern Front commander Xie Huaian personally met him, offering encouragement. A significant mark was noted in the record of achievements!
But at this moment, he only pondered...
The cruelty of war is truly indiscernible in the books.
No matter how they describe weapons as sinister, it remains mere imagination, never hitting reality.
The vanguard camp of three thousand, fighting till the end, only had three hundred left with him to successfully break through. And this pursuit lasted only three days...
Under Jin Ling’s absolute advantage in troop strength, he really struggled to move freely.
If the five cities in Linwu’s center had not broken through in time, even Zhongxuan Zun wouldn’t have the confidence to persist much longer.
And Zhongxuan Sheng?
At this moment, Zhongxuan Sheng’s situation in Hui Ming Fu can only be more difficult than what he just went through. Although he fought fiercely in Linwu Mansion, he could still expect reinforcements. But everywhere beyond Huyang Pass, enemies were everywhere. Once caught, it’s nearly impossible to escape.
Not to mention how Zhongxuan Sheng managed to enter Hui Ming Fu. How dare that sly little fatty gamble like this?
What makes him think he has a chance to win this round?
"General." The deputy general accompanying the army approached: "The soldiers have been replenished, holding Xie Shuai’s order, I personally selected the men. After hearing they would follow you, the soldiers were very enthusiastic."
"Raise the flag." Zhongxuan Zun gazed towards the distant sky under heavy clouds, speaking calmly.
This accompanying deputy general had followed him for many years, though lacking extraordinary talent, was most reliable. At this moment he simply acknowledged with a "yes" before turning away.
"Zhong Xin." Zhongxuan Zun did not turn around but suddenly asked: "Don’t you want to know where we’re going?"
Zhong Xin, having pursued north to south with Zhongxuan Zun and hit by six arrows in the final breakthrough battle, stopped only to respond: "Wherever you say, Zhong Xin will go."
"This time we’re heading to Danie. Crossing the peaceful forest to Danie."
Zhongxuan Zun rarely explained: "I cannot go to Huyang Pass, the terrain there is dangerous, the city defense constructed over years and elite troops stationed, making it extremely difficult to break through head-on. It can only be taken with a large army after pacifying all of Linwu. I cannot go to Dai City, where it serves as the gateway to Feng Li Mansion and is the best option for competing achievements at this stage... But since it is the best option, my chubby brother is definitely waiting for me there!"
Battlefields change rapidly, and with news unclear, how can Zhongxuan Sheng accurately predict and trap him in Ximing City?
He reflected afterward, realizing his pursuit of perfection had been caught, projections anticipated his choices.
Previously he didn’t mind these things, responding to each challenge as it came, confident in handling anything.
But even he, amidst this massive Qi Xia battle, repeatedly felt the difficulty.
He believed that if he chose to go to Dai City, Zhongxuan Sheng would definitely have more surprises for him.
The heartbreaking memories of guarding Ximing City stood vivid.
Yet if he were to abandon making optimal choices, instead opting for steady, cautious battles across the current southern seven cities of Linwu for stable achievements, that he could not endure!
Not to say he would definitely lose to Zhongxuan Sheng in the next phase of military achievements competition while fighting in Linwu’s southern seven cities—Zhongxuan Sheng and Jiang Wang stirring the winds beyond Huyang Pass was a dangerous maneuver, walking on the edge of a cliff, whether they could return was still uncertain!
He simply couldn’t bear choosing mediocrity.
Thus, he heads to Danie!
He takes greater risks to seize bigger achievements!
Danie Mansion is the Dragon Raising Land of the Summer Country’s royal family, the former capital of Da Xia, the site of Summer’s Taizu and Taizong imperial mausoleums, indeed the critical area of this country, a focal point in Summer’s defense!
Moreover, Danie Mansion is not far in geographical proximity from the current Summer capital, the Noble City, separated by just one mansion. Troops from the capital region can be mobilized for support at any time.
To tackle such a crucial mansion with an army of three thousand is akin to traversing through mountains of knives and seas of fire.
Once stuck, nearly no chance of escape.
Especially now... the three thousand men formed on the basis of supplementing the original five hundred of the vanguard camp, their combat strength far inferior to the Spring Death Army elites.
This journey is nearly a nine-deaths-and-one-life situation.
Zhong Xin thought about it, then said: "Earlier you mentioned Jin Ling was waiting for someone, that person never came, yet Jin Ling launched a full-scale attack, indicating Sheng Gongzi has already entered Hui Ming Fu... Since Sheng Gongzi is in Hui Ming Fu, and being pursued by that significant figure, escaping seems difficult, how could he go to Dai City in Feng Li Mansion?"
Zhongxuan Zun replied: "I can’t foresee what he will do, but I think he will certainly manage it."
Zhong Xin naturally believed in Zhongxuan Zun’s judgment, silently contemplating for a while, still saying: "Since you are sure Sheng Gongzi will go to Dai City, what if the Summer people know his target..."
In the gaze of Zhongxuan Zun, his voice lowered further.
Finally he added: "General, I only consider for you."
Zhongxuan Zun calmly said: "You seem to doubt whether I can win a fair competition."
Zhong Xin knelt down, sincerely urging: "General, you are a supremely brilliant figure beyond my imagination’s limits, and I, following you for years, never doubted your strength. However... even for you, just taking these three thousand to Danie Mansion is overly risky. A seasoned noble does not risk his life in danger! Your future is like a smooth path to Tongtian, this battle is just one of the sceneries along the way. For your honor and nobility, why risk your life for competition?"
Zhongxuan Zun simply stood up and started walking down the city.
Leaving behind his calm words, falling into the cold wind of this Mist Flower City, unchanging by anyone—
"I want to win everything. Including courage."
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