Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Great Bow and Linked Crossbows

Three days passed, yet Ye Feng remained unconscious.

The military physician grew anxious, applying needles and administering medicine, but nothing elicited a response.

When Murong Yan inquired as to the cause, the physician scratched his scalp in bewilderment and replied, “Marshal, this… this… I truly do not know what is wrong. By rights, the danger should have passed after these three days. If General Ye awoke, with careful nursing, he could recover. If not, his life would be forfeit. But this… this…”

The military physician’s face darkened with difficulty, as if he wished to speak yet dared not.

A chill sank into Murong Yan’s heart, an ominous premonition stirring within her.

Still, she gently reassured him, “Doctor, please speak freely. There is no need to hold anything back.”

Only then did the physician cautiously say, “Then I beg your pardon for my boldness. This… this… I fear… I fear General Ye may remain in this state forever—a living husk, never to awaken.”

These words rang out like thunder on a clear day, leaving Murong Yan’s mind humming, her thoughts reeling, as though plunged into icy water that chilled her to the core.

“Ye Feng… he… he…” Her lips trembled, unable to accept the truth.

It was a long while before she regained her senses, then let out a wrenching cry, “Brother Feng!”

Tears streamed from her eyes as she rushed into the sickroom.

“Marshal, please, lower your voice! You mustn’t disturb General Ye!” the military physician exclaimed, panic-stricken, hurrying after her.

Murong Yan came to Ye Feng’s side, grasped his hand, and sobbed, “Brother Feng, please get up, get up! Don’t sleep anymore, won’t you?”

When Ye Feng did not respond, she scolded him, “You can’t just lie here and slack off! Are you getting up or not? Listen, the demon soldiers are attacking the city again. Didn’t you say you would slay them? They’re at the gates—they’ll bring disaster to the people! Everyone’s counting on you! How can you lie here and ignore it all?”

Seeing still no response, she pleaded, “Brother Feng, please, don’t sleep anymore. Get up, and I’ll listen to whatever you say from now on. If you say attack, we’ll attack; if you say hold back, we’ll hold back…”

Everyone witnessing Murong Yan’s grief, seeing Ye Feng’s dire condition, could not help but weep silently.

Murong Yan’s tears fell in torrents, her beauty wan and haggard.

Suddenly, she felt a faint tremor in her palm. Looking down, she saw Ye Feng’s finger twitch slightly.

Murong Yan was overjoyed. “Doctor! Doctor, look! General Ye’s hand moved! It moved!”

She wiped her tears away, her sorrow turning to laughter.

The physician hurried over, and indeed, Ye Feng’s fingers were moving.

He quickly applied needles and worked for over two hours, then checked Ye Feng again. At last, he breathed a sigh of relief.

“Marshal, rest assured. In two days, General Ye will awaken. You should all return to your duties—the demon army is at the border, and everyone’s efforts are needed.”

The physician wiped the sweat from his brow, offering comfort.

Only then did the others return to camp.

The next day, Ye Feng awoke.

Having consumed the “Immortal Herb of Strength and Restoration,” he practiced focusing his will each day to heal himself. In just a few days, he could already get out of bed and walk.

One day, as Ye Feng was practicing his arts in the sickroom, he suddenly heard from outside the city—

Boom! Boom! Boom! Thud! …

The cannons thundered.

The drums rumbled together.

The horns blared through the sky.

Ye Feng’s heart leapt. What’s happening? The demon soldiers are attacking again? I ran my spear through Mengke Beast that day—how has he recovered even faster than I?

Thinking of Mengke Beast led him to recall Xiao Ling. That Xiao Ling is truly formidable. If he joins the demon commander in this assault, Black Earth City will be in grave danger.

He also thought of the enormous wild man who had saved him. Who was that? His manner and speech were so familiar—who could he be? Had he returned to the city with me that day, he’d be a mighty warrior against the demon soldiers.

Oh no! The demon commander Mengke Beast has brought fifty thousand Skyhawk Troops and fifty thousand Earthburrow Troops. If they attack from the air and underground, the city won’t hold!

Unable to sit still, Ye Feng threw on his coat, ignored the doctor’s protests, and rushed out.

He fetched a warhorse, mounted up, and rode hard for the city lord’s manor.

Arriving there, he learned Murong Yan had already gone to the city walls to oversee the defense.

He asked for directions and galloped to the wall.

Soon, he saw Murong Yan at the parapet, commanding the troops.

Ignoring his not-yet-healed injuries, he summoned his inner strength, leapt into the air, and landed on the battlements.

“Subordinate Ye Feng pays respects to Marshal Murong!”

Murong Yan, seeing his pale face, felt both grief and anger.

With a stern expression, she rebuked him, “Ye Feng, do you know your offense?”

Ye Feng was bewildered, but answered carefully, “I do not know what wrong I have committed.”

Murong Yan’s face remained severe. “What is Article Thirty-Six of the military code?”

Ye Feng shivered but replied honestly, “Article Thirty-Six: Wounded soldiers must remain in the infirmary unless given permission to leave by a physician. Those who violate this are to be punished with ten strokes of the military rod; those absent too long are deserters and to be executed.”

Murong Yan’s expression softened slightly. “Since you know this, I won’t punish you today. You’d best return to the infirmary and recover.”

“But—”

“Enough! Silence!” Murong Yan cut him off angrily. “Do you want those ten strokes? I’ll remember it for today. Guards, escort him down!”

The guards pretended to jostle Ye Feng, ushering him away.

“Subordinate withdraws! Subordinate withdraws!” Ye Feng, seeing she was truly angry, apologized profusely and hurried off.

On his way back to camp, Ye Feng grew increasingly concerned. The demon soldiers are so fierce—how can we defend against them?

It occurred to him that if they could build powerful longbows to shoot at the Skyhawk Troops, they might keep them at bay. The other demon soldiers would be easier to handle.

Once the thought struck him, he acted. He turned his horse and rode home.

In his study, he found several books on mechanical construction, packed them, and brought them back to the infirmary.

That night, he read by lamplight, poring over materials and drafting blueprints.

He designed a giant repeating crossbow, equipped with mechanisms for automatically loading each arrow. As one arrow was fired, the next would drop into place, allowing for rapid fire. It had turning wheels and pulleys for easy aiming and drawing, saving both time and effort.

He named it the “Giant Repeating Crossbow.”

The next day, he summoned a young soldier, gave him two silver coins, and sent for two carpenters. Together, they began constructing the device in the camp.

They toiled all day, and by nightfall, the crossbow was complete.

Upon testing, it fired swiftly, high, and true.

This time, he was prudent; after requesting leave from the doctor, he directed two soldiers to carry the crossbow to the city lord’s manor.

He thought, Yan, I’ve finally found a way to counter the Skyhawk Troops for you.

But upon arrival, the gate guards returned with apologetic faces. “General Ye, the Marshal is angry. Tread carefully.”

Ye Feng thought, Oh no, what have I done now?

He dared not ask, but followed the soldier meekly into the council chamber.

There, Murong Yan sat in authority. Ye Feng dropped to his knees and announced, “Ye Feng, Vanguard of Black Earth City, reports to the Marshal!”

Murong Yan’s face darkened, and she shouted, “Why are you wandering about instead of recuperating in camp?”

Ye Feng jumped in fright. “Marshal, I did not break orders this time! I requested leave from the physician. With the enemy at our gates, I designed and built a Giant Repeating Crossbow to counter the Skyhawk Troops!”

He might as well have said nothing—Murong Yan grew even angrier, slamming the table and roaring, “Insolence! The demon soldiers are for the able-bodied to confront. What business is it of a wounded man like you? Are you suggesting our army is without men?!”

Ye Feng shivered, bowing and apologizing, “I dare not! I dare not!”

Murong Yan’s face grew cold again. “Withdraw at once!”

Ye Feng scrambled to his feet, bowed, and retreated, “With your leave! With your leave!”

Murong Yan waved her hand, instructing two soldiers, “Escort General Ye back to camp. Tend to him well and do not let him leave the infirmary again.”

She quietly added, “Take turns watching him day and night, serve him diligently, and under no circumstances allow him out of camp!”

Then she called Ye Feng back. “For your efforts, I won’t punish you today. Leave the blueprints and the crossbow here.”

Ye Feng was delighted, bowing deeply. “Yes! Yes!”

Still uneasy, he said, “Marshal, though the Giant Repeating Crossbow can counter the Skyhawk Troops, we should also bury empty jars beneath the inside of the city walls to listen for tunneling—this will guard against the Earthburrow Troops.”

Murong Yan nodded. “I’ll remember that.”

Her face then turned cold once more. “Military matters are not for you to worry about. Focus on your recovery.”

Nothing more was said that day. The next morning, as Ye Feng slept soundly, he was startled awake by the blare of horns and drums, the clamor of men and horses outside. He leapt up and rushed for the door.

He was stopped by the two soldiers Murong Yan had assigned.

As they argued, the military physician arrived. Ye Feng pleaded, “Doctor, with all this commotion, the demon soldiers must be attacking again. Let me go out for a look—I’ll be right back.”

The physician smiled wryly and begged, “General Ye, have mercy on me! You slipped out yesterday and cost me a month’s pay. If I let you out again, I’ll lose my head for sure! For my sake, please stay put and rest.”

And so, no matter how fierce the fighting, Murong Yan forbade Ye Feng from leaving camp—he could only recuperate.

Though she visited him several times, she never spoke of military matters, only expressing concern for his well-being. Yet from her increasingly thin, hurried appearance, it was clear that the fighting at the front was dire and the army was suffering.

Ye Feng worried, but could do nothing to help.

A month passed. When both his internal and external injuries were healed, the physician finally allowed Ye Feng to report for duty.

——

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