Chapter 175: The Turtle in the Jar

The sky gradually brightened; boulders and loose stones on the cliffside gleamed coldly in the morning light. Zhang Jiaqi gripped her longsword tightly, a cold smile curling at her lips: "Today, I will kill that beast with my own hands."

Zhang Jiani understood her twin sister's temperament and softly reassured her: "Jiaqi, don't worry—Master Yu's plan ensures our victory. When the time comes, Ruan Chen will surely die."

But Zhang Jiaqi shook her head: "I'm not talking about Ruan Chen—I'm talking about one of his bodyguards. The day he wounded me in the provincial capital, I barely escaped death—if I hadn't dodged the vital spot, I'd be dead already."

With that, she rolled up her sleeve, revealing a deep gash on her arm, bone visible beneath the flesh. Zhang Jiani sucked in a sharp breath.

Zhang Jiaqi's eyes blazed with murderous intent: "If I don't avenge this, I'll never call myself human. Today, I will kill that beast myself!"

Tuxeslu hurried to interject: "Little sister-in-law, don't fret—your brother-in-law will avenge you soon. I'll chop that beast into mincemeat!"

Zhang Jiaqi cast him a sidelong glance, then gave a slight nod. Though she spoke boldly, her wounds left her too weak to fight.

The sky was now fully bright. Jiang Mingyu and Zhuge Yu exchanged a glance, then spoke in a low, grave voice: "Prepare yourselves. Ruan Chen's army could arrive at any moment."

Our thirty thousand troops are all in position, waiting only for Ruan Chen to walk into the trap before we strike back.

Then, dust rose in the distance—a dark tide of men surged toward us—Ruan Chen's army had finally arrived!

Jiang Mingyu's gaze was sharp as lightning. He lightly stroked the hilt of his waist sword, waiting for Ruan Chen to enter the death trap before seizing him alive.

Zhuge Yu was ready as well, poised to trigger the rolling-stone mechanism the moment Jiang Mingyu gave the order, burying Ruan Chen's army beneath stone and ruin.

As Ruan Chen neared the trap, Jiang Mingyu and Zhuge Yu exchanged another glance.

"Act!" Jiang Mingyu's voice echoed through the valley like a biting northern wind.

"Master, I will hold Ruan Chen at all costs—you must lead five thousand elite troops around to the valley mouth and cut off their retreat," Zhuge Yu said, his eyes as unyielding as bedrock.

Zhuge Yu's words hinted at a long-planned strategy—he had intended to carry it out himself, but fearing troop unrest, he chose self-sacrifice.

Jiang Mingyu listened, and in his cold eyes flickered a spark of resolve: "Good. I will ensure Ruan Chen cannot escape."

He led his elite force away in silence, while below, on the snow-covered ground, the footsteps of Ruan Chen's army grew louder, thunderous and closing in.

Soon, Ruan Chen appeared before them—wearing iron armor, his beard streaked with gray, his face etched with ridges like ancient tree roots.

Beside him stood a middle-aged man with a small beard, and Zhang Jiaqi's expression darkened further.

"That's him," she said, her voice like a cold blade.

Tuxeslu gripped his sword hilt tightly. Zhuge Yu, calm and composed, whispered a warning: "Don't rush. Wait until Ruan Chen's entire force is inside the valley—only then can we strike."

Ruan Chen noticed the terrain of the valley mouth. His years of military service told him this treacherous place could be his doom.

"This place is perilous," he told his guard. "Zhang Chao, order the troops to hurry—get through this area as fast as possible."

Zhang Chao carried the order to the rear. When he returned, Ruan Chen's army had surged forward like a flood, pouring into the valley.

Watching the last soldier enter, Zhuge Yu shouted: "Release!"

At his command, soldiers fueled by hatred pushed massive boulders and logs down the slope. Zhang Jiaqi coldly ordered: "Fire arrows."

In that instant, the valley became a hell on earth. Before Ruan Chen could react, his men behind him were already falling into pools of blood.

He turned back—thousands of corpses pierced by arrows, heads crushed by boulders. The moans of the wounded and the panic of the survivors pushed the scene to the edge of chaos.

Ruan Chen shouted urgently: "Don't panic! Ambushers are on the cliffs! Turn around! Retreat from the valley!"

But Zhang Jiaqi would not let him escape. Her relentless arrowstorm rained down again, while more logs and boulders, like enraged beasts, crashed onto Ruan Chen's head.

Ruan Chen's army was trapped in the narrow valley—no escape, no forward advance.

After Zhang Jiaqi's continuous volleys, half of Ruan Chen's force lay dead—bodies cold, blood still warm, staining the snow crimson.

Ruan Chen's army was cornered. He watched helplessly as his once-living soldiers became cold corpses, his rage and helplessness surging like an unstoppable river.

He swung his blade, roaring: "Don't scatter! Ambushers are on the cliffs! Turn around! Retreat from the valley!" His voice rang like a wounded lion's howl.

But Ruan Chen's orders could no longer halt the massacre.

Zhang Jiaqi seized every opportunity. She cried out sharply, unleashing another wave of arrows upon Ruan Chen's men.

Simultaneously, more logs and boulders crashed down with the roar of vengeance—this was a merciless slaughter, the release of boundless hatred toward Ruan Chen.

The valley was too narrow. Ruan Chen's army was trapped—nowhere to flee, no path to run. Their retreat was sealed by Jiang Mingyu's five thousand elite. Ahead lay rolling stones and arrowstorms. Ruan Chen's men were like caged beasts, utterly cornered.

All of this had been calculated by Zhang Jiaqi. She felt no mercy—only icy vengeance. Her arrows were the scythes of death, cutting down Ruan Chen's men again and again.

Ruan Chen's force was half-dead—his army now a field of frozen corpses.

All of it unfolded before Zhang Jiaqi's eyes. Her gaze burned with the fire of vengeance, her resolve unshaken.

Ruan Chen was trapped—no way forward, no way back.

Despair filled his heart. His eyes held only helplessness.

But to Zhang Jiaqi, this was only the beginning of her revenge.

Zhang Chao gripped his great blade, facing the dense arrowstorm with grim resolve. He slashed through incoming arrows with a single stroke, roaring: "We're outnumbered! Commander, flee this place!"

No sooner had he spoken than a figure leapt from the cliff—sword in hand, eyes cold, smirking: "You wounded my little sister-in-law. You have only one path: death."

Zhang Chao shoved Ruan Chen behind him and whispered: "Commander, escape now! Leave this villain to me!"

Ruan Chen, mistaking the attacker for Jiang Mingyu, immediately retreated. He barked to his officers: "Retreat! Regroup at Yasimo!"

The man was Tuxeslu. He stood before Zhang Chao, coldly declaring: "Give me your life!" His blade flashed, aimed straight at Zhang Chao.

Zhang Chao twisted his waist instantly, evading the strike, then drew a gleaming longsword, ready to counterattack.

Tuxeslu laughed loudly: "You dodged my blade? My little sister-in-law wasn't wrong—you've got some skill. But today, you're doomed to die!"

No sooner had he spoken than his sword lunged again, murderous intent filling the air.

Zhang Chao sneered: "Wretched bandit—die!" He swung his blade, parrying Tuxeslu's attack. Steel clashed, killing intent radiating in all directions.

At that moment, Zhuge Yu's voice rang from the mountaintop: "Aim at Ruan Chen—fire!" Ruan Chen's heart jolted—this was not Jiang Mingyu's voice. Someone else was commanding the cliffs!

Another storm of arrows rained down. Ruan Chen's men fell one after another. He himself could only flee faster.

Seeing the enemy reduced to barely ten thousand, Zhuge Yu shouted: "Charge down! Annihilate Ruan Chen!" Zhang Jiani led the troops like a charging tiger, plunging into the enemy ranks.

Zhang Chao was frantic to save Ruan Chen, but Tuxeslu blocked him: "Your opponent is me!"

Enraged, Zhang Chao swung his blade with tenfold the force of before, slashing at Tuxeslu with all his might.

*Thwack! Zhang Jiani cut down an enemy soldier and pressed on after Ruan Chen.

Behind her, the troops roared for vengeance, surging toward Ruan Chen's shattered remnants.