Chapter Forty-Seven: Encirclement and Annihilation

In the previous chapter, Fierce Beast launched a surprise attack at the East Gate and was about to split his forces when suddenly the sound of horns erupted and hidden soldiers sprang from ambush. Before he could react, a thunderous command rang out: "Loose the arrows!" Arrows rained from all directions, felling ranks of demon soldiers in waves.

"Retreat!" Fierce Beast shouted loudly. Yet the demon troops were already a chaotic mess, unable to heed any command.

"Don't panic! Don't panic!" Fierce Beast called frantically, watching his soldiers crowd together in turmoil. He cut down several of his own troops with his blade, then seized his warhorse, leapt over corpses, and charged to the front.

Brandishing his sword, he bellowed, "Follow me!" He led the way, charging toward the city’s outer edge. Seeing Fierce Beast head for the exit, the rest of the demon soldiers followed closely.

"Don’t let Fierce Beast escape!"

"Block the gate! Block it!"

The battlefield resounded with shouts and cries of battle. From atop the city walls, enormous stones were hurled down, instantly sealing the gate shut.

Fierce Beast wielded his array of weapons like a whirlwind, battering aside feathers. Seeing the gate blocked by rubble, he was furious beyond measure.

"Open!" He thrust a long spear into a gap between stones, flexed his arms,

"Ugh!" He pried loose a massive rock, then flung it over ten feet away.

The demon soldiers cheered in renewed spirits upon witnessing this feat.

Fierce Beast grew even more energized, with a loud slap he plunged his spear into another crevice, preparing to lever up another stone.

Suddenly, the jingling sound of horse bells echoed, followed by a loud shout: "Fierce Beast, cease this futile resistance! Today you cannot escape. Surrender your weapons and you may yet preserve your life!"

Fierce Beast turned toward the voice. Ah, it was Leaf Maple! Beside him rode a female general—Murong Yan.

"Leaf Maple, I have neither wronged you in the past nor harmed you recently. Why do you press me so relentlessly?" Fierce Beast, usually so arrogant, found his words softening under the peril of his situation.

Leaf Maple swung his twin whips, his voice bitter: "Fierce Beast, old monster! Though we bear no personal grudge, there is hatred for the nation! You oppress my people, slaughter my folk, and are deserving of death by all!"

Humiliated and enraged, Fierce Beast shook his weapons, sending a cold gust toward Leaf Maple.

"If that’s how it is, let us fight to the death and see who is superior!" With that, he charged at Leaf Maple, brandishing his arsenal with ferocity.

"Good!" Leaf Maple cried, splitting his form into two. The newly emerged Leaf Maple seized a demon soldier’s spear and, with several leaps, confronted Fierce Beast.

Fierce Beast swung his blade, Leaf Maple blocked it with his spear. With a flick, he diverted the blade aside, then swiftly stabbed at Fierce Beast’s face like lightning.

Fierce Beast parried the spearhead with an axe, then, with a swift motion, thrust his own spear at Leaf Maple’s heart.

"Take this!" As the spear closed in, a sudden rush of wind sounded behind Fierce Beast. Startled, he shrank his neck.

Clang! A steel whip struck his helmet, knocking it off. It was the other Leaf Maple attacking from behind, catching him unawares.

"Ah!" Fierce Beast was terrified by the blow. He thought: Not good! Leaf Maple’s skills have grown since last we met. Clearly, I cannot gain the upper hand here. Best to avoid him and seek escape through another gate.

Thinking thus, he spun his array of weapons, guarding himself tightly.

"Leaf, the green mountains endure, the rivers flow on. I will not quarrel with you today. We shall meet again!" With that, he turned his horse to flee.

The horse galloped desperately westward, trampling countless rebel soldiers and leaping over barricades. From afar, Fierce Beast saw a figure standing before the West Gate.

Drawing near, he was so frightened his scalp tingled and his hair stood on end. Who was this figure before the gate? None other than Li Xiong!

That towering figure, over ten feet tall, stood like an iron tower. The pair of chain hammers in his hands gleamed coldly under the moonlight—who would not fear him?

Fierce Beast thought, This kid is a harbinger of death! Best not to provoke him—run!

He turned his horse and raced toward the South Gate. But Li Xiong would not let him go and shouted from behind, "O-old... old... old monster, d-d-don't run!"

He chased after him, prompting Fierce Beast to whip his horse franticly, wishing it could take flight!

Soon he reached the South Gate. From a distance, he saw Xiao Ling standing guard, spear in hand. Beside him sat a man with a single blade cradled in his arms, his beard tied in a red braid, though Fierce Beast did not recognize him.

"General Xiao, come help me!" Fierce Beast called out in delight.

"Marshal Fierce, come quickly!" Xiao Ling responded loudly.

But just as Fierce Beast approached,

With a sudden thrust, Xiao Ling stabbed at his throat—so swift as lightning, and Fierce Beast was wholly unprepared.

He might have died then and there, but his horse, exhausted, collapsed beneath him with a thud, dropping him low enough to avoid the fatal blow.

"Ah!" Fierce Beast recoiled, shivering involuntarily in terror.

Taking advantage of the moment, Fierce Beast rolled from his horse and stood a yard away.

"General Xiao, what is wrong with you—have you gone mad?" Fierce Beast demanded.

Xiao Ling sneered coldly, "Marshal Fierce, surrender! You cannot escape today!"

"What?! You—you—you’ve turned traitor?!" Fierce Beast, both furious and distraught, pointed at Xiao Ling.

"Yes! Today I rebel, and I will capture you alive!"

"You—you—you—Myriad Demons Nation has not treated you poorly. How dare you betray us!" Fierce Beast ground his teeth, wishing he could sever Xiao Ling with a single stroke.

"You humiliated my mother, causing me to mistake foe for kin for eighteen years. Born neither man nor demon, I am determined to defy you all!" Xiao Ling cursed loudly and thrust his spear again.

"So you’re the culprit’s accomplice!" At that moment, Fierce Beast understood everything.

He swung his array of weapons, launching a desperate assault. Xiao Ling met him in battle, and the two clashed fiercely.

Though Xiao Ling’s silver spear and Vajra-tailed whip were renowned for their deadly prowess, today, facing Fierce Beast, it was another matter entirely! Before long, Xiao Ling was overwhelmed, barely able to defend himself.

"General Xiao, do not panic—I’ll help!" Mu Shijin, sensing danger, rushed forward with his blade.

"Don’t harm our Marshal!" Two generals accompanied Fierce Beast in his escape—Right Commander Hua Buli and Forward Captain Snow Leopard. Both charged forward to block Mu Shijin.

Mu Shijin spun his horse and circled behind them. By the time they turned, he was gone, leaving only another Snow Leopard.

One said, "Commander Hua, don’t attack—it’s me!"

The other said, "Commander Hua, he’s a fake—I’m the real one! Kill him!"

Caught in confusion, Commander Hua hesitated. Suddenly, one Snow Leopard struck, slashing Commander Hua unguarded.

Crack! Commander Hua fell lifeless from his horse.

Fierce Beast heard the commotion and turned to see Commander Hua dead. He cried out, "Ah!" and lunged at the false Snow Leopard.

In an instant, he attacked so fiercely that the impostor could barely defend himself, and he quickly fled.

Fierce Beast gave chase, but had barely taken two steps when a broken shout rang out behind him: "O-old... old... old monster, d-d-don't... don't... don't run. G-g-g-grandpa Xiong will t-t-take your h-h-head!"

Terrified, Fierce Beast froze, unable to move.

"Marshal Fierce, mount Commander Hua’s horse and go! I’ll hold them here—escape while you can!" Fierce Beast came to his senses, leapt onto Hua Buli’s horse, and rode for the North Gate.

He hadn’t gone far when a shriek rang out behind him. Fierce Beast looked back and saw Snow Leopard skewered and lifted off his horse by Xiao Ling’s spear.

Grief welled in Fierce Beast’s heart. He sighed, "Ah! Who would have thought I’d fall to utter defeat, bereft of every trusted aide!"

Yet with danger closing in, he could spare no more thought—he must flee!

Without a whip, he slapped the horse’s hindquarters with his palm.

Slap!

Slap!

"Go!"

"Go!"

The horse, in pain, let out a long neigh, and bolted faster. But ultimately, exhausted, it stumbled and fell, foaming at the mouth and breathing heavily, unable to rise.

Desperate, Fierce Beast abandoned the horse, threw aside his weapons, and revealed his true form—a many-legged monster.

The beast spread its dozen legs and ran, swift as a whirlwind, reaching the North Gate in an instant.

There he found a chubby, red-bearded old man guarding the gate, wielding an eight-foot Zao Yang spear. It was none other than Xu Yaozu!

Fierce Beast was enraged. Xu Yaozu, with his limited skills, dared to stand in his way? Infuriating!

He returned to his original form and shouted, "Xu! Move aside and let me leave the city! If you refuse, I’ll take you back, flay you alive!"

Xu Yaozu thought, Ah! A big fish! I mustn’t let him escape! But then he worried, This fish is not easy to catch—I mustn’t risk my own life!

So he commanded, "Attack! All together!"

The soldiers rushed forward, spears thrusting at Fierce Beast.

Fierce Beast was formidable indeed! He extended his many hands,

Snatching several spears, he cried, "Return to me!"

Instantly, the weapons were in his grasp.

"Xu! I’ll take your life!" He hurled the spears at Xu Yaozu.

Whistling winds echoed as the spears shot toward Xu Yaozu.

Xu Yaozu’s hair stood on end in terror. He hurriedly raised his Zao Yang spear, knocking aside the incoming weapons.

The force of Fierce Beast's attack numbed his hands.

But Fierce Beast’s movements were faster still; in the blink of an eye, he was upon Xu Yaozu.

"Xu! I’ll tear you apart!" He lunged with his dozen hands, claws bared, for Xu Yaozu.