Volume One, Chapter 15: Fierce Battle, Xu Jin's Barrage!

“At your command!”
Xu Qian responded swiftly, running over from a short distance away, stopping, and saluting sharply.

Qin Feng’s expression was solemn as he said, “I hereby appoint you as the Military Captain of the Northern Border, in charge of the Thousand-Strong Catapult Battalion.”

Xu Qian was momentarily stunned.

He quickly recovered, dropping to one knee in deep gratitude. “Thank you, Your Highness. I will not disappoint you!”

Qin Feng waved his hand dismissively, resting it on the throwing arm of the catapult. “The catapult can be aimed, right?”

Xu Qian rose and replied, “Yes, but only roughly for distance adjustments.”

“That’s sufficient. I will teach you a new method of launching,” Qin Feng said.

Then, he beckoned Xu Qian closer to whisper the technique.

After listening, Xu Qian’s eyes gleamed with astonishment, barely able to believe such a method could be applied to a catapult.

“Your Highness, this launching technique is truly ingenious. To have devised such a method—you must be a man of divine talent. My admiration for you is…”

“Enough!”

Hearing Xu Qian’s unceasing praise, Qin Feng was slightly embarrassed and quickly interrupted, saying, “Teach this method to the soldiers of the catapult battalion. Soon, we will send the Xiongnu a grand gift!”

“Understood!”

Xu Qian’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. He nodded vigorously and turned to shout, “Catapult Battalion, assemble!”

At the same time,

The heavy gates of Suiye City slowly opened, and Meng Jun led a thousand-strong squad out.

“You cowardly vermin, prepare to die!”

Without hesitation, Chao Ketu roared fiercely, riding a tall horse, brandishing his long blade as he charged forward.

Meng Jun took a deep breath.

He squeezed his legs against the horse’s flanks and surged ahead decisively. Facing Chao Ketu’s over two-meter-long blade, he sidestepped swiftly, raising his cold blade to parry upwards.

Clang!

The two blades clashed, ringing sharply.

The powerful impact caused pain in Meng Jun’s hand, and even the fierce horse beneath him let out a shriek, stumbling back several steps.

Chao Ketu’s eyes filled with contempt as he surged forward with more strikes.

Meng Jun’s gaze sharpened. He ducked under the long blade’s attack, then used his cold blade to lift the heavy weapon upward, quickly retracting his blade to slash a cut across Chao Ketu’s arm.

Chao Ketu winced in pain.

His fury and murderous intent intensified. Wielding the long blade with wide, sweeping motions, he relentlessly attacked.

Meng Jun dared not meet him head-on.

Their strengths were on different levels; a direct contest of power would be disastrous for him.

Seizing the moment when Chao Ketu’s heavy blade was sweeping wide and could not be retracted quickly, Meng Jun lunged suddenly toward his opponent’s abdomen.

Chao Ketu was slightly surprised.

He instinctively placed the long blade horizontally to block Meng Jun’s strike, but his body involuntarily recoiled, nearly falling from his horse.

“Damn it!”

Chao Ketu cursed inwardly.

Avoiding the catapult and arrows earlier, combined with prolonged rage, had severely depleted his stamina.

Otherwise, Meng Jun’s strength alone would not have nearly unseated him.

Seeing Chao Ketu weakening, Meng Jun intensified his attacks, shouting, “Xiongnu filth! Those who dare violate the Great Yu shall be killed without mercy!”

Gritting his teeth, Chao Ketu fought back fiercely.

His body grew weaker, movements sluggish, and the pain from his arm wound worsened. At this rate, before long, defeat was inevitable!

Realizing this,

Chao Ketu kicked hard, leaping off his horse to steady himself on the ground. Facing the charging Meng Jun, he swung his long blade with full force.

His exhaustion prevented him from controlling the horse effectively, forcing him to fight on foot.

Thud!

His horse was struck by the blade, its front leg severed outright. Meng Jun had no time to react and was thrown to the ground along with the horse.

Taking advantage of this,

Chao Ketu rushed forward, swinging the long blade with tremendous force. The sound of the blade slicing through the air hissed sharply.

On the city wall, Qin Feng furrowed his brow, filled with deep concern.

Chao Ketu was over two meters tall and possessed extraordinary strength. To engage him up close, any misstep could be fatal.

As the blade came down,

Meng Jun rolled aside without regard for his own appearance, narrowly evading the deadly strike.

Though disappointed at missing, Chao Ketu pressed on, swinging again with incredible speed.

Meng Jun retreated quickly, eyes locked on Chao Ketu’s movements, searching for an opening.

Soon,

Meng Jun’s eyes gleamed with insight.

He noticed that despite Chao Ketu’s strength, his exhaustion and the unwieldiness of his massive weapon caused a brief pause after each attack.

“Now!”

Seizing the moment when Chao Ketu’s strike missed and he hesitated, Meng Jun charged forward swiftly, his blade flashing cold light.

Unfortunately,

Though Chao Ketu’s long blade could not be retracted in time to block, he twisted his body slightly, relying on his armor’s protection, so Meng Jun’s blade only grazed the surface.

By then,

Sweat beaded on Chao Ketu’s forehead, his breathing heavy and ragged.

Glaring at Meng Jun’s fierce advance, he bit his lip and shouted, “I’ll fight to the death!”

Stepping back with his right leg, gripping the long blade tightly with both hands, he unleashed a devastating horizontal sweep to block Meng Jun’s evasions and attacks.

Meng Jun’s face changed drastically.

Chao Ketu’s strike was brutal, powered by a waist-driven swing of both arms. A single misstep could break his waist and leave him paralyzed on the ground.

Yet the power was undeniable.

Retreating to dodge was too late; unless Chao Ketu ceased his assault, Meng Jun would be seriously wounded if not killed.

Whoosh!

At this critical moment, a sharp whistle pierced the air!

A dark arrow flew swiftly from behind, aiming straight for the back of Chao Ketu’s neck.

Chao Ketu sensed the cold killing intent from behind.

Though his eyes flashed with unwillingness, he knew that if he did not dodge, regardless of whether he killed Meng Jun, he would surely be pierced through the throat and bleed out immediately.

In a flash,

Chao Ketu slammed his long blade downward, using the momentum to launch himself aside and avoid the arrow.

He stumbled, landing two meters away, glaring furiously at Li Xiuyuan beneath the city gate. “Despicable!”

“Oh? You still dare insult me?”

Li Xiuyuan, angered, quickly nocked another arrow, forcing Chao Ketu to keep dodging.

Suddenly!

While Chao Ketu was busy evading arrows, Meng Jun charged from behind with his cold blade, unhindered, and pierced straight through his chest. Blood gushed uncontrollably.

Chao Ketu’s body froze.

His fierce eyes reflected unwillingness and fury as his strength rapidly drained. He barely turned his head to look at Meng Jun and whispered weakly, “I... am not willing...”

Boom!

With a dull thud, the towering figure collapsed lifelessly.

“Phew!”

Meng Jun exhaled deeply. Though the victory felt unearned, the two were simply not on the same level—one-on-one combat was never a contest.

Moreover,

Chao Ketu’s death was inevitable.

After enduring relentless bombardment from catapults and archers, utterly drained of stamina, he could not have escaped back to the Xiongnu camp.

That Meng Jun agreed to battle outside the city was already a generous gesture.

The means were irrelevant!

At this moment,

Over three hundred meters away, more than ten thousand Xiongnu soldiers saw Chao Ketu’s death and were instantly terrified. Without hesitation, they began to flee at full gallop!

They had considered retreating earlier,

But the Northern Border’s catapults stood ready. Should they dare run, massive stone projectiles would rain down from above.

Better to pin their hopes on Chao Ketu than be slaughtered while fleeing.

Alas, their hopes were shattered!

Qin Feng noticed and smiled faintly, shouting, “Catapult Battalion, orders! Xu, unleash the barrage!”