Volume 1, Chapter 17: The Divine Crossbow Triumphs, Repelling the Enemy Forces!

"Yes!"

Xu Qian acknowledged the order. He stepped forward, grabbed Chaoketu by the hair, and tied it to a bolt for the Cloud-Piercing God Crossbow.

Gazing at the Xiongnu cavalry arrayed in the distance and their dozens of catapults, he raised his arm, his eyes burning like torches, and shouted: "Prepare the Cloud-Piercing God Crossbow! Fire!"

At the command, the Cloud-Piercing God Crossbow emitted a piercing, ear-splitting shriek as it tore through the air.

The bolt instantly left the bow, propelled by immense force, flying at incredible speed toward the Xiongnu army over a kilometer away. It traced a straight path through the sky like a silver thread, leaving a deep trail in the air and even cleaving through the dark, overcast clouds.

The speed was so great that, in the blink of an eye, the bolt reached the airspace above the Xiongnu army.

The Xiongnu soldiers looked up to see a flash of silver light streaking across the sky toward them. The cavalry in the front ranks screamed in terror and scattered in all directions. But the bolt was too fast; before they could dodge, it pierced through their bodies, tearing some to pieces.

Cries of agony rang out incessantly, and the entire formation fell into chaos.

"Quick! Push the catapults away!"

Tuoba Liejun was shocked. Realizing the target of the bolt, he issued the order in a panic.

Unfortunately, the catapults were too heavy. Even with supply wagons serving as bases, they could not be easily moved by just a few men.

Boom!

With a deafening roar, the bolt pierced through the massive arms of several catapults, smashing them into a pile of debris.

"Amur!"

Tuoba Liejun scanned his surroundings and shouted in fury, "Where the hell did you die?"

He had no idea what kind of device could project such terrifying bolts, maintaining such destructive power over a distance of a thousand meters. Two bolts alone had killed hundreds of Xiongnu cavalry and pulverized several catapults. If they didn't move the remaining siege engines, the plan to capture Suiye City would be a total failure.

"Amur!"

"Your Highness, Left Wise King."

At this moment, a soldier approached in a disheveled state and said respectfully, "Commander Amur has unfortunately fallen in battle. That is him."

He followed the soldier's pointing finger. Beside a pile of catapult wreckage lay a bloody, severed palm.

"Bastard!"

Tuoba Liejun was even more enraged. A commander of the Xiongnu left-wing army's catapult battalion had been reduced to nothing but a severed palm by the Northern Army's bolt—it was a deep humiliation.

"Report!"

Just then, another soldier ran over holding a "furry" sphere. He knelt on one knee and said fearfully, "Reporting to Your Highness, the Left Wise King, I found this among the debris."

Tuoba Liejun glanced at it, puzzled. "What is this?"

The soldier brushed away some hair, revealing a pale face. Tuoba Liejun’s fury surged; he longed to storm into Suiye City and slaughter everyone to vent his bloodlust.

"Great Yu Empire, if I do not avenge this, I am no man!" Tuoba Liejun roared.

His left-wing commander had not only been killed, but his head had been severed and shot back at them—this was a blatant, mocking insult.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Just as Tuoba Liejun was seething with rage, two more piercing sounds erupted.

Two more bolts, with lightning speed, crashed into the Xiongnu camp, easily piercing through hundreds of cavalrymen and their warhorses while destroying several more catapults.

Tuoba Liejun dared not hesitate further. "All troops, retreat!"

If they delayed any longer, the left-wing army's siege equipment would cease to exist entirely.

The Xiongnu cavalry, already consumed by fear, did not hesitate and began to flee toward the rear. Tuoba Liejun glared ferociously at Suiye City, gritted his teeth, and turned to leave.

Ten miles back, Tuoba Liejun entered his makeshift command tent. He sat on the main seat, pounded the table in anger, and barked, "Send the order! Report to the Great Chanyu with all haste!"

"The Great Yu Empire has gone back on its word. Not only have they failed to cut off the supplies for Suiye City, but they have provided unknown weapon support. The cooperation is canceled. Additionally, our food supplies are insufficient—have more sent immediately!"

The scouts acknowledged the order respectfully, "Yes, Your Highness!"

Night fell.

On the walls of Suiye City, Qin Feng watched the retreating Xiongnu left-wing army. A faint smile touched his lips, though his cold eyes held a trace of regret. He had hoped Tuoba Liejun would be reckless enough to keep trying to take the city. If they had dared, he was confident he could have kept the entire two-hundred-thousand-strong left-wing army beneath the walls of Suiye.

"Your Highness, they have retreated. I doubt they will dare to invade again in the near future," Meng Jun said, stepping forward.

Qin Feng nodded slightly, scanned the surroundings, and said calmly, "Send a cavalry detachment out to sweep the battlefield. Keep them within three hundred meters to prevent any accidents."

"Take inventory of the supplies consumed in today's defense, especially for the catapult and archery battalions."

Li Xiuyuan and Xu Qian acknowledged the order.

Qin Feng stood on the wall, looking at the soldiers around him and within the city. He smiled, "Brothers, today we drove back the Xiongnu bandits. To reward you all, tonight, eat your fill of meat!"

The soldiers cheered joyously.

Qin Feng added, "However, no one is to drink alcohol. The Xiongnu bandits are still lurking; we must not let our guard down."

The Northern soldiers nodded in understanding.

Soon, in the city square, large iron cauldrons were set up, the roaring flames licking the bottoms of the pots. The commoners gathered around. Soldiers tossed fresh mutton, pork, and horse meat into the pots. The aroma of meat filled the air, and billows of white steam rose toward the sky.

"Your Highness."

Meng Jun approached slowly and said, "The casualty report is in. In today's battle, we suffered no casualties. The catapult battalion consumed over two thousand stone projectiles and four bolts, while the archery battalion consumed nearly two hundred thousand arrows."

"That much?"

Qin Feng was stunned. He called out to Li Xiuyuan, who was busy fishing for meat nearby, "Li Xiuyuan, come here."

Li Xiuyuan quickly put down his bowl and chopsticks, approached Qin Feng with a grin, and asked, "Your Highness, what kind of meat do you want? I'll pick some for you."

"Eat my foot!"

Qin Feng snapped, "In half a day, you used up two hundred thousand arrows? Why didn't you know how to be frugal?"

"Your Highness, you can't say that."

Li Xiuyuan looked like a wronged young bride, saying quite resentfully, "Who was the one shouting, 'Li Xiuyuan, haven't you eaten? Shoot them for me!' just a moment ago?"

"Now that the battle is over, you're blaming me for not being frugal. I'm so wronged!"

Seeing Li Xiuyuan’s aggrieved expression, as if he were about to squeeze out two tears, Qin Feng felt a headache coming on. He didn't actually care about the two hundred thousand arrows—after all, they could be replenished for just two hundred points—he just wanted to tease him.

"Alright, enough nonsense."

Qin Feng put on a stern face and waved his hand. "As punishment, you get less meat tonight!"

"Hehe."

Li Xiuyuan chuckled and turned back to the pots, continuing to fish for meat. "Damn it! Who ate my lamb testicles? Xu Qian, you bastard!"

Qin Feng watched the two bickering and shook his head helplessly.

Meng Jun smiled as well and said, "Your Highness, the battlefield outside the city has been cleared. The horses we shot have been processed for food, and the Xiongnu weapons have been used to reinforce our defensive barricades."

Qin Feng nodded. He looked at the starry night sky, his expression turning solemn. "General Meng, select one hundred soldiers skilled in camouflage and stealth and bring them to me."

"Yes."

Though curious, Meng Jun did not ask further and left to carry out the order.