The Road to Glory

Chapter 253

"Yes, it's time to go."

Xiao Li frowned deeply. "What did you say?"

The young officer choked back tears. "While the general was supervising the battle on the city tower, someone disguised as a soldier from the general's residence requested an audience. They then used Madam Yang and the two young masters as leverage to lure the general away. Shortly after, a large number of Western Mausoleum Army soldiers suddenly appeared in the city, chasing and slaughtering civilians all the way to the city gates. Some even shouted that General Yang had secretly opened the city gates and let the Western Mausoleum Army in..."

The young officer wiped his eyes in distress. "The guards at the city gates thought General Yang had truly defected to Western Mausoleum. They scattered like loose sand, losing all will to defend the city, and abandoned their armor to flee. When General Yang returned and realized it was a trap, it was already too late. To stabilize the troops' morale, the general... beheaded himself and ordered his deputy to use his head to command the fleeing guards and reorganize the defense of the city gates..."

The young officer let out heavy, choked sobs. His face, smeared with soot and sweat, was now streaked with fresh tears.

The Wolf Cavalry had already witnessed the tragic fate of Yang Huo, Madam Yang, and their sons on their way here. Hearing this account, they exchanged silent glances. Though no words were spoken, the intense rage radiating from them made their Warhorses stomp restlessly.

Xiao Li remained silent, like black rock crusted over fissures still seething with magma after a violent volcanic eruption. "To the city tower," he said.

"Where are the rolling stones and logs? Hurry and bring more rolling stones and logs to the city tower!"

"Bring up the oil too!"

The deputy general shouted hoarsely. The round stones and logs being rolled down from the city tower had been exhausted. Too many defenders had already fled, leaving gaps along the battlements that couldn't even be fully manned, let alone having enough logistics soldiers to transport military supplies.

Taking advantage of the earlier chaos in the city, the Western Mausoleum Army had charged fiercely to the base of Tiger Gorge Pass's city tower. Now they swarmed up the scaling ladders like locusts, their assault relentless.

With nothing left to hurl down, the defenders along the battlements could only swing their blades at the climbing Western Mausoleum soldiers as they reached the top. But the ladders were crammed with countless Western Mausoleum troops. Before a defender could even pull his blade out from one soldier, the next would already be swinging at him.

Below the city tower, Western Mausoleum archers continuously shot at the defenders on the battlements.

At the city gates, countless Western Mausoleum soldiers roared as they pushed siege engines, using the mounted battering rams to smash against the gates. The iron-reinforced gates were severely dented from the prolonged, violent impacts. With each new strike, the entire gate shuddered precariously.

Many soldiers bracing the gates from inside suffered internal injuries from the concussions, blood trickling from their noses and mouths, their faces contorted in pain. Yet they held their ground, refusing to retreat a single step.

"General, too many have deserted! We don't have enough men—we can't spare anyone to move the oil and logs!" A blood-smeared guard replied in despair.

The deputy general's face was also splattered with blood. He gazed bleakly at the brutal combat above and below. Raising his eyes to the freshly severed head hanging beneath the commander's banner, tears glistened in his eyes. "General Yang... I have failed your trust. I cannot hold Tiger Gorge Pass..."

Suddenly, chaotic and urgent hoofbeats sounded from behind the city tower.

"Xiao Jun has arrived personally! Reinforcements are right behind! All Tiger Gorge Pass soldiers, hear this command: Hold the gates at all costs!"The deputy general followed the sound and saw several dozen robust cavalrymen galloping swiftly toward them. At the forefront of the troop, a banner bearing the character "Xiao" was held high, followed by countless deserters who had returned to the city gates.

The soldiers on the city wall, who had been plunged into despair, felt their spirits lift at the sight.

"It's Xiao Jun! The same Xiao Jun who repelled the Rongdi invaders multiple times and joined forces with the Liang Camp in Luodu to trap and kill Pei Song!"

"Reinforcements are here! We're saved!"

The soldiers at the pass erupted into thunderous cheers, their earlier anger and resentment at being brutally slaughtered by the Western Mausoleum Army transforming into fierce determination. Roaring, they counterattacked the Western Mausoleum soldiers who had scaled the walls.

On the long street leading to the city gate, the Western Mausoleum troops who had earlier stormed the inner gate were locked in a desperate struggle with the defenders. Hearing the commotion behind them, they turned to look—only to be met with the dark, thunderous charge of warhorses and the sharp ring of long blades being drawn. The remaining Western Mausoleum soldiers fell, blood gushing from their necks.

The returning deserters picked up whatever usable weapons and armor they could find, surging like a tidal wave toward the city gate and the walls. The critically endangered gates of Tiger Gorge Pass finally managed to hold, at least for the moment.

When the young officer led Xiao Li up to the city wall, the deputy general hurried forward to greet them, clasping his fists in excitement. "We are fortunate that you have brought troops to our aid, Xiao Jun, and relieved Tiger Gorge Pass in its moment of crisis!"

Xiao Li had already met this deputy general at Yang Shuo's side before leaving the pass. He scanned the city wall, noting that the Western Mausoleum Army below continued their fierce assault, with battering rams and numerous scaling ladders already pushed to the base of the walls. His furrowed brow did not relax as he said, "Let's speak in private."

Sensing something unusual in Xiao Li's tone, the deputy general quickly led the group into a temporary command post set up in the duty room on the city wall. "This place will do. Please speak freely, Xiao Jun."

Only then did Xiao Li say, "There are no reinforcements."

The deputy general was stunned.

After Xiao Li explained everything, the deputy general slammed the long table in fury, his eyes red with tears and rage. "So that's how it is! General Yang and his family... to think they were brought to such ruin by that dog Pei Song!"

"If I don't kill that dog..." He struck his chest heavily. "I will never rest easy!"

The young officer beside him also wiped his eyes with his sleeve, turning away to continue drying his tears.

Xiao Li said, "My condolences."

Though his eyes were still red, the deputy general quickly composed himself, clasped his fists, and bowed deeply to Xiao Li. "Your righteousness is profound, Xiao Jun. Knowing full well the dire straits Tiger Gorge Pass is in, you still chose to lend us your aid. For this, I am eternally grateful. However..."

His voice grew strained. "Tiger Gorge Pass cannot hold... I will immediately dispatch trusted guards to escort you out of the city. Only if you survive and leave Tiger Gorge Pass can the slander against my general be cleared! Only then will the world know that the soldiers of Tiger Gorge Pass did not surrender like spineless cowards!"

Although Xiao Li had used his reputation and the lie about reinforcements to rally many deserters, the Western Mausoleum offensive was relentless. If they could not deal a significant blow to the enemy soon, the defenders would eventually realize that the reinforcements were a mere illusion, and morale would collapse once more.

By then, Tiger Gorge Pass would be nothing but scattered sand, easily crushed by the Western Mausoleum Army.

But holding the city was already a struggle; opening the gates to engage the Western Mausoleum Army head-on and break their momentum seemed an impossible task.

The deputy general understood this all too well and had already prepared for the worst.He retrieved an unsealed letter from his breast pocket and presented it respectfully with both hands to Xiao Li: "This was left by my general before he took his own life. Until his final moments, the general remained unaware of the secret passage in the Border Defense Camp. In this confession, he wrote... acknowledging his guilt, stating that in the past... he had released Pei Song through the pass out of gratitude for Old General Qin's mentorship, never expecting it would lead to such catastrophe. He knew his crimes were unforgivable and deserved to be condemned through the ages as a traitor. However... he truly never defected to Pei Song, nor did he allow Western Mausoleum troops to enter the pass. The fall of Tiger Gorge Pass filled him with shame toward the princess and all citizens of Great Liang..."

Xiao Li slightly furrowed his brows, about to speak, when he noticed that aside from the confession, the deputy general's letter included another document—a divorce letter addressed to Madam Yang.

He asked, "What is this?"

The deputy general swallowed with difficulty and replied, "The general feared that the loss of Tiger Gorge Pass would implicate his wife and her family. While writing his confession, he also drafted this divorce letter for Madam Yang..."

Once the divorce letter was sealed, regardless of whether the husband's family faced immense prosperity or the extermination of nine clans, the woman would no longer be affected.

Xiao Li silently lowered his gaze to the divorce letter in his hand.

Ink stains had blotted in several places on the paper, clearly indicating the writer had paused multiple times while penning these brief lines.

Instead of a seal at the bottom left corner, there was a bloody fingerprint.

Yang Shuo sought to sever their marital ties in this lifetime, hoping to secure his wife's safety in her remaining years.

Yet he never knew that as he wrote this divorce letter, Madam Yang had already preceded him to the underworld.

Xiao Li suddenly recalled the "harsh words" Wen Yu had spoken when he proposed pursuing this Western Mausoleum Army.

She had said: "Xiao Li, I agreed to marry you, but I can also take it back. You are not yet anyone to me now."

"You did not accept the imperial appointment, so you are not a general of Great Liang."

"I don't need you to do anything for me, and Great Liang doesn't need it either!"

"If Tiger Gorge Pass falls, if the western frontier is lost, it will be due to my incompetence, Wen Yu. Even if my name is vilified throughout history, I alone will bear it. There's no need for you to sacrifice countless lives to fill the gap!"

A long-unfamiliar ache swelled in his chest, spreading into a faint, lingering pain.

How could he not recognize the fear hidden beneath her stubborn exterior?

She thought that by pushing him away, he would remain safe.

Xiao Li raised his hand and held the letter over a candle flame. The divorce document was soon devoured by the fire, turning into scattered ashes on the table.

He asked, "Where is Pei Song now?"

The deputy general stared blankly for a moment before hurriedly answering: "After General Yang met that treacherous dog, he intended to capture him. But the scoundrel was extremely cunning—he had Western Mausoleum troops hidden in the shadows take hostages and attack the inner city gate, allowing him to escape. Before General Yang returned to the pass to take command, he dispatched his personal guards to apprehend the traitor. There has been no news from them yet."

Xiao Li's brows tightened again.

Just then, a tremendous explosion erupted from the city wall outside the duty room, shaking the entire structure and causing lime to crumble from the ceiling.

Someone outside shouted: "The Western Mausoleum dogs are making a desperate move—they're sounding the horns and attacking the city again!"

The deputy general urgently cried: "Quick! Quick! Escort Xiao Jun away..."

As the group exited the duty room, the deputy general barked orders to his guards to lead Xiao Li down from the wall. Instead, Xiao Li kicked up a long blade lying on the battlement and impaled a Western Mausoleum soldier who had just climbed onto the wall from a siege ladder.The soldier was thrown backward by the sheer force of the blade and fell from the tower. Another Western Mausoleum soldier, who had been fiercely battling the defenders at the crenellations, was distracted by the terrifying strike, allowing the defenders to seize the opportunity and thrust him down as well.

A Western Mausoleum vanguard who had scaled the tower noticed Xiao Li’s unusual status and charged at him with a raised blade, hoping to claim a significant military achievement.

Xiao Li dodged the blade swinging toward him, grabbed the Western Mausoleum soldier’s head with one hand, and slammed it against the wall. The soldier immediately collapsed like a limp noodle.

The Wolf Cavalry who had ascended the tower with him drew their swords and engaged in a fierce melee with the Western Mausoleum soldiers who had reached the top.

“Xiao Jun…”

The deputy general, dodging stray arrows on the tower while trying to call Xiao Li back down, watched as Xiao Li cut through the Western Mausoleum soldiers like melons and vegetables, making his way toward the crenellations.

A stray arrow shot toward him, but he caught it bare-handed, snapped it in his palm, and cast a sweeping gaze over the battlefield below.

Amid the thunderous war drums, the charging Western Mausoleum soldiers below roared like a swarm of locusts.

It was clear that the Western Mausoleum forces understood this was their only chance to capture Tiger Gorge Pass.

After all, chaos reigned within the pass, desertion was rampant, and the main general had just been executed on the front lines. The remaining defenders had struggled to even fill the gaps on the walls.

Though it was unclear why a group of defenders had now returned, the Western Mausoleum army had already deployed their scaling ladders and siege engines to the base of the walls.

Even if they had to sacrifice lives, they were determined to seize the towers of Tiger Gorge Pass!

At the rear of the formation, seated calmly in a chariot drawn by eight warhorses, was the Western Mausoleum general Nugeer. Several drummers flanking him vigorously beat the war drums on the chariot, rallying their charging comrades.

Not far from the command formation, a cavalry unit was being repeatedly assaulted, split into several small pockets, and trapped.

The deputy general, reaching the crenellations, also saw the ferocious Western Mausoleum assault below and the trapped cavalry.

This cavalry unit was not appearing for the first time. Whenever Tiger Gorge Pass was under heavy attack, they would emerge to disrupt the Western Mausoleum formations.

But earlier, when the pass was on the verge of collapse and the gates nearly breached, the cavalry had not withdrawn after harassing the enemy as before. Instead, they had persistently engaged the Western Mausoleum forces in the rear, becoming encircled layer by layer and cutting off their own retreat.

The deputy general said remorsefully, “That cavalry unit was trapped because they tried to buy time for Tiger Gorge Pass by stalling the Western Mausoleum army. Now… I fear it’s beyond saving.”

Xiao Li fixed his gaze on Nugeer, seated securely under the command banner on the chariot, and simply said, “Bring me a bow.”

An attendant quickly fetched a sturdy bow. The deputy general, eyeing the distance from the tower to the chariot, urgently advised, “Xiao Jun, it’s too far—well beyond five arrow ranges. That Western Mausoleum barbarian leader is too cowardly to venture beyond the rear of his formation…”

Xiao Li took the bow, returned the documents the deputy general had earlier handed him, and said, “I will assign two of my personal guards to accompany you. Send someone with them to deliver a message to Liang Camp and explain the situation at Tiger Gorge Pass.”

After a pause, he added, “If I do not return from this endeavor, report to Han Yang that… Xiao Li has broken his promise.”

With these words, he gripped the bow, vaulted over the crenellations, and leaped down from the tower.

“Xiao Jun—”

The deputy general screamed in horror, rushing to the crenellations. He saw Xiao Li gripping the side of a scaling ladder outside the wall, rapidly descending and kicking off the Western Mausoleum soldiers climbing upward.The archers below hurriedly shot arrows at him, but he deflected them all with his longbow.

The Wolf Cavalry fighting atop the city walls saw this and followed suit, leaping down after Xiao Li.

The scene was truly awe-inspiring.

The deputy general’s eyes instantly reddened with emotion as he roared, "Archers! Cover them!"

The archers on the city walls quickly fired arrows at the Western Mausoleum archers below, but in doing so, they exposed themselves. For a moment, archers from both sides fell one after another.

Before landing, Xiao Li intercepted an arrow mid-air, nocked it on his bowstring, and shot a Western Mausoleum officer charging toward him on horseback. He then used his bow as a blade to knock aside obstructing Western Mausoleum soldiers, mounted a warhorse, and charged straight toward the enemy command formation, with over a dozen Wolf Cavalry members close behind.

The Western Mausoleum Army charging below surged like hyenas swarming for prey, while Xiao Li’s group advanced against the tide like a pack of wolves.

Watching from the battlements, the deputy general broke into a cold sweat, his heart pounding with fear as he continued shouting, "Archers! Fill the gaps!"

The defenders on the walls had no time to retrieve their fallen comrades’ bodies and quickly moved to the battlements to resume firing, helping cut down the Western Mausoleum soldiers who roared and thrust spears at Xiao Li’s group, clearing a path for them.

Xiao Li kept his body low against the horse’s back. The wind blowing toward him carried not only dust but also the scent of blood. A Western Mausoleum officer raised his spear, shouting as he charged toward Xiao Li on horseback.

In a single encounter, the officer was thrown from his horse, and his long spear ended up in Xiao Li’s hands.

Now he advanced more smoothly toward the command formation, thrusting his spear left and right, unseating countless Western Mausoleum soldiers along the way.

Nugeer, far away on his command chariot, also spotted Xiao Li. He had witnessed firsthand how ferociously the man broke through a massive encirclement when he took Niru to intercept Pei Song.

Seeing Xiao Li charging straight toward him now, clearly aiming to capture the commander, Nugeer grew wary and immediately shouted in the Western Mausoleum tongue, "That man is the new Marquis of Liang’s Northern Border! Whoever takes his head will be rewarded with ten thousand gold and promoted to Great General!"

Many officers guarding the command formation immediately spurred their horses forward, followed closely by archers.

Xiao Li placed his index finger to his lips and let out a piercing, sharp whistle.

Zheng Hu and the other Wolf Cavalry, trapped by the Western Mausoleum Army for so long, were exhausted, both men and horses. They had been trying to retreat toward the desert, but the enemy formation had grown increasingly tight, splitting their forces into several groups and diluting their impact. No matter which direction they charged, they couldn’t break through, only growing more fatigued.

Hearing the whistle, their spirits lifted at once.

Zheng Hu shouted, "It’s Second Brother!"

Sweat mixed with grime and blood dripped down his face. He scanned the battlefield, but layers of soldiers and horses blocked his view, making it impossible to pinpoint Xiao Li’s location. He could only follow the whistle’s command and yell, "Move toward the Western Mausoleum command banner!"

The only clear landmark on the battlefield was the command banner towering high above the command chariot.

Sharp whistles began to rise and fall across the battlefield. The cavalry, previously split into groups and showing signs of defeat, suddenly fought with desperate fervor as they charged toward the command formation.

From his command chariot, Nugeer saw the situation unfolding below clearly. He ordered several rows of giant shields to be erected in front of the command formation to withstand the cavalry’s assault.No sooner had the Western Mausoleum general and archers charged out to take Xiao Li’s head than they grew fearful of an attack on Nugeer, withdrawing some troops to defend the command formation.

Once Xiao Li confirmed he was within arrow range, he gave the Western Mausoleum officers no chance to close in. Under the cover of the Wolf Cavalry, his arrows shot forth like rainbows, piercing through so many Western Mausoleum officers that they toppled directly from their saddles.

In that same instant, several drummers beating the war drums on the chariots were also struck down.

As the drumbeats suddenly weakened, the momentum of the assault faltered, and the roars of the Western Mausoleum Army still charging forward abruptly diminished.

Some of the junior Western Mausoleum officers leading the charge, seeing their command formation under attack, abandoned the siege and hurriedly turned their troops back to reinforce it.

Witnessing the entire battle situation thrown into chaos by Xiao Li, Nugeer rose in a fury, kicking over the small table before him and shouting, "Focus all efforts on killing that rebel commander!"

But as the words left his mouth, an arrow carrying immense force shot straight toward him.

In a panicked dodge, Nugeer lost his footing and tumbled down the steps, while the arrow struck the pole of the Western Mausoleum command flag behind him, emblazoned with a ferocious beast.

"General!" His personal guards rushed forward in a flurry to help him up, ordering soldiers to raise thick shields and encircle Nugeer tightly.

Humiliated and enraged, Nugeer shoved away the guards supporting him and roared, "He excels at archery—are you all incapable? Shoot him down!"

The archers below had no choice but to comply. They had wanted to retaliate earlier when the enemy shot down the chariot drummers, but Xiao Li had been firing from beyond their own arrow range—how could they have countered?

Fortunately, the enemy had now galloped closer. The archers immediately drew their bows, releasing a torrent of arrows like a sudden downpour.

Xiao Li seized a junior Western Mausoleum officer charging at him and used the man as a shield. The officer, not yet dead, choked on his own blood under the hail of arrows and perished.

"Second Brother!"

Zheng Hu, leading the Wolf Cavalry in a fierce charge, finally spotted Xiao Li. He whipped his horse, driving it hard toward him.

Of the Wolf Cavalry who had leaped from the city walls with Xiao Li, only a few remained, drenched in blood and riding close behind him.

Splattered with blood, his eyes blazing with ferocity, Xiao Li flung aside the junior officer he had used as a shield and yelled, "Charge the formation!"

The cavalry converging with Zheng Hu were already blood-mad. They dug their heels into their horses, following Xiao Li as they stormed toward the command formation shielded by a wall of giant shields, roaring, "Kill—!"

They could either die ignobly, trapped by over twenty thousand Western Mausoleum troops, or break the enemy command formation and behead the Western Mausoleum general—even the ghosts on the road to the underworld would hail them as heroes!

Warhorses reared high, their hooves crashing down on the massive shields braced by rows of Western Mausoleum soldiers. From behind the shields, spear-wielding troops roared, thrusting countless long spears through the gaps.

Some Wolf Cavalry fell to the spearpoints, while other Western Mausoleum soldiers buckled under the immense impact, their great shields tilting backward. Trapped beneath, soldiers were crushed to death under trampling hooves before they could crawl free.

A breach opened in the shield wall, and the two sides clashed in a frenzied melee.

For a time, the battlefield echoed only with the clang of weapons and savage cries, blood splattering in handfuls across the yellow sand.

Xiao Li, leading the charge, smashed through the Western Mausoleum soldiers blocking his path and drove straight for the command chariot, his blood-soaked face like that of a wrathful deity.

Seeing this, Nugeer on the chariot knew he could not hold the line. Casting all else aside, he scrambled down, mounted his horse, and fled in panic.Xiao Li saw this, his gaze sharpening. On horseback, he drew his longbow but found his quiver empty when he reached for an arrow. Just then, a Western Mausoleum soldier charged at him with a roar, thrusting a spear. Xiao Li seized the spear with one hand, flung it back to knock the soldier aside, then hurled the weapon forward with full force.

Nugeer glanced back while fleeing at full gallop, his pupils contracting in terror. He hastily crouched low against his horse’s back, narrowly dodging the spear.

Xiao Li let out a low shout and urged his horse onward in pursuit.

A Western Mausoleum commander intercepted him, shouting in the Western Mausoleum tongue, “Where do you think you’re going? I am your opponent!”

The opponent, holding a horse lance, appeared imposing and majestic. Yet, in just one clash, blood gushed from his neck as he toppled sideways off his horse, and the lance was seized by Xiao Li.

As he passed the command chariot, Xiao Li swung the lance and severed the commander's banner atop the chariot. The banner fell with a crash, and the Western Mausoleum soldiers on the battlefield erupted into chaos, plunging into immense panic and losing their earlier sharp momentum.

When Nugeer turned back and witnessed this scene, his face turned deathly pale.

In their panic, the Western Mausoleum soldiers scattered in all directions, blocking Nugeer's escape route. Xiao Li quickly caught up with him.

Knowing he could not evade the confrontation, Nugeer gritted his teeth and roared, brandishing a long blade as he charged at Xiao Li: "Brat! Do not think this general fears you!"

Xiao Li’s gaze was icy and murderous. Without a word, he spurred his horse forward. When his horse lance collided fiercely with Nugeer’s long-handled battle blade, the blade was instantly severed. The lance continued its downward arc unimpeded, and in an instant, blood splattered across the yellow sand.

Under the blazing sun, Xiao Li sat high on his horse, holding Nugeer’s severed head aloft.

The Wolf Cavalry erupted in thunderous roars, and this time, it was the Western Mausoleum forces that were thrown into disarray.

On the city wall, the deputy general nearly wept with joy. He slammed his fist against the battlement and urgently ordered: "Quickly! Quickly! Send troops out of the city! Mop up the remaining enemies!"

The defenders inside the city, having witnessed Xiao Li leading the Wolf Cavalry straight into the heart of the Western Mausoleum command formation, were stirred with excitement, their blood boiling with fervor.

When the battered and nearly broken gates of Tiger Gorge Pass were opened from within, the city’s soldiers surged out with deafening roars, their momentum overwhelming.

In contrast, the Western Mausoleum soldiers who had been pushing the battering ram against the city gates lost their earlier ferocity. Pressed back repeatedly by the defenders, they eventually discarded their armor and weapons, fleeing in all directions. The chariot carrying the battering ram was overturned and left abandoned, unnoticed in the chaos…

The tide of battle had turned abruptly. As Xiao Li rode to rejoin the Wolf Cavalry, he saw Zheng Hu, supported by the Wolf Cavalry, sitting on the command chariot, his face ashen.

Zheng Hu had taken two arrows in the back and a deep gash across his abdomen. His wounds had only been hastily treated, and the cloth bandages wrapped around them were already soaked with blood.

Xiao Li, his own body stained with blood—indistinguishable whether it was his or others’—asked, "How bad are your injuries?"

Zheng Hu, pale from blood loss, managed a strained grin and said, "I won’t die."

Supported by the Wolf Cavalry, he struggled to his feet, his face growing even paler as the movement aggravated his wounds. Gritting his teeth, he said, "But I won’t be able to join you, Second Brother, in hunting down that dog Pei Song and avenging Auntie…"

Xiao Li placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "Return to the city and focus on recovering. I will personally bring back that dog’s head."

A Wolf Cavalry soldier reported: "My Lord, the scattered Western Mausoleum soldiers are fleeing deep into the desert!"

Xiao Li glanced at the fleeing figures in the distance and said, "Do not pursue a desperate enemy. Return to the city!"

The group rode back toward the city. As they reached the foot of Tiger Gorge Pass, the deputy general rushed out to greet them, nearly weeping with gratitude: "Thank you, Lord Xiao, for once again saving the thousands of soldiers and civilians of Tiger Gorge Pass from peril. This humble general… is overwhelmed with gratitude! Please accept this bow on behalf of all the soldiers and civilians within the pass!"

With that, he knelt along with the soldiers who had come out of the city. Xiao Li and the Wolf Cavalry, still mounted, had no time to stop them and could only accept their bow.The Wolf Cavalry soldiers were clearly also unaccustomed to such a scene, momentarily stunned into silence.

Xiao Li, his armor still stained with fresh blood, dismounted and helped his deputy general to his feet. "General, please rise. The defense of Tiger Gorge Pass is entirely due to General Yang Shuo’s efforts. Had General Yang not stabilized the army’s morale by sacrificing his own life, allowing the defenders to hold the gates against Pei Song’s treacherous schemes, I would never have been able to lead my men in this final stand."

At the mention of Yang Shuo, the deputy general’s grief surged anew. "You and General Yang are both saviors of Tiger Gorge Pass’s defenders!"

He then turned to gaze at the head still hanging high on the command flag above the city tower, his eyes red-rimmed as he declared, "General Yang, Tiger Gorge Pass... has been held!"

His words moved many soldiers nearby to wipe their eyes roughly, their expressions weary and distraught.

Xiao Li looked toward the base of the command flag, his own face etched with emotion.

"Report—"

Suddenly, a guard from within the pass galloped wildly from behind the city gates. Before even reaching them, he tumbled from his horse but, ignoring his injuries, urgently reported, "While clearing out the remaining Western Mausoleum Army forces on the main eastern gate road, we discovered traces of Pei Song!"

Pei Song kicked aside the last obstructing guard, drew his longsword, and a few drops of blood splattered across his face. His expression was a mix of fury and madness.

The few remaining Hawk Hounds brought a commandeered carriage and urged him, "Master, Yang Shuo confessed and beheaded himself to rally the defenders. Tiger Gorge Pass remains unbreached. We must leave the city now! During the earlier skirmish, a rat escaped back to report. If the city guards catch up, we’ll be in serious trouble!"

Nearby, the family whose carriage had been seized—husband, wife, and their attendants—lay dead in pools of blood. Only a child of four or five, having witnessed his parents’ brutal deaths, sat dazedly against a blood-soaked wall, too terrified even to cry.

Pei Song flicked the blood from his blade, his anger unabated, and let out a cold, derisive laugh. "That Yang Shuo... why was he so ungrateful?

"If he had surrendered to me and opened Tiger Gorge Pass’s gates, I would have publicly declared that the Western Mausoleum Army entered through the tribute passage at the Border Defense Camp. To protect the city’s civilians, he had no choice but to yield to me. Wouldn’t that have preserved the honorable reputation he craved?"

Perhaps overwhelmed by rage, Pei Song’s tone turned especially icy as he concluded, "The entire Yang family... utterly ungrateful!"

As he sheathed his sword, a stray drop of blood flew from the blade and landed on the child’s cheek. The small pouch clutched tightly in the child’s hand fell into the bloody mire, yet still the child dared not make a sound.

Pei Song seemed to notice the little one he had overlooked until now. A faint smile playing on his lips, he crouched down, picked up the bloodstained pouch from the ground, and handed it back. Watching the child tremble uncontrollably, tears welling but never falling, he asked leisurely, "Are you afraid of me?"

The child remained silent, his frail body shaking even more violently. Too scared to cry, his breathing grew labored, faint sobs barely audible.

Pei Song glanced at the bloodied pouch in his hand, then at the couple lying dead in the distance, their eyes still wide open and fixed in his direction. He remarked casually, "Ah, your parents were mistakenly killed by my men."The curve at the corner of his lips deepened. "If you seek revenge against me in the future, no one would call you unjust. Yet when I merely seek to settle a score, why does everyone condemn me?"

In his extreme terror, the child couldn’t comprehend his words at all. Tears fell in heavy drops, and faint, choked sobs escaped his throat.

Pei Song lost his patience. His fingers loosened, and the bloodstained pouch dropped back into the pool of blood. He sneered, "I’ll wait and see what choice that runaway whelp of the Yang family will make in the future."

It was an undeniable fact that the Western Mausoleum Army had appeared out of thin air within Tiger Gorge Pass. Would Han Yang truly believe that Yang Shuo had not defected to him?

Would those hypocrites of the Wen clan, with righteousness ingrained in their bones, defy all opposition to defend a "traitor’s son" so deeply entangled with his Qin family, claiming Yang Shuo was wronged?

The depth of one’s loyalty, once betrayed, becomes the measure of one’s fury.

His best revenge against Yang Shuo was to make his son walk the same path he had!

When the Hawk Hound urged him again, Pei Song narrowed his eyes and looked up at the sky.

Truth be told, he no longer wished to flee.

But soon, the smirk returned to his lips. "Yes, it’s time to go."

"I have an appointment with my mentor—to honor him as Imperial Tutor in Luodu."