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墨書 Inktalez
Last time, the Xu Zhen fought desperately to save Li Wushuang. The two of them seized horses and fled into the mountains, finding a cave to shelter from the rain and tend to their wounds. Unknowingly, they fell into a deep sleep for most of the night. When they awoke, the sky was already bright, but they heard the thunderous sound of hoofbeats striking the ground.
The Xu Zhen suspected that the Tubo Army was attacking again. In a panic, she rushed out of the cave, disregarding her arm injury. She stepped on a large tree and, like a nimble monkey, climbed onto a branch. With her body bending like a shrimp, she leaped onto a higher branch and crouched down. Peering through the leaves, she saw a group of cavalry approaching from the northwest!
This Tuguhun Cavalry moved swiftly in light armor, clearly acting as vanguards. They came quietly, but an air of menace spread in all directions.
The Xu Zhen did not dare to be careless. She quickly jumped down from the branch, ignoring their disheveled clothing, and bent down to lift Li Wushuang onto the chestnut horse.
Their rescue party was not well-prepared; saddles had been used by the Xu Zhen to start a fire, and their provisions had already been consumed by her and Li Wushuang. All that remained was a Black Iron Curved Blade and a soft leather whip about ten feet long.
Without a saddle and with the horse being unruly, riding became difficult for Li Wushuang due to his thigh injury. The Xu Zhen mounted the horse's back and used the whip to bind her waist to Li Wushuang's before spurring the horse forward, charging out of the forest toward Songzhou!
Meanwhile, Qizong Nongsan initially intended to pressure for marriage, but Murong Hanzhu had grander schemes. He had laid hidden traps within Songzhou City and nearly forced the Xu Zhen and Li Wushuang into a desperate situation. After receiving intelligence, he advised Nong Zan to launch another attack on Songzhou.
However, Lu Dongzan and other Tuguhun ministers strongly opposed this plan. If they attacked Songzhou again, there would be no room left for negotiation with Tang. Although they could take advantage of Tang's campaign against Liao to encroach upon the Northwest Region, direct invasion would provoke the wrath of the Tang Emperor and bring endless trouble to Tuguhun!
Qizong Nongsan had always admired Tang. After hearing Lu Dongzan and others' words, he ultimately abandoned his intention to attack Songzhou amidst chaos. This infuriated Murong Hanzhu, who stormed out in anger but was unwilling to relent. After the meeting dispersed, he sought an audience with Nong Zan alone, emphasizing the importance of capturing the Xu Zhen and requesting troops for her pursuit.
Nong Zan also had his own strategies in mind; fearing he would lack leverage when seeking peace with Tang in the future, he dispatched three hundred light cavalry led by fifteen-year-old Ger Qinlin (note), with Murong Hanzhu coordinating from behind. They headed toward Songzhou with the intent of capturing the Xu Zhen as leverage!
Ger Qinlin was remarkably strong and accomplished at such a young age; he was mature beyond his years and very different in character from his father Gor Dongzan (Lu Dongzan). He was one of Nong Zan's most trusted guards. Following Zanpu's orders, he led his light cavalry swiftly toward Songzhou. Upon nearing it, they indeed spotted Tang troops searching for the Xu Zhen and began attacking along their path, hanging severed ears from their saddles.
This group of cavalrymen were all elite warriors who quickly spread out to comb through this small forest. A small team soon discovered signs from last night and found that cave; they sent someone back to report while others followed hoofprints in pursuit!
At this moment, Ger Qinlin was on another side where he found several Death Warriors from last night. He quickly summoned Murong Hanzhu over; after detailing everything to their lord, they planned to enter the forest for further search while encountering scouts returning with news. Just as they prepared to pursue based on this information, they ran into a Tang army unit. Without hesitation, both sides charged at each other!
With his spear flying like a dragon in hand, Ger Qinlin led the charge first, piercing through one Tang soldier's chest before using his momentum to fling him back. After pausing briefly, he charged again—deflecting an incoming spear—and then slashed open another Tang soldier's throat!
A silver-armored captain saw Ger Qinlin's ferocity and was filled with rage; he roared as he rode forward with his broadsword slicing through the air fiercely. Relying on his strength, he aimed to bring Qinlin down from his horse. However, Qinlin ducked under his sword by pressing against his horse's belly and retaliated with another spear thrust that knocked that captain off his mount!
Such fierce prowess carved out a bloody path through the Tang forces; no one could stop him along his way!
Zhi Shili personally commanded eight hundred troops and saw that there were only three hundred light cavalry opposing them; he intended to completely eradicate this band of thieves but did not expect this young general to be so formidable. He immediately brandished his spear to engage Ger Qinlin in battle for several exchanges without gaining any advantage!
Though an experienced battlefield veteran, he was not as valiant as Qibi Helix. After three exchanges where he nearly fell off his horse due to Qinlin’s skillful strikes, Zhi Shili was alarmed; his personal guards rushed in for protection but were continuously knocked down by Qinlin—truly like a celestial warrior descending upon earth!
Qinlin had received thorough training from his father Lu Dongzan and understood much about Tang forces; noticing Zhi Shili’s bright armor indicating high rank, he focused solely on entangling him while Zhi Shili’s guards fell one after another—none could withstand this Tuguhun young general!
Seeing the situation, Zhi Shili was filled with rage and charged forward on horseback, only to be swept aside by Qinlin's spear, which knocked his weapon out of his hand. With another thrust, it seemed that this Tang General would be unseated!
"This is the end!" Zhi Shili was greatly alarmed, completely taken aback that eight hundred Tang soldiers could not defeat these three hundred Tuguhun light cavalry, and he found himself in a life-or-death situation!
At this critical moment, a figure in white suddenly appeared, forcefully blocking Qinlin's spear. It was none other than the young officer Xue Rengui!
Qinlin felt a tingling pain in his hand as the spear continued to vibrate. Looking at the newcomer, he saw a Tang soldier around thirty years old who snorted coldly and charged again.
Having saved Zhi Shili, Xue Rengui noticed the sharpness of Qinlin's spear but remained calm. His silver spear was not a standard iron-tipped weapon but rather a hooked halberd that could be called both a spear and a halberd. It was taught to him by his martial arts mentor and allowed for both wide and intricate movements in battle, making it difficult for opponents to defend against him. Naturally, he was not afraid of this Tuguhun junior officer.
The two clashed together, their weapons meeting several times without a clear victor. They maneuvered past each other and quickly changed direction. This time, Xue Rengui seized the initiative and attacked first. Qinlin had no choice but to evade, only to be swept off his horse by Xue Rengui's spear!
Seeing Xue Rengui succeed, Zhi Shili quickly called for his personal guards to surround Qinlin!
Although young, Qinlin's spear skills were already quite advanced. With his iron spear in hand, he managed to break through the encirclement and seize a horse. Learning from his previous encounter, he no longer engaged with Xue Rengui but began to charge fiercely at the Tang soldiers!
Xue Rengui initially intended to keep him occupied, but Zhi Shili ordered him to focus solely on eliminating enemy soldiers!
Xue Rengui immediately understood that their numbers far exceeded those of the enemy. As long as they could kill as many of the enemy soldiers as possible, no matter how brave Qinlin was, he would ultimately be left fighting alone. With this in mind, Xue Rengui unleashed his full strength, quickly soaking his white robe in blood!
The battle was fierce on both sides. The Tang army had an absolute numerical advantage. Qinlin glared fiercely at Xue Rengui as if he had imprinted the face of this Tang soldier into his very soul. After fighting for nearly half an hour and witnessing his brothers fall one after another, he gritted his teeth and shouted for a retreat.
Qinlin's side suffered heavy losses; out of three hundred men, fewer than a hundred escaped. Meanwhile, Murong Hanzhu focused on capturing Xu Zhenzhi. A group of over ten followed the horse tracks and soon intercepted the Xu Zhen who was riding with another.
The Xu Zhen only had a Black Iron Curved Blade in her hand. Seeing the overwhelming enemy forces and fearing for Li Wushuang's safety, she frowned deeply until she spotted Murong Hanzhu and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Unlike the Tubo people, Murong Hanzhu was skilled in strategy and understood the importance of the Xu Zhen. He dared not harm her and quickly ordered his men not to shoot arrows but to capture her alive!
One of his Death Warriors took the lead in attacking while others followed suit, brandishing their weapons to subdue the Xu Zhen. However, she refused to surrender and fought back fiercely with her curved blade while Li Wushuang sheltered close to her chest. Before long, one of the Death Warriors struck Li Wushuang from behind with a polearm, knocking her off her horse!
Li Wushuang's wound tore open again, blood gushing forth; yet facing such dire danger, she gritted her teeth as Xu Zhen quickly untied her soft whip and ensured that Li Wushuang was not in mortal danger before feeling relieved.
"Get on!"
The Xu Zhen crouched slightly; Li Wushuang dared not resist any longer. Gritting her teeth, she climbed onto Xu Zhen's back as the latter used her soft whip to secure Li Wushuang onto herself while raising her curved blade high, ready to fight against their enemies to the death!
Many Tubo soldiers saw Xu Zhen's bravery and were filled with trepidation. They had heard tales of her exploits and knew that she was a divine envoy of the Holy Fire Cult; they dared not disrespect her and only followed Murong Hanzhu's Death Warriors into battle.
At that time, before Buddhism was introduced to Tuguhun, many of the Tubo people practiced Zoroastrianism. There were even rumors that the name "Zanpu" meant "child of the celestial spirit," and this celestial spirit was none other than Ahura, the god of light in Zoroastrianism. Therefore, many in Tuguhun revered Zoroastrianism and did not dare to show disrespect to the Xu Zhen.
The Xu Zhen gripped her sword tightly as a Death Warrior charged at her. She forcefully deflected his spear, gathered her inner energy, and suddenly accelerated forward. With one step, she slashed open the chest of the Death Warrior, blood spraying into the air!
She had been using Yin Kaishan's long knife for quite some time, accumulating a wealth of practical experience. Her swordsmanship was profound, and under the guidance of Zhou Cang and others, she had fought bravely on the battlefield multiple times. The essence of each strike was built upon the scars layered on her body; how could she feel inferior before others?
" Xu Zhen, why resist? Do you truly believe I dare not kill you?" Murong Hanzhu saw his carefully trained Death Warriors falling to the Xu Zhen and angrily threatened her.
However, the Xu Zhen merely raised an eyebrow and coldly laughed, "If you have the ability, come take my life!"
Before her words fell silent, her curved blade once again flashed with cold light, forcing back an enemy who attempted to sneak attack her, but she soon found herself embroiled in a fierce battle against multiple foes!
Li Wushuang feared becoming a burden to the Xu Zhen and tightly clung to her body, pressing her ear against the Xu Zhen's back. She listened to the increasingly rapid heartbeat of the Xu Zhen and felt her strength quickly waning. Regret filled her heart; if she had obediently married into Tuguhun, how could so many have died? At this moment, how could the Xu Zhen risk her life to save her?
The back of the Xu Zhen slowly became wet, though it was unclear whether it was due to her sweat or Li Wushuang's tears...
(Note: Ger Qinlin refers to Ge'er Qinling, also known as Gerl Chilin Zanzhuo, from the Ge'er clan. He is recognized as Tuguhun's first war god and after 670 AD in battles has defeated many Tang generals including Xue Rengui.)
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