There was a great river blocking the way ahead, and behind there were more than ten thousand pursuing troops. They had already reached a desperate situation.
On both sides of the road there were dense forests, with no path available.
A few miles behind, more than ten thousand rebel troops formed a semicircular array. They kept closing in, gradually tightening the encirclement.
Suo Lun ordered everyone to abandon their horses and commanded all the family warriors to ascend Lingjiang Peak.
Half an hour later they reached the summit of the mountain, which was several hundred metres high.
Looking down from the mountaintop, more than ten thousand rebel troops in dense black masses had already arrived at the foot of the mountain. They had surrounded the entire Lingjiang Peak so tightly that not even a winged creature could fly out.
Suo Mu and the other family warriors stood despairingly on the summit, gazing down at the rebel troops below with hearts full of grief and indignation.
Before ascending the mountain Suo Mu had already proposed that they must absolutely not go up. Escaping to the mountaintop might buy them a moment of safety, but in reality it would only trap them in an even more hopeless situation.
What they should do was to gather their hundred or so men into a single sword formation, break through at one point with a fierce charge, and then head to Tianshui City to join forces with Lord Suo Han Yi.
But Suo Lun rejected his advice, and still gave the same reply: you may not understand, but you must obey the order. If you are unwilling to obey, then you may leave, or you may surrender to the rebel troops.
Thus Suo Mu and the others felt nothing but despair in their hearts as they followed Suo Lun to the mountaintop.
They then watched helplessly as they fell into this desperate situation. At that moment the only thought in his mind was one sentence: one incompetent general can exhaust a thousand troops to death.
In their hearts, the Suo Lun of this moment was even worse than the previous image of the frivolous, spendthrift wastrel.
The Suo Lun of that time only cared about chasing women and squandering the family fortune. At least he did not pretend to understand when he did not, and at least he did not issue blind commands. His outstanding performance in the graduation examination had filled him with ignorant confidence.
The Suo Lun of now, although he had pulled himself together, had led them into a desperate situation and had led the entire family into a desperate situation.
…
There was nothing on this mountaintop, no water, and even the trees were almost nonexistent. Most of it was bare rock exposed to the outside.
The more than ten thousand rebel troops below had already begun to form their battle array. They started cutting trees and building simple barricades.
Huge ballistae began to be positioned at various points in the formation. The soldiers started wiping their treasured swords, ready at any moment to assault the mountain.
“Master, the rebel troops’ formation below is not yet stable. If we seize the chance to charge down now, there is still half a thread of hope for survival. We can still protect you and escape.” Suo Mu stepped forward and said.
Suo Lun shook his head and said: “No.”
Suo Mu could not help but raise his voice and say: “Then what should we do now?”
“Wait.” Suo Lun said.
“Wait, wait for what?” Suo Mu said. “Wait to die?”
Suo Lun said: “Wait for Suo Han Yi to come.”
At this moment Suo Mu really wanted to laugh from extreme anger. This lord before him had previously refused to join forces with Lord Suo Han Yi because of personal grudges, yet now he was thinking of having Lord Suo Han Yi come to rescue them. If he had known it would come to this, why act that way in the first place?
“Master, Lord Suo Han Yi will not come.” Suo Mu said. “No one will come to save us. No one knows we are here.”
Suo Lun said: “Who said Suo Han Yi is coming to save us? He is coming to kill us.”
Suo Mu raised his voice and said: “Impossible. Master, you may dislike Lord Suo Han Yi, but you cannot doubt or tarnish his loyalty. For these ten years he has been loyal and devoted, shedding how much blood and sweat for the Suo clan family? When you say such words, you not only chill his heart, but also chill our hearts.”
Suo Lun said: “I will not argue with you. There will soon be a result.”
Suo Mu turned and left directly. He was afraid that if he stayed any longer he would burst out with curses. Although Suo Lun was the lord, saying such words was truly heartless.
If it were not for Lord Suo Han Yi, Tianshui City would have been lost long ago. How could Suo Lun have lived comfortably in the royal capital before, squandering the family fortune and causing harm?
Now, not only did Suo Lun show no gratitude, but he even slandered Lord Suo Han Yi. This was completely intolerable.
Suo Lun took a deep breath. Although he knew that Suo Han Yi held a very high position in the hearts of the Tianshui City officers and soldiers, he had not expected it to be this high. These warriors completely regarded him as their saviour, as the pillar holding up the sky.
If these warriors were forced to choose between him and Suo Han Yi, they would choose Suo Han Yi without hesitation.
The people before him were still the family warriors who had always stayed in the royal capital. As for the officers and soldiers in Tianshui City, they probably regarded Suo Han Yi as a god.
“All Suo clan family warriors, begin to assemble.” Suo Mu loudly issued the order.
Immediately, more than a hundred family warriors began to line up neatly.
Suo Lun’s expression changed, and he said: “Suo Mu, what are you doing?”
Suo Mu said: “Master, in your heart you even doubt Lord Suo Han Yi’s loyalty. Then our loyalty is even more worthless. Now we will use our blood to prove our honour. Brothers, charge down and perish together with the enemy. Use our blood to prove the glory of our warriors.”
“Kill, kill, kill…” Immediately, more than a hundred family warriors drew their great swords in unison.
Suo Lun said: “I have never doubted your loyalty.”
Suo Mu said: “You doubt Lord Suo Han Yi, which means you doubt us. Brothers present, which of you was personally trained by Lord Suo Han Yi?”
“I, I, I…”
Immediately, the family warriors present all raised their hands.
Suo Mu said: “Although Lord Suo Han Yi is the adopted son of the Suo clan, he is in fact the leader of the family warriors. Every one of us present was trained personally by him. Every one of us has received his kindness. You doubt his loyalty, which means you doubt our loyalty. Now we will use death to wash away the insult you have brought to Lord Suo Han Yi.”
Hearing that Suo Lun actually doubted Suo Han Yi’s loyalty, the family warriors present immediately changed colour completely.
Suo Han Yi was not only their leader and their idol, but also the stabilising divine needle in their eyes.
Previously, Suo Lun’s firm refusal to take them to join Suo Han Yi had already left them very puzzled. At this moment Suo Lun actually slandered Suo Han Yi as disloyal. This completely filled them with anger.
Was this heartless and ungrateful? Lord Suo Han Yi had risked life and death for the Suo clan. Now he had suffered serious stab wounds and his life hung in the balance. Yet Suo Lun not only showed no gratitude but even slandered him out of jealousy?
Such a lord was heartless and ungrateful, heartless and ungrateful! Such a lord might as well be discarded.
Suo Mu drew his great sword and said: “Master, if you are afraid of death, you can surrender later. We are going to our deaths. If possible, I hope you can say sorry to Lord Suo Han Yi.”
“Kill…” With that, Suo Mu took the lead. He led more than a hundred family warriors and charged straight down.
Suo Lun drew his sword and fiercely cut down a small tree beside him, roaring: “Stop!”
But Suo Mu still led the family warriors in a mad charge down, determined to perish together with the enemy army in grief and indignation.
The rebel troops below noticed the situation on the mountaintop. They immediately formed neat ranks. More than a thousand archers and crossbowmen all drew their bows and nocked arrows.
These hundred or so people charging down would be completely wiped out with just one coordinated volley.
Suo Ning Bing suddenly drew her sword and placed it horizontally across her own neck. She shouted loudly: “You stop, otherwise I will die before you.”
The family warriors had always loved and respected Suo Ning Bing. Seeing her hold a sword to her neck, they immediately stopped.
Suo Mu hurriedly knelt and said: “Young miss must not do this. If the old master learns that we forced young miss to her death, we would have ten thousand deaths and still not atone.”
Suo Ning Bing said: “I know you all love and respect Lord Suo Han Yi. I also trust him. I also love and respect him. I do not believe he would betray us.”
Suo Mu kowtowed and said: “Young miss, we are now facing a desperate situation. The lord is after all the lord. We cannot have any complaints. He previously refused to join Lord Suo Han Yi. We do not blame him. He led us into such a desperate situation. We do not blame him either. But now we would rather die standing than live kneeling. We are willing to die to clear Lord Suo Han Yi’s name. That should be allowed, right?”
Suo Ning Bing’s beautiful eyes looked towards Suo Lun and she said: “I have not finished speaking. I completely trust Lord Suo Han Yi, even more than I trust myself. But… I trust Suo Lun even more. He is not only my younger brother but also my lord. I trust him without reservation. My trust in him surpasses anyone else. Therefore, please give him a chance.”
Suo Lun walked to Suo Ning Bing, took the sword from her hand, and looked at Suo Mu and all the family warriors.
“You do not trust me now. That is understandable, because my previous performance did not deserve your trust.” Suo Lun walked to Suo Mu and said: “Suo Mu, your behaviour just now was close to rebellion.”
Suo Mu offered his sword with both hands and said: “If you think I have rebelled, then cut off this head of mine and see if my blood is red.”
“I have said that you do not trust me now. That is understandable.” Suo Lun said. “But I hope this is the last time.”
Suo Lun took the great sword from Suo Mu’s hands and then placed it back into his hands. He said slowly: “Suo Mu, there will soon be a result. The Lord Suo Han Yi you speak of is already on his way here. At that time, if I have slandered him, then you can cut off this head of mine.”
“If you are still warriors of the Suo clan family, then obey my orders. There is no time for sentimental grief now.” Suo Lun said. “I still need to lead you in a breakout, lead you to escape with our lives, and head to Lin Hai City. So do not waste time here.”
As soon as these words came out, everyone present showed completely incredulous expressions.
He was still saying such things about escaping with their lives now? Had he lost his mind?
In such a desperate situation, one hundred people were completely surrounded by more than ten thousand on an isolated mountaintop. They could not fly out even with wings. Even immortals could not save them.
Now this lord before them was actually saying he wanted to escape with their lives. Was he speaking in a dream?
Suo Lun paid no attention. Instead he closed his eyes to feel the wind on the mountaintop at this moment, then calculated in his mind.
This place was not far from the sea and it was a mountaintop several hundred metres high, so there was wind at all times.
Moreover, it was now late summer, so the wind had always blown from south to north.
Suo Lun predicted that the wind force was currently about level five, less than level six, with a wind speed of about twelve or thirteen metres per second. This wind force was not large, but it was already completely sufficient.
The height of this mountain was approximately six hundred metres above sea level, and the width of the Nu River was approximately one hundred and twenty metres.
It was enough. It was completely enough! Suo Lun had calculated many times in the royal capital and had also gone to high mountaintops to feel the wind speed. This situation was even better than he had imagined.
“All of you, put the packages on your backs and await my orders.” Suo Lun shouted loudly.
…
Half an hour later.
Suo Han Yi, fully covered in black armour, and Princess Zhi Ning, wearing a black skirt and a golden mask, rode fine horses into the rebel army’s great formation.
Nur Dan looked doubtfully at Suo Han Yi in full black armour, but he did not know who he was and only thought this person was Princess Zhi Ning’s personal bodyguard.
“My lord, Suo Lun and the others have already been completely surrounded on the mountaintop. They cannot fly even with wings.” Nur Dan stepped forward and said.
Zhi Ning nodded and said to Suo Han Yi: “It is time for your performance.”
Suo Han Yi nodded and gripped the great sword in his hand tightly.
Princess Zhi Ning waved her jade-like hand. Immediately the several hundred elite black-armoured warriors she had brought all stepped forward.
Every one of them was dressed exactly like Suo Han Yi.
“Go up and kill every single person above, except Suo Ning Bing.” Zhi Ning coldly ordered.
Immediately, led by Suo Han Yi, the several hundred black-armoured warriors drew their great swords and charged towards the mountaintop.
Zhi Ning, under the protection of Li Zhu, also followed up the mountain, because she wanted to see the appearance of Suo Lun at the moment of his death.
Bang, bang, bang!
At the same time, war drums sounded in the rebel army camp.
…
“They are charging up.” On the mountainside, several scouts saw the several hundred black-armoured warriors attacking the mountain and immediately rushed to the mountaintop to report.
“All warriors, prepare for battle.” Suo Mu fiercely drew his great sword.
The more than one hundred family warriors all drew their great swords, ready to meet the enemy.
Suo Lun stood on the mountaintop and looked down.
Several hundred black-armoured warriors below formed an attacking formation and advanced up the mountain step by step, with their formation not disordered in the slightest. The several hundred men were completely unified as one.
Every one of them wore black armour and a black bamboo mask, so their faces could not be seen clearly.
The only one who could be recognised was Princess Zhi Ning alone, because she wore a black skirt.
When they were still more than one hundred metres from the mountaintop, Princess Zhi Ning waved her hand and everyone stopped completely.
Suo Mu said coldly: “My lord, where is the Lord Suo Han Yi you spoke of? Where is he? Are you going to randomly point to one of the masked people below and say that is Lord Suo Han Yi?”
Suo Lun looked at the black-armoured warriors below and shouted loudly: “Princess Zhi Ning, I hope you have been well.”
Zhi Ning laughed coldly and said: “I hope you have been well too. We meet again. How is it that your eyes can actually see now?”
Suo Lun said: “Without seeing the countess’s jade-like delicate body, how could my eyes bear to go blind?”
Zhi Ning trembled with anger and said: “You are thinking too much. Today will be our last meeting. Suo Lun, this time you cannot fly even with wings. You will definitely die.”
Suo Lun said: “Yes, now I am already in a desperate situation with only a path to death. Then before I die, can you grant me one request?”
“Delusional…” Zhi Ning said. “Right now I only want to watch you die in pain to relieve the hatred in my heart.”
Suo Lun said: “Zhi Ning, I once loved you so much. Can you not even satisfy this small request of mine before death?”
Zhi Ning heard this sentence unexpectedly and her heart suddenly trembled violently. Her thoughts fell into great disorder.
Suo Lun said with deep affection: “My request is very simple. Even if I die, I want to be a clear ghost. I want to know whether it was my most trusted elder brother who killed me. Can you let the person beside you remove the mask on his face?”
As soon as these words came out, Suo Han Yi beside Zhi Ning trembled violently. This, this absolutely must not happen. If he removed the mask and Suo Ning Bing saw it.
Then, how could he possibly marry her? She would definitely hate him to the bone.
Zhi Ning took a deep breath, pondered for a moment, then said to Suo Han Yi beside her: “Remove the mask.”
“No, if I remove the mask I will be completely ruined in reputation.” Suo Han Yi said in a trembling voice.
“What is there to fear? Everyone around now is my person. At worst you can kill everyone on the mountaintop. At that time you will still be the saviour of the Suo clan.” Zhi Ning said.
“Then, what about Suo Ning Bing? I still want to marry her. Without marrying her I cannot rightfully become the lord of Tianshui City.” Suo Han Yi said.
“That is simple. Just beat her into a cripple.” Zhi Ning said. “A living dead person can still be married. Even if she loses all intelligence she will not be able to reveal any secrets.”
Suo Han Yi’s heart twisted. Suo Ning Bing was the woman he loved most. Beat her into a cripple? Turn her into a living dead person?
He, he really could not bear to do it.
Zhi Ning said: “You have no other choice now.”
“Why do it this way, just because of that bastard Suo Lun’s request?” Suo Han Yi roared with his voice pressed in his throat.
“No, I feel that if you remove the mask the matter will be more interesting.” Zhi Ning said.
Seeing that Suo Han Yi did not move, Zhi Ning said coldly: “Do it immediately, then kill everyone on the mountaintop and beat Suo Ning Bing into a cripple. Anyway, keep her flower-like beauty and her jade-like delicate body for you to enjoy.”
Suo Han Yi breathed heavily, his chest rising and falling continuously.
At this time on the mountaintop, Suo Ning Bing, Ye Jing Yu, Suo Mu, and all the family warriors stared at him without moving.
“Ah, ah…” Suo Han Yi let out an angry roar, then fiercely removed the mask, revealing his heroic and martial face.
In an instant it was as if thunder struck the mountain.
Suo Ning Bing, Suo Mu, and all the family warriors were as if struck by lightning. They looked at Suo Han Yi’s face in disbelief.
Their idol had really, really betrayed them. He had really fallen!