Recognition struck instantly, a soldier whispered "…Impossible, how…" Fei Yushan's eyes narrowed sharply, "…how…you," the name did not need to be spoken, because every man present there already knew, he was none other than the Lin Yechen—for a brief moment, even the battlefield was fallen into a deep silence. Fei Yushan's grip tightened, he was in disbelief even his composure was flickered. "…how come you are here? You were positioned at the eastern front," he said with his disbelief tone, his voice edged but controlled. "…than how come you are here…" the fog shifted lightly between them, Yechen did not answer him immediately—his gaze remained calm and sharp. As though the question itself held a little importance, then he spoke at last with his even and calm tone, almost indifferent. "…Do you really think that I am that irresponsible, did you truly believe… that I would remain where you expected me to be?" the words came as striking blade, understanding struck them—but too late, the eastern front… the pressure… the hesitation… it had all been deliberate but a deception. Fei Yushan's expression darkened instantly, realization hit him instantly, "…So this was your intention from the very beginning, you never planned to stay at the eastern front from the beginning, you only wanted to divert our mind from the eastern front…" Yechen's smirk deepened—just slightly before answering him, "…Of course, it was from the moment you chose to advance, your defeat… was no longer avoidable." The fog lingered as though they have entered in the hell, the distance between them remained but the balance had already broken, because the moment he appeared there—this battle was no longer uncertain. It was decided.
The silence did not last long—it shattered, with a single command, "Advance!" the word left the lips from Lin Yechen without force but with loud authority… yet the moment it fell, the fog parted behind them, they emerged, thirty thousand soldiers moved as one, soldiers advanced in perfect formation, their presence being a pressure on the battlefield like an unspoken edict. The black and gold standard rose above them, steady and fierce against the pale dawn its dragon insignia catching the light as though the sky itself had yielded to its authority, the ground trembled, the synchronized rhythm of their approach, at the forefront rode stood Wang Lin and Hao Lin.
Wang Lin exhaled slowly before forming a faint grin, his gaze swept across the disordered Sheqiu ranks, "Ah… observe them closely their expressions are the most instructive-confusion, disbelief and the faintest realization of the impending defeat that will now follow. It is almost regrettable that such a clarity as arrives so late." Hao Lin replied evenly, his eyes still fixed ahead, "You do not regret it." Wang Lin answered without hesitation, "Indeed, I do not. Yet one must acknowledge the aesthetic of a well-executed collapse." Ahead of them, Fei Yushan who stood rigid in his place, his grip tightening upon his sword as the scale of what faced him settled heavily into place, he gritted his teeth in anger. He said in a low and controlled tone, "…Thirty thousand…So this was never a divided force… you never intended to hold the eastern line." His gaze lifted towards Lin Yechen while his voice sharp with understanding hitting him hard.
Yechen did not reply, finally with a cunning smirk, he commanded, "Longlin army, hear the command!" everyone answered, loud and confidence, "Defeat is not permitted. Only Victory is permitted! Kill!" the command fell with finality, every Longlin army moved forward with force and defense, "Kill!" every armies voice echoed through the Sheqiu forces, Fei Yushan said with force, "Kill!" both the forces met with steel with steel as the mist was torn apart, the battlefield erupting into controlled violence. The Longlin formation did not waver, the one who wavered was the Sheqiu formation. Each strike from Longlin forces landed with precision, each movement, long completed in thought before it was ever enacted. Amidst the clash, Huang Lixian moved with composed and precise elegance, his fan opening with a soft but with rough snap even he deflected an incoming strike with his fan.
"Such unrefined aggression, it lacks both discipline and imagination." He said, stepping aside with effortless grace before tapping an opponent's wrist, sending the man's sword veering off course. Nearby, Wang Lin called out with amusement, "Lixian, retrain yourself from instructing them. If you begin instructing them mid-battle, they may mistake defeat for education." Hao Lin slightly laughed at his remarks. Lixian's lips curved faintly and said, "If they possessed the capacity to learn, this encounter would not be so brief." His gaze slightly flickered towards Yechen, "though I must say, because of your decision for this going war, I am deprived of witnessing what would surely have been a most… enlightening wedding." Wang Lin let out a low laugh, "You? Attending the wedding with restraint? That alone would have been a spectacle." Lixian replied smoothly, "I would have conducted myself with impeccable decorum, whether others could endure such sincerity is another matter entirely, it will have nothing to do with me." While Lixian, Wang Lin and Hao Lin, were with Longlin forces with Sheqiu forces.
At the center—the battlefield shifted, Fei Yushan had advance, his blade cutting through the air like controlling with force, his movements sharp, refined by years of discipline. He broke the encroaching line with calculated precision, his gaze fixed solely towards Lin Yechen. "You planned this from the beginning, right," Fei Yushan said, his tone steady and calm despite the chaos going around them. "Every step, every retreat—nothing was unintentional. You think this will be our last defeat, then it is only your dream Lin Yechen." He said in intentional while gritting his teeth with anger. Yechen came forward before striking a soldier with his dragon sword, his sword covered in blood, he dismounted from his horse in one steady motion, quiet certainty when his boots touched the ground, his sword lowered slightly, angled with ease rather than effort. He replied, his tone even and determined, "And yet, you still advanced… you think this will be a dream of mine, than think like that, I can also fulfill my dream now, you will retreat yourself in your own will… and I am taking this as your dream but as a surety." He smirk, the steel met in the next instant, the clash rang sharp, Fei Yushan struck first—his strike swift, direct and testing. Yechen met the blow without retreat, their swords locking briefly before separating in a burst of force. A second strike followed, one after another with time faster and faster.
Yechen turned it aside with minimal movement, his expression unchanged, "You rely on precision," Fei Yushan said circling slightly around him, searching for an opening to attack, "but precision alone does not decide a battlefield, Lin Yechen." Yechen replied calmly with a smirk, stepping forward, "but understanding does." He moved, faster than before, his strike came shifting mid motion, forcing Fei Yushan to adjust his guard at the last instant. The impact drove him back half a step, the force was controlled yet undeniable. Fei Yushan eyes narrowed, "you fight, you act, speak as though the outcome has already been decided. Yechen said determination, "it has, already decided." The next exchange came without pause, steel collided repeatedly, each strike was sharper than the last was. Fei Yushan came forward, his technique flawless with each movement refined yet with every clash the difference became clearer. Yechen did not merely respond, he dictated, a sudden shift—Fei Yushan's blade grazed Yechen's sleeve, missing by a fraction. Yechen did not retreat, instead he stepped forward into the opening, he did not flickered, his strike cut through Yushan's arm slightly, not deep nut precise. Fei Yushan staggered slightly, his arm reacting a fraction too slow as the imbalance spread. He hesitated, which Yechen instantly knew from his face, he said quietly, "You hesitate," he said with a smirk. "I calculated." Fei Yushan corrected him, tightening his grip on his sword despite the strain. Yechen said with a final yet calm statement, "Then your calculations are flawed," he said decisive "you should start to learn more." Fei Yushan lunged forward in anger, committing fully to the strike. And at that constant moment, Yechen moved past it, a blur of motion, a single with controlled strike, the blade cut across Yushan again, stopping just short of a fatal end—yet leaving no doubt. Fei Yushan's breath started to faltered, his stance breaking for the first time.
To Be continued.....