The Hu people did not attack that day, so they had a chance to rest for a while.
The next day, just before dawn, the drums of war were already beating.
It was the dead of winter in the north. There was a sword-like cold wind and heavy fog. In the thick fog, one could vaguely see neat rows of Hu people, who were already challenging each other at the city gate.
Cen Yelan stood at the edge of the city wall, looking down from above, his eyes fixed on the man sitting high on horseback in the Hu army.
This person was tall, with a pair of green eyes, deep eye sockets, a high nose bridge, a face with clear contours, and was quite aggressive. He was smiling at Cen Yelan, and when he raised his hand, everyone around him fell silent.
“Cen Yelan, if you still don’t come.” Yan Le said with a smile, “I will cut off your brother’s head and send it to you in Hanzhou City.”
Cen Yelan’s expression was cold. “Three years have passed since I last saw you, and you’re still just uttering nonsense?”
Both of them were extremely skilled in martial arts, and their voices were clear and resonant, inspiring people.
Yan Le didn’t take it seriously and laughed, saying, “Three years ago, we fought, and the outcome was still undecided. I have been thinking about it for three years. Now,” He looked up at Cen Yelan and challenged him, “Do you dare to fight me again?”
Cen Yelan remained calm, standing tall on the city wall like a tall pine tree, unyielding, and said calmly, “If you want to fight, then fight.”
The sun was rising in the east. War drums were beating loudly on the ancient, mottled city walls. Cen Yi, Yuan Zheng, and Fang Jing were all watching the battle.
Cen Yi said, “Yan Le has always been arrogant and proud. He has been unwilling to accept his defeat after being defeated by Ah Lan. After so many years, he is still like this.”
Yuan Zheng stared at the city below without saying a word.
Cen Yelan was wearing black armor, holding a silver spear, sitting high on the horse, with a fierce and imposing aura.
Cen Yi said, “The Hu people came well prepared this time and were unstoppable throughout the journey. After a hard battle at Beicang Pass these days, news of another defeat came from Longsha Fort, and the morale of the army was low. It was only boosted by the arrival of reinforcements yesterday.” He paused and said, “Yan Le wants to use Ah Lan to dampen the morale of our army.”
Fang Jing whispered, “This barbarian won’t achieve it. How could General Cen lose to him?”
Cen Yelan has rarely been defeated in recent years, and everyone in Dayan has blind trust in Cen Yelan. Fang Jing turned around and asked Yuan Zheng, “Isn’t that right, Ah Zheng?”
Yuan Zheng subconsciously wanted to say “en”, but Cen Yelan and Yan Le had already started fighting. When the sword and spear collided, the two had already exchanged several moves. Yuan Zheng frowned, put one hand on the city wall, knocked lightly, and said nothing.
A bystander sees more clearly. Yuan Zheng is an expert in martial arts. As soon as he saw the two of them fighting, he knew that Yan Le should not be underestimated.
Fang Jing didn’t get a response, so he looked at Cen Yi again. Cen Yi just smiled, and then he heard Yuan Zheng say, “Cen Yelan will not lose.”
The youth leaned against the city wall, his tone was unquestionable and full of arrogance, his eyes fixed on the two people fighting below.
Cen Yi followed his gaze thoughtfully.
Indeed, Yan Le was not someone who was easy to deal with.
Cen Yelan and Yan Le had known each other for many years. His adoptive father was defeated by the Hu’s General Xuan Ge. The battle was fierce, and his adoptive father died for his country, and Xuan Ge died because of his injuries several months later.
Yan Le was taught by Xuan Ge.
The tip of the spear scratched the blade and let out a sharp sound. All around were the sounds of the Hu people and the soldiers of Dayan shouting for battle, and the sound of drums became more and more urgent.
Yan Le grabbed the long sword and pushed aside the straight-opening spear move, and the tip of the sword swung towards Cen Yelan’s face. He suddenly smiled, his eyes darkened, and he looked a bit fierce, like a wolf. He laughed softly and said, “It’s great!”
“I am always thinking about General Cen when I was trapped in the royal court for three years.”
Cen Yelan responded indifferently, the horse under him raised its neck and neighed loudly. He leaned back to avoid Yan Le’s fatal move, and the silver spear spun and pierced his chest like a dragon.
Yan Le snorted as the two of them fought fiercely. He said, “General Cen, you can’t win this battle.”
“How about you join me?” Yan Le said with a smile, “I will give you all the things that Dayan has promised you, including high positions and generous salaries, and I will also make you a king. What do you think?”
Cen Yelan said coldly, “Yan Le, is this everything you have learned in the past three years?”
Yan Le sighed and said, “General Cen, I really don’t want you to die.”
The next moment, Yan Le was silenced by the silver spear that was close to him. The sword and the spear collided fiercely, and both of them were shocked. The warhorse raised its hooves and neighed. He waved the long sword in his hand and shouted “good”, but he stopped joking and was no longer careless.
No one dares to underestimate the enemy on the battlefield, and no one dares to underestimate Cen Yelan.
The same is true for Yan Le.
The battle became more intense as it was evenly matched between the two. Yuan Zheng looked at Cen Yelan from afar, his ears filled with the sound of drums and the shouts of soldiers. His chest suddenly felt hot, as if boiling water was boiling uncontrollably.
In the end, Cen Yelan was the better one and cut off the armor on Yan Le’s head. His face was cold, and the tip of his spear was pointed directly at Yan Le’s neck. His aura was so cold that it created a shallow cut on his neck.
If Yan Le hadn’t reacted quickly and blocked it with the sword, there would have been blood all over the place already.
In an instant, the sound of drums roared like thunder, and the soldiers on the city wall were excited. The passionate shouts of “General Cen” rose one after another, almost breaking the sky.
Yan Le didn’t care about his messy hair. He slowly wiped his neck with his hand, and his fingertips were wet.
Cen Yelan tilted the spear with one hand while holding the reins in another. He pointed the silver spear at Yan Le and said, “You lose.”
Yan Le licked the blood on his finger, stared at Cen Yelan, and smiled: “It’s not the end yet, and it’s still unknown who will win or lose.”
“General Cen, let’s wait and see.”
