Han Ji

"Spears! Advance!"

Li Huan led a squad of spearmen out of the alleyway, their gleaming spear tips forming a moving forest as they swept forward. The barbarian soldiers, squeezed into the narrow street, had nowhere to hide and were impaled like skewers of candied hawthorns, their blood splattering onto the sticky, slippery cobblestones.

The city gates slammed shut with a clanging of mechanisms, completely cutting off the main force of barbarian soldiers from the vanguard. The barbarian soldiers outside the city, filled with shock and rage, attempted to ram the gates or scale the walls, only to be met with an even denser rain of arrows and boiling oil from the city walls.

"kill!"

Zhou Chong and his henchmen were intercepted by government troops.

A flash of blades, and a guard from the Zhou residence raised his shield to parry. The shield shattered, and the guard staggered backward from the blow. Zhou Chong's face turned deathly pale as his trusted men dragged him back: "Hold on! Hold on! Back to the residence! Back to the residence and defend it!"

He wanted to reclaim the tortoise shell that he had been running for many years.

Outside the city, in the direction of Wild Wolf Gully.

Liu Bei stood at the edge of the birch forest, while Chi Yun's breath exhaled white mist, his hooves pawing the ground restlessly. In the distance, the sounds of battle from Shu County drifted over, and the firelight illuminated the sky.

He slowly drew his longsword, the cool touch spreading through his palm. A slight warmth seemed to rise in his chest, and his adrenaline began to surge.

"The entire army—"

The business wasn't booming, but the sound reached the ears of the five hundred elite soldiers behind him clearly. Everyone instantly tensed, gripping their weapons tightly, their eyes fixed intently on that tall, imposing figure.

"Target: Barbarian soldiers outside Shuxian City!"

The sword's edge points forward, slicing through the night.

"Follow me—crush them!"

"roar!"

Five hundred well-rested and prepared Tiger Warriors surged out of the woods like a silent tide, their hoofbeats gradually increasing in speed until they roared like thunder, crashing fiercely into the flank of the barbarian soldiers outside the city!

The barbarian soldiers outside the city were in a panic because the city gates had suddenly closed and their leader was trapped. Their flanks were suddenly hit by such a fierce attack and were thrown into chaos.

Liu Bei charged ahead, with Chi Yun, perfectly in sync with him, weaving through the barbarian horde. His swordsmanship was concise and ruthless, targeting barbarian leaders and warriors attempting to organize resistance. A flash of sword light, followed by a shower of blood and a bloodcurdling scream.

"Don't panic! Don't panic!" a barbarian squad leader roared in his local dialect.

Zhang Wu and Li Huan flanked Liu Bei like two sharp, razor-sharp knives. Zhang Wu's blade was heavy and powerful, often cleaving people and weapons in two with a single strike; Li Huan wielded a long spear, moving with the speed and agility of a dragon, precisely eliminating the cold arrows and sneak attacks that threatened Liu Bei with his point, thrust, parry, and sweep.

"Pan Du is dead! Xiao Wang is about to be beheaded! How long will you continue to resist!" Liu Bei roared, his voice booming across the battlefield, "Those who kneel and wield weapons will not be killed!"

These words struck like a hammer blow to the already wavering barbarian soldiers. Pan Du's head was still hanging on the walls of Shuxian, and Xiao Wang was trapped inside the city, his fate unknown... What was the point of resisting?

Clang! Someone dropped their weapon.

Once the first one appeared, a second, a third… like a plague spreading, the resistance quickly crumbled. Those who still stubbornly resisted were soon overwhelmed by the swords and spears of the government troops.

Liu Bei reined in his horse and surveyed the battlefield. The remaining enemy outside the city was no longer a concern, so he turned his gaze to the tightly closed west gate.

"Zhang Wu! Clear the area outside the city and take custody of the prisoners! Li Huan, take a team of men and follow me to knock on the gate!"

"yes!"

At this moment, inside the city.

The demon king was covered in blood, his bone club stained with red and white substances. Dozens of his fiercest mountain demon warriors had gathered around him, forming a circle like trapped beasts in the middle of the street, resisting wave after wave of attacks from the government troops. Archers on the rooftops kept firing, wearing down their strength and lives.

"By order of the lord! Capture the King of Xiao alive, and the reward will be a thousand pieces of gold!" an officer shouted.

With generous rewards, the government troops launched an even fiercer offensive.

The Demon King roared and smashed a government soldier who had charged too far ahead with his club. He himself staggered, with half an arrow shaft stuck in his side.

Just as his old strength was exhausted and his new strength had not yet arisen—

A thin, dark figure, like a ghost, darted out from the shadows beside them! Its speed was astonishing!

It's Wugu!

He followed Liu Bei's troops into the city and seized the opportunity to deliver the fatal blow!

He had no decent weapon, only a sharpened dagger, which he aimed straight for the Queen of the Demon King's heart!

The Demon King sensed the ominous wind behind him, roared, and swung his bone club in a sweeping motion! But he was a fraction too slow!

"puff!"

The dagger was deeply embedded in Xiao Wang's side, until the hilt was gone!

The demon king let out a deafening scream, and with a backhand slap, struck Wugu in the chest. Wugu flew backward like a kite with a broken string, spitting out a mouthful of blood in mid-air before crashing heavily to the ground, his life hanging in the balance.

Almost simultaneously, three or four spears seized the opportunity and pierced Xiao Wang's body from different angles!

The Xiao King's massive body froze, the fierce light in his eyes quickly dimmed, he swayed, and then crashed to the ground like a collapsing mountain, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The leader was killed in battle. The remaining mountain demon warriors completely collapsed, some dying and others surrendering.

The fighting within the city gradually subsided.

"Join the army!" A blood-soaked officer ran up. "Zhou Chong has led his remaining troops back to his residence, refusing to come out! Magistrate Lu has already mobilized troops to besiege it!"

Liu Bei nodded, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield before finally settling on the exceptionally large corpse in the center of the street.

Liu Bei dismounted and walked to the spot where Wugu had fallen. The boy was curled up on the ground, his chest caved in, blood constantly spilling from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes shone with a terrifying light as he stared intently at the corpse of the Xiao King.

Liu Bei knelt down and checked his breath; he was still breathing. "Take him away and find the best physician. Spare no expense to save his life."

"yes!"

Standing up, Liu Bei looked towards the Zhou residence, his eyes turning cold.

"Let's go to the Zhou residence."

The Zhou mansion was surrounded by high walls and deep courtyards, its vermilion gates tightly shut. Faint shadows could be seen moving about atop the walls, and the firelight reflected off crossbows.

Lu Zhi personally oversaw the operation from the outer perimeter, his expression calm. Seeing Liu Bei approach, he nodded slightly: "Have the barbarian soldiers been dealt with?"

"They scattered, many surrendered," Liu Bei replied briefly, glancing towards the Zhou residence. "Teacher, this fiend..."

"Like a turtle in a jar," Lu Zhi remarked. "They're just putting up a last-ditch resistance."

At that moment, Zhou Chong's hoarse shouts came from the top of the wall: "Lu Zhi! Liu Bei! You have framed a loyal official! My Zhou family has been loyal for generations, I will appeal to the court! Appeal..."

"Fire!" Lu Zhi ordered before the man could finish speaking.

The archers, who were already prepared, immediately unleashed a volley of arrows. The arrows struck the gate tower and the walls, pinning the Zhou family members down.

"Break down the door!" Lu Zhi ordered again.

Dozens of strong soldiers, carrying thick logs and chanting slogans, began to storm the heavy, copper-clad gates of the Zhou residence.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Each impact intensified the screams and panic behind the door.

Liu Bei watched silently. He knew Zhou Chong was finished. The evidence of his collusion with the barbarians, working from within and without, was irrefutable; even a god couldn't save him.

"Bang—Crack!"

The door finally gave way, the latch broke, and the two door panels collapsed inward with a crash!

"Charge in! Kill any who resist!" Lu Zhi's voice was icy.

The government troops surged into the Zhou residence like a tide, and shouts of killing, the clash of weapons, and cries for mercy rang out again, but much less loudly than before.