Chapter 319 - 197: Charge

Chapter 319: Chapter 197: Charge

Everyone watched as plumes of dust shot into the sky. It was clear a massive number of demons was on the move.

"Dammit, the Demon Court is making its move!"

The color drained from Xu Chongyuan’s face.

"Shao Santong controls the walls of Hujue Pass now. If the Demon Court’s army besieges the pass, he can open the gates at any moment and let them pour in."

Xu Chongyuan’s heart sank.

Su Mu had risked his life to get them out, all so they could carry the news back to Hujue Pass. Now, they couldn’t even get through the gates. Was Su Mu’s sacrifice all for nothing?

’And with the Demon Court’s army on its way, Su Mu...’

Xu Chongyuan’s body began to tremble. He couldn’t bear to accept this outcome.

"Governor Zhang, I have to say it—your Hujue Pass Taiping Bureau is a goddamn bunch of useless wastes!"

Xu Chongyuan said, struggling to contain his fury.

Zhang Wangyue was speechless.

’They risked their lives to bring this news, yet I can’t even get them through the gates of Hujue Pass. Calling me useless is getting off easy.’

Shame and anger flashed across the faces of the other Taiping Captains from the Hujue Pass Taiping Bureau, but none of them spoke up to argue.

"I will give you an answer."

Zhang Wangyue straightened his back and spoke slowly. "And the Hujue Pass Taiping Bureau will give you an answer."

His gaze swept over his men. "Brothers," he said in a low voice, "are you ready?"

"We’ve been ready for a long time."

The Taiping Captains from the Hujue Pass Taiping Bureau smiled freely. "This isn’t the first time we’ve faced the enemy below the walls.

"Boss Zhang, what do you say? A dozen or so of us, taking on tens of thousands of Demon Soldiers from the Demon Court outside Hujue Pass. This feat will go down in the history books, don’t you think?"

"It will."

Zhang Wangyue said grimly, "With the Demon Court army pressing in, Shao Santong has an hour at most.

"No matter how he’s tricked Commander Yang and the others, after an hour, the Commander is bound to appear on the walls.

"When that happens, the truth will come to light.

"Our job is to hold off the Demon Court’s army for one hour."

"Holding off the Demon Court’s army for an hour... That’s a tall order," one of the Taiping Captains from Hujue Pass remarked with a sigh.

There were only a dozen of them, while the Demon Court’s army had tens of thousands of demons.

But in the next moment, a grin spread across his face. "Then again, the harder it is, the better we can prove we’re not wastes. I like that."

The other Taiping Captains from Hujue Pass roared with laughter. They drew their sabers and walked forward, following Zhang Wangyue.

"Captain Xu, you and your men stay hidden."

Zhang Wangyue said without looking back, "Once Commander Yang appears on the walls, make a run for Hujue Pass. I guarantee you’ll be able to get inside."

As he spoke, the men from the Hujue Pass Taiping Bureau emerged from the jumble of rocks. They formed a single line, sabers held at the ready, blocking the only path for the Demon Court’s army. Before them, the demon horde charged out of the wilderness; behind them stood Hujue Pass.

...

"Well, brothers, what do you say?"

Xu Chongyuan asked, turning to look at Zhong Guizheng and the others.

"I don’t know about the rest of you, but I don’t like cowering behind others just to stay alive," one of them said. "Let’s give them a fight."

"The Wuling Taiping Bureau is every bit as good as the Hujue Pass Taiping Bureau. Why should we be the ones to hide?" another said.

"If that’s how we all feel, then we fight."

Xu Chongyuan roared with laughter. "At least we won’t be lonely on the Yellow Springs Road! If we hurry, maybe we can still catch up with Junior Brother Su."

Shi Ziran’s brow furrowed. ’Is my lord truly dead?’

He had a feeling that Su Mu wouldn’t die so easily.

"Lao Shi, you’re not with the Taiping Bureau. You don’t have to throw your life away fighting these demons. Besides, we need someone to survive and expose Shao Santong. You’re the perfect man for the job."

Xu Chongyuan clapped Shi Ziran on the shoulder. "Stay alive, and put a few extra cuts into that bastard for us!"

With that said, before Shi Ziran could answer, Xu Chongyuan shouldered his saber and strode out from the rocks, walking toward the army of the Demon Court.

...

On the walls of Hujue Pass, Shao Santong watched the dust plumes rising in the distance, his brow slightly furrowed.

’What the hell was Wu Qiuyuan playing at?’

’First, he let Zhang Wangyue and his men escape, and now he’s even messed up the timing.’

’Weren’t we supposed to attack the pass in three days?’

’Why are they launching it now?’

’Even though he had temporarily fooled Qianyun Mountain and Yang Changfeng, he hadn’t taken full control of the battlements yet. It wasn’t the right time to open the gates.’

"Everyone, look!"

Just as Shao Santong was cursing inwardly, a sudden shout broke his train of thought.

He looked up and saw that all the guards on the wall were looking in the same direction.

Two bowshots from the walls of Hujue Pass, a dozen or so figures had appeared. They stood in a single file, forming a human wall outside the pass.

Some pointed their long sabers at the ground, some held them across their bodies, and others had them slung over their shoulders.

The one thing they had in common was the Brocade and Ink Shirt they wore. The character for "Peace" on the back dazzled the eyes of all who saw it.

"It really is Governor Zhang and his men—" a soldier muttered.

"Inspector Shao, it’s really Governor Zhang! We have to leave the pass and help them!" a lieutenant from the garrison shouted.

"Fool!"

Shao Santong said coldly, "It’s a trick! The Demon Court’s army will be here any second. If you open the gates now and they storm Hujue Pass, can you bear that responsibility?"

"A ruse?"

The lieutenant’s voice lost its conviction.

"Don’t overreact. Let’s just see what kind of show they put on."

Shao Santong said icily. "It’s just an act. Do you really think they’re prepared to die for it?

"If it really is Governor Zhang, we can open the gates and assist them at any time!"

Watching the backs of Zhang Wangyue’s party, Shao Santong sneered to himself.

’Excellent. I was just wondering what excuse I could use to open the gates. You’ve handed me the perfect one.’

’Once the Demon Court’s army has nearly finished you off, I’ll open the gates to "rescue" you. The Hujue Pass garrison will never suspect a thing.’

Shao Santong had already decided on the perfect moment to open the gates.

...

"Kill!"

Zhang Wangyue roared.

The dozen or so Taiping Captains charged toward the tens of thousands of demons.

Though they were but a dozen men, they charged with the force of an army of thousands.

Atop the walls of Hujue Pass, tears welled in the eyes of the watching soldiers.

"Inspector Shao, this can’t possibly be a ruse!" a general bellowed. "Open the gates!"

"It’s not time yet!"

Shao Santong said coldly.

’This distance isn’t enough. The Demon Court’s army has to get closer.’

’If I open the gates now, their army won’t make it inside in time, and Hujue Pass will have a chance to shut them again.’

’Just a little closer...’

’Besides, Zhang Wangyue and his men have to die. Otherwise, my cover will be blown, won’t it?’

"We can’t wait any longer! If we do, they’ll all be killed!" said the Border Defense Army general.

Shao Santong narrowed his eyes. ’That’s right,’ he thought. ’I want them to die!’

Zhang Wangyue and his men clashed with the vanguard of the Demon Court’s army.

Blood and gore flew everywhere. Demon after demon fell, but the Taiping Captains were beginning to suffer casualties as well.

A dozen men against tens of thousands of demons—it was like an ant trying to shake a tree.

The long saber in Zhang Wangyue’s hand spun like a wheel of fire, frantically reaping the lives of the demons.

No demon below the rank of a Tier Three Demon could withstand a single strike from his blade.

But even so, the demons were simply too numerous. Soon, he was completely submerged in the horde.

The other Taiping Captains had been completely cut off from one another.

Each man fought alone, like a solitary boat on a stormy sea, in danger of capsizing at any moment.

Zhang Wangyue gave a bitter, internal laugh. ’An hour... It’s simply impossible.’

’The Demon Court’s assault is just too powerful this time.’

’Forget an hour, we can’t even last for the time it takes to eat a meal.’

Zhang Wangyue saw another Taiping Captain fall, and his heart bled.

"All of you, just DIE!"

Zhang Wangyue roared, unleashing all his power without reservation.

Suddenly, in the distance, demons began to fly high into the air.

It was as if something was charging through the rear of the Demon Court’s army, sending demons flying from the force of the impact.

For a moment, Zhang Wangyue’s mouth went dry.