Chapter 296

In the ancient riverbed where birds and beasts had already hidden, torchlight flickered, and the sounds of slaughter rose and fell, filling this east‑west expanse of over thirty li.

Chen Wuji shot an arrow; without checking whether the target was dead or alive, he quickly drew another from his Arrow Quiver and nocked it on the bowstring.

Only after drawing the bow and nocking the arrow did he look at the enemy's situation.

That Qiang person, struck in the neck by an arrow, had already fallen stiffly beside the rocks.

This was already who knows how many times he had drawn the bow.

His right arm was swollen and painful, feeling as if it might break at any moment.

Fortunately, he no longer had to worry about running out of arrows.

As long as his arm could hold out, he should be able to keep drawing his bow all night until dawn.

The Qiang people were skilled archers, and their camp had stockpiled a large quantity of arrows.

When they left the camp, Chen Wuji not only carried two arrow quivers himself, but each of the Personal Guard beside him also had one.

"Chen Yuan, what are you standing there for? Press forward!" Chen Wuji shouted angrily.

Chen Yuan was another Duilu, hailing from the Yuan's branch line on the plateau.

Just moments ago, they discovered a nest of Qiang people beneath these rocks, numbering several hundred.

After throwing a bundle of firecrackers over, the horse bolted, yet this group of Qiang people instead turned and attacked.

Chen Wuji didn't realize how fiercely he had pressed them, but this group of Qiang people displayed a back‑to‑the‑wall determination, as if they were willing to die just to take someone down with them.

When the two sides clashed, they immediately went all out.

At this moment, Chen Wushuang and the others had already torn a gap in the Qiang formation, while Chen Baojia was leading his men to split the enemy's ranks, but Chen Yuan unexpectedly faltered, hesitating and looping around outside.

His hesitation caused their entire unit to start wavering.

Once selfish thoughts appear on the battlefield—thinking to let others suffer more while one hides—collapse is inevitable. Moreover, Chen Wuji's unit is still a new army; its morale cannot withstand such testing.

Although the MainVein troops and Chen Baojia's unit were brave, the numerical disadvantage was too great—facing three to one, the Qiang people even adopted a fight‑to‑the‑death style.

Pointed at by Chen Wuji's arrowhead, Chen Yuan finally gritted his teeth and charged forward.

But the combat effectiveness of their unit was plainly lacking; they preferred to dodge rather than fight.

Seeing this, Chen Wuji felt a surge of rage.

"Anyone who dares to retreat, I'll kill you first—press forward! Kill!" Chen Wuji bellowed fiercely.

Chen Li, following beside Chen Wuji, tore a strip of cloth, tightly binding his broadsword to his right hand, then strode into the formation, waited for the right moment, and slashed Chen Yuan's neck with one blow.

The Chen family's blade is easier to wield than the Executioner's great knife; as long as it strikes the neck, the head is sure to fall—unless one holds back.

"A coward in battle—such a person exists!" Chen Li snatched up Chen Yuan's Head Trophy and roared.

The soldiers stared at the scene, shocked; after their expressions shifted several times, they roared and charged at the Qiang people, their momentum instantly transformed.

Chen Li stood like a demonic god, his cold gaze fixed on the soldiers for a moment before returning to Chen Wuji's side to stand guard, saying, "Family Head, we cannot be lenient toward passive cowards; if the commander falters, the whole army will collapse—executing one to warn a hundred is necessary."

"Shi Yi Shu, I stand corrected," Chen Wuji said earnestly.

He had planned to settle scores with Chen Yuan after the battle, but he hadn't expected that executing a commander would instantly tighten morale—experience truly must be gained from reality.

Chen Li smiled kindly, "Real combat is the best sharpening stone for both officers and soldiers; the Family Head has good insight, he just overlooked details like these. Fighting an enemy of this scale is perfect for training—after a few more battles, all the experience will come."

Chen Wuji knew Chen Li's words were meant to comfort; he twitched the corner of his mouth and nodded.

Commanders are not so easily trained.

He can barely command a thousand men now, and still overlooks many details.

Chen Yuan's Head Trophy inspired that unit of Clan Troops with bloody courage; they joined with Chen Baojia's unit, then smoothly tore open the Qiang formation and attacked from both sides.

Chen Wuji remained in the rear, looking for chances to pick off targets.

His arm grew increasingly painful, as if countless steel needles were repeatedly pricking it.

But he could not let up at this moment.

Each extra enemy he killed eased the soldiers' pressure a little.

As their numbers grew, the combat power of the Chen family's Two Bulls and Chen Baojia—these three fierce warriors—also began to show; like three spears they weaved back and forth through the Qiang formation, felling everyone around them, leaving no opponent able to withstand a single blow.

To divert attention, he deliberately made small talk with Chen Li beside him, saying, "I finally understand why San Shu urged me to make heavy use of the Clan Troops from the Bitter River branch line and the Two Li Temple branch line—they're indeed strong; Chen Baojia is almost a match for the MainVein's Two Bulls."

Chen Li glanced at Chen Wuji's worsening expression and advised, "Family Head, take a rest; if you keep going like this, your arm might give out."

"How could it be that fragile? Don't worry, I know my limits," Chen Wuji laughed.

Chen Li gripped his broadsword tightly, "Chen Bang, protect the Family Head—I'm going up!"

"Shi Yi Shu, rest assured—I will die before the Family Head," Chen Bang said with a determined expression, his voice low.

Chen Li withdrew his gaze, tugged at the corner of his mouth to show a faint smile, and told Chen Wuji, "Family Head, take a break; you've already drawn nearly a hundred bows—with such a strong bow and heavy arrows, your arm will truly give out."

"Stop with the defeatist talk—I know my body; if I don't test my limits, how can I get stronger?" Chen Wuji said.

Chen Li gave up advising, his eyes turning icy, and he lunged into the battle.

"Chen Bang, how many have I pinned down?" Chen Wuji asked.

"Forty‑six!"

Chen Wuji grinned, "Do you see me as a divine archer now?"

"Yes!"

Chen Bang's expression was somewhat complex.

If his eyes weren't blind, he could actually see that the Family Head's arm was trembling badly, his fingers already ruptured and deformed.

"Family Head, you're like this… it's easy to kill a comrade by mistake," Chen Bang suddenly whispered, a flash of inspiration striking him.

Chen Wuji startled.

He very much wanted to control his arm to steady it, but he simply couldn't.

In fact, for a while now he had dared not aim at the Qiang people through his own soldiers, fearing friendly fire.

With his arm shaking so violently, if he loosened his grip even slightly off‑center, he could end up killing one of his own.

「Family Head, now both sides are mixed, you have me and I have you; the soldiers could switch positions at any moment, it's not as easy to aim as before. 」Chen Bang advised.

Chen Wuji helplessly put down the bow and arrow.

This reason indeed left him unable to object.

Setting the bow and arrow aside, Chen Wuji also untied his Arrow Quiver, vigorously shook his arm, repeatedly clenched his palm dozens of times, then imitating Chen Li's manner, tore off a strip of cloth and wrapped the horizontal knife around his wrist.

Chen Bang, seeing this, didn't urge further, merely gripped his horizontal knife tightly.

"Surrender, we have surrendered!"

At that moment, the Qiang People suddenly shouted loudly.

Shortly after, all the Qiang People stopped their actions, "We have surrendered, we have surrendered, no more fighting."

Chen Wuji:?

He had just prepared for a bloody battle, and you actually surrendered?

How utterly disrespectful!