Chapter 645: Willing Firewood

Outside the Bell and Drum Tower square, torches crackled.

Over three hundred wounded soldiers stood silent, their gazes gathered on Yue Fei and Chen Wen on the steps.

"Brothers."

Yue Fei's voice was low and slow.

"Tonight, some truths must be told to you all."

He gestured to Chen Wen at his side.

"This Mr. Chen Wen comes from east of the Light Curtain—another state built by China, the Chen Dynasty."

A faint stir rose in the crowd, but no one clamored.

Chen Wen stepped forward.

"Your world is regarded by an existence called the Iron Crow Army as a 'script'."

"They control the course of history, demanding everything develop according to a set path."

"The Jin destroying the Liao, the Song court fleeing south, the Yuan rising and the Jin falling—all are prewritten chapters."

"And Marshal Yue, Instructor Lin, Strategist Wu, and all the leaders present here—"

He swept his gaze over the crowd behind him.

"They are all 'variables,' people who have deviated from that script's course."

The wounded soldiers' eyes hardened, their breathing grew heavy.

An old soldier suddenly spoke in a trembling voice.

"So… those Yuan dogs madly assault the city—not because Luoyang is important?"

"Is it to kill Marshal Yue and them?"

"Yes."

Chen Wen nodded.

"To eliminate all variables and let the script return is the Iron Crow Army's core purpose."

Another young soldier murmured.

"No wonder… those Yuan soldiers' eyes glow green, they feel no pain when wounded, and rot quickly when dead…"

"They're not even human…"

"They are monsters bred for that purpose."

Chen Wen's voice was calm, yet each word pierced the heart.

"The Iron Crow Army overdrafts their lives with evil sorcery, solely to achieve its cleansing goal."

Colonel Liu snapped his head up.

"Mr. Chen, you came from the east—do you have a way?"

"Yes."

Chen Wen stared straight at the crowd.

"I can bring all variables across the Light Curtain to the Chen Dynasty."

"There, with no preset script, they can survive, accumulate strength, and perhaps someday break this world's prison."

"But—"

He paused.

"Crossing the Light Curtain, mortal flesh cannot endure it."

"Moreover, time is pressing, and horses are limited."

"Only those variables tempered by Fortune Momentum can go."

The square fell into dead silence.

Torchlight flickered over every blood‑stained face.

Suddenly, Colonel Liu laughed.

His laugh held no resentment, only a sudden enlightened clarity.

"I've said it… this fight is damned weird."

"The Yuan dogs fear no death, yet Marshal Yue and them always find a way out of desperate straits…"

"Turns out we've been fighting against the Mandate of Heaven all along!"

He turned to face the three hundred wounded soldiers.

"Brothers! Do you understand?!"

"Marshal Yue and them are the only variables in this damnable Mandate of Heaven!"

"They are the light that ought not exist in this dark world!"

"As long as they live, the Mandate of Heaven is ripped open!"

"If they die here—"

His voice suddenly rose, hoarse with a roar.

"Then this world will truly follow what those damned things wrote!"

"We, our descendants, generation after generation, are merely props in the script!"

"Even death leaves us nameless and forgotten!"

The wounded soldiers' eyes reddened little by little.

A man with a broken leg, propping himself on a spear shaft, bellowed.

"Liu Touer! You mean—"

"It means we protect Marshal Yue and them as we go!"

Colonel Liu shouted.

"Use our lives to send this light out!"

"They are the fire seed!"

"We——"

He patted his chest, and it sounded thump-thump.

"We are the burnt-out firewood!"

"When the firewood is burnt clean, the fire seed can shine!"

"Just ask you——"

His blood-red eyes swept over every face.

"Do it or not?!"

"Do it!" someone shouted.

"Do it, damn it!" more people responded.

"To give our lives for this damned heavenly mandate!" The shouts merged into one.

No hesitation, no questions.

Only a near-fanatical resolve.

Colonel Liu turned and knelt on one knee.

"Marshal Yue, Mr. Chen."

"We've decided to open this gap."

"We ask for nothing else."

He grinned, his smile grim.

"I just ask that in the future you burn this light brighter."

"Burn that damned script, leaving not even scraps."

Yue Fei's whole body shuddered.

He wanted to speak, but something choked his throat.

He could only bow deeply, deeply.

Chen Wen stepped forward and helped Colonel Liu up.

"At the Chen Dynasty Heroic Martyrs Shrine, there will be spirit tablets for you all."

"The histories will record tonight's events."

"Your names will be remembered for all ages."

He paused.

"This vow, heaven and earth as witness."

Colonel Liu laughed loudly.

"With Mr. Chen's words, brothers——it's worth it!"

He drew his sword.

"Those who can still breathe!"

"Follow me!"

"Send the fire seed——set out!"

Three hundred wounded soldiers, none looking back.

Dragging their broken bodies, gripping their broken blades, they surged silently yet tumultuously toward the night to the southwest.

Like a blood river bursting a dike.

The square was empty.

Yue Fei still kept his bowed posture, his shoulders trembling.

"Marshal Yue."

Chen Wen's voice was calm.

"Time's up."

Yue Fei slowly straightened up.

His face held no tears, only an icy metallic hue.

"Wu Yong, deploy according to the plan."

"Lin Chong, Guan Sheng, Hu Yan Zhuo as the rearguard—cut the ropes after crossing the bridge."

"The rest, follow closely behind Mr. Chen."

"Remember——"

His gaze like a blade, slicing over each face of the variables.

"On our shoulders lies the road bought with three hundred lives."

All present clasped their fists solemnly, eyes resolute.

Chen Wen looked toward the hourglass.

The third watch of the chou hour approaches.

From the direction of the north gate came faint sounds of fighting——that was the feint beginning.

"Final check."

"Weapons, water, grain."

"Armor completely removed."

"Remember the signal."

Wooden signals were distributed.

"After we set out, no matter what happens behind us—"

His voice was low.

"Don't look back."

Everyone silently prepared.

Wang Ru leaned close to Chen Wen and whispered.

"Li Qi's final signal: the rendezvous point is thirty li southeast; we've spotted two hundred Yuan cavalry, their movements unknown."

Have him ready to withdraw; we may leave early.

"Yes."

The hourglass is running out.

To the southwest, a earth-shaking battle cry suddenly erupted!

Firelight tore through the night!

Colonel Liu's three hundred wounded soldiers, like moths flying into flames, charged the Yuan army's first line of defense!

Chen Wen raised his fist.

The twelve of us were poised like arrows on a bowstring.

His fist fell.

"Go!"

Dark shadows shot into the night.

Behind us rose the roar of flesh and steel colliding, the final roar of lives burning.

No one looked back.

Every step trod on firewood.