Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

Chapter 1999 Retreat, Troop Assembly!

"cost?"

Wang Zhongsi shook his head, a weary mockery on his face: "The victor is king, the loser is villain; if you lose, you have to accept it."

"Faced with overwhelming strength and an unfavorable situation, pointless entanglements and spiteful behavior will only lead us to pay a more painful price and bleed to the last drop."

"The leader of Tuwujin, acting rashly will not bring victory, but only destruction."

"What we need most right now is not some vague revenge, but to survive and preserve the last bit of strength we have!"

His gaze swept over his soldiers again, and his tone became firm: "Retreat to Zhennan Pass and join General Li Jing's troops."

"Stabilizing the defenses by relying on the passes and regrouping is the most rational and responsible choice for the army right now!"

"Only by living can we have a chance for revenge in the future!"

Having said that, Wang Zhongsi ignored Tu Wujin, whose face was ashen and chest heaving violently, and directly gave the order to the messenger beside him:

"Execute the order! All troops turn around, target Zhennanguan! Send out scouts to closely monitor the Chu army's movements at Luoxia Mountain and prevent pursuit!"

"Understood!" The messenger clasped his hands in acceptance and quickly turned to leave.

Tuowu Jin looked at Wang Zhongsi's resolute back, and then at the Tang soldiers around him who had clearly lost all will to fight and were only looking to escape danger.

He knew that the game was over.

Once the main force of the Tang army retreats, attacking Luoxia Mountain with only the remaining Scorpion Clan troops under his command would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock, courting certain death.

Despite the boundless anger and resentment in his heart, faced with the cold reality, he could only squeeze out a resentful command through gritted teeth, his voice low and hoarse:

"Order the warriors of the Black Wolf tribe to follow the Tang army and retreat!"

This command seemed to drain all his strength.

He lowered his head dejectedly and followed the retreating column, which began to move like a long dragon, slowly heading west towards the unknown but temporarily safe Zhennanguan Pass.

Night completely enveloped the earth, also concealing the endless humiliation and helplessness left behind by this defeated army.

The Battle of Luoxia Mountain ended with the complete defeat of the Tang-Scorpion allied forces, marking a somber conclusion.

Meanwhile, the Chu army camp at Luoxia Mountain was now a sea of ​​jubilation.

Although traces of fierce fighting still remain inside and outside the camp—the damaged fences have not been fully repaired, craters from hurled stones are everywhere, and the air still faintly smells of blood and gunpowder.

But the joy of victory, like warm sunshine, dispelled all the gloom.

The soldiers' faces were filled with pride and excitement as they cleaned up the battlefield, collected Tongze's body, and gathered the weapons, armor, and provisions abandoned by the Tang army. Although exhausted, they were full of energy.

At the camp gate, torches blazed brightly, illuminating the area as if it were daytime.

Xue Huaide removed his blood-stained armor and put on a neater set of military uniform.

Although his brows showed signs of fatigue from days of battle, his tiger-like eyes gleamed with a sharp light, filled with the triumphant spirit of a great victory.

He led a group of generals and stood personally outside the camp gate, gazing eagerly at the official road leading to the Black River Valley.

Finally, amidst everyone's anticipation, a group of people appeared at the end of the twilight-shrouded official road.

They were not moving fast; in fact, they were moving rather slowly and unsteadily.

Almost every soldier in the ranks was wounded, their armor torn, and their flags somewhat worn, but the "Xue" banner, still flying high, proclaimed their return with an indomitable spirit.

Leading the procession was Xue Dingshan, supported by his personal guards and riding a warhorse.

At this moment, Xue Dingshan's face was as pale as paper, and his lips were cracked.

The once dazzling silver armor was now dull and lifeless, covered with marks from sword cuts and arrows, with many damaged areas hastily bandaged with strips of cloth, and faint traces of blood still seeping out.

He was clearly extremely weak, only able to sit on the horse by sheer willpower, but his spine remained straight, and although his eyes were tired, they were still clear and firm.

Seeing his son's pitiful yet stubborn appearance, Xue Huaide was filled with mixed emotions, including heartache and lingering fear.

But more than anything, there was an indescribable sense of pride and admiration.

He strode forward and personally helped Xue Dingshan, who was struggling to dismount.

"Father……"

Xue Dingshan's voice was hoarse as he tried to bow.

"No need to be polite!"

Xue Huaide gripped his arm tightly, stopping him.

His gaze swept over the wounds on Xue Dingshan's body, a barely perceptible hint of pain flashing in his tiger-like eyes, but it was quickly replaced by even stronger admiration.

He patted his son's shoulder heavily, his voice booming with undisguised praise, addressing not only Xue Dingshan but also all the soldiers around him:

"Good! Good lad! You're worthy of being my son, Xue Huaide's son!"

"In the Battle of Black River Valley, you led a 20,000-strong detachment against Wang Zhongsi's 50,000 elite troops, fighting day and night, refusing to retreat. How magnificent! You deserve the greatest credit for this battle!"

The surrounding generals also cast admiring glances at him.

Although they had not witnessed the devastation of the Black River Valley firsthand, they could imagine the extent of the tragedy from the horrific state of the returning team and the wounds on Xue Dingshan's body.

With such inferior forces, he accomplished an almost impossible blocking mission. This young general earned everyone's respect with his courage and blood.

A blush rose on Xue Dingshan's pale face, not from pride at his father's praise, but from excitement and a touch of embarrassment.

Just as he was about to say something, a rapid and orderly sound of horses' hooves, like the beating of war drums, came from afar and broke the noise in front of the camp gate.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a cavalry unit sweeping in like a dark red torrent of iron under the cover of night.

The team was disciplined, and although the hoofbeats were rapid, they did not sound chaotic. A sense of awe and discipline from seasoned veterans was palpable.

The lead rider was tall and agile, wearing a set of exquisitely crafted phoenix-winged gilded battle armor that fit his body perfectly. A crimson cloak behind his shoulder fluttered in the wind as he galloped, like a burning flame.

Her face was still covered by that signature white veil, revealing only a pair of clear, cold, and insightful eyes. She was none other than the Imperial Noble Consort, the commander of the Vermilion Bird Legion—Feng Mulan!

After taking over Helian Wujiu's tribe, she led a cavalry unit to this place!

She led her troops straight to the camp gate, reined in her warhorses, and did so cleanly and swiftly.

His gaze immediately fell on Xue Dingshan, who was being supported by Xue Huaide and was covered in injuries.

A complex emotion flashed across those cool eyes, a mixture of concern, appreciation, and a profound understanding and solemnity about the brutality of the battle.

She dismounted and walked steadily to Xue Dingshan.

She scrutinized him for a moment before slowly speaking.