When the long-besieged Holy City finally revealed a breach, the cavalry of various tribes, their patience exhausted by the daily siege warfare, surged toward the city gates like a swarm, their eyes bloodshot.
The entire city trembled beneath the deafening clamor of battle.
Amidst the raging storm of arrows, armor and long blades gleamed with a chilling cold light.
The tribal soldiers, howling like wolves, charged into the Holy City, forcing the defending troops to retreat step by step.
Just then, a terrifying roar suddenly thundered, as if someone had torn open the night sky and unleashed a barrage of thunderbolts. The earth shook, boulders rolled, and the sturdy walls trembled. The ground beneath their feet quaked, thunder rumbled, and flames erupted violently.
Everyone staggered, their hearts pounding wildly, dizzy and disoriented, ears ringing, bodies trembling uncontrollably.
Some screamed as they fell from their horses.
Warhorses neighed frantically, darting about like headless flies. Countless riders were thrown from their saddles and trampled by the panicked steeds, blood splattering everywhere.
The deafening roars continued one after another, as if mountains were collapsing and the earth splitting apart. Buildings, temples, and earthen towers along the main streets crumbled, neighborhood walls shattered, flames surged, and thick smoke billowed. Flying debris rained down like locusts upon the dark masses of people, and countless fell with agonized cries.
In an instant, the entire Holy City became an Asura's Realm, like a ferocious beast opening its bloody maw, waiting to devour all enemies who dared harm its people.
Heart-wrenching screams drifted beyond the city walls. On the hillside, Haidu Aling's subordinates, who had been observing the battle, paled in horror, nearly tumbling from their mounts. Their restless horses snorted loudly, eager to turn and flee.
The subordinates hurriedly calmed their startled steeds and shouted, "My Prince, there's an ambush in the city! Half the Holy City has suddenly collapsed, and the vanguard is buried!"
In the distance, flames shot skyward from the Holy City, black smoke drifted, and iron arrows flew chaotically.
The fire raged fiercely, swiftly spreading into a sea of flames. The air grew so hot it seemed about to ignite. Hundreds of cavalrymen hastily retreated, scrambling to escape through the only narrow exit. Hundreds collided, trampling and slaughtering one another in a frenzy. Comrades who had fought side by side moments before now turned on each other with bloodshot eyes.
The commanders' furious roars were drowned out by the ear-splitting crashes of collapse. No one could hear their orders; terror-stricken, they only sought to flee the inferno.
Screams echoed over the battlefield, the great fire illuminating half the sky.
The flames reflected on Haidu Aling's sharply defined face. Gazing toward the Holy City, his expression remained unchanged, his eyes colder than the night.
"I expected this all along. The Buddha Prince and Li Yaoying are both cautious people. Even if Bi Suo and others in the Royal Court have turned traitor, Li Yaoying is protected by hundreds of guards—Bi Suo wouldn't succeed so easily... Our plan proceeded too smoothly. They were merely countering our scheme with their own."
He smiled coldly. "With the city exhausted of arrows and cut off from reinforcements, the Buddha Prince and Li Yaoying took a desperate gamble, seeking mutual destruction. They staged this grand spectacle solely to lure us into their trap. They countered our scheme, and I countered theirs! Their desperation is what gave us the chance to breach the gates."
His subordinate, heart racing with fear, steadied himself and said angrily, "My Prince, I will recall the soldiers!"
Haidu Aling sneered and waved his hand. "It's useless. In such chaos, which tribal troops can maintain order and fight effectively? Who will heed commands? Those warhorses are terrified—they're beasts. Do you think they understand your orders?"A suffocating wave of heat rolled in. The subordinate, drenched in sweat, asked, "Your Highness, what should we do now?"
Haidu Aling watched the raging flames surging wildly with the gale, a smirk curling at the corner of his lips. "They were well-prepared, familiar with the city's alleys, and every one of them is fearless unto death."
The subordinate's face turned pale.
"Let the tribal soldiers charge ahead. The Buddha Prince and Li Yaoying are at their wits' end, forced into a desperate struggle. If we rush in now, we'll be buried under the rubble just like those tribal soldiers. Wait until Li Yaoying's thunder bombs are exhausted, then we'll storm the city."
Haidu Aling spoke calmly, a mocking smile lingering on his lips.
The Northern Rong Iron Cavalry was not adept at siege warfare or street fighting. Moreover, Li Yaoying possessed weapons that struck fear into the hearts of the Northern Rong people. Even if the city fell, she would not surrender without a fight and was bound to set traps. Her weapons were too bizarre—a fight to the death would inflict heavy losses on him. By then, the tribal soldiers loyal to the suzerain state could easily swallow his remaining forces.
Thus, he could not recklessly enter the city.
Those tribal chieftains were shortsighted, insatiably greedy, and covetous of the Royal Court's wealth. They only wanted to lead their troops to plunder the Holy City as quickly as possible, heedless of all else. Seeing the city breached, they charged in headlong—perfect for using them as the vanguard to exhaust Li Yaoying's miraculous and strange artifacts.
"Order all units to guard the eastern road and the valley entrance. The Buddha Prince and Li Yaoying will likely try to break through the chaos. If any Royal Court personnel emerge from the city, shoot to kill immediately—spare no one!"
Haidu Aling's voice was cold and resolute.
"They want to perish together? This king will grant their wish!"
The Buddha Prince had no way out and was willing to sacrifice the city to lure the enemy deeper. He would not fall for it. The city's fall was now inevitable. No matter what tricks the Buddha Prince had left, as long as he held his ground, the Buddha Prince would either die defending the city or break through with his remaining forces.
Whatever choice the Buddha Prince made, he had a countermeasure.
Tonight, the Buddha Prince would surely be defeated!
The great fire temporarily repelled the Northern Rong Allied Army.
Soldiers fled the inferno, screaming in agony. Haidu Aling led his main force to form ranks outside the city, drawing his blade and scanning the surroundings. "The Holy City has fallen! These are mere petty tricks! Control your horses! Form up! Once the fire recedes, all of you charge with me!"
His voice boomed like a bell, fierce and imposing, as if completely unafraid of the roaring explosions inside the city. The panicked tribal soldiers found their anchor and calmed down, gathering around him.
Just as order was restored to the ranks, several terrified soldiers burst out from a breach, shouting, "The Buddha Prince knows sorcery! The Buddha Prince is casting spells! Those who dare attack the Holy City will face retribution!"
The soldiers shuddered, their hair standing on end.
Haidu Aling flew into a rage, spurring his horse forward. His long blade descended, severing several heads in succession. The headless bodies continued running forward for a moment before stumbling and collapsing to the ground.
"Tanmoroqie is nothing but the son of a Han slave! Anyone who dares disrupt morale will be executed without mercy!"
Haidu Aling reined in his horse, blade held horizontally, and turned to roar.
The soldiers shuddered, lowering their heads and not daring to make a sound.
...
Sparks flew, the night wind scorching.
At the highest point in the Holy City, Bi Suo gazed at the densely arrayed Northern Rong Iron Cavalry blocking all exits outside the city, his brow furrowed. "Haidu Aling indeed didn't take advantage of the chaos to attack the city. His main force is stationed outside. At daybreak, they will storm the city... Now that the Holy City's gates cannot be sealed, our only option is to break through."With their limited forces, breaking out would be akin to suicide.
Yet if they didn't break through, once Haidu Aling entered the city, everyone would lose their heads.
Bi Suo turned and clasped his hands toward Tanmoroqie. "I will lead the troops in a breakout, pretending to have captured Princess Wenzhao to lure Haidu Aling away. I'll demand an exchange for Chima and myself, then seize the opportunity to assassinate him when he lets his guard down!"
Tanmoroqie stood by the cliff edge, his Kasaya fluttering wildly in the wind as he gazed down at Wang Temple below, shaking his head.
"The risk is too great. Haidu Aling's troops won't advance recklessly. Leading our forces out of the city would be like throwing eggs against stones."
Bi Suo clenched his fists, his expression grave.
Were they simply waiting for death then?
Tanmoroqie stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the western sky.
The night sky was dyed crimson by raging fires. The roar of flames, explosions, shattering sounds, and agonized screams rose and fell incessantly. Iron arrows shot high into the air, falling into the city districts where fireballs erupted, sending dancing flames soaring like mad dragons.
Below him, monks had long directed the citizens to take shelter in the temple. Days earlier, the Western Region troops had withdrawn from the city walls under the pretext of protecting Yaoying, digging massive trenches and firebreaks around Wang Temple, blocking the main streets to ensure the fires wouldn't reach the temple while also hindering the Northern Rong Allied Army.
Half the city had been reduced to ruins by the explosives they'd planted. Fierce flames raged amidst thick smoke, swallowing the tribal soldiers who first breached the city walls in seas of fire and collapsing rubble, causing heavy casualties.
Yet Haidu Aling's forces hadn't lost a single soldier or commander. They remained stationed outside the city, waiting for the fires to subside.
With the city gates breached, their decoy plan failed, and all weapons exhausted, they were like meat on a chopping block, awaiting the enemy's slaughtering blade to fall mercilessly at any moment.
Life and death hung by a thread.
After days of desperate struggle, the citizens in the temple had already prepared themselves for death. They sat huddled together with family and friends, softly singing ballads, chanting Buddha's name, and whispering farewells about reuniting as family in the next life amidst the deafening roar of flames.
Mournful weeping filled the entire Wang Temple.
Tanmoroqie turned and looked toward the steep stone steps between the cliffs, where a slender figure moved busily along the precipice with her back to him.
Yaoying stood clad in military attire, her hair tied with silk ribbons, leading her troops in directing people to safety.
Wang Temple teemed with people - every Buddha hall, every cave chamber was packed with refugees. The earth trembled, smoke filled the air, and the pagodas stood silent, their glazed spire tops illuminated by the firelight, wind chimes tinkling.
In the brilliant crimson glow, Yaoying looked up and met Tanmoroqie's intense gaze, offering him a gentle smile.
Amidst the blazing fires and smoke, she appeared disheveled and exhausted, sweat beading on her forehead, with smudges of soot on her face and nose - yet her beauty remained radiant like morning glory.
Tanmoroqie walked toward Yaoying as she ascended the steps, quickly reaching the cliff edge and pointing toward the quietly standing pagoda in the corner.
"Venerable One, you brought me here last time, accompanying me in worship and offering prayers for me."
She spoke cheerfully, a smile in her voice.
Just like that lantern-lit night when he discovered his own greed, anger, and delusion, severing all desires before the Buddha.
Unaware, she had stood on the stone steps holding a lantern, smiling as she spoke to him.
Now, at this critical juncture between life and death, her eyes clear and bright, she smiled and told him: Venerable One, you brought me here.
She had remembered every moment they shared.Instantly, every moment since their first meeting surged into his heart with overwhelming force, flooding his mind all at once. He was immersed in it, sinking bit by bit.
Tanmoroqie gazed at Yaoying, his heart churning like turbulent waves, yet he remained silent. After a long while, he raised his hand and gently brushed the dust from the tip of her nose.
Yaoying smiled, wiped her face, took a lamp from her guard, and tugged at his sleeve as they walked into the pagoda together.
Since the siege began, all the monks had been dispatched by Tanmoroqie to care for the elderly, weak, women, and children. The temple had long been left uncleaned, and the pagoda was pitch-dark, empty, and eerily cold.
Yaoying set down the lamp, knelt beneath the long table, clasped her hands together, and silently recited a few prayers.
Tanmoroqie lowered his head and helped fasten the ties of her cloak.
"Dharma Master," Yaoying said, utterly exhausted, leaning back against Tanmoroqie’s arm. She thought of the weeping citizens they had just seen huddled together. "You believe in the cycle of life and death. If there truly is a next life, what would you want to be?"
"Still a monk?"
Her playful tone could not conceal the deep weariness in her voice.
Tanmoroqie looked down at her, raised his hand to let her rest against his chest, and draped his monk’s robe over her. "And you, Princess?"
Yaoying thought for a moment and replied earnestly, "I’d still want to be human."
Tanmoroqie was slightly taken aback, a faint smile appearing in his deep, refined eyes.
Then he would be human too.
"Would you still want to know me?" Yaoying asked, covering a yawn.
Tanmoroqie held her close, lowered his head, and kissed the top of her hair.
"Yes."
Yaoying snuggled deeper into his embrace and closed her eyes. Just as she was about to fall asleep, she murmured, "Me too."
Tanmoroqie tightened his arms around her.
The next life was too far away. In this life, he would not let go again.
The candlelight flickered as the two of them nestled quietly together.
Outside the pagoda, raging flames swept through the air, and ashes mixed with snowflakes drifted down silently. Half the sky glowed crimson like fire.
...
The thunderous explosions gradually subsided. Flames surged like waves, and billowing black smoke enveloped the entire Holy City. The sky darkened, and between heaven and earth, only charred, thick smoke remained, with no trace of daylight in sight.
Inside the Holy City, fires continued to blaze in streets and alleys. Markets, residences, and the royal palace were all reduced to rubble, with scorched, foul-smelling corpses buried beneath the debris.
The Northern Rong Allied Army, led by Haidu Aling, surrounded the city gates. Their iron cavalry stood densely packed, fierce and menacing.
Wounded tribal soldiers cursed the Royal Court’s cunning and deceit as they cleared the paths, while also railing against Haidu Aling’s treachery for sending them to their deaths despite knowing it was a trap. When the crackling sound of flames erupted again, their faces instantly paled, and they screamed, scattering in all directions.
Haidu Aling narrowed his eyes and raised his long blade. "A cornered beast’s last struggle—nothing more. Today marks the death of the Buddha Prince! We will avenge Wahan Khan!"
His subordinates drew their blades and roared furiously.
Wave after wave of enraged shouts surged toward the sky, as if they could overturn heaven and earth.
On the towering cliff, the defenders listened to the furious roars from outside the city. Enduring exhaustion and hunger, they rose to their feet, awaiting the brutal enemy’s assault.
Yuanjue stood outside the pagoda and whispered, "My King, Princess... dawn is approaching. Haidu Aling is about to launch his attack."
There was no response from within. He took a few steps inside, his mouth opening to speak, but before he could utter a word, Tanmoroqie emerged from the shadows. His expression was serene, his presence solemn, and he raised a finger to his lips in a gesture for silence.
Yuanjue quickly closed his mouth and followed him out of the pagoda.Tanmoroqie glanced up at the sky and said softly, "She's asleep and won't wake for a while. Stay here and guard her."
"Yes."
"If anything unexpected happens, take her west."
Yuanjue's eyelid twitched. He lifted his head and replied dazedly, "Yes."
Tanmoroqie turned back, gazing deeply at the sleeping Yaoying for a few moments before turning away. He stood atop the cliff, took the pitch-black horn bow handed to him by Bi Suo, drew the bowstring taut with tense shoulders, and let an arrow fly.
The arrow shot forth with immense force, swift as lightning, tearing through the thick smoke with a piercing whistle as it soared into the sky.
The arrow ripped through the black smoke, revealing a patch of the heavens, and a sliver of daylight poured down.
Outside the city, Haidu Aling looked up at the faintly visible arrow in the dense smoke, his brow furrowed tightly.
The wilderness was shrouded in black smoke, eerily silent except for the whinnying of horses and the crackle of flames.
Suddenly, a faint, rapid buzzing sound, like a sudden downpour, drifted over on the wind.
Haidu Aling's eyes widened abruptly, a look of disbelief and horror flashing across his face as he reined in his horse and turned around.
The buzzing ceased, and immediately afterward, a series of terrifying, sharp whistling sounds filled the air. Faint glimmers of cold light flickered within the dense smoke, like the countless stars in a summer night's sky. Then, the cold light grew brighter and closer, falling like meteors upon the unprepared allied iron cavalry.
Countless arrows blotted out the sky.
Haidu Aling broke into a cold sweat. He sharply tugged the reins, turned his horse, leaned back, and roared, "Raise shields! Lie flat!"
His voice trembled, a rare occurrence.
At the same time, tens of thousands of iron arrows rose from the ground, weaving a massive black net in the sky under the cover of the smoke, blanketing the entire battlefield as they fell in unison. With deadly precision, they pierced through the bodies of the Northern Rong Allied Army soldiers.
Screams erupted everywhere.
The rain of arrows fell wave after wave, surging forward with unstoppable force.
The tribal soldiers, less equipped than the Northern Rong Iron Cavalry and overconfident after the previous night's fierce battle—believing the Holy City had already fallen—had neglected to bring shields. As the arrows descended, they panicked, fleeing in terror. The iron arrows struck, piercing through their chests and pinning them mercilessly to the snowy ground.
Northern Rong soldiers cried out in alarm, "The Buddha Prince's ballista formation! The Buddha Prince's ballista formation!"
In the past, when Wahan Khan had repeatedly failed to capture the city, countless Northern Rong soldiers had perished under the ballistas. Everyone in Northern Rong knew that the ballista formation, improved by the Buddha Prince, was incredibly powerful and specifically designed to counter the Northern Rong Iron Cavalry!
Haidu Aling stared wide-eyed, gripping his sword hilt tightly: Impossible! During the siege, their primary objective had been to destroy the ballistas on the Holy City's walls. Not a single ballista remained—even the city walls had partially collapsed, and the defending soldiers had long vanished. Where could this ballista formation have come from?
Amid the billowing smoke, another wave of sharp whistles sounded, followed by another rain of arrows. The iron arrows traced black lines across the high sky before crashing down, piercing soldiers' armor, shattering wooden round shields, and striking horses. The warhorses neighed in agony, bolting in panic and throwing their riders to the ground. The battle formation instantly collapsed into chaos as soldiers trampled one another, men and horses tumbling together.
Haidu Aling dodged an iron arrow hurtling toward him and looked into the distance, his entire body shuddering.Before dawn, the four fields were dark and the earth trembled. Heavy, rhythmic hoofbeats approached from all directions. Black lines composed of countless fierce figures rose and fell like waves, resembling bloodthirsty giant beasts tearing through everything with overwhelming force as they charged wildly from different directions.
The mountains and plains were filled with crowds of people.
They had varying skin tones and faces—some in orderly military formations, some charging forward headlong, some clad in black mysterious armor, others in shining silver armor. Some wore disheveled hair and animal hide coats, some in heavy plate armor, while others appeared as simple herdsmen. All carried curved bows, shooting arrows while galloping on horseback, armed with blades, hammers, or spears.
Banners representing different tribes fluttered in the wind.
Behind them, on the continuous mountain ridges, ballistas densely covered the flat slopes, arrows falling like locust swarms.
"For the Buddha Prince, kill!"
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
They shouted Tanmoroqie's name in unified roars, their voices like crashing waves and howling winds, filling heaven and earth with terrifying bloodlust.
As if responding to the tribal warriors' cries, battle shouts erupted from the city as an unfamiliar, well-organized force charged out of the Holy City toward the Northern Rong Allied Army.
The Northern Rong battle formations fell silent, soldiers looking panicked toward their commander Haidu Aling.
Haidu Aling's clothes were soaked with sweat, his teeth nearly grinding to dust.
He had been guarding against Western Army reinforcements, stationing troops at passes to block them beyond Sand City. Every time Tanmoroqie sent breakouts, they fled eastward—he had cut off this route, leaving Tanmoroqie with no options.
His men guarded all passes and reported daily from various locations, blocking reinforcements to ensure no threats from behind.
Moreover, he had ordered his troops to shoot down all messenger eagles leaving the Holy City—Tanmoroqie couldn't possibly have sent messages!
So where did this massive reinforcement suddenly appear from? How did Tanmoroqie coordinate with them so seamlessly?
Could the Buddha Prince truly wield magic, commanding distant tribes from thousands of miles away?!
Haidu Aling's eyes bulged, veins throbbing violently.
All their strategies—counterplots, luring the enemy out, trapping them like turtles in a jar—were all false! Even the desperate defense of the Holy City was a deception!
The Buddha Prince had used himself as bait, the entire Holy City as bait, desperately holding the city just to pin down his hundred-thousand strong army while waiting for reinforcements!
Last night's lure of tribal soldiers into the city wasn't to trap him—it was to deliberately destroy the Holy City, using chaos, explosions, and smoke to cover the reinforcements' approach! To delay him, make those greedy tribal soldiers drop their guard, creating opportunities for reinforcements to approach the battlefield!
If he guessed correctly, the Northern Rong Allied Army's rear camp must have already been ambushed by reinforcements. Those cowardly tribes had probably surrendered, explaining why no unusual movements had been reported recently.
Rage, retrospective fear, shock, resentment... Haidu Aling nearly fainted from anger. Pulling his reins, he decisively gathered his officers: "Stay calm! Form battle formations! Retreat!"
His subordinate rushed over in shock, clasping fists: "Prince, why retreat? Our losses aren't heavy—we might still fight them!""Yes, the Holy City has been breached. Let's charge into the city, plunder it, capture the Buddha Prince and Princess Wenzhao alive, and hold them as hostages!"
Haidu Aling's throat filled with the metallic taste of blood as he rasped, "I underestimated Tanmoroqie. He hasn't completely lost power. Look at those tribes—they've all come for him... The Buddha Prince had already devised this plan to encircle us before he returned. His stubborn defense these past days was just to lull me into complacency. And that Princess Wenzhao—the Western Army concentrating their forces to break through our eastern flank was also part of their scheme!"
"The Holy City was blown open... Where did that troop come from? Could they have blasted through the cliffs to let reinforcements in?"
A chill crept through his entire body. Haidu Aling didn't want to admit defeat, but he had no choice.
The allied forces were in disarray. After the prolonged siege and constant friction, the tribal soldiers were increasingly slipping from his control. If Tanmoroqie had foreseen everything and laid these traps, then the plan must be flawless, leaving no room for error.
He had to devise a countermeasure quickly.
"Tanmoroqie used the Holy City as bait, but his goal wasn't just to break the siege. With the gates wide open and the walls destroyed, he wasn't luring us in—he was cutting off our retreat! Letting reinforcements pour in! If we hesitate now, we'll likely be surrounded."
"They're closing the net!" Haidu Aling made his decision. "Retreat!"
His subordinates exchanged glances before spurring their horses after him, galloping desperately to break through.
...
On the cliffside, Tanmoroqie surveyed the battlefield and signaled to Bi Suo with his eyes.
Bi Suo waved a flag. Below the blasted northern cliffs, a troop scaled the towering rock face. Guided by Xizhou soldiers, they navigated the trap-ridden streets, burst out of the Holy City, and split into two columns that spread along either side of the city gates like a horizontal line.
From his high vantage point, Tanmoroqie could observe most of the battlefield.
The sweeping tide of reinforcements pressed toward the Northern Rong Allied Army. Arrows rained continuously from the slopes, disrupting the allied formations and blocking their retreat routes.
From the Holy City direction, the horizontal line of troops gradually advanced, closing in on the Northern Rong Allied Army from both flanks.
Further out, across hundreds of miles, cavalry from various tribes surged relentlessly toward the Holy City. Unit after unit formed an encirclement, methodically tightening the noose while systematically eliminating allied forces they encountered along the way.
This great net had been cast many days earlier, slowly advancing from hundreds of miles away like towering walls, designed to completely annihilate the 100,000 troops Haidu Aling had painstakingly assembled within its grasp.
To bring peace to this turbulent age and allow common people to live in stability, this allied army must be crushed.
Tanmoroqie slung his longbow over his shoulder, drew his blade, and descended the cliffs.
Royal Court soldiers rose as one, drawing their swords to follow him, their faces burning with fervent devotion.
...
When Yaoying awoke, the roar of battle outside the city shook the heavens.
The space beside her was empty, though a thick felt blanket covered her. She rushed out of the Buddhist pagoda to the cliff edge, gazing into the distance.
Yuanjue followed closely behind. "Princess, the King has led troops in pursuit of Haidu Aling. Please rest assured."
Yaoying spotted that straight-backed figure galloping across the battlefield and nodded.
Beyond the Holy City, banners fluttered wildly across mountains and plains as tribes arriving from different directions gradually sealed the encirclement, trapping the allied forces within.When Tanmoroqie’s figure appeared on the battlefield, a dazzling ray of morning light pierced through the black smoke, spilling down and enveloping him.
Bathed in brilliant sunlight, he rode alone, galloping ahead of the formation, his monk’s robes fluttering—stern, dignified, and majestic.
The crowd stared at him in a daze, tears streaming down their faces in excitement.
A chieftain cried out, “The Buddha Prince is our king!”
“Our loyalty is not to the Royal Court, but to the Buddha Prince!”
“The Buddha Prince is the King of Kings! Our Khagan!”
A bittersweet sensation surged through Yaoying’s heart, her eyes slightly moist.
These tribes, once blessed by Tanmoroqie’s grace, along with the Royal Court garrisons stationed across the land, had all rushed here.
They had come for Tanmoroqie.
Even if Tanmoroqie was not the queen’s biological son, even if he and Su Dan Gu were the same person, there were still many who sincerely revered him, willing to follow him and die for him.
Just like Bore.
All his efforts over the years had never been in vain.
A sudden exclamation broke the silence. Yuanjue stared at the battlefield, tense as he said, “Haidu Aling is too cunning! He’s hiding behind the tribal soldiers… He’s about to break through!”
Yaoying snapped back to attention, her gaze sweeping the scene. A faint smile curled at the corners of her lips. “Even if Haidu Aling breaks through, it doesn’t matter…”
This time, Haidu Aling had nowhere to run.
…
A thousand miles away, in the suzerain state Haidu Aling had sought refuge with.
Yang Qian stood atop the city walls, clad in armor, his heroic figure brimming with vigor. He wiped the blood from his long blade as he gazed toward the direction of the Royal Court.
For hundreds of miles around Samarkand, all had submitted to the Western Army. The remnants of the Northern Rong who had fled here were completely captured.
Haidu Aling had borrowed several vassal tribes from his father-in-law, inadvertently giving the Western Army the perfect opportunity to launch a full-scale assault.
Yang Qian sheathed his blade, patting the hilt.
In this battle, under Princess Wenzhao’s command, he had marched a thousand miles in a swift strike, crushing the suzerain state that supported Haidu Aling and intimidating dozens of neighboring kingdoms, large and small. Along the way, he had fully secured the trade routes, prompting numerous tribes to pledge allegiance.
With this single victory, the Western Army had established its prestige. From then on, whether in the north, west, or south, no force would dare challenge the Western Army again. They could rest easy.
Let’s see who would still dare to shelter Haidu Aling!
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