Chapter Twenty: Defending the City

At the command, logs and boulders flew through the air, smashing into the demon soldiers and sending them into wails of agony. The rest stopped in their tracks at once, not daring to advance even half a step.

“Loose the arrows!” came the shouts from Ye Feng and Xu Yaozu. Instantly, a volley of arrows darkened the sky. In a flash, swathes of demon soldiers fell, shrieking and writhing on the ground in pain and terror. The others, terrified, turned and fled.

In the midst of the chaos, the demon general Mengkeshu, bellowed in fury in his guttural tongue, incomprehensible to human ears. He lashed out, cutting down several of his retreating soldiers to halt the tide of panic sweeping through his ranks. Trapped between the threat ahead and the wrath behind, the demon soldiers found themselves caught in a terrible dilemma. With no alternative, they raised their shields and crept forward with extreme caution.

Before they could reach the foot of the wall, another barrage of logs and stones rained down upon them, leaving carnage in its wake. The survivors retreated once more, lingering at a distance, watching warily, unable to press forward.

Seeing this, Mengkeshu could no longer restrain his rage. He leapt from his mount, brandishing a dozen weapons, and charged headlong toward the city wall. At once, another volley of arrows rained from above. Mengkeshu brushed aside the feathered shafts as he rushed closer, his feet never pausing, and in a moment he was at the base of the wall.

Another storm of logs and stones crashed down. Mengkeshu shielded himself with several of his weapons, using others to deflect the heavy missiles. As more weapons slipped from his grasp, he used his hands and feet to claw his way up the wall, inch by inch.

The defenders on the ramparts, struck with terror, cried out, “The demons are climbing! The demons are climbing!” Panic nearly sent them reeling backward in retreat.

At this critical moment, the demon soldiers regained their nerve, following their general’s lead. They raised their scaling ladders, swarming up toward the battlements. The situation grew dire.

Ye Feng, seeing the peril, shouted, “Don’t panic!” He seized a bow and arrow from a nearby soldier and cried out, “Brothers, there is nowhere left to retreat! Behind us are our parents, our wives, and our children. Would you let the enemy in to harm your own families, just to save yourselves? Better to fight to the end!”

His words thundered in the ears of the retreating soldiers, halting their flight. At the same time, he drew the bow with all his might, focusing his will, and let fly an arrow aimed squarely at Mengkeshu.

With a piercing whistle, the arrow shot forth like lightning, aimed straight at the demon general’s throat. Mengkeshu, still scrambling up the wall, caught sight of the deadly missile and felt the chill wind of its power from afar. Realizing this was no ordinary shot, he hastily raised his broadsword to block it.

With a resounding clang, sparks flew as the arrow struck the blade. Though the blow was parried, the force nearly dislodged Mengkeshu from the wall, and he slid back three steps.

Seeing this, Ye Feng’s heart chilled. He had unleashed all his strength, shooting from above with gravity and momentum on his side—yet Mengkeshu’s demonic power was so deep that he could withstand the blow and not fall. If the demon general made it atop the wall, who could stand against him?

There was no time for doubt. Ye Feng drew three more arrows, nocked them together, and with a surge of willpower, loosed them at once—aimed at Mengkeshu’s left eye, right eye, and chest.

This time, Mengkeshu was prepared. Knowing Ye Feng’s arrows were imbued with formidable force, he leapt upward, evading the missiles, which whistled harmlessly beneath him. In this way, he drew even closer to the top of the wall.

As the demon general neared, Ye Feng’s nerves frayed. He grabbed six arrows at once, intending to unleash them in desperation. But with a loud snap, the bowstring broke. Left holding a fractured bow and six useless arrows, Ye Feng could only hurl them at Mengkeshu as the monster drew ever nearer.

Mengkeshu brushed aside the thrown weapons and with a mighty leap, vaulted onto the battlements, followed closely by several demon soldiers.

Though moments before the rebel soldiers had wavered, Ye Feng’s words had reignited their courage. Now, seeing the enemy atop the wall, their eyes blazed red with resolve. “To the death!” they shouted, hurling themselves at the foe.

Mengkeshu’s blades flashed, and in short order several defenders fell. Yet the rebels fought with grim resolve, and for each man lost, many more surged forward to take his place. In the chaos, Ye Feng drew his twin whips and struck at Mengkeshu, while Xu Yaozu charged in, brandishing his heavy spear in a desperate duel.

Blood and flesh flew as the two sides clashed in a brutal melee. Night swiftly descended, and both armies lit torches, the flames illuminating the carnage as the fighting grew even fiercer.

Ye Feng saw more and more demon soldiers climbing onto the battlements and called to Xu Yaozu, “Elder, we must use fire!”

Xu Yaozu understood at once. Withdrawing his spear, he gathered his will, and the torches on the wall blazed higher and higher. He cried, “Go!” The flames gathered, fanned by the wind, growing into a mighty fire tiger that roared and lunged at Mengkeshu.

The fire tiger swelled in size, the wind howling through its form as if it were truly alive, bellowing in rage. Mengkeshu, undaunted, whirled his many weapons and hurled them into the flames, grappling with the fiery beast. His blades whirled so fast they tore the fire tiger apart, scattering it into sparks.

The rebel soldiers, seeing this, rushed forward in desperation. Sparks rained down upon them, setting them ablaze, yet they paid no heed. Fully aflame, with the resolve to die together with the enemy, they hurled themselves at Mengkeshu—only to be cut down one after another. Soon, the swelling ranks of demon soldiers blocked any further advance, and a chaotic melee resumed.

Ye Feng realized the situation was dire—if this continued, more and more demons would swarm the battlements, and there would be no holding the Black Earth City. Desperate, he gathered his will, summoning a twisting pillar of fire that coiled into a mighty dragon. The fire dragon soared above the wall, its jaws agape, spewing flames to hold back the invaders. Those demons already atop the wall, outnumbered, were swiftly cut down by the rebel soldiers, until only Mengkeshu remained, fighting on alone.

He fought with savage fury, howling as his blades danced, slaying several more defenders as he forced his way deeper into the city. At his call, the demon army outside renewed their assault, swarming from all directions like a flood.

Seeing the city’s peril, Ye Feng bellowed, “Brothers, the demons are atop the wall—if we can’t hold the city, we may as well die here! Fight to the end!” He launched himself at Mengkeshu, whips flying, and then, with a shout, engaged the demon general in close combat.

“Fight! Fight!” the rebel soldiers echoed, hurling logs and stones at the enemy. Some, unable to bring the weapons in time, leapt from the battlements, grappling demons and dragging them down together.

The air was thick with blood and slaughter. In every corner, death reigned, and cries of agony echoed everywhere.

Ye Feng and Xu Yaozu battled Mengkeshu with all their strength, but were gradually forced back. Suddenly, a clear voice rang out: “Master! Lord Ye! Don’t be afraid, I’m here!”

A flash of green—a sword shot through the air like lightning, striking Mengkeshu’s wrist and severing a hand, blade and claw falling together to the ground. Mengkeshu howled in pain, cursing, “Where did this little brat come from? Cut off my hand—damn you!” Abandoning Ye Feng and Xu Yaozu, he turned toward the voice.

Murong Yan had just landed lightly on the ground, only to see Mengkeshu charging at her. She had never seen such a hideous creature—grotesque, with too many limbs. Terrified, she shrieked and staggered back three steps.

“Junior sister, watch out!” Xu Zhihui, flying on his sword, interposed himself between Murong Yan and the demon. “You dare block my way, boy?” Mengkeshu roared, launching a flurry of blades and spears in eighteen directions.

Xu Zhihui could barely defend himself. Sparks flew as weapon met weapon, the night lit up as if by fireworks. With a cry, Xu Zhihui was hurled a dozen feet away.

Murong Yan, regaining her wits, cried out, “Brother!” and rushed to aid him.

“Die, brat!” Mengkeshu pursued, swinging his many weapons wildly.

Ye Feng and Xu Yaozu saw Murong Yan in danger and, like madmen, charged at Mengkeshu from behind. In their desperation, they fought with reckless abandon. The frenzied assault paid off—Ye Feng landed a punch to Mengkeshu’s back, while Xu Yaozu’s spear smashed into his leg. Mengkeshu howled with pain and whirled to defend himself, giving Murong Yan a chance to escape.

“Damn you, old demon! I’ll never let this go!” Xu Zhihui struggled to his feet, sword in hand, and rejoined the fight. The four demon slayers surrounded Mengkeshu, the battle raging on.

Meanwhile, the demon soldiers below suffered heavy losses, their assault faltering as their spirit broke. Mengkeshu, surrounded and beset on all sides, began to lose heart and thought of retreat—but it was too late. Xu Yaozu and Ye Feng blocked his way back, while Xu Zhihui and Murong Yan stood before him.

Hemmed in and furious, Mengkeshu howled, his weapons spinning like a wall of steel. Yet as time wore on, his strength waned, and his defense faltered.

In that moment of weakness, he suffered grievous wounds—a blow to the back, a spear to the chest, a broken leg, a severed hand. Blood poured from his battered body as he howled in agony, driven to madness.

Seizing the advantage, the defenders pressed their attack with renewed vigor. Just as victory seemed within reach, a thunderous shout echoed: “You bastard, chasing me even here? I’ll fight you to the death!”

A burly black-faced man rushed onto the battlements, leveled his spear, and charged Mengkeshu—it was Murong Bao, who had only just awakened from an exhausted sleep in the barracks. Hearing the uproar outside, he rushed out to join the fight.

Ye Feng rejoiced, thinking: Mengkeshu! Now the five of us stand against you—let’s see how you fare. Once you are slain and the demon horde loses its leader, the city will be unshakable, and I’ll have nothing more to fear from these monsters.

With this thought, Ye Feng cried out, “Brothers, seize the leader! Don’t let Mengkeshu escape today!” He raised his twin whips and brought them crashing down on the demon general’s skull.

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