I can't, You Can

Gourd Valley, Sanlian Pass.

There were 300 people at the valley entrance, and 200 people with Jin Kill Repeating Crossbows in the center of the valley.

Before Lu Gaosheng made arrangements, he pointed at Gourd Valley on the map and said:

"If the worst situation really comes, there's no need to panic. The terrain here, from the valley entrance to the last small path, the cliffs on both sides will get higher and higher, and the road will get narrower and narrower. The last small path can barely fit two horses side by side at its widest point."

"It's simply a natural military fortress."

"As long as there are enough people, the valley entrance can be defended to the death."

"As long as we occupy the high ground in the center and have enough arrows, we can block thousands of troops."

"As for that small path, it's even more perfect - with high cliffs and a narrow path, one master will be enough to defend the pass."

At that time, Zhang San asked: "Just one person? Are you sure?"

Lu Gaosheng smiled and replied: "But this person needs to have very powerful martial arts. His body or weapon needs to be able to withstand the enemy's strong bows and crossbows."

"He needs to have outstanding qinggong (lightness skill) to prevent enemies from attacking him from all sides if there are enemy masters who can scale the cliffs."

"He also needs extremely strong internal strength to keep fighting continuously during the melee until the ships have left the port."

"Most importantly...he must not be afraid of death! Otherwise, facing such a battle formation, most people would choose to flee or surrender."

That was what Lu Gaosheng said when making arrangements for the plan.

...

...

The sailors also seemed to be well-trained, or had seen large-scale battles before. They did not show any fear or panic because of the increasingly clear sounds of fighting.

On the contrary, they were calmly moving sack after sack of grain.

There was no snow on the beach, but it was very cold. The atmosphere between people was deathly still.

Zhang San hesitated for a moment, then asked the soldier, "Wolf Killer, how many people do you estimate will be able to break through his blockade?"

Upon hearing this, the soldier didn't know how to estimate something that hadn't happened yet. He could only shake his head blankly.

I already knew he wouldn't be able to answer before I asked the question.

But what was I hoping for?

Was I hoping he would give me a number that would make me feel safe, before setting off?

Many things don't have an answer until they end or are completed.

So Zhang San slowly tore off his sleeve and covered his face with it.

"I'll go," he said.

You?

Wu Qixue and Li Xing looked at Zhang San almost at the same time.

Li Xing hesitated slightly. The scene of Zhang San effortlessly killing two Shadow Fox masters was still fresh in his mind. There was no doubt Zhang San had reached the Grandmaster realm.

But Li Xing still frowned and asked: “You still have unhealed injuries from your fight with the Xuguo warrior. You’ve been escorting the grain unit these last few days without any rest. Not to mention...”

Aside from the matter of killing Shadow Fox, both he and Wolf Killer still had lingering traces of Zhang San’s pure inner energy within them. Otherwise, with their injuries, they wouldn’t have been able to move freely these last couple days.

No matter how powerful a Grandmaster may be, they are still human. Let alone one who has just broken through, still bears internal injuries, and has barely slept since killing the Xuguo warrior up until today.

Upon hearing Li Xing’s words, the look in Wu Qixue's eyes as he gazed at Zhang San also contained care and worry: "You're still injured? The enemies are all top masters trained by the Zhennan Army for many years. Do you think you can handle it...?"

"Stop, stop," Zhang San said repeatedly.

Then Zhang San gave them both a look.

The look one gives an idiot.

The meaning was probably:

It's already such a pressing situation, what other choice is there?

If I can't handle it, do you think you can?

"If you two have time, go help them move supplies to save some time. I'll go guard the Gourd Tail," Zhang San said as he walked towards the small path.

"Master..." Wang Xiaoer, who hadn't dared interject by Zhang San's side, uttered softly.

Zhang San was slightly stunned. He had almost forgotten about this clever little rascal, since his presence was so lacking.

"Li Xing... I'll leave my disciple in your hands for now," Zhang San said.

Li Xing bowed.

Zhang San then turned back and smiled at Wang Xiaoer, "What's with that look on your face, like you're seeing me off to my death? No need to panic. Speaking of which, all these years..."

"I've been staying in the south, only doing minor sect tasks. Yet in less than a year, I've killed Hei Shanke, the Xuguo warrior, and Shadow Fox. Dawu Country only has so many lower Heaven stage masters. I must have killed close to half of them by now!"

To tell the truth, without coming out and contending with these top masters, I wouldn't have known that I'm actually this fierce!

It will surely be similar to the previous times this round - in the end, we'll still manage to turn danger into safety.

Hmm.

It must be so.

...

...

On the small path named "Gourd Tail".

This path was long and narrow. The cliffs on both sides towered high into the sky. Everything was just as Lu Gaosheng had said.

The sea breeze blew through, carrying sounds of fighting. The bold spirit here was matchlessly majestic.

Zhang San was very satisfied with his own performance just now.

The atmosphere had been hyped up perfectly!

Wu Qixue had looked so moved that tears seemed about to flow from his eyes.

The admiration in the eyes of Li Xing and Wang Xiaoer made Zhang San feel that if he had stayed any longer, they would have knelt on the ground and shouted "Hero!" three times.

Could this be what it feels like to be a "Hero"?

But speaking of which...he actually really wanted to run away.

At this moment, Zhang San suddenly recalled Lu Gaosheng's last line from earlier:

"Zhang San, are you interested in being a hero?"

Now when I think about it, did this bastard plan it all out from the start, intending to station me at this spot along the path?

My martial arts are powerful, my qinggong is high, my internal energy is strong. Aside from not fearing death, I seem to meet all the criteria completely.

It looks like...yes.

That bastard Lu Gaosheng must have planned it this way!

While thinking random thoughts along the way, Zhang San arrived at the path entrance.

The wind within the valley was no warmer than that by the seaside. It howled past, with the same bitter chill.

Aside from the cold, there was also a faint bloody scent in the wind.

In the distance, there were two adjoining cliffs. The originally oval-shaped valley seemed to resemble a gourd because of those two cliffs.

Below the cliffs, the Jin Kill Repeating Crossbows had exhausted their arrows. The arrow rain had stopped. The Bai Lu Army soldiers had no choice but to charge down from the cliffs to engage the enemies in melee combat. Amidst the smoke and dust, one could vaguely make out a group of mounted men in masks.

Judging from the composure those masked men maintained while advancing and retreating, and their tacit cooperation to subtly form battle formations, they were clearly not just random wandering cultivators. Instead, they were well-trained soldiers.

Zhang San uttered softly: "They won't be able to hold out much longer. Those mounted men have stronger martial arts, yet do not wish to drag out combat. The Bai Lu Army can only stall some of their men at most."

Upon close observation of the battle situation, one could clearly sense the opponents' intent - purely to charge ahead! To slaughter!

As long as any of my men can keep yours entangled, I will absolutely not dismount to join combat. Instead, I will directly charge through while still mounted.

Clearly, the opponent knew that the grain-carrying side could not afford to waste a single second. They also did not wish to waste any time.

And surely enough, it was not long before a man riding a black horse broke out from the central area, charging straight for Gourd Tail. He was soon followed by a second, then a third...in just a flash, already over a hundred people had killed their way out.

But the moment these hundred Earth stage masters charged out, every single battle-hardened veteran swept their eyes over the surroundings, immediately gaining a preliminary understanding of the terrain...

The cliffs around grew higher and higher. It seemed like only that small path was the sole way out. The port must be right behind that small path.

Although the many Zhennan Army soldiers had noticed what seemed like a white-robed masked man standing at the path entrance.

However...

It was clearly some fellow courting death for daring to stand in the way of our mighty Zhennan Army's iron hooves.

"Charge!"

No one knew who shouted that first. The formation of over a hundred cavalrymen immediately initiated a charge in a cone-shaped formation.

Zhang San picked up a small rock from the ground and casually tossed it in his hand a few times.

Looking at the opponent's cone formation, and at the front of the formation, the man with the knife, riding the horse, charging fiercely all the way.

Zhang San realized a problem he had already noticed when he was young, that is, why in the Jianghu and the military, there are always such brave people who are willing to charge at the front.

If it were him, he would definitely want to be the 'tail of the cone' rather than the 'tip of the cone'.

Another strange thing in this strange world.

Looking at the 'tip of the cone' who had already charged within two hundred steps, Zhang San said to himself: Your bravery, I have only seen in that Ming Qing.

A flying rock broke the horse’s leg. The stone thrown by the master was no less powerful than a master’s hidden weapon. The warhorse without martial arts could of course not withstand it.

The Zhennan Army expert at the very front simply could not react in time before he had already fallen off his horse.

Due to the formation, the person at the very front had not seen the other side make a move before falling off his horse, but the followers were all veterans after all, experienced and resourceful. The cavalry behind immediately turned their horses to surround him from the side instead of continuing to charge straightforwardly.

As for the expert who had fallen to the ground, he also did not panic, quickly calming down. After all, he still had two hundred steps between him and his opponent, he had enough time to get up and regain his stance.

Then.

A dagger pierced his heart.

Standing on the corpse of the first expert to fall within the encirclement of hundreds of cavalry, pulling the dagger out of his chest, Zhang San slowly raised his head.

The coldness in that gaze was indescribable.

As if saying to all the surrounding cavalry:

This path is closed!