Chapter 98: Sun Quan's Downfall and Sun Shangxiang's Final Stand [Please Subscribe]

“One strike!”

Chu Feng raised his halberd, his expression indifferent.

Pan Zhang frowned, somewhat confused, and shouted, “What do you mean by one strike?”

Chu Feng had no time to explain. Spurring his horse and brandishing his halberd, he charged straight at Pan Zhang. In Chu Feng’s eyes, Pan Zhang’s courage and martial skill were insignificant—taking his head would be as easy as turning one’s hand.

Seeing Chu Feng’s disdain, Pan Zhang grew furious. He raised his blade, urging his horse forward to confront Chu Feng. If he could kill Chu Feng, he could turn the tide of battle and win the war in a single stroke.

Moreover, he was confident in his own martial prowess.

Even if he couldn’t kill Chu Feng outright, matching him blow for blow would not be difficult. As long as he bought Sun Quan time to escape, he could then withdraw safely.

In the blink of an eye, they neared each other.

A ruthless glint flashed in Chu Feng’s eyes. How dare such a common foe try to block his path? With a fierce roar, he slammed the halberd down and shouted, “Prepare to die!”

Pan Zhang shuddered at the chilling shout but was even more terrified by the halberd’s overwhelming momentum. Hastily, he raised his blade to defend.

Clang!

A metallic clash resounded.

Pan Zhang’s tiger mouth was torn open, his grip on the blade slipping away. The halberd sliced diagonally across his shoulder. His pupils contracted in shock as he slowly lowered his head. The halberd had split him in two, blood gushing forth. “Strong... very strong!” he gasped.

Only now did he realize that Chu Feng’s “one strike” meant to take his life.

His vaunted bravery was utterly powerless before this man. It was no exaggeration to say he had no chance to resist. One halberd blow had unseated him.

However, Chu Feng had struck with full strength—ordinary generals would find it difficult to withstand, let alone Pan Zhang who was new to the army. Even at his peak, he might not have survived the blow.

The halberd’s tip still dripping with fresh blood, Chu Feng pressed the advantage mercilessly.

Thud! Pan Zhang fell. Chu Feng felt nothing, gripping the halberd with fury as he charged toward Sun Quan. Capturing Sun Quan was far more valuable than this mere subordinate.

“General Pan... Pan Zhang is dead!”

Someone shouted, further unsettling the already wavering morale. The camps several miles away seemed too distant to aid them, and many began to surrender one after another.

Sun Quan’s heart ached upon hearing of Pan Zhang’s death. But seeing the Blood God and his men closing in, he was struck with terror that tore at his very soul.

“Stop him! Quickly, stop him!”

Panicked, he shouted, and his personal guards surged forward to intercept Chu Feng.

Yet, under the lethal sweep of Chu Feng’s halberd, those guards were cut down in the blink of an eye. None could match him; none could stop him.

As Chu Feng closed in again, Sun Quan glanced anxiously around. Few guards remained; all he could do was have them cluster protectively around him.

---

Thud.

Sun Quan stumbled to the ground, overwhelmed by fear.

He had never imagined that what promised to be a glorious victory would turn into a deadly trap set by Chu Feng. Regret and terror mingled in his heart.

No wonder the world called Chu Feng cunning and treacherous.

How bitter!

His wife waited at home, yet here he was, bleeding on the battlefield. In the prime of life, he had yet to savor its pleasures—how unwilling he was, how fearful, how he longed to beg for mercy.

“Huff!”

The black steed slowed, seemingly bored. It pawed the ground and snorted, clearly unimpressed by the fight.

“Sun Quan is executed. Those who surrender shall not be harmed!” Chu Feng raised his halberd and proclaimed.

At his words, the soldiers all around roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

Hearing this, many previously aimless troops searched for their banner. When they saw the commander’s flag fallen and the encirclement tightening, most prostrated themselves and surrendered.

Sun Quan’s personal guards had all been slain, and blood splattered across his face, making him shiver in fear. From falling to the ground, he now kowtowed, pleading, “General Chu, please spare me.”

Sun Quan had not yet become the Emperor of Wu. Even after ascending, his courage was limited, having been humiliated by Zhang Liao and others.

“Reason!” Chu Feng’s expression was icy.

The halberd’s tip pointed at Sun Quan’s forehead, fresh blood dripping slowly. Swallowing hard, Sun Quan’s desire to survive overcame his pride.

“General Chu—no, Lord Yuan. My Sun family has always served your Yuan family as vassals and servants. It was only because of slander that we strayed from the right path.”

“General, do you wish to take Eastern Wu? I can persuade my brother to surrender it, as he once ceded Lujiang to you, Lord Yuan.”

Sun Quan’s eyes pleaded with hope.

“Heh, wouldn’t it be better if I took it myself?” Chu Feng sneered.

“The general is mistaken,” he continued coldly. “When two tigers fight, one is bound to be hurt. The empire’s fate remains unsettled; this is the time to sweep the land, not to waste strength on internal strife.”

“When the time comes, my elder brother can serve as your commander, and together you can conquer the realm. You need only govern the region. Such a grand undertaking can be realized.”

Sun Quan looked at Chu Feng expectantly.

“Heh, I must admit, your boasting surpasses your brother’s!” Chu Feng joked, raising his hand. “Guards, bind him!”

“Yes!” The Tiger Guards stepped forward and quickly secured Sun Quan.

“Xu Chu, receive the surrender of these men and eliminate any remaining threats. I will go to Piling to rendezvous with Zhao Fan.” Chu Feng turned to give orders before spurring his horse and leading his troops away.

Xu Chu wanted to protest that no one was left to protect their lord, but recalling how Chu Feng had cleaved Pan Zhang with one blow, he swallowed his words.

Well, following Chu Feng seemed to offer a stronger sense of security.

No choice—this lord was truly formidable.

---

At this moment, beneath the walls of Piling City.

Zhao Fan led several thousand armored soldiers in a fierce assault, the clash of steel echoing through the air.

Inside the city, the garrison was sparse, numbering only a few hundred. Coupled with the constant shouts outside that Sun Quan was dead, the soldiers had lost all fighting spirit.

On the city wall, Zhu Ran followed closely behind Sun Shangxiang.

Sun Shangxiang’s heroic and spirited face was now clouded with deep worry. The sudden appearance of so many Chu troops below clearly meant they had fallen into a trap.

The key point was that only a few hundred defenders manned the walls; it was impossible to hold Piling.

“General, what should we do now? Should we retreat?” Zhu Ran’s face was anxious. At this rate, the city would fall within half an hour.

“A true commander should take pride in dying on the battlefield. How can we be so cowardly as to flee?” Sun Shangxiang’s brows furrowed fiercely as she glared at Zhu Ran, scolding him.

Zhu Ran hung his head in shame, unable to utter a word.

Clang!

Sun Shangxiang brandished her sharp sword and commanded, “Go! Spread my orders: Gongjin leads reinforcements and is approaching. The entire army must defend Piling to the death, vowing to live or die with the city!”

“Yes, ma’am!” Zhu Ran shouted loudly in response.

As Zhu Ran withdrew, Sun Shangxiang’s gaze grew penetrating as she stared at the advancing army in the distance. Her fingers gripping her sword turned pale.

She was worried—worried for Sun Quan’s safety, and worried for the future of the Sun family’s legacy.

For she knew that a few hundred soldiers without morale could never hold Piling. Chu Feng might even march on Wuxi and threaten Wuxian.

But she was of the Sun clan—how could she retreat?

At this moment, the charging Chu troops were nearly upon them. The defenders were stretched thin; there were only about a hundred archers and crossbowmen to guard the long walls.

Especially given the enemy’s overwhelming numbers, defense was impossible.

Sun Shangxiang’s cheeks were splattered with blood. She had already slain several enemies.

“General! The city gates have been breached! The Chu army will soon enter the city!” Zhu Ran rushed over, shouting.

“You stay here and defend. The rest follow me to retake the gates. Under no circumstances may the Chu army enter!” Sun Shangxiang stabbed another foe with her sword, shouting fiercely.