The generals on the city wall looked grave. The woman below was someone they admired, and General Liu had a life-or-death friendship with each of them. No one wished to see such a scene unfold, yet the Xiongnu seemed determined to kill them both, as if their lives were forfeit.
"Miss, it seems we cannot enter the city alive. If we can return, I will respectfully call you Master. You have no idea how much I admire you, it's just that you are younger than me and a woman, so I couldn't bring myself to do it before," General Liu said, sword in hand, ready to die. He felt that such a young and talented woman should not perish with a mere brute like himself.
Wu Caiwei looked at General Liu, who stepped forward to shield her. Her heart was touched. As the Xiongnu closed in, less than fifty meters away, a rope was suddenly thrown from the city wall. The Governor shouted, "Quick, grab it!"
Wu Caiwei's body trembled, and she immediately sprang to life. She surged forward, clearing a path and freeing General Liu from the chaotic melee. Grasping him with one hand and the rope with the other, she charged towards the city wall. Using the momentum of her ascent, she leaped onto the parapet in a few bounds.
Seeing the Xiongnu soldiers frantically trying to climb the rope, the Governor quickly drew his sword and severed it.
"Hahahaha, Liu Daniu is back! I thought I was done for, but I never expected to return unharmed. From now on, I'll fight until these Xiongnu are routed!" Liu Daniu, regaining his senses, expressed his joy at being safe.
Smiles involuntarily appeared on everyone's faces. This ordeal had been too perilous. Who could have predicted the Xiongnu would act so unscrupulously, sacrificing so many lives just to keep them? It seemed they had good judgment, discerning the threat immediately.
Wu Caiwei smiled and stepped forward to express her gratitude to the Governor. She had been careless today. While she was confident she could have climbed the city wall even without his help, what if something had gone wrong? It seemed she needed to be better prepared in the future.
"As long as you are safe, it is my responsibility that you encountered danger outside the city. I was not thoughtful enough," the Governor admitted with some self-reproach. When she was in danger, his heart ached to the point of breathlessness. He couldn't imagine how much he would regret it if they hadn't made it back today.
"Who could have imagined they would act this way? They are truly cunning," Wu Caiwei said, comforting him as she saw his remorseful expression.
Although the first encounter was thrilling, their side suffered no losses, while many Xiongnu fell to their arrows, greatly boosting morale.
A Luo Yi, the second prince of the Xiongnu, angrily pounded the table. He had expected to eliminate the threat, given their formidable martial skills, but to his dismay, they had escaped, and he had lost so many men.
"Your Highness, what should we do next?" the man beside him asked, frowning. The previous Crown Prince had perished here. Someone looked in the direction of the arrows fired and vaguely saw the figure of a woman. Today, it seemed likely that this woman was the one who had shot and killed the former Crown Prince. This was troublesome. With her high level of skill, eliminating her would be extremely difficult. For the first time, the second prince felt he had met his match.
"Contact our people in place and find a way to cooperate from the inside and outside to open the city gates." They had already lost a considerable number of men in this battle. Attacking the walls was a massive undertaking. The former Crown Prince had kept them working day and night for many days without success. Furthermore, their reinforcements had arrived, and the defense would be longer lasting. He couldn't afford further attrition.
Unexpectedly, General Liu kept his word. After descending the city wall, Wu Caiwei walked in front, and he followed. When she walked at the back, he followed behind. He incessantly called her "Master," paying no heed to others' amusement.
"Stop following me. I have many things to attend to and no intention of taking on a disciple," Wu Caiwei said, genuinely fearing such a single-minded person who was too stubborn.
"I said I would become your disciple, and I will. My word is my bond," Liu Daniu declared, determined to follow her and learn a few moves, so he could face enemies with more confidence next time.
"That's your one-sided idea. I haven't agreed," Wu Caiwei said helplessly.
"As long as Master does not agree to my plea, your disciple will follow you at all times. Eventually, you will be moved by my sincerity," Liu Daniu stated with great enthusiasm.
Despite Wu Caiwei's clear expression of her aversion and dislike for being followed, he remained unfazed, showing a rather persistent demeanor.
Unbeknownst to them, the soldiers guarding the city gate had been quietly replaced. One was so ill with a severe cold that he couldn't get out of bed, while the other suffered from continuous diarrhea and was so weakened that he couldn't stand. Fearing an imminent enemy attack, they couldn't wait and had someone fill their posts. Two men volunteered, and the gate guard supervisor, thinking ambition was a good trait, did not object.
It was a moonless night, and everyone was asleep when suddenly, shouts of battle erupted from below the city wall. The defenders, well-prepared and vigilant, proceeded in an orderly fashion despite the initial panic.
Attacking the walls was brutal. Ladders were propped against the ramparts, and defenders constantly hurled logs down. Those struck by the timber, falling from such a height, were either killed or injured. Indeed, they never rose again.
Just as everyone was focused on repelling the attacking enemies, they suddenly heard a commotion from the city gate. "What is this?"
"Please, sir, take command and stay calm. Under no circumstances let these people onto the wall. I will lead them to close the city gate."
The Governor nodded. At this point, though Wu Caiwei's identity remained a mystery, he had long suspected she was not a spy. After all, with her martial prowess, if she had intended to cause trouble, it would have been easy. He would have perished countless times by now.
"Everyone, follow me quickly!" Wu Caiwei commanded. Those led by Liu Daniu immediately followed her.
Descending from the city wall, the situation was grim. The gate was already half-open, and Xiongnu soldiers were pouring in relentlessly. Warriors spontaneously formed human shields, and as one fell, another immediately took their place. Wu Caiwei ignored them, stepping on the heads of Xiongnu soldiers to reach the back of the city gate. Drawing her sword, she slew the soldiers struggling to force it open.
Then, she began a frenzied assault on the unending stream of Xiongnu soldiers. Soon, bodies piled around her feet. With one hand wielding her sword, she used the other to gradually push the city gate shut, inch by inch.
The Xiongnu, realizing her intent, intensified their charge. Wu Caiwei, despite her seemingly incredible combat strength, knew deep down that she was nearing her limit, utterly exhausted.