Chapter 86

The Xiongnu cavalry scattered in several waves, but there were still over a hundred men following Zhong Xing Shuo, with Xu Bu Mo leading them to protect him! He knew that even if he returned to the Xiongnu after this defeat, he would still face cruel punishment from the Chanyu, and this would be no exception even for him, who was from one of the four major Xiongnu families, the Xu Bu family! Therefore, he could only hope to save Zhong Xing Shuo's life so that this trusted Tianwang of the Chanyu could speak on his behalf to save his life!

So, despite most of the Xiongnu cavalry having fled, he still closely followed Zhong Xing Shuo! Unless he wanted to wander the steppes as a bandit, this was his only hope!

"We only want Zhong Xing Shuo's life! We don't care about the rest! You all get out of here!" Tang Yifu's voice rang out again, further disrupting the morale of the Xiongnu. Some of the Xiongnu cavalry, already in despair, quietly left the formation, and the Han envoy did not allocate forces to pursue them!

Seeing this, even more people began to leave Zhong Xing Shuo and Xu Bu Mo! The cavalry around Zhong Xing Shuo gradually dwindled, and eventually, only Xu Bu Mo and a few dozen guards remained!

I have been chasing them for over a year, and I never thought that today I would have to flee from their pursuit! Zhong Xing Shuo felt a bitter taste in his heart, realizing that he had underestimated the strength of this Han envoy! If only he had sent an eagle message to the Xiongnu court earlier, asking the Chanyu to send more elite cavalry to support him! No, a thousand would not be enough; at least two thousand reinforcements would be needed, and the Chanyu should also send a few warriors capable of matching the ax-wielding general!

"Your Majesty, go ahead! I will hold them off with my men!" Xu Bu Mo gritted his teeth and gave another fierce whip to Zhong Xing Shuo's horse, while he himself led dozens of guards to slow down and block the Han envoy!

"General Pan, finish them quickly! Xu Yanian, you take the men on the Heavenly Horses and circle around to catch up with Zhong Xing Shuo!" Chen Qingzhi decisively split off a small detachment, trying to use the speed advantage of the Heavenly Horses to intercept Zhong Xing Shuo.

"Yes, General Chen! You few come with me!" Xu Yanian called out to the other three riders on Heavenly Horses, breaking away from the main force, and they drew a beautiful arc to bypass Xu Bu Mo's interception, continuing to pursue Zhong Xing Shuo! Xu Bu Mo had wanted to send a few men to block them, but the speed of the Heavenly Horses far exceeded his expectations. The guards had not even reached halfway when Xu Yanian and his men swept past the outer edge of the Xiongnu formation like the wind, disappearing from their sight!

"Gentlemen, there are still a few guards around the Tianwang! They are only four! The Tianwang will surely kill them! We must hold them here! As long as the Tianwang can return to the court, our families will survive!" Xu Bu Mo gave his final encouragement! He knew they could not return, and now he could only hope to spare his family some suffering!

"We are willing to die with you, General!" the men responded in unison, and the pride and blood of the Xiongnu were rekindled by Xu Bu Mo! The great Xiongnu, who controlled vast territories and suppressed many nations, still had some brave warriors willing to face death!

"Haha! Since you want to die, I will grant your wish!" Although he did not understand their words, Pan Feng could guess from their tone and expressions. Not yet satisfied with the battle, he immediately charged forward!

General Ying Pi, today I will avenge you! Xu Bu Mo gritted his teeth and charged forward! Pan Feng's large ax swung left and right, and Xu Bu Mo struggled to parry with his saber, desperately defending against Pan Feng's attacks! After a few moves, he completely abandoned his defense, ignoring the large ax coming at him, and thrust his saber at Pan Feng's vital points in a life-for-life manner!

And Pan Feng was not about to switch from offense to defense in front of a barbarian. He simply increased his strength, and the large ax swung even faster toward Xu Bu Mo's head! Both combatants on the battlefield held their breath, their eyes fixed on the two of them!

"Ah!" In the end, Pan Feng's movements were faster. The large ax swept across Xu Bu Mo's neck, cleanly severing his head, and a gush of blood shot into the sky! Xu Bu Mo's saber was still a hand's breadth away from Pan Feng's chest, not even touching his armor.

"Have you not heard that an inch longer is an inch stronger, and an inch shorter is an inch more dangerous?" Pan Feng sneered, using a phrase Li You had once told him to mock Xu Bu Mo! To use a three-foot saber to fight to the death with his over ten-foot ax was asking for death!

Xu Bu Mo's death also sapped the last bit of morale from the other Xiongnu soldiers. They now stood there, dazed, as the Han envoy cut them down like slicing melons and chopping vegetables.

But their sacrifice was not in vain. With this delay, Zhong Xing Shuo and his few riders had already disappeared from their sight! It would be difficult to catch up with him now!

"Do not worry, my lord. No matter how good Zhong Xing Shuo's horse is, can it be faster than the Heavenly Horses? Let's hurry and catch up; perhaps they will return with Zhong Xing Shuo's head in a little while!" Chen Qingzhi consoled.

And in a place beyond their sight, Xu Yanian and the others had already caught up with Zhong Xing Shuo. Zhong Xing Shuo's few guards turned to intercept them! Each turn temporarily slowed down one of the Han soldiers, but their numbers were limited, and eventually, one Han soldier evaded their interception and caught up with Zhong Xing Shuo.

Zhong Xing Shuo desperately whipped his horse, but he could not shake off the Han soldier on the Heavenly Horse! In a moment of panic, the horse, one of the best from the Xiongnu court, stumbled and fell, and Zhong Xing Shuo was thrown to the ground!

Zhong Xing Shuo struggled to his feet, looking at the Han soldier who had caught up with him with a bitter smile, knowing that his life was about to end!

Zhong Xing Shuo brushed off the dust from his clothes, trying to appear calm, while the soldier watched him with interest. He knew that Zhong Xing Shuo could not escape, and no one could snatch this credit from him.

"Brave warrior, may I ask who will be the one to take my life?" Zhong Xing Shuo asked, straightening his cap.

"I am Wang Cheng'en, a wandering knight from Lu! Thank you for this fortune!" With that, Wang Cheng'en did not hesitate, urging his Heavenly Horse forward. A flash of the sword, and Zhong Xing Shuo's head was severed.

"Huh, I thought you were really fearless! Who knew you would still be a coward in the end!" Wang Cheng'en glanced at the urine stain on Zhong Xing Shuo's robe, sneering.

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