Chapter 123: The First Battle (Part I)

Xu Le and Han Yue had arrived with one warhorse and one packhorse each. By now, however, only one warhorse remained for each man. The large bundle that Han Yue had been carrying since their departure was now resting behind the saddle of Tunlong.

At Xu Le’s command, Han Yue, who had been standing as silent and still as a mountain, moved immediately. He walked over to Tunlong and retrieved the large parcel. Only then did Han Yue rub his eyes fiercely, forcing back the tears that threatened to overflow. Young Master Le had not shed a single tear, so he, too, could not break down at a time like this. Han Yue understood well that Xu Le’s dry eyes were not a sign of cold-bloodedness, but rather that his grief had reached such an extreme that mere weeping could no longer give vent to the agony in his heart.

The bundle was heavy in his hands. Han Yue carried it to Xu Le and set it down. Still cradling Xu Gan’s body and gazing down the mountain, Xu Le spoke in a low, measured tone: "Gather the villagers."

Han Yue nodded, placed his fingers to his lips, and let out a sharp, piercing whistle.

In their village, the young men had always been under Han Yue’s command. Whether it was daily patrols, labor, or organizing irrigation works, it was Han Yue who led them. Though Song Bao often acted boisterously in front of Han Yue, posturing as if he were the one to assist Xu Le in command while Han Yue was merely a vanguard fighter, that was only because Han Yue rarely spoke and could not be bothered to argue.

At the sound of the whistle, the villagers—still mired in grief—instinctively gathered around. At this moment, their hearts were filled with nothing but sorrow and aimlessness. The entire Xu Family Village had been sustained by one man alone: the Old Master. Under his guidance, they had farmed, worked, trained, patrolled, traded, and endured heavy taxes, living their lives day by day. Even after the Old Master suffered a stroke, as long as they could see his shadow, they felt that life could go on. No matter how difficult things became, they knew they could endure as long as he was there. When the Old Master led them in flight, they fled; when the Mayi cavalry swarmed the mountaintop and arrows rained down like a storm, they offered their own flesh and blood to shield him. It had all been natural, for the Old Master was the pillar and backbone of their lives.

But now, the Old Master was gone.

Young Master Le had suddenly appeared, revealing his prowess. Everyone knew he had been tempered by the Old Master and was far from the gentle, harmless youth he appeared to be, but his performance tonight had still exceeded all their expectations. Yet, could Young Master Le truly replace the Old Master and become their new support and reliance in such a chaotic world?

Xu Le held Xu Gan close, facing the villagers with his back as straight as a blade. After a brief silence, he finally spoke. His voice was calm, but anyone could hear that he was using every ounce of his strength to keep from breaking down.

"For over a decade, Grandfather protected you and led you to carve out this life in Xu Family Village. He did so until these Mayi Eagle-Yang soldiers came to our door, and until he died at their hands."

The villagers remained silent, watching him steadily.

"These soldiers are still surrounding us. They want to wipe us out, to kill every last one of us. In this world, when someone wants you dead, the only chance for survival is to charge at them and kill them first!"

The villagers were still silent, the confusion in their eyes undiminished. Xu Le’s gaze, sharp as a sword, locked onto them.

"We are all struggling to survive in this era. In the Sanggan Valley, one by one, family by family, you were all taken in by my grandfather. He carried the fate of these hundred people on his shoulders. I know you are grieving his death and worrying if I can continue to lead you, if I can keep you alive in this world. But all of that can wait. First, we must crush these Mayi soldiers and escape this mountain. When that is done, if you wish to follow me, I will lead and protect you just as my grandfather did. If you wish to leave, I will ensure you are settled in a safe place. Right now, I only ask that you trust me, follow my orders, and crush these soldiers to pay back the blood debt owed to my grandfather!"

A long silence followed.

Han Danniang, who had been weeping into her hands, lowered them and stepped forward. Picking up a weapon from the ground, she said to Xu Le, "Whatever others decide, Young Master Le, tell me what to do. I may not be good at fighting or riding, but I will sink my teeth into these Mayi soldiers if I have to!"

Han Xiaoliu’s thin chest heaved as he stepped to her side. "Tell us what to do, Young Master Le. We of the Han family will always stand with you!" He then cast a scornful look at the other villagers, his young voice sharp: "You were all saved by the Old Master; if you want to scatter now, then go!"

One honest, simple villager finally mumbled, "We were all saved by the Old Master. What is this life worth if we don't repay that debt? I'm just afraid we can't beat these soldiers!"

The others began to speak up.

"Xiaoliu, don't think you're the only one who knows gratitude. Did any of us flinch last night?"

"If we don't follow Young Master Le, who else is there? When I was starving years ago, the Old Master poured that hot soup down my throat. I became a man of Xu Family Village then, and I never thought of leaving!"

"What is death, anyway? We lived peacefully, paying every cent of our taxes. Who here didn't know that the Old Master and Young Master Le risked their lives trading to supplement our needs? And now these soldiers want to slaughter us! If we die, we’ll drag one of them down with us to avenge the Old Master!"

Xu Le knew his words had not been perfect. He was young, handsome, and skilled; it would be a lie to say there was no arrogance beneath his gentle exterior, and he had perhaps underestimated the villagers, thinking he could handle everything alone. Yet, in this moment, they chose to follow him to strike back at the cavalry still surrounding the mountain. Xu Le realized this was not due to his own merit, but the legacy his grandfather had left him. The villagers had chosen to trust him, and all he could do was ensure he did not betray that trust.

Xu Le nodded to them, took a deep breath, and said to Han Yue, "Help me arm myself."

Han Yue nodded firmly and tore open the bundle. Inside was an ancient-looking armor chest, its surface carved with patterns faintly stained with the color of dried blood. Han Yue gently opened the box to reveal a suit of dark, heavy iron armor resting inside.

This was the armor Xu Gan had worn, the armor he had cleaned and maintained through countless nights. It seemed to be the most precious thing he possessed besides Xu Le. When Xu Le finally left Shenwu to walk his own path, Xu Gan had handed this armor to him.

Xu Le had not worn it when he encountered Yuan Junwei, fought the Heng'an troops alone, or charged the camp of a thousand cavalry. But at this moment, he decided to put it on.

To don this armor meant a fight to the death.

No retreat, no surrender!