We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? Chapter 373: I, Bai Qi, Shall Repay with 'A Nation as Gift'

The words from Xiao Mo reverberated inside the army tent.

All gazes shifted to the youth called Bai Qi.

Zhao Guang and Li Jing knew Bai Qi quite well.

For in the last year, they had seen his valor displayed across countless battlefields.

Similar to the Frost Prince in his early days, Bai Qi had earned feats like killing enemy generals, seizing banners, and scaling walls first.

Back then, the Northern Pacification Prince had gestured at Bai Qi, telling them, "This lad is bound to achieve greatness ahead and will definitely support my son."

Following that, the Northern Pacification Prince promoted Bai Qi to deputy general and tested him by letting him command soldiers.

Bai Qi's troop-leading tactics grew more and more to the Northern Pacification Prince's liking.

Otherwise, for this clash with Chu Kingdom, he wouldn't have summoned Bai Qi at this moment. Yet, appointing Bai Qi as the primary commander—could that really go without issues?

Jealousy wasn't what Zhao Guang and Li Jing felt toward Bai Qi; rather, they genuinely believed he was far too youthful.

Though the Frost Prince had begun commanding armies at such an age and even crushed Zhei Kingdom.

Still, it stood to reason that for one nation's destiny to birth two such ferocious commanders like the Frost Prince in succession was exceedingly rare.

"Bai Qi, if I task you with leading the troops to crush Wu Qi, do you have the guts?" Xiao Mo pressed once more.

Bai Qi advanced a step, clasping his fists in a profound bow, "With the general's trust, how could Bai Qi ever let you down! Should I fail to defeat Wu Qi, this subordinate offers his head to you, General!"

"Excellent."

Xiao Mo gave a nod.

"Set out with the troops today. Bai Qi, should your choices face opposition from both Deputy Generals Li and Zhao at once, you must halt. Clear?"

"Understood! General!" Bai Qi replied with utmost gravity.

"General Li, General Zhao, Bai Qi's youth makes him prone to rashness and overwhelming bloodlust—restrain him if needed. On all else, defer to his judgment." Xiao Mo directed.

"This subordinate obeys!"

Li Jing and Zhao Guang saluted in unison.

On that very day, the trio commanded sixty thousand Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry plus two hundred forty thousand foot soldiers—three hundred thousand crack troops in total—marching straight for Tiansi City.

In merely two days, Bai Qi's forces reached the spot, seizing full control of Tiansi City.

Tiansi City's lord had anticipated the renowned general Xiahou Nan for defense, only to find an unknown young commander at the helm.

For an instant, panic gripped Tiansi City's lord anew, yet considering the sender was the Frost Prince with Li Jing and Zhao Guang as deputies, he chose to trust first and verify later.

Two days later, scouts brought word that Wu Qi's host drew near.

Tiansi City lacked any natural defenses, serving only as a mere outpost; cramming Bai Qi's massive army inside for defense would cramp their movements severely.

Plus, troop counts matched closely, especially with sixty thousand Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry in play.

Thus, after consulting Zhao Guang and Li Jing, Bai Qi resolved alongside them to march out and clash directly.

What the realms admired most was smashing foes in open battle.

A frontal triumph by Bai Qi would demolish enemy spirits utterly, securing victory at one stroke.

Four days post-arrival at Tiansi City, Chu Kingdom's forces neared the walls.

The three generals took their army out to confront them.

No tricks or ambushes—just pure, frontal mayhem.

Commanders on both sides pitted their grasp of formations and arrays in a deadly contest.

Bai Qi positioned himself amid the vanguard, standing firm like a dark monolith.

His eyes locked on the far-off, hushed, and rigidly arrayed enemy lines.

Autumn winds on the border bit with icy chill.

They whipped up dry yellow grass and dirt, clanging against frigid armor with soft whispers.

Zhao Guang eyed the opposing Chu troops, their disciplined stance hiding a thick aura of slaughter, and breathed, "Chu Kingdom's top warrior lives up to the hype. This force rivals the Northern Frontier's might!"

"General Wu Qi proves his worth. Absent him, Chu King's prodigality would've let foes overrun them ages ago."

Bai Qi spoke evenly, his tone steady without a ripple of feeling.

"Yet regardless, today's Chu Kingdom pales against its former glory, twilight-bound like Zhei Kingdom."

"I've heard tell of General Li and General Zhao's fame for years." Wu Qi spurred his mount ahead, hailing them, "Word is General Li earned his marquisate at last—felicitations."

"Grateful, General Wu." Li Jing returned the fist salute, "You're this era's legend, General, while my lord the Frost Prince dreams of uniting all under heaven. Chu King squanders blindly. Why waste your life on him? Come to Qin Kingdom instead and forge eternal glory!"

"Heh heh, thanks for the generous invitation, General Li, but the prior emperor graced my Wu clan. The Xiao house holds Northern Frontier and Zhei without revolt, so how could we Wus dishonor our forebears?"

Wu Qi chuckled, turning down the offer courteously.

"That said, judging by this youth's garb, he leads as main general—yet he's no Frost Prince I've heard of. Might I have your name?"

"Bai Qi, serving under the Frost Prince, sent expressly by him to greet you at Tiansi City!" Bai Qi saluted with clasped fists.

"Bai Qi." Wu Qi murmured the name, scanning the foe's array, "Unknown to me, but Frost Prince's trust implies skill. Facing this marquis openly demands boldness. Don't let me down."

"This junior aims to meet your expectations, General." Bai Qi's eyes flashed keen, utterly fearless.

Wu Qi nodded, "Zhou rituals have crumbled, and war's rites forgotten by most. It's been ages since this marquis fought fair and square. Come! Drums! Shatter their ranks! Storm the gates! Show me if Qin breeds endless young geniuses!"

At Wu Qi's signal, drumbeats thundered over the plains like tempests.

Both hosts, primed and ready, roared into collision!

Shouts rent the skies!

Chu army's wing heavy infantry columns pressed ahead, strides synced, shields forming iron barriers, center holding fast.

"Chu wings advance, core stays put." Bai Qi's brow creased, "Wu Qi probes my sides' might. Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry, left wing lead unit, charge. Right wing lead unit, hold."

Horns blared.

From Northern Frontier's left wing, ten thousand Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry thundered out—a pale flood bursting from the core, hooves rumbling low like distant thunder.

Mid-gallop, they split into three prongs, each beyond three thousand strong, arrayed in arrowheads.

Opposite, Chu left wing's thirty-five thousand riders, spotting the foe's move, spurred faster.

The cavalries smashed together left of the field's heart.

Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry's arrowheads stabbed razor-sharp; lead prong bored into Chu riders like a drill.

Trailing prongs expanded the gap.

White-clad horsemen thrust long lances ahorse, spear-gleams felling Chu men and mounts wherever they flashed—yet Chu numbers let them wheel and envelop from flanks.

"Left wing second unit, charge." Bai Qi commanded.

Ten thousand more Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry erupted, straight-line assault slamming Chu left's side.

"Northern Frontier's Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry earns its legend." Wu Qi exhaled, "Signal: left wing fall back battling, lure them in. Right wing ready—once foe left commits fully, hit their right hard."

Flags relayed the commands.

Chu left cavalry pulled back methodically, skirmishing rearward, drawing Northern Frontier Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry from their lines.

Bai Qi noted the shift and grinned, "Seeking to drag my left deep? Order: left cavalry cease chase, third unit reinforce, first and second swap retreats."

"Right wing cavalry, full alert. Center heavy infantry, front two tiers forward fifty paces."

Northern Frontier left cavalry halted pursuit, trading cover to withdraw.

Meanwhile, center's lead two heavy infantry tiers lumbered ahead, like a behemoth clawing out.

"Bai Qi? Intriguing." Wu Qi shed his disdain for the youth, "Order: left cavalry halt pullback, reform on site. Right cavalry, charge!"

Chu right wing's thirty-five thousand cavalry lunged, full tilt, aimed square at Northern Frontier's right.

Nearly at once, Bai Qi countered, "Right wing Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry, every unit charge. Center heavy infantry third tier, shift right thirty paces."

Northern Frontier right unleashed all thirty thousand Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry.

No splits—instead a colossal wedge plowed straight at Chu riders.

The horsemen clashed on battlefield's right amid earth-shaking din.

Chu wing heavy infantry had closed to hundred paces from Northern Frontier front.

Northern Frontier center bowmen loosed, arrows hailing, studding Chu shields thick—yet Chu ranks stayed firm, pushing on.

Fifty paces.

Thirty paces.

"Spears!" A Chu rank bellowed.

Foremost three heavy infantry rows thrust spears level, tips a gleaming wood.

Ten paces.

"Kill!"

Chu heavies slammed Northern Frontier's first tier.

Shield-crash, spear-stab, war-cries blended into carnage.

Front line turned instant slaughter-pit.

Bai Qi channeled spirit into his gaze, scrutinizing battlefield fluxes from rear.

"Chu heavy infantry drill superbly. First tier holds two ke max."

"Order: first tier die standing, no retreat; second tier ready swap."

"Archers focus Chu center, halt their push."

Bai Qi's directives raced to centurions via horns, banners, artifacts, runners.

Northern Frontier bowmen retargeted, storming Chu unmoving center heavies.

Arrow deluge forced Chu center shields up, slowing march—but soon Chu center's eighty thousand archers advanced, entering range to volley back.

Left wing cavalry duel clarified.

Right wing saw thirty thousand Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry deadlocked with thirty-five thousand Chu horse.

Wedge sliced Chu like a knife, but Chu riders squeezed sides to trap it.

Northern Frontier array reshaped.

Center heavy infantry's fourth-fifth tiers slid outward, thinning core but bolstering wings.

Suddenly, Chu center heavies surged, shield-wall a rolling bastion toward Northern Frontier heart.

Chu wing horse ramped assaults, battering Northern Frontier cavalry screens.

By noon, three hours of fury passed.

Arrays fluxed endlessly, rune-etched arrows rained explosively across field.

Then, Northern Frontier center's five heavy infantry tiers thrust forward as one.

From gaps held open, thousands of light infantry burst, short spears and sabers flashing, hitting Chu center's side dead-on.

Chu center, mid-advance, flank-struck, plunged into turmoil.

"Steady! Wings pinch inward!" Wu Qi barked desperately—too late.

Northern Frontier left's leftover fifteen thousand Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry massed, keen charge-form, spearing Chu left-center join.

Chu array's softest spot.

Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry impaled like a pale lance.

Chu left horse tried blocking—shattered outright.

Breaching horse guard, Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry barreled on into Chu center's flank and rear.

"Center to circle!" Wu Qi bellowed.

Chu center shifted, heavies coiling inward, shields out, spears porcupine-bristled—but shifts take moments.

Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry struck, rampaging side-rear into the mass.

Turmoil rippled wide.

At wei hour, Chu center lay broken.

Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry carved inside, splintering Chu heavies apart.

Northern Frontier center heavies shoved whole-line, clashing headlong.

Though loath to concede, Wu Qi knew reality: battle lost.

This open fight—he'd fallen.

"Order all withdraw." Wu Qi sighed deeply, "Heavies guard tail, horse shield wings."

"General!" Deputy generals nearby balked at yielding.

"Withdraw." Wu Qi fixed on the distant figure, "Etch his name. You'll clash with him again someday."

Gongs tolled retreat.

Chu forces fell back.

Heavies in tight blocks, battling rearward.

Horse screened sides against pursuit.

Bai Qi observed Chu's pullout, "Order: Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry, chase twenty li, then wheel back. Heavies clear field, aid wounded."

Li Jing and Zhao Guang concurred.

Wu Qi retreated intact, no rout. Hard chase meant heavy losses. Routing them off-field sufficed.

Battle goals met.

He spurred toward the field.

Plains strewed with dead. Chu abandoned seventy thousand corpses; Northern Frontier lost nigh fifty thousand—yet Chu elite horse halved, heavies gutted.

Sunset bled the field crimson.

Bai Qi crested a hillock, eyeing troops scour the field, haul wounded, gather arms, stack bodies for burning.

Zhao Guang approached, "Glorious win. Return to main force, link with Frost Prince?"

Bai Qi stayed silent.

He peered toward Chu retreat's dust, fading slow.

"Insufficient." Long musing later, Bai Qi voiced it.

"Insufficient?" Zhao Guang puzzled.

Bai Qi affirmed, tone edged razor-keen:

"One fight falls short of my vow to the Frost Prince.

I'll corner Wu Qi's host utterly and storm into Nanshan Kingdom!"

His words rang serene, chilling Zhao Guang and Li Jing to the bone.

"I, Bai Qi, sprang from lowly birth. Once, Frost Prince shunned me not, granting 'tea's courtesy.'

Today! I, Bai Qi, return 'a realm in tribute'!"