Chapter Twenty-Nine: My Son Is Still Quite Outstanding

Seeing their cavalry retreat swiftly under the protection of the archers, while Qin Cheng was still locked in combat with the Left Wise King, Le Yi parried the attacks of the surrounding Xiongnu horsemen and shouted anxiously, "Qin Cheng, fall back! Everyone else has already retreated!"

Qin Cheng gritted his teeth in frustration. He could see that the Left Wise King was already exhausted, and he was about to capture him, but the Han cavalry behind him grew fewer by the moment. If he did not withdraw now and became surrounded by the Xiongnu horsemen, even with all his skills, he feared he would not be able to escape.

The Left Wise King observed the changes in the battlefield, furious that his several thousand cavalry had been held off by only two hundred Han riders, allowing them to successfully rescue the Han captives. He felt humiliated and bore a deep hatred for Qin Cheng, who had entangled him. Now, seeing Qin Cheng attempt to retreat, his anger surged even higher. "You can't escape, boy! Give me your life!"

Facing the Left Wise King, Qin Cheng found it impossible to disengage. He felt the Han cavalry behind him drifting farther away, and his anxiety grew. Each blow he struck with his long blade was more desperate than the last.

If escape was impossible, then he would stake everything on this fight!

If he could slay the Left Wise King, perhaps he might still make it out alive. Resolute in his decision, a fierce light blazed in Qin Cheng's eyes.

The Left Wise King was a formidable figure, renowned as the second bravest among the Xiongnu. Though injured, his duel with Qin Cheng grew ever more taxing, but his pride prevented him from calling for assistance from the nearby cavalry. He endured alone, gritting his teeth.

"Qin Cheng, go!" Le Yi cried in desperation, unable to care about anything else. He spurred his horse forward and joined Qin Cheng in facing the Left Wise King.

"Kill him!" Qin Cheng cared nothing for whether he fought the Left Wise King alone or not; what mattered was surviving the battlefield. Seeing Le Yi join the fray, he shouted without hesitation.

Unlike Qin Cheng, who wielded a long blade, Le Yi fought with a halberd, and his entry into the battle brought immense pressure upon the Left Wise King.

"Left Wise King, the Right Bone Commander has been blocked by the Han army!" Disaster struck upon disaster; just as the Left Wise King was feeling the strain, a rider rushed up and shouted the report.

The Left Wise King's face darkened. He knew this was no longer the time for heroic duels—no matter his pride, personal victory could not outweigh the fate of the battle. Urgently, he called upon the surrounding Xiongnu cavalry to join him against Qin Cheng and Le Yi, intending to finish the fight quickly and withdraw to command the Xiongnu forces. After all, a single man's pride was nothing compared to the victory of an entire campaign.

At this moment, he realized that his position on this part of the battlefield was no longer tenable. If the chance to break into Qiansang City was lost, the Xiongnu's fierce struggle would become meaningless. Yet this would not prevent him from venting his anger on Qin Cheng and Le Yi.

As the ring of Xiongnu cavalry raised their blades and rushed toward Qin Cheng and Le Yi, about to cut them to pieces, a powerful rider suddenly burst from the Xiongnu ranks, shouting before reaching the Left Wise King, "Left Wise King, disaster! Commander Jindi can't hold out any longer—the Han reinforcements have broken through!"

The Left Wise King's expression changed abruptly. He reined in his horse, his bloodshot eyes glaring at Qin Cheng and Le Yi, and decisively ordered, "Retreat!"

Unable to break through the city gates, the Left Wise King could have finished off Qin Cheng and then withdrawn, for killing such a fierce general would have benefited the Xiongnu. But with the rear defenses breached, any delay could result in their cavalry being surrounded and annihilated. He could not linger a moment longer and immediately gave the order to retreat.

The Xiongnu cavalry, upon receiving his command, instantly released Qin Cheng and Le Yi, turned their horses, and galloped away.

Having barely fended off the relentless blades slashing at them from all sides, Qin Cheng and Le Yi watched the Xiongnu cavalry retreat like a receding tide and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The remaining three to five thousand Xiongnu horsemen on the battlefield quickly received the retreat order and began a methodical, alternating withdrawal toward the west.

All the Han soldiers in Qiansang City who witnessed the Xiongnu retreat exhaled in relief.

With the Left Wise King withdrawn, Ji Zhu and others rode up and joined Qin Cheng.

"Lord Qin, are you all right?" Ji Zhu saw Qin Cheng and Le Yi covered in blood—uncertain whether it was Xiongnu or their own—and asked anxiously.

"We're fine, not dead yet," Qin Cheng and Le Yi replied.

Ji Zhu and the others relaxed. Earlier, while escorting the wounded Han soldiers to safety, they could not assist Qin Cheng and Le Yi, who had been entangled by the Left Wise King, and felt guilty. Now, seeing Qin Cheng unharmed, they secretly rejoiced.

The two or three dozen riders who followed looked at Qin Cheng and Le Yi with admiration, especially Qin Cheng.

"General Ji, shall we pursue?" Qin Cheng saw the reinforcements arriving, the Xiongnu cavalry retreating like a tide, and knew this was the opportune moment for pursuit, likely to yield significant results. He thus proposed.

Ji Zhu had also assessed the battlefield—there was no reason not to agree. He raised his long blade and shouted, "The whole army, pursue!"

With the neighing of horses, Qin Cheng and his companions joined the reinforcements and launched a pursuit of the Xiongnu cavalry.

Li Guang slowly lowered his bow and arrows. Standing atop the city walls, he had taken in the entire scene outside. He had watched as two hundred Qiansang cavalry sacrificed themselves to escort nearly a hundred wounded Han captives to safety. To lose more than a hundred cavalry for a hundred infantry was, he knew, unwise, but as a general, what choice could he make?

Fortunately, reinforcements broke the Xiongnu blockade in time, saving Qin Cheng and Le Yi from becoming casualties of the Left Wise King. Li Guang had watched Qin Cheng's performance closely and admired this young man who combined wisdom, passion, and martial prowess. In his eyes, Qin Cheng was a man of character, reminding Li Guang of himself and giving him a sense of kinship. Secretly, Li Guang felt as if he had found a friend despite the age gap.

Thinking of Li Gan, Li Guang sighed softly and muttered, if only Li Gan were half as outstanding as Qin Cheng!

Why couldn't Qin Cheng be my son?

If only I had a son like Qin Cheng!

At this moment, Li Gan was already wounded, but he still followed Ji Zhu and the others in the pursuit against the Xiongnu cavalry. Seeing this, Li Guang felt somewhat comforted.

After all, my son isn't completely useless, is he?

At least he's not afraid to die!

Though, he's a bit stupid.

Though, his temper's a bit worse.

Though, his skills are a bit lacking.

Damn it, how is he inferior to Qin Cheng in every way?

Hell, it's all because of that boy Qin Cheng—before, I thought my son was quite excellent!

Damn it!