Tang Dynasty: Starting with 3,000 elite cavalry, a bloody battle to retake the city.

Just a few dozen miles behind the main army, a dozen masked soldiers stood on a hill.

Their faces were covered with hideous bronze demon masks, and they held the blood-dripping heads of Turkic cavalrymen in their hands, tossing them casually—smack! The heads hit the ground, and the brains splattered.

The leader sneered, his gaze fixed on the billowing dust rising in the distance, and said in a deep voice, "They're here."

He waved his hand and said, "Send someone to inform the general—the fish has taken the bait."

"yes!"

A dark figure leaped onto a horse, cracked the whip, and vanished into the twilight like an arrow.

……

Night fell, and a cold wind whipped the flags.

Outside Dingzhou City, Han Ye sat atop a black horse, with three thousand iron cavalry silently arrayed behind him.

Everyone wore ghost masks, their armor was stained with blood, their blades were drawn, and their killing intent was condensed and unyielding.

They stood like a legion of ghosts at the edge of the wasteland, their gazes piercing the darkness as they coldly watched the surging black torrent in the distance.

As the wind rose, the ghost mask fluttered in the wind.

War is imminent.

And at this very moment—

The mighty female general Li Yingge finally set off to return to Chang'an.

"Report—!"

A roar ripped through the sky, and amidst the billowing dust, a rider galloped in like thunder!

It's the Tiger and Leopard Iron Cavalry under Han Ye's command!

Han Ye's eyes suddenly lit up, and he demanded sharply, "What's the situation at the front?!"

The masked soldier dismounted, his armor stained with sand, but his voice was as sharp as a drawn sword: "General! Khan Jieli has been enraged and has turned his entire army around, heading straight for Dingzhou—his target is none other than you, General!"

"good!!"

Han Ye laughed wildly, his eyes flashing with a cold light, revealing a hint of almost manic pleasure!

It's done!

This was the trap he had set up!

Those masked scouts who deliberately provoked the enemy, burned camps, and looted grain were personally dispatched by him, just to disrupt the enemy's rhythm, force Jieli to divide his troops, and slow down their advance!

He never expected that the Turkic wolf king would personally turn back and kill them!

But unexpectedly... Jieli actually led hundreds of thousands of troops back, just to take his head?!

absurd!

It's absolutely ridiculous!

In their eyes, Han Ye was nothing but an ant, easily crushed in an instant. That's why they dared to disregard the heart of the Central Plains and turn back to annihilate these "mere few hundred remnant cavalry"!

Oh……

A crimson sneer curled at the corner of Han Ye's mouth. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked, and his blood was boiling like molten lava!

Not just him.

Behind him stood hundreds of iron-clad cavalrymen, each clad in blood-red armor and wielding broken blades, their eyes burning with the same fire—

Crimson red like ashes, burning the sky and boiling the sea!

"Go!" Han Ye roared, his spear tearing through the dust. "Let them see who the true demon god has descended upon the world!"

"drive--!!"

The thunderous hooves shook the earth as hundreds of riders shot off like black arrows!

Behind them, Li Yingge stood on the high slope, gazing at that solitary figure disappearing into the distance, motionless for a long time.

She should have set off for Beijing immediately.

But when the news came—

Jieli personally led hundreds of thousands of cavalry in a counterattack, while Han Ye led only a few hundred remaining troops to meet them head-on...

Everyone held their breath.

crazy!

This is no longer courage, it's madness! It's death! It's a resolute act of defying fate!

But ironically, no one dared to underestimate this battle.

No one could suppress the surging passion and respect in their hearts!

"etc!"

Just as Han Ye was about to disappear below the horizon, Li Yingge suddenly spoke. Her voice was not loud, but it pierced through the wind and sand.

Han Ye reined in his horse and turned around, his gaze sharp as lightning beneath his mask: "What is it?"

Li Yingge stared at him, her words clear and distinct: "Please tell Han Ye—I will personally escort the entire Han family to the Li residence in Chang'an."

If he returns, there's no need to search for him; just go straight back to your residence.

Han Ye frowned.

What does that mean?

He clearly stated that he didn't know anyone named Han Ye!

Why insist on passing the words to him?

He said coldly, "General Li, I'll say it again, I don't know who this Han Ye you're talking about is."

"It's alright."

Li Yingge smiled gently, her lips curving upwards, and the wind and sand seemed to calm down for a moment.

She looked at the masked figure, her tone calm yet unwavering: "I know... he heard it."

In an instant, their eyes met.

The wind whips up the remaining clouds, and the battle flags flutter in the wind.

Han Ye's pupils contracted slightly.

This woman...recognized him a long time ago?!

He didn't know, and couldn't confirm.

In the end, he simply nodded slowly, said nothing, and turned to leave.

The next moment—

Li Yingge gripped the hilt of his sword, knelt on one knee, and roared through the heavens: "General, glory!"

"General, glory!"

"General, glory to you—!!"

Behind them, a thousand troops roared in unison, shaking the mountains and rivers!

That was a title earned with one's life, a name forged through countless trials and tribulations!

It wasn't an official position, nor a noble title, but rather—

General!

These three words, heavy as mountains, resound through the heavens!

Han Ye did not turn around.

But as he galloped wildly on his horse, he looked up to the sky and roared:

"If only the Flying General of Longcheng were here, the barbarian horses would never dare to cross the Yin Mountains!"

"Soldiers—follow me and kill—!!"

The moment the word "kill" was uttered, the world changed color!

Hundreds of iron cavalry transformed into a black lightning bolt, tearing through the yellow sand and piercing straight into the enemy's throat!

This time, they were no longer facing Huyan Zhuo's 50,000 ragtag troops.

This time—

He is the ruler of the Turks, Khagan Jieli!

They are a 300,000-strong iron army of wolf riders who have swept across the grasslands and drunk blood for thousands of miles!

The true power of a nation's demise is displayed in its full force, as if the entire nation were to be mobilized!

Han Ye, along with his group of wounded and gunpowder-covered brothers, charged head-on into the fray!

One hundred against one hundred thousand!

Blood will be used to sacrifice for war!

Li Yingge remained standing motionless on the high slope behind them.

The wind ruffled his battle robes, making them flutter like banners.

She was arrogant throughout her life, even daring to speak out against her father, the military genius Li Jing, and never bowed her head to anyone.

But today.

She called him "General".

It wasn't because of power or imperial decree.

Because of--

Beneath that heavy armor clad in ghostly attire stood a man who dared to use his mortal body to withstand the heavenly tribulation.

This alone is enough to make Li Yingge bow down and submit!

This moment.

No one called it madness anymore.

Because true heroes are born in madness.

Only after Han Ye's figure completely disappeared into the end of the sandstorm did Li Yingge slowly raise her eyes, her gaze sharp as a knife, staring in the direction he had gone.

A moment of deathly silence fell over the surroundings.

Immediately afterwards, suppressed whispers came from behind, like rolling thunder, quietly exploding among the soldiers.

"If only the Flying General of Longcheng were here, the barbarian horses would never dare to cross the Yin Mountains..."

Someone whispered these two incomplete lines of poetry, their voice trembling.

"What a beautiful poem! Truly passionate and inspiring!"

"Every word and phrase is filled with unwavering resolve! This is no poetry; it's the resounding drums of war!"

"The Ghost-Faced General... truly a divine general among men! A clad figure in black armor, a half-finished poem, and a million soldiers dared not advance a single step south!"

The guards' eyes were red and their fists were clenched, as if what they had just witnessed was not a farewell, but a baptism of the soul.

Those two lines of poetry, though severely damaged, are like a sharp sword, piercing straight into the heart.

Just two sentences ignited a tremendous fighting spirit in their hearts!

Standing on high ground, Li Yingge parted her lips slightly and murmured again, "If only the Flying General of Longcheng were here, the barbarian horses would never dare to cross the Yin Mountains..."

Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, her brows furrowed gently, and her gaze grew increasingly somber.

She was thinking—

Was that man wearing a demon mask and carrying a longbow really just a coincidence?

Uncle Liu finally couldn't contain himself any longer and stepped forward, his voice extremely low: "General, don't you also think... he is the young master Han Ye we've been searching for?"

Li Yingge did not answer immediately.

She remained silent for a moment before slowly shaking her head, her tone resolute: "I'm not sure if he is Han Ye."

He paused, then his gaze suddenly sharpened like a blade.

"But I'm certain—Han Ye is definitely related to this masked general!"

Every time the name "Han Ye" was mentioned, the man's fingers would pause almost imperceptibly, and his breath would catch in his throat slightly...

Those are fluctuations that cannot be faked.

Even through the mask, she could sense that something was off.

Her intuition told her that there must be a connection between the two!

But now is not the time to get to the bottom of things.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent thoughts in her heart, and once again adopted her icy demeanor, her clear, cold voice piercing the air:

"Fall back."

"The entire army shall set out to escort the people of Youzhou back to Chang'an without fail!"

"yes!"

"Set off!"

The command was like a knife, and the army responded with a swift movement.

Smoke and dust billowed as the army set off.

—And on the other side.

Yellow sand filled the sky, and the setting sun was like blood.

Han Ye spurred his horse and galloped wildly, with only a few hundred iron cavalrymen behind him, his steps carrying the force of thunder.

They were speeding in one direction—

That was the location of hundreds of thousands of Turkic troops!

With a few hundred cavalry, how could they possibly charge against a million enemies?

Absurd? Suicidal?

But no one backed down.

Because this team doesn't belong to the mortal realm.

The Tiger and Leopard Iron Cavalry are all undead warriors drawn from the underworld!

Having died once, why would someone be afraid to die again?

Han Ye's eyes were like torches, his black robe fluttered, and his face was covered by a ghost mask, revealing only a pair of cold, star-like eyes.

He gripped the reins tightly, fearless, his heart burning with fighting spirit!

Right now—

[Ding! Detected that the host has completed a major battle mission and there is an unclaimed reward. Please choose whether to open it immediately?]

The system voice in my mind rang out after a long absence.

Han Ye's pupils contracted, and he didn't hesitate.

"Activate!"

In an instant—

[Ding! Congratulations, host, for defeating Huyan Zhuo's army and successfully defending Dingzhou! System rewards are being distributed...]

[Ding! You have received comprehensive attribute enhancements! Strength +30, Speed ​​+30, Strategy +30! Your current total attributes have surpassed 100 points, approaching the human limit!]

boom!

A surge of violent energy exploded within his body!

Han Ye's muscles bulged, veins slithered across his body like pythons, and his bones crackled, as if his body was being reshaped!

Breaking 100!

What does this mean?

Even an average person at their peak only has seventy or eighty attribute points!

And now, he is getting closer and closer to the legendary "humanoid beast"!

Still not recovered—

[Ding! Skill acquired—[Divine Archery]! Related memories have been implanted into the host's brain, please check.]

In an instant, countless unfamiliar images flooded into my mind!

As a child, he practiced archery diligently through the harsh winter; as a teenager, he could hit a bird with a single arrow from a hundred paces away; as a young man, he traversed battlefields, severing flags and beheading generals with a single arrow!

Those experiences that weren't his own now felt like they were his own!

He has mastered the art of archery!

He closed his eyes for a moment, and it seemed as if he could already sense the wind speed, angle, and airflow deviation...

A shot is fired without fail!

This is true god-level archery!

However, the last hint made Han Ye's lips twitch, leaving him both amused and exasperated—

[Ding! You have been granted one opportunity to summon the [Three Thousand White Horse Cavalry]! Note: This unit is currently sealed and can only be summoned after fifteen days!]

seal? !

Half a month?!

Han Ye reined in his horse, gazed at the vast desert ahead, and let out a bitter laugh:

"Fifteen days from now... will I still be able to stand and breathe?"

……

Han Ye's lips curled slightly, but his smile carried a hint of desolation.

The second opportunity has finally arrived—the authority to retrieve the "White Horse Cavalry" from the underworld has been reactivated.

But unfortunately... it takes half a month to receive it.

Half a month? Ha.

At that time, whether he could still stand and breathe depended on how tough his life was!

But he has no right to complain.

After all, every gift the system had given him along the way had transformed him completely.

More importantly, every time a reward is distributed, it always comes with an incredible perk—

The entire army was instantly revived!

Not only were his injuries fully recovered, but his energy and spirit were also restored to their peak, like a tiger that had just woken up, his whole body radiating fighting spirit!

"Buzz—!"

"Buzz—!"

"Buzz—!"

Three deep, resonant sounds exploded in the air, like the wheel of fate quietly turning.

In an instant, not only Han Ye, but every single one of his "Tiger and Leopard Iron Cavalry" trembled!

Xiahou Dun suddenly looked up, the crimson in his eyes fading, replaced by a sharp, razor-sharp light.

He gripped the spear tightly, his knuckles turning white, and a long-suppressed growl rolled from his throat.

Not just him.

All the soldiers, whether their broken bones were not yet healed or they were exhausted and on the verge of death, were like withered trees coming back to life, their blood and qi surging, and their fighting spirit soaring to the sky!

Their bodies are ready—to face the next bloody battle!

Just as the Turkic army turned their horses around and frantically pursued those afterimages, several masked soldiers were fleeing for their lives, almost swallowed by despair.

The encirclement was getting smaller and smaller, and the scent of death was already overwhelming.

They've even started closing their eyes and waiting to die.

"Damn it... I won't last until the general arrives..."

But just when his life hung by a thread—

"boom!!!"

A surge of intense heat exploded from his dantian, instantly sweeping through his limbs and bones! His internal organs felt as if they were being rebuilt, his muscles and bones resonated, and his hair stood on end!

The body, which was teetering on the brink of collapse just a second ago, suddenly burst forth with astonishing vitality the next!

Fatigue? Pain? All evaporated!

"shelf!!!"

A masked general suddenly opened his eyes and roared hoarsely, "Everyone! Fight your way out! Rejoin the general!!"

"Kill them all!!!"

The group that was originally destined to perish turned into demons returning from hell and launched a ferocious attack!

The Turkic cavalry were completely stunned!

Weren't these guys supposed to be on their last legs? Why are they suddenly rushing out like they've been injected with a thousand-year-old ginseng spirit?!

Stop them? You can't stop them!

The knife slashed down, but the opponent didn't dodge at all, trading injury for life, showing no fear of death!

The Turkic soldiers gritted their teeth and had no choice but to continue the pursuit.

Khagan Jieli's eyes turned icy, and he coldly ordered, "Chase them! Don't kill them, make them lead the way!"

"I want to see that masked general's head roll to the ground with my own eyes!"

At this moment, the person he hated most was no longer Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty.

Instead, it was that elusive, masked general who repeatedly ruined his plans!

He gripped his curved blade tightly, speaking slowly and deliberately:

"I want to stand on the banks of the Wei River with his head in my arms, forcing Li Shimin to come out for a decisive battle!"

……