Beichen Yuan stood atop the crumbling city wall, commanding the repeating crossbow chariots to continue their assault.

Though these war machines were powerful, they consumed arrows at an alarming rate.

Without ammunition, they’d soon be nothing more than useless decorations.

Murong Wushuang, still clad in white, stood beside Beichen Yuan.

Gazing at the city on the verge of being swallowed by enemy forces, he asked once more, “You truly don’t intend to retreat?”

“There is no such thing as retreat in my world,” Beichen Yuan replied with a bitter smile. “Murong, do you really think stepping back means only losing the city of Yanzhou? No—what we lose are the lives of countless people. We lose all of Daxia. Tell me, how could I possibly retreat?”

There was no room left for hesitation. He couldn’t back down, even if he wanted to.

Taking his spear from Xuantian, Beichen Yuan turned to leave.

“You’ll die out there! You’re still wounded!” Murong Wushuang’s voice cracked with urgency—his first time speaking so harshly to Beichen Yuan. He knew this might be the last time they’d ever see each other.

But Beichen Yuan merely lifted the corners of his lips in a proud smile. “These little wounds won’t take my life. Once I carve a bloody path, I’ll have someone escort you and old man Chu out. Remember—you promised me. Live. Leave this place alive.”

“Beichen Yuan—”

Murong Wushuang called after him, but he could not make him stay.

Beichen Yuan descended the wall and galloped toward the north gate to assist the general guarding that critical position.

Xuantian followed closely behind—he didn’t know whether they could make it through today, but one thing was certain: as long as he was alive, he would never let his lord die first.

Meanwhile, Murong Wushuang removed his cloak and drew his sword, long unused. He and Beichen Yuan had grown up together.

They had once sworn to be brothers for life, to live and die together. How could he leave now?

He was sorry, but it seemed he would have to break his promise.

“Master, look!” his guard Qingzhu cried out, pointing at a group in the distance.

Murong Wushuang squinted into the horizon. Indeed, people were approaching—but from this distance, he couldn’t tell if they were friend or foe.

“They’ve been spotted,” Qingzhu added. “I think… the one in front looks like Princess Su’an! And they’re heading for the south gate—the least guarded section.”

“It really is her. Prepare to open the gates and receive them.” Murong Wushuang hadn’t expected Gu Qingwan to show up now—was she insane?

“Master, if we open the gate now, we won’t be able to close it again. The enemy will flood in!”

Qingzhu couldn’t believe his master would risk everything for a woman.

Murong Wushuang hesitated—but only for a moment.

He couldn’t just watch her die.

Boom! Crash!

“Master! Look!” Qingzhu cried again as a thunderous explosion rocked the battlefield.

The small group approaching the city was hurling objects while riding—what they threw exploded on impact, instantly wiping out swaths of enemies.

Murong Wushuang watched them veer toward the south gate and immediately raced down from the wall.

“Wait for me, Master!” Qingzhu hurried after him.

They galloped to the south gate, just as another explosion rang out.

Murong Wushuang ordered the gate to be opened.

The defending soldiers were stunned—open the gate now? Was he mad?

“Open the gate, now!” Qingzhu shouted again.

Though confused, the soldiers complied.

At the gate, Gu Qingwan led her small suicide squad, throwing grenades as they charged.

The blasts terrified both enemy soldiers and their own horses. Meng Xingzhou, using the grenades for the first time, had thrown one too close—mere meters away.

Thankfully, Gu Qingwan had warned them beforehand, and they were mentally prepared.

The northern Rong army, caught in the blasts, were completely disoriented.

Seeing a large number of enemies blockading the south gate, Gu Qingwan tossed another grenade, blowing them apart in seconds.

Rong Yunfei, whose inner strength allowed him greater range and accuracy, hurled grenades farther and more precisely.

The others followed his lead, mastering the technique quickly. One by one, the bombs cleared the battlefield, and the enemy didn’t dare approach.

As archers readied their bows, Rong Yunfei and the others drew their repeating crossbows. Gu Qingwan kept throwing grenades from behind—her unique spatial abilities let her launch them farther, providing cover for the others.

Meng Xingzhou watched her in awe. “Master! You’re amazing! You can throw so many at once and hit every target!”

“Focus!” she scolded, then ran to bang on the gate.

Truthfully, she wasn’t sure Beichen Yuan would open it for her—but she had no choice.

If he didn’t, she’d have to reveal her secret space ability to save them.

Just as a rain of arrows descended, the city gate slowly opened.

Murong Wushuang charged out on horseback, followed by the shield-bearing Zhenbei Army.

Gu Qingwan was surprised to see it was Murong Wushuang who opened the gate—but there was no time to talk.

She galloped inside and immediately headed for the wall, taking her grenades with her.

From up high, the view was better and her throws more effective.

As the northern Rong army advanced again, Murong Wushuang readied himself to fight—only for another barrage of explosions to tear the enemy apart.

With the Rong army temporarily stunned, Murong Wushuang ordered everyone back inside and the gates shut.

Gu Qingwan lobbed a few more grenades, directly destroying the siege engines.

That should slow them down.

“Where’s Beichen Yuan?” she asked urgently after descending from the wall.

“He’s at the north gate—the city wall there has already been breached,” Murong Wushuang replied.

He wanted to ask why she had come at such a critical time, but after witnessing the power of those “metal lumps,” he understood.

Still, with only a dozen people, and limited grenades, holding Yanzhou City with just this wouldn’t be enough.

Gu Qingwan hadn’t realized the northern Rong army had already breached the city.

She needed to act fast.

“Take me to Beichen Yuan,” she said.

Only he knew the secret of her spatial powers—he was the only one she could entrust with the rest of her weapons.