Main Text Chapter Twenty-Nine: Amidst the Shaking Clouds (Part Eight)

Two thick-backed straight swords soared high into the air, then crashed to the ground.

Under the gaze of thousands, young Xu Le planted his lance firmly in the earth, his posture upright and proud atop his horse, bow drawn full as the moon. Beside him, the tall and robust Han Yue shielded Xu Le’s figure, eyes fierce as a tiger, scanning the surroundings for threats. Before him, Yuan Junwei and more than ten of his personal guards aimed their drawn bows, arrowheads gleaming coldly. Behind Yuan Junwei, dozens of Eagle Battalion soldiers, their faces smeared with dirt and ash, stood bewildered, exchanging anxious glances.

Behind the wooden palisade, atop the fort's walls, the heads of Eagle Battalion soldiers crowded together, yet now all were silent as sparrows, watching all that unfolded before them in utter stillness.

To these men, Yuan Junwei and his companions were comrades of the same command, brothers-in-arms who faced death together on the battlefield. The Heng'an Eagle Battalion had always stood united, proud of their camaraderie despite scant pay and hard-fought battles. If someone raised a bow against their own, this would usually be the moment to join in, turning their foe into a pincushion without hesitation.

But today, all were embarrassed to realize Yuan Junwei’s actions had gone beyond shameless. A man had come openly to seek justice from Liu Wuzhou. Yuan Junwei led his men in desperate pursuit, dozens against one, beaten and battered, then Yuchi Gong stepped forward for a fair duel. Yet after all this, arrows were loosed in ambush, and when one failed, an entire arrow formation was raised against him, determined to see their opponent dead, all before the eyes of Yunzhong’s citizens, not to mention the crowds of Tartar traders gathered on the low hills outside town for the autumn market.

The Heng'an Eagle Battalion had disgraced itself utterly—how could they face the world now?

Such thoughts only took root because Xu Le had won the hearts of Yunzhong’s soldiers and people. On the borderlands, the folk were fierce and bold: if they deemed you a true hero, they would risk their lives for you without a second thought; for the useless and timid, they wouldn’t even spare a glance, dead or alive.

Today, Xu Le, astride his crimson steed with a long lance, fought alone against dozens of Heng'an Eagle Battalion champions, then faced Yuchi Gong in a battle of sparks and fire. His spirit soared, horse and rider like a dragon, winning the hearts of all who watched!

No one could bring themselves to stand shoulder to shoulder with Yuan Junwei now. Everyone worried: how would this matter end?

Beside Xu Le, Yuchi Gong gripped his reins, lance held low, brows furrowed, his face dark as an iron pot. He glanced at Yuan Junwei, then at Xu Le, unsure what to do.

Xu Le had already planted his lance and faced Yuan Junwei with his bow, leaving himself completely unguarded against Yuchi Gong. At this moment, Yuchi Gong could have struck and not only unhorsed him, but seriously wounded Xu Le with ease. Yet even if he were killed, Yuchi Gong could never bring himself to do it!

Should he charge now, seize Yuan Junwei, and force him to calm down and cease this madness?

Yuchi Gong stroked his chin, seriously considering the possibility. But then he realized, how would the Heng'an Eagle Battalion view him if he did? No matter how disgraceful Yuan Junwei’s actions today, he was still one of their own.

Behind Xu Le, Song Bao and several young knights stared in awe at Xu Le’s display of prowess.

Xu Le had fought alone against dozens of Eagle Battalion soldiers, then clashed with Yuchi Gong in a storm of sparks. Throughout, Song Bao and the other young knights had watched, jaws nearly touching their boots.

In Shenwu County, Xu Le was known simply as a good-natured youth, sociable and always smiling, never one to cause offense. With Han Yue as his capable right hand, he had some standing among the young knights of Shenwu County.

But in truth, men like Song Bao—hard-bowed, swift riders, intent on forging their own paths through the chaos to fame and fortune—had never thought much of Xu Le. Along the journey, Song Bao gave Han Yue some respect, but otherwise ignored the others, shirking duties within the caravan and waiting only to collect his pay and head east to join Li Yuan, the Duke of Tang.

Xu Le, for his part, remained cheerful and never showed any dissatisfaction toward Song Bao. Song Bao, meanwhile, grew overbearing, even eyeing Xu Le’s fine horse.

But one night camping in the mountains, everything changed. Xu Le killed Chang Shuxin, led the group in an escape from Yuan Junwei’s relentless pursuit, and finally crashed into Yunzhong City. Before ten thousand eyes, he revealed astonishing skill and prowess.

Only then did Song Bao realize the smiling, carefree youth was a coiled dragon in Shenwu County, hidden claws and fangs!

Now, with Yuan Junwei’s rage boiling over, both sides faced each other with drawn bows, ready for a fight to the death. What should they do?

Before Song Bao could find an answer, several farmhands beside him shouted angrily, “Don’t even think about harming our Young Master Le!”

In these harsh borderlands, with fierce tribes nearby, unity meant survival—especially for Xu Le, whom they had watched grow up.

Farm folk had no time for complicated schemes; unlike the worldly young knights, they acted on instinct. Seeing Yuan Junwei’s men about to attack Xu Le, a few farmhands roared, rode forward, drew their bows, and aimed at Yuan Junwei and the Eagle Battalion!

Song Bao’s mind raced: to flee now would mean he could no longer show his face in public. Bound so tightly to Xu Le, having already clashed with the Eagle Battalion, there was no time to distance himself—he could only grit his teeth and stand firm!

Why isn’t Liu Wuzhou here yet?

Song Bao glanced back in nervous frustration, only to see his companions all eager to charge into the fray. He sighed deeply, drew his horn bow, and shouted, “Who dares touch our Young Master Le!”

With that cry, Song Bao and the other young knights rode forward, bows drawn, aiming at Yuan Junwei and the Eagle Battalion.

Originally, aside from Yuan Junwei’s dozen loyal guards, the rest of the Eagle Battalion hesitated, uncertain. Seeing the caravan men unite, eight or nine bows raised at once, they finally reacted: they couldn’t stand by and let their own be harmed by the caravan men!

Dozens of Eagle Battalion soldiers shouted as one.

“Who dares harm our Heng'an Eagle Battalion!”

“Put down your bows! Are you courting death!”

“Dare to run wild in our Yunzhong City!”

With these shouts, dozens of bows were drawn in an instant, arrows nocked, forming a deadly formation. The standoff escalated, fraught with danger—one twitch of a finger, and both sides would be locked in a fight to the death.

Yuchi Gong moved from stroking his chin to covering his face.

What kind of mess was this—how would it end?

Xu Le remained steady, bow in hand, gaze sharp as a blade, fixed on Yuan Junwei, whose face now beaded with sweat.

Things had reached a desperate impasse. Yet there was nothing to regret—should they have submitted to the murderous Heng'an Eagle Battalion from the start?

In that instant, Xu Le’s mind raced with plans: how to kill Yuan Junwei in one stroke, how to draw his lance and force Yuchi Gong back, how to carve a bloody path through Yunzhong City for his people.

To force him to bow—perhaps only his father, Xu Gan, could do it, and no one else on earth!

The tension was stretched to its limit; even the previously shouting citizens of Yunzhong City were now silent as sparrows, watching anxiously.

Would Liu Wuzhou still refuse to appear?

A wry smile curled at Xu Le's lips.

So be it.

At that moment, a steady voice resounded from atop the palisade: “Yuan Si, damn it, put down your bow!”

Then the crowd of Yunzhong City surged with shouts.

“Liu Yingji!”