Chapter 805: Hold on!

The generals of the Fiery Nation also looked bewildered, but Xiao Ningxun silently nodded; troops have no fixed formation, water has no fixed shape—Father truly is a master of adapting to change.

Xiao Yuanhang stared intently at the five shield carts parked beneath the city wall and shouted, "Fire Tubes, aim at those five shield carts in the middle!"

Xiao Ran was startled.

Aim at the shield carts? Aren't those ours…

"Ignite!"

Dozens of Fire Tubes spewed scorching pillars of flame from their copper mouths at once, and dozens of fire dragons roared as they lunged toward the five shield carts in the middle of the wall.

When the blaze struck the roof, the top layer of wet mud sizzled and crackled, sending up plumes of white mist.

But the parts beyond the roof—horizontal beams, pillars, wheel rims—though splattered with mud, were all made of dry wood.

The moment the flame tongues licked them, they burst into fierce fire.

The five shield carts crackled and popped in the blaze, their firelight reddening the entire stretch of wall.

Fu Yuan Liangxin lay on the parapet, his pupils reflecting the five blazing flames.

He understood everything.

Xiao Yuanhang couldn't hide the explosives, so he used the shield carts as containers for the powder!

"What a lunatic!" Fu Yuan Liangxin forced the words out between his teeth and turned to sprint toward the stone steps.

An Bei Taiqin remained kneeling on the ground, watching him dash past.

Well, Fu Yuan Liangxin!

You're abandoning the army again? Just like in Goryeo?

If it weren't for you, how could I have become like this?

He sprang to his feet.

"Fu Yuan Liangxin!" An Bei Taiqin shouted hoarsely, stumbling as he chased, "You're trying to abandon the army and flee alone again?"

Fu Yuan Liangxin didn't even look back, his steps quickening.

The soldiers atop the wall stared at each other in confusion.

What's happened to Lord Fu? Did he really flee?

In the next instant, the five shield carts exploded almost simultaneously.

The earth‑shaking roar toppled everyone on the wall to the ground.

Splintered wood and charred fragments scattered like a downpour, thick smoke and flames rose from the wall's base, and the whole wall quivered violently from the blast.

The parapet cracked, bricks fell away, and rammed earth poured down through the fissures.

The soldiers lay on the ground, hands gripping the brick gaps tightly, their faces as pale as paper.

The smoke slowly cleared, revealing a gaping wound several yards wide in the center of the wall.

Deep within the Main Camp, Chu Yuan was roused by the explosion, lifted the curtain and stepped out.

At a glance he saw his junior disciple perched high on a horse, brandishing the little Thousand-mile mirror with excitement, gazing ahead.

Lu Qi carefully wrapped his arms around her calves and asked, "Miss, could you sit down?"

"No way!" Tuan Tuan protested, "Standing lets you see more clearly than sitting!"

"Tuan Tuan, hasn't the Prince sent anyone? Is that onmyoji not here?"

"National Preceptor," Lu Qi hurriedly replied, "The Prince has already sent someone; the Miss dealt with him, so we didn't disturb you."

Chu Yuan smiled, "My junior disciple is getting stronger by the day. How's the battle ahead? Why such a commotion?"

"Master! Father has blown the wall open again!" Tuan Tuan stared, "We'll win soon! Do you see? I'll give you the Thousand-mile mirror."

Chu Yuan relaxed, "I won't watch; you keep an eye out, and call me if anything's needed."

Both replied in unison, "Alright!"

At the front, Xiao Yuanhang swung his long spear and shouted, "Form the spear‑and‑blade formation!"

"Yes!" Thousands of soldiers drove their spears and swords into iron rods, the clacking echoing, the spear tips angled forward, slowly advancing toward the breach.

On the stone steps of the wall, Fu Yuan Liangxin was shaken by the overhead blast, his footing staggered, and he braced against the wall for a moment.

He steadied himself and bolted further down.

A hand suddenly seized his shoulder from behind.

"Fu Yuan Liangxin!" An Bei Taiqin's eyes glowed red, looking like a mad demon, and he roared, "You'll never flee alone again!"

"It's all your fault! If you hadn't forced me to cast, I wouldn't have lost everything!"

"I'll go before the General and tell him you were in Goryeo…"

A blade flash flashed.

Fu Yuan Liangxin drew his long sword and swung back.

The blade slashed from An Bei Taiqin's left shoulder diagonally across to his right rib.

An Bei Taiqin's voice abruptly stopped.

He opened his mouth, looked down at the deep, bone‑visible wound on his chest, then lifted his head and stared intently at Fu Yuan Liangxin.

Then he fell backward, rolling off the stone steps and landing on his back on the stairs.

His eyes remained wide open, refusing to close.

Fu Yuan Liangxin didn't pause, leapt over An Bei Taiqin's corpse, and strode down to the base of the wall.

In the courtyard inside the gate, five thousand cavalry had already formed ranks and waited for a long time.

Wu Tian Xinsheng sat upright on his horse, the black Wu Tian family's rhombus‑patterned banner fluttering behind him.

"Wu Tian!" Fu Yuan Liangxin raised his hand toward the breach, "Charge out and block the enemy!"

"Understood!" Wu Tian Xinsheng clenched his horse's belly, and the warhorse shot forward like an arrow.

Fu Yuan Liangxin turned around and ran back up the wall.

He held onto the battlement, watching five thousand cavalry surge out from the gap, their hooves trampling over the still-burning wreckage of shield carts, and charged straight into the long blade formation ahead.

The moment the first rank of cavalry collided with the spear tips, men and horses were thrown into chaos.

Shrieks and neighs blended into a single cacophony.

The cavalry behind had no time to rein in, trampling over their comrades' corpses as they surged forward, only to be impaled by the second rank of spears.

Wu Tian Xinsheng reined in his warhorse in time, his young face showing not a trace of fear.

Where is Prince Ning of Lie State?

The general said, if I can take his head, he will appoint me as the number one warrior of Japan!

He raised his long sword high, the blade pointing straight at the largest red battle flag in the enemy formation opposite.

"I am Wu Tian Xinsheng of the Wu Tian clan!" his voice exploded across the battlefield, carrying the arrogance and obstinacy unique to youth.

"Xiao Yuanhang! Aren't you the one called the War God of Lie State?"

"Come out and fight me to the death! Hiding behind your soldiers, you are unworthy of the War God's prestige!"

Xiao Ningchen spurred his horse forward to Xiao Yuanhang's side: "Father! I'll go meet him."

Xiao Yuanhang shook his head: "Tengyuan just sent him out to delay us; whether I am the War God or not is not for a greenhorn to judge."

"Ning'er, remember, personal honor is trivial; the lives of the soldiers matter—just let him be."

But Wu Tian Xinsheng kept shouting: "Xiao Yuanhang! Coward! Come out and fight me to the death!"

He completely ignored that his five thousand cavalry were dwindling.

His sole desire was to fight Xiao Yuanhang.

Xiao Ningchen stared at him for a moment: "Are all people of Japan this crazy?"

He hung his spear on the saddle side, then slowly took down the large bow from his horse's saddle.

Three feathered arrows were nocked onto the bowstring simultaneously, the bow limbs pulled to the limit, emitting a faint creaking sound.

He bellowed: "Wu Tian Xinsheng!"

Wu Tian Xinsheng turned his head toward the sound upon hearing it: "Who is calling me?"

"The second son of Prince Ning, Xiao Ningchen!"

Xiao Ningchen loosened his grip, and the three feathered arrows shot forth.

With three "pthwack" sounds, Wu Tian Xinsheng's body jerked on his horse, his long sword slipping from his grasp as he toppled off the saddle.

On the city wall, the observing Tengyuan Liangxin cursed: "Trash!"

"Push those five cannons to the battlement! Quick!"

"Yes!"

Soon, Wu Tian Xinsheng's five thousand cavalry were utterly wiped out, and the spear and blade formation withdrew.

Zheng Wucheng rode forward: "My lord! Let me lead the Goguryeo army to storm the city!"

Xiao Ningxun shouted: "Hold on!"

He pointed at the city wall: "They have cannons!"