xymnovel Chapter 397 The Moon Goddess vows to stand with Xu Longxiang through thick and thin, deeply moving X
Chapter 397 The Moon Goddess vows to stand with Xu Longxiang through thick and thin, deeply moving X
After returning to his room, Xu Longxiang drank wine from pot after pot.
The wine was amber in color, and as it swirled gently in the glass, it reflected the candlelight.
He raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp.
The wine slid down my throat, spreading warmth, but it couldn't warm the empty feeling in my chest.
This wine is more fun to drink with one other person.
Drinking alone is utterly tasteless.
He put down his wine glass, got up, walked to the window, and opened it.
The moonlight, like water, poured in, casting his long, lonely shadow on the ground.
He raised his head and gazed at the clear, cold moon. Inevitably, the image of the moon goddess appeared in his mind.
Her eyebrows, her smile, and her almost transparent white face in the candlelight when she took off her mask.
The more he thought about it, the more melancholy he became.
She rejected him.
She said she wanted to take a shower and go to bed.
She told him to go home early and not to drink too much.
Was she concerned about him?
Or is it just polite talk?
Does she have feelings for him?
Xu Longxiang held a glass of wine, leaned against the window, and gazed at the deep night for a long time.
One cup of wine after another was drunk, and the candlelight dimmed lower and lower.
As for what kind of wine it was and what it tasted like, he had no idea.
As for the secret letter Fan Li gave him, he had long forgotten about it and couldn't remember it at all.
He even forgot what the letter said...
At this moment, Xu Longxiang's mind was filled with thoughts of the Moon Goddess and why she had rejected him...
Headache.
He rubbed his temples and downed another glass of wine.
He didn't know how long he had been drinking, but he slumped onto the table in a daze and fell asleep.
When I woke up again.
Xu Longxiang was awakened by a series of shouts of battle.
"kill--!!!"
The deafening shouts of battle came from afar, mixed with the wailing of horns, the neighing of warhorses, and the clashing of weapons, like a pot of boiling porridge, bubbling and churning.
Xu Longxiang suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with confusion.
He blinked, still tipsy, the scenery before him still swaying.
He shook his head, grabbed the edge of the table to stand up, and staggered.
The shouts of battle grew closer and clearer.
His pupils suddenly contracted, and he sobered up considerably in an instant.
He rushed to the window, pushed it open, and the morning breeze rushed in, carrying the smell of gunpowder and blood.
In the distance, on that vast mountain ridge, smoke and dust billowed, and banners fluttered.
The Qin army is attacking the Moon Goddess Cult's second stronghold!
He suddenly turned his head and glanced at the sky!
It was already broad daylight.
He actually slept until now!
Xu Longxiang didn't have time to think and turned to rush towards the door.
How could he not be by the Moon Goddess's side at such a crucial moment?
He flung open the door, ready to rush out, when a figure stood in the doorway, raising his hand to knock.
She wore a white dress, had long hair that cascaded down like a waterfall, and wore a white jade mask on her face.
The moon goddess, bathed in the morning light, possessed a perfect figure and was breathtakingly beautiful.
The morning light shone in from behind her, casting a pale golden halo over her silhouette. Her clothes fluttered gently in the morning breeze, like a flower blooming in the clouds, untouched by the dust of the world.
The only flaw was that she wore a mask, which covered her face, making it impossible to see her stunning beauty.
Even just seeing those eyes and cherry lips is enough to make one fall in love and feel their heart flutter.
Xu Longxiang felt a throbbing in his heart, as if something had been ignited, burning unbearably.
Although Xu Longxiang didn't understand why the Moon Goddess was wearing a mask, he didn't think much of it.
He assumed that this was a crucial moment for the Moon Goddess Cult, and that the Moon Goddess was wearing a mask to maintain her dignity.
Without thinking twice, he quickly walked up to her, his voice urgent.
"Miss Suxin, is Han Zhong attacking the second pass?"
The Moon Goddess nodded, her voice clear and steady.
"That's right."
The sound was crisper than yesterday's, like a clear spring in a mountain stream, tinkling and lacking the coldness and majesty of yesterday.
But Xu Longxiang was preoccupied with the battle outside and paid no attention.
He spoke quickly, a few minutes faster than usual.
"Miss Suxin, you should take the other high-ranking members of the Moon Goddess Sect and leave. Leave this to me!"
The Moon Goddess looked at Xu Longxiang, her eyes flickering, a complex light flashing within them.
She smiled, a faint smile, yet one that carried an indescribable tenderness.
"Young Master Xu is too kind. Since we are allies, we should naturally stand together through thick and thin. Please come with me."
Xu Longxiang felt a warmth in his heart.
The warmth spread from my chest, like a cup of warm wine sliding down my throat, so comforting that even my fingertips felt warmer.
For some reason, he suddenly thought of Zhao Qingxue.
He had once allied with the Empress of Liyang, but Zhao Qingxue had never spoken to him so gently as the Moon Goddess, nor had she ever shown such concern for his safety.
Between them, it was always businesslike, cold and distant.
The way she looked at him was always scrutinizing and assessing, carrying a condescending and suffocating pressure.
In her presence, he was always like a subject waiting to be summoned.
But Su Xin is different.
She would smile at him, care about him, and say, "Come with me when we leave."
She treated him as an ally, a partner, and one of her most important friends.
Compared to her, Xu Longxiang felt that Zhao Qingxue, the woman he had liked since his youth, was completely inferior to the Moon Goddess before him.
Her gentleness, her thoughtfulness, and her words "we'll stand together" were like a key that unlocked the tightly closed door in his heart.
Xu Longxiang shook his head, not wanting to dwell on these messy matters.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and spoke in a calm and firm tone.
"Don't worry. Han Zhong won't think much of it when he sees me, but it'll be a different story if he sees you. Although you are powerful, Miss Suxin, it's best to avoid fighting if possible."
The Moon Goddess shook her head again, her eyes as firm as iron.
"I will walk alongside Young Master Xu and will never leave alone."
Xu Longxiang was taken aback.
He looked at her eyes, which were visible through the mask.
His eyes, as cold as stars, were filled with unwavering determination.
Xu Longxiang's heart skipped a beat, like a drum being struck, making his whole body tremble.
How long has it been?
How long has it been since he felt this kind of emotion?
Since the year his father died, since the day he took on the responsibility of the North alone, he had never been treated like this again.
His sister was in the North and was kind to him, but that was familial affection.
Fan Li was by his side and treated him well, but that was out of loyalty.
Jiang Qingxue was good to him, but unfortunately they rarely saw each other and had no time to spend together or communicate.
No one has ever stood firmly by his side as an ally, as an equal, and said, "I will never leave alone," like the Moon Goddess.
A hint of affection flickered in Xu Longxiang's eyes as he gazed at her face, as if looking at a lamp that illuminates the path in the darkness.
He nodded firmly, his voice steady.
"Alright, then we'll stand together through thick and thin!"
The moon goddess smiled, a soft laugh like wind chimes gently tinkling in the night breeze.
"I've already had the other high-ranking members of the Moon Goddess Cult leave. From now on, we just need to keep a low profile."
Xu Longxiang nodded, stood with his hands behind his back, and looked at the dust-shrouded mountain ridge in the distance.
"That's right. Once those five pieces are dead, Han Zhong will naturally retreat."
The moon goddess turned her head to look at him, a smile in her eyes.
"Would Young Master Xu like to come and take a look with me?"
Xu Longxiang turned his head, looked at her, and a smile appeared on his lips.
"it is good."
The two walked out of the courtyard side by side, heading towards the second line of defense of the Moon God Cult.
The morning light shone on the two of them, casting their shadows on the ground, one on the left and one on the right, long and thin.
.......
Outside the second line of defense, the sounds of battle were deafening.
Han Zhong rode a tall horse, his eyes blazing, waving his command flag as he directed his army to charge wave after wave at the pass.
This offensive is even more intense than yesterday's.
Five thousand archers lined up in front, and arrows rained down like a storm, densely embedding themselves in the walls, making it impossible for the defenders to raise their heads!
Three thousand shield-bearing soldiers, holding iron shields, formed an iron wall and slowly advanced toward the pass!
Swordsmen and shieldmen followed closely behind, with spearmen bringing up the rear. Their formation was impeccable, and their steps were perfectly synchronized, like a sophisticated meat grinder!
Warhorses galloped, their iron hooves shattering the earth, raising clouds of dust!
On the pass, five white figures stood out conspicuously.
Three men and two women, dressed in white robes worn by high-ranking members of the Moon Goddess Cult, with silver crescent moons embroidered on their lapels.
They stood at the highest point of the pass, facing the army, without any fear.
They held longswords in their hands, the blades gleaming with a cold light in the morning glow.
Their voices were loud and echoed over the pass.
"The moon goddess is with us! Those who fall in battle, their souls return to the moon palace, to live forever!"
"Long live the Moon Goddess! Long live the Moon Goddess! Long live the Moon Goddess!"
Upon hearing this, the white-robed followers on the pass were greatly encouraged and began to frantically shoot arrows, throw stones, and pour hot oil down.
The rolling stones tumbled down from the pass and smashed on the heads of the Qin soldiers, splattering their brains!
Hot oil poured down, scalding the shield-bearers' bodies, causing their skin to sizzle!
Arrows flew in like locusts, striking shields, armor, and flesh!
Qin soldiers fell in droves, but the soldiers behind them immediately rose up, stepping over the corpses of their comrades and continuing to charge forward!
A ladder was placed on the top of the wall. A captain, biting his sword, climbed up, but as soon as he showed his head, he was cleaved down by the sword and his body fell, landing on the people below!
Another ladder was erected, and more soldiers rushed onto the wall to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the defenders!
Swords flashed and blood and flesh flew everywhere.
A white-robed cult member was pierced through the chest by a spear, but he clung tightly to the spear shaft to prevent those behind him from being injured!
His companion stepped on his shoulders to flip over the gap and slashed at the Qin soldiers with his sword!
The battle raged from dawn until 9 AM, and from 9 AM to noon.
Corpses littered the area above and below the pass.
However, the pass remained unconquered.
Those five men stood at the highest point of the fortress wall, personally overseeing the battle, fearless of death.
Their longswords were chipped, and their white robes were soaked in blood, making it impossible to tell whether it was the enemy's or their own.
Their voices were already hoarse, but they were still shouting.
"Long live the Moon Goddess! Long live the Moon Goddess!"
The Qin soldiers were intimidated by their imposing presence, and their offensive slowed down somewhat.
Han Zhong, mounted on his horse, gazed at the five white figures, his expression calm.
He was neither impatient nor angry.
He commanded the army with a balanced approach, sending wave after wave of attacks and retreats, like the tides that came and went.
He is waiting.
Wait for the five men to "die in battle".
Waiting for the opportune moment for the Moon Goddess Cult members to withdraw.
Waiting for the right moment for Xu Longxiang to appear.
He can't fight too fast, or it will arouse suspicion; he can't fight too slow, or too many brothers will lose their lives.
He had to act just right, making the performance flawless.
He waved the command flag in his hand again.
"Retreat! Rest for a moment, then attack again!"
As the gong sounded, the Qin soldiers retreated like a receding tide, leaving behind corpses and blood everywhere.
On the pass, the five men leaned against the battlements, panting heavily.
There was no fear on their faces, only calm.
They knew they didn't have much time left.
They are not afraid of death.
They were only afraid that their deaths wouldn't be heroic enough.
Han Zhong reined in the reins, glanced in the direction of the pass, turned around, and walked towards the temporary command post at the rear.
His deputy, Zhou Cheng, followed behind him, speaking in a low voice.
"General, at this rate, we can breach this pass before sunset today."
Han Zhong nodded without saying anything.
He walked to the command post, lifted the tent flap, bent down, and went inside.