209: Chapter 210 And who do you think you are?

The Four-City Allied Forces set off again.

After the disruption caused by City Lord Zhao Kun, the entire army's speed was noticeably slower.

The three City Lords were all displeased.

City Lord Liefeng was also displeased.

But no one mentioned Banhe City again.

In their view, once Flower City was taken, that small city of City Lord Zhao Kun could be easily crushed later.

What was truly important right now was Flower City.

The army advanced another few dozen miles.

The road ahead gradually narrowed.

There were low slopes on both sides, with withered grass on the slopes swaying in the wind.

Further ahead was an old road worn down by merchant caravans.

The old road was not wide, but it was the fastest route for the Four-City Allied Forces toward Flower City.

Just as the vanguard was preparing to pass, scouts suddenly returned with urgent reports.

"An army has appeared ahead!"

The center army went silent instantly.

City Lord Liefeng looked up sharply.

"Whose banners are they?"

The scout swallowed hard.

"Heyang."

...

In front of the old road.

The flags of Heyang City unfurled in the wind.

City Lord Qin Fang rode on horseback, with the neatly arrayed Heyang Army behind him.

Sha Chenghu stood behind him to the side, his hand on the hilt of his blade, his eyes fixed on the vanguard of the Four-City Allied Forces.

The Heyang Army was fewer in number than the Four-City Allied Forces.

But their armor, weapons, crossbows, and mage staves were all top-notch.

After trading with Flower City during this period, the Heyang Army's equipment had been replaced.

Standing in front of that old road, their Aura firmly dominated the intersection.

The four City Lords quickly arrived at the vanguard.

Seeing them from afar, City Lord Qin Fang's Face revealed a hint of a smile first.

He raised his hands and cupped them in greeting.

"Dear brothers, why go to such great lengths? Where are you headed?"

The four City Lords looked at each other.

Finally, City Lord Liefeng rode forward.

A smile also hung on his Face.

It was as if the forced marches, pursuits, and bloodstains from just a moment ago had nothing to do with this chance encounter.

"City Lord Qin Fang, this formation of yours is quite impressive too."

City Lord Qin Fang looked back at the Heyang Army behind him, his smile unchanged.

"What a coincidence, isn't it?"

"We just happened to run into you all."

City Lord Liefeng nodded.

"Indeed, a great coincidence."

He paused.

"I just don't know, where is City Lord Qin Fang headed?"

City Lord Qin Fang looked at him.

"I would also like to know where you four brothers are going."

The two stood with a stretch of road between them, both with smiles on their Faces.

The soldiers around them, however, all gripped their weapons tightly.

City Lord Liefeng said: "Southwest."

City Lord Qin Fang replied with almost no hesitation.

"Northeast."

City Lord Liefeng narrowed his eyes.

"That is truly a coincidence upon a coincidence."

City Lord Qin Fang nodded.

"Indeed."

He glanced at the old road beneath his feet.

"This road is only this wide; why don't I withdraw for now and let you brothers pass first."

"I am not in a hurry."

The smile on City Lord Liefeng's Face did not change.

But his gaze had already swept past City Lord Qin Fang and toward the formation of the Heyang Army.

City Lord Qin Fang spoke politely.

But did he dare believe these words?

If the Four-City Allied Forces really marched openly past the Heyang Army, the vanguard would pass, but the rear would still be at the intersection, and the center army would be stretched out along the old road.

If City Lord Qin Fang pressed in from the side at that moment, the Four-City Allied Forces would be thrown into chaos immediately.

This was not yielding the road.

This was holding a knife to their ribs and smilingly asking if they dared to move forward.

City Lord Liefeng smiled.

"Why must City Lord Qin Fang be so polite?"

"We are actually not in a hurry either."

"Why don't we yield and let City Lord Qin Fang go first."

City Lord Qin Fang waved his hand.

"How can that be?"

"You four are all my brothers."

"If I let you four brothers yield the road to me, a mere individual, if word got out, wouldn't my Heyang City be seen as lacking in etiquette?"

City Lord Liefeng sighed.

"City Lord Qin Fang is too polite, please still..."

"City Lord Qin Fang!"

The Lord of Qinghe City finally could not hold back.

He rode forward, his Face extremely grim.

"Stop putting on an act here!"

City Lord Liefeng's words were cut off, and a flash of displeasure crossed his eyes.

But the Lord of Qinghe City could no longer care about that.

He stared at City Lord Qin Fang, his voice cold and hard.

"I knew long ago that you had defected to Flower City."

"But I didn't expect that you would truly be able to disregard our years of friendship and stand here to block us for Flower City."

The Lord of Nanchang City also said in a deep voice: "City Lord Qin Fang, for the sake of our old friendship, if you step aside now, we will let bygones be bygones!"

City Lord Fengye sneered.

"If you don't step aside, the consequences... hmph!"

Hearing this, the smile on City Lord Qin Fang's Face vanished instantly.

"I give you Face by calling you brothers."

"If I don't give you Face, what are you even worth?"

The Lord of Qinghe City's Face changed drastically.

City Lord Qin Fang had already ordered:

"Old Sha!"

Sha Chenghu stepped forward.

"Here!"

City Lord Qin Fang raised his hand and pointed ahead.

"Attack!"

Sha Chenghu did not hesitate, immediately drawing his blade.

"Attack!!!"

"Wooo..."

The sound of the horn rang out suddenly.

In the Heyang Army formation, the shield bearers pressed forward, spears probed out from the gaps in the shields, the Archers nocked their strings, and the tips of the Mage Corps' staves lit up simultaneously.

The vanguard of The Four Cities was thrown into chaos instantly.

No one expected that City Lord Qin Fang, who was smiling and yielding the road a moment ago, would tear off the mask and order an attack the next.

The four City Lords were almost angered to the point of vomiting blood.

You blocked our path, we haven't even acted yet, and you attacked first?!

"Good!"

"Very good!"

The smile on City Lord Liefeng's Face disappeared completely.

He immediately turned his horse back to the formation.

"Meet the enemy!!!"

The vanguards of both sides quickly collided.

Shields clashed heavily.

Spears thrust out from the gaps.

Arrows streaked overhead, and the light of Spells exploded on the old road.

The Heyang Army was well-equipped, and their formation was steady.

The Four-City Allied Forces were more numerous, and after being caught off guard, their vanguard quickly stabilized.

For a short time, both sides were evenly matched.

Sha Chenghu personally pressed forward, his blade light slashing repeatedly, forcing a knight from Qinghe City back several steps.

City Lord Qin Fang remained on his horse, his gaze sweeping over the formation of the Four-City Allied Forces.

He did not want to get bogged down in a fight.

He also didn't intend to decide the outcome here.

The Four Cities had too many troops.

If they were fully spread out, his few men would be crushed sooner or later.

After a while, the subsequent forces of The Four Cities began to spread to both sides.

City Lord Qin Fang's eyes flickered.

"Old Sha!"

Sha Chenghu had just slashed back a warrior and turned his head at the sound.

City Lord Qin Fang said: "Retreat!"

Sha Chenghu did not have the slightest hesitation.

He swung his blade backward.

"The whole army, retreat!"

The Heyang Army came fast, and retreated just as fast.

The front row of shield bearers retreated alternately, the Archers suppressed The Four Cities' vanguard, and the Mage Corps cast several slowing Spells onto the ground as they retreated.

Seeing this, the four City Lords felt a coldness cross their eyes.

The Lord of Qinghe City sneered.

"Is that all they can do?"

The Lord of Nanchang City, however, did not smile.

"We cannot let him leave."

City Lord Fengye also said: "City Lord Zhao Kun is already annoying enough. If City Lord Qin Fang hangs on behind us with the Heyang Army, the trouble will only be greater."

City Lord Liefeng naturally understood.

City Lord Qin Fang was different from City Lord Zhao Kun.

City Lord Zhao Kun's troops, while disgusting, ultimately could not hurt the bones of the Four-City Allied Forces.

If City Lord Qin Fang really kept harassing them from the rear, and even found opportunities to cut their supply lines and communication lines, then the losses would not be as simple as a few hundred people.

City Lord Liefeng raised his hand.

"Pursue!"

His voice was very cold.

"In one go, wipe out the Heyang Army! Eliminate future trouble!"

The Four Cities' vanguard immediately gave chase.

...

At first, the Heyang Army retreated very steadily.

But after pursuing for a distance, fine patterns suddenly lit up on the slopes on both sides of the old road.

The cavalry pursuing at the very front had not reacted before their horses' hooves stepped into those glowing patterns.

The next second.

Boom!

The ground exploded violently.

Firelight rose from beneath the slope, and gravel and iron fragments were swept into the army formation.

Immediately after, the second, third, and fourth light patterns lit up one after another.

The roaring sounds layered one on top of another.

The front row of pursuers was instantly sent flying, men and horses alike.

Some didn't even have time to scream before their bodies were engulfed by flames.

Some fell from their horses and were trampled by their comrades behind.

Others had their horses' legs severed by the exploding Wind Blades, and they rolled into the dirt ditches on the side of the road.

"Stop!"

"There are traps!"

"Don't pursue!"

The subsequent pursuers froze in place.

The formation that had been pressing so urgently was abruptly broken by this field of magic traps.

The chaos spread from the front to the back.

The generals of The Four Cities roared repeatedly, but for a moment they could not control the frightened warhorses and soldiers.

Just then, City Lord Qin Fang, who had already retreated some distance, suddenly pulled on his reins.

He looked back at the Four-City Allied Forces from afar.

A hint of a smile appeared on his Face again.

City Lord Qin Fang raised his hand.

"Mage Corps."

"Archer Corps."

He gently pressed down.

"Attack."

The next moment, the rear of the Heyang Army formation suddenly unfolded.

Various magical lights lit up from the tips of the Mage Corps' staves, and a rain of arrows rose into the air almost simultaneously.

Flames, ice shards, Wind Blades, earth spikes.

A dense rain of arrows.

All poured down toward the chaotic Four Cities pursuers in the trap zone.

The magic light and the rain of arrows fell suddenly, and The Four Cities' vanguard was instantly thrown into a mess.

Flames exploded first.

Followed by ice shards, Wind Blades, and earth spikes.

The cavalry knocked over by the traps had not yet managed to crawl up when the second round of arrow rain pressed down on their heads.

Shields overturned, warhorses neighed, broken spears were trampled into the mud, and blood mixed with the grass ash scorched by fire instantly covered the front of the old road.

Those who pursued most urgently were the Fourth Army of Liefeng City that had just been transferred to the front.

They had already seen blood when chasing City Lord Zhao Kun earlier, their morale was high, and they had been urged extremely hard by City Lord Liefeng to "wipe out the Heyang Army," so they naturally charged the fastest.

Now that the traps had exploded, they were the ones who suffered the most.

"Steady!"

"Shield bearers! Shield bearers move forward!"

"Don't panic, those who retreat will be executed!"

Several Liefeng generals roared until their throats were hoarse, but their voices fell into the roaring and screaming, and were quickly torn apart.

Just when The Four Cities' pursuers had not yet been able to regroup, City Lord Qin Fang had already raised his hand again.

"Old Sha."

Sha Chenghu had been watching that chaotic formation, and grinned at the sound.

"At your command!"

City Lord Qin Fang looked ahead.

"Crush them."

Sha Chenghu laughed loudly, his blade edge swinging forward fiercely.

"Heyang boys!"

"Follow me and kill them back!"

The Heyang vanguard, which had been retreating, suddenly paused.

The next moment, the shield bearers turned around, spears probed out from the shield gaps, cavalry cut in diagonally from the flanks, and the Mage Corps' second round of light shone almost simultaneously.

The Heyang Army did not charge in a scattered way.

They were like a blade that had long been returned to its sheath; when drawn, the edge was still neat.

Sha Chenghu charged at the very front.

His blade first slashed open a Liefeng knight's shoulder armor, then backhanded to knock away half a shield, and kicked a person back into the chaotic formation.

The Heyang bladesmen behind him followed closely.

For a time, The Four Cities' pursuers who had just struggled out of the traps had not yet been able to stand firm when they were hit head-on by the Heyang Army again.

This hit was extremely fierce.

The formation had not taken shape.

The commands had not connected.

The morale had not had time to recover from the firelight just now.

The Heyang Army cut in almost along the gaps of the chaos.

Shield bearers held up the remnants of the formation, spears harvested those who fell off their horses, and cavalry bypassed the thickest group of people to bite directly at the command banner that was attempting to regroup.

A Liefeng officer had just raised the banner when, the next moment, an arrow shot in from the side, nailing through his palm.

The flagstaff tilted.

Sha Chenghu had already arrived close by.

"Get out of the way!"

He slashed the flagstaff with one blade, sweeping both the flag and the person into the mud.

The line of the Liefeng Fourth Army collapsed in a corner instantly.

The pursuers from the three cities of Qinghe, Nanchang, and Fengye saw that the situation was bad and hurriedly retreated.

But the old road was not wide, the remaining fires from the traps on both sides had not yet extinguished, the people in front could not retreat, the people behind could not squeeze up, and the shouts, horse neighs, and weapon noises were in a complete mess.

By the time The Four Cities' center army pressed up again and forcibly used horns to stabilize the vanguard, the Heyang Army had already retreated, covered in blood.

Coming fast.

Retreating just as fast.

Leaving only overturned warhorses, broken flagstaffs, and a patch of firelight that had not yet been completely extinguished on the old road.

...

After the battle ended.

Sha Chenghu dismounted, his armor covered in blood.

Some was his own.

Some was the enemy's.

He caught his breath, looked up at the soldiers behind him, and suddenly laughed.

"Satisfying!"

A deputy general beside him could not suppress his excitement either.

"City Lord, this Four-City Allied Forces looks impressive, but when you really fight them, they are nothing more than this!"

Another general wiped the blood off his Face, his eyes shining terrifyingly.

"Still talking about attacking Flower City, they can't even get past this hurdle of ours!"

"Chicken and dogs!"

"Overestimating their own capabilities!"

Short laughter spread among the crowd.

That battle just now was too smooth.

The traps exploded and disrupted the pursuers first, the Mages and Archers followed up, and Sha Chenghu led the vanguard to counter-kill, almost taking a big chunk out of the Liefeng City army that had charged the furthest.

The morale of the Heyang Army was raised to the highest point instantly.

Many people couldn't help but look back toward the old road.

In those eyes, there was already the intention to continue charging.

City Lord Qin Fang, however, did not laugh.

He sat on his horse, his gaze sweeping over the slopes and falling toward The Four Cities' center army further away.

The dust and smoke there had not yet dissipated.

But the four banners were still there.

Red, blue, grayish-white, maple-yellow.

Not a single one had fallen.

City Lord Qin Fang slowly withdrew his gaze.

"Too early to be happy."

The laughter of the crowd paused.

Sha Chenghu also looked up.

City Lord Qin Fang said: "Those who fell into the traps just now were mostly the vanguards who pursued the most urgently, especially that unit from Liefeng City."

He paused.

"The true center army of The Four Cities is not in chaos, the main force is not injured, the supplies are not cut, and the city lord seal has not moved."

The wind blew over the slope.

The heat from just now was blown away by this sentence.

A young general subconsciously said: "But they suffered many casualties."

"Many."

City Lord Qin Fang nodded.

"But not enough."

He looked at the crowd.

"Given the scale of the Four-City Allied Forces, that hit just now only made them feel some pain."

"It is far from breaking their bones and tendons."

The smile on Sha Chenghu's Face slowly faded away too.

He had followed City Lord Qin Fang for many years and knew that the calmer his City Lord was, the less simple the matter was.

"City Lord."

He gripped the hilt of his blade.

"What do we do next?"

City Lord Qin Fang did not answer immediately.

He looked down at his own palm.

Having held the sword for too long, the web of his thumb had split slightly, blood seeping into the gaps between his fingers, becoming sticky in the wind.

A moment later, he looked up again.

"Next, there is and only is one path."

Sha Chenghu said in a deep voice: "Which one?"

City Lord Qin Fang looked toward the end of the old road.

"Fight a hard battle."