Opening the exit means letting the tiger return to the mountain, leaving future troubles.

Who knows how much trouble it will cause in the future.

And who knows how much military force will be needed to quell such troubles.

"No, General! If we open the exit, everything we’ve done will be in vain!!"

There were soldiers protesting below.

"Yes, General, we should annihilate all these Western Xia dogs instead!"

"Exactly! We’ve worked so hard to trap them in the ring of fire. How can we let them go so easily!"

"Kill them! Kill them!"

The soldiers protested one after another.

Yang Chenyi turned his head angrily and shouted.

"Shut up, all of you, and see who is being threatened?!"

"That’s your General Ye!"

Ye Tang once served in the Ministry of War and had worked under Yang He for many years.

Although a female officer, she was straightforward and carefree, caring for the soldiers around her.

During the Battle of Guangnan.

As Commander Xia’s personal guard, she had no airs, living and eating with the soldiers as equals.

She was bold and generous, invincible, always charged first into battles, leaving the danger to herself and the hope of survival to others.

Having worked in the Ministry of War for many years.

And since the chief this time was Yang He, who brought along trusted subordinates.

Most of them knew Ye Tang and many were on good terms with her.

A significant number had also been favored by Ye Tang, even owing their lives to her.

With old friends and benefactors before them, it was too cruel to speak of executing her.

After looking at each other, everyone lowered their heads in silent contemplation.

How to choose?

Such a decision is too cruel no matter how it’s made.

Leave it to the General to decide!

"Don’t hesitate, act quickly!"

"Xia Tingfeng, remember what you promised me!"

"You all, act quickly!"

Hai Tang suddenly shouted, her voice tearing through the air, carrying an undeniable threat.

The fire around them grew larger, the encircling tightened, and the exit became narrower.

If they delayed further, even the troops of the Great Chu Dynasty would be trapped here.

So many people.

So many people who had been kind to her.

So many brothers from the past.

It’s not worth it for them to die for her alone!

If her death could exchange for the chance of survival for everyone else, what was there to hesitate about?

Having the Western Xia dogs as her funerary accompaniments was already enough.

Father, brother, I’m entrusting you to Brother Xia, he will definitely settle you well.

Your daughter is taking the step forward!

Hai Tang slightly turned her wrist, revealing a small razor-sharp Little Hidden Knife from her left sleeve.

The blade was already coated with poison, emitting a faint green glow.

A single stab, blood seals the throat, no pain, leaving no trace, dying swiftly and honorably.

Ever since she infiltrated the Western Xia camp alone.

This small knife had been with her.

It was prepared for the moment she was exposed, to seek a quick death.

Unexpectedly...

So soon it was put to use.

But thankfully, dying wasn’t in vain.

She saved so many lives, it was indeed a huge gain!

The fire attack raged on, someone was still fighting at a distance, the cold wind passing through, burning dry branches on the mountain and nearby, crackling.

The chaos of battle, the cacophony of sounds, nobody noticed her minute actions.

Hai Tang slowly, gradually raised her arm toward her chest where her heart was.

Determined, she exerted force secretly.

Just when the blade was about to pierce her chest.

She felt a numbness in her wrist, and her hand holding the knife went limp, releasing it.

The poisoned knife fell to the ground, her hands empty.

In an instant.

She looked at her empty hands in disbelief, unable to react.

Hai Situ’s sharp eyes did not miss her subtle move.

He quickly turned Hai Tang around with his big knife, cursing loudly.

"Chu Dynasty scoundrels!"

"You really are deceitful, resorting to sneak attacks!"

"If you have the guts, come fight one-on-one!"

Hai Xiangjin sensed something was amiss, rushed forward, and slapped him.

"What a load of crap!"

"We want to live, me and the soldiers!"

"You must protect the hostage well!"

He said, snatching Hai Tang from Hai Situ’s grasp.

At this moment.

A handful of poisoned silver needles mixed with other hidden weapons were thrown at Hai Xiangjin and Hai Situ. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

They heard the whistling, quickly raised their knives to block, while also diverting attention to protect the hostage, causing some chaos.

Soldiers around and behind them were hit by hidden weapons, screaming and falling.

The rear soldiers, not knowing what was happening, quickly avoided.

And so word spread, causing increasing confusion in the ranks.

As elegant as Xia Tingfeng, as clever as Xia Tingfeng, as decisive as Xia Tingfeng.

He finally pried open a crack in the enemy’s impenetrable defense, giving Hai Tang a sliver of survival.

’Swoosh, swoosh.’

Two silver arrows flew through the whistling wind, shooting toward the hearts of Hai Xiangjin and Hai Situ.

In a flash, like the flash of lightning, like the cry of cranes in the wind.

The two arrows caught everyone off guard.

In a blink of an eye.

Hai Tang felt her sleeve caught by two slender threads, hoisting her up with great force.

She sped toward the direction of the Great Chu Dynasty’s camp.

Before she could gather her thoughts, she landed on Xia Tingfeng’s horseback.

Though nearly falling under the hooves, her posture on the horse’s back was somewhat ungainly.

But she was saved after all, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

With no more threats, Xia Tingfeng finally let loose.

"The army, hear my command!!"

"Everyone retreat, shut the exit!"

"Orderly from front to back, those disrupting will be executed on the spot!!"

"Quick action is essential, ensure the Western Xia dogs are trapped in the ring of fire!"

One command after another struck the soldiers’ chests.

They immediately followed the prearranged tactics, returning to their positions, swiftly retreating from the encirclement in order.

Hai Xiangjin was utterly panicked.

Arrows are one thing.

But he couldn’t figure out the ’hostage suddenly flying out from his grip’ trick.

Because the enemy had the fire behind them, while he faced the fire.

The opponents could see everything about him, but he couldn’t see them clearly.

He knew nothing of Xia Tingfeng’s tricks.

Even less could he anticipate.

With the army present, all busy with swords and enemy slashing.

The enemy commander wielding so many inexplicable hidden weapons.

Moreover, Western Xia prided themselves on bold swordsmanship, despised hidden weapons and poisons.

So...

Staring at his empty hands, he took a long time to regain his senses.

He fell for hidden weapons, victim to enemy’s deceit.

Thunder and fire, storm and fury.

Hai Xiangjin, enraged, roared wildly.

"Chu Dynasty despicable scoundrels, don’t run!"

"Chase them! Pursue them to death!"

"Fight, there’s still a way out, not fighting means certain death!"

"Fight with all you’ve got!"