The Great Song Dynasty's Soul-Forging in Progress

The defense line at Lüjiachang was on the verge of collapse. Multiple breaches had been opened, and the local militia and the "Hidden Arrow" team members had suffered heavy casualties, leaving them only able to rely on houses and streets to put up a desperate resistance.

Ma Nao and Duan Simao's men arrived just in time, and the bandits immediately retreated to join the main force besieging Hulu Bay.

Wangjiagang direction.

Wang Zhuacai stood guard outside the door, chatting with Shen Zhou. The two men's calm demeanor, like old farmers discussing farming, gave the people of Wangjiagang a sense of security. Amidst the raging storm of bandit raids, Wangjiagang became a peaceful haven thanks to their candlelit conversations.

The direction of Laomentan.

Sun Kui slashed down the last bandit blocking his way with a single blow and looked back.

Behind him, more than sixty corpses lay scattered across the battlefield. Shi Wancheng's head had been severed and was stuck on the tip of his spear; the blood had frozen into shards.

But he didn't laugh.

Because he knew that the real battle was at Hulu Bay.

"Master Sun, shall we charge back?" Ma Nao panted heavily, covered in blood, but his eyes shone with a frightening light.

Sun Kui turned his head and looked at Wang Zhonghua on the wall.

Wang Zhonghua was looking down at the corpse of a bandit—one of Shi Wancheng's trusted men, who had clutched a half-burnt letter in his hand before he died. He picked up the letter, glanced at it, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

"Oh no," he said in a low voice.

Sun Kui strode forward: "What's wrong?"

Wang Zhonghua handed him the letter. Sun Kui took it and read it—it was an order from Mad Tiger to Shi Wancheng: "Those who attack Laomentan should feign an attack to contain Wang Zhonghua's main force. Once Huluwan is breached, the spoils will be divided equally between the east and west."

"A feint attack?!" Sun Kui's eyes widened, bloodshot. "These two hundred-plus people, it's a feint attack?!"

Wang Zhonghua didn't speak, but just looked in the direction of Hulu Bay.

There, flames soared into the sky.

"Sun Kui," he said, his voice as cold as steel that had been tempered.

"exist!"

"Take all the brothers who can still fight and run to Hulu Bay. Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, I want you to appear behind the bandits."

"And what about you?"

Wang Zhonghua had already mounted his horse; it was the "Treading Snow" steed, one he couldn't bear to ride even one more step.

"I'll go first." He spurred his horse, and the warhorse neighed loudly, rushing into the wind and snow.

Sun Kui paused for a moment, then roared, "Did you all hear that? Run with me! Those who can't run themselves to death, run for the hell out of here!"

More than thirty able-bodied villagers followed him into the snowstorm.

From Laomentan to Huluwan, it's seven li (about 3.5 kilometers).

Wang Zhonghua rode his horse, galloping wildly across the snow-covered plains.

The wind stung his face, and the snowflakes felt like knives cutting into it. But he didn't feel pain; he only felt anxious—so anxious that his heart felt like it was going to jump out of his chest.

He knew that the iron painting was effective.

But there were too many bandits.

Mad Tiger led 150 men, the most elite main force under Lu Laojiu. How many men did Tie Hua have? More than 50 "Hidden Arrows" and 70 or 80 local militia, totaling less than 130.

Can she hold on?

He recalled Tiehua's last words to him before he left: "Brother Zhonghua, go and fight those bastards without worry. Xinyi and I will take care of Hulu Bay."

When she said this, her eyes shone brightly, like steel that had been tempered.

She never lied to him.

But this time, he was afraid.

He was afraid she wouldn't be able to handle it.

He was afraid he wouldn't be able to catch up.

"drive!"

He lashed the horse with his whip, and the warhorse neighed and ran even faster.

The Huluwan defense line is on the verge of collapse.

The breach on the east side was completely lost, and bandits poured in like a tide. Duan Gong led his men in a desperate resistance, retreating to the second barricade, where he was left with only a dozen or so men.

The western granary was surrounded, and Lü Maoyi led his men to defend it to the death. They had already run out of arrows, so they could only use spears to stab, knives to slash, and fists to smash.

Outside the Sansheng Cottage, Liu Jueming stood at the entrance, whisk in hand, with seven or eight corpses lying at his feet. His beard and hair were stained with blood, and he was slightly out of breath, yet he did not retreat an inch.

Liu Xinyi was inside, still treating the wounded. Her hands weren't trembling, but sweat was dripping from her forehead.

"Grandpa, how much longer can you hold on?" she asked without turning her head.

Liu Jueming did not answer.

Because another wave of bandits rushed up.

He took a deep breath, flicked his whisk, and was about to meet the attack—

Suddenly, a mournful neighing of a horse came from afar.

Immediately afterwards, he rode like the wind, breaking through the wind and snow!

The horse was drenched in sweat and foaming at the mouth; the rider was covered in blood, yet gripped the knife tightly, his eyes flashing like lightning.

The horse is "treading on snow," the knife is "singing in the snow," and the person is—

Wang, Zhong, Hua!

He charged in from the bandits' flank, "Snow Chant" in hand. With a flash of light, two bandits' heads fell to the ground! He didn't stop, spurring his horse straight ahead, tearing a gap through the bandit ranks!

"Brother Zhonghua!" Duan Gong exclaimed.

Wang Zhonghua leaped off his horse, slashed down a bandit who lunged at him, and rushed to Qin Tiehua's side.

Qin Tiehua was leaning against a wooden pillar, catching his breath. When he saw him arrive, he paused for a moment, then grinned.

"Why are you here?"

"Nonsense." Wang Zhonghua steadied her, his eyes reddening as he looked at her numerous injuries. "If I didn't come, who would collect your body?"

Qin Tiehua laughed even louder, and as he laughed, tears streamed down his face.

"Your arrival is useless," she said. "There are too many bandits."

Wang Zhonghua didn't speak, but simply gripped "Yinxue" tightly and stood in front of her.

He knew she was telling the truth.

Even if he comes, he can't change the overall situation.

But he had to come.

Because she guarded Hulu Bay for him.

Because she is Qin Tiehua.

because--

"If I don't come, and you die, what's the point of my life?"

He didn't say it.

He simply gripped the knife tightly.

The bandits swarmed up again.

This time, it's the final charge.

Shi Wancheng's remnants fled from the direction of Laomentan and joined forces with Mad Tiger Hu Dongkui's men. A huge, dark mass of two or three hundred men surged towards the last line of defense in Huluwan like a tide.

Wang Zhonghua has fewer and fewer people around him.

Qin Tiehua could no longer stand; he was kneeling on the ground, still wielding his knife.

Duan Gong, who had rushed to the rescue, could no longer hold the bow; he gripped the knife in his right hand and continued hacking.

Lu Maoyi charged out from the direction of the granary, covered in blood, so much so that it was impossible to tell whether it was his own or that of the bandits.

Du Ziteng, Zhang Simao, Ma Nao... were all covered in blood, but they were still struggling to hold on.

The lights in Sanshenglu are still on.

Liu Xinyi is inside, still rescuing people.

Liu Jueming stood at the door, his whisk broken in half, yet he did not retreat an inch.

Wang Zhonghua gazed into the distance, where the wind and snow swirled.

He recalled what he had said to Qin Tiedan three hours earlier when he told him to break through the encirclement:

"Tell General Di that the bandits have come out in full force, and Hulu Bay is in imminent danger. But more importantly—deliver this letter to him personally. Tell him that after this battle, he will have the means to secure his livelihood."

Qin Tiedan asked him at the time, "If I leave, who will guard Hulu Bay?"

He replied, "Iron painting."

Qin Tiedan asked again, "Do you believe her?"

He answered, "Yes."

But what he didn't say was—

He believed in more than just iron paintings.

He believed that Di Qing would definitely come.

Because in his letter to Di Qing, he not only included the bandits' troop distribution, advance and retreat routes, and weak points, but also one sentence:

"If we win this battle, the general's achievements will more than offset all his previous transgressions. From then on, who in the court would dare to say that the general is 'offsetting his crimes with merits'? He should be 'ennobled for his merits'!"

Who was Di Qing?

He is the God of War of the Great Song Dynasty.

He was the kind of person who, even after winning a battle, would still be accused of having "rebellious intentions."

He is someone who has been frustrated for over a decade, waiting for an opportunity to prove himself.

He won't miss this opportunity.

Absolutely not.

Wang Zhonghua gripped "Yinxue" tightly, watching the bandits getting closer and closer, and suddenly smiled.

"Iron painting," he said.

"Um?"

"Do you believe we can win?"

Qin Tiehua turned his head to look at him. He was covered in blood, his face was pale, but his eyes were frighteningly bright.

"I believe you," she said. "I believe everything you say."

Wang Zhonghua nodded.

"Then let's hold on a little longer."

Just as the defensive line was about to be completely submerged—

"Whoosh—buzz—!!!"

A desolate, powerful horn-like sound, seemingly from ancient times, suddenly pierced through the deafening shouts and snowstorm, clearly reaching everyone's ears!

Then came a series of muffled thunderous sounds! Not just one, but thousands upon thousands of sounds converging into a deafening roar that shook the very earth! It was the sound of well-trained warhorses' iron hooves shattering ice and snow and shaking the ground!

Wang Zhonghua suddenly looked up and followed the sound!

At the edge of the snowfield to the southeast, a blazing "fire dragon" suddenly appeared! It was countless blazing torches that connected at high speed to form a raging inferno! Beneath the flames, there were forests of spears and halberds, and a torrent of armored soldiers reflecting a cold light!

"Reinforcements! It's Tie Dan! General Di's reinforcements have arrived—!!!"

Wang Zhonghua mustered all his strength and let out a heart-wrenching yet ecstatic roar! This roar was like a stimulant injected into the bodies of those in dire straits, greatly invigorating the spirits of all the village militia still resisting!

Iron cavalry descended from the sky!

With the force of thunder!

The earth trembled!

Break through the void!