Chapter 86: Contest of Wills (Part Twenty)

The blaze illuminated the encampment of more than a thousand Yue warriors, casting a brilliant, unbroken light across the grounds. Countless figures battled the flames with desperate vigor, finally bringing the inferno under control. The stampeding warhorses were gathered, one by one, back into the camp.

Yet the fortress itself lay in ruins. Ash drifted from the heavens, settling upon every soldier. The thousand Yue warriors moved like men who had awoken from a nightmare, unsure when they would truly be free of its grip.

Aside from those still fighting the fire, the rest had gathered near the royal tent. Hundreds of bows were drawn, arrows aimed at Xu Le, Luo Dun, and Bu Li, who sat astride their horses. Encircled, they were being herded slowly toward the camp gate.

Zhi Bi Si Li still lay slumped across Xu Le’s saddle, silent and unmoving, as if he knew he had utterly shamed his tribe this day.

No one remained on the ramparts; the guards had abandoned their posts, unconcerned whether Liu Wuzhou might seize the moment to storm in with his Heng’an Eagle Cavalry. Xu Le alone had thrown the Yue camp into chaos—what difference would the addition of the Eagle Cavalry make?

Many now wished only for this ordeal to end swiftly, so they could depart Yunzhong forever and never return.

Zhi Bi Luoluo stood apart from the crowd, watching the scene with a cold gaze. Suddenly, his eyes shifted to Zhang Wansui, who had remained silent nearby.

Zhang Wansui, too, felt as if he were dreaming. The Zhi Bi tribe had just reclaimed the Nine Surnames, strutting through Yunzhong territory, negotiating from a position of strength. Then, out of nowhere, a young Han appeared and overturned the entire camp, capturing the young khan of the Zhi Bi tribe, and now looked ready to depart unscathed.

Who was this young lord Xu Le, truly? It had been many years since such a prodigy had appeared!

With the Zhi Bi tribe now in such disgrace, Zhang Wansui, who had almost been forced to bow to them, found his attitude shifting. Was it truly necessary to yield so completely to the Zhi Bi tribe? Perhaps the matter deserved reconsideration.

But first, he must escape.

This was Liu Wuzhou’s territory, after all. With such chaos stirred up, the Heng’an Eagle Cavalry would surely arrive. If they recognized Zhang Wansui, disaster would follow.

Zhi Bi Luoluo’s gaze fell upon him; Zhang Wansui drew a deep breath and stepped forward, bowing respectfully.

“Ah Xianshe, since such misfortune has occurred, I must not linger. If Heng’an Prefecture discovers us, it will jeopardize both our interests. I bid you farewell.”

Zhi Bi Luoluo looked at Zhang Wansui and let out a strange laugh. “Do you know who that man is?”

Zhang Wansui froze.

Zhi Bi Luoluo’s expression twisted with malice. “He is a prodigy from your Shenwu, a guest at Liu Wuzhou’s table. He has rescued the chieftain of the Liang Haiter tribe among the Nine Surnames. Where do you think he’ll go after leaving here? When Liu Wuzhou learns the Zhi Bi tribe is present, what will he do? With myself and the young khan trapped in Liu Wuzhou’s land, what are our options?”

A cold sweat broke out across Zhang Wansui’s body.

Zhi Bi Luoluo’s voice grew even more sinister. “A feud among Han heroes is all the same to us Turks. Do you think I would hand you over to Liu Wuzhou as a greeting gift, just to secure my own escape?”

Zhang Wansui inhaled sharply and spoke each word with care. “What does Ah Xianshe wish me to do?”

Zhi Bi Luoluo replied coldly, “No one disgraces the Zhi Bi tribe and leaves alive. I will kill this so-called Lord Xu! I hear General Zhang, you are skilled in spear combat?”

Zhang Wansui nodded silently. Mounted spear duels—he was a master. In Mayi County, it was said only Yuchi Gong surpassed him, though Zhang Wansui hardly admitted it. During the rebellion suppression at Luoyang, he had snatched three spears bare-handed and claimed a banner, facing the Emperor’s elite troops. How could a rustic like Yuchi Gong compare?

Zhi Bi Luoluo gestured. “Go wait outside the camp. When Lord Xu leaves, charge in from the flank, seize his spear, and rescue the young khan. There will be plenty of sharp bows ready for Lord Xu.”

What choice did Zhang Wansui have? He nodded. “No need for bows. I will kill Lord Xu myself and return the young khan to you.”

Zhi Bi Luoluo nodded slowly. “If you succeed, the Zhi Bi tribe will swear blood brotherhood with Prefect Wang. We will overthrow Liu Wuzhou—whatever terms, we can discuss.”

Zhang Wansui nodded heavily. A Turkic Blue Wolf cavalryman brought him a fine horse. Zhang Wansui signaled to his men not to move, mounted up, and rode around the perimeter, leaving by a different gate.

Zhi Bi Luoluo watched him go, then waved his hand. Several burly Blue Wolf cavalrymen slipped into the crowd of Yue warriors. Each carried a superior bow, and their quivers were filled with sharp, well-fletched arrows.

These Blue Wolf cavalrymen were the tribe’s best mounted archers. They were to wait until Zhang Wansui rescued Zhi Bi Si Li, then shoot Xu Le from his horse.

Zhi Bi Luoluo stood with hands clasped behind his back, jaw clenched.

Between Wang Ren Gong and Liu Wuzhou, it mattered little to the Zhi Bi tribe whom they allied with; Han quarrels were merely opportunities for Turkic gain. For now, Wang Ren Gong promised more. Liu Wuzhou had made his name fighting the Turks, but who knew if the Eagle Commander would stay stubborn to the end?

What he’d said to Zhang Wansui was true. The most urgent matter was to kill Lord Xu. Should Zhang Wansui refuse, Zhi Bi Luoluo would truly hand him over to Liu Wuzhou.

The Zhi Bi tribe intimidated the lands north and south of Yinshan, controlled Sui’s Mayi and Yanmen counties, their prestige unmatched. If the young khan were captured and allowed the enemy to depart unscathed, how would the Nine Surnames view them?

To kill Lord Xu, Zhi Bi Luoluo would spare no price.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Within the great circle formed by the Yue warriors, Xu Le and his companions moved slowly toward the gate.

Bu Li’s face was taut, guarding Luo Dun closely, while Xu Le kept his spear pressed to Zhi Bi Si Li’s head, calm and unhurried.

Their progress was slow, but at last they reached the gate.

Several Yue warriors pushed open the gate and stepped aside in silence.

From the crowd, Wu Tou, trembling, saluted Luo Dun. “Old man, we part today, and who knows if we’ll meet again. Try to live a bit longer.”

Luo Dun’s stern old face remained unmoved. He snorted, “We’ll talk when we make it to Yunzhong City alive.”

The two elders, both with hair white as frost, no longer met each other’s gaze. Decades of friendship vanished in that final exchange.

Xu Le, guarding Luo Dun and Bu Li, urged his horse forward, passing through the gate.

At that moment, Zhi Bi Si Li, who had been lying face down, spoke. “Lord Xu, let me go. I will do my best to ensure you live—your skill is worth preserving.”

Xu Le smiled. “Thank you, young khan, but let’s take things one step at a time. I don’t intend to dismount and surrender just yet.”

Zhi Bi Si Li sighed. “My uncle will never forgive a blow to the tribe’s honor. He will kill you!”

Xu Le gave no answer. The three riders exited the camp.

Suddenly, a sinister wind gusted at his side. Xu Le turned his head to see the Mayi general Zhang Wansui, lying in ambush. Gripping a lance, Zhang Wansui thrust it directly at Xu Le’s face!

The gleaming spearhead grew rapidly in Xu Le’s sight.