The two armies clashed, war drums thundered.
The Western Xia soldiers, under the threat of death, fought desperately like frenzied wolves.
Flames shot into the sky, bodies covered the ground, and the overwhelming smell of blood filled the air.
Those people, like a pack of wolves attacking their prey, were driven into a killing frenzy by the scent of blood.
The formidable enemy was right before them.
The Great Chu Dynasty soldiers dared not relax for even a moment.
War drums thundered, military orders were as unyielding as mountains, and their steps were orderly as the thousand-person force swept forward like a storm.
The soldiers swung their swords, spears, and halberds, their shouts shaking the heavens.
Horses neighed and screeched, screams echoed, fires raged everywhere, and thick smoke choked the enemy.
Xia Tingfeng and Yang Chenyi led their troops forward to meet the enemy, charging with unmatched courage.
Yang He brought reinforcements, firmly guarding the only exit.
As soon as the enemy troops arrived, one was slain, if two came, a pair was cut down, with no hesitation whatsoever.
The Western Xia soldiers saw the situation turning unfavorable.
Knowing they would soon be either trapped or burnt to death if they didn’t escape, they fought fiercely for their lives.
Hai Xiangjin was even more furious and fiery.
Wielding a large blade, he charged toward the exit with Hai Geli and Hai Situ leading the way on horseback.
They slaughtered anyone blocking their path, no god could stop them, and cut down countless people.
As the three were about to break into the enemy camp to disrupt their formation.
The Great Chu Army suddenly raised their bows, firing wave after wave of flaming arrows like a rain of steel into their ranks.
The three parried with their blades, narrowly avoiding disaster.
However, chaos erupted in the ranks behind them.
Many soldiers were hit by arrows that were not immediately fatal, but the flames were so fierce that one after another, soldiers engulfed in flames fell from their horses, and agonizing screams resounded all around, causing severe casualties.
Some horses were also startled, shrieking and whinnying as they galloped through the ranks, turning the rear into a chaotic scatter of men.
Horses’ shrieks, the frenzied shrieks and cries of soldiers on fire, clashing of swords, and the ever-more aggressive war drums of the enemy were interwoven.
This increasingly showed the enemy’s strength against their weakness, forcing their retreat, their few against the enemy’s many...
Morale gradually dissolved, the situation steadily declined, and the chances of victory decreased bit by bit!
Hai Xiangjin raised his blade, ready to strike, but paused in mid-air.
He glanced at the situation behind him, realizing that failure was now irreversible.
The priority now was to preserve the current strength.
With over half of the eighty thousand troops lost, saving even one was better than none.
The exit was sealed, and looking around, the only option was to break through the slightly wider route down the mountain.
Although flames raged there too, beyond the circle of fire was barren land.
Drenching their clothes, braving the flames, they might find a slim chance of survival!
With the plan decided, Hai Xiangjin shouted loudly.
"Retreat!"
"Retreat as planned!"
Though retreating hastily may be embarrassing, it was far better than being completely annihilated.
However...
His soldiers were already in disarray, with panicked horses, fire, and cries rising all around.
His words were drowned out the moment they left his mouth, lost in the clamor.
With no other choice, Hai Xiangjin led his elite troops to charge toward the exit.
Seeing the situation turning, Xia Tingfeng repeatedly ordered.
"Troops, follow orders! Pursue them while victorious!"
Yang Chenyi also shouted loudly.
"Hurry, don’t let them escape!"
The Great Chu Army followed the orders like fierce tigers, advancing swiftly.
After a lengthy pursuit and blockade, Hai Xiangjin was forced to the edge of the fire circle.
Yang He, Xia Tingfeng, Yang Chenyi... all the lieutenants came.
They all wanted to capture this person who had humiliated and harmed the people of Great Chu, this insidious, cunning, ambitious old fox, and torment him mercilessly before sending him to his end.
Even Hai Tang, riding a warhorse and holding a bow and arrow, stood among their ranks, glaring viciously at him.
Her eyes blazed with the most venomous hatred.
It seemed as if, in the next moment, she would raise her bow and mercilessly shoot him, with arrows piercing his heart.
Hai Xiangjin felt a surge of rage.
"Never thought you’d be the one to benefit in the end, you vile woman!"
"I spared your family’s worthless lives, after all!"
Hai Tang did not want to say more.
She slowly raised her favorite bow, intending to kill with one shot.
But, no sooner said than done.
Hai Geli and Hai Situ approached from two directions, brandishing large blades and shouting.
"Emperor, go quickly, I’ll cover the retreat!"
"Emperor, go first, I must personally kill the Western Xia traitor!"
It was not about loyalty!
It was not about camaraderie.
They simply felt that if they didn’t kill Hai Tang, life was not worth living!
If they didn’t kill Hai Tang, their hearts would never be calmed.
If they didn’t kill Hai Tang, they would be unworthy of being a Royal Family member!
The warriors of Western Xia, especially those born of the Royal Family, still harbored some heroic sentiments.