"Everyone seated had a jug of wine and a crystal-clear glass. Puan Li's seat was separated from mine by the captain of the Fourth Battalion, who occasionally glared at me, probably still holding a grudge over the woman from yesterday.
But this was a banquet hosted by General Wu Hou, and he wouldn't dare provoke me here.
Early this morning, Qilie told me that in the evening, General Wu Hou would honor the twenty captains of our vanguard battalion. However, the death of that woman yesterday left me unsettled. After taking a nap in the afternoon, I ended up oversleeping. When I finally reached General Wu Hou's tent, I was the last to arrive. Fortunately, General Wu Hou didn't blame me. He probably thought I had joined the city's massacre and abandoned my compassion for women. Little did he know that my compassion had flared up again. If he knew that I had used the precious sword he gave me to compete with Puan Li for a woman, he would probably be even angrier.
After we took our seats, General Wu Hou clapped his hands and said, 'There is nothing in the military that can delight the soul like a cup of wine. Generals, please pardon my indulgence, but let me first raise a toast to all of you.'
There were seven new battalion captains, handpicked from their subordinates among the twenty of us. General Wu Hou probably meant to win them over. The captains of the vanguard battalion may not hold high positions, but they were the elite troops most cherished by General Wu Hou. It was easy to achieve merit, and after this battle, a large portion of us would certainly be promoted, either high or low. This might be the last time we gathered as battalion captains.
The chef in the army was brought by General Wu Hou from the capital. General Wu Hou had three favorites: fine wine, precious swords, and excellent horses. He didn't seem to place much importance on women, even though the female entertainers he had assembled here were exquisite. Their faces could not hide the faint traces of tears, though, despite the melodious music in the background.
In the midst of his toast, we all raised our glasses, wishing General Wu Hou, 'May General enjoy enduring peace.' However, I noticed that one of General Wu Hou's personal guards was missing, with only one still standing behind him.
Just as I was about to drink the first cup, the music suddenly went awry, as if a mighty pillar had risen in the middle of a mountain range, far above the usual melody. Although I wasn't particularly fond of music, I was familiar with this tune, 'Moonlight Over the Spring River.' I couldn't help but glance at the female musicians.
The one causing the discord was the woman playing the pipa on the left. Her expression remained unchanged as she skillfully played, gradually harmonizing the tune back into place. This melody was originally in the palace mode, but her discordant note had transitioned it to a business mode. Initially abrupt, it now sounded like it had always belonged. I looked at General Wu Hou, but he didn't appear to notice anything unusual; he probably couldn't tell.
The woman was fair as jade, dressed in a pale yellow silk robe. She was the most outstanding among the group of beautiful female musicians. However, her face displayed no emotion, as if she were frozen. Perhaps she was thinking about her destroyed home and her family who had been killed by the war?
I felt a bit distracted and, after a moment, raised my wine glass, drinking it all in one gulp. The wine tasted bitter and unpleasant, although it was originally a fine drink. Drinking it now was like swallowing poison.
Suddenly, one of the guards rushed in from behind, came to General Wu Hou's side, and whispered something to him. General Wu Hou slammed his hand down on the table, saying, 'So, it's true?'
There was a loud noise as he hit the table, and one of the wine glasses on it jumped a bit. I hadn't seen General Wu Hou so enraged many times before, but each time he lost his temper, it resulted in bloodshed over a thousand miles. I noticed that even his two close guards seemed a bit pale.
The twenty battalion captains were bewildered and didn't know what had happened. General Wu Hou asked, 'What is happening? Speak up to the brave warriors of the vanguard battalion and tell them what is going on.'
The guard stepped forward and loudly declared, 'The commander of the left-wing army, Lord Eagle Soars, General Lu Jingyu, stationed at the east gate, has mismanaged the command, privately opened the city defenses, and allowed over two thousand enemy troops and rebel civilians to escape from the east gate.'
The people present were all stunned. General Lu Jingyu, the Lord Eagle Soars, was a beloved commander of General Wu Hou. He was my senior at the military academy twenty years ago and also my military strategy instructor. It was said that in his graduating year, he ranked first among over a thousand graduates of the military academy, and he received an award from the late emperor for his achievements. Over ten years ago, when the northern pirate Hanluo clan amassed over a hundred thousand troops and invaded, the late emperor ordered General Wu Hou to lead the troops. At that time, General Lu Jingyu was the commander of the vanguard battalion. In the early stages of the battle when the situation was unfavorable, he charged ahead and turned the tide, winning seventeen consecutive battles. Later, he marched over seven hundred miles, beheaded twenty thousand enemies, and pursued the Hanluo pirates to the extreme northern icy plains. When the large-scale attack was launched by General Wu Hou's army, he captured ten of the Hanluo cities, culminating in the total destruction of the Hanluo pirates, and he was awarded the most credit in the annihilation of the entire clan. From then on, he was known as the 'Dragon of the Ice Sea' and was bestowed the title of the 'Lord Eagle Soars,' enjoying a level of prestige that was unmatched. He was always General Wu Hou's right-hand man, known for his strict discipline and generosity towards others. Some said that it was because he was General Wu Hou's student and because he came from a humble background, raised by General Wu Hou himself from a young age. The gratitude for nurturing him from childhood made him unwaveringly loyal to General Wu Hou. Otherwise, he would have replaced General Wu Hou long ago. Even though there had been a long period of peace, and not many military achievements were being made, in this campaign, the left-wing army under his command was the first to arrive at the walls of Gaogui City, suffering the least casualties. This undoubtedly demonstrated his leadership was beyond reproach. Claiming that he mismanaged his command was almost laughable.
As I was lost in thought, Puan Anli had already taken the opportunity to speak up, kneeling down and saying, 'My lord, General Lu is by no means an incompetent commander. This matter may be the result of unfounded rumors.'
Although Puan Anli and I didn't get along very well, his words struck a chord with me.
General Wu Hou responded, 'General Puan, there's no need to say more. This matter is by no means a baseless rumor. I learned of it during the day, and
I walked up to the tent, and a military officer approached, saying, "Who are you?"
The sky had darkened, but in the torchlight, I saw a man with a stern face. He wasn't very tall, but he exuded an aura of rugged solidity, making him probably one of General Lu Jingyu's most trusted officers.
I raised the military order and said, "Centurion of the Vanguard Fifth Battalion, Chu Xiu Hong, at the command of Lord Wu, I am here to discuss matters with General Lu. General, I am..."
The man interrupted, "I am He Zhong, a military officer from the Central Army of the Left Wing. General Chu, you have a reputation for being brave and unbeatable. I hold you in high regard."
He Zhong took the military order from me, inspected it briefly, and then handed it back with respect, saying, "General Chu, Lord Wu is on the city wall. I'll take you to him. Please, General Chu."
Lu Jingyu's troops were truly formidable. The soldiers cleared a path in perfect silence, and I followed He Zhong, ascending the stone steps leading to the city wall.
The battle at the East Gate had been fierce. Though General Lu Jingyu was a military genius, most of the Republican forces' elite soldiers had been concentrated at the East Gate. Our Imperial forces had suffered significant losses, with half of the casualties belonging to the Left Wing Army. The stone steps I walked on were stained with blood, bearing witness to the brutality of the fighting.
Upon reaching the city wall, I saw a man sitting on the battlements, gazing towards the north. He Zhong approached him and whispered, "Lord, Lord Wu has sent someone to relay a message, and they're waiting behind."
The man stood up, turned to me, and asked, "General, are you here because Lord Wu sent you?"
I didn't speak but sat down, running my fingers over the stone bricks. The Imperial Empire had two renowned fortified cities known as "Iron Fog" and "Bronze God." High Sparrow City, the third largest, was also known as the "Unconquerable City." It had been built over two years, with 230,000 laborers toiling under the direction of the first Moon Lord. Now, the city's stone walls bore the scars of the ongoing siege, and most of the battlements were broken or damaged. As I touched the rough, fractured surface, it pricked my palm.
The man continued, "I saw the people in the city trying to escape three months ago, after the city was besieged for three months. Lord Wu gave the order to kill anyone who attempted to leave. It's something I've done, and I know I have to bear the consequences. However, our former emperor explicitly forbid killing prisoners. These people were unarmed civilians."
He had a point, and I could see the weight of his actions pressing on his conscience. He stood up, smiled, and said, "General Chu, shall we go? Lord Wu is probably growing impatient."
My aide, Qi Lie, approached, ready to bind him with ropes. I shouted, "Stand down! You shall not show disrespect to General Lu."
Qi Lie didn't back down and said, "General, Lord Wu has ordered us to bind General Lu. Disobeying would put you in a difficult position, General."
Lu Jingyu looked at me and said, "General Chu, your good intentions are appreciated, but the strictness of Lord Wu's command leaves no room for exceptions. Rest assured, with my past achievements, Lord Wu won't execute me."
Suddenly, hundreds of torches lit up below the city wall. I was alarmed, unsure of what was happening. He Zhong quickly ascended and said, "Lord, Lord!"
Lu Jingyu's face darkened, and he said, "He Xiong, what have you done?"
He Zhong replied, "Lord, our 18,203 comrades are willing to sacrifice themselves."
My face paled. He Zhong's words seemed pitiful, but they held a veiled threat. This mission had just become a lot more complicated.
Lu Jingyu shouted, "Nonsense! He Xiong, Lord Wu treats me like a father, and you cannot say such words that would make things difficult for him. Step back quickly."
He Xiong, however, refused to step back and said, "Lord, this time you are going, it's likely more dangerous than not. I owe you a great debt, and I have not been able to repay it. I carry a heavy conscience. Please, Lord, let me lay down my life for you."
Lu Jingyu's face remained calm as he replied, "This is absurd. I order you to prepare your troops and follow Lord Wu's commands without any deviation."
Despite being bound, he still exuded an air of a seasoned military commander. He Xiong wanted to continue, but Lu Jingyu interrupted, saying, "General Chu, let's go."
He started walking towards the city below, where most of the Left Wing Army's officers had gathered. Upon Lu Jingyu's arrival, they all knelt. In the torchlight, I could see a hint of tears in Lu Jingyu's eyes.
I remained silent and followed Lu Jingyu.
Once inside the tent, the other centurions were present, and the female musicians had already left. Everyone was waiting. Lu Jingyu knelt before Lord Wu and said, "I, Lu Jingyu, request your mercy, Lord."
Lord Wu's expression remained inscrutable. He spoke slowly, "General Lu, it is true that over two thousand Republican rebels escaped from your position at the East Gate. Is this accurate?"
Lu Jingyu bowed his head and admitted, "It is true. But at the time, I saw that most of them were women and children, and I felt pity for them."
Lord Wu slammed the table, shouting, "Do you know that the rebel leader, Cangyue, was among those who escaped with this group? Your inability to fulfill the mission completely leaves you guilty!"
Lu Jingyu remained calm and replied, "I violated orders, and I understand that military law prescribes death as the punishment. I have no complaints."
I was about to kneel, but Pu Anli and the others, four centurions, rushed forward and knelt, pleading, "Lord, General Lu is indeed at fault, but considering his past contributions, please show mercy and be lenient."
At that moment, all the centurions, including myself, knelt and added, "Please, Lord, reconsider."
Lord Wu's face reddened for a moment but gradually calmed down. After a while, he said, "Lu Jingyu, as a general, one must obey orders. To violate them would undermine discipline. Your offense is not small, but in light of your past service, I will be lenient. I order you to lead a thousand of your own cavalry, and I will assign the Vanguard Battalion to assist you. Within ten days, you must return with either the head of Cangyue or your own."
Although this mission was challenging, it was not impossible. Cangyue's remaining forces were in disarray, and with the presence of civilians among them, victory would be relatively easy. The real challenge was finding Cangyue within the given time frame.
Lu Jingyu accepted, saying, "Thank you, Lord. I will depart immediately. My original battalion of cavalry will suffice. The Vanguard Battalion, which has been fighting relentlessly, should not be further burdened."
I had a nagging feeling that Lord Wu was willing to let Lu Jingyu go. Considering Lord Wu's seemingly unfeeling nature, it was surprising to see him show a hint of emotion.
Suddenly, a large number of torches were lit below the city wall, and I was surprised. Something significant seemed to be happening. He Xiong rushed up and exclaimed, "Lord!"
Lu Jingyu's face darkened, and he asked, "What have you done, He Xiong?"
He Xiong replied, "Lord, our 18,203 comrades are willing to sacrifice themselves."
My face paled. He Xiong's words sounded pitiful, but they carried an underlying threat. This mission had just become more complicated.
Riding on horseback, I made my way back to my own quarters. With a hundred thousand strong army, each of the four gates was defended by twenty thousand troops. Our group, the direct descendants of Lord Wu, was stationed within the city. Over the past two days, the city had been subjected to a brutal massacre, extending from the south to the north. Even now, in the cover of night, one could still hear the cries of women and the screams of children. I looked up at the sky, feeling as if I were in another world.
The sky was filled with stars and a hazy moon. A few wispy clouds floated in the deep blue expanse. But due to the multiple fires within the city, the sky had an eerie blood-red hue.
The city's massacre was to continue for two more days. After that, we would leave, laden with gold, jewels, women, and skilled craftsmen. While the orders were not to harm young women and artisans, the chaos of the massacre often led to unintended casualties. Two imperial soldiers might quarrel over a woman, leading to her being cut in half and shared between them, resulting in both harming themselves for no apparent gain. Such senseless acts were not limited to craftsmen alone.
For some reason, my thoughts always returned to that woman. She had fallen from the city walls, bathed in the waning sunlight. The memory of that moment was etched deeply into my mind.
Qi Lie and the ten non-commissioned officers followed behind me, walking at a leisurely pace. They too had drunk their share of wine, perhaps still reveling in the slight intoxication. One of them began to hum a tune, the words indistinguishable amidst the cries and screams that echoed through the night, sending a shiver down my spine.
While I was moving in a daze on my horse, two non-commissioned officers started bickering louder and louder. They were arguing about what was perched on the corner of a roof ahead: one said it was a dragon, and the other claimed it was a griffin.
I turned to them and asked, "What are you two talking about?"
One of them replied, "Look over there."
In the dim light, I saw a long shadow projected onto the rooftop, too ambiguous to determine what it was. It appeared somewhat humanoid, yet not entirely. I laughed, "Why argue over this? Just take a closer look."
The non-commissioned officer said, "It's too dark. We can't see clearly."
I said, "Qing Lie, did you bring my Sun-Piercing Bow?"
My Sun-Piercing Bow was a treasured weapon of mine. A typical bow had a range of about two hundred paces, while a powerful bow could reach four hundred paces. This bow was rumored to have a range of eight hundred paces when fully strung, but I could manage around five hundred paces. Since the object was less than a hundred paces away, it was well within my range.
Qi Lie said, "I'm afraid I didn't bring it today."
Although my skill with the bow was considerable, in this moment, it seemed like I was missing an opportunity. I couldn't let the non-commissioned officers see my frustration. I turned to them and said, "De Yang, probably already asleep. There's no need to trouble anyone."
Lord De Yang was a high-ranking official in our camp, and I had an arrangement with him for special weapons, including the Sun-Piercing Bow.
Qi Lie thought for a moment and then said, "I brought a bow, General."
He handed the bow to me, and I tested it. It had a little less power than my Sun-Piercing Bow, but it would suffice. The archer, Tan Qing, had a reputation for his precision even better than mine, although he lacked my strength.
I said, "Attach a torch to the arrowhead. Once I shoot the arrow over, you can all see clearly."
The others cheered at the idea. As I nocked the arrow with a torch and drew it back, there was a flash of light as the arrow shot towards the mysterious figure.
Qi Lie and the others were exhilarated, watching the arrow head toward the shadow on the roof. Just as the arrow was about to hit its target, the figure suddenly moved. With a loud crack, the arrow was knocked off course, disappearing in another direction.
The cheers turned to silence. For an instant, during the brief illumination provided by the torch, we all saw that the figure on the roof was grotesque and terrifying. It bore a grotesque face and was clad in glistening green scales. The appearance had been nightmarish, unlike anything seen on Earth.
My whole body shivered, and I asked, "Did you all see what that was?"
They all exchanged bewildered glances. It couldn't have been a human; how could someone be on the roof? Moreover, it seemed quite short, almost like half of a person. Suddenly, Qi Lie exclaimed, "I think I've figured it out. It's a straggler from the Republican army. They've been hiding between roofs and rafters, digging holes in the rooftops to peek out. But they've been discovered."
It seemed like a plausible explanation. I felt a rush of excitement and said, "Quick, capture him. Don't let him escape."
In a sober state, I wouldn't even consider joining the city's massacre, let alone embark on a nighttime hunt for Republican stragglers. But in my current state, half-drunk and filled with bloodlust, I was eager to engage in combat.
My eagerness spread to those around me, and Tan Qing said, "He's moving! Let's block all the exits, so he can't escape!"
I barked out orders, "Tan Qing, Kong Kaiping, Shen Tuyi, Wang Dong, the four of you guard the perimeter. The rest of you follow me."
I dismounted my horse, and the wine I had consumed now seemed to be burning inside me, raising my body temperature.
Stepping on the shards of rubble, I gripped the Bai Pi Dao, a saber-like weapon. I carried a torch in my left hand, finding the building where we had seen the figure from the outside. Qi Lie ran up to me and said, "General, it's that one."
We approached the building, only to find its front door tightly shut. It was the type of door that opened outward, likely secured from the inside. I ordered, "Step aside."
I advanced with my Bai Pi Dao, slotting it into the door's gap and then sliding it upward. As expected, it hit the bolt. If the bolt was in use, we would have to break the door down. However, to our surprise, the bolt had not been secured. A push was enough to release it, and I said, "Pull the door."
Qi Lie came forward and opened the door.
The door creaked open, and we were instantly hit by a wave of the most foul odor, like a nightmare coming to life. An emaciated figure lunged at me!
I was taken aback, not expecting an ambush at this moment. I quickly stepped back, unsheathing my Bai Pi Dao, which cut through the figure like rotten wood. The headless body fell to the ground as the head rolled towards me.
In the third month of the siege of the city, when the supplies ran out, we managed to hold on for just about ten more days. During that time, I witnessed an unsettling sight on the city walls where city residents, in desperation, resorted to cleaning and cooking women to make a meat soup. The sight was disturbing even from my vantage point below. I assume that people must have died as a result of this horrifying act. However, their clothing still remained on them, and it didn't appear as if they had been butchered.
Qi Lie said, "General, do you hear any sounds?"
I inclined my ear to listen, but I couldn't discern anything. It seemed that those who had been outside were probably inside the house. I used my torch to inspect the area, and I found myself in the main hall. There was no ornate ceiling here; when I directed my light upwards, it revealed a dark, labyrinthine network of beams and rafters.
I suggested, "Let's go inside."
We split into two groups and proceeded to examine the left and right inner rooms. As I entered the room on the left and shone my torch, one of the non-commissioned officers immediately covered his mouth and vomited.
Inside, there were several female corpses. I say "several," but it was genuinely hard to discern the exact number. All I could see were several severed hands, a pile of partially decayed entrails on the bed, and some bones that seemed to have been gnawed on. It was as though some ferocious beast had visited, choosing the softer portions to eat and leaving the rest to one side. Despite all of us having seen countless battles and each of us having killed more than ten people, this was the first time we had encountered such a disgusting and horrifying scene.
Qi Lie stood by my side and asked, "General, what is happening here?"
I gripped my knife tightly and used the torch to inspect above and below, whispering, "Tell our comrades to be cautious."
Before I could finish my sentence, there was a strange cry from the right side. I thought something had happened, so a few of us rushed over. Upon entering the right inner room, we found three non-commissioned officers huddled together, shivering.
Inside the room, there were a man and a woman, both of whom were already deceased. They lay half on the bed, with their lower halves extending over the edge. While their corpses were somewhat intact, their faces had turned a bluish hue, and their bones had pierced through their flesh. They wore an expression of extreme fear on their faces, as if someone had slowly strangled them to death, causing their bones to fracture. Their two legs had already become bare skeletons, with bloody bones still bearing shreds of flesh, as if someone had scraped them with a knife.
Qi Lie whispered, "This is truly cruel. Why would someone do such a thing?"
I glanced at him but didn't say anything. The Imperial Army had no grounds to accuse others of cruelty, but the level of brutality we had encountered went beyond mere killing. It appeared as though they were deriving perverse pleasure from these acts.
I examined the surroundings, and there was some dried fluid beneath the two bodies. I cautiously approached and Qi Lie warned, "General, be careful."
Using the tip of my knife, I prodded a bit of the substance. It exuded a foul and rancid smell, akin to the saliva of some reptilian creature. I said, "That person must still be inside the house. Be cautious."
We dared not separate and searched through several rooms. It appeared to be a large family, with numerous members both upstairs and downstairs. However, all these individuals had met their demise, and not a single corpse remained unscathed.
After completing the search, we gathered in the main hall. Qi Lie asked, "General, what should we do?"
By now, the intoxication from my drink had turned into cold sweat, streaming down my back. I said, "Let's burn these corpses, but be cautious not to set anything else on fire."
Qi Lie nodded, and the non-commissioned officers found long sticks to stack the fragmented body parts in the main hall. They used sheets and blankets to bundle the pieces from the bed. Dozens of bodies piled up, resembling a small mountain. I ignited my fire sickle and set fire to the pile of bodies.
No matter who these people were, whether masters or slaves, they would now all turn into the same heap of ashes, no longer distinguishable.
I grabbed a wooden stick they had found and used it to push the fallen pieces of flesh back into the fire.
As the fire was burning, suddenly, we heard a strange sound from above, like heavy breathing. Immediately after, Qi Lie shouted, "General, be careful!"
A gust of wind rushed down from above.
With my left hand still holding the stick, I pushed it forcefully into the ground. The gust of wind came so suddenly that I didn't dare look up, fearing that a glance might not be enough to evade it.
Though my left hand's strength was not great, I leveraged it to roll on the ground and moved about two feet away. At that moment, there was a loud "bang," a spear thrust directly where I had been standing just before. The floor tiles shattered from the impact, sending sparks flying from the fire. If I had been a moment slower, that spear would have pierced me from head to toe.
Rage surged within me. My left hand pushed off the ground, and my Bai Bi knife was drawn horizontally. I had calculated that with the immense force behind his spear thrust, the man would surely follow suit. With this slash, I was banking on him not escaping.
But to my astonishment, when my blade met his spear, it made a loud "bang." My hand felt numb, and the spear abruptly retracted back to the beam. The man hadn't descended. I couldn't believe it. The spear was only about half a person's height, a short one, and the beam was at least ten feet off the ground. There was no way his arms could have been long enough to reach down. Did he throw the spear down? As I rolled away, I distinctly saw the hand of the man holding the spear.
I got to my feet and found Qi Lie and the other non-commissioned officers staring blankly, frozen in place. I angrily asked, "What are you doing? Move quickly!"
The man on the beam had been driven away by the rising heat of the fire. I suspected he might be seeking shelter in a cooler area and might attack again soon.
But to my command, Qi Lie and the seven non-commissioned officers remained motionless. I shouted, "Wake up! Are you sleeping?"
Finally, Qi Lie seemed to snap out of it. He looked at me and mumbled, "It's a ghost! It's a ghost!"
I was utterly bewildered by his words. Qi Lie had been in combat many times; why was he reacting this way? I slapped him across the face with my left hand and said, "Don't talk nonsense. Don't let him get away. Guard the exit."
As I was speaking, my attention was still on the beam above, and I caught a glimpse of the man's shadow, moving between the beams. The fire beneath cast flickering light and shadow, making it difficult to see clearly. At that moment, the man thrust his spear once more.
This time, I was prepared. I watched him extend from the large beam, heading directly for the top of my head. Even if his feet were tied to the beam with a rope, he couldn't easily return this time. I waited until the spear was almost upon me, then pushed it aside with my knife. It slid along my body and drove into the floor, scraping against the spear's shaft and producing a grating, unpleasant noise.
Now, I had come face to face with him.
In that moment, I could finally see his appearance. It was then that I realized why Qi Lie and his fellow non-commissioned officers, who were used to killing without hesitation, had been so terrified.
He wasn't human at all. While his face had a human-like shape, his eyes were shiny, and his face had some scales. He lacked lips, and his nose was just two small holes on his face.
This isn't the worst part; the most terrifying aspect is that the lower half of that person is not two legs but a coiled snake body!
Even I was deeply startled, and I didn't want to face it again. I took a step back, gripping my knife, and asked, "What are you?"
The creature hung on the beam and poked the fire pit with its spear, probably trying to lower the height of the fire. However, it just scattered sparks everywhere. It let out a cry and then retracted back to the beam, heading up through the roof.
It couldn't bear the heat and was trying to escape.
I said, "Stand guard at the door."
We went out the door just in time to see the creature coming out of the roof, hanging upside down. Initially, it had only shown half its body, making it look like a giant lizard. But now, while coiled on the roof, it revealed its true, larger form. It seemed to be heading towards the adjacent roof. If it managed to reach another house, it would be even harder to track. It moved about easily on the rooftops above, but it was quite a challenge for us to pursue from below.
I yelled, "Give me a boost!"
Qi Lie and one of the subordinates clasped their fists to help each other. I stepped on their joined fists, and with a powerful push, I leaped onto the rooftop.
The rooftop was covered with thick tiles, but it was somewhat slippery to walk on. The creature was coiled in front of me, attempting to advance further. I shouted, "Where are you going?"
The creature turned around, and its eyes were a murky yellow, devoid of any expression. Its upper body had two arms almost similar to a human's, but its lower half was entirely a snake's body. It held its spear, fixing its gaze on me, and I couldn't help but feel a chill down my spine.
Suddenly, it bent its upper body, lunging toward me with incredible speed. The spear was wielded with the force equal to that of a seasoned warrior in the army. I felt the ground beneath my feet slipping and realized I couldn't engage in prolonged combat with it. Focusing on the tip of the incoming spear, I swung my Bai Bi knife. "Bang!" As I felt the weight of the blade, I used it to propel myself even higher, soaring above it.
The creature didn't expect this move. Its two long arms reached out, but it only thrust air with the spear. My swing landed. "Crack!" The swing severed its two arms, and the spear fell down from the rooftop.
In pain, the creature writhed, and I was about to strike again. However, I felt a sudden cold sensation behind me. The lower half of the creature's body had risen like a coiled rope and looped around my shoulders. At this point, I still had my knife in my hand, but I couldn't move it an inch forward.
It had me ensnared!
The creature's strength was incredibly frightening. As it coiled around me, I saw stars before my eyes, and the air became increasingly difficult to breathe. I swung my knife wildly, but it could only move a bit in front of my own body, unable to reach it. Now it was wrapping around me and had me cornered. Then, it opened its mouth.
Inside its mouth, there was a row of white teeth. These teeth were different from human teeth, exceptionally sharp, almost like two rows of small knives. Suddenly, I remembered those mutilated and incomplete corpses in the house. Maybe those were its previous victims, its source of food?
This monster was incredibly strong. As it coiled around me, I felt a cold sweat and my breath growing shallow. I was desperately struggling, but its snake-like lower body seemed as solid as iron, making it impossible for me to move.
It was over.
At this moment, I felt death approaching. I couldn't believe that I would meet such an end, which was rather ironic. But no matter how ironic it was, the situation was far from amusing.
Then, an arrow pierced the air with a sharp sound and struck the creature in its left eye. It had not expected this sudden turn of events. As it released its grip on me, I fell onto the roof, feeling intense pain as every bone in my body seemed to shatter.
Another arrow followed, this time from Tan Qing, a renowned archer in the Vanguard Battalion. Although he was some distance away, his aim was impeccable. Had I been the one to shoot, I would have risked hitting myself due to the close proximity between me and the monster.
The arrow didn't hit the creature, but its sudden movement revealed a patch of white on its chest. Seizing the opportunity, I lunged forward with my blade, but my footing slipped. The roof was sloped, and staying balanced on it was already a challenge even when uninjured. Now, in my pain, I couldn't maintain my position.
My strike managed to pierce its chest before I slipped and tumbled off the roof. My fall was a harsh one, and I was worried about the outcome when suddenly my fall was arrested. It was Qi Lie and two other battalion leaders who had caught me. We couldn't see what was happening on the roof, only hearing a series of commotions above. Not understanding what was occurring, we were confused.
Then, there was a deafening crash, and the creature fell through the roof. My previous strike had opened a large gash in its abdomen. The creature thrashed on the rooftop, breaking many tiles. The roof couldn't bear its weight, and with a final loud noise, the creature tumbled down.
The front door was wide open, and the creature crashed into the beams and columns, and then there was another loud bang as it fell into the blazing fire. It was instantly engulfed in flames.
Then, we heard footsteps behind us. It was Tan Qing and the other three battalion leaders who had been guarding outside.
The creature burned in the fire, and its belly, which I had sliced open, spilled out its insides. Shockingly, there was an entire child inside, presumably one it had partially swallowed earlier. The fire was fierce, and the creature's struggles only intensified the blaze. In no time, it ceased to move, charred beyond recognition.
Tan Qing and his men were still unaware of what had transpired. They asked, "General, what was that?"
I didn't know how to respond. I just shivered uncontrollably.
As I glanced at the sky, I was stunned to see the moon glowing a vivid red.