Chapter 184

Jiang Xiaomu looked around at everyone and said in a low voice:

"Everyone, this battle concerns the life and death of Bincheng's people; we have no retreat!"

"Even if we fight until the last person, we must defend Bincheng to the death!"

"Swear to defend Bincheng to the death!" the commanders shouted in unison, their voices echoing in the night sky.

At the gate, torches lit the night like day; soldiers sweated profusely as they hauled huge stones to the gate to reinforce the defense.

Jiang Xiaomu personally supervised, issuing orders from time to time; his steady voice rang clear amid the clamor.

His eyes were sharp, scanning every part of the wall like a vigilant leopard, ready to pounce on any incoming foe.

Zhou Wu led another group, silently sneaking into the dense forest outside the city.

Under the cover of night, they moved like ghosts through the trees, setting traps according to the plan.

Sharp wooden stakes were driven deep into the ground, only their pointed tips exposed, coated with the juice of poisonous plants gathered from the mountains.

Tripwires were cleverly hidden among fallen leaves and grass, each linked to a snare that, once triggered, could firmly clamp prey.

The archers chose advantageous terrain, concealed in thick foliage, their icy arrows nocked and ready to fly.

Everything was ready; all that remained was for the quarry to take the bait.

In the darkest hour before dawn, faint hoofbeats came from afar, growing nearer and clearer. The rebel reinforcements had arrived.

Jiang Xiaomu stood on the cliff top, gazing at the approaching firelight in the distance, a cold smile curling his lips.

To lure the rebel reinforcements into the forest, he deliberately sent men to block the road to Bincheng with boulders, creating the illusion of a landslide.

"General, the rebels seem to have noticed something amiss and have stopped."

Zhou Wu, standing nearby, said with some concern.

"It's fine," Jiang Xiaomu said, confident.

"They have no other way to go."

Indeed, after a brief hesitation, the rebel troops turned and began moving slowly toward the forest.

"Pass the order: without my command, no one may act on their own," Jiang Xiaomu whispered.

In the forest, Zhou Wu held his breath, gripping his long blade tightly, waiting for the best moment to strike.

The rebel troops gradually moved deeper into the forest, utterly unaware of the looming danger.

"Ah!" a anguished cry shattered the night's stillness.

A rebel soldier at the front stepped on a trap; a sharp wooden stake pierced his foot.

The poison spread quickly, intense pain causing him to roll and wail on the ground.

Immediately after, another series of anguished cries rang out.

The traps were triggered, snares clamping tightly onto the rebels' legs and dragging them into the dark abyss.

The archers hidden on both sides opened fire, arrows falling like rain upon the panicked rebels.

Jiang Xiaomu watched the chaos below, a cold glint flashing in his eyes—the moment had arrived!

"Kill!" he roared, drawing his long sword with a earth‑shaking shout, charging down the cliff like a tiger descending the mountain straight into the enemy ranks.

"Kill!" the soldiers on the wall shouted, following Jiang Xiaomu into the forest and joining the bloody slaughter.

The rebels, already exhausted, fell into utter chaos upon this sudden ambush.

They fled about like headless flies, only to realize they were encircled—every direction led to a dead end.

The battle raged with extraordinary ferocity, blood staining the ground, severed limbs scattered everywhere, the air thick with the stench of blood.

Jiang Xiaomu moved through the enemy ranks like a grim reaper, his long sword sweeping, each stroke taking a life.

His body was also smeared with blood, but his gaze grew ever colder, devoid of pity.

At that moment, a burly rebel commander burst from the crowd, swinging a massive battle‑axe and chopping fiercely at Jiang Xiaomu.

"Jiang Xiaomu! Give me your life!"

The axe blade came howling with wind; Jiang Xiaomu dared not meet it head‑on, he twisted sideways and barely avoided the deadly blow.

Yet the axe's wind grazed his left arm, tearing his clothes and leaving a bloodstain.

A searing pain instantly spread, but he gritted his teeth and made no sound.

"Hmph, not bad reflexes!"

The rebel commander gave a sinister laugh, murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

"Too bad, you can't escape death!"

Having said that, he raised the battle‑axe again and brought it down toward Jiang Xiaomu's head.

Jiang Xiaomu's eyes narrowed; he thrust his long sword forward, striking the commander squarely in the chest.

However, the commander's heavy armor blocked the blade's penetration, leaving only a shallow wound.

"Is that all your strength?"

The commander laughed wildly, as if he felt no pain at all.

"Are you just tickling me?"

He grabbed Jiang Xiaomu's sword blade with a rough hand; the sharp edge cut his palm, blood flowing, yet he paid no heed.

"You're asking for death!"

Jiang Xiaomu's eyes turned cold; as he prepared to exert force, a huge power came his way and the commander wrested his long sword from his grasp!

The commander reversed his grip on the hilt and thrust the sword toward Jiang Xiaomu.

Jiang Xiaomu cursed silently in his heart and hastily dodged.

Bare‑handed, he dared not clash head‑on with the commander's astonishing brute strength.

"What? No weapon? You're dodging like a woman!"

The commander taunted, pressing closer step by step.

Jiang Xiaomu let out a cold snort, fighting while retreating, looking for an opportunity to counterattack.

The situation was urgent; he had to quickly deal with this troublesome opponent.

Otherwise, once entangled, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Just then, he caught sight of a curved blade dropped by a rebel soldier lying on the ground not far away.

With a thought, he feigned weakness, staggered backward a few steps, and happened to fall right beside the curved blade.

"Haha, where do you think you can hide!" the general, overcome with pride, raised his battle axe and brought it down hard on Jiang Xiaomu.

At the critical moment, Jiang Xiaomu shot out his hand like lightning, grabbed the curved blade, and swept it upward fiercely!

"Clang!" a piercing metallic clash rang out as the curved blade and battle axe slammed together, scattering sparks.

The general felt a jolt in his tiger's mouth, and his battle axe nearly slipped from his grasp.

He stared wide-eyed in disbelief, looking at Jiang Xiaomu.

Jiang Xiaomu seized the moment to spring up, the curved blade dancing like a spirit serpent, its light flashing, forcing the general to retreat repeatedly.

"You..." the general, both shocked and angry, never expected Jiang Xiaomu still had such a trump card.

"Now, it's my turn!"

Jiang Xiaomu let out a cold snort, killing intent flashing in his eyes.

He no longer dodged, but took the initiative to attack, the curved blade sweeping toward the general like a violent storm.

Although the general possessed immense strength, he was ultimately not as agile and nimble as Jiang Xiaomu.

Under Jiang Xiaomu's fierce assault, he gradually fell to the disadvantage, wounds increasing all over his body.

"Damn it!" the general roared, raising his battle axe again, hoping for a desperate last stand.