Chapter 063: The Warrior Is Dead

If it had been Zhang Xiu... No, even if it were Huang She or Chen Jiu here, they would surely know who Dian Wei was! Perhaps Zhang Xiu would have stepped forward to fight Dian Wei, while the likes of Huang She or Chen Jiu would have turned and fled, rather than clashing with him. The name of E Lai struck fear into the hearts of those in the upper or even middle echelons; it held immense power as a deterrent.

But Ma Yu and Deng Cai? One was a ruffian from Jiyang, the other a petty official who had never even heard the name Dian Wei. Now, Dian Wei’s twin iron halberds whirled about, forming a dense cloud of shadow, shrouding his entire figure in a dark glow that seemed impervious even to water. The blade-and-shield soldiers of Yiyang could not even get close, let alone withstand a single blow. The great halberds moved as swiftly as a storm, the force of each swing tearing the air with a shrill, piercing whistle. Anyone standing aside could see how, wherever Dian Wei moved, even the rain was forced aside, unable to approach him.

Those weighty twin halberds struck with deadly force—every blow was lethal. The mysterious strength contained in each strike left the enemy soldiers groaning in pain and fear.

Across the field, three soldiers were blocked by Xiahou Lan. His twelve-foot silver spear darted like a monstrous serpent from its lair, each thrust meant to kill. Though Xiahou Lan was nothing compared to Dian Wei or Wei Yan, to ordinary soldiers he was a true champion. The spear’s tip blossomed into deadly blooms as thick as a bowl, flashing through the rain; each time the spear flowered, another man fell. In a blink, the three soldiers lay dead in pools of blood...

Xiahou Lan twisted his spear and strode forward with vigor!

Dian Wei alone had already left the enemy soldiers trembling in terror, and now, with Xiahou Lan joining in, the blade-and-shield troops instantly lost the will to fight.

At that moment, another mighty figure charged from the roadside woods. Wielding the Dragon Sparrow blade, he cut through the ranks of the government troops with unexpected ferocity.

“Ma Yu, you wretched boy, do you still recognize Wei Yan?”

The man’s thunderous shout made Ma Yu’s ears ring. He turned his head in haste and immediately recognized the man wielding the Dragon Sparrow blade, ferocious as a demon: none other than the leader of the Yiyang troops, Wei Yan, known as Wen Chang.

“Wei Yan, you’re not dead?”

Wei Yan laughed heartily, his body moving as one with his blade, felling another soldier. “Since you’re still alive, how could I possibly be dead?”

At this point, even a fool like Ma Yu understood what this group had come for...

Deng Ji or Cao Peng—at least one of them must be alive!

“Brother-in-law, watch the prisoners. Brothers, follow me to slay the enemy!”

Wei Yan advanced on foot, bringing his great blade down upon a soldier’s hooked lance. With a sudden stamp and a roar, he sent the soldier flying. He stepped forward, stomping down on the man’s chest—bone cracked audibly, even through the rain. The soldier shrieked, spitting blood, and died at once.

“Wei Yan?”

A soldier, retreating from Dian Wei’s onslaught, now blocked Wei Yan’s path. He could not help but exclaim, his voice trembling with terror and tinged with guilt.

Wei Yan recognized him as a former comrade from the Yiyang troops. With a twitch of his cheek, Wei Yan spun his blade in a fierce sweep. “The Yiyang troops are no more. I, Wei Yan, am not the man I was yesterday. Whoever stands in my way is my enemy—kill!”

The sharp blade tore through armor and flesh, disemboweling the former comrade. Watching an old brother-in-arms fall by his own hand, Wei Yan did not feel lighthearted; a dull pain stabbed at his heart.

He raised his face to the sky and howled, “Wei Yan is here! Who dares block my path?”

Blade light burst forth, scattering like stars. Wrapped in this starlight, Wei Yan leaped forward like a wild tiger, slaughtering the government troops wherever he went. The sound of blade rending flesh and bone was all the more chilling in the fine drizzle...

Cao Peng and Deng Ji emerged slowly from the forest, their faces expressionless and cold as they surveyed the battlefield.

Deng Cai spurred his horse toward Cao Ji’s family. He understood the situation clearly now: these must be Cao Ji’s son and son-in-law, come to rescue him. If he could seize Cao Ji and his kin, he’d have leverage. Behind him, Dian Wei’s roars shook the air, and beside him, Wei Yan was drenched in blood, scattering the enemy in panic...

But it didn’t matter—Cao Ji was still in his grasp.

Deng Cai gritted his teeth and charged toward Cao Ji. Just as his horse neared, a flash of cold light caught his eye.

Someone was trying to kill him?

On instinct, Deng Cai reined in his horse. A long spear drove viciously into his mount’s neck. The horse neighed in agony and collapsed. Deng Cai screamed; one leg was pinned beneath the horse, breaking in two. Pain wracked his body, and as he looked up, he saw Deng Fan, face cold and grim, pulling his spear free from the horse’s neck.

“Deng Fan, are you rebelling?”

“Fool, what are you to deserve that word? See injustice, put your foot down—I’m the one stepping on you...” Deng Fan stepped forward and stomped on Deng Cai’s other leg.

A sickening crack—Deng Cai’s good leg was broken underfoot. He moaned in pain, nearly fainting.

“Brother Tiger, capture Ma Yu for me—I want him alive!” Cao Peng shouted harshly from the roadside.

Wang Mai, at his side, grinned wickedly, twisted his iron halberd and snake-spear, and leaped into the fray.

“Ma Yu, do you still recognize your old man?”

By now, Ma Yu was scared out of his wits. Damn it—none of them had died, and now two more murderous demons had appeared. His men had already scattered under Dian Wei and Wei Yan’s assault, and Ma Yu himself was entangled with Xiahou Lan. Though he was mounted, he could barely defend himself against Xiahou Lan’s spearwork, each thrust aimed at his vitals.

Xiahou Lan had no horse, but the length of his spear more than made up for that disadvantage. Ma Yu was battered and disheveled, his armor askew, his hair hanging loose...

With Wang Mai’s arrival, it was the final straw. At the Battle of Sunset Ridge, Wang Mai had gained much, and while recovering from injuries at Peach Orchard, he had not neglected his training. His spearwork had reached a new level, and his iron halberd was even heavier than Xiahou Lan’s spear. If Xiahou Lan’s skill was in finesse, Wang Mai’s lay in sheer force.

With a sweep of his spear, Wang Mai sent two soldiers flying, then lunged at Ma Yu without a word.

Ma Yu had just dodged Xiahou Lan’s spear when Wang Mai’s halberd, whistling with force, was upon him. In a panic, he tried to block with his blade, but could never withstand Wang Mai’s strength. With a clang, his blade flew from his hand.

Sensing danger, Ma Yu spurred his horse to flee, caring nothing for his wailing brother-in-law. Amid the chaos, he could not tell which way to run. Dian Wei, in high spirits, had already claimed many lives with his twin halberds. Seeing Ma Yu try to escape, he let out a thunderous roar and hurled one halberd.

It spun through the air and struck Ma Yu’s back, shattering his armor. Ma Yu spat blood, but clung desperately to his horse’s neck to avoid falling. If he could just escape, he thought, he’d have a chance for revenge. What he didn’t see was that Cao Ji, freed from his bonds, had seized a rope and now flung a noose around the horse’s neck. The startled horse reared and, with Cao Ji’s powerful arms hauling on the rope, toppled over.

Years of blacksmithing had made Cao Ji strong.

When the horse fell, it scrambled back up, but the fright had sent it into a frenzy. With a mad neigh, it bolted, dragging Ma Yu along the ground. Ma Yu screamed as he was dragged, his cries growing fainter...

“Father!”

Cao Peng supported Deng Ji as they hurried to Cao Ji’s side. Both called out at once, then fell silent, choking on emotion as if something blocked their throats. They dropped to their knees before Cao Ji.

The government troops were in shambles, utterly routed.

Wang Mai and Deng Fan gathered the group, helping Madame Zhang and Cao Nan while keeping watch. But at this point, the government troops had lost all will to fight, fleeing for their lives from Dian Wei, Wei Yan, and Xiahou Lan.

Cao Ji reached out and pulled Cao Peng and Deng Ji to their feet, looking at each in turn. His gaze fell on Deng Ji’s empty sleeve, and he could not help but weep, his tears mixing with the rain.

“You’ve both suffered so much...”

He did not know what his children had endured these past weeks, only that they had faced great peril to stand before him now. However much he had suffered himself, it was nothing in comparison. He embraced them tightly and murmured, “It’s all right now—you’re home. The family is together again, and that’s what matters.”

He drew a deep breath and released them.

“Go, see to your wife and mother. These days have frightened them terribly.”

Deng Ji went to Cao Nan, while Madame Zhang staggered over and embraced Cao Peng. “My son, you’ve come back at last! I was so worried...”

The two women wept uncontrollably.

Cao Peng held Madame Zhang, while Deng Ji used his one arm to hug Cao Nan tightly.

The battlefield was strewn with corpses.

Dian Wei and his two companions strolled over as if in a garden. Cao Ji hurried forward. “Brave sirs, I can never repay the debt of saving my life.”

“Brother, you mustn’t.”

As Cao Ji bowed, Dian Wei stopped him. “A’fu saved my life, so it is only right I help him. You owe me no gratitude.”

At that, Madame Zhang and Cao Nan ceased their tears. Madame Zhang clutched Deng Fan’s arm, “My child, now that you’ve done all this, how can you return home? What about your father and mother...?”

“Mother, don’t worry,” Deng Fan replied. “Aunt Hong and Uncle Juye have decided to come with us. They’re resting at Phoenix Ridge right now. We’ll go meet them, then head to Xuchang together.”

“To Xuchang?” Madame Zhang gasped in surprise.

Cao Ji was puzzled. “A’fu, there’s nothing for us in Xuchang.”

Cao Peng smiled, went to Dian Wei, and patted his arm. “Don’t worry. When we reach Xuchang, everything will fall into place.”

Cao Ji glanced at Dian Wei and suddenly understood.

This Dian Wei was no ordinary man...

“Uncle, Aunt, let’s hurry. We’re not far from Jiunü City. If we’re discovered, we’ll be in trouble!” Wang Mai led over a few riderless horses from the battlefield.

Dian Wei agreed. “Yes, we must leave quickly, or there will be no end of trouble.”

Cao Peng looked to Cao Ji, who tore off his brown prison clothes, stripped armor from a corpse, and donned it. Grabbing an iron spear, he took a horse from Wang Mai. “Let’s not talk here. We’ll leave first.”

“What about this one?” Xiahou Lan suddenly asked, his long silver spear pointing at Deng Cai, who lay feigning death in the mud.

Deng Cai was nearly dying from pain. He had endured his broken legs in silence, hoping to escape notice by playing dead.

But Xiahou Lan had seen through him. Deng Cai opened his eyes and wailed, “Spare me, spare me... Uncle Sun, we’re brothers, born of the same father! I know I wronged you before, but I truly regret it now. For the sake of our dead father, let me live—please!”

Perhaps in his life, Deng Cai had never been so afraid. He knew he had once greatly offended Deng Ji, but now, it seemed only Deng Ji might spare him.

As for the others? Even the small, thin Cao Peng looked at him differently.

“Brother-in-law, if you don’t pull weeds up by the roots, they’ll grow again with the spring breeze.”

Cao Peng helped Madame Zhang onto a horse, then mounted behind her and rode to Deng Ji’s side.

Deng Ji hesitated, as if he hadn’t heard Deng Cai’s pleas. He quietly helped Cao Nan onto a horse, then mounted himself.

“Brother...” Deng Ji managed a small smile. “This is the last time I’ll call you that. For our father’s sake, I won’t kill you.”

“Thank you, thank you...” Deng Cai croaked, struggling up from the mud, weeping.

But before he could finish, Wei Yan galloped by and, with a flash of cold steel, swept his blade across Deng Cai’s neck.

The head rolled into the mud, blood spurting far and wide, staining the ground crimson.

“If Uncle Sun won’t kill you, I will!” Wei Yan declared, then smiled. “Uncle Sun, let’s hurry. The rain’s about to pour, and your wife can’t bear it!”

Deng Cai’s head lay alone in the mud, his eyes wide in disbelief. The rain fell harder, washing the blood from his face... He seemed to ask: you said you wouldn’t kill me—why did you break your word?

Deng Ji looked coldly at the spurting corpse, pain flashing in his eyes.

“Brother, I truly did not kill you.”

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My thanks to the readers: “Walking Out of 2012,” “Nirvana Battle Ghost,” “Wind and Rain,” “Thunderstorm Under the Tree,” “zxcvbn1234,” “Book Friend 091217183404078,” “Heaven’s Way Is Heartless, Ghosts Are Merciless,” “Ximen Zhuge,” “Step Forward in Life,” “xjbq,” “Sky Lightly,” “dafly,” “Book Friend 081002114525594,” “dafly,” “She Cangyun,” “freewind20,” “Roast Chicken Wings Are My Favorite,” “Even Reading a Book Is This Hard,” “,y,” “Gu TL,” “Xiaolin Bun,” “Legend of the Battle Dance,” and “Old Xin bows!”