At Salt Spring Camp, after three days of relentless preparation, warhorses had their hooves re-fitted, and every blade was honed to a razor's edge. As the desert wind howled across the plains, General Tu Lu once again donned his battle-worn armor. His destination: the old ridge of West Hill. By his side, Bai led the vanguard scouts, and Li Song took command of the central infantry and cavalry.
This battle was not for defense—it was for domination.
Beyond the pass lay West Hill Valley, a blood-soaked borderland fought over for generations. General Raymond had stationed Colonel Halna there—his own brother—nicknamed "Red Blade." A stoic and ruthless veteran, Halna was the perfect foil to his fiery sibling. One cold as steel, the other ablaze with fury.
West Hill Valley was treacherous: cliffs, gullies, and narrow ridges. The enemy had fortified its entrance with barricades, traps, and flame trenches. Their flags, black with silver tridents, rippled over a hardened camp.
"That's Halna's command," Bai said quietly. "He trains his men by fear. One out of ten executed every ten days. Fail once, and you're out."
Li Song's grip tightened on his dog-blade. "Then today, he meets the steel of the border army."
As night settled, Tu Lu summoned his officers. "Their formation is strong—cavalry forward, infantry behind. A direct charge is suicide."
Bai knelt and drew three lines in the sand:
Night decoys with signal flares to force a shift in their flank;
Her own scouts would loop to sever the rear supply line;
Li Song would lead a frontal feint to draw them out.
Tu Lu's voice was low but resolute. "This battle must be swift, lethal, and precise. You two—strike like twin wings."
They exchanged a nod. No words were needed.
By the fourth watch, the east wind rose. Bai's raiders were already in motion, flanking through side ridges with hidden oil and concealed bows. At midnight, fires exploded behind enemy lines.
The enemy horns barely sounded before war drums thundered at the front. Li Song led the charge beneath the wolf banner. Halna roared, "Li Song!" and led two hundred crimson-armored cavalry into battle.
The field turned to flame. Blades clashed like lightning. Li Song's dog blade danced through chaos; Bai's twin sabers gleamed.
An enemy general tried to flank them—but Bai struck first. Her move, "Split the Mountain and Break the Wind," decapitated both horse and rider. Blood sprayed over steel, and panic rippled.
Seizing the moment, Li Song pushed through the center, facing Halna head-on.
A hundred archers followed. Halna's charge came fast—but Li Song ordered: "Loose!"
A storm of arrows darkened the sky. Some riders fell, but Halna—armored in fire-red plate and wielding a brutal twin-headed axe—charged unshaken.
Barely thirty, his eyes gleamed like a beast. His armor bore his clan's symbol: "Blazing Bones, Burning Sand."
Bai intercepted the flank, loosing three arrows. One pierced a deputy's throat. Shouts rang out: "The White Demon General!" Halna bellowed, "Show yourself, coward!"
Li Song answered with steel. He charged in, blade low, opening with "Oblique Edge to the Tail." They clashed—dog blade to axe. Blood burst from Li Song's palm. Halna did not pursue but sneered, "You killed Tali? Then my brother was right—you are merciless."
"Your brother died a short life. That's no one's fault," Li Song answered.
Halna lunged again. Bai attacked from the side, forcing him to dismount. He rolled through sand, hurled his axe to fend her off.
Li Song advanced, unleashing "Eagle Step Through the Forest"—three thrusts: one tore shoulder armor, another struck thigh, and the third sparked across Halna's chest.
"Good blade," Halna growled, smashing Li Song's shoulder guard.
Bai struck again—shattering Halna's helmet. "You've lost."
"Not yet!" Halna exploded in fury, knocking her from her horse.
Li Song shielded her, slashing deep into Halna's side. The axe came back—Bai struck from below.
Together, they brought him down.
The enemy lines collapsed. Their cries died. The border army surged.
Raymond's banner vanished from West Hill.
As blood pooled beneath a crimson sky, Tu Lu stood at the edge. "We've won—but danger remains. Raymond's heir still lives."
Li Song and Bai, drenched in blood, said nothing. Only the wolf banner flew.
But dawn brought new drums.
Reinforcements—Tu Lan, Raymond's eldest, the "Silver Eagle." His banner rose again over Xichou Valley. A new siege began.
Tu Lu gathered his men. "No supplies. No reinforcements. We must break out tonight—or we die here."
Li Song's eyes narrowed. "Use Halna's body. Strike their heart. Bai and I will hit their western flank."
Bai added, "There's a hidden path—enough for a hundred riders. If we strike from there, their lines will break."
Tu Lu slammed the table. "Then tonight—we fight to the end."
At the third hour, all lights went dark.
Li Song led a hundred through the hidden path. The way was blocked—so they crawled. Swords drawn. Every breath silent.
At the edge, Bai spotted their grain depot.
"One hundred paces. We strike fast."
Signal fired.
Three arrows fell. Guards dropped. The flames followed.
The enemy camp panicked. Tu Lan charged out—but too late.
Tu Lu's main force had broken through from the front. The rear was wide open.
The border army shattered the blockade.
Their morale soared. Camps fell. No resistance in sight.
But as dawn lit the valley, the terrain narrowed.
New banners rose. Iron shields. Heavy infantry. The real army had arrived.
Li Song stood atop a cliff.
"This isn't their reserve. This is the main force."
"They changed formation," Bai confirmed. "We can't fight this head-on."
But the attack had already begun.
Iron shields moved like a tide. Arrows bounced harmlessly.
Li Song ordered three volleys—useless.
He led a small unit into a ravine; Bai took the old well path.
As the enemy advanced, ambushers let fly. Arrows struck necks, knees—some fell. Others halted.
"Blades!" Li Song called.
He leapt forward—cleaving through a helmet. Sword to throat. Kill confirmed.
Bai struck low—blood arced.
The enemy rotated in heavy axe troops. Bai snarled, "Lure them in!"
The terrain turned against them. The ambushers struck with daggers. One by one, the axes fell.
"Their strength is now their weakness!" Li Song slid his blade under armor seams. Bai spun from behind a wall, killing three in seconds.
Still, the enemy regrouped.
Tu Lu ordered a rearguard stand. Li Song and Bai led 130 cavalry.
Tents hid the wounded. The ridge became their final line.
Three hundred enemies poured in. Shields front. Spears rear. Sand stormed around them.
Li Song murmured, "If we don't hold this ridge, the main army falls."
Bai smiled coldly. "Then we hold. Or die."
First clash—stalemate. Li Song's blade cracked a spear—but nearly cost him an arm.
Second clash—Bai struck down their deputy but took an arrow to the arm. He bound it with torn cloth.
Third clash—heavy axe charge. Lines broken. Close combat.
Li Song danced through enemy ranks, striking six with "Eagle Step." Bai cut like a shadow.
Even the wounded fought. Crossbows fired from behind the line.
Li Song used "Rolling Ridge, Splitting Peak," cracking shields, killing two more.
By the fourth watch, the reinforcements arrived. The border army had broken free.
Tu Lu met them himself. Bloodied, silent, unyielding.
Li Song stood despite a leg wound. Bai's face was red with blood, but he still smiled.
Tu Lu clasped their shoulders.
"Your names will live in legend."
Bai only said, "We're not done yet. Don't write history too soon."