Chapter 151: The Hero Returns

Jiang Mingyu frowned, his voice cutting through the battlefield's chaos with a thread of urgency.

"Miss Zhang, with the enemy at our gates, why have you stopped shooting arrows?" His eyes flickered with wariness and confusion.

Zhang Jiani's face was pale; her hands gripped the bow tightly, palms slick with cold sweat.

She wiped away the tears at her corners with all her strength, forcing down her grief, yet could not help glancing again toward the distance, though her vision was already blurred by tears.

Suddenly, her face lit up with joy, as if seeing the dawn of hope; she cried out, "You corrupt official, look— it's Tukesiluo, he's returned with men!" Her voice carried an unmistakable excitement—the raw thrill of a survivor clawing back from death's edge.

Jiang Mingyu instantly raised his head, his gaze sweeping the battlefield, then he saw that familiar figure.

A surge of overwhelming emotion filled his chest; he could not help shouting, "Yes, it's Tukesiluo—he's alive, they're back!" His voice was even more excited than Zhang Jiani's—the thrill of hope rising from utter despair.

Zhuge Yu stood silently to the side, his heart also brimming with emotion. What he saw was not merely Tukesiluo, but an entire fierce army. They were drenched in blood, yet their eyes burned with resolve and courage.

Like an invincible iron host, they charged toward them with unstoppable momentum.

Tukesiluo was soaked in blood and sweat, yet his gaze held unyielding determination. He looked at Jiang Mingyu, then stepped forward, his voice thick with surprise: "My lord, why are you here?" His words held astonishment—but far more, an uncontainable joy.

Jiang Mingyu did not answer his question; he pressed on: "What happened? How did you end up inside Xi Xia territory? What's going on?" His eyes burned with tension and anxiety; his heart was heavy with unease.

Tukesiluo laughed, his laughter ringing with the boldness and pride of a warrior: "My lord, here's how it went." His tone brimmed with conviction; his eyes blazed with fearlessness and bravery.

As Jiang Mingyu and the others listened to Tukesiluo's account, a tense atmosphere hung in the air. They had feared for his life, yet now understood the full story.

After the Xi Xia forces entered the Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Array, Tukesiluo used a decoy strategy to regroup once more, gathering over ten thousand men. He then handed command of the battlefield to Zhuge Yu, as previously agreed, and led his troops to the Xi Xia border.

Shortly after arriving at the border, Wu Xiao's scouts rushed back with urgent intelligence. Tukesiluo immediately realized nearly twenty thousand Xi Xia troops were advancing toward the border—clearly intending to join the vanguard in raiding Da Feng.

Jiang Mingyu was puzzled: "If they all aim to plunder Da Feng, why split into two waves instead of attacking together?"

Tukesiluo adopted the pose of a storytelling master and grinned: "My lord, please be patient—I'll explain slowly." Zhuge Yu, already impatient, cut in: "Enough talk. This isn't the place for discussion—we must leave at once."

"Yes, let's retreat back to Da Feng. We can talk on the march." The army turned back the way they came. Tukesiluo's storytelling momentum was broken, yet he still carried himself with grandeur.

"My lords, our earlier guess was correct: the Xi Xia crossed the border because bitter cold and heavy snow cut off their food supply." Tukesiluo pointed to the scout's report as proof. "The first group to reach Da Feng were the only ones who ate their fill; the ones following were nearly starved—they came only to feast once they breached Da Feng's gates."

His clothes soaked in blood, Tukesiluo shivered involuntarily, yet continued: "I wouldn't miss such an opportunity. So I stationed men to ambush in the snow along the border, waiting for the unprepared Xi Xia to cross. The moment they stepped over, my troops blocked their path. After fierce fighting, I personally severed the head of their leader. The rest—dazed and starving—turned and fled. The moment was fleeting; I decided to teach them a lesson, so I chased them down."

He glanced proudly at Zhang Jiani, clearly showing off his valor to this formidable female commander.

Jiang Mingyu's eyes were locked on Tukesiluo as if bewitched, feeling the intense killing intent and triumphant pride radiating from the man.

Tukesiluo stood tall and straight, his face alight with fervor and battle-lust, his very body steeped in a chilling stench of blood.

Jiang Mingyu could not help asking excitedly: "What happened next? Where did those twenty thousand go? Did they flee?" His voice trembled with anticipation and curiosity.

Tukesiluo sat astride his horse, a cruel smile flickering in his eyes. He spoke slowly: "What followed was simple—I pursued, and I slaughtered." His voice brimmed with pride and exhilaration.

"By the time we reached thirty li into Xi Xia territory, I wiped out all twenty thousand Xi Xia soldiers—none escaped." He gestured toward the weapons of his soldiers.

Jiang Mingyu followed his finger and saw that nearly every soldier under Tukesiluo's command had one or two severed heads hanging from their weapons.

Blood-smeared blades and mangled limbs formed a horrifying tableau.

Jiang Mingyu also noticed Zhang Jiani beside him. Though she said nothing, her large eyes glowed with satisfaction and pride.

Their gazes met, as if sharing an unspoken resonance.

Jiang Mingyu's heart churned—he could not fathom how brutal and merciless Tukesiluo truly was.

He pressed urgently: "What were our casualties?"

Tukesiluo's smile widened. Confidently, he replied: "You may not believe it, but we lost fifty-two men and wounded forty-eight."

Jiang Mingyu's eyes bulged like a bull in heat—he was utterly stunned. "That's it?"

Tukesiluo's expression was matter-of-fact. "That's it! Fighting a bunch of starving dogs, these losses are already high."

Jiang Mingyu felt as if he'd stepped into a surreal dream—he had never imagined the combat power of the City Defense Camp soldiers could be so terrifying.

His heart swelled with disbelief and admiration.

Zhuge Yu had remained silent until now, but even he was deeply shaken.

To eliminate twenty thousand elite Xi Xia cavalry with only a hundred casualties—such a result was unimaginable.

Li Goudan and Cloud of the Murong beamed as they praised Tukesiluo's bravery, thrilled by the victory.

Tukesiluo's unapologetic boasting filled everyone with delight; Jiang Mingyu burst into laughter: "Good! Well done! Truly worthy of the name Black-Faced Yama. From now on, who dares look at me sideways? We'll finally have some peace in Shangmu!"

Yet as the others chattered joyfully, Zhuge Yu's face was etched with deep lines of worry.

Jiang Mingyu noticed his expression and asked curiously: "We've won decisively—why aren't you smiling?" Zhuge Yu sighed slowly, his voice heavy with dread: "Master, do you think this is over?"