Outside the mountain pass, a sudden, furious roar rang through the ranks of the Northern Frontier Army.
"General! Don't be afraid, we're here to save you!"
A Deputy General clad in heavy armor gritted his teeth, drew his blade, and spurred his horse to charge toward the narrow pass.
More than a hundred personal guard cavalrymen followed behind him, their faces ashen yet urging their mounts forward in hot pursuit.
Shouting hoarsely as he charged, the Deputy General cried, "The Great General has treated us with kindness as vast as the mountains! Today, even if we die, we will drag the General back!"
Yet the moment his horse surged forward a dozen paces, the cavalry formations on both the left and right flanks remained completely motionless.
The cavalry in the vanguard reined in their horses to watch, while those in the rear descended into utter chaos.
Several young officers dressed in fine armor and fair-skinned, delicate faces quietly reined their horses around and retreated toward the rear, looking back as they withdrew without the slightest hesitation in their steps.
They were the descendants of nobles from the imperial court, and they had joined this expedition simply to gild their resumes, hoping to secure some military merit and return home to serve as officials.
Seeing that Xiao Jin, the Great General possessed of Grandmaster combat strength, was about to lose his life on the spot, how could they possibly stay behind to accompany him to their deaths?
Leaning against the cliff face, Xiao Jin turned his head to watch the hundred-odd men charging forward, then glanced at those young officers currently retreating.
He suddenly chuckled.
The laughter was hoarse and low, carrying a trace of blood foam, yet it held an inexpressible desolation.
"Wang Yuan."
He suddenly spoke, his voice low,