CHAPTER 157: THE ARRIVAL OF THE JI ARMY

Feng Xiyan looked at the Ji Army in the distance and said, "We will wait for them to make the first move."

Hearing this, the generals clasped their fists and said in unison, "This subordinate accepts the order!"

With that, Feng Xiyan and the generals returned to the drum tower to discuss their next plan.

At the same time, Ji Hui frowned when he saw that Feng Xiyan and the generals had left the city wall.

"General Ji, it seems they don’t plan to welcome us," said the military advisor.

Ji Hui glanced at him for a second, then raised his hand and ordered, "Move forward."

Following his order, the troops advanced.

A soldier on the watchtower saw this and hurried to the drum tower to inform Feng Xiyan and the generals.

Rushing into the main hall, the soldier clasped his fists and reported, "Great General, the enemy is marching toward us!"

Feng Xiyan nodded and ordered, "Understood. Continue observing their movements."

"Yes, Great General."

After the soldier left, Fan Wanming said, "It looks like they didn’t bring many supplies with them this time."

Tan Pengtai nodded in agreement. "That’s right. If they have supplies, they will wait outside right now instead of keep advancing when we clearly didn’t welcome them."

Pondering for a moment, Xue Ruhong looked at the others and said, "Since Ji Hui didn’t bring many supplies, it is likely, he’s here because of the imperial edict."

"Mhm. General Xue is right." Feng Xiyan said, then turned his attention to the sand map in front of him.

The terrain on the western border was mostly grassland. However, due to the drought over the past two years, the once-green plains had turned barren, and dust filled the air.

From a military standpoint, the terrain was not ideal for defense, as they couldn’t rely on natural features and had to depend solely on their own defensive strength.

After thinking for a moment, Feng Xiyan said, "Let’s go. This general wants to see what Ji Hui really wants."

The other generals exchanged looks at his words, then clasped their fists and responded, "Yes, Great General."

While Feng Xiyan and the others returned to the city wall, the Ji Army reached the refugee camp. As they marched toward the city gate, the refugees watched them warily.

Just as the army passed one of the military tents, someone suddenly threw a stone at Ji Hui. A second before it hit his head, Ji Hui drew his sword and deflected it.

Clang! Thud!

The moment the stone hit the ground, the soldiers drew their swords in unison.

One of the generals looked around and shouted angrily, "Bold! Who dares to throw a stone at General Ji?!"

Not far from the army, a thin little boy rushed out with a handful of stones in his hands. Gritting his teeth, he threw them at the soldiers while shouting, "Murderers! Die! All of you should die!"

Seeing it was just a child, Ji Hui coldly ordered, "Kill him."

One of his adjutants clasped his fists and responded, "Yes, General Ji."

As he walked toward the boy, the adjutant drew his sword.

At the sight of the raised blade, the refugees screamed and fled. A few brave ones tried to pull the little boy back, but their friends and family held them back in fear.

The boy saw the adjutant raise his sword and knew he would die today. With his eyes full of determination, he didn’t run. Instead, he threw the remaining stones at the adjutant.

"Die! All of you are beasts!" The little boy shouted as his eyes flickered with hatred.

"Ouch! You little bastard! I will kill you today!" the adjutant roared as he blocked the stones with his arm.

While the adjutant was distracted, the boy charged forward, grabbed the man’s arm, and bit down hard.

"Argh!"

Seeing the pain in the adjutant’s expression, the boy’s eyes turned icy. ’So these monsters can feel pain too? Then I will make you die a painful death!’

With the resolve to die together, the little boy bit even harder. Blood filled his mouth, but he didn’t stop.

Enraged, the adjutant raised his sword and slashed at the boy’s neck without hesitation.

Swoosh! Crack!

Just before the blade reached him, an arrow flew by and shattered the sword.

Clang! Stab! Thud!

Everything happened so fast that the adjutant couldn’t react in time.

He looked at his broken sword in disbelief. Turning to look at the ground, he saw a long arrow stabbed to the ground, gleaming under the sun. Nearby, lay the other half of his broken sword.

For a soldier, losing his sword is the greatest humiliation. Furious, the adjutant yanked the boy away and threw him aside. While the boy was floating in the air, he raised his leg and kicked him hard.

In a split second, the boy was sent flying and landed heavily on the ground.

Crack! Thud!

Feeling his organs shift inside him, the boy tried to move but coughed up a mouthful of blood instead.

"Cough!"

A piece of flesh mixed with the pool of blood on the dirty ground. As he looked up at the adjutant’s bloody arm, he smiled faintly.

Before losing consciousness, the boy had only one thought, ’Father, Mother, I have avenged you. I can finally see you again...’

Witnessing the entire scene from the city wall, Zhan Qi struck the wall in anger and gritted his teeth. "Those bastards are beasts in human skin!"

Feng Xiyan’s eyes turned cold as he watched Ji Hui and his troops continue marching.

Glancing to a corner, Feng Xiyan nodded. Seeing this, Feng Yi nodded back and disappeared.

Just as everyone’s eyes were focused on the Ji army who were getting closer and closer to the city gate, no one noticed that a masked man in black suddenly appeared beside the little boy. He gently held the little boy in his arms and then disappeared.

Before long, Ji Hui raised his hand, and the army halted about three hundred meters away from Xiqiang City’s east gate.