The Villain Slaps The Protagonist’s Halo - Chapter 82

Chapter 82: The Protagonist Must Die

Nie Jia held Shi Chen's Shura knife in his hand, not using even half of his strength. His delicate wrists looked fragile, as if they could be easily broken. In the face of Zhao Wushang's anger, he showed no fear. Instead, he raised his hand and placed the knife across his arm, looking excited as if ready for a challenge.

Zhao Wushang, with a furious expression, stood in the midst of the wind and sand, swiftly drawing a dark, lightless long knife from his waist. The renowned Lion Song, when unsheathed, emitted a faint roar reminiscent of a tiger's growl.

The blade was excellent, but the question remained about the person wielding it. As the two armies faced off, both the Yan and Qi forces eagerly watched the life-and-death struggle between the Tyrant and the First Fierce General. The Qi forces, invigorated, shouted loudly as they saw the General advance with his drawn blade, pushing the Tyrant back step by step. The clash of the two renowned blades echoed across the battlefield, and the outcome seemed to be hanging by a thread.

The Yan forces, witnessing their king being pushed back, anxiously gripped their weapons. The generals in the front line, especially, stared unblinkingly at the two figures battling it out. If Zhao Wushang dared to harm a single hair on their king's head, they would surely bloodily avenge it on the battlefield!

However, both sides were too far apart, and they could only see Nie Jia being forced back step by step by Zhao Wushang. Apart from the sounds of the clashing blades, they couldn't hear Nie Jia's faint, contemptuous laughter.

Zhao Wushang's knife techniques were swift and decisive, like a butterfly dancing among flowers, elusive and mysterious, each move aimed at taking a life.

Nie Jia retreated seemingly without any counterattack, appearing defenseless and on the verge of peril. Yet, his expression remained cold and calm. Despite the apparent danger in each of Zhao Wushang's moves, Nie Jia effortlessly blocked them with absolute strength. He didn't even evade, letting Zhao Wushang's every strike be absorbed by his resolute defense. Continuous icy laughter escaped his lips.

"Slow."

"Even slower."

"Too slow!"

"Far too slow!"

Zhao Wushang seemed aggressive with his moves, but only he knew that he had used all his skills. Yet, he still couldn't make a single cut on the Tyrant. Though seemingly within arm's reach, it felt like a vast distance, always falling short by a hair's breadth. Each time, just a bit too close, just a bit!

A bit closer, and he could sever his throat!

A bit closer, and he could snap his tendons!

A bit closer, and he could chop off his legs!

Zhao Wushang's anger burned hotter, his knife techniques becoming more aggressive. Sparks flew between the two, his steps becoming increasingly chaotic and rapid.

Anger caused him to lose focus, disappointing Nie Jia even more. It made him lose all patience, and with a twist of his wrist, the sharp blade flashed. He finally started to counterattack, breaking through Zhao Wushang's eighteen styles with a series of resounding clashes!

Both armies stared in disbelief. In full view, General Zhao Wushang, who had been dominating, suddenly retreated several steps. His once powerful knife techniques lost their momentum, and in front of an eighteen-year-old youth, he lost a hand!

"Oh no, he's going for the kill!" The military strategist saw the Tyrant's intention and ordered eighteen riders to go for the rescue. Under no circumstances could the General die in front of the army; otherwise, the Deer Platform would undoubtedly be lost!

The military strategist guessed right, but it was a step too late. Nie Jia placed the blade against Zhao Wushang's neck, cruelly and calmly saying, "Remember in your next life, if you don't have the ability, don't get angry. The more you want to kill, the more you should learn to stay calm."

With that, the head flew, and a fountain of blood rushed towards the sky. Zhao Wushang, the rumored city-breaker and unparalleled warrior, died! Died under the king's blade!

The Yan army cheered with excitement, shouting for the longevity of their king.

The Qi military strategist turned pale instantly, shouting against the wind, "Retreat and defend the city! Defend the city!"

"Kill them!" Nie Jia raised the blade and flung a string of blood droplets.

Princess Jiarong and the other generals felt a fire burning in their chests. They spurred their war horses, and the Yan army immediately launched a massive attack, sweeping toward the fleeing Qi army like a tide.

Shi Chen chuckled, picked up Lion Song from the ground, and then, holding Nie Jia's hand, pulled him onto a war horse. Following the army, they chased after the retreating Qi forces.

With Zhao Wushang dead, the Yan army was high-spirited. The war drums on the city wall thundered, and the iron cavalry of the Yan army, crossing over the corpses of General Zhiyv and Zhao Wushang, pursued towards the Deer Platform under the leadership of the king.

The two armies clashed, the military strategist hastily coping, reluctantly sacrificing a batch of elite cavalry to buy time for the main army's retreat.

But when the Yan army pursued, the formation of the Qi army was almost as fragile as a spider's web. The Yan iron cavalry was in the front, crossbowmen released a volley, and the Qi army immediately suffered heavy casualties. The military strategist stood on the city wall, unable to distinguish what was in the hands of the Yan army, its power so great that it could pierce through shields and kill three people in a single line!

When the Deer Platform gate closed, the Qi army that hadn't retreated in time had already been wiped out.

"Surrender?" Nie Jia called out beneath the Deer Platform.

Riding together with Shi Chen on one horse, hooves trampling on a pile of corpses, he looked up at the tense military strategist on the city wall, smiling. "Surrender? This king will decide the fate of the Deer Platform based on your answer."

Seeing the blood on his hands still stained with the blood of the General, the military strategist felt a sharp pain in his eyes and heart. He sternly ordered, "Release the arrows!"

With that command, arrows poured down from the city wall like a torrential rain. The Yan army immediately crouched, lifting shields to protect the crossbowmen. In the buzzing sound, countless dark arrows flew from within the protection circle towards the city wall. The archers on the wall fell one by one.

Shi Chen blocked the arrows with his knife, and Nie Jia looked indifferent. "Ignorant."

He pinched his fingers together, lightly swiped, and his gaze turned icy.

Xuanjia 21 suddenly emerged from the crowd, taking a few steps forward. With a few strong kicks, he swiftly ascended the city wall. In an instant, he was like a tiger entering a sheep pen, the cold gleam of the blade constantly flashing, screams echoing on the city wall, and blood splattering.

This battle was fierce and came like a hurricane, fast and ending quickly.

The gates of Lu Tai City were finally breached, and the strategist was captured alive. When Shi Chen opened the city gates from the inside, Nie Jia was already standing outside on his horse. He casually walked to Nie Jia's side, holding the reins of his horse, leading him into the city that had just been conquered.

The Yan army quickly gained control of Lu Tai Pass, and the people of Lu Tai knelt in fear as they filled the ground. Their eyes shimmered with fear and hatred, heads bowed, not daring to look at the tyrant on the horse.

The strategist had his arms removed by Shi Chen, and at this moment, a soldier in dark armor brought him forward, kneeling beneath Nie Jia's horse hooves.

"Massacre the city," Nie Jia said softly.

In an instant, desperate screams filled the entire city.

"Jun Changsheng! Your cruelty will surely be repaid!" The strategist angrily and tearfully howled in pain, closing his eyes, unable to look at the fresh and warm head lying before him.

Nie Jia, looking down from a higher vantage point, lifted the strategist's chin with the tip of his sword. "Didn't I tell you? The fate of Lu Tai depends on your answer. If you had surrendered obediently just now, there would be no need for the people of Lu Tai to die."

"You indiscriminately slaughter the innocent and will be..." The strategist's curse, still forming in his mouth, was abruptly interrupted as Ji Jiarong stepped forward and fiercely slapped him with the back of her blade. With a loud smack, the strategist's head jerked, and blood sprayed from his mouth.

"Indiscriminate slaughter? Isn't it your idea, as the cunning fox, that led Qi Jinyu to abandon the plague-ridden city of Danyang? If the King hadn't timely controlled the epidemic, do you know how many people would have died in Kaisen City? Why are the people of your Qi Country considered humans, while the people of my Yan Country are treated like livestock to be slaughtered?" Ji Jiarong gritted her teeth, her eyes furious.

"Check the provisions, clean up the battlefield," Shi Chen mounted his warhorse, embracing Nie Jia in his arms, and urged the horse towards the depths of the city.

The generals responded, and with a wave of Ji Jiarong's blade, the strategist's head fell to the ground.

Lu Tai, compared to Kaisen City, had prospered many times over. Even in this border region, the streets were filled with taverns. Unfortunately, on this night, the entire city fell into silence; both the stationed troops and the citizens lay dead.

Shi Chen poured a jug of wine, finding Nie Jia on the rooftop of a tavern, gazing at the stars.

He sat down beside Nie Jia, who naturally shifted closer, resting on his legs, eyes lingering on the stars, unsure when he could return home.

"I will take you away soon, back to our home," Shi Chen seemed to know what he was thinking, gently caressing his forehead.

Nie Jia smiled, pouring down half a cup of clear wine with his help, crawling onto him. "I killed a lot of people today."

"Those are just numbers, not lives," Shi Chen embraced him, raising his eyebrows nonchalantly.

"But even if they were not just numbers, I might still have killed them," Nie Jia said.

"In our world, wars often break out, and billions of people on a planet can vanish without anyone's fault. Politics has never been guided by justice, so you don't have to judge everything. If our provisions are insufficient, if you don't massacre the city, you won't be able to support the army and the people. Sacrificing some to save the others is better than losing everything," Shi Chen looked at his shining eyes and said calmly, "No matter how the times change, true peace among humans is impossible. Political decisions are never made from a perspective of justice; you don't have to burden yourself with right and wrong. Lu Tai's people don't accept you and harbor resentment. Killing them can be considered part of the mission. They are not truly existing lives. If you can realize discomfort within yourself, it's enough."

Nie Jia nodded, feeling a calmness settling within him.

Shi Chen held his waist, leaning close to his ear, and chuckled, "Lu Tai's people don't acknowledge you, harbor hatred for you. Killing them can be seen as fulfilling a duty. They are not real lives; you don't need to dwell on it too much. Just recognize any discomfort within yourself; that's sufficient."

Nie Jia smiled, "I understand."

This night was a nightmare for the Prince of Qi. The Crown Prince and the Grand General of the country both died in battle, throwing the entire nation into turmoil. The young tyrant of Yan, though small in age, unexpectedly turned out to be so cunning. His actions, first killing the Crown Prince and then Zhao Wushang, followed by leading the troops to massacre the city, truly lived up to his reputation as a tyrant.

The loss of Lu Tai left Qi in chaos. The furious Qi Prince thundered in the court, sending troops to guard Baiya Valley, planning to retake Lu Tai. If the tyrant were to break through Baiya Valley and advance, the consequences could be dire...

The battle of Lu Tai brought the Yan tyrant's name to the attention of the other three nations. The Southern Yi had long surrendered to Shi Chen and submitted to Yan. If this tyrant were to swallow Qi as well, wouldn't he become the commander of all five nations?

A mere Lu Tai being conquered stirred unease among the monarchs of the various nations. This battle was too shocking and terrifying. The military power of the Yan army was indeed formidable, and the cruel actions of the tyrant sent shivers down everyone's spine.

The news, despite Nie Jia's attempts to block it, spread to Zhuolu City within a few days. After so much time had passed, the people of Zhuolu still thought the tyrant had died on the border. Unexpectedly, he had captured Lu Tai! However, at this moment, Zhuolu was eagerly awaiting the return and ascension of the Crown Prince...

Sikong Han angrily swept everything off the table, eliciting a scream from a nearby delicate-looking woman.

"What happened on the front line to make you so furious?" the woman asked gently.

Sikong Han regained his composure before saying, "Nothing. It seems the Crown Prince might not be coming back."

"He has always favored the Crown Prince. Would he really harm his own younger brother?" The woman looked at him in astonishment.

"Who knows?" Sikong Han stood up, saying coldly, "I'll go discuss matters with your father. Don't wait for me tonight; go to sleep on your own."

No one expected the tyrant to conquer Lu Tai, and this news was undoubtedly a disaster for Sikong Han and the Duke of Qingguo. They had underestimated the situation, thinking that with Zhao Wushang's intervention, the tyrant would meet his end in the northwest. Little did they know...

Now they needed to take down Kaisen City as soon as possible!

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