Chapter 9: A Narrow Escape from Death

The sound of the soldiers' footsteps echoed ominously down the mountain path, each thud striking fear into the hearts of the villagers. Zhang Xing stood at the front, his mind ablaze with thoughts, but his expression remained calm. He knew he couldn't afford to show any sign of hesitation. The entire village of Zhao was watching him—he was their backbone.

"Archers, ready!" Zhang Xing raised his hand, his cold gaze fixed on the advancing imperial soldiers. Zhao Village's hunters were already lying in ambush on both sides of the village entrance, their bows drawn, waiting for Zhang Xing's signal.

"Wait until they enter the trap," Zhang Xing ordered quietly, his voice mixing with the taut bowstrings and the heavy breathing of the hidden hunters. The tension in the air was palpable.

The soldiers marched forward in formation, seemingly unaware of the impending ambush. Their faces were cold and unfeeling, as if this were just another routine mission. They were confident, well-equipped, and trained, knowing that they held the advantage.

As the front line of soldiers stepped into the trap zone, Zhang Xing swung his arm down sharply. "Release the arrows!"

A barrage of arrows whistled through the air, shooting out from the dense forest, piercing through the ranks of the soldiers. The first row fell instantly, cries of pain and confusion erupting from the ranks. The sudden attack threw the formation into chaos. Those in the back hastily raised their shields, trying to protect themselves.

"Now, the boulders!" Zhang Xing commanded. From the slopes above, villagers pushed down large stones they had prepared. The boulders crashed down the mountain with incredible force, crushing soldiers as they struggled to regroup.

"Charge!" Zhang Xing shouted, seizing the moment. Sword in hand, he charged out from the forest, leading the villagers in a surprise attack. The villagers, most of whom were seasoned hunters, lacked formal combat training but were strong and skilled with their bows and knives, making them deadly in close quarters.

The soldiers, caught off guard, fought back as best they could, but the ambush had thrown them into disarray. Zhang Xing and his men broke through the lines, cutting down soldiers as they pressed forward. Their goal was clear—take down the enemy leader and crush the morale of the troops.

"Zhang Xing, go for their commander!" Li He yelled, and Zhang Xing reacted instantly. The enemy commander was the key to this battle. Without him, the soldiers would be leaderless and much easier to defeat.

Zhang Xing's sharp eyes locked onto the figure of the commander, dressed in armor and mounted on a horse, trying desperately to rally his scattered troops. Zhang Xing knew that taking him out would end the battle.

With speed and precision, Zhang Xing sprinted toward the commander, his blade aimed straight at him. The commander, caught off guard by Zhang Xing's sudden assault, hastily raised his sword to defend himself. But Zhang Xing's attack was relentless, like a tiger pouncing on its prey. Their blades clashed with a resounding clang.

Zhang Xing knocked aside the commander's defenses and, with a swift kick to the horse's flank, sent the man tumbling from his saddle. Without hesitation, Zhang Xing swung his blade down, delivering a fatal blow. Blood sprayed, and the commander's head rolled across the ground.

"The commander is dead!" Li He shouted, and a wave of excitement surged through the villagers. Their morale soared, while the remaining soldiers, now leaderless, fell into complete disarray. Panic spread, and many began to flee in all directions.

"Don't let them escape!" Zhang Xing ordered, his voice booming over the battlefield. The villagers pursued the fleeing soldiers, cutting them down one by one. Soon, the battlefield fell eerily quiet, the only sound being the distant cries of a few who still tried to escape.

When the last soldier was shot down by an arrow, Zhang Xing exhaled deeply, his body trembling with exhaustion. They had won this battle, but Zhang Xing knew it was a victory born of luck. The soldiers had underestimated them, and Zhao Village's hunters had made the most of their ambush.

"We did it!" Li He exclaimed, his face beaming with joy as he approached Zhang Xing. The villagers were celebrating, relieved to have survived the fight.

But Zhang Xing's expression remained grim. He knew that this victory was only temporary. Soon, the imperial court would send more troops, and next time, they would be better prepared. Zhao Village and Zhang Village were still too weak to withstand the full might of the imperial forces.

"Don't celebrate too soon," Zhang Xing said, his voice steady but somber. "This is just the beginning. The court won't let this go. They'll send more soldiers, and we need to be ready. We have to expand our forces and unite more villages."

Li He's smile faded, and he nodded. "You're right. The court's power is far greater than we can imagine. What's our next move?"

Zhang Xing thought for a moment, his eyes narrowing with resolve. "We need to find more villages—especially those who have already clashed with the government. If we can unite a larger force, we might have a chance."

His words carried the weight of a leader, someone who had no choice but to keep moving forward. Li He nodded, his faith in Zhang Xing unwavering. "I'll go with you. We've come this far—we can't turn back now."

Zhang Xing stood at the village entrance, gazing out over the battlefield, littered with bodies and blood. He was already planning their next steps, knowing that the path ahead would only get more difficult. But as long as he and the villagers stood together, they wouldn't fall easily.

The first rays of dawn lit up the slopes of Zhao Village, the air still thick with the metallic scent of battle. Yet, in Zhang Xing's heart, a small flame of hope flickered. Perhaps, just perhaps, they were getting closer to changing their fate.

As the sun rose over the blood-stained village, it also illuminated the unyielding determination in Zhang Xing's heart. The road to freedom was long, but he was ready to fight for every step of it.