Great Yu's elite troops formed a killing formation, each unit covering the others.
The defenders' line atop the city walls collapsed completely.
The outcome of the siege was no longer in doubt.
Within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the city gates were opened from within.
In less than half a day, Chen City had fallen.
Chen City, the city lord's main hall.
Bai Xianding and his son Bai Yunlie stood in the hall, still caught in a dreamlike haze of disbelief and shock. Neither could come back to himself for a long while.
"We took a fortress as formidable as Chen City just like that?"
"How... how are we supposed to write the battle report?"
"Chen City fell in half a day, and we lost only a few dozen elite troops..."
"Even if we send that back, the court will surely think we're falsifying the report."
Bai Yunlie was dazed.
Bai Xianding rebuked him sharply. "Tell it as it happened. Write exactly what happened."
"However..."
Bai Xianding changed tack. "For now, do not mention the gentleman's existence in the battle report."
"But... without the Blood-Qi Circulation Technique he gave us, those elite troops who breached the city wouldn't exist. Without them, we could never have taken Chen City." Bai Yunlie stared at him, dumbfounded.
Bai Xianding's expression turned grave. "Do as I say. Chen City has fallen. That is a fact. It doesn't matter how the court questions it."
"But the gentleman's existence..."
"From this moment on, we must guard that secret even more closely. Not a word can leak out."
Bai Yunlie's expression shifted as understanding dawned. "Father, are you worried that spies from other kingdoms will learn of the gentleman's extraordinary abilities and harm him?"
Bai Xianding sighed. "It's more than that.