Chapter 165: Chapter 94: The Fall of the City!_3
He had only recently been demoted and sent to Mianzhou City. His former subordinates were not here, and he hadn’t yet had the chance to organize the local garrison soldiers.
If this were the past, he would have been confident enough to gather his men and fight even if the Yan bastards really did show up. But here, he simply could not muster any troops.
Moreover, could these unarmed men still be called soldiers?
Finally, the foremost barbarian cavalryman charged, slashing down two fleeing garrison soldiers before confronting Old Sun, who stood his ground.
Old Sun’s qi and blood surged once more, and he thrust his long spear forward.
The barbarian cavalryman tried to block with his saber, but felt a jolt in his arm as his machete was sent flying by the tip of the spear.
Old Sun pressed on; the power of an Eighth Rank Martial Cultivator infused his spear as he thrust again.
"THUNK!"
The spear penetrated the barbarian’s armor. The soldier looked down in disbelief.
"Yan bastard, surrender your life!" Old Sun let out a growl.
He raised his spear, hoisted the barbarian cavalryman from his horse with it, and then slammed the man onto the ground.
"THUD!"
The barbarian cavalryman writhed on the ground, spasmed one last time, and then lay still.
"HUM!"
Old Sun rested his spear on the ground and took this chance to glance back.
To his surprise, the city gates remained open!
It was clear that people inside were attempting to close the gates, but the stream of collapsing garrison soldiers desperately trying to get in was blocking their efforts. Furthermore, the entrance was obstructed by many goods, making it even harder to seal the city.
"Direct Thief!" Old Sun roared. In his eyes, this was an advance unit of the Yan Army, their objective to seize the gate. A larger Yan Army was surely following close behind!
If this delay truly continues, then...
Just then, more barbarian cavalrymen closed in.
At this moment, a strange tableau formed beneath the walls of Mianzhou City.
Over a thousand people were jammed at the city gate. A unit of cavalry was gradually converging on one side of the gate. And between them stood an old man armed with a spear.
This peculiar scene didn’t last long, because Zheng Fan’s aim was to seize the gate!
The charge of the barbarian cavalry did not cease!
In an instant, nearly ten barbarian horsemen galloped towards Old Sun, forming a fan-shaped encirclement.
"Yan bastard!"
Old Sun swung his spear once more, his body emitting a brown glow that also enveloped his weapon.
"WHACK!"
"WHACK!"
"WHACK!"
The spear moved like a nimble dragon or serpent; three swift strikes sent three barbarian cavalrymen tumbling from their horses.
Next, he swept the spear low, breaking several horses’ legs and unseating more barbarian riders.
Finally, the spear tip began to pick its targets. A thrust, a flick, a stab—simple, unadorned moves, yet each sequence brought down a barbarian cavalryman.
In no time, all ten barbarians who had initially charged were felled by Old Sun alone, either dead or injured.
However, before Old Sun could take a breather, the second wave of barbarian cavalry charged. Simultaneously, many other cavalrymen bypassed him, their target clear: the city gates!
"Yan bastards, halt!" Old Sun upended another two barbarian cavalrymen with his spear, retreating swiftly as he roared, "Close the gates!"
Behind the city gates, Sun Jianming was leading dozens of city guards, desperately trying to close the gates, but with thousands pushing from the outside, they couldn’t budge them!
"THWACK!"
Old Sun jabbed out, felling another barbarian cavalryman.
For a moment, this old Qian State martial veteran gave Zheng Fan a sense of déjà vu, reminding him of Shatuo Queshi hammering at the gates of the Earl of North Border’s residence.
But as a Ninth Rank warrior, Zheng Fan could clearly sense that his opponent’s qi and blood were nearly exhausted.
Perhaps the old man had been a formidable expert in his prime, but no one could escape the ravages of time.
Liang Cheng made his move. After Old Sun had dealt with two waves of barbarian cavalry, Liang Cheng spurred his horse and charged.
Old Sun’s spear danced out again, clashing with Liang Cheng’s saber.
For a moment, Old Sun felt his arms grow heavy and his body tremble; he couldn’t maintain his stance. Just then, Liang Cheng leaped from his horse, pouncing towards Old Sun.
Old Sun’s eyes turned icy. The long spear in his hands suddenly snapped, becoming two short spears. He used one to parry Liang Cheng’s saber, while thrusting the other into Liang Cheng’s abdomen.
However, his opponent’s physique was like tempered steel; his spear tip failed to pierce his opponent’s flesh. Instead, a sharp crack sounded from his own wrist.
Such was the terrifying resilience of a Zombie’s physique!
Moreover, Liang Cheng was no longer the same man who had reported to the labor camp with Zheng Fan. After Zheng Fan advanced in rank, Liang Cheng’s own strength had further recovered—or more accurately, his bloodline had further awakened.
Seizing the opportunity, Liang Cheng’s saber was already slashing towards Old Sun’s neck.
Yet, at this critical moment, Old Sun suddenly let out a furious roar. Blood trickled from the corners of his eyes. A brown radiance erupted from his body, suffusing the spear tip pressed against Liang Cheng’s abdomen.
"SHUNK!"
The spear tip penetrated Liang Cheng’s body.
Old Sun gritted his teeth, his bloodshot eyes glaring at Liang Cheng. "Yan bastard, meet your fa—"
Two barbarian cavalrymen charged in, one on each side. As their horses thundered past, both leaned down and drew their sabers.
"SCHLICK!"
Old Sun, locked in a stalemate with Liang Cheng, was completely immobile.
The next moment, his head was severed.
Tumbling through the air, he saw that the city gates behind him were still open.
"THUD!"
The head finally landed on the ground.
Old Sun’s vision gradually blurred and dimmed.
He knew. Mianzhou City was finished.And he was tired, so tired.
"Your injuries?" Zheng Fan looked at Liang Cheng.
Liang Cheng shook his head and responded, "Thank you for your concern, My lord. It’s nothing serious."
After speaking, Liang Cheng remounted his horse.
Just then, Zheng Fan saw a previously wounded barbarian soldier walk over to the old man’s severed head, bend down, and pick it up.
Zheng Fan squinted and asked in the barbarian tongue, "What are you doing?"
"Master, he is a true warrior. We Barbarians respect warriors, even if they are our enemies."
Zheng Fan nodded. "I command you to take twenty men, gather our injured kinsmen and the bodies of our fallen, and take them to the hillock outside the city where we rested earlier. Wait for our return there."
"As you command, Master."
Zheng Fan then gestured at the old man’s body. "Take his entire body. Bury him first. He was a man of Qian State; he should be buried here."
"Yes, Master."
Liang Cheng, one hand pressed to his abdomen, the other still gripping his saber, said, "My lord, our forces aren’t sufficient to hold this place. The Qian State people in the city probably think we’re just the vanguard with a larger army following. That’s why they’re so frightened and panicked. Once they realize we only have this small force, they might..."
"I’m not that naive. But at the very least, we should take a souvenir to prove I was here. Into the city!"
Upon his command, over three hundred barbarian cavalry, led by Zheng Fan, charged directly into the city. They didn’t disperse to plunder, nor did they attempt to seize the treasury or the warehouses of city businesses. After scattering a few disorganized bands of stragglers on the streets, the troop halted before the government office.
Zheng Fan looked up at the plaque above the government office entrance and said to Liang Cheng beside him, "Here we are, the souvenir shop."
Liang Cheng, however, said, "Let’s hope it’s not another chicken coop."
Zheng Fan immediately glared at him. "Shut your jinxing mouth!"