A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1147: Life-Seizing Hook

The war drums resounded as the two armies converged, signaling a fierce confrontation.

Under the specter of death, the soldiers of Western Xia fought with the desperation of cornered beasts.

Flames reached for the heavens, the ground became a carpet of bodies, and the potent aroma of blood saturated the battlefield.

Like a pack of wolves drawn to the scent of their prey, these warriors were plunged into a deadly frenzy.

The formidable enemy stood mere steps away.

The soldiers of the Great Chu Dynasty understood that not a single moment could be afforded for relaxation.

With booming war drums and military commands as unshakeable as mountains, their orderly advance was like a thousand-strong force sweeping forward in a tempest.

Swords, spears, and halberds flashed as they swung, their war cries seeming to split the very sky.

Horses whinnied and shrieked, screams filled the air, fires blazed indiscriminately, and thick plumes of smoke choked the enemy forces.

Xia Tingfeng and Yang Chenyi spearheaded their troops, charging into the enemy with an unyielding bravery.

Yang He arrived with reinforcements, steadfastly securing the sole escape route.

The moment enemy troops approached, one was struck down; if two appeared, a pair met their end, with no hesitation shown.

The soldiers of Western Xia began to perceive the turning tide of the battle.

Realizing their imminent fate of being either trapped or consumed by flames if they didn't break free, they fought with savage intensity for their lives.

Hai Xiangjin grew even more incensed, his fury escalating.

Wielding a massive blade, he charged towards the exit, with Hai Geli and Hai Situ leading the mounted assault.

They carved a path through anyone who stood in their way, impervious to divine intervention, felling countless foes.

Just as the trio was on the verge of breaching the enemy lines to sow discord.

The Great Chu Army, with a sudden movement, raised their bows, unleashing volleys of flaming arrows that rained down like a steel tempest upon their formation.

The three managed to parry with their blades, narrowly escaping a catastrophic fate.

However, behind them, utter chaos began to unfold.

Numerous soldiers, struck by arrows that did not immediately kill, were engulfed by the fierce flames. One after another, they tumbled from their horses, their agonizing screams echoing in all directions, inflicting devastating casualties.

Some horses, startled beyond measure, shrieked and whinnied, bolting through the ranks, transforming the rear into a scene of utter pandemonium.

The shrieks of horses mingled with the delirious cries of soldiers ablaze, the clash of steel, and the increasingly aggressive rhythm of the enemy's war drums.

This cacophony highlighted their growing disadvantage against the enemy's might, compelling a retreat, their few against the enemy's overwhelming numbers...

Morale began to erode, the situation steadily deteriorated, and the prospects of victory dwindled with each passing moment!

Hai Xiangjin raised his blade, poised to strike, but his movement halted mid-air.

He cast a glance at the unfolding situation behind him, acknowledging that their defeat was now unavoidable.

The immediate priority was to conserve whatever fighting strength remained.

With over half of the eighty thousand troops already lost, saving even a single soldier was preferable to none.

The exit was sealed shut; surveying their surroundings, the only viable option was to attempt a breakthrough through the slightly wider passage down the mountain.

Though flames raged in that direction as well, beyond the fiery perimeter lay desolate lands.

By drenching their attire and braving the inferno, they might just find a sliver of hope for survival!

With the desperate plan formulated, Hai Xiangjin bellowed a command.

"Retreat!"

"Execute the planned retreat!"

While a hasty withdrawal might be construed as an embarrassment, it was infinitely preferable to total annihilation.

But alas...

His soldiers were already in a state of disarray, with panicked horses, fire, and frantic shouts erupting all around.

His words were instantly swallowed by the din the moment they left his lips, lost in the overwhelming clamor.

With no alternative remaining, Hai Xiangjin led his elite contingent in a charge towards the exit.

Witnessing the circumstances shift, Xia Tingfeng issued repeated commands.

"Troops, heed the orders! Pursue them while our victory is fresh!"

Yang Chenyi also raised his voice in a powerful shout.

"Hurry, we cannot let them escape!"

The Great Chu Army, like ferocious tigers, advanced rapidly, adhering to their commands.

Following an extended period of pursuit and blockade, Hai Xiangjin found himself cornered at the edge of the fiery circle.

Yang He, Xia Tingfeng, Yang Chenyi... all the leading officers converged.

They were all eager to capture this individual who had inflicted such humiliation and harm upon the people of Great Chu – this insidious, cunning, and ambitious old strategist – planning to subject him to relentless torment before delivering his final blow.

Even Hai Tang, mounted on a warhorse and armed with a bow, stood amongst their ranks, fixing her gaze upon him with palpable malice.

Her eyes blazed with the most potent hatred imaginable.

It appeared as though, in the very next instant, she would draw her bow and unleash an arrow, piercing his heart without mercy.

Hai Xiangjin felt a surge of bitter rage well up within him.

"I never imagined you would be the one to ultimately profit, you despicable woman!"

"After all, I showed mercy to your family's worthless lives!"

Hai Tang had no desire for further discourse.

She deliberately raised her favored bow, intending to end his life with a single, decisive shot.

However, the deed was no sooner conceived than it was enacted.

From opposing sides, Hai Geli and Hai Situ advanced, their large blades glinting, their shouts filling the air.

"Your Majesty, escape quickly! I shall cover your retreat!"

"Your Majesty, go first! I swear I will personally slay the Western Xia traitor!"

This was not a matter of mere loyalty!

Nor was it born from camaraderie.

Their hearts screamed that without ending Hai Tang, life would lose all meaning!

Without striking down Hai Tang, their souls could never find peace.

Without vanquishing Hai Tang, they would be shamed, unworthy of their Royal Family status!

For the warriors of Western Xia, especially those of royal blood, a certain heroic spirit still resided within.

Swords and sabers met once more as the two forces clashed violently.

Even the weakest, when driven into a corner, would fight back with ferocity.

Amidst the chaos of clashing steel, Hai Xiangjin unleashed a Life-Seizing Hook from his waist, its trajectory aimed directly at Xia Tingfeng, the man who had shielded Hai Tang.

This was his signature armament, his trump card, lethally effective on contact, capable of instantly sealing a victim's throat with blood.

The one who had inflicted such a profound humiliation upon him absolutely had to perish!

The Life-Seizing Hook sailed through the air, targeting Xia Tingfeng's flank.

Engaged with other assailants, Xia Tingfeng remained oblivious to the imminent danger.

It seemed the fatal blow was mere moments away...

"Big brother, be careful!"

Without a second thought, Hai Tang spun around, intercepting the deadly strike.

'Thud'

The Life-Seizing Hook found its mark, burying itself in her collarbone near the neck.

Hai Tang's body was once again flung from her horse.

However, this time was drastically different from the last.

This time, there was no one, no steed to break her fall.

Her delicate form, much like a paper-thin kite whose string had snapped, traced a despairing arc through the sky before crashing hard onto the unforgiving ground.

'Thud'

Blood spilled from Hai Tang's lips as her entire body succumbed to a state of extreme weakness.

The jagged, rocky terrain below promised a fatal impact!

"Hai Tang!"

"Brother Ye!"

"Ye Tang!"

"General Ye!"

Xia Tingfeng, having been spared the hook's deadly embrace, finally snapped back to reality.

His gaze fell upon the small, fallen figure in the distance, and an overwhelming wave of regret washed over him.

A wild, triumphant laugh erupted from Hai Xiangjin.

"You impudent brats, prepare for your demise!"

With renewed ferocity, he yanked the long hook and hurled it again, this time setting his sights on Yang Chenyi.

"Your father, that treacherous old fox, slaughtered tens of thousands of my soldiers!"

"Today, your life will be forfeit as payment!"

Before his vengeful words even concluded, the razor-sharp Life-Seizing Hook whipped through the air like a deadly serpent, its target Yang Chenyi...

The peculiar weapon known as the Life-Seizing Hook was exclusive to Western Xia.

Its immense requirement for spiritual energy led to its designation as a forbidden technique, reserved only for the direst circumstances.

It comprised a lengthy iron chain attached to three wickedly sharp hooks.

Wielding it demanded significant physical exertion to launch the hook with precision, aiming to ensnare the intended victim.

It was an exceptionally hazardous implement, and due to its inherent danger,

inexperienced practitioners often inflicted grievous self-injury during their training.

It wasn't uncommon for a misplaced throw to strike the user's own face, resulting in immediate death.

Mastery necessitated extensive practice, unwavering resolve, and extraordinary skill.

Finding even a single proficient wielder among ten Western Xia warriors would be a rare occurrence.

Nevertheless, despite the formidable challenge of mastering it, the weapon proved devastatingly effective in the hands of a true expert.

Once skill was achieved,

it possessed the terrifying capability to claim a life from a considerable distance, as if effortlessly cutting through an unsuspecting throng.