Encirclement on the North Bank

While a major battle raged between the Fire Tribe Fire Tribe the Wolf Tribe Wolf Tribe the south bank of the Great Rock, a similar battle was also taking place on the north Great Rock. Shibang, leading three thousand cavalrymen from the Fire Tribe, was launching an attack on Yexiao's one thousand cavalrymen from the Wolf Tribe. He divided his three thousand cavalrymen into three groups: one advancing from the north, another flanking from the east to cut off Yexiao's retreat towards Stone Ridge Mountain, and the third encircling from the west, trapping Yexiao's forces on a wide wasteland outside their north bank camp. That wasteland was covered with waist-high withered grass and a few crooked elm trees. The elm branches swayed gently in the morning breeze, and patches of withered grass were trampled down by horses' hooves. Dust rose from the wasteland, shimmering with a grayish-yellow light in the morning sun, casting shadows of the riders and their horses within it.

The 1,000 Yexiao of the Wolf Tribe were not the elite of the Wolf Tribe. Most of them were conscripted from subordinate tribes, trained for a few months, and then brought up. On the battlefield, they could only follow others. Their weapons and equipment were also poor. The bronze spearheads were second-rate goods sourced from the Tiger Tribe, with only a few turns of hemp rope wrapped around the joint between the spearhead and the wooden shaft, making them easily bent with a slight poke. The leather armor was a single layer of hard cowhide, covering only the chest area, leaving the back and ribs exposed. The men were also of low quality, with most having little experience in combat. Their numbers were also significantly fewer than those of the Fire Tribe. The Fire Tribe's 3,000 cavalrymen were all veterans transferred from the Greater Qing Tribe, each with several lives on their hands. The weapons, armor, and horses were all of the highest quality; Yexiao and his men were no match for Shibang Fire Tribe. As soon as Shibang's main force pressed forward, the Wolf Tribe's front ranks were scattered. Some fell from their horses, some clutched their chests and retreated, and some turned to flee only to be cut down by the rear guard. After the eastern forces bypassed them, the Wolf Tribe's retreat towards Stone Ridge Mountain was blocked. Those cavalrymen who wanted to flee east were forced back. The western forces surrounded them, squeezing the Wolf Tribe towards the river. Encircled from three sides, the Wolf Tribe's ranks were squeezed into a heap, horses colliding, men pushing each other, swords unable to be raised, spears unable to be thrust—like a flock of sheep confined in a fence.

Yexiao Owl rode a dark gray warhorse in the middle of the column. His dark gray leather armor was covered in dust and bloodstains. He gripped his bronze dagger tightly, the blade smeared with sticky blood. His hair was gray, tied back with an old leather rope, a few strands stuck to his forehead with sweat and blood. His face was deeply lined, as if carved by a knife. The skin on his cheekbones was taut, and his eye sockets were even deeper, but his eyes were still bright, like an old wolf cornered. His gaze swept across the battlefield, seeing his cavalry being pressed in from three sides by the Fire Tribe, seeing his men fall one after another. Some were cut off from their horses, some were pierced through the chest by spears, and some horses had their legs cut off and fell to the ground, throwing their riders off their backs. A Shitou seemed to be sinking in his heart, so heavy that he could hardly breathe.

Yexiao watched as his remaining soldiers dwindled, and the thought of protecting the supplies vanished. He had initially planned to take the supplies with him; the grain carts were loaded with food that could be used once they reached Stone Ridge Mountain. But now, he was focused on only one thing: how to break through and escape. He pulled on the Jiangsheng, and his horse circled in place. His gaze swept from east to south, then from south to west. To the east, the Fire Tribe's cavalry blocked the road to Stone Ridge Mountain completely; their defensive line there... The thickest wall, with the most people and horses lined up in several rows, spearheads pointing outwards, resembled a wall built of iron and flesh. To the south was the Great Rock River, deep and with steep banks, making it impossible for horses to disembark. To the west were also the Fire Tribe people. Only to the north was a dense forest, located north of the camp on the north bank. The trees were tall and dense, with thick trunks, their canopies completely blocking out the sky. It was much darker inside than outside, and the shrubs and vines on the ground grew haphazardly. Horses couldn't enter, but people could.

After forcing back two Fire Tribe warriors beside him, Yexiao, seeing the dense forest to the north, could only grit his teeth and gather his hundred or so cavalrymen to break through to the north. He pointed his sword northward and shouted to the cavalrymen still following him, his voice hoarse with the strain of being driven to the brink, each word seemingly forced out of his throat. "Follow me! Charge into the northern forest! If you charge in, there's a way to survive!"

The hundred or so cavalrymen followed Yexiao as he charged north, their hooves kicking up dust on the barren ground and flattening the withered grass. They ran towards the dense forest to the north, pursued by the Fire Tribe's cavalry. Arrows rained down from behind, some falling from their horses after being hit in the back, others being struck in the legs of their horses, which neighed and bolted, throwing their riders off. By the time Yexiao reached the edge of the forest, only thirty or so riders remained with him.

It wasn't that Yexiao didn't want to head northeast; it was simply that the Fire Tribe's defenses were too formidable. He charged twice, only to be blocked each time. The first time, Fire Tribe cavalry from the east cut in from the side, splitting his column in two. The front group made it through, but the rear was surrounded. He led his men northeast, only to be blocked again by the Fire Tribe cavalry. They were lined up in three rows, spears pointing outwards, horses shoulder to shoulder, leaving no gap. He had no choice but to turn back. The second time he charged, he tried to squeeze through the gap between the east and north, but that gap had already been sealed off by the Fire Tribe. Halfway through his charge, Fire Tribe cavalry from both sides pushed towards the middle, scattering his column again. By the time he regrouped, only a few men remained. He then gave up on heading northeast and could only retreat into the dense forest to the north.

Although the dense forest path to the north was difficult to traverse—with thick trees, bushes, and vines that would entangle their feet, making it impassable for horses and requiring men to crouch low— Yexiao couldn't afford to worry about that now. His only priority was to lead his men out of the encirclement and hide in the northern Stone Ridge Mountain. Once he reached Stone Ridge Mountain and found Xueshou's men, he would have a chance to live. Thinking of this, Yexiao's will to survive intensified. His mind raced, reviewing the paths in the forest: which gullies could hide people, which slopes could provide shelter, and which streams offered water. He had hunted in this forest before and knew there was a stream to the north. Following the stream northeast would lead to the foot of Stone Ridge Mountain on the south side. Once they reached the foot of the mountain, the Fire Tribe's cavalry would be unable to catch them.

Yexiao led his thirty-odd riders to the edge of the dense forest. He reined in his horse, and the horse's hooves pawed at the dead leaves at the edge of the forest before stopping. He dismounted, his feet sinking into the thick layer of decaying leaves. He shouted to the riders behind him, his voice hoarse and almost inaudible, each word seemingly forced from his throat. "Dismount! Follow me into the forest! Forget the horses! Hurry!" The riders also dismounted, some tearing the bundles from their Ma'an and slinging them over their shoulders, others drawing their swords from their waists. Some men took the arrows from their quivers and tucked them into their belts. The horses were left at the edge of the woods; some stood still, while others turned and ran back. Yexiao didn't care about the horses anymore. He turned around, crouched down, and disappeared into the dense forest. His figure was quickly swallowed up by the thick bushes and vines. The cavalrymen followed behind, one after another, disappearing into the woods. Some tripped over vines, some had their faces scratched by branches, and some had their feet pricked by dead branches, but no one stopped. They all gritted their teeth and kept going.

Finally, Yexiao led over thirty men to abandon their horses and disappear into the dense forest. The Fire Tribe's cavalry stopped at the edge of the forest. Shibang, on horseback, tightened the Jiangsheng and watched the figures disappear into the woods. His expression tightened for a moment, then slowly relaxed. He turned to a leader beside him and said, "Don't chase them. The forest is too dense; the horses can't get in, and men are easily ambushed. Yexiao Owl is experienced; he's been in this forest before. Our men will be at a disadvantage if they go in. Leave a hundred men to guard the edge of the forest and lead the abandoned horses back. The rest of you come with me to clean up the battlefield, collect the camp and supplies. Yexiao can't escape. He'll go north; the northeast is Stone Ridge Mountain. He'll have to come out sooner or later. Once we take down the Wolf Tribe's stronghold in Stone Ridge Mountain, where can he run to?"

The leader nodded, leaving a hundred cavalrymen to guard the edge of the forest. Shibang led the rest of his men towards the north bank camp. The fallen Wolf Tribe cavalrymen lay on the wasteland, some still moving, others motionless. Horses circled around, nudging the fallen. Those who hadn't escaped knelt, surrendering, and were forced into a row by the Fire Tribe Wolf Tribe, who pointed their swords at them. Several grain carts remained in the camp, their decks piled high with grain sacks tied tightly with hemp rope. Shibang glanced at the carts and shouted to his men, "Gather all the grain carts together. Take the prisoners to the open ground. Send a few men to the young chieftain, telling him the battle on the north bank is over. Yexiao led about thirty men into the forest. After we collect our supplies, we'll take some men to the Wolf Tribe's lair at the Stone Ridge Mountain to meet them."