TSWRLM -Chapter 319 Another Contest

The moat had dried up.

It was only when Xuanyuan Lang saw the exposed riverbed with his own eyes that he truly believed it was real.

He immediately summoned all his deputy generals and decided to advance the time of declaring war, but many opposed the idea.

At present, Wengzhou only had thirty thousand troops. Large numbers of soldiers and supplies were still on the road, needing at least seven or eight days to arrive. Moreover, the autumn harvest in Wengzhou hadn’t started yet. Launching an attack at this moment would risk supply shortages, and if they lost the first battle, morale would suffer a severe blow.

Xuanyuan Lang understood this well, but with the sudden drying of the moat, the city would soon face a water shortage. If the Zhaoling forces had already detected their plot and were sending troops to besiege the city, the situation would be extremely unfavorable.

After some debate, Xuanyuan Lang finally compromised.

He pulled fifty elite soldiers and split them into two squads: one to follow the moat upstream to scout the situation, and the other to leave the city and urge the main army and supplies to hasten their arrival.

Soon, the two squads set off.

The squad sent upstream had barely left the city when they were ambushed.

These twenty-five soldiers were all experienced and highly skilled, capable of taking on ten men at once. Though the ambushers were numerous, they didn’t gain the upper hand.

The leader fought his way out, trying to return to the city to report, but just as he swung up onto his horse, an arrow struck the back of his head, and he fell silent.

Xiao Yechen sheathed his bow and crossbow, kicked a curved blade from the ground, and joined the ambush. Half an incense stick later, all twenty-five of the Yuexi elite lay dead on the ground.

Xiao Yechen tossed the blade aside and, without changing his expression, applied medicine to his wounds, then tore his shirt to wrap his waist injury. Those nearby drew in a sharp breath at the sight.

He had only been in the army for two or three months but had already risen to the rank of commander of a thousand men. On every mission, he was the most eager and the most reckless.

His achievements were impressive, but he also needed to survive to enjoy them. If he really died on the battlefield, how could he aspire to titles and honors?

Ignoring the gazes of others, Xiao Yechen glanced toward Wengzhou city.

The moat had been cut off, and the Duke of the Nation had already arrived with fifty thousand troops. As long as Lanshu and Wei Lingze could find a way to open the city gates, the great battle could soon be over.

With the moat dried up, the city’s water supply was prioritized for the Yuexi soldiers. The civilians were forced to start the autumn harvest early, working all day without even a bowl of porridge to eat. Combined with the cravings caused by the incense, several conflicts had already broken out in a single day.

Although the Yuexi soldiers violently suppressed each incident, tension spread rapidly.

Everyone realized that a great battle was imminent.

The elite squad sent upstream had not returned with news, and Xuanyuan Lang keenly sensed danger.

Perhaps the Zhaoling forces had truly discovered everything and deliberately cut off the water to prepare for a siege.

If he led his troops to withdraw now, they could still escape unscathed. Delay for another two days, and it would become dangerous.

But he had planned this battle for a long time. To retreat now would be cowardly, and he would have no way to explain it to the king or his soldiers.

Moreover, after this, the Zhaoling forces would surely be on guard. Finding such an opportunity again would be difficult.

Xuanyuan Lang was unusually conflicted. Unable to decide, he sought out Wei Lingze and decided to challenge him once more.

Before Wei Lingze could speak, Lanshu interjected: “General, your bravery is unmatched. Hasn’t Young Master Wei already been defeated? Now he’s under the influence of the Soul-Stirring Incense—how could he compare to you?”

“Shut up. If you don’t speak, no one will think you’re mute!”

Wei Lingze shot Lanshu a glare, then said to Xuanyuan Lang: “This Soul-Stirring Incense may addict people and make them useless, but it also energizes them. With it, I might not lose. Are you really going to fight me in front of all these men? If you lose, it will be hard to command respect in the army.”

Unlike the winter hunt, this time Xuanyuan Lang couldn’t afford to lose.

Yet he didn’t take Wei Lingze seriously. He smirked: “No matter. I allow you to use the incense—any amount you wish.”

He wasn’t worried about losing; he only wanted to see how far Wei Lingze could last.

Soon, they arrived at the training ground, and soldiers quickly gathered to watch.

While Wei Lingze chose his weapon, Lanshu tried to dissuade him: “Young Master Wei, I advise you to concede. You can’t beat General Xuanyuan.”

“Get lost!”

Wei Lingze shouted without hesitation. Lanshu touched his nose and retreated to a corner.

Most Yuexi soldiers used curved blades or hammers, not swords like Wei Lingze. Eventually, he picked a curved blade. To be fair, Xuanyuan Lang chose one as well.

Before the duel, Wei Lingze used the Soul-Stirring Incense.

The familiar scent entered his body, opening every pore, and his eyes shone with vitality.

He straightened his back and stepped toward Xuanyuan Lang. The Yuexi soldiers around them cheered loudly for Xuanyuan Lang.

Wei Lingze ignored them and launched the first attack.

The incense had increased his speed considerably, but Xuanyuan Lang easily blocked the strike.

Their curved blades clashed, sending tiny sparks flying, illuminating the murderous intent in Wei Lingze’s eyes.

Xuanyuan Lang showed no fear. He forcefully pushed Wei Lingze back and commented: “The incense may have temporarily increased your speed, but your strength is far below before. I heard you were paralyzed for three years. You didn’t just lie in bed useless, did you?”

The last words were clearly taunting. Wei Lingze didn’t fly into rage like before but clenched his teeth, analyzing the situation.

Xuanyuan Lang was right—his strength was diminished. To win, he had to rely on skill and speed.

Thinking this, Wei Lingze launched another attack, changing his strategy. He no longer fought head-on but tried tricky angles to find Xuanyuan Lang’s openings.

Xuanyuan Lang had never slackened in these three years. Instead, he constantly trained against others in the army, sharpening himself. Soon, Wei Lingze’s arm was cut by a blade, and Xuanyuan Lang kicked him in the chest.

“Cough! Cough!”

Wei Lingze was thrown far back but rolled upon landing, using his blade to brace himself and quickly got up.

Blood trickled from his lips. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, he grinned: “Again!”

A flash of surprise crossed Xuanyuan Lang’s eyes. His contempt for Wei Lingze lessened.

Though not as strong as before, Wei Lingze now had the same fighting spirit as in the past.

For the incense, he had already betrayed all the information from the Zhaoling army. Shouldn’t he have been completely ruined? Yet he still displayed such willpower.

Xuanyuan Lang sensed something was off, but Wei Lingze didn’t give him time to think and charged again.

Meanwhile, from the direction of the city gate, a bright fire blazed.

Countless civilians threw themselves at the defending soldiers with their own bodies…