Chapter 909: First Volume, Chapter 909: A Fight to the Death

First Volume, Chapter 909: A Fight to the Death

Qin Feng shattered the Enemy Army time and again, each time slaying dozens or even over a hundred soldiers, but these losses meant nothing to Lü Li's vast army.

Moreover, Lü Li had extensive battlefield experience; he knew Qin Feng possessed superior strategic vision and tactical brilliance, so he played to his own strengths and avoided his weaknesses, denying Qin Feng any chance to exploit his tactical advantages, and ordered all troops to launch a full-scale assault, using their numerical superiority to simply bury Qin Feng alive.

Undeniably, this crude and straightforward tactic proved highly effective.

Beyond Lü Li's personal guards, soldiers kept pouring in from all directions, including those previously hidden in ambush and the Night Owls, all joining the battle.

The Tianji Camp Guards and Anwu Guard Qin Feng had dispatched earlier, though aided by the cover of night and guerrilla tactics, had inflicted heavy casualties—killing no fewer than a hundred enemy soldiers—but were ultimately forced to retreat and regroup beside Qin Feng.

At this moment, Qin Feng had gathered all remaining forces; after several grueling battles, only one hundred and twenty men remained around him.

The Tianji Camp Guards and Anwu Guard, relying on their exceptional individual combat skills, suffered minimal losses, while the Beixi Soldiers suffered devastating casualties.

After all, the Beixi Soldiers excelled in large-scale close-quarters combat, yet each often faced attacks from multiple enemies at once; no matter how valiant or well-equipped, they could not fend off four fists with two fists alone.

Qin Feng had no choice but to lead his remaining one hundred and twenty men in a forced charge into Wanggang Village, requisitioning homes for final resistance.

The sudden intrusion of a large army terrified the villagers; wails and cries filled the air without pause.

Qin Feng quickly dispatched ten Tianji Camp Guards to accompany Li Xiaolan in calming the civilians.

Qin Feng himself took up defensive positions at the village entrance.

"Beixi Soldiers, listen up: remove all arrows from your bodies and hand them all over to the Tianji Camp Guards and Anwu Guard."

"Tianji Camp Guards and Anwu Guard, gather all arrows, ascend the rooftops, occupy high ground, and deliver precise ranged attacks—do not waste a single arrow!"

"The remaining Beixi Soldiers, form squads of five, armed with spears and Zhan Dao, guard every entrance to the village; if the Enemy Army breaks in, engage them in street-to-street combat immediately!"

"Liu Ming! Where the hell are you, Liu Ming?!"

Liu Ming staggered over, panting—where was the usual swagger he carried? He looked utterly broken, his body covered in wounds; had it not been for the exquisitely crafted armor of the Tianji Camp, he would have been hacked to death long ago.

"Marquis Qin, your servant is here!"

Qin Feng pointed to the rooftops: "I place the Tianji Camp Guards and Anwu Guard under your command—no more than three men per rooftop. Your mission: use arrows to consume the enemy's fighting strength and provide cover for our comrades engaged in street combat."

Liu Ming nodded firmly and turned to organize the deployment.

Qin Feng quickly summoned Zhang Zhenhai over.

"The village entrance will be the enemy's most intense point of attack—I'm assigning you five Tianji Camp Guards, two Anwu Guard, and five Beixi Soldiers to form a twelve-man death squad. You lead them, and hold that entrance like a nail driven deep."

Saying this, Qin Feng grabbed Zhang Zhenhai's collar and growled: "The entrance may fall, but you must fight with such ferocity that the enemy understands every step forward costs them blood. Know your limits—this is not a fight to the death, but a battle of endurance. If you truly cannot hold, retreat immediately into the village and join the others in street combat."

Zhang Zhenhai gritted his teeth: "My Lord, rest assured—I will die before you and Third Miss!"

Qin Feng did not release his grip, pulling a bundle of Silver Notes from his robe and shoving them into Zhang Zhenhai's clothing.

Zhang Zhenhai froze: "My Lord, what is this for?!"

Qin Feng's face was stern as stone: "If Lü Li succeeds, he will whip my corpse to sate his hatred—I've accepted this fate. But you? You are a Beixi commander, a hero who expanded our borders. If you die, the enemy will find these Silver Notes, loot them, and leave—leaving your body intact. When our Beixi Army one day crushes the Di territory, we will recover your remains and return you to your ancestral soil."

Seeing Zhang Zhenhai weeping, Qin Feng clenched his teeth: "No tears! Beixi men do not weep!"

"Our current predicament stems from my underestimation of Lü Li's resolve—this fault is mine!"

"Promise me this: before you die, kill Li Xiaolan first—do not let her fall into Lü Li's hands and suffer humiliation!"

Zhang Zhenhai understood: Qin Feng intended to lead from the front, fighting in the thick of battle, meaning he would die first—and someone must be left to end Li Xiaolan's life.

At that moment, Li Xiaolan's voice came.

"Feng'er, do not trouble yourself. When all is lost, I shall end my own life here."

Hearing this, Qin Feng released Zhang Zhenhai, gestured for him to take position, then turned to Li Xiaolan and smiled bitterly: "Xiaolan, I'm sorry… back in Beixi County, I should have been firmer. If you'd stayed there, you wouldn't have ended up…"

Before Qin Feng could finish, Li Xiaolan rushed forward, embraced him tightly, and rested her head on his shoulder, whispering softly: "Don't speak of that. Even the oldest horse stumbles. You've come this far—that's already a miracle."

"Who in Heaven has ever won every battle?"

"To be buried beside you is my fortune."

"Feng'er, I am ready to face life and death with you."

Qin Feng took a deep breath; his piercing gaze softened. He gently stroked Li Xiaolan's back and whispered: "Xiaolan, when we return to Beijing, will you marry me?"

Li Xiaolan laughed through tears, nodding firmly: "Yes, I'll marry you!"

Qin Feng reluctantly released her, saying nothing more—his eyes said it all.

Li Xiaolan was no sentimental woman. She wiped the tears from her eyes, touched Qin Feng's rugged cheek with a smile, then turned and walked into the village.

"My Lord, your sword!"

A Tianji Camp Guard on the rooftop threw down his sword.

Qin Feng picked it up, sheathed it beside his foot, and turned toward the village entrance.

Another Tianji Camp Guard on the opposite rooftop removed his Shoulder Armor and tossed it down; others stripped off their waist belts…

Around him, his comrades each shed part of their Armor and dropped it beside Qin Feng.

Qin Feng methodically donned the gear; once fully armored, he gripped his sword in his right hand, a spear planted at his left, eyes blazing as he stared at the Enemy Army surging toward him in dense waves.

"The hatred over my son's death—unforgivable! Lü Li, I accept all your hatred and rage!"

"But…"

"Hurry. Qingshan County is too close to Wang Du. My prolonged absence must have raised suspicions already."

"I've given you your chance for revenge—don't waste it."