Peril at the West Corner Tower

Flames soared into the sky at the West Corner Tower. Northern Liang people had blasted a hole two meters square in the wall with gunpowder, and soldiers were pouring through the breach.

Thousand-Commander Liang Qifeng had only just come off duty, but the moment the flames rose, he donned his armor again and returned to hold the West Corner Tower to the death. Unfortunately, the Northern Liang people had come prepared this time, bringing weapons that were small but devastatingly powerful.

The West Corner Tower had never had many troops stationed there. After several rounds of bloody fighting, scarcely any remained.

"Commander, if this keeps up, I fear all our brothers will perish here."

Not a single part of Liang Qifeng's body was clean. Blood and wounds covered him. The long saber in his hand had curled in several places along its edge, forcing him to expend even more strength to kill his enemies.

"Tell the brothers to hold this position even if they die! We must not let the Northern Liang people advance another half step!"

Liang Qifeng drew a ragged breath and wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "With all this commotion, the general and the others must already be on their way to reinforce us. We only need to hold on a little longer."

But the guard said anxiously, "The Northern Liang people came prepared this time. I fear the general and the others have encountered formidable opponents too. If they can barely fend for themselves, how can they spare the strength to reinforce us?"

"No matter what, we must buy them more time. The general will never stand by and let us die."

Liang Qifeng wanted to say more, but another wave of the Northern Liang people surged through the breach.

Without another word, he spurred his horse forward and swung his saber, severing the heads of the soldiers at the front.

Blood drenched the blade, dripping steadily to the ground.

Before Liang Qifeng could catch his breath, more Northern Liang soldiers poured in and surrounded him.

He raised his saber again and swung at the nearest Northern Liang soldier.

This time, however, before his strike could land, he felt a sudden weight in his shoulder, followed by pain that pierced straight to his heart.

Glancing sideways, he saw an arrow embedded in his shoulder, its exposed end still quivering.

He gritted his teeth and slashed back toward his own shoulder, cutting off the protruding shaft.

The agony made his rein hand shake uncontrollably. Only after two attempts did he manage to steady the horse beneath him.

"Stop fighting a losing battle! Your Yan Pass will soon belong to Northern Liang. Surrender now, and you can still keep your life!"

Liang Qifeng raised his head and spat toward the voice.

"Your granddaddy Liang was born a man of Western Chu, and in death, I'll be a ghost of Western Chu! You want me to surrender? Come with your head in your hands!"

The Northern Liang soldiers still streaming inside suddenly parted to either side like a receding tide. An armored man approached at a leisurely pace.

At the sight of the golden plumes atop the man's helmet, Liang Qifeng's heart gave a sudden jolt.

Among Northern Liang's troops, only officers of deputy general rank or higher could adorn their armor with golden plumes.

One plume marked a deputy general; three marked a commanding general.

This man wore exactly three, no more and no less.

Northern Liang's commanding general had actually led the assault on the West Corner Tower himself!

His wolfish ambition was plain for all to see.

"Every general defending your Yan Pass will perish here today. Why remain so stubborn?"

"You know perfectly well how many defenders the West Corner Tower has. I need not spell it out for you."

The Northern Liang general regarded Liang Qifeng with cold eyes. "Look behind you. How many men do you have left?"

Liang Qifeng looked back and saw his soldiers lying fallen on the ground.

Those still standing had already become Northern Liang's prisoners.

"Well? Have you considered it? Northern Liang thirsts for men of talent. If you submit to us, Yan Pass will remain under your command."

"You despicable scoundrel! If there hadn't been a traitor inside Yan Pass, how could you have entered the West Corner Tower so easily?"

Liang Qifeng laid his saber across his shoulder. "I, Liang Qifeng, would rather die standing than live on my knees! Northern Liang dogs, I'll watch from beneath the earth on the day you fall!"

Then he turned his gaze toward the eastern side of Yan Pass, where faint sounds of fighting could be heard.

"General, I failed to hold the West Corner Tower. I have let down the people of Western Chu. Only death can atone for my disgrace!"

With that, he pressed the blade against his neck and closed his eyes, ready to die for his country.

Just then, a flurry of urgent hoofbeats sounded, and someone shouted, "Chen Lin is here! Whoever invades Yan Pass shall die!"

Liang Qifeng, already prepared for death, snapped his eyes wide open at the voice. "General!"

He had resigned himself to dying, but now a fierce desire surged through him once more.

Even the pain in his shoulder seemed to fade. He thrust his saber outward, cutting down several Northern Liang soldiers who had been caught off guard.

He forcibly tore an opening in the wall of men that had surrounded him as tightly as an iron barrel.

"General! Liang Qifeng is here!"

Liang Qifeng shouted at the top of his lungs.

Hearing him, the Northern Liang general's eyes flashed as he turned toward Chen Lin, who was riding over.

"I truly never expected General Chen to abandon the other side and come here. Unfortunately, you are destined to lose your life here today!"

Chen Lin fixed his gaze on the Northern Liang general and barked, "Gao Yue, you dog! We've fought for years, and today you've delivered yourself right to my door! Take my blade!"

As he spoke, Chen Lin spurred his horse forward and brought his saber down straight at Gao Yue.

Although Chen Lin had spent quite some time recuperating after being poisoned, he had guarded Yan Pass for years, and his fearsome reputation had spread far into Northern Liang.

As his saber descended, the Northern Liang soldiers could not withstand the oppressive force of the blow and retreated one after another.

Gao Yue sneered. "Since I've come here today, I certainly won't return empty-handed! Chen Lin, prepare to die!"

Gao Yue wielded a Heaven-Piercing Halberd. Seeing Chen Lin charge toward him with such ferocity, he struck at the horse beneath him.

The two commanding generals clashed, while the soldiers on both sides advanced and joined the bloody melee.

For a time, battle cries shook the heavens.

Amid the chaos at the West Corner Tower, no one noticed that some men were using the cover of darkness to quietly repair the breach the Northern Liang people had blasted in the wall.

By the time the Northern Liang people realized something was wrong, they discovered that only those who had entered earlier remained inside the West Corner Tower. The reinforcements that should have charged in long ago were nowhere to be seen.

After exchanging blows with Chen Lin, Gao Yue suddenly noticed that the West Corner Tower, which had originally held so few defenders, was now filled with Western Chu soldiers.

His own men, however, were scarcely anywhere to be found.

A profound unease began spreading from his heart through his entire body.

When he turned and saw that the breach in the wall had already been completely repaired, his eyes widened in shock.

Chen Lin seized the opening created by that moment of distraction and slashed him across the back.

"Gao Yue, Northern Liang has bullied Western Chu for far too long. Today is the day you die!"

One of Chen Lin's arms was drenched in blood, but he paid it no heed as he stared straight at Gao Yue.

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