Chapter 21: Bristling with Rage, a Beauty Gathers Her Hair

"Charge!"

Zhang Xiaojing seized the opportunity and sprang up. Spearheading the assault, he roared as he charged toward the steppe cavalry. Inspired by his lead, the morale of the refugees soared.

The steppe cavalry, caught off guard and slow to react, were first knocked from their horses by Zhang Xiaojing’s kicks, then finished off with two swift strikes. Such small-scale skirmishes broke out everywhere. Two hundred men against seven hundred—yet, for a time, they did not lose ground.

"Damn it! Don't run! Charge, all of you!"

The screams grew increasingly shrill, and the shouts of the yamen runners and the steppe cavalry echoed incessantly. The yamen runners, usually arrogant and overbearing, were no match for the spirit of these refugees. They crumbled at the first touch and immediately retreated. Shao Qiang, desperate, began to curse at the top of his lungs.

It was then that the sound of thundering hooves emerged from the crowd. A massive warhorse charged through, as if entering an empty field. Chen An, gripping his long spear, rode out, his gaze like a torch, his lips curled in a slight smile.

Luring the enemy deep and striking hard was a tactic from the old days of liberating the Northwest. The final step to victory was to decapitate the enemy leader. With a flick of his spear tip, the metal shimmered with a cold light.

"Die!"

"Men! Someone, get here!" Shao Qiang’s command sounded fierce, but the lack of conviction in his voice betrayed his panic.

"Hmph!" Chen An sneered. He took a deep breath, aimed his spear tip straight ahead, and thrust it forward with all his might.

*Squelch!*

A steppe cavalryman who tried to block his path was instantly skewered and tossed aside by the force of the spear. Chen An’s display of might became the final straw that shattered the courage of the yamen runners. A single charge was enough to break their spirits. The ensuing battle became much simpler. Amidst the flickering firelight, the sounds of neighing and agonizing cries intertwined. Chen An pursued Shao Qiang relentlessly.

"You corrupt official! You bully the weak and trample the innocent! You are utterly devoid of conscience! How could I spare you?"

Chen An galloped forward and thrust his spear. Shao Qiang’s hundred-plus-pound frame was lifted clean off the ground! With the sheer momentum of the charge, his body slammed hard against a tree trunk, killing him instantly.

On the other side, Zhang Xiaojing had also severed Wang Jiuyang’s head. By dusk, the sounds of slaughter in the forest had largely faded. The soldiers, having fought for hours, lay scattered across the ground, utterly exhausted. Although sixty of the two hundred new recruits had fallen, it was, all things considered, a perfect victory.

Chen An reined in his horse and looked into the distance. His silhouette, bathed in the twilight, appeared exceptionally tall. Everyone looked toward him, and everyone understood: had it not been for Chen An today, none of them would have escaped. On the battlefield, there is only one word for a man like this: "Leadership."

Chen An subconsciously pulled his robe tighter around himself. As he turned his horse back, everyone present instinctively knelt and looked up at him with eyes full of profound worship. However, that look soon shifted from adoration to shock.

Chen An felt something was wrong. A patch of blood began to seep through his clothes. It was a hidden arrow, likely fired by Shao Qiang just before he died. Chen An, distracted by the heat of the battle, had not noticed it until now.

"Ergou, come and help me... Damn it... it hurts a bit..."

Chen An forced a smile, and then his vision went black.

***

When Chen An slowly opened his eyes, he saw plain white bed curtains, and the air was filled with the faint scent of medicinal herbs. Turning his head, he saw Li Duo sleeping by the bedside. A few stray locks of hair rested against her cheek, and her eyelashes fluttered gently with her breathing.

A warmth flooded Chen An’s heart. He reached out to brush the hair from her face but pulled at the wound on his shoulder, letting out a stifled groan of pain. Li Duo jolted awake. Seeing that Chen An was conscious, her eyes flashed with joy. "You’re finally awake! You’ve been unconscious for three days—you scared me to death."

She hurriedly poured a bowl of warm water and gently helped him sit up. "Here, drink some water."

Chen An looked into her concerned eyes. His Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't know what to say.

"You really scared me. When I saw you fall, my world felt like it was collapsing!"

"It’s good that you’re okay!"

For a moment, Chen An felt dazed. He leaned forward slightly, wanting to see her face more clearly. He smelled the warm, moist scent on her, carrying the fragrance of plants after the rain.

"The physician said you aren't fit for that kind of thing right now..." Li Duo said, blushing, just as he was about to lean his entire face toward her.

"Is there any water? I’m a bit thirsty."

Chen An suddenly noticed that the room was filled only with the sound of a light breeze; Li Duo had fallen silent. He climbed out of bed and saw her curled up beside the cot like a little cat, her knees held to her chest and her long lashes lowered. She had fallen asleep.

"She hasn't slept for a day and a night, waiting for you to wake up," Qiao Dafang said, having entered quietly.

"Why are you here?" Chen An was surprised to see him.

"Can I not come?" Qiao Dafang asked with a warm expression. "First you disobeyed orders, then you openly executed a government official, and finally, you hoarded weapons and organized a private army."

His tone shifted, becoming grave. "Chen An, do you truly not know the severity of military law? Any one of these three charges is enough to have you and your entire clan executed."

"Executed... my entire clan..." Chen An chuckled at the mention of the threat.

Seeing that Chen An didn't take his words to heart at all, even Qiao Dafang frowned deeply. "What are you laughing at? Do you think I'm joking? Men! Take Chen An away—"

"No, no," Chen An quickly defended himself. "Don't say that. How would I dare? I originally intended to report it, but who knew things would turn out like this?"

Fortunately, Qiao Dafang had no intention of making things difficult for him. "Forget it. You performed meritorious service in resisting the enemy, uncovered an enemy mole, and killed Wang Jiuyang. The merits and demerits cancel each other out."

"So, I'm in the clear?" Chen An sat up excitedly, but the sudden movement tugged at his wound, making him wince in pain.

"Are you alright?" Li Duo, who had been startled awake, immediately rose to his side.

"I'm fine. This is our Commander Qiao," Chen An said, making sure to introduce him to Li Duo.

Qiao Dafang knew a bit about the situation regarding the Li clan refugees, and having a soft spot for them, he often turned a blind eye to their activities.

"Go pour some water," Chen An said, dismissing Li Duo. Once she was gone, he laughed again.

"What are you laughing at? Did you eat something strange?" Qiao Dafang frowned.

"No, I was just thinking that after such a huge incident, even if I wasn't beheaded, I expected to be severely punished," Chen An laughed heartily. "I really didn't expect this! Not at all!"