Chapter 188: The siege of Ashen Fortress

The courtyard remained frozen in the aftermath of the second explosion, the dust slowly settling around Ru Yi as Qingyue still held her by the shoulders. For several heartbeats, nobody moved.

Soldiers on the walls were shouting orders, and the unmistakable sound of approaching footsteps grew louder beyond the gates. But Ru Yi could barely hear any of it over the pounding of her own heart.

Qingyue’s eyes searched her face. "Are you sure you’re not hurt?" She asked again.

Ru Yi nodded, still slightly breathless from the blast. "I’m totally fine."

Han Shuying was the only one who seemed completely focused on the approaching army. Her eyes remained fixed on General Sheng’s banner. "He’s not going to stop until he gets what he wants."

Qingyue released Ru Yi and turned toward the fortress walls. "Then neither will we."

She raised her voice. "Everyone to your positions!"

The soldiers immediately scattered. The men who had been training only today were now climbing the stone staircases toward the battlements, gripping weapons that suddenly seemed far too small against the army gathering outside. Some were frightened, and Ru Yi could see it clearly in their faces, but none of them ran.

That alone made something twist painfully in her chest. They had barely begun rebuilding this place. Now they were being asked to defend it.

Qingyue looked toward Han Shuying. "How many?"

Han Shuying’s answer was immediate. "The southern ridge is filled with them, and there are more coming through the western pass. Sheng brought enough soldiers to surround the fortress."

Lieyin looked toward the mountains. "Then why hasn’t he attacked the gates?"

"Because he’s waiting," Han Shuying answered.

"For what?"

Han Shuying’s eyes narrowed. "For us to panic and do something reckless."

Qingyue shook her head. "He won’t get that." The worst part was she didn’t understand what he stood to gain out of destroying Ashen Fortress.

She turned toward the soldiers. "Archers to the eastern wall. Spears to the southern gate. Keep the inner courtyard clear. If the outer walls are breached, we fall back to the castle and defend from there."

A young soldier hesitated. "And the children and women?"

"Move them into the western castle."

Yexue immediately stepped forward. "I’ll handle that."

Qingyue nodded. "Take Officer Liang with you."

Yexue turned to leave, but her eyes found Ru Yi first. "Come with me."

Ru Yi followed her for several steps before looking back. Qingyue was already climbing toward the southern wall. Something about seeing her walk away made Ru Yi’s chest tighten.

"Qingyue!"

Qingyue stopped.

Ru Yi didn’t know what she wanted to say.

Be careful.

Come back.

I’m sorry.

None of the words came out.

Qingyue simply smiled faintly. "I’ll be fine. Worry about yourself first." Then she continued toward the wall.

The first horn sounded and every soldier in Ashen Fortress went still. A second horn answered from the mountains.

Then another.

General Sheng’s army began to move.

Ru Yi watched thousands of soldiers descend through the valley, their armor glinting beneath the morning light. Their formation was unnervingly disciplined, with shield bearers in front, archers behind them and larger groups carrying ladders and siege equipment.

"They’re coming," Officer Liang whispered.

Yexue pulled her farther toward the inner courtyard. "Come."

Ru Yi started to shake her head. "I can help."

Yexue gave her a hard stare. "You can help by staying alive."

Ru Yi looked at her. "You sound like Qingyue," she mumbled.

Yexue was quick with her response. "Maybe your stubbornness has infected us all."

Despite everything, Ru Yi almost laughed. Until the first arrow struck the wall and the battle began. Hundreds of arrows filled the sky.

The soldiers raised their shields as the projectiles crashed against the fortress walls, while the archers of Ashen Fortress answered from above. The first line of General Sheng’s soldiers stumbled beneath the attack, but their formation barely broke.

Ru Yi watched from the courtyard as the enemy approached. She had seen battles in stories and in movies, but she had never imagined the sound.

The screams.

The metal.

The pounding of boots against earth.

The smell of smoke began to fill the air.

Yexue’s hand closed around hers. "Don’t look. Everything about a war is horrifying. I don’t want you to bear scars from it."

Ru Yi couldn’t. She looked toward the southern wall where Qingyue was. She stood at the very front, sword drawn, directing the soldiers around her.

A ladder slammed against the wall and Qingyue kicked it away. Another immediately replaced it. Lieyin appeared beside her and struck down the first soldier who climbed over the battlement.

"More coming!" someone shouted.

Qingyue raised her sword. "Hold the wall!"

The soldiers answered with a roar.

Ru Yi felt something shift inside her. These people had been terrified of Qingyue yesterday. Now they were fighting because she had given them something to believe in.

Ashen Fortress was no longer simply a ruined city. It was becoming hers. And General Sheng was trying to take it from her.

A loud crack echoed through the courtyard and the southern gate shook.

"They brought a battering ram," Officer Liang shouted.

Yexue’s expression changed. "We need to reinforce it."

"I’ll get the men." Officer Liang ran toward the gate and Ru Yi followed. They reached the inner passage just as another impact shook the entire fortress. Dust fell from the ceiling.

"The gate won’t hold forever," Officer Liang said.

"Then we make sure it doesn’t fall." Ru Yi looked around. There were barrels of water nearby. Ropes. Wooden beams. She suddenly remembered the old storage rooms. "Move the beams."

Officer Liang stared at her. "What?"

"Stack them behind the gate. If the outer doors break, the beams will slow them down."

Officer Liang nodded. "You heard her!"

Several soldiers began moving immediately. Ru Yi worked alongside them, dragging a beam across the floor until her palms burned.

Then another explosion rocked the fortress and the gate cracked. Everyone froze.

Yexue drew her sword. "Get behind me."

Ru Yi shook her head. "No."

Yexue looked at her. "I said—"

"I know." Ru Yi picked up a fallen spear. "I won’t stand behind you while everyone else is fighting."

Yexue stared at her for a moment, then she smiled. "Fine."

The gate broke and the soldiers of Officer Sheng poured into the outer courtyard. The defenders screamed and charged.

Yexue moved like a storm. Ru Yi stayed close behind her, using the spear to keep enemies away rather than charging recklessly.

Then she saw something strange. One of Sheng’s soldiers ignored the fighting entirely and ran toward the abandoned castle. Another followed. Then another.

Ru Yi’s eyes narrowed. "Yexue."

"What?"

"I don’t think they’re here to fight. It seems like they’re searching for something."

Yexue glanced toward them. "For what?"

"I don’t know." Ru Yi’s stomach twisted. She remembered Han Shuying’s words.

Trust is fragile.

Suddenly, General Sheng’s attack didn’t feel like an attempt to conquer the city. It felt like a hunt. Before she could say anything else, a soldier lunged toward her.

Ru Yi raised her spear but she was too slow. Yexue stepped between them and struck the soldier down.

She turned immediately. "Ru Yi!"

"I’m fine."

Yexue grabbed her face. "Stop saying that."

Ru Yi stared at her. Before she could respond, another horn sounded. This one was different. The enemy soldiers began retreating.

Yexue looked toward the gates. "Why are they pulling back?"

Across the battlefield, General Sheng’s banner rose above the army. And from the southern wall, Qingyue looked down at the approaching force.

Even from a distance, Ru Yi could see the moment Qingyue understood. They had not been attacked because General Sheng believed Ashen Fortress would be easy to conquer. He had attacked because he wanted to learn exactly how they would defend it.

Now he knew. And the real battle was about to begin.