Why Does Mr. Xie Favor Me? Chapter 21
byChapter 21: A Pact of Backs Turned
Securing the Grain and Withdrawing in Success
Xiao Jue personally led over two hundred men, approaching the wooden walls of the outpost like ghosts. Two Northern Dynasty guards at the gate were caught mid-yawn, their mouths and noses covered by hands emerging from the shadows. Sharp blades sliced through their throats, leaving only muffled gurgles to be swallowed by the cold wind.
The bodies were quickly dragged away, and the men changed into the guards’ uniforms to continue forward. The entire process was fast, quiet, and precise, as if rehearsed a thousand times.
Almost simultaneously, Wen Boyan’s group moved in silence. They did not directly assault the noisy barracks but split into small teams, firing oil-soaked arrows at scattered fodder piles, wood sheds, and seemingly abandoned shacks along the outpost’s edge.
The flaming arrows pierced the night sky and ignited upon impact. The dry fodder erupted into flames, and orange-red fire mixed with thick smoke surged upward instantly, appearing exceptionally striking in the silent, cold night.
Fire! A sharp cry erupted from the source of the flames and spread rapidly. The clamor inside the barracks stopped abruptly, followed by even more chaotic shouting and cursing.
Armor clattered as a large number of Northern Dynasty soldiers rushed out in disarray, some carrying buckets, others holding basins. More stood looking around in a daze, unsure where the fire had started. The attention of the entire outpost was firmly seized by the suddenly ignited and scattered flames.
Chaos was the best cover.
In the eastern granary area, Zuo Yunci moved like a wisp of smoke hugging the ground. Leading twenty scouts skilled in stealth and assassination, he had already quietly dealt with two dozing sentries on the perimeter.
The granary doors were tightly shut. The eight guards in front had been startled by the distant firelight and were stretching their necks to watch, whispering among themselves. Their vigilance had slackened.
Zuo Yunci crouched behind an abandoned supply wagon, his sharp eyes calculating the shift change.
His profile was clearly defined by the flickering firelight in the distance—a straight nose and tightly pressed lips reflecting a calm focus. Even with charcoal smeared on his face, his handsome and sharp aura was hard to hide.
Now, he signaled wordlessly.
The relief guards approached from the corner to swap with those at the door. Within those thirty seconds of transition, when attention was most divided, Zuo Yunci acted.
He did not charge directly at the gate. Instead, he first threw several small coins with edges ground thin. A few crisp clinks sounded as they landed in the shadows beside the granary. The guards instinctively turned their heads to look.
That split second of distraction was enough.
Twenty dark shadows pounced from all directions. Zuo Yunci had a clear target, going straight for the guard who appeared to be the leader.
His movements were so fast they were mere afterimages. His short blade left its sheath without a sound, precisely piercing the gap in the man’s armor. With a twist of his wrist, he withdrew, and the man collapsed with a muffled groan.
The scouts behind him coordinated perfectly, their methods clean and efficient. The eight guards, along with the two who had just arrived for the shift, all slumped over after a few barely audible thuds.
Without a moment’s pause, Zuo Yunci took the keys from the leader’s waist and inserted them into the lock. With a soft click, the heavy wooden door of the granary was pushed open a crack.
A stale scent of grain mixed with a hint of cured goods wafted out. He slipped inside and scanned the area quickly.
Mountains of sacks, bundles of dried meat, and leather pouches filled with salt took shape in the dim light filtering through the doorway.
It was done.
Signal the General that the granary is secured. Prepare for transport, he ordered in a low, calm voice.
Just as a scout took out a signal arrow coated in green phosphorus and prepared to fire it through the gap in the door, an unexpected change occurred.
A small side compartment used as a rest area for the granary officer was suddenly burst open. A Northern Dynasty officer, who had clearly drunk too much and had gone out to relieve himself before returning, stumbled out. He happened to witness the scene at the granary door and the scout preparing the signal.
Someone, help! The officer’s intoxication vanished instantly. He screamed at the top of his lungs while drawing his waist saber.
Although the signal arrow had been fired, whistling into the sky and exploding into green sparks, their presence was now completely exposed.
We’ve been discovered! Hold the entrance! Zuo Yunci shouted. He shifted his short blade to his left hand and grabbed a heavy wooden bar used for bracing the door with his right. There was no trace of panic in his eyes, only a suddenly focused sharpness.
The nearby Northern Dynasty guards had been alerted and were rushing toward the granary with shouts. The twenty men Zuo Yunci brought immediately formed a semi-circular formation, blocking the narrow area at the granary entrance and clashing with the surging Northern soldiers.
Blades flashed and blood splattered. Although the scouts were elite, their numerical disadvantage became apparent immediately, and their line was pushed back continuously.
Squad Leader Zuo, there are too many of them! A scout parried a saber strike, but his shoulder was grazed by another spear, drawing a trail of blood.
Zuo Yunci swung the wooden bar, knocking down two men with heavy force, but more enemies swarmed forward. He stood with his back to the granary door, his breathing slightly hurried, his clear eyes reflecting the dense crowd of enemies and the falling figures of his comrades.
They had to hold until the General or reinforcements arrived, otherwise, everything would be for naught.
At that moment, an even more violent roar of battle erupted from the flank.
Wen Boyan led the charge, commanding the hundred or so men who had been creating the diversion. Like a blade cutting through turbulent waves, they slammed into the side of the Northern army besieging the granary.
He had clearly seen the green signal and sensed the sounds of fighting at the granary, leading his men to support without hesitation.
Wen Boyan used a long spear, which now moved like a dragon, reflecting cold, chilling light under the firelight.
He had a tall, straight build with a slender waist and powerful arms. Even in the midst of bloody slaughter, his movements maintained a sense of crisp beauty. The tip of his spear was precise and ruthless, and the enemy soldiers fell like grass wherever he passed.
Zuo Yunci, hold on! Wen Boyan’s voice carried through the din of battle, clear and powerful.
Zuo Yunci’s spirits lifted at the sound. His short blade traced an arc of light, forcing back the enemy in front of him. He looked up to see Wen Boyan fighting his way toward him. Their eyes met across the chaotic battlefield.
In Wen Boyan’s gaze, there was concern, urgency, and a resolute determination to fight side by side.
Zuo Yunci nodded slightly, his movements becoming even faster as he actively moved toward Wen Boyan’s direction.
The two small teams, one inside and one outside, instantly formed a pincer movement. The fresh forces Wen Boyan brought broke the Northern soldiers’ formation. The pressure on Zuo Yunci eased significantly, and he took the opportunity to lead the scouts in a counter-charge to link up with Wen Boyan’s unit.
The two stood back-to-back, instantly exchanging information about the surrounding enemy situation.
Archers are gathering in the southeast corner, Zuo Yunci said rapidly, his breath slightly ragged from the intense fighting.
Leave them to me. Wen Boyan swung his spear, parrying two incoming scimitars, and shouted to his personal guards, Shields forward! Follow me to break them!
I’ll cover your right flank, Zuo Yunci said without hesitation. His short blade danced, blocking enemies attempting to attack Wen Boyan from the side.
His movements were agile and precise, forming a perfect complement to Wen Boyan’s wide, powerful spear techniques.
Feeling the security on his right flank, Wen Boyan’s heart settled. His spear strikes became even more ferocious, like a tiger descending a mountain, charging straight for the southeast corner.
Zuo Yunci followed him like a shadow, always appearing exactly where he was needed to fill defensive gaps and eliminate potential threats.
They hardly needed words; a single look or a subtle adjustment in movement was enough to understand each other’s intentions.
During the melee, a fierce Northern soldier spotted a moment when Wen Boyan’s spear thrust had spent its momentum and swung a heavy axe toward his waist.
Wen Boyan couldn’t pull his spear back in time, but Zuo Yunci seemed to have anticipated it. He lunged forward, staying low. He didn’t use his blade to block the heavy axe, as that would likely send both him and the blade flying. Instead, he risked a roll along the ground, his short blade slashing viciously across the soldier’s ankle.
The soldier screamed and fell, the axe hitting nothing but air. Wen Boyan took the opportunity to bring his spear back, finishing the man off.
He looked at Zuo Yunci, who had just stood up, blood seeping from a new cut on his shoulder. His expression was complex as he growled, Have you lost your mind?
Zuo Yunci wiped the blood and grime from his face and pulled back the corner of his mouth, revealing a strange but bright smile. Your life is more valuable, Lieutenant Wen.
Wen Boyan’s heart skipped a beat. He said nothing more, but his spear moved even faster, keeping Zuo Yunci more closely protected within the wind of his strikes.
Xiao Jue had completely secured the gate and watchtower. Seeing the fierce battle at the granary and the green signal, he immediately sent fresh troops to assist and directed the pack animals to begin moving the supplies.
With the arrival of reinforcements, the Northern guards at the granary entrance were finally routed.
Quick! Move it! Zuo Yunci didn’t bother bandaging his wound, immediately organizing men to load the grain bags and dried meat onto the packhorses. Wen Boyan directed his subordinates to form a defensive perimeter to block any scattered enemies.
The two worked with clear division of labor and seamless cooperation. During the process, when Zuo Yunci hoisted a heavy bag of grain, he stumbled slightly due to his shoulder injury. Wen Boyan immediately reached out to support him by the elbow.
Be careful. The voice was very low, nearly drowned out by the surrounding noise.
Zuo Yunci steadied himself and looked at him. Both their faces were stained with blood and charcoal, looking somewhat disheveled under the flickering firelight. But reflected in each other’s eyes were clear silhouettes and a sense of closeness that had suddenly narrowed during the life-and-death struggle.
Thank you, Zuo Yunci whispered, then immediately threw himself back into the frantic loading process.
Once the supplies were loaded, Xiao Jue blew a sharp whistle for retreat. The group quickly broke contact, withdrawing from Wild Wolf Outpost like a receding tide and vanishing into the darkness.
Behind them, they left only the outpost engulfed in flames and the frustrated curses of the Northern Dynasty guards.
On the way back, the wind was biting, but the blood still boiled from the battle. Wen Boyan rode in the middle of the column, his gaze involuntarily following the slender yet upright figure ahead.
Zuo Yunci was quietly counting casualties, his profile appearing calm and resilient in the faint morning light.
Wen Boyan remembered the moment Zuo Yunci had rolled across the ground to save him. A burning yet soft emotion quietly sprouted in the depths of his usually cold and self-controlled heart.
Zuo Yunci seemed to sense the gaze behind him and turned his head slightly.
Their eyes met once more in the frigid air.
This time, there was no killing intent, no urgency—only the exhaustion following the battle’s aftermath and a trace of something difficult to describe. They both quickly looked away, as if it were merely an accidental crossing of paths.
Xiao Jue rode at the front and did not look back, but the tension in his lips relaxed slightly. He spoke softly to the guard beside him, Send word of the victory back to Guzang immediately.