Volume One: The Hidden Dragon in the Abyss Chapter 74: Battling the Tiger

In truth, this formation was less a traditional military array than an overwhelming advance, pushing relentlessly forward. The advantage of the cavalry, advancing layer upon layer, forced the Wei soldiers to retreat step by step, leaving behind a growing trail of corpses.

The Jin soldiers, clad in armor, brandished their long spears as they spurred their horses toward a Wei trooper. The man raised his round shield in defense—

Bang!

A thunderous crash resounded; the shield shattered, the Wei soldier’s breastbone broke, and he was hurled backward, lifeless before he hit the ground.

The generals on both sides could be distinguished at a glance by their armor, and all the Wei troops knew this was a Jin officer. The surrounding Wei soldiers immediately lunged forward, sabers flashing in swift attack.

The officer gripped his mount with his knees; the horse leaped up, using its momentum to meet the incoming blades.

Clang!

A tremendous sound rang out as the saber was struck aside by the spear, sending the Wei soldier spinning through the air before he crashed to the ground. The other Wei troops, fearing neither death nor injury, charged forth once more.

All four Jin officers led a fearless assault, spearheading the fight.

Farther back, Duan Changfeng resembled a master conductor, orchestrating the rhythm of the battlefield and watching as the Wei soldiers fell back, step by step.

Suddenly, from behind, a horn sounded.

The chilling, murderous note sent a tremor through every Wei soldier’s heart. It was a horn they knew all too well. At that moment, almost everyone wanted to look back, but they forced themselves to resist.

Every Jin soldier’s pupils contracted in terror—Tian Xingzi was no exception. “The Wei reinforcements have arrived so quickly!”

It was utterly unexpected.

“Only a feint,” Duan Changfeng said, shaking his head, not even casting a glance behind.

Tian Xingzi was startled, and listened more carefully; he realized the horn seemed to have stopped somewhere, but there was no sign of a larger force approaching.

He breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. “Fortunately, General Duan is here. We all almost fell for it—if we’d been deceived, it would have been our ruin. But if this continues, our army’s morale will falter.”

The others had no idea what was happening.

Only Duan Changfeng, famed for years as a prodigy, remained unmoved by such simple tricks.

“No matter. The fastest the Wei reinforcements can arrive is half an hour. I have no intention of getting entangled with them—otherwise, we’ll never escape!” With these words, Duan Changfeng raised the great standard. “Transmit my command…”

The orderlies galloped around the Jin army, loudly relaying the newest orders to every soldier:

“Reinforcements have arrived! Do not linger in battle! Follow General Duan and break through the siege!”

“Follow General Duan and break through!”

“Attack!”

The shouts rang through the ranks.

Duan Changfeng also wielded a long spear, the great banner held high. As he moved, the entire army moved with him, the standard undulating like a great serpent.

Tens of thousands of Jin soldiers marched in perfect order—a magnificent sight.

But his route was unexpected: he led the army across the river, moving from east to west to strike the Wei forces directly.

He charged into enemy lines, face expressionless, harvesting lives one by one.

Such is the battlefield.

The Jin soldiers began to gather behind him, shifting from a square array to a fan, then forming a spearhead.

In the end, they were like the spear in his hand—peerlessly dominant.

They surged forward as if a wild boar plowing through a cabbage field—unstoppable.

The Wei soldiers ahead were brave, but could not withstand the onslaught, forced back relentlessly, fear finally taking root in their hearts.

“Changfeng, watch out!”

Tian Xingzi suddenly cried out from behind.

The Wei troops had spotted the highest-ranking general and prepared a volley of arrows.

Suddenly, a large group of Wei troops withdrew, leaving a gap. Archers stepped forward, loosing dozens of crossbow bolts in unison, aiming to kill in a single strike.

But Duan Changfeng swept his spear, deflecting the arrows—most of them were sent spinning back.

How could anyone be so strong?

A Wei general saw his chance, leapt up, and brought his saber down in a mighty swing.

Duan Changfeng paid him no mind, blocked with all his strength, and thrust his spear at his foe. Instantly, the saber bent, the Wei general spat blood, spun through the air, and fell, only to be trampled by hooves.

The Wei soldiers’ eyes nearly burst from rage and despair, but under such a relentless assault, they were helpless—driven back step by step, or forced into the waters of the Clearwater River.

Duan Changfeng drove straight through, splitting the enemy ranks in two as he passed—cutting across their lines with ease.

Then, without pause, he pressed on.

Tens of thousands of light cavalry followed in his wake, surging forward in a mighty tide.

On both banks of the Clearwater River and in the river itself, countless corpses lay strewn—fallen horses and Jin soldiers, their armor still visible.

The Wei army, though not utterly routed, could not give chase. Their crossbow bolts thudded uselessly into the forest.

“Ah…” Their fury was unspent, a deep, bitter unwillingness gnawing at them.

Where were their reinforcements?

That damned horn still sounded—why could they not see what was happening?

When their reinforcements finally arrived, they were met by the bloodshot glares of the Western Army, who stared at them in anger.

“The Jin army hasn’t gotten far! Pursue them!”

The commander quickly grasped the situation and acted decisively. Cavalry surged forward, following the tracks of the fleeing Jin horses.

“Excellent. It’s rare for the Jin to have such a talent—Duan Changfeng, first of the Military Academy, a true hero. To see him today, his reputation is well deserved,” the Wei commander sighed in admiration.

Now, fifty thousand light cavalry had come—enough to fight the Jin on equal terms.

Unfortunately, their foes had likely already escaped to the Kingdom of Yu.

They would not catch them.

…

“Elder, you know this terrain well. Let’s find a place to rest,” Duan Changfeng said, slowing the Jin cavalry after an hour’s gallop.

“We’re almost at the border of Yu—only ten miles left! Why stop now?” Tian Xingzi exclaimed, perplexed. Even he, unversed in military matters, knew the basics: with enemies in pursuit, they should run straight to Yu before resting.

“Is that what you think as well?” Duan Changfeng shook his head. “But neither I nor His Highness wish to enter Yu. If we do, returning will be all the harder. My thoughts and His Highness’s are perfectly aligned—a meeting of heroic minds!”

He smiled and continued, “We will rest and wait, then strike back at the pursuing troops!”

Tian Xingzi was astonished. He didn’t fully understand, but since his help was needed, he agreed. “I’ve traveled this road before—there’s an abandoned village ahead. It’ll be a squeeze, but tens of thousands of soldiers and horses can just about fit.”

Duan Changfeng saw his confusion and explained, “Elder, if the Wei army is a tiger, we are the eagles! We cannot devour them, so we must avoid being devoured ourselves. To attack, we must strike swiftly and seek opportunities, never becoming entangled!”

“Peck at the weakest spot!”

An eagle challenging a tiger?

Tian Xingzi suddenly understood.

In truth, this formation was less a traditional military array than an overwhelming advance.

The cavalry’s advantage, pushing forward in waves, forced the Wei army to retreat step by step, leaving more corpses in their wake.

Jin soldiers, armored and resolute, swung their long spears, charging at enemy troopers.

A Wei soldier raised his round shield—

Bang!

The shield shattered with a thunderous crash, the Wei soldier’s chest caved in, and he was flung back, dead.

On the battlefield, the generals were recognizable by their armor alone, and all the Wei troops knew these were Jin officers.

The nearest Wei soldiers immediately rushed in, sabers flashing.

The officer urged his horse forward, using its momentum to meet the blades—

Clang!

A great noise as the saber was knocked aside by the spear, sending the Wei soldier flying.

Other Wei troops, undaunted, attacked again.

All four Jin officers pressed forward, leading the charge.

Duan Changfeng, commanding from behind, was a master conductor, orchestrating the battle’s tempo, watching as the Wei army retreated step by step.

Suddenly, a horn sounded from behind.

Its murderous note sent a chill through every Wei soldier’s body—a horn they knew all too well.

Hearing it now, almost all wanted to look back, but forced themselves to hold fast.

Every Jin soldier’s eyes contracted in fear—even Tian Xingzi. “The Wei reinforcements are so fast!”

Unexpected.

“Only a feint,” Duan Changfeng said, shaking his head, not even glancing back.

Tian Xingzi, surprised, listened more closely and realized the horn had stopped somewhere, with no sign of an approaching army.

He breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. “Luckily, General Duan is here—we’d all have been fooled. If we’d fallen for it, it would have been our end. But if this continues, our army will lose heart.”

The others were none the wiser.

Only Duan Changfeng, a famed prodigy, was not deceived by such tricks.

“No matter. The fastest the Wei reinforcements can arrive is half an hour—we mustn’t become entangled, or we’ll never escape!” With that, Duan Changfeng raised the great banner. “Pass the order…”

The orderlies galloped about, relaying the command to every soldier:

“Reinforcements have arrived! Do not linger! Follow General Duan and break through!”

“Follow General Duan and break through!”

“Attack!”

Duan Changfeng’s long spear led the way, his banner held high. As he advanced, the entire army moved with him, the pennant undulating like a serpent.

The Jin army, numbering in the tens of thousands, marched in perfect order—a sight to behold.

His route was bold—crossing the river from east to west to strike the Wei forces head-on.

Charging into the enemy, expressionless, he reaped lives one after another.

Such is war.

The Jin soldiers gradually gathered behind him, shifting from a square to a fan, then to a wedge.

In the end, they were like the spear in his hand—peerless and unstoppable.

Like a wild boar plowing through cabbage, nothing could stop them.

The Wei soldiers ahead, brave as they were, could not withstand the assault, forced back at every turn—until even they began to fear.

“Changfeng, beware!”

Tian Xingzi cried out.

The Wei army, having identified the commanding general, had prepared a volley of cold arrows.

A swath of Wei soldiers withdrew, opening a gap; archers stepped forward and loosed dozens of crossbow bolts in a single, deadly volley.

But Duan Changfeng swept his spear, deflecting the arrows—most of them flying back toward their origin.

How could anyone be so powerful?

A Wei general seized his chance, leapt high, and brought his blade down in a fierce arc.

Duan Changfeng met him without a flicker of concern, parried with his spear, and thrust at his foe. The saber bent, the Wei general spat blood, spun through the air, and was trampled underhoof.

The Wei soldiers, eyes wide with fury and despair, were helpless before the onslaught—driven back, step by step, or forced into the Clearwater River.

Duan Changfeng carved straight through the enemy, cutting across their ranks—and then pressed on.

Tens of thousands of light cavalry followed, sweeping forward in a mighty wave.

On the banks and in the river, bodies piled high—fallen horses, Jin soldiers in armor.

The Wei forces, though not shattered, could not pursue; crossbow bolts thudded into the forests.

“Ah…” Their rage unspent, they tasted only deep frustration.

Where were their reinforcements?

That cursed horn still sounded—why didn’t they realize the truth?

When the reinforcements finally arrived, they were met by the bloodshot glares of the Western Army.

“The Jin army hasn’t gotten far! Pursue them!”

The commander quickly grasped the situation and acted. Cavalry surged forward, following the horse tracks.

“Truly remarkable—a talent like Duan Changfeng, first of the Military Academy, a hero among men. His reputation is well earned,” the Wei commander sighed.

Now, with fifty thousand light cavalry, they could have fought the Jin army.

Alas, their quarry had likely escaped to Yu.

They would not catch up.

…

“So, Elder, you know the land—let’s find a place to rest first,” Duan Changfeng said as the Jin cavalry slowed after an hour’s hard ride.

“We’re almost at the border of Yu—just ten miles left! Why rest now?” Tian Xingzi exclaimed, bewildered. Even he, unversed in military affairs, knew that with enemies in pursuit, it was best to reach Yu before resting.

“Is that what you think?” Duan Changfeng shook his head. “But neither I nor His Highness wish to enter Yu. If we do, returning will be all the harder. My thoughts and His Highness’s are perfectly aligned—a meeting of heroes!”

He smiled and continued, “We will rest, then turn and strike the pursuing army!”

Tian Xingzi was astonished. He did not fully understand, but since his help was needed, he agreed. “I’ve traveled this road before—there’s an abandoned village ahead. It’ll be tight, but tens of thousands of soldiers and horses can squeeze in.”

Duan Changfeng saw his confusion and explained, “Elder, if the Wei army is a tiger, we are eagles! We cannot devour them, but we must not let ourselves be devoured. So, when we attack, we must strike swiftly and seek openings—never become entangled!”

“Strike at the weakest point!”

An eagle challenging a tiger?

Suddenly, Tian Xingzi understood.

So this was how it was!