The ashen hooves pounded the earth into concave impressions as a small detachment of Black Mane War Horses burst forth from the ranks of the Upper Garment Army Corps' Blade Mountain Armor Flow. The riders were a disheveled lot, their bodies more or less skewered with one or two arrows.
Li Yan's spearhead was caked with flesh and blood, and his armor seams were stained with gore. Yet, his eyes alone shone resplendent and bright, like great stars, and it was with this fierce light that he carved a path of survival.
The entire troop formed a wedge, with Li Yan at the vanguard, several lightly wounded brothers flanking him, and Deng Tianxiong at the rear.
With a Goose Feather Knife in one hand, he weaved an impenetrable defense; an arrow had struck his chest, but the armor had prevented it from piercing deeply.
Among the group, aside from Li Yan, Deng Tianxiong had sustained the lightest injuries and naturally assumed the critical role of rearguard, second only to the vanguard.
However, as Li Yan cut through the enemy camp, the pressure on him eased, and the task of covering the rear became perilous for Deng Tianxiong.
Their mounts were no better than their foes', unable to quickly shake off the pursuers. As time passed, more and more Japanese Pirates encircled them, pushing them towards a desperate plight.
At that moment, Deng Tianxiong was surrounded by three or four cavalrymen wielding long spears. In his right hand, he held the blood-dripping Goose Feather Knife, and in his left, a broken spear shaft. Swinging his numb arm, he parried two spear tips, trapped another pole under his arm, and his neck veins bulged with exertion.
Li Yan wheeled his horse around, shouting for his brothers to protect the central mounts and push forward, spurring his own steed as he charged back into the fray.
Three or four riders broke away from the armor flow, fearlessly confronting the previously indomitable Li Yan.
Li Yan thrust his spear forward, which was parried by the foremost rider's long spear. Without hesitation, he pushed forward, and although the rider was skilled, sliding the spear to one side to dodge Li Yan's blade and reaching for the short knife on his back, another cavalryman arrived, thrusting his spear towards Li Yan's chest.
Li Yan laughed heartily, his wrist filled with ferocious strength as he shook it violently. The half-bent spear shaft struck the spear shaft, and with a tremendous force, the spear tip sprang upwards, like a cunning serpent, stabbing viciously towards the opponent's eyes.
The man's head burst open from the strike, and the unstoppable momentum of the spear tip plunged into another's throat.
Li Yan leaned back to withdraw his long spear, shaking off the blood and flesh, his wrist trembling as he flicked three gleaming spear blossoms to repel the last two attackers, then galloped towards Deng Tianxiong.
The Li Clan from Hejian, unrivaled in spear and sword.
The sword, Mother Sword Frame Battle Twenty-Four Forms.
The spear, Marquis Huan's Eight Spears.
Marquis Huan, that is Zhang Yide from Yan country.
Countless arrows were nocked, and a chaotic flurry of cold light flew forth, enveloping Deng Tianxiong in a deadly shower.
Deng Tianxiong’s pupils reflected the glittering arrows as he let out a tiger-like roar, forcibly snapping the spear shaft in two. Releasing his grip on the weapon, he raised his hips away from the stirrups, grabbed the saddle with the back of his hand, and flipped beneath the horse to take cover.
Blood spurted like a fountain as the horse, turned into a porcupine by the barrage of arrows, cried out in agony before collapsing to the ground.
Deng Tianxiong snatched up a long knife from the earth just as three cavalrymen bore down on him, their long spears descending from above, aiming straight for him!
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The spears sliced through the air ferociously, sweeping aside the one poised to pierce Deng Tianxiong’s chest. As the horse galloped past, a hand reached out to Deng Tianxiong.
“Tianxiong, mount up!”
Deng Tianxiong passed his left hand over and with a push off his calf, he flipped onto the horse, sitting behind Li Yan.
“My lord…”
“Hold on tight.”
Li Yan wielded his long spear like a sea dragon emerging from the depths, hooking a Japanese pirate riding beside him and tossing him off his horse. The spear described a wide arc, driving back the surrounding men and horses. Planting his feet firmly in the stirrups, he leapt onto another horse, calling out to Deng Tianxiong, who remained on the original steed.
“Tianxiong, just charge forward!”
Deng Tianxiong didn’t waste time with pointless questions like “What about you, my lord?”. Instead, he viciously slapped the flat of his blade on the horse's rump, and behind him, the tumultuous tide of armored soldiers surged towards Li Yan.
Li Yan drew a small porcelain bottle from his bosom, placed it against the restless horse’s neck, and stuffed the contents into the horse’s mouth.
Qiongqi Blood (Counterfeit): Upon consumption by a warhorse, it temporarily enhances the animal’s speed and endurance. It ignores the effects of gunfire, advanced strange beasts, and Yin objects.
The horse’s mane shivered, and its eyes instantly filled with blood, exhaling a blood-red mist. The surrounding Black Mane War Horses involuntarily retreated, and those touched by the crimson fog collapsed, scared witless, as a cacophony of loose bowels ensued, accompanied by the dissonant music of the Salty Flesh Movement Sound.
“Is it really this effective?”
Li Yan’s arms danced with the spear, slicing through the throats of two cavaliers utterly unaware of what was happening, then he turned his horse to leave.
But within a few breaths, the blood-red mist dissipated, and the cavalrymen in upper garments charged again.
The warhorse, invigorated by the Qiongqi Blood, snorted, its breath forming a mist that rose and spread in the chilly frostlight, a mesmerizing sight.
Li Yan fought as he retreated. With the horse’s energy no longer a concern, he watched Deng Tianxiong escape into the distance. Just as he was about to follow, he saw a great tumult as the Upper Garment Army Corps was thrown into chaos. Glancing to the left, amidst the swirling dust, a cavalry unit forcefully thrust its way through!
At the forefront, a rider on a Blue-Maned Great Wuan Horse, its head covered in fine scale armor, a Human Phoenix Wing Helmet Tassel soaring high, an Azure Tiger Beast Swallowing Armguard securing a Mysterious Edge Great Lance over one meter seven in length. With the horse's fierce neigh and charge, wherever the lance pointed, men and horses were sent sprawling.
Before him, the great spear sported a Dark Wide Blade, its rear affixed with a thick club studded with long nails.
"What a splendid weapon!"
Li Yan's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Unexpectedly, the man, upon noticing Li Yan clad in his Crimson Red Round Armor, narrowed his long, slender eyes and spurred his horse to charge!
"Self..."
Li Yan knew there was no time to waste. He thrust his arm forward to block, but the man flipped his spear, bringing the heavy, momentum-laden weapon crashing down with its dense array of long nails.
A surge of blood roiled in Li Yan's chest. In a life-or-death moment, there was no time for niceties. His long spear dipped down, the dark Shuo Stick involuntarily sinking. The spear shaft twirled in his palm, slapping towards the adversary's head.
With the spear's weighty force, Li Yan's neither too gentle nor too forceful deflection left the man's weapon without leverage, making it impossible for him to lift his spear in time for a counterattack.
The man exclaimed in surprise, flexing his legs vigorously to arch his upper body backward, avoiding the spear shaft. Since he couldn't lift his great spear for the moment, he simply slapped it backward, sweeping his arm across as the back half of the North Edge flipped over, tracing a dark arc straight for Li Yan's chest.
"Clang!"
Spear and halberd clashed.
"Friendly!"
"What a magnificent Hebei's Great Spear."
The two men exclaimed in unison, exchanging a glance.
"..."
"Ha ha ha, brother, you truly are brave, daring to break into the Japanese Pirates' cavalry squad with just a few men?"
"Chengwu Guard Chief Banner, Li Yan, at your service with my men, ready to return to camp."
"A true warrior."
The two men withdrew their weapons as a Blue Tide of cavalry thundered from behind. Li Yan gazed into the distance, where the azure-clad horsemen wielded Long Knives, with Three-Eyed Fire Guns strapped to their backs. Following were the Guard Units, donning Round-Top Red Hats and armed with Wolf Brush Long Staffs. On both sides, soldiers carried Thunderbolt Cannons (infantry Fire Guns), trios bore Tiger Barrel Short Cannons, wheels rolled, soldiers pushed Gatling Cannons and Great General Cannons, strapped with siphons, rockets, a dense mass stretching beyond sight...
The man looked at Li Yan: "Did you enjoy yourself tonight, brother?"
Li Yan licked his lips and smiled, "Just about to slay some thieves."
The man pointed his Long Knife towards the sky and bellowed:
"The commander has ordered that by the tenth day of the first month, our forces must reach the gates of Pyongyang City. Brothers, muster all your strength, wipe out these Japanese Pirates, Bury the Pot and Start the Stove, slaughter the pigs and feast on their meat."
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