Still eating? The Reaper's here to collect!

That kid was something else!

Watching Zhao Cheng stroll back and forth atop the enemy's city wall, carrying two roe deer, Meng Wu couldn't decide whether to laugh or marvel.

That was the enemy's city wall, heavily guarded!

The troops stationed there were the enemy's finest, the defenses at their tightest, and their commanding officer was right nearby. The moment Zhao Cheng gave himself away, he'd be surrounded by overwhelming numbers and slaughtered.

Yet the man acted as if he were in an empty wilderness, bouncing around on the wall without a trace of nervousness.

Even Meng Wu couldn't help marveling at Zhao Cheng's rock-solid nerves.

Was this what they meant by skill giving rise to courage?

He beckoned and called Meng Tian over.

"Have a look, Meng Tian. Who's that man on the wall?"

Meng Tian came over to Meng Wu, looking baffled. He followed Meng Wu's gaze, then jolted from head to toe. He was so startled he nearly cried out, and hurriedly clapped a hand over his mouth, his eyes full of shock.

In a hushed, horrified voice, he said, "A-A Cheng!?"

How in the world had that guy gotten up there?

He'd been sent into the city as a Death Spy to steal intelligence. Starting a huge commotion was one thing, but now he'd blended in with the defenders atop the wall and was roasting meat for the enemy's commander?

This was an unprecedented marvel!

After this battle, the enemy commander would be nailed to the pillar of shame, his name stinking for a thousand years.

"That fellow gave me quite a fright."

Meng Wu shook his head with a rueful smile and sighed. "Now I finally understand what signal he meant."

Appearing openly on the wall and wandering back and forth—there was no way Meng Wu could miss him. What else could that be but a signal?

There was no need to pass along any information. The moment Meng Wu saw Zhao Cheng on the wall, he would naturally keep an eye on how things developed, make the necessary preparations, and seize the right moment.

The general had been given his marching orders down to the last detail.

Meng Tian stared for a long while before finally coming to his senses. His brows gradually furrowed.

"But what exactly is he trying to do?"

Meng Wu shook his head. "I don't know. But since he said there'd be an opportunity, we should wait."

Worry showed in Meng Tian's eyes. "Could he be planning to assassinate the enemy commander on the wall?"

"Assassinating the enemy commander alone would be far too dangerous. The last time he charged at the enemy general at the Mountain Pass, he was covered in wounds. He may not have recovered yet.

"This time, Ye County has more defenders, tighter defenses, and a wider wall walk. He's alone. Even if he succeeds in killing the commander, it'll be difficult for him to escape unscathed..."

Meng Wu considered it. "He might be planning to take them by surprise, enter the Barbican, and open the city gate from inside."

"The Barbican is full of traps and heavily guarded," Meng Tian said. "Once he enters, there'll be no way back. He'll have to fight to the death to open the gate.

"We need to prepare to charge the city in advance. If we attack in time, he can escape unscathed—and might even help us break through the Barbican."

A Barbican was a small enclosure built behind the city gate, with another ring of walls around it. Traps and crossbows were laid inside to ensnare and kill any defenders who broke through the gate, protecting the entrance to the city.

That was why opening the gate from within was so difficult. Even once the gate was open, breaking through the Barbican was no easy feat.

The name "Barbican" came from the idea of catching turtles in a jar.

Meng Wu gazed toward the city wall. "All our generals are in position and standing by. The moment Zhao Cheng makes a move, the whole army will advance. We'll take the city today."

"Eh? Why does that person look so familiar?"

"Holy crap! The Assault Cavalry Commandant!?"

At the same time, many Qin soldiers spotted Zhao Cheng on the wall and turned to stare.

"I've seen him in camp. Good heavens, how'd he end up on the enemy's city wall?"

"The Commandant really knows immortal arts!"

"We haven't even attacked the city yet, and our fiercest general has already run off to the enemy wall to roast meat. What are they even supposed to fight now?"

"This is going to be good. Their commander definitely doesn't know who he is. That's the man who took the top credit at the Mountain Pass battle—the peerless warrior who charged alone into the enemy ranks, broke through, and captured their general. If their commander knew that, let's see if he'd still be smiling."

"To serve as a spy to this extent—Lord Zhao is the first..."

On the wall, Zhao Cheng wandered back and forth beside the parapet. He looked busy enough, but hadn't done a lick of work with his hands. The Captain stationed there kicked him.

"What are you doing by the wall? Trying to get yourself killed?"

"Get back to roasting that meat!"

Zhao Cheng agreed, lifting his eyes to memorize the Captain's face.

Once I've killed your commander, you're the first one I'll butcher!

He'd seen Meng Wu's expression and knew the general had spotted him. Even if Meng Wu hadn't believed what he'd said before, he would surely be making the necessary preparations now.

Plans succeeded through secrecy. Zhao Cheng hadn't explained what the signal would be because he feared that if the intelligence were intercepted and his plan exposed, the enemy commander would be prepared and flee.

Now that he'd sent the signal, there was no need to keep wandering around. He went to clean the roe deer and began roasting the meat.

After Han Jiang had read the reinforcements' secret letter, the weight on his heart had lifted. Now he was in high spirits.

With a grand sweep of his hand, he addressed his trusted men atop the wall. "Centurion Xu, stationed north of the city, sent us plenty of game. Today we feast on meat. Let the Qin soldiers below watch us eat!"

Cheers rang out from the wall. The tension that had built up over so many days found a small release, and morale rose a little for the first time in ages.

Of course, when they said they were feasting on meat, the ordinary soldiers would only get a mouthful of broth. Those of slightly higher rank might get a bite of meat.

But even a mouthful of broth was a rare delicacy for soldiers who could barely keep themselves fed.

"Thank you, General!"

"Hahaha, it's been nearly a year since we tasted meat. Today, we brothers feast!"

"We'll eat meat on the wall while the Qin army can only stare. Let them drool!"

The soldiers were thrilled and full of anticipation.

As for Zhao Cheng, while roasting the meat, he kept his eyes on Han Jiang.

The two were separated by more than a hundred paces, which wasn't far for Zhao Cheng.

Even if he rose up right then, he could cut through the countless defenders like a river bursting its banks and reach Han Jiang to kill him in front of everyone.

Still, Meng Wu needed a little time to prepare. There was no harm in letting the other side enjoy himself for a while.

Letting these soldiers have a mouthful of hot broth could count as giving them a better last meal.

The roe deer roasting over Zhao Cheng's fire gradually turned golden and began to glisten with oil.

The aroma of meat soup drifted across the wall. Bowl after bowl was brought out, and the soldiers took turns at their posts, gulping it down and exclaiming over how good it was.

Meanwhile, Han Jiang held forth to several trusted subordinates, boasting that he'd been confident from beginning to end. The slight dishevelment and hardship had all been an act for the Qin army.

As he spoke, something suddenly occurred to Han Jiang. He stopped and asked one of his men, "Have you still not found that Qin spy in the city?"

The subordinate immediately dropped to his knees.

"Please forgive me, General. My men have turned the city upside down, but the spy burned all the county's household registers and official records to ashes, making the investigation difficult.

"Still, I've arrested more than a hundred people and am questioning them one by one. The spy must be among them, so the intelligence won't be passed on."

Han Jiang nodded. When he saw that his subordinate was still kneeling, he waved a hand. "Get up. Why are you so nervous?"

"That Qin spy is all brawn and no brains. He even managed to burn the wrong grain stores—what useful intelligence could he possibly have?

"Even if he does manage to pass something along, it'll be half-understood at best. I need only make a few small troop adjustments, and his intelligence will be useless."

With an easy, confident air, Han Jiang looked toward Zhao Cheng. "Where's the meat? Why isn't it ready yet?"

The Captain stood before Zhao Cheng again and demanded, "The General's asking you a question. Why isn't it ready?"

Zhao Cheng chuckled and held up the first one he'd finished. "This one's ready."

After reaching perfection in body refinement, his senses had become far sharper than before. He'd heard every word Han Jiang said and couldn't help laughing to himself.

Still looking for a spy? I'm right here.

The meat you're eating was roasted by a Qin spy. I didn't burn your grain stores. I saved them for our own side, and you really thought I'd made a mistake.

What a fool.

Han Jiang took the roasted roe deer. Its skin was taut and shiny, its surface covered in oil and crisped to a golden yellow. His appetite stirred at once.

With a short knife, he gently cut open its back. At the faint crack, the crisp golden skin split, separating the crunchy outer layer from the tender meat.

Pearly white fat and the aroma of meat burst forth together. Heat wrapped in that rich scent wafted up to Han Jiang's nose, and his eyes lit up.

"Fine work! He deserves a reward!"

"Where's the hunter? Call him over!"

The Captain trotted off again. This time, he was friendlier to Zhao Cheng. "The General wants you over. He's going to reward you!"

He wants me over?

What a stroke of luck.

That old fool's in a hurry to be reborn.

Holding the half-cooked roe deer, Zhao Cheng approached Han Jiang with a smile, stopping a short distance away. "I'm Zhao Cheng, a hunter from Ye County. My respects, sir."

Han Jiang took a bite of the hot, freshly roasted meat. "You've certainly roasted it well. You deserve a reward."

"Someone, give the hunter a bowl of meat soup!"

Someone immediately brought Zhao Cheng a bowl.

Zhao Cheng was disgusted. So you get meat while I get soup, huh?

But he didn't get angry. The one he was holding now was the one he'd roasted for himself.

"Thank you, sir. I could only make it this way with the ingredients I had. If I'd had coarse salt, honey, wild mountain peppers, and such, I could've made it even better."

Han Jiang's eyes shone brighter. "Someone, go to my kitchen and bring back salt, honey, and mountain peppers."

He looked at the roasted meat in his hand. Since there was something better to come, he figured he'd save room for it.

So he tossed this one to his trusted men. "You eat this first. Share it among yourselves."

His men had been staring hungrily and swallowing their saliva for ages. They thanked him again and again, then eagerly carved up the roe deer with their short knives and dug in.

Han Jiang, meanwhile, held a roe deer leg and headed for the edge of the wall. "Come with me."

Several of his trusted men understood at once. With the roasted meat in their hands, they followed him and lined up along the wall.

They ate meat right in front of the Qin army, swaggering and holding forth, utterly pleased with themselves. They cut quite a dashing sight.

They looked every inch like heroes facing a great enemy without so much as a tremor.

They ate with gusto.

They'd thought that such a display of courage would surely unsettle the Qin army.

At the very least, the enemy would envy them and grow so hungry that they'd swallow their saliva, longing to eat but forced to watch.

But who could have expected that the Qin army wouldn't envy them at all? Instead, they were laughing—and Han Jiang had no idea why.

"Th-this... why are they laughing?"

That only made Han Jiang and the others feel awkward. Their swaggering, dashing air faded away.

Han Jiang was utterly bewildered. The Qin army's laughter was so strange that he couldn't make heads or tails of it. It even made him a little angry!

"Absurd!"

Just moments ago.

The Qin soldiers had watched Zhao Cheng walk up to Han Jiang. Their feelings were more tangled than they could say.

Meng Wu had even prepared for Zhao Cheng to spring into action, kill the commander, and trigger an immediate charge on the city.

Who could have guessed that Han Jiang would bring about his own death by calling Zhao Cheng over?

Now the King of Hell was sitting right beside him, and Han Jiang didn't even know it. He was still putting on airs atop the wall, pretending to be at ease.

"Absolutely ridiculous."

Even Meng Wu couldn't stop laughing.

How could the Qin army not laugh?

The more Han Jiang put on airs, the harder the Qin army laughed.

"You're still eating? The Reaper's here to collect!"

"It's this late, and you're still putting on a show for us? I'm dying of laughter."

"That isn't roast meat you're eating. It's your last meal!"

"If the Commandant strikes now, he can take the man's head with ease."

"The timing's perfect, but even if the Commandant kills him, how will he escape?"

"I think it's almost time. Whatever our Reaper does, the General will seize the moment and attack the city at once. Brothers, get ready!"

Meng Wu was laughing, but the string inside him had already been pulled taut. He gripped the command flag tightly.

He'd already made extensive preparations in secret, waiting only for Zhao Cheng to make his move before sending the entire army to attack.

"Zhao Cheng still hasn't moved. What's he waiting for?"