Chapter 9: Snow Plain Charge, Wooden Sword Breaks Armor

The sound of cavalry colliding was like two mountains crashing together.

The first row of Zhenbei Old Soldiers were almost instantly knocked off their horses.

But before they fell, they still drove their spears into the enemies' chests.

Blood splashed onto the snow, hot and glaring.

Jiang Che led the charge, his Wooden Sword sweeping sideways.

Sword Qi carved a crescent arc through the snowstorm, cutting down three Northern Barbarian Cavalrymen and their horses.

He did not stop.

To stop would be to be swallowed.

Three thousand against ten thousand—the only path to survival was to break through the enemy array.

Chen Shanhe led the old soldiers in pursuit, his Iron Hook tearing open a barbarian rider's throat as he roared: "Protect the Young Master's flanks!"

Xie Tingxue, her white robes stained with blood, wielded swordlight like a snowline—each strike claimed a rider's fall.

Tuoba Lie stood in the center command, his expression darkening as he watched Jiang Che and the others tear through the front line.

"The Jiang Family Army still fights like madmen."

The deputy general asked: "General, shall we surround and crush them?"

Tuoba Lie sneered: "No. Let them in, then encircle and slaughter them."

The order was passed.

The Northern Barbarian Cavalry Array suddenly split to either side, like a wolf's jaws opening, deliberately leaving a path.

Chen Shanhe's face changed: "Young Master, it's a trap!"

Jiang Che knew it well.

But they had no choice.

The Northern Barbarian Cavalry behind them was pressing forward—if they didn't keep advancing, the three thousand would be crushed.

"Keep charging!"

Jiang Che roared.

The Wooden Sword trembled.

The Sword Spirit warned: "Your Qi is insufficient—don't waste it on big techniques."

Jiang Che said: "Then use a small one."

He leaned low against his horse's neck, dodging a hidden arrow, then thrust his sword upward.

The Sword Qi did not strike at a man—it struck at the snow.

Boom!

The snow ahead exploded, turning into a white mist that blinded the Northern Barbarian Cavalry.

The Zhenbei Old Soldiers surged forward through the haze.

The distance was too close—bows were useless; only blades and spears met blood.

One old soldier had his shoulder armor severed by a curved blade, yet he grabbed the enemy in return, rolling off the horse, and before death, bit through the barbarian's throat.

Another young border dweller, on his first battlefield, trembled with fear—until he saw the old soldier beside him fall; eyes red, he drove his spear into the enemy's belly.

Jiang Che saw it all.

His chest burned as if on fire.

Three years ago, these men had protected him as he fled.

Three years later, he refused to let them die in front of him again.

Tuoba Lie finally moved.

He spurred his horse, lunging like a white wolf, slashing a freezing blade Qi straight at Jiang Che's head.

"Jiang brat, die!"

Jiang Che raised his sword to block.

Clang!

Wooden Sword met curved blade.

Jiang Che's palms split open; he and his horse were thrown back several steps.

Tuoba Lie was at least Second Grade Peak, with innate godlike strength, and on the battlefield, he was ferocious beyond measure.

He sneered: "Is this all your skill? You dare come to the Northern Border?"

Jiang Che spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Enough to kill you."

Tuoba Lie roared in fury, slashing seven times in succession.

Each strike was heavy and powerful; Jiang Che could barely parry.

When the seventh strike came, the cracks on the Wooden Sword widened further.

The Sword Spirit said: "Let me take over."

Jiang Che gritted his teeth: "No."

He couldn't let the Soul of the Sword win for him every time.

Tuoba Lie brought down his eighth slash.

Jiang Che did not block.

He suddenly released the reins, sliding sideways off his horse—the curved blade grazed his scalp.

At the same time, he thrust his Wooden Sword upward.

This sword strike was short.

It was so short it measured only three inches.

Yet it pierced into the gap beneath Tuoba Lie's armpit armor.

Tuoba Lie grunted in pain, roared furiously, and slapped a palm against Jiang Che's chest.

Jiang Che flew backward, rolling more than ten zhang across the snow.

"Young Master!"

Chen Shanhe wanted to save him but was entangled by several Northern Barbarian Generals.

Tuoba Lie yanked the wooden sword from under his armpit; blood dripped profusely as killing intent surged in his eyes.

"I will hang your head atop White Bone Pass!"

Jiang Che struggled to his feet.

At least two of his ribs were broken.

Yet he smiled.

Tuoba Lie suddenly felt something was wrong.

For what he had pulled out was merely the blade of the wooden sword.

The tip was gone.

In the next instant, a stabbing pain erupted within his body.

That broken wooden sword tip had actually bored through the wound into his meridians, transforming into a wisp of Sword Qi that rushed straight for his heart meridian.

Tuoba Lie's expression changed drastically: "You!"

Jiang Che raised his hand, his five fingers curling as if grasping empty air.

"Shatter."

Boom!

A cloud of blood mist exploded from Tuoba Lie's chest.

This great Northern Barbarian General swayed twice before crashing heavily from his horse.

The Wolf Flag of the central army fell along with him.

The Northern Barbarian Cavalry Array instantly descended into chaos.

Jiang Che picked up the broken wooden sword, vaulted onto a horse, and though his voice was hoarse, it echoed across the battlefield.

"Tuoba Lie is dead!"

"Northern Garrison Army, follow me and cut straight through!"

Three thousand old soldiers roared in unison.

The once-exhausted cavalry array once again unleashed astonishing sharpness.

Following Jiang Che, they forcibly carved a bloody path through ten thousand Northern Barbarian Cavalry.

At dusk, the wind and snow ceased.

The ten thousand Northern Barbarian Cavalry scattered in defeat.

Of the three thousand Zhenbei Old Soldiers, only nineteen hundred remained.

Jiang Che stood in the snow, gazing at the corpses littering the ground, silent for a long time.

Chen Shanhe said softly, "Young Master, we have won."

Jiang Che closed his eyes.

"Take the brothers with us."

"Those still living, keep marching."

"Those who died, bring them back to the Northern Border as well."