After the two men fell unconscious, Feng Zhi Wei struggled to prop herself up and stared at the direction of the rushing footsteps she heard just moments ago.
The man was dressed as a general. Seemingly in hurry, the man didn’t pay attention at all that the guards around the main tents have disappeared. There was another person behind the man. The man looked quite disheveled and his manner of moving about was quite particular.
Staring at the second man from afar, Feng Zhi Wei’s heart suddenly dropped to the pit of her stomach. Out of time to consult with anyone else around her, Feng Zhi Wei immediately let out a cry of cricket sound.
This is the secret signal of retreat she had decided on previously.
Black shadows flashed, Hua Qing and Helian’s Eight Braves came to her side. Keeping her eyes on the two men rushing into Jin Siyu’s tent, Feng Zhi Wei motioned to the Eight Braves to drag Helian and Gu Nan Yi away.
The hand gesture she made was “Change! Quick retreat!”
The Eight Braves were stunned, no sure how the situation suddenly became thus. Hua Qing reacted quickly and immediately let out a cricket sound. The black shadows that were running around all stopped midmotion then immediately gathered like black sand flowing back into a bottle, gathering back to Hua Qing’s side and began their climb up the cliff in an orderly manner.
From the main tent came Jin Siyu’s muffled voice “Why did you just come now…”
The reply came quickly “Something went wrong and I was held up. Hurry…”
The rest of the words were indiscernible but Jin Siyu came out of the tent soon after and was about to say something when there was a commotion in front of the camp gate. There were sounds of shouting but it was too far away for the words to be heard.
Some soldiers rushed over to report that several generals had been killed in their tents. Taking advantage of Jin Siyu’s surprise as he took the news in, Feng Zhi Wei pushed one of the Eight Braves and said “The plan had changed. Take the King and Master Gu away quickly!”
Two of the Eight Braves immediately hoisted the men on their backs and rushed over to the cliff to begin climbing.
Not leaving, Hua Qing looked at Feng Zhi Wei stubbornly with her two swords out. Forcing herself to put on a clam expression, Zhi Wei smiled “I suddenly had a better idea. Do you see the people by the camp gate? That’s part of my plan, you just watch.”
Hua Qing looked at Feng Zhi Wei with confusion in her eyes, unsure what she had up her sleeves. Cold sweat running down her back, Zhi Wei secretly used the long sword to support her shaking legs and forced out another smile “Go quickly, don’t spoil my plan!”
Raising her hand, Zhi Wei pulled on a signal flare and sent it firing into the air.
As the signal flew into the air, Feng Zhi Wei kicked Hu Qing to the cliff base at the same time. Startled by the signal flare, Hua Qing subconsciously started to climb up the cliff.
Jin Siyu and Kelie ran out of the main tent with grave expressions. After the big flare of light subsided, Jin Siyu turned his head and spotted the silhouettes on the cliff along with the two of the braves. Due to carrying people on their backs, the two braves’ climb were slow and had only made it about the mid point of the cliff.
Jin Siyu sneered and with the raise of a hand, a curved bow was already in his palm, aiming straight for Helian’s back. Although there were many that were still making their way up the cliff but obviously, the ones who were being carried are most likely very important people so he aimed straight for Helian.
Feng Zhi Wei immediately threw out a spare signal flare. She didn’t throw it at Jin Siyu but at the fire torch in front of the tent. A big blast forced both Jin Siyu and Kelie to jump backward, causing Jin Siyu’s arrow to miss its target.
By this time the entire camp was in chaos with people rushing out in panic and confusion. Quickly stepping forward to calm and direct his men, Jin Siyu didn’t have the time at this point to personally focus his attention on the cliff again. Following Jin Siyu around, Kelie’s eyes lit up when he spotted Feng Zi Wei and was about to tell Jin Siyu the thing he didn’t have time to say moments ago when someone close by suddenly screamed “Kelie!”
Turning around, Kelie sees a man covered in blood throwing himself on top of him with mouth wide open.
Kelie cursed “It’s you again!”
In the middle of chaos and fire, Feng Zhi Wei snuck to the back of the cliff side, pushed aside some long wild grass to find the hidden hole she had heard about.
Peering out from the gap, Feng Zhi Wei realized the man who had run into camp during the chaos is actually Dapeng who is one of Helian’s Eight Braves. Covered in blood, Dapeng’s expression was crazed as he latched onto Kelie with a death grip. Who knows how he ended up here and how he becomes so fiercely focused on Kelie. (So when Helian sent Mei Duo back to the royal palace, he had also sent Dapeng with her. For Helian to send one of his senior members of Eight Braves to personally escort Mei Duo shows how much he had wanted to make sure she gets back safely and a show of respect for her. Mei Duo was able to poison all the guards Helian had sent with her but Dapeng was personally keeping watch so he wasn’t poisoned. Unfortunately, Kelie was able to ambush Dapeng despite the fact he wasn’t poisoned. The author didn’t specifically point this out, but Kelie’s is obviously an extremely good fighter since he could hold out in a fight against Gu Nan Yi. Kelie also seemed to have some skills in dark witchery so that makes him that much more formidable of a foe.)
Kelie himself is also cursing his bad luck silently. He had used an enchantment spell (kinda like hypnosis) to gain information from Dapeng regarding where Helian was heading to. Guessing vaguely what Helian and Zhi Wei is planning on, Kelie immediately rushed over to report to Jin Siyu. However, who knew Dapeng was so strong-willed that he was able to break through the spell and wake up. Yet, Dapeng’s mind has not regained full consciousness, he only remembers that he had betrayed his king. His anguish turned to hatred for Kelie so he had somehow chased Kelie all the way here. Being the best fighter of Helian’s Eight Braves, Dapeng’s strength increased even more after going mad which resulted in significant trouble and delay for Kelie. If it wasn’t for Dapeng, Kelie would’ve made it to the main camp much earlier and Feng Zhi Wei’s people would’ve long been wiped out.
Thanks to the chaos in the camp, Dapeng made it the whole way in, recognized his king on the cliff and became enraged when he saw Kelie so he immediately jumped on Kelie to start gnawing on Kelie’s throat!
Caught off guard, Kelie tilted his head but his throat has already been torn out a hole by Dapeng’s sharp teeth. Furious as his blood come shooting out, Kelie grabbed his knife and start stabbing wildly at Dapeng. Yelling furiously, Dapeng refused to let go and kept on pressing his mouth close, biting and tearing wildly.
The two men rolled around on the ground, struggling and tearing into each other like wild beats. Bites of bloody flesh flying, pools of blood stains everywhere, the sight was so epic that even Jin Siyu stared at the scene in shock.
“Big brother!”
A heartbreaking yell came from the cliff, the Second and Third Brave abruptly turned their heads, blood bursting from the corner of their eyes. They let go of their hand wanting to jump down but stopped themselves half way and slammed their hands back onto the rocks, splitting their finger nails in the process.
“Shoot!” Jin Siyu pointed at the cliff and commanded coldly.
Looking up, Feng Zhi Wei could see Second and Third Brave is already close to the top of the cliff, only an arm’s length away from helping hands. Ripping off her mask and letting down her hair, Zhi Wei darted out of the hidden hole.
Not exactly darting but more like rolling, her strength drained and the fire in her body still burning, Zhi Wei rolled right to Jin Siyu’s feet. Jin Siyu only saw a black shadow immediately followed by a sword gleaming like snow lashing out.
Surprised but still calm, Jin Siyu jumped into the air but as if she had already predicate his response, Feng Zhi Wei immediately flicked her sword upward, the tip of her sword viciously pointed at Jin Siyu’s crutch.
Shocked again, Jin Siyu hurriedly flipped backward and landed on the ground none too gracefully. Whipping his sword around, Jin Siyu prepared himself to counter Feng Zhi Wei’s next vicious attack but what greeted him was the sight of Feng Zhi Wei lying lazily on the ground, waving limply at him with a “You can rest now” gesture.
A stoney faced Jin Siyu looked up to see Second and Thrid brave have already climbed up the cliff and disappeared into the night.
Letting out an angry snort, Jin Siyu pulled out his long sword and slashed right towards Feng Zhi Wei’s heart!
Feng Zhi Wei remained motionless. She no longer has an ounce of strength left. Laying on the ground she can hear drum like sounds of ten thousand horsehoofs ponding on the ground, wether it be the sound of her own heart beat or the impending arrival of Tao Yangyu’s calvary she does not know.
Although things went wrong tonight but the plan was not exactly a failure but unfortunately she herself will not survive.
The heavy burden she has been carrying since her mother’s death will disappear with her own death. Strangely, Feng Zhi Wei actually didn’t feel regret but instead had a sense of relief — dying is good too, she no longer has to face so much pain and difficult choices.
She smiled faintly, in the gleaming light of the sword, she saw in the magnificent hall of the royal place, a thousand jade steps, the stunning yet elegant man sitting down on the dragon carved golden throne.
Or on the white snow-capped mountain, a young man holding the hand of a cute toddling girl who is just learning to speak, smiling broadly at the vast sea.
Or the handsome bright sparkling man, riding on the endless fields of grassland.
*Keng!*
Feng Zhi Wei heard the harsh sound of metal scrapping against metal and squintted her eyes against the bright sparks.
Someone rolled to her side, panting. Feng Zhi Wei turned her head to see Hua Qing with a face full of mud.
Feng Zhi Wei stared at her, not asking why she came back. Laying on the ground, Hua Qing gave her a fearless grin and said “Hey, why didn’t you bring me along if you were going to be a hero?”
Feng Zhi Wei gazed at her, two muddy and bloody faced women laid on the ground, smiling at each other, seemingly not noticing the net formed by countless swords pointing at them.
At the same time, some of their subordinates who had not had the time to climb up the cliff saw what happened to the two women and immediately cut off their own ropes to come rushing back.
Gritting her teeth, Feng Zhi Wei leaned on her elbows to get up with Hua Qing supporting her. Facing the army of enemies that had formed circles around them, the two women sneered.
Knife out. Blood spilt. One strike, one life. One step, one kill.
Zhi Wei didn’t have the strength so she could only use fake moves to entice the enemy to come close and leave it to Hua Qing to finish them off. The two cooperated so well that in no time dead bodies were piling up, blood and flesh splashing onto their faces but they had no time nor the energy to wipe them off.
On the periphery, the bodies of Huzhuo soldiers are also piling up. (They are Helian’s soldiers. Huzhuo is another name of Helian’s tribe.)
Just as the two women are back to back, still swinging their swords even if their strength are exhausted, the Huzhuo warriors are desperately trying to breakthrough.
The Huzhuo soldiers tirelessly attacked in each futile attempt to break through the Da Yue military circile, in hopes that they could get closer to them even by an inch.
In life or death, there is no flinching retreat.
The bodies that threw themselves onto swords and arrows, the death that is not afraid of the cold blade.
Those who fought fiercely and died epically.
“Good sister…” Feng Zhi Wei slightly tilted her head and said with labored breaths “Chun Yu and Tao Yangyu will be here soon, hold on… there is a cave behind here. In a bit, during the chaos…go hide in it…there will be a chance…”
“We go together, we wait…together.” Hua Qing sent a spear flying out with her knife but her arm gave out as a long sword came straight at her heart like a poisonous snake. In a lighting move, Feng Zhi Wei raise the sword in her hand and blocked the sword with all her strength. A mouthful of blood shot out of Feng Zhi Wei but she just smiled and said “Such a poor…aim!”
Hua Qing immediately chopped off the arm of the soldier who was staring blankly at Feng Zhi Wei’s smile. Coughing up blood, Hua Qing laughs “Mine is what’s called a good…aim!”
Standing away from the crowd, Jin Siyu’s stared at the two women intently. In his anger, he had wanted them to die slowly by exhaustion so that’s why he didn’t order his archeries to shoot but who would’ve thought they would be so brave and fierce that even men are no match for them!
When did Tiansheng have such women?
In the light of the flickering fire, his heart seemed to be swaying as well. Stunned by the Huzhuo warriors who are fearless of death, stunned by the almost gentle smile in the rain of blood. Swayed by the bright and determined woman. Shocked by that brave yet sad eyes.
He suddenly ran over, pulled out his sword.
*PA!*
The back of sword striked hard on Feng Zhi Wei’s forehead.
There was pain then darkness. Feng Zhi Wei cast one last glance at Hua Qing and heard the distance sound of the calvary finalling breaking through the camp gate.
Before she sunk into the darkness, she told herself.
I will stay alive.
For those of you who are wondering where this scene is in the drama, you can find the battle scene in episode 59 towards the beginning. The drama obviously changed the story quite a bit. In the drama, Jin Siyu is the one who attacked then ended up capturing Zhi Wei and Hua Qing. This part of the story in the drama was fairly confusing to me since they were cramming quite a few different storylines together. No such problem in the novel though.
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Why did Zhi Wei let down her hair and let them know she was a woman? It was unnecessary, considering she was disguising as a man.
Maybe so as not to blow her cover as Wei Zhi if she happened to escape? Some random woman showing up in the middle of battle is odd but not necessarily target inducing. Maybe if she had been captured and no one knew who she was or that she was actually Wei Zhi it would be easier to escape and maybe would focus the inevitable interrogation in the wrong direction. Just my theory.
I actually don’t really remember his part in the drama at all… but then again everything after the mom’s death is hazy because I only watched it once and it started kinda going off a rails a bit.
I agree with the comment that she might have taken off her disguise so that JinSuYu wouldn’t recognize her and Wei Zhi. But didn’t Kelie see her unmask herself when she was showering with HuaQuong? Wouldn’t Kelie have told JinSuYu who the girl is?
Remember Kelie was delayed because he was being chased by one of the Eight Braves? It doesn’t look like Kelie had a chance to tell Jin Siyu about his discovery yet. Plus, the text said that Kelie saw the mask on the rock so if he came AFTER Zhi Wei took the mask off then I wonder if he realized Zhi Wei is in a disguise but didn’t connect it to Wei Zhi. Kelie is fully aware of what a good fighter Master Gu is so I doubt he got close enough to see clearly in the dark.
The author doesn’t explain but here is my theory: Giving the state of her physical condition at that point, our heroine knew there was a high chance she would be captured by Jin Siyu. If that happened, then her disguise as a man would be useless since even if they didn’t discover her mask, they would’ve discovered her gender easily enough once they searched her body. Exposing her gender would also cause Jin Siyu to be interested in her, therefore, increase the chance he wouldn’t just kill her. Moreover, the last thing Zhi Wei wants is to expose the fact that Wei Zhi is her so revealing herself is the best way to protect her other identity as Wei Zhi. (Wei Zhi as a prisoner would’ve been immediately used as a way to demoralize Tian Sheng’s soldiers. Mysterious female soldier on the other hand is an intriguing puzzle for Jin Siyu but not terribly useful for winning the war.) Wei Zhi’s identity is something Zhi Wei would want to protect even in death. Remember, once the Emperor discovers she is Wei Zhi and Wei Zhi is her, then that would mean the Emperor realizing that his son Ning Yi AND the new King Helian have been fooling him all this time. That would be really bad news for both Ning Yi and Helian. Good intentions aside though, I am sure our heroine is still hoping that she could save Wei Zhi’s identity to take the Emperor down if she does come out of the battle alive.
Good points. I wonder if she will stay as the mysterious woman fighter or reveal herself to be Princess Shunyi. I’m looking forward to finding out whether HuaQuong will similarly be captured and, like in the drama, they both claim to be the princess. Loved the translation!
I don’t see the point of why Helian and Gu Nan Yi had to get knocked out. Isn’t it worse to be carried up the cliff unconsciously, nearly getting shot at by an arrow?
I think because they probably would have refused to leave Zhi Wei and she didn’t want to argue with them and knew that a bunch of bad crap was about to go down. Their cover was about to be blown and whatever they had planned depended on surprise.
Helian can’t die – he’s the king. GNY can’t die because she loves him (maybe not the same way she felt about NY but she still cares for him). So in true Zhi Wei fashion she just made a decision and made it happen without letting an opportunity for dissent to even arise.
Anyone else have similar thoughts?
I agree. I think in our heroine’s mind is simply that if death was certain then it was better for her to die alone than to drag the two of them with her. There is also no doubt of Zhi Wei’s love for both Helian and Gu Nan Yi. How can she not love the two men who would lay down their lives for her without hesitation? And that’s precisely the reason why she knocked them out. She knew very well it was either that or watch those two fight to the death while protecting her. Our heroine might not love these two men romantically but they are family to her and losing either of them would be devastating.
I agree. She promised HZ that she would protect his steppes. If anything happened to him, that would be breaking her promise. She may not love HZ but she appreciated how he put her first and would not break her promise. She would have known there would be argument from both NZ and Nanyi. Also, she looks at dying as a relief so I think she probably looked at it as the best option.
Good points. I wonder if she will stay as the mysterious woman fighter or reveal herself to be Princess Shunyi. I’m looking forward to finding out whether HuaQuong will similarly be captured and, like in the drama, they both claim to be the princess. Loved the translation!