Chapter 158 Underwater
The canal was engulfed in thick smoke, turning into a sea of flames.
The screams and panicked cries of the Wutuo People, along with Maka’s commands, all mingled together before being silenced by the crackling and tearing sounds of fire consuming the wooden ships.
The east wind arrived late, but it arrived fiercely. As if aware of its own tardiness, it refused to relent. Thousands of Wutuo warships, linked together by iron hooks, were swiftly engulfed in the rapidly spreading flames, leaving no time for escape. In the blink of an eye, they were all trapped in the inferno. A few clever Wutuo soldiers, positioned slightly farther away, struggled with all their might to sever the connecting iron hooks. But the thick smoke made it impossible to discern direction, and the area was littered with hidden reefs. A single misstep could capsize their vessels.
Meanwhile, the small boats of the Jiyang City Army proved their advantage. Agile and familiar with the waterways, even if they lost their bearings, the Jiyang natives knew the routes like the back of their hands, allowing them to escape effortlessly. Even if caught in the flames, the people of Jiyang were skilled swimmers. They dove underwater early, swimming to the shore, mostly unscathed.
The Wutuo soldiers were not so fortunate. Few managed to escape this fire attack, and even those who did were left with shattered morale and broken spirits, likely to collapse before a single battle could be fought.
Underwater, He Yan and Xiao Jue swam toward the shore.
The moment the fire was ignited, Xiao Jue had grabbed her and jumped into the water. The spring river still carried a chill. He Yan knew how to swim, but as the water covered her eyes and nose, her body involuntarily stiffened.
It was as if she had returned to the moment in the Xu family, when He Wanru’s people drowned her in the pond. Just like then, the sky above the water grew farther and farther away, leaving her trapped underwater forever, unable to glimpse the light again.
At first, she managed to struggle on, swimming for a while, but gradually, she found it harder to continue. Physical discomfort could be dealt with quickly, but the fear in her heart, the lingering shadow of a past trauma, was not so easily forgotten.
She slowly fell behind Xiao Jue.
Xiao Jue, swimming ahead, seemed to notice. Seeing He Yan lagging behind with an unusually pained expression, he couldn’t help but pause.
He Yan had never mentioned to Xiao Jue whether she could swim, but she clearly could. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have managed to hold on from the moment they jumped off the ship until now. Yet, it seemed she feared water?
This was possible. Just as those who had been burned by fire might later avoid it, or those who had fallen from a horse and been injured might refuse to ride again, even if they were once skilled riders. He Yan likely knew how to swim but feared water, much like those people.
As he thought this, he saw He Yan close her eyes, her expression growing increasingly troubled.
Xiao Jue frowned slightly. Not even taking a breath? If this continued, she would suffocate.
He turned back to He Yan’s side, pressing on her shoulder in an attempt to rouse her. But He Yan seemed to have lost most of her awareness, showing no reaction to his touch.
Her face was twisted in pain, as if haunted by some terrible memory. Even underwater, her tension was palpable. Xiao Jue glanced upward. They were still some distance from the shore. If this continued, she would die.The girl's face was close at hand. Underwater, her long hair had long since come loose, and the grime on her face had been washed away, making her features appear as clear and fragile as glass, as if she were about to vanish beneath the water. Xiao Jue steeled his heart, took a deep breath, pressed down on her shoulders, and leaned in to kiss her.
Breath continuously flowed from his lips to hers, and the feeling of suffocation instantly eased considerably. He Yan felt someone supporting her. Dazedly, she opened her eyes and seemed to see a handsome young man's face close before her.
Was this a dream? He Yan wondered. At this life-or-death moment, how could she be having a romantic dream? The subject of this dream was exceptionally handsome, though it was a pity the setting was underwater.
Beyond that, she remembered nothing more.
A cool sensation slowly spread across her face. He Yan coughed up a mouthful of water and abruptly sat up. Beside her was Mu Yi, who breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing her awake and said, "Miss He, you're finally awake."
They were on the riverbank. In the distance, on the surface of the canal, thick smoke still billowed, and a sea of fire raged. She remembered jumping into the water with Xiao Jue. Glancing around and seeing no sign of him, she asked, "Where is the Commander? How did I get here?"
"Just as I reached the shore, I saw the Commander carrying you out. Miss He, you seemed to have fainted. The Commander told me to look after you and then left on his own." Mu Yi scratched his head. "Many Wutuo People have come ashore. The Jiyang City Army is insufficient. Miss He, you should rest here. I'll go help."
"No need," He Yan said, casually tearing a strip of cloth from the hem of her inner garment and tying her long hair, which had come loose in the water, into a high ponytail. She stood up. "I'll go with you."
...
At Hulu Zui, a fierce battle was also underway.
Earlier, Liu Buwang had used a formation to trap a group of Wutuo People. After breaking the formation, the Wutuo People engaged in a fierce fight with Liu Buwang, which ultimately damaged their morale. Eager for quick success, they rushed forward recklessly. By the time they reached Hulu Zui, they were all restless and impatient, completely unaware of the hidden dangers lying in wait. Cui Yuezhi's archers, lying in ambush, released their arrows, catching the Wutuo People off guard. Now, only a few Wutuo People remained, locked in a chaotic battle with the five thousand Jiyang City Army soldiers Cui Yuezhi had arranged.
"I wonder how things are on the river," Cui Yuezhi thought to himself when suddenly someone approached and announced loudly, "Commander Cui, the east wind has risen! Commander Xiao has launched a fire attack on the Wutuo warships. The Wutuo People are now in disarray, utterly defeated!"
"Truly?" Cui Yuezhi was overjoyed. "Heaven blesses our Jiyang!"
Upon hearing this, the Wutuo People on the other side were instantly thrown into chaos. They ordered their soldiers not to believe the enemy's tricks meant to disrupt their morale, yet they couldn't help but let their minds wander. They had been arranged to come ashore first, with the rest of the army following shortly after. But they had encountered that swordsman in white as soon as they landed, and it had taken them a long time just to break through the formation. By now, the rest of the army should have arrived long ago—why was there still no sign of them?
With the first drumbeat, morale soars; with the second, it wanes; with the third, it is exhausted. Cui Yuezhi's side fought with increasing courage, while the Wutuo soldiers retreated step by step.
"Men!" Cui Yuezhi shouted. "Follow me into battle!"
...
On the canal bank, Wutuo soldiers who had escaped the sea of fire and the Jiyang City Army were locked in a fierce, chaotic battle.When He Yan rushed over, the clashing of swords and blades filled the air. Cui Yuezhi was not here; the dozens of men who had earlier set fire to the ships alongside He Yan had spontaneously rallied behind her.
"The numerical advantage of the Wutuo soldiers is gone now. At least, the difference isn't too great," He Yan said. The fire had consumed most of the Wutuo People, and while those remaining still outnumbered the Jiyang City Army, the gap was no longer overwhelming.
"Moreover, their morale must be shattered right now. We can seize this chance to wipe them out in one fell swoop." He Yan tightened her grip on the whip. "Let's go!"
By the ships, she spotted Xiao Jue at a glance, surrounded by Wutuo soldiers. These were Maka's trusted followers. It seemed that when the fire broke out earlier, Maka had failed to escape. Now that their master was gone, these remaining loyalists, knowing they would face death if they returned, turned all their attention to Xiao Jue—determined to drag someone down with them. If they could kill Xiao Jue, perhaps they could atone for their failure.
The Wutuo soldiers pressed in relentlessly, taking turns charging at Xiao Jue with their blades. He Yan raised her whip and charged into the crowd, lashing one man down with a single strike, then kicking another aside as she retreated to Xiao Jue's side.
Xiao Jue looked slightly surprised. "Why are you here?"
"Of course I'm here," He Yan replied. "We agreed to advance and retreat together. I'm counting on making a contribution this time so that Commander Xiao can recommend me to the court and get me an official position or something."
Xiao Jue scoffed. "Wishful thinking."
He Yan slowly raised her whip before her. "If even my dreams aren't beautiful, wouldn't that be a loss?" With that, she plunged back into the fray.
These Wutuo soldiers were cunning and vicious, focusing all their attacks solely on Xiao Jue and He Yan as if driven to madness, determined to fight to the death. The remaining Jiyang City Army soldiers were entangled with the other Wutuo troops and couldn't break through to assist.
He Yan felt a flicker of frustration. The Jiyang City Army was simply too few in number. And now, these Wutuo soldiers weren't even fighting a battle anymore—they were just mobbing Xiao Jue and her, intent on murder.
"We need to take out their leader first," she thought to herself.
As she pondered this, she noticed the Wutuo soldiers suddenly intensify their assault. Logically, since they were out for blood, and she had caused them such significant losses, they shouldn't ignore her. Yet their momentum was directed solely at Xiao Jue.
What were they planning? He Yan grew alert. Instinctively, she stepped back, wanting to warn Xiao Jue, but just as she turned, a deafening "boom!" erupted.
The small Jiyang City Army boat moored by the shore, along with Xiao Jue and the Wutuo soldiers, was engulfed in a massive explosion, just like the fire ship in the center of the river earlier. He Yan was blasted onto the shore by the force. She scrambled to her feet and looked into the distance, her mind ringing as she shouted, "Xiao Jue!"
Debris from the boat scattered everywhere, and the water churned violently from the blast. Someone grabbed her hand and pulled her back—it was Mu Yi. "That was a firearm!" Mu Yi exclaimed. "I've heard before that among the Wutuo craftsmen, some know how to make firearms, though they're extremely rare. I never thought they'd carry one with them today... They must have been targeting Commander Xiao!"He Yan had also heard of this, but firearms were difficult to make and consumed vast amounts of silver. Even if ten were crafted, there was no guarantee they would function. The Pacify Yue Army had limited military funds back then, so they ultimately abandoned the idea. The Wutuo People likely didn’t have many firearms either; otherwise, they could have thrown dozens from the start. It seemed that with Maka gone, they aimed to drag Xiao Jue down with them, embracing mutual destruction.
“Damn it,” she gritted her teeth, turning to run toward the direction where the boat had exploded.
“Miss He!” Mu Yi grabbed her, urgently saying, “There are still fragments of firearms scattered around. They could explode again. It’s dangerous for you to go now.”
He Yan shook off his hand. As Mu Yi tried to persuade her further, he suddenly paused upon seeing her expression, his grip loosening.
He Yan turned and ran into the water.
More and more Wutuo People surrounded her, blocking her path. She simply discarded her whip, let out a cold laugh, leaped into the air, and snatched two long knives from the hands of two Wutuo People. With both knives in hand, she showed no hesitation, striking down enemies as she drew her blades.
Restricted and unable to use a sword to avoid exposing herself, she could at least wield knives. But what good would that do? If only she had been a little earlier… just a little earlier… He Yan’s heart suddenly choked with emotion.
There was nothing on the water’s surface, only fragments of the boat floating, with no sign of Xiao Jue. That person… the one who had pulled her from despair, remembered her birthday, made her longevity noodles, took her to see fireflies, mocked her in spring yet indulged her all the same—how could he disappear here?
She needed to reach that part of the water quickly, to find Xiao Jue. Lin Shuanghe was still in Jiyang. If she found him fast enough, perhaps there was still hope. There weren’t many people in this world who treated her well, and the one who treated her best absolutely could not die.
The Wutuo People were too much of a hindrance. He Yan’s eyes turned cold and sharp, her long knives dancing in her hands, a dazzling blur. Her steps never faltered as she desperately charged toward the site of the explosion.
Mu Yi watched the girl’s figure, feeling as though nothing in heaven or earth could hinder her pace. Her movements were as agile as an eagle, as sharp as a blade. He hadn’t known a woman could be like this.
Wutuo People lunged at her, only to be repelled one by one. She pressed forward relentlessly, leaving the corpses of Wutuo soldiers in her wake, until she finally reached the water’s edge.
“Xiao Jue—” she called out.
No one answered.
“Xiao Jue—”
He Yan bent down, trying to pull something from the water, but when she lifted her hand, only water flowed through her fingers, leaving nothing behind.
Empty.
She felt bewildered, so bewildered she couldn’t distinguish the overwhelming sorrow in her heart. This feeling was like the day she suddenly lost her sight, like the day He Wanru’s people held her underwater—the grief of losing something immensely important.
“Xiao Jue…” she murmured.
Just then, a voice suddenly came from behind: “What are you shouting for?”
She turned abruptly to see a young man clad in black armor striding toward her. In his cool, autumn-water-like eyes, there seemed to be a faint trace of mockery.
From the shore to the shallow water, the bodies of the Wutuo People she had slain in her rage lay scattered. The corpses lay to the side, a testament to the precise and ruthless blade techniques—each strike a fatal blow.The young man raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on the blood-dripping long blade in her hand. After a moment, he looked at her with a half-smile. "So fierce?"
The next moment, the girl suddenly threw herself at him, burying her face in his chest and wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.
The Jiyang City Army soldiers on the shore behind them were stunned.
Xiao Jue stiffened, his eyes flashing with annoyance. "You—"
He stopped short, feeling the body in his arms trembling violently. She had jumped into the water earlier, nearly suffocating herself, and her inner clothes were already soaked through. The heavy armor, draped over her, felt exceptionally cold, making her appear all the more fragile.
Xiao Jue struggled to hold back but finally couldn’t resist, forcibly pulling her face away from his chest.
"What are you doing? I’m not dead yet," he scoffed.
He Yan stared at him blankly. This person was standing perfectly fine before her—alive, vivid, right in front of her eyes.
Suddenly, tears streamed down her face.
(End of Chapter)
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