We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?-Chapter 388: A Thread of Hope

In Xiao Mo’s military camp, after the Crown Prince Qin Jingsu and the others—Xiao Yang included—learned what had happened in Zhao State, their moods turned complicated.

Bai Qi’s death was, for Qin, an enormous loss.

Even if Bai Qi had later redeemed himself through meritorious service, that would have been better than using dissolution escape and dying for nothing.

But Bai Qi’s edge had been too exposed—too young, and too proud.

It wasn’t that they couldn’t understand what Bai Qi had been thinking.

Because Bai Qi, like the Frost King, had fought for all these years without ever suffering a single defeat.

This defeat dealt Bai Qi a tremendous blow.

Most importantly, Bai Qi’s temperament was stubborn. In a certain sense, there was even a hint of obsession to it, and he ruled his army the same way.

When Bai Qi commanded troops, the military law was strict, and he made no distinction between close and distant.

So it was also because Bai Qi had made a military pledge: he believed that since the city had fallen, then by military law, he had to repay the crime with his life.

In Bai Qi’s heart, he might even have been thinking of “atoning to Heaven with death.”

He may have believed that the failure of his scheme came from the Heavenly Way’s backlash.

Bai Qi hoped that his slaughter karma would not bring calamity down upon the great army.

Whether it was coincidence, or whether the Heavenly Way truly refrained from further punishment ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ because Bai Qi used dissolution escape, Qin’s great army was not pursued and punished.

After Bai Qi died, that Ghost-Severing Fire that had burned for several miles actually stopped.

Qin’s hundreds of thousands of troops were spared.

However.

Waterfire City’s loss, in the end, left behind an enormous hidden danger.

After learning that Waterfire City had fallen, Xiao Shi knew that not only had his supply route been cut off, he would also be attacked from two sides—so he decisively led his army to carve a bloody path back.

In the end, Xiao Shi gathered the remaining three hundred thousand troops under Bai Qi’s command, then stationed them at Lofty City, which at least stabilized the situation for now.

But what was most dire was this: during the great battle, something went wrong with Xiao Shi.

He was gravely wounded, and his condition seemed extremely bad.

“What do you all think?” Xiao Mo asked the Crown Prince and the other commanders.

Zhao Guang shook his head and said, “Qin is fighting on three fronts. The two most important points are that General Xiahou can hold Qi State down, and that our army and the Northern Pacification King’s army can secure an advantage.

“But now, with this sudden upheaval in the Northern Pacification King’s army, I fear Zhao’s army will surge in morale and still be able to spare a hand. On our side, things will become extremely grim.”

“True.” Li Jing nodded. “If this continues, the disadvantage in the Northern Pacification King’s army will spread to us. We must obtain results immediately. Unless we take Jin, then this great war—for Qin—will likely end in more disaster than fortune.”

“But the problem is, how can we accelerate the pace of taking cities?” Black Ox scratched his head.

“I’m a rough man, but I’ve read a bit of military strategy. Jin isn’t flatland where we can just push straight through unimpeded. Taking cities takes time no matter what—and after Jin’s soldiers hear the news of Zhao’s great victory, their will to resist will definitely be even stronger than before.”

“Perhaps we can also use the Northern Pacification King’s method.”

At that moment, the Crown Prince Qin Jingsu spoke while rubbing his chin.

“Your Highness means...?” Xiao Mo looked at Qin Jingsu, already faintly guessing what he was about to say.

“Everyone, look here.”

Qin Jingsu pointed at the sand table and spoke slowly.

“Jin’s capital is not actually far from us at all. The reason we haven’t reached it is entirely because we’ve been taking the surrounding cities, so the great army doesn’t carry worries to its rear.

“But if we advance along the line of Jade Zither City, Vast Expanse City, and Bright Moon City—once we pass Three-Foot Pass, the great army can drive straight toward Jin’s imperial capital!

“If Jin falls, we can still overturn the overall situation!”

Xiao Yang said, “But Your Highness—if we do that, we’ll need one person to hold Rainbow Cloud City to the death, just as General Bai Qi held Waterfire City to the death, to keep our rear path secured.

“More critically, the enemy will attack from all sides. Holding that city will be anything but easy!”

“But as long as we hold it, isn’t that enough?” Qin Jingsu turned around and clasped his hands to Xiao Mo in a formal bow. “If General trusts Jingsu, Jingsu can defend Rainbow Cloud City—not even letting a single wild goose slip through!”

“...”

Hearing everyone’s words, Xiao Mo’s brows knitted.

In the end, Xiao Mo shook his head. “This is no small matter. Let me think it through properly. You may all withdraw for now.”

“Yes, General!”

The commanders clasped their hands in unison and withdrew from the tent.

Seated inside, Xiao Mo took a sip of tea, his gaze locked tightly on the sand table before him.

And when Xiao Mo had finished more than half a pot of tea, he set the teapot down and sighed. “I knew the Crown Prince would come to find me again.”

At the tent entrance, Qin Jingsu stood straight, smiling at Xiao Mo. “Brother-in-law, you should know what I’m going to say.”

Xiao Mo shook his head. “The risk is too great. If anything happens—if Rainbow Cloud City isn’t held—our great army will be trapped in danger. At that point, Qin will truly be finished...”

“Which is exactly why Rainbow Cloud City can only be defended by me!”

Qin Jingsu walked to Xiao Mo’s side. His smile gradually faded, and he spoke with intense seriousness.

“The war has come this far. General Xiahou’s defense has grown more and more difficult. On Zhao’s side, Qin’s advantage has been completely lost, and the Northern Pacification King has been gravely wounded. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

“If this continues, Qin’s situation will only worsen.

“Rather than that, we can only gamble! Only by gambling can we seize a single thread of hope!

“And I am Qin’s Crown Prince. Only if I hold Rainbow Cloud City will it be easier to bind the soldiers’ hearts together and raise their morale.

“Besides, Brother-in-law, don’t underestimate me.

“In the camp, when it comes to defending a city, I have plenty of experience!”

“...” Xiao Mo remained silent, giving no answer.

Qin Jingsu continued, “Brother-in-law, I know what you’re worried about—you’re afraid I’ll do something foolish. But rest assured, I’m not a fool. If I can live, I naturally won’t go and die! I’m not acting on impulse, and I won’t act on impulse in the future either. I will hold out until Jin’s imperial capital falls!”

When Qin Jingsu finished, the tent fell into silence.

Xiao Mo and Qin Jingsu stared at each other.

“How many troops does Big Brother need?”

After a long while, Xiao Mo spoke.

Xiao Mo also understood: if they wanted to turn the situation around, they had to stake everything on a desperate gamble.

“Two hundred thousand!” Qin Jingsu said. “I only need two hundred thousand troops! I will definitely hold out until the day Jin’s imperial house collapses!”

“Fine! I agree, Big Brother!” Xiao Mo nodded. “But Big Brother must also remember what you promised me—you must come back alive! Big Brother is Qin’s Crown Prince. As Qin stands now, there are no other princes left!”

“I understand.”

Qin Jingsu’s lips curled. After clasping his hands in a formal bow, he turned and walked out of the tent, his voice carrying back from behind him.

“When I return, Brother-in-law, you’d better set out a full victory banquet for me!”