"Tonight?" Xu He frowned, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.
"Tonight," Wang Meng answered without hesitation. His voice was calm, but every word carried weight. "Shan County is trapped between the Great River to the north and Mount Xiao to the south. Sun Jian blocks the east. We hold the west."
He stepped forward, gaze sharp as a drawn blade.
"If we close in tomorrow, the city becomes a sealed tomb. No escape. No mercy."
A brief pause.
"If I were Zhang Ji… I would not wait for death. I would break out under the cover of darkness—tonight."
Xu He narrowed his eyes, thinking it through. The logic was flawless.
"…Then why the north bank?" he pressed. "The mountains are closer. Safer."
Wang Meng let out a quiet breath.
"Closer—but deadlier."
He pointed south.
"The plain between the city and Mount Xiao is open ground. Cavalry will slaughter them before they even touch the foothills."
Then north.
"But across the river lies Dayang—backed by Mount Wu. Space to maneuver. Space to live."
Xu He's expression shifted.
"They'll build rafts," Wang Meng continued. "Doors, beams, anything they can tear from the city. Crude—but enough."
Silence stretched… then Xu He exhaled.
"…Fine. We gamble."
Night Falls
Darkness swallowed Shan County whole.
The southern gate creaked open.
Thousands of soldiers slipped out like ghosts—no torches, no voices, only the sound of hurried breathing and pounding feet.
"Faster! Move!" officers hissed.
"South! Into the mountains! Live if you can!"
Fear drove them harder than any command ever could.
But the night was not empty.
Eyes watched.
Sun Jian's scouts.
The Tiger Awakens
"Hah! So the rat finally runs!"
Sun Jian leapt from his bed, already grinning like a predator scenting blood. He tied his crimson headscarf in one swift motion, eyes blazing.
"Call the cavalry!"
Moments later—
Thunder.
Two thousand riders surged into the night, torches blazing like a river of fire.
"Charge!"
Steel met flesh.
The fleeing army shattered instantly.
Men screamed. Lines broke. Chaos erupted.
Sun Jian rode at the front, laughter roaring louder than the clash of blades.
"Kill!"
His spear tore through the night like lightning.
This—this was battle.
Not siege.
Not waiting.
This was the hunt.
The True Escape
North Gate.
Zhang Xiu listened to the distant storm of battle… and smiled.
"They've taken the bait."
Behind him, torches flared to life.
"Open the gate!"
Wood groaned. The northern gate parted.
Zhang Ji turned, his face heavy but resolute.
"Take care of your aunt."
"I will," Zhang Xiu answered firmly.
Then—
"Move!"
Men surged forward, dragging hastily bound rafts toward the river. Firelight flickered across desperate faces.
The Yellow River lay before them—dark, vast, and silent.
Maojin Ferry.
Their only chance.
Zhang Ji stepped onto the first raft.
Behind him, the army followed.
Wood creaked.
Water churned.
They crossed.
Too Late
"My Lord!"
A scout burst through the chaos to reach Sun Jian.
"Torches—north gate! They're crossing the river!"
Sun Jian froze.
Then his face twisted.
"…We've been fooled."
Rage exploded in his chest.
"To the north! NOW!"
The cavalry turned, racing through the darkness—but the hunt was over.
When Sun Jian reached the riverbank…
Nothing remained.
Only drifting ripples.
Across the River
On the far shore—
Zhang Xiu stood tall, silhouetted by firelight.
"Sun Wentai!" he shouted, laughter echoing across the water. "We'll meet again!"
Sun Jian's fists clenched, fury burning in his eyes.
"Damn you!"
But Zhang Xiu only laughed harder.
Victory was his.
Escape was his.
—
And then—
The night split apart.
A voice, like thunder descending from the heavens:
"Changshan Zhao Zilong is here!"
Silence shattered.
"Traitor—where do you think you're going?!"
From the darkness—
A lone rider emerged.
White armor gleaming.
Spear like a streak of lightning.
The riverbank trembled.
The hunt… was not over.