285: Farewell My Concubine

Location, midnight.

A blood-red moon hung in the sky, and dark clouds, like ink, pressed down, suffocating the entire land.

On the battlefield, corpses lay everywhere, and broken armor and halberds were stuck in the frozen earth, like silent gravestones.

Even the wind carried the smell of rust and the burnt scent of ignited Souls.

In the Chu Army camp, the lights flickered, but there was no Battle Intent left.

Of the hundred thousand strong army, only thirty thousand tattered soldiers remained, their faces ashen, their Qi depleted, and even their sword-wielding hands trembled.

Suddenly—

A faint sound drifted from deep within the Han Army's formation.

It wasn't a horn, nor a war drum, but a clear, ethereal child's voice:

"Southern willows, small leaves not yet forming shade..."

The voice was soft, like a mother's whisper, like a spring breeze caressing the face.

Yet, on this silent battlefield, it was like the first thunderclap that split heaven and earth!

Immediately after—

The second voice sounded, then the third, the fourth... hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands sang in unison!

"Mother calls her child home, cooking smoke curls deep around the village..."

The singing surged like a tide, sweeping across the wilderness!

This was not a Mortal song, but Han Xin, using the "Nine Nether Soul-Snatching Bell" as a guide, activating the "Heart Soul Resonance Art" among a million Han Army soldiers!

Every word was a "Homesickness Curse Seal";

Every line was a "Soul-Severing Blade," piercing directly into the deepest part of the Chu Army soldiers' Divine Souls!

Even more terrifying was—

Han Xin had long ordered the collection of the "Lingering Obsession Sounds" of the deceased Souls from the Chu Territory, refining them into the "Rebirth Bronze Flute."

At this moment, the flute's mournful wail forcibly summoned the Souls of those Chu soldiers who had already died in battle, causing them to wander in the wind and snow, softly echoing:

"Go home... stop fighting... Mother misses you..."

For a time, the entire world was filled with Chu accents!

From all directions, there were calls from their homeland!

Chu Army soldiers fell to their knees one after another, tears streaming down their faces.

Some threw down their weapons, muttering, "Our home is gone... we can't go back..."

Some tore open their tunics, revealing the words "Jiangdong Lu Clan" carved on their chests, weeping uncontrollably;

Even an old general drew his sword, slit his own throat, and whispered before he died:

"My old wife is still waiting for me... I... cannot let her guard an empty room alone..."

Divine Souls shattered, and morale completely disintegrated.

Inside Chu Yu's tent.

He stood before the tent, clad in blood-stained armor, gazing at the endless sea of fire in the distant Han camp, listening to the familiar sounds of his homeland, his heart torn as if by a knife.

He knew this was the "Soul Curse Art," but he knew even more clearly—

His army had already collapsed.

He walked into the tent, took out a wine flask. Inside the flask was "Rouge Drunk," brewed personally by Yu Ji, its color like blood.

He drank it alone, the flickering firelight reflecting his weathered face.

Once, he was the "White Tiger Hegemon Body," angered for a beauty, deciding the world with a single battle.

Now, he couldn't even stand steadily, his Battle Intent like a flickering candle in the wind.

He looked up and sang softly—

His voice was hoarse, yet it rumbled like thunder across the night sky:

"My strength uproots mountains, my Qi covers the world,

But the times are against me, and my steed does not advance.

When my steed does not advance, what can I do?

Yu Ji, Yu Ji, what can I do for you!"

The tragic song echoed through the cold night, actually stirring up a celestial phenomenon!

A phantom White Tiger appeared in the sky, roaring towards the heavens, then was swallowed by the blood moon, turning into specks of light dust that scattered across the battlefield.

Chu Yu understood that this meant his impending fall.

Just then—

The tent curtain stirred gently.

Yu Ji walked in.

She wore a plain dress, without makeup, her features picturesque, yet carrying a beauty of resolute determination.

She listened quietly, tears glimmering in her eyes, but a gentle smile bloomed at the corner of her lips.

She slowly stepped forward, gently took the wine flask, took a sip, and whispered:

"This wine... still tastes the same as ten years ago."

Chu Yu looked at her, his voice choked: "Yu Ji... I'm sorry, for bringing you to this point."

Yu Ji shook her head, reaching out to caress the cracks in his battle armor, and softly said:

"Yu, I have never regretted it."

"You are my husband, my Hegemon King."

She suddenly took a step back, straightened her sleeves, and drew a short sword from within her sleeve—

It was the "Conjoined Blade" Chu Yu had given her, inscribed with the words "Live and Die Together."

"Yu, let me dance one last dance for you."

"Just like when we first met, all those years ago."

With that, she lightly tapped the ground, her figure like a swallow, gracefully beginning to dance.

Her dance was as light as snow, yet it carried a heartbreaking, tragic beauty.

Every step trod upon Chu Yu's heart;

Every turn seemed to tear at his Soul.

As she danced, she murmured:

"The Han Army has seized our land, Chu songs echo from all sides."

She spun, her sword light like the moon, reflecting her tears.

"The Great King's spirit is spent, how can this concubine live on?"

She stopped, the tip of her sword lightly touching her heart, her eyes resolute.

As the dance reached its final move—

She spread her arms, like a Phoenix spreading its wings, her plain dress fluttering, like a Fairy descending to the Mortal world.

The firelight illuminated her face, a breathtaking beauty.

She looked at Chu Yu, smiling tearfully:

"Yu... promise me... don't look back... keep moving forward..."

"In the next life... I will still be your Yu Ji... and dance another 'Elegy of Chu' for you..."

Before her words finished—

She suddenly pulled her arms back, plunging the "Conjoined Blade" fiercely into her heart!

"Pfft!"

Blood gushed out, staining her white dress, and also the "Conjoined Blade."

Her body slowly fell, but the short sword in her hand was still tightly clutched, as if it were her final vow.

"Yu Ji—!!"

Chu Yu started, embracing her falling body, his voice tearing through heaven and earth!

Yu Ji leaned in his arms, blood spilling from her lips, yet she smiled gently, as if she had merely fallen asleep from exhaustion.

Her hand gently caressed his face, and she whispered:

"Was this dance... still beautiful?"

Chu Yu was sobbing uncontrollably, only able to nod.

She closed her eyes, her last breath dissipating in the wind.

Suddenly—

Yu Ji's corpse began to glow with a faint golden light!

Her Soul slowly rose, transforming into a faint phantom of a woman in plain clothes, holding the "Conjoined Blade," standing in the Void Realm.

She took one last look at Chu Yu, then transformed into a streak of light, merging into Chu Yu's body!

In an instant, a faint trace of "White Tiger Battle Intent" surged within Chu Yu's body!

That was Yu Ji, using the "Soul Sacrifice Art," burning her Divine Soul to rekindle his last shred of Battle Intent!

Chu Yu lowered his head, looking at the cold body in his arms, finally shedding a man's tears.

He gently closed her eyes for her, and whispered:

"Yu Ji... rest assured."

"I will not let you die in vain."

He gently laid Yu Ji down, put on his armor, led out his horse, Wuzhui, and gathered the remaining eight hundred cavalry.

"Tonight, follow me—to break through!"

Snow fell like knives, tearing through the sky.

Chu Yu donned the black armor, stained with blood and battle scars, its plates crisscrossed with cracks, yet still emanating an unyielding cold gleam.

He stood before the ruined camp, behind him only eight hundred cavalry remained, all wounded, their armor tattered, yet not a single one retreated.

"This battle today, is not for life, but for death!"

"Follow me—carve out a path of blood, and let the world remember the wrath of the Hegemon King, the wrath of Chu!"

The eight hundred roared in unison, their voices shaking the nine heavens, actually causing the swirling snow to reverse and surge upwards!

Han Xin had long ago set up the "Ninefold Dragon Trapping Array"—

Nine chains of Qi rose from the earth's pulse, transforming into nine giant Dragon phantoms, coiling in the Void Realm, sealing off all directions;

Each array eye was guarded by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and there were also "Soldier Soul Banners" activating the Souls of a million soldiers, suppressing all thoughts of a breakthrough!

Yet Chu Yu charged like a madman, his halberd "Sky-Breaker" raised high, activating the last trace of "White Tiger Battle Intent" within him!

That was the spark left by Yu Ji through the Soul Sacrifice Art, now burning fiercely in his Bloodline!

"Sky-Breaking Strike!!!"