Chapter Ten: Even If It Cannot Be Held, It Must Be Held!

Huzi could not be called anything less than heroic. In just a brief moment, he had already slain four or five Japanese soldiers, and wherever he went, not a single enemy could stand against him.

Such valor naturally drew the attention of the Japanese forces, and within moments, seven or eight soldiers gathered to launch a joint attack against Huzi.

Faced with such a formidable threat, Chen Qingzhi could not help but worry for Huzi. Unlike himself, who had undergone systematic, rigorous training and thus feared nothing from the enemy, Huzi had only learned some martial arts on his own. Furthermore, Chen Qingzhi did not truly know the extent of Huzi’s strength, and so he feared for his safety. He cried out repeatedly, “Huzi, be careful! It’s dangerous, fall back!”

But Huzi seemed not to hear the warning. Instead of retreating before the seven or eight Japanese soldiers, he pressed forward, alone, wielding his blade.

“Baka! Chinese, go die!” Seeing that the Chinese dared not retreat but step forward, among the attackers, one who appeared to be a sergeant shouted furiously.

He commanded the remaining six soldiers to thrust their rifles together. Seven bayonets stabbed toward Huzi, sealing off every possible angle of escape, leaving him nowhere to dodge.

The cruel smile on the Japanese sergeant’s face grew ever wider as he closed in on Huzi.

In this perilous moment, Huzi showed no fear. He drew a deep breath, his eyes widened, and with a fierce shout, he did not dodge but instead swung his broad blade straight into the fray.

There was a tearing sound—clothes ripped—but the Japanese attack missed! Despite his large frame, Huzi was astonishingly agile; with a single sidestep, he avoided the bayonets, and his blade spun in his hand, slicing horizontally.

The sergeant’s thrust failed, and his expression changed dramatically. Seeing Huzi’s blade swinging toward him, he raised his rifle to block, but as the blade struck, he saw only a flash of cold steel, followed by a series of sharp cracks.

Suddenly, the rifle in his hands felt light—it had been cleaved in two in a single stroke. Before he could react, the blade, its momentum undiminished, fell directly upon his head.

A dull, gruesome sound echoed. His head soared skyward, trailing a spray of blood.

With one stroke, Huzi had first broken the rifle, then severed the sergeant’s head.

Witnessing this, the remaining six Japanese soldiers were thunderstruck, their faces changed, and fear gripped their hearts. For a moment, they dared not advance; hesitation and dread overcame them.

Their momentary indecision gave Huzi an opening. Without delay, he swung his blade again and again, and three more soldiers were cut down, blood spraying everywhere.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye. Before the enemy could react, three were already dead. The seven who had come on the attack now numbered only three.

The tide had suddenly turned!

The three remaining Japanese soldiers were nearly frozen with terror, the blood splattered on their faces, their bodies soaked, paralyzed with fear. Their backs chilled, their lips blue, each swallowed nervously.

Huzi stood proudly, blade in hand, facing the three, his expression stern but with a hint of contempt in his eyes—almost mocking them for their weakness.

Seeing this, the three Japanese soldiers seemed gravely insulted. Their fear vanished, replaced by rage. With a glance at one another, they shouted and charged with bayonets, intent on fighting Huzi to the death.

But Huzi felt no pressure at all. With only a few movements of his blade, the three were slain.

In an instant, all seven Japanese soldiers had been killed—each headless, their corpses strewn across the ground, blood pooling in crimson rivers.

Huzi stood amidst the carnage, soaked in blood, proud and unyielding, like a god of death, inspiring awe and dread.

Yet, no one noticed that, after sheathing his blade, Huzi suddenly gasped for breath, his right hand trembling involuntarily. Clearly, the series of actions had taxed him greatly.

“Huzi, are you alright?” Chen Qingzhi slashed down another Japanese soldier and hurried to Huzi’s side, concern in his voice.

He could see Huzi’s body trembling and feared he was wounded.

“Captain, I’m fine!” Huzi shook his head in response to Chen Qingzhi’s concern.

Then he looked around at the scene and sighed, “Captain, I don’t think we can hold out! The Japanese attack is relentless. With just our battalion, it’s nearly impossible to defend this position!”

He paused, turning hesitantly, but then spoke, “Captain, let me lead you out! While the enemy’s encirclement isn’t fully closed, I can cover your escape!”

“Leave?” Chen Qingzhi was stunned, but immediately refused, “Impossible!”

He said, “Our brothers are fighting the enemy with all they have. As battalion commander, how can I abandon them? You’d have me desert my post?”

“But…” Huzi tried to protest, but Chen Qingzhi cut him off with a wave.

“Huzi, my mind is made up. Don’t say another word!”

“As soldiers, even if we are to die, we die on the battlefield. That is a worthy death. But to retreat in the face of battle—even if I survive, it would be a lifelong shame!”

“Besides, I vowed to share the fate of this position. How could I abandon my comrades and survive alone? I will never stoop to such cowardice!”

Huzi could not help but reply, “Captain, the brothers are rough men. If they die in battle, so be it. But you are different!”

“I know you have great ambitions. If you died here, wouldn’t it be a waste? Captain, listen to me—leave now! The brothers will not blame you!” Huzi pleaded, “I’ll guard the Zhonghua Gate position. As long as I am here, the Japanese will never break through!”

“What’s more, even if you stay, what use is it? Captain, you are skilled, but you are just one man. Against endless waves of Japanese attacks, we cannot possibly hold out!”

“We must hold, no matter what! Orders are orders. As an officer of the Republic, I have no choice!” Chen Qingzhi understood the situation, but his duty bound him. No matter how dire, their battalion could never retreat.

Whether or not they could hold was another matter, but if they abandoned their post, once the Zhonghua Gate fell, the Japanese would pour in, Nanjing would be in grave peril, and the entire position would collapse!

Thus, whether by duty or conscience, Chen Qingzhi could not allow himself to act otherwise.