157: Tieyanguan Flesh Mill

Chen Xing slowly opened his eyes, and the intense light pierced his pupils like countless fine needles, a stinging sensation that made him involuntarily shed tears.

He tried to close his eyes again, to escape the unbearable brightness.

However, the soreness in his body constantly reminded him that he was currently in an unfamiliar environment.

His muscles felt as if they had been struck by a heavy hammer, every inch of them screaming with exhaustion and pain.

The air was filled with a mixture of gunpowder and blood, as if he were in the aftermath of a brutal battle.

Chen Xing raised his right hand to shield his eyes from the dazzling sunlight, trying to let his eyes adapt to the intense light.

"Are you alright? You seemed to have fainted," the soldier asked with concern.

Chen Xing turned his head and saw a young soldier squatting beside him, his face covered in ash and dirt, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.

Chen Xing struggled to sit up from the ground and looked around.

He found himself in the ruins of a battlefield in the wilderness, everything around him seemed so real, as if he had truly just experienced a fierce battle.

He pinched the back of his hand, and the pain told him that this illusion was even more real than he had imagined.

"The enemy's attack was repelled this time," the young soldier said, a hint of worry in his voice, "but I don't know if we can safely deliver the supplies."

"Where are the supplies being delivered?" Chen Xing asked.

The soldier suddenly looked at Chen Xing warily, his right hand on the trigger.

"You don't know the mission?"

Chen Xing glanced at him, "I remember, I said I didn't know if we could deliver the supplies there."

"Let's go, back to the camp first."

The soldier frowned, carefully scrutinizing Chen Xing.

He vaguely remembered Chen Xing, having seen him a few times in the army, which was why he had woken Chen Xing up just now.

Chen Xing walked in front, but his heart was on alert.

He hadn't expected the reactions of these people in the illusion to be so realistic.

Along the way, Chen Xing kept his hand in his pocket, thinking that since he had been given an identity, there should be something to prove it or related materials.

His hand felt something hard in his pocket.

He took it out; it was something similar to a certificate.

The cover read "Jiuzhou University."

Inside, after opening it, there was his photo, his name, his number, and his position.

—Jiuzhou University Special Support Group》

It's good to have an identity.

Upon entering the camp, Chen Xing noticed many cannons arrayed around, and even tanks within the camp.

Chen Xing understood.

It seemed this was an "ancient" battle.

These things were basically obsolete now.

This could further narrow down the scope of the battle.

At the beginning of the invasion from the foreign realm, Great Xia resisted with thermal weapons.

But as the war continued, thermal weapons were gradually phased out and replaced by Beast Taming. Now, only a few places still used thermal weapons.

Someone ran over quickly, straight towards him.

The person came over and immediately grabbed Chen Xing's arm.

"Old Chen, Platoon Leader Zhou's condition is still worsening after treatment. Have you seen the doctor in the camp?"

Chen Xing's thoughts stirred, "Where is Platoon Leader Zhou? Take me there."

The person pulled Chen Xing's hand and quickly ran towards a corner of the camp.

They passed through rows of low tents and arrived at a makeshift tent.

Inside the tent, a soldier in camouflage lay on a bed, his face pale, his chest heaving violently, each breath appearing exceptionally difficult.

Beside him, a yellow Twin Fiend Hound silently stood guard, its eyes filled with worry and anxiety.

Suddenly, the soldier sat up and painfully coughed up a mouthful of black blood.

Seeing this, the Twin Fiend Hound immediately barked anxiously, its barks growing more frantic with each sound.

Chen Xing noticed that there were tears in the Twin Fiend Hound's eyes.

It continuously nudged its master's palm with its head, extending its tongue to lick it, trying to offer some comfort in its own way.

Just then, footsteps were heard outside the tent.

The Twin Fiend Hound's ears twitched, and it immediately turned and rushed out.

It quickly bit the hem of a passing doctor's clothing and forcefully pulled him towards the tent.

The doctor was startled by the sudden Beast Taming, but quickly understood its intention and followed it into the tent.

"Platoon Leader Zhou, you've been poisoned by King Lieshan's venom; my Beast Taming healing skills can't cure it." The doctor entered and glanced at the soldier's symptoms, his brows furrowed tightly.

"It's alright, Doctor Hong, you go tend to others first. Your Beast Taming magic is limited, there's no need to waste it on me." Platoon Leader Zhou waved his hand, calmly accepting his fate.

Then he said to the Beast Taming next to him, "Shiba, don't mess around; the doctor also has his own things to do."

The doctor nodded.

Then he quickly left the tent, as there were many more wounded waiting for treatment after the great battle.

Platoon Leader Zhou looked at the Twin Fiend Hound and said in a faint but firm voice, "Shiba! Order received!"

Hearing his master's call, the Twin Fiend Hound immediately perked up and barked in response.

Then, it took half a step back, squatted on the ground, and stared intently at the Beastmaster.

Platoon Leader Zhou paused, as if gathering strength.

Then, he continued word by word, "This is my last command: after I die, you are to follow the troops and escort the supplies to Tieyan Pass. After the escort mission is complete... you are approved for retirement, and your remaining life is yours to decide."

"Woof!" The Twin Fiend Hound responded loudly, indicating it had received the command.

Platoon Leader Zhou closed his eyes, his chest heaving violently.

After a while, he looked at Chen Xing.

"Chen Xing, you are a top student from Jiuzhou University, well-read, and one of the earliest professional Beastmasters in the country. These supplies are crucial for Tieyan Pass; you must deliver them."

Tieyan Pass.

Hearing this somewhat familiar name.

Chen Xing recalled the knowledge of various battles he had recently crammed.

Suddenly, Chen Xing remembered!

In the twentieth year of Great Xia's connection to the foreign realm, the Burning Sky Giant City, a force allied with Great Xia, launched a full-scale invasion of Great Xia!

The news spread domestically, shaking the entire nation.

Border residents evacuated inland, while various border legions simultaneously assembled near the foreign realm passage, forming four lines of defense.

In haste, the first and second lines of defense were successively broken, and Great Xia's border heavy forces gathered at Tieyan Pass.

Ninety-six divisions, 1.5 million regular troops, and 2 million militia, totaling 3.5 million troops, staunchly defended the mighty city of Tieyan Pass.

The slogan at the time was to hold out for half a month to buy time for the rear.

But the outcome was that 3.5 million troops held out for a full month.

After the battle, only 160,000 out of 3.5 million people remained; the entire mighty city was transformed into a meat grinder, and later generations even used poetry as proof.

War raged endlessly through the night, walls painted with flesh, rivers of blood stretched long.

White bones filled three hundred li of wilderness, no returning wanderers found their way home.

And this battle was also known as the Tieyan Pass Meat Grinder.