# Chapter 56: Destiny's Calamity Cannot Be Escaped
This time, the generals Yongzhao sent out were all formidable opponents. Jinlu was being held back by three men—one wielding a long hook, which was precisely the weapon Jinlu feared most. While dealing with the other two, he also had to keep watch so his iron chain wouldn't get caught by the hook-wielder, making him fight with手脚束缚. Glancing back, he saw Lianheng equally overwhelmed by several opponents. The寺虎's opponent was even more formidable, wielding massive hammers just like Zhongshan! Gao Xuan cut down his opponent and rushed to help Wu Lianheng, but Jinlu cursed inwardly: *Dammit, you little bastard! Why don't you come help ME?*
Below the city walls, they'd been fighting for ages with no clear victor, yet on the city tower, the Yongzhao generals' faces grew darker and darker: Yongzhao, with all their numerical advantage, was only managing to fight to a standstill!
Tang Shounian had been helped up to the tower by his subordinates, and after one glance at the situation below, he began whispering with Chu Mu. Kong Fang crept closer to listen, sometimes giggling, sometimes shaking his head vigorously.
He Mingpei glanced at them. Kong Fang pointed at Shounian and said, "My King, the young prince says we should withdraw from Dudong and make peace with Yuanliao instead! We simply cannot defeat the Yuanliao army, and moreover…"
"Nonsense!" He Mingpei cut him off before he could finish, barking, "Don't make jokes without assessing the situation properly! Still trying to boost the enemy's morale and undermine our own! Shounian, go rest!"
Shounian shrunk back and said nothing more, but lingered to watch.
Suddenly, two swift horses burst out of the Yuanliao camp. The one in front carried a figure with two massive hammers who charged straight to help寺虎, while the one behind brandished two broad blades as he charged toward Jinlu.
Tang Shounian cried out involuntarily: "Ah! Xia—"
Chu Mu shot him a sharp look, and Shounian immediately fell silent.
The whirlwind swept past. On the city tower, the generals heard a deafening CRASH. The Yongzhao general who'd been battling寺虎 had blood streaming from his palms, his horse fleeing. His hammers had exploded into pieces, scattered far and wide. Zhongshan stood firm without pursuit, shooting a glance at寺虎. The two of them then charged to help Lianheng and Gao Xuan.
The Yongzhao general fighting Jinlu fared far worse. Mancheng rushed to the hook-wielder's right flank. Blade rising and falling, the man only heard a rush of cold wind—the hook didn't release from his grip, but his entire arm was torn from his shoulder and flung away. Before he could even scream, Mancheng had already pierced his heart with a single thrust.
"Painless, right?" Mancheng tilted his head, asking the corpse beneath his horse with an innocent expression.
The other two generals sucked in a cold breath and wheeled their horses to flee. Mancheng gave chase, cutting them down with just a few strikes.
Zhongshan's hammers swept across, each opponent tumbling from their saddle in a mass of blood and gore, dead instantly.
Silence fell over the city tower.
"Which one is He Mingpei?" Mancheng called up to the tower, cursing, "Dammit! You made me wait all these days!"
He Mingpei was shocked. This Yuanliao commanding general appeared to be just over twenty, with elegant features and jade-like skin, his charm and grace impossible to capture in mere words—far beyond Shounian's simple "handsome." If one hadn't witnessed him slay three men in the blink of an eye, how could one believe THIS was the bloodthirsty demon whose name made the world tremble?
Feng Zhao shouted, "How dare you speak our King's name so casually?"
He Mingpei clasped his hands and said, "General Xia! It is the inevitable trend that Yongzhao unified the realm under heaven—what the people desire. Why must you act against Heaven's will? If you would submit to Yongzhao, this King will treat you generously."
Mancheng burst out laughing. "Zhongshan, did you hear what he said? Talking like that when death's at the door!"
That imposing, awe-inspiring guardian general of the realm replied with a carefree smile, "This mountain bandit must've lost his mind. Give him a break."
The Yuanliao army roared with laughter.
All the Yongzhao generals exchanged bewildered glances, not daring to speak. He Mingpei had indeed been a mountain bandit in his younger days, and though he'd risen to such an esteemed position, the enemy had just insulted him so—what would his reaction be?
He Mingpei, however, felt deep admiration for the two men below the walls. He mused: This Xia Mancheng appeared delicate and refined on the outside, yet his bladework was nothing short of divine—utterly unprecedented! And Cheng Zhongshan, though not heavily built, possessed supernatural strength in both arms, wielding his twin hammers with effortless ease. With men like these in the Yuanliao army, no wonder all the nations feared them! If he could gain their allegiance, his great cause would be unstoppable!
He Mingpei had subjugated countless elite generals in his time, firmly believing there was no one he could not bring to heel. So he didn't take Zhongshan's insult to heart, smiling magnanimously. "Generals, wise birds choose good trees to roost in, and worthy men choose wise masters to serve. You two—"
"Go f—yourself!" Mancheng immediately snapped back crudely. "You're going to meet Yama TODAY, and you want ME to choose my master?! Look at the corpses scattered under our horses' hooves!" He raised his blade toward He Mingpei. "I heard Yongzhao was hiding tigers and dragons in its ranks! Turns out they're all just amateurs! I suggest you throw open the gates and have a proper fight—you'll die more comfortably that way! I'm in a good mood today, so I'll spare you. If you don't want to die, withdraw from Dudong immediately and swear never to take a single step south!"
Chu Mu shouted, "Xia Mancheng! If you're willing to submit to Yongzhao, name your terms!"
"Heh!" Mancheng's face lit up with innocent naivety. "Dream on, will you?" Then spotting his former captive Tang Shounian behind Chu Mu, he brightened even more. "Oh my, the young prince is quite the bold little thing—back then he kept staring at Mancheng's face even in the midst of battle. Why doesn't he dare look now?"
Shounian's face flushed crimson.
Mancheng deliberately flashed Tang Shounian a radiant smile. "How about this: send whatever divine warriors or heavenly generals you like. If any of them so much as scratch me, I'll submit to you! If I win, you all withdraw from Dudong."
Zhongshan edged closer, murmuring quietly, "Mancheng, what's gotten into you today?"
Mancheng smiled at him but offered no explanation.
Zhongshan… I want to drive off the Yongzhao army as soon as possible, then fly away with you immediately. I can't wait! Zhongshan, you silly fool—your good days are coming soon!
He Mingpei glanced at Feng Zhao, who actually nodded. "My King, agree to him."
He Mingpei felt uneasy but pressed, "General Xia, since you've spoken these words, there can be no backing out!"
"No backing out." Mancheng's eyes shimmered with allure, his smile capable of toppling cities, as he turned to Tang Shounian with ambiguous intent. "What do you say, young prince?"
Tang Shounian's face was filled with embarrassment, an idiotic grin unconsciously spreading across his features.
Zhongshan laughed helplessly. "You've got to be kidding me! Is this really the time for flirting?"
Just then, two magnificent horses burst through the city gates. On them rode two generals—one tall and sturdy, with a vicious face, none other than Yongzhao's top blade master, Nie Shen. The other was a burly man named Weng Liufang, wielding a massive blade weighing over two hundred jin.
Zhongshan nudged Jinlu, and the others understood, all retreating a hundred paces.
Nie Shen charged directly at Mancheng while Weng Liufang's blade swept toward Zhongshan.
Mancheng's attacks came swift and adaptive, unpredictable in their changes—his twin steel blades flying like fish through water and dragons through clouds, each strike aimed at vital points. Nie Shen defended like water flowing off oil, dodging left and right, parrying strike after strike, creating cascades of silver sparks.
On the other side, Zhongshan's twin hammers howled through the air. Each hammer-blade collision rang with thunderous force. Zhongshan swung his right hammer down in a crushing overhead blow. Weng Liufang's massive blade, though heavy, was wielded with practiced ease—he hastily raised it to block. CRASH—the sound was deafening. Zhongshan had already thrust toward Weng Liufang's lower abdomen; one hammer came like a charging tiger. Weng Liufang braced his blade vertically to block…
The four men split into two whirling storms of combat. Though no victor had emerged after some time, Nie Shen and Weng Liufang were only managing to parry, with not a single opportunity to attack.
Mancheng grew more ferocious with each strike, his eyes sharp, his hand swift—one blade suddenly arced toward Nie Shen's face. Nie Shen dodged frantically, screaming as his right ear was sliced clean off.
The outcome was decided. Mancheng pressed his advantage—but then his chest heaved violently with sudden nausea. He doubled over, coughing uncontrollably.
Suddenly, a sharp WHISTLE pierced the air. An arrow flew down from the city tower with murderous force. Mancheng had no warning, couldn't dodge, and his blade was too slow—the arrow pierced his left shoulder like lightning.
"MANCHENG!" Zhongshan roared.
Mancheng shuddered, gripping the reins tightly to keep from falling. Nie Shen, hand pressed to his bleeding ear, had retreated several meters.
"You bast—!" Mancheng cursed up at the tower. "Shooting me with an arrow from behind! As expected of a mountain bandit! Dogs never change their diet!"
"Who did that?!" He Mingpei's face darkened as he bellowed at his generals, "WHO performed such a despicable act?!"
Chu Mu hastily soothed, "Brother, control your anger. Let's worry about capturing Xia Mancheng later!" He shouted down, "Xia Mancheng, didn't you just say that if anyone harmed you even slightly, you'd submit to Yongzhao?"
Mancheng's face beaded with sweat, yet he coldly smiled. "Sorry, but I never meant a word I said!"
Chu Mu was at a loss, raging, "There's actually someone like THIS in the world!"
In the distance, Jinlu and the others could only see a cloud of yellow dust rising, and though they heard shouting, they couldn't make out what was happening. Without General Xia's orders, who would dare approach?
Weng Liufang had been exhausting himself just keeping up with Zhongshan's defense—and suddenly Zhongshan was distracted, turning to see Mancheng gripping the arrow shaft. Zhongshan's panic was palpable. "Mancheng, DON'T PULL IT OUT—"
Before he finished, Mancheng had already yanked the arrow out with all his strength. Blood spurted forth immediately. Mancheng clutched the wound, blood gushing between his fingers, staining his armor crimson.
"Mancheng—" Zhongshan wheeled his horse to rescue him, but in that moment of distraction, Weng Liufang found an opening and slashed. Zhongshan raised his hammer to block, but his shoulder was grazed.
Nie Shen calculated: The King had commanded to capture him alive—why wait? Ignoring the throbbing pain in his ear, he spurred his horse back into the fight.
Zhongshan's eyes blazed crimson. With a bellow, he hammered Weng Liufang off his horse and rushed to save Mancheng.
Mancheng was growing dizzy, no longer feeling the pain in his shoulder. The blade-wielding Nie Shen before him seemed to split into two figures and four blades.
Jinlu and the others moved closer, finally seeing the dire situation. Temple Tiger acted first,不顾一切地 spurring his horse forward.
CLANG! Zhongshan blocked Nie Shen's descending blade, shouting at Mancheng, "Mancheng! What are you doing, standing frozen?!"
"The arrow… was poisoned…"
"What?!" Zhongshan's eyes went wide.
On the tower, He Mingpei's face had grown even darker, and Tang Shounian wore an absurd expression of anxious worry.
Zhongshan was frantic with worry, unable to focus on fully defending against Nie Shen's swift blade.
Mancheng swayed on his horse, then pitched forward and fell to the ground.
Zhongshan broke into a cold sweat. Nie Shen's blade caught his left hand—the hammer in that hand crashed to the ground, gouging a massive crater. Zhongshan's mount reared in fright, hooves lashing out, striking Nie Shen's horse in the belly. Both men were thrown from their saddles.
Temple Tiger arrived first but was still far too late—helpless. He shouted uselessly, "General!"
Zhongshan executed a swift kip-up, seeing Mancheng bracing on his blade with one knee on the ground, struggling to rise. Forgoing his hammers, Zhongshan desperately threw himself toward Mancheng. Nie Shen's blade was already cleaving down toward Mancheng's skull. With no weapon in his hands, Zhongshan threw up his arm to shield Mancheng.
Nie Shen struck with all his might. Just as Zhongshan's arm was about to be severed, a streak of white light slashed across from beneath Zhongshan's arm. Nie Shen's blade merely grazed the armor on Zhongshan's forearm—but he was already forced backward a step, a cold wind at his belly. Looking down, he saw a gashing wound across his abdomen. Before he could make a sound, he fell backward.
Mancheng's blade dripped blood. He looked at Zhongshan with gratitude, his voice already spent: "Idiot. Did you want to lose your arm?"
"Are you alright?" Zhongshan asked urgently.
Mancheng's eyes were barely open. He mumbled, "Who says I'm alright?" and collapsed into Zhongshan's arms.
Zhongshan dared not linger. He hastily lifted Mancheng onto the yellow horse and galloped for camp.
All the Yuanliao generals forgot their cursing, each face filled with anxiety and dread as they retreated to camp en masse.