Chapter Twenty-Four: Amidst the Shaken Clouds (Part Three)

Since the capital of Northern Wei moved away from Pingcheng, the city has reverted to its original state as a remote and desolate frontier town.

Winter here is bitterly cold, the Turks ever threatening at the borders, and survival is a daily struggle. Compared to the bustling metropolises of the Central Plains—not to mention the livelier regions further south such as Shanyang and Shenwu—Yunzhong is a place of little note. Only during autumn, when trade with the steppe tribes takes place, does the city show a flicker of life.

No one expected such a commotion in the city today, nor such a grand spectacle. The elite Heng’an Eagle Battalion clashed violently with the merchant caravan that had come to present their grievances, and for the moment, neither side seemed able to prevail.

As seven or eight captains advanced together, the townspeople erupted in a new wave of excitement: “What’s this? Can’t these brave fellows just be granted an audience with Liu the Falcon?”

Every captain of the Heng’an Eagle Battalion is a renowned figure—battle-hardened and courageous, always at the forefront in times of war. The battalion’s full strength numbers only two thousand seven hundred, with perhaps sixty or seventy captains capable of leading men into battle. This is the force that stands firm against ten thousand Turkic horsemen!

And now, Yuan Junwei himself was following close behind. Though this rising star of the battalion had not joined Liu Wuzhou’s campaign in Goryeo, he had earned his fame last year in the great battle against the Turks. In one charge, he challenged and defeated five Turkic Wolf Cavalry centurions, fighting his way to the very banner of Ezbil, leader of the Ezbil tribe.

With Yuan the Fourth entering the fray, the men of the merchant caravan, however bold, had reached their limit. Yuan the Fourth was infamous in the battalion for his ruthless methods. Once in his hands, who could say whether they would ever see Liu Wuzhou? And if he acted recklessly, he could always count on his elder brother, Yuan Junzhang, to answer for him before Liu Wuzhou.

Behind the fierce fighters of the caravan stood only a handsome youth of eighteen or nineteen, his refined appearance belying any hint of a brawler. Though he stepped forward, what real difference could he make?

A black-faced officer, not receiving a reply from Yuan Junwei, gritted his teeth and grasped the iron mace at his waist. This was no ordinary weapon; while a standard military iron mace weighed six or seven catties, this one was over ten, more like a door bolt. Yet in the end, the officer did not draw it.

Was it worth turning against Yuan Junwei for the sake of this merchant caravan? Behind him stood Yuan Junzhang, one of Liu the Falcon’s most trusted generals. Damn it, why hadn’t Liu the Falcon appeared yet?

As shouts resounded, the seven or eight captains spurred their horses and raised their weapons, charging as one.

Amid the swirling dust, they crashed forward. One captain thrust his spear, knocking aside the straight saber from a young swordsman’s hand and deftly seizing him, tossing him to the ground. Another captain wielded two straight blades, knocking the weapons from two retainers into the air before splitting his hands and striking both men in the ribs, sending them sprawling in pain.

In just a single exchange, the retainers and swordsmen who had been gritting their teeth in resistance were scattered and defeated.

Only Song Bao and Han Yue still fought on, their spears and iron shields whirling. Three or four captains of the battalion could not close in, and each clash of weapons rang out with a thunderous clang, sparks flying.

Yuan Junwei charged in from behind, his horse-lance quivering as he struck Han Yue’s shield with a resounding crack. The impact made Han Yue shudder violently, nearly toppling forward, and only by bracing himself against his shield did he recover. Yuan Junwei then used the rebound to sweep his lance at Song Bao, who reacted swiftly with a diagonal block. Another loud crack, and Song Bao nearly slipped from his saddle. Leaning forward, Yuan Junwei’s lance seemed to extend further, its tip thrusting toward Song Bao’s side.

Han Yue, unable to help, threw his iron shield at Yuan Junwei’s lance. But another captain rushed in, smashing the shield aside with his mace. Sparks flew as the shield fell to the ground, and the captain’s hand was left bleeding from the force.

Song Bao ducked behind his mount, but on the other side, another captain approached, swinging the back of his straight blade down hard. With no room to escape, Song Bao could only close his eyes and brace for the blow.

Suddenly, a single-bladed halberd intervened, its crescent blade catching the straight sword and twisting it free. The shaft swept across, meeting Yuan Junwei’s lance with a sharp crack.

As blades collided, Yuan Junwei lunged with his lance, but the halberd slid forward, hooking the lance and pressing its tail downward. Yuan Junwei was forced to bend low, and the lance’s tip stabbed uselessly into the earth.

Han Yue shouted, “Young Master Le, there’s no need for you to intervene!”

The one wielding the halberd—brows arched, a hint of a smile on his lips—was none other than Xu Le.

With a single strike, Xu Le had saved Song Bao and forced Yuan Junwei’s lance into the ground. He smiled at the bloodthirsty Han Yue. “If I don’t act, everyone will be lying in the dirt. How then can we present our grievances to Liu the Falcon?”

Yuan Junwei jerked his lance free and looked up, meeting Xu Le’s gaze. This young general of the Heng’an Eagle Battalion had never expected that the unassuming youth in the rear could fight so well!

He had witnessed Han Yue’s skills, and though their styles differed, Yuan Junwei had to acknowledge Han Yue’s prowess—a true soldier, seasoned in great battles. No wonder this small merchant caravan could take down Chang Shuxin and dare to charge into Yunzhong City.

But he had not expected that the handsome youth—envied by many for his looks—was the true master, besting him with a single blow and forcing his lance into the earth. In a real battle, he would have been dead several times over.

Even the black-faced officer watching from the rear couldn’t help but gasp. Such mastery of mounted weapons—who was this young man, and what sort of caravan was this?

The field fell silent after Xu Le’s intervention, everyone’s eyes turning toward him.

Xu Le smiled at Yuan Junwei and said, “I am the one who killed the fire captain Chang Shuxin, and I am the one who decided to come to Yunzhong City to find Liu the Falcon. You’ve had a hard chase… Whatever you want, come at me.”

Then he waved at Han Yue, “All of you, fall back.”

Han Yue wanted to speak but stopped, spurring his horse backward. Song Bao remounted, glancing around anxiously, but when Xu Le’s gaze swept over him, he too reined in and withdrew.

Xu Le brandished his halberd and smiled faintly. “Come at me together.”

At these words, everyone around drew a sharp breath. This striking youth was challenging all the elite warriors of the Heng’an Eagle Battalion—Yuan Junwei and the rest—alone and with but a single halberd!

Yuan Junwei’s eyes turned red with rage. He had always been regarded as a rising star of the battalion, protected by his brother, favored by Liu Wuzhou, moving freely among the Turkic armies. When had he ever been so slighted?

But Xu Le paid no mind to Yuan Junwei’s murderous gaze. He sat poised and at ease, awaiting the onslaught of the Eagle Battalion’s finest.

Protected by his grandfather for eighteen years, his youthful spirit and ambitions had become harder and harder to suppress behind that ever-smiling, handsome face.

With the Turks at the border, the region in chaos, and Wang Renqiong and Liu Wuzhou in constant strife, could a man of talent stand by and do nothing? He had hidden for too long in Shenwu County, beneath his grandfather’s wing.

Grandfather, I truly wish to carve out a man’s legacy, to discover the truth behind my parents’ deaths, to redress your wrongs. I know you hope for this too—why else would you teach me everything you know?

My path begins here in Yunzhong. However great the storm, let it come. Let’s see if Liu Wuzhou will finally appear!

Xu Le raised his halberd, the intent of battle whistling through the wind.

Yuan Junwei leveled his lance and roared, “Kill him!”