Chapter 195: Fate Uncertain Between Life and Death

The sky was gradually darkening; Jiang Jiang Mingyu's great army had been marching for three days and was now making camp to spend the night.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sat cross-legged, holding a cup of hot tea in his hand, a faint smile playing on the corners of his lips; he knew that tomorrow would be the day of the decisive battle, and his gaze was firm and profound, as brilliant as the stars.

After Tuke Tuke Siluo finished reporting the news brought back by the scouts, seeing Jiang Jiang Mingyu's composed demeanor, he could not help but laugh: "My lord, you do not seem the least bit nervous; that brat Wang Wang Jingchun is about to fall into your hands tomorrow." His tone carried a measure of worship and admiration, for he knew Jiang Jiang Mingyu was a heroic figure who would not be easily shaken.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu took a light sip of tea, a glint of wisdom flashing in his eyes: "Tuke Tuke Siluo, I have already said that victory in this battle is certain; can that mediocrity Wang Wang Jingchun match even one of my ten thousand fierce generals? When we break the city tomorrow, just watch—he will surely discard his armor and helmet, crying and begging for mercy!" His voice was calm and confident, without a shred of doubt or hesitation.

Zhang Zhang Jiani, standing to one side, curled her lips in a sneer: "Hmph, he is merely an incompetent Inspector; does he even deserve my lord's personal attention? It is simply beneath my lord's dignity!" Pride and disdain flickered in her eyes, for she held boundless confidence and reverence for her elder brother.

Tuke Tuke Siluo laughed heartily and stroked her hair: "Zhang Jiani, we have fought side by side; do not underestimate the enemy. We have personally taken the field this time to give an account to the common people of Lingna, to let them know the consequence of opposing me." A trace of cold ruthlessness and killing intent flashed in his eyes, for he hated Wang Wang Jingchun to the bone.

Hearing this, Zhang Zhang Jiani lowered her head in embarrassment and fell silent; she knew Tuke Tuke Siluo had spoken those words to comfort her, yet in her heart she also felt some worry for Jiang Jiang Mingyu's safety.

At that moment, a muffled sound of gongs and drums came from outside, as the guards had begun their patrol and change of watch; Jiang Jiang Mingyu drained his tea in one gulp and rose to his feet.

"On this eve before battle, you two should also rest early; at dawn tomorrow I will lead the vanguard to supervise the fighting, while you follow behind—report any unusual movements to me immediately." His tone was serious and firm, without a trace of laxity or relaxation.

Tuke Tuke Siluo and Zhang Zhang Jiani responded in unison: "Yes, sir!" for they were filled with respect and loyalty toward Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

Only then did Jiang Jiang Mingyu, satisfied, lift his chin and stride boldly back to his own tent; as he walked through the camp, the soldiers saluted him one after another, and he returned their greetings with smiles and nods, thinking to himself: Tomorrow is when my army will display its mighty prowess; Wang Wang Jingchun, just you wait!

The night had grown deep; within Jiang Jiang Mingyu's military camp all was silent, save for the footsteps of guards patrolling outside, while Jiang Jiang Mingyu lay in his tent, closing his eyes to conserve his strength in preparation for tomorrow's battle.

In the moonless blackness, suddenly a string of crisp gong and drum sounds shattered the night's tranquility; Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes snapped open, his keen awareness instantly sensing something amiss, as he heard the enemy's battle cries and the whistling of fire arrows.

"Not good, enemy attack!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu donned his armor in a flash, roaring "Enemy attack!" yet it was already too late, for the enemy's fire arrows had already crackled and popped as they shot into the camp; the firelight illuminated Jiang Jiang Mingyu's terrified face as he saw his own military camp had become a sea of flames.

"It's on fire! Put out the fire!" the defending troops rushed about shouting, yet the flames grew ever more fierce; Jiang Jiang Mingyu anxiously called out for Tuke Tuke Siluo and Zhang Zhang Jiani, but saw only flames soaring to the sky and wails of agony from all directions, witnessing his trusted officers and soldiers falling one by one into pools of blood or being swallowed by the fire, his heart suffering as if cut by a knife.

Suddenly, a long blade stabbed from behind; caught off guard, Jiang Jiang Mingyu narrowly escaped death, fortunately Zhang Zhang Jiani appeared in time and slashed that enemy down with a single strike, her body also smeared with fresh blood and ash, a trace of worry and determination flashing in her eyes.

"My lord, the situation is dire; we must retreat immediately!" Zhang Zhang Jiani, her face solemn, grabbed Jiang Jiang Mingyu and ran outward, for she knew this was an enemy ambush and they had already fallen into a desperate predicament.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face turned deathly pale, his heart wrung as if by a knife: "Tuke Tuke Siluo, he..." but before he could finish, another wave of enemy cavalry charged forth; he thought of his close friend Tuke Tuke Siluo, still in the camp directing firefighting and resistance, unsure whether he was still alive, and though he wanted to return to find him, Zhang Zhang Jiani held him back with a death grip.

Zhang Zhang Jiani swept her long blade horizontally, carving out a path through blood: "The enemy outnumbers us; preserving my lord's life is the priority!" she said as she protected Jiang Jiang Mingyu and broke out of the encirclement, her heart also heavy with grief over Tuke Tuke Siluo's uncertain fate, yet she could not allow Jiang Jiang Mingyu to perish here as well.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu gritted his teeth and nodded, clenching his fists tight as he led the remnant forces fighting bitterly out of the trap, his heart filled with sorrow, rage, and unwillingness, vowing to avenge tonight's crushing defeat and make the enemy pay a price in blood!

Covered in blood, his face deathly pale, Jiang Jiang Mingyu stumbled as he ran, gasping heavily, his eyes red with utter despair and guilt, his body riddled with countless wounds from which blood flowed incessantly, his clothes burnt to tatters by the flames, and half of his hair sheared off by arrows.

Behind him raged roaring flames, whistling arrows, and tragic wails; his subordinates fell one by one, turning into ash within the pellets of war, their corpses swallowed by fire until only piles of blackened, charred bones remained, their weapons seized by the enemy to become trophies of victory.

"Zhang Jiani—" he roared, wanting to turn back, yet the guard beside him held him fast; that guard, also covered in wounds, looked on with eyes firm and loyal: "My lord, you must survive! You are our hope! You are our leader! You cannot die like this!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, utterly unaware of the blood on his face, ran forward mechanically, his heart cut as if by a knife, tears streaming down in torrents; he thought of Zhang Jiani and Tuke Tuke Siluo, his closest comrades and beloved ones, who had sacrificed themselves to protect him, and who, in their final moments, had still smiled at him, saying: "Elder Brother, you must live well!"

Suddenly, a volley of arrows struck, and the few guards remaining beside Jiang Jiang Mingyu fell where they stood; the light gradually faded from their eyes as they sank into the embrace of death, using their last breath to say: "My lord, remember us! Avenge us!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu abruptly halted, dropping to his knees; clutching his head, he wept bitterly, his fists hammering the earth as if to turn his profound grief into bloodstains within the soil: "Zhang Jiani, you gave your life for me; how can I face your parents? Tuke Tuke Siluo, I have destroyed you with my own hands..." Jiang Jiang Mingyu choked with sobs, self-blame and anguish churning in his heart, for he knew Zhang Jiani and Tuke Tuke Siluo must have met a cruel end, otherwise how could there be no word from them?

When the sun reached its zenith, the flames gradually died down, leaving Jiang Jiang Mingyu kneeling alone amidst the battlefield strewn with devastation; clenching his fists tight, tears swirling in his eyes, he growled in a low voice: "I will definitely avenge you! I will surely find the culprits and slice them to pieces with ten thousand cuts!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu's expression had never been so grief-stricken and ferocious; he rose and slowly departed, the afterglow of the setting sun reflecting upon his tear-streaked face.