Chapter 736: Open up for me!

Qing Wang's sword stance was steady; as soon as he moved, it was a wide-open killing move on the battlefield, the sword blade split the wind, aiming straight for Xiao Ningxun's throat.

Xiao Ningxun sidestepped to block, his long saber in hand clashing with the sword blade, sending sparks flying.

His arm actually went slightly numb from the shock; he secretly marveled, Qing Wang's skill is not weak!

Chen Wang approached from the other side, flanking him.

His sword technique was completely different from Qing Wang's—sinister and tricky, always seeking the gaps in Xiao Ningxun's defense to thrust in, each move deadly.

Xiao Ningxun was attacked from front and back, his saber movements gradually becoming sluggish.

He had just blocked Qing Wang's thrusting sword when Chen Wang's sword tip silently stabbed toward his left leg.

He hastily shifted his step sideways; the sword blade grazed his leg, cutting a long gash.

Xiao Ningxun gritted his teeth without a sound, but his left leg was noticeably less agile than before.

"Brother Prince!" Qing Wang's eyes blazed, his attack grew fiercer: "This kid can't hold on!"

Chen Wang said nothing, but the long sword in his hand pressed tighter with each move.

Xiao Ningxun kept retreating until his back hit the battlement.

The armor could block the front chest, back, and arms, but not other areas; Qing Wang's sword aimed for the face, Chen Wang's for the lower body, and they pressed closer step by step.

"Xiao Three!" a harsh shout came from the battlement beside.

Qing Wang and Chen Wang both looked up.

Xiao Ningxun turned his head and saw a figure leap up, blood-soaked brocade robe, long sword like frost.

It was Xiao Ze!

He leapt down from the battlement, rushed forward, and with a sword blocked Qing Wang's killing strike aimed at Xiao Ningxun, standing beside him.

Xiao Ningxun panted: "Seventh Prince? How did you get up here?"

Xiao Ze glanced at the high platform, didn't see Tuan Tuan, and frowned.

He drew his side sword, blade pointing at Chen Wang and Qing Wang: "The siege tower supervision is done, the vanguard battalion has all climbed the city wall, the main army is scaling the siege towers, of course I had to come up to kill the enemy."

Qing Wang got a clear look at the newcomer, first stunned, then burst into near‑mad laughter: "Seventh Prince Xiao Ze? Good! Very good!"

He turned to Chen Wang: "Brother Prince! Another one delivered to our door!"

Chen Wang's lip corner slowly curled, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

He raised his sword and thrust: "Kill them! Hang their heads on the city wall! Shake our army's might!"

"Good!" Qing Wang shouted, lunging forward without hesitation, his sword fiercer and more brutal than before.

The four fought as a mass, the clash of metal ringing incessantly.

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Ze stood back to back, their blades weaving an impenetrable barrier.

But Qing Wang and Chen Wang's attacks came wave after wave, still they held the upper hand.

The four fought ever more fiercely, the battle circle gradually shrinking.

Suddenly, a cold light shot from outside the battle circle.

Chen Wang caught a glimpse of that icy speck in his peripheral vision, his pupils suddenly contracting.

He had no time to dodge, his sword still extended, his left hand shot out and grabbed a nearby guard locked in fierce combat, yanking the man in front of him.

"Pu—"

The concealed weapon pierced the guard's chest, blood slowly seeping out.

The guard stared wide‑eyed, lowered his head to look at his chest, his lips moved a few times without uttering a word, then his body went limp.

Chen Wang didn't even glance at him, casually tossed the corpse to the ground, raised his sword and continued thrusting at Xiao Ningxun.

But the surrounding guards saw everything clearly.

That man was their comrade‑in‑arms, fighting side by side with them moments before, and in an instant died at the hands of his own side.

And Chen Wang didn't even lift an eyelid.

The guards exchanged a glance, then in unison slowly retreated, leaving an empty space before the battlement in an instant.

Chen Wang forced Xiao Ze back with a sword, swept his gaze around, and instantly noticed the guards' movement.

Their looks at him had completely changed, filled with suspicion and resentment.

Trash! A fierce gleam flashed in his eyes, he shot out of the melee, leapt from the battle group, swept his sword horizontally, and cut down several retreating guards in succession.

"Those who retreat before the formation shall be killed without pardon!"

He bellowed fiercely, drops of blood from his sword tip falling one by one.

He coldly swept his gaze over the guards before him: "All of you, return to my command! Whoever dares retreat half a step will share their fate!"

The guards no longer retreated, yet they did not return to their original posts, all standing where they were,

"Clang."

The guard farthest away loosened his grip, his side‑blade fell onto the city bricks, making a crisp sound.

He turned without hesitation and ran down the city wall without looking back.

Immediately after came the second, then the third…

More and more guards dropped their weapons and turned to flee.

Chen Wang stared at them in disbelief: "You! You dare…"

But the disintegrating guards surged down the stone steps of the city wall like water released from a gate.

At this very moment, Zhou Jinhua sat upright on his horse, hidden in a lane not far from the city gate, watching the movements on the wall.

Behind him stood over a hundred elite troops of the Marquis's manor, clad in armor.

"Marquis, look! The guards are coming down!"

"That's not right—why are there more and more of them?"

Zhou Jinhua watched those guards running down, each discarding helmet and armor, clothing disheveled, faces blood‑less, as soon as they left the wall they lowered their heads and sprinted.

He urged his mount: "Go! Let's go see!"

"Yes!"

Scarcely had he approached when he heard the defeated soldiers' discussion:

"You also came down?"

"Yes! This battle can't be fought! The Regent King actually used his own men to block hidden weapons!"

"Yeah! They treat us like we're not even human!"

"Still, Prince Ning was right—this kind of person isn't worth dying for!"

Zhou Jinhua's eyes flashed with a sharp light.

The guard soldiers have all fled; Chen Wang and Qing Wang already show signs of defeat—if not now, when will we act?

He turned his head and glanced at the guards fighting the soldiers rushing out from the city gate and the secret passage, then bellowed: "Who is in command of this gate?"

The guard commander hurried over at the words: "Marquis! Your humble subordinate is here!"

Zhou Jinhua raised his spear toward the city gate: "This marquis, acting on the Regent King's order, commands you to open the gate at once!"

The guard commander blinked: "Marquis, do you have the token?"

Zhou Jinhua flared in anger: "In the midst of battle, I, the marquis, have personally come to deliver the king's order, yet you dare ask me for the token?"

"This marquis just came down from the city wall—didn't you see me?"

The guard commander looked bewildered: "Your humble subordinate, I didn't see you; your humble subordinate was busy fighting the enemy..."

"Never mind," Zhou Jinhua waved his hand, "you fought bravely; what need does this marquis have to blame you?"

"Just now on the city wall, Qing Wang himself ordered me to open the gate, strike the enemy's flank, and catch them off guard."

"Open the gate quickly! If you delay the battle, can you bear the blame?"

The guard commander wiped sweat from his face, still hesitant.

"The outcome of this battle hinges on this move," Zhou Jinhua placed his spear at the commander's neck, "if you achieve merit, it will be credited to you."

"If you make a mistake, this marquis will bear it all! Open it!"