Chapter 156: The Last Gasp of a Powerful Crossbow

The wooden wall groaned in pain, each impact feeling like a blow to Jiang Xiaomu's heart.

Damn siege ram! he cursed.

His gaze swept over the busy archers; their bow-drawing arms had begun to tremble, and the density of their arrows had clearly thinned considerably.

Prioritize shooting the barbarians operating the siege ram!

Jiang Xiaomu roared.

His voice had grown hoarse from prolonged shouting.

If that damned thing kept battering, Luoxi Village's defenses would eventually be breached.

Xiong Kuohai slapped the battlement with a palm, shaking up dust.

Damn it, this iron plate won't hold much longer!

He complained in a rough voice, yet his eyes remained fixed on the slowly approaching siege ram.

Fortunately, the iron plate did indeed serve its purpose.

Although the wooden wall swayed on the verge of collapse, it never fell.

Barbarian soldiers pushed the siege ram, striking the wooden wall again and again, yet they could never break through this last line of defense.

The barbarians operating the siege ram became living targets, falling in swaths under the dense arrow rain.

But the barbarian army had clearly prepared; rear soldiers continually surged forward to fill the gaps.

They're coming up!

A soldier shouted in terror.

Jiang Xiaomu looked up and saw a group of barbarian soldiers already climbing the earthen wall via ladders, engaged in a death struggle with the defenders.

Blades flashed, flesh flew, and anguished cries rang out incessantly.

Damn it!

Jiang Xiaomu cursed silently, brandished his long saber, and joined the fight.

He was agile, his saber technique fierce; each strike precisely hit an enemy's vital point, and in an instant he felled several barbarian soldiers.

Kill! Xiong Kuohai also surged forward wielding his great axe, charging through the enemy ranks.

Wherever he passed, flesh turned to a bloody pulp, and cries of agony followed one after another.

Though few in number, the defenders of Luoxi Village were each fearless warriors who would not shy from death.

Under the leadership of Jiang Xiaomu and Xiong Kuohai, they stubbornly resisted the barbarian army's assault.

……

On the lofty walls of Wangzhou City, Prefect Zhao held a spyglass.

He stared anxiously at distant Luoxi Village; his face was pallid, his brow furrowed, his palms slick with sweat.

Through the spyglass, the situation at Luoxi Village appeared clearly before his eyes.

He saw the defenders of Luoxi Village fighting bloodied and tenacious, and admiration welled up in his heart.

Luoxi Village……can it hold out?

Prefect Zhao muttered to himself, his voice full of worry.

The fate of Luoxi Village concerned the safety of Wangzhou City, as well as his own life and property.

If Luoxi Village fell, the barbarian army would march straight in, pressing directly upon Wangzhou City.

With Wangzhou City's forces, it was utterly unable to withstand the barbarian army's iron hooves.

By then, Wangzhou City would surely fall, and he, as its prefect, could not escape death.

Come here!

Prefect Zhao lowered the spyglass and bellowed in a low voice.

Sir, what are your orders?

A guard hurried forward to ask.

Pass the order: have all elite troops in the city gather and mount the walls, prepare to meet the enemy!

Prefect Zhao said firmly.

But… sir, most of the city's elite troops are scattered at the various gates and key routes.

If we concentrate them all, what if the enemy attacks another gate—

The guard hesitated a bit.

No buts! Prefect Zhao snapped, cutting him off sharply.

Luoxi Village is now in imminent danger; we must prepare for the worst!

Even if we exhaust everyone, we must hold Wangzhou City!

The guard dared say no more, and hurriedly took his leave.

Prefect Zhao recalled Jiang Xiaomu's resolute gaze before departure, and those words of his, spoken with absolute certainty.

Sir, before I send out a signal.

The elite troops within Wangzhou City must hold the city to the death, not stepping a single foot outside!

At that time, Prefect Zhao readily agreed, yet inwardly he pondered:

This Jiang Xiaomu is merely a commoner, yet his tone is not small.

But now, seeing Luoxi Village's perilous state, he has nothing left but to pray.

He began to regret his earlier contempt; now he could only entrust the fate of Wangzhou City—and even his own life and property—to this "commoner".

In the spyglass, the siege ram struck the tottering wooden wall over and over, emitting a grating sound that set one's teeth on edge.

The earth‑shaking shouts of battle gradually died down, and severed limbs lay scattered in the mire.

Luoxi Village's defenses were already ruined beyond repair; the swaying wooden wall seemed as if it would collapse completely at any moment.

The barbarian army also seemed to realize that the cost of a fierce assault was too great, temporarily halted its attack, and slowly withdrew.

Jiang Xiaomu leaned on his long sword, gasping violently.

He was covered in blood, unable to tell whether it was the enemy's or his own.

Looking around, the garrison that originally numbered over a hundred now had fewer than fifty left, each wounded and exhausted.

Xiong Kuohai leaned against a broken wall, clutching his chest, his face pallid, his great axe also fallen to one side.

"Finally…… we held off this wave……"

Jiang Xiaomu wiped the blood from his face.

This was only a temporary respite; the barbarian army would soon rally and attack again.

And they, had little strength left to resist.

At that moment, several horsemen appeared on the distant horizon, galloping toward Luoxia Village.

"Enemy attack! Prepare for battle!"

Jiang Xiaomu's heart tightened, and he shouted loudly.

The remaining garrison struggled to their feet, gripped their weapons tightly, and prepared for another round of slaughter.

As the hoofbeats drew nearer, Jiang Xiaomu narrowed his eyes, trying to make out the riders' identities.

Their horsemanship was superb, their speed extreme, and in the blink of an eye they arrived nearby.

"Hold! They're our own!"

Only then did Jiang Xiaomu see clearly that the leader was none other than Ye Ying!

Behind her followed several tall figures similarly clad in armor and cloaks, leaders of the Ghost-Face Army.

"Ye Ying? How did you come?"

Jiang Xiaomu asked in surprise.

Ye Ying dismounted and walked up to Jiang Xiaomu.

"The barbarian army of tens of thousands is attacking Wangzhou City; I guess you're short-handed."

The Ghost-Face Army leaders Ye Ying brought were all elite troops; their arrival undoubtedly gave the Luoxia Village garrison a shot in the arm.

"Xiong Kuohai!" Jiang Xiaomu bellowed.

"Can you still fight?"

Xiong Kuohai grinned, revealing teeth stained with blood.

"As long as I still have a breath, I can kill barbarians!"

Ye Ying quickly directed the Ghost-Face Army leaders to reinforce the defenses and arranged for the wounded to receive treatment.

What she brought was not only combat strength but also various healing medicines and supplies, which for the already ammunition- and food-depleted Luoxia Village garrison was nothing short of a timely relief.

Ye Ying suddenly halted, her gaze vigilant toward the distance, and said softly:

"The barbarian army is moving again!"

Jiang Xiaomu also felt the earth tremble slightly, the rumble of ten thousand troops galloping.

He gripped his long sword tighter, a flash of resolve in his eyes.

"Prepare to meet the enemy!"