The Chu commander raised his voice, standing firm before the walls, challenging the defenders of the Blue Lion Fortress. His speech rang with arrogance, demanding immediate surrender and warning of the superiority of his forces.
But just as his words reached their peak, a sharp whistle cut through the air. Li Wei, with relentless calm, drew his improved bow and released the arrow.
The projectile struck the center of the commander's throat, piercing flesh and blood vessels. The man fell to his knees, blood spurting in a dark red stream that stained the earth beneath him. His face twisted in a grimace of pain and surprise, and his voice faded in a last strangled gasp.
The first Chu soldiers reacted immediately, rushing toward their leader to protect him, but Li Wei gave them no chance. From the wall, he aimed with lethal precision and took down five of them with swift shots, each arrow a sentence of death.
The rest of Chu's troops froze, unsure whether to advance or retreat. Finally, they decided to wait for nightfall to attempt to rescue their commander's body and their fallen comrades, avoiding further casualties in daylight.
This bold act by Li Wei raised the morale of the defenders. The silence broke into cheers and a renewed fighting spirit, aware that they had a brave and capable leader who did not fear confronting the enemy directly.
Reaction at the Chu Camp
The Chu camp fell into tense silence as the commander collapsed to his knees, bleeding out mid-speech. His closest officers were paralyzed, unable to react to the swift loss of their leader. The impact was like a hammer blow: the troops' morale plummeted instantly.
"How could this happen?!" shouted one of the lieutenants, furious and desperate.
The soldiers, confused and frightened, looked toward the wall with growing uncertainty. Some whispered about Li Wei's legendary marksmanship and his strange bow that seemed blessed by luck. Others began to question the feasibility of the assault and the strength of their enemy.
The officers debated quietly, knowing firm leadership was vital at this critical moment. The deputy commander tried to maintain order, calling to keep discipline and prepare the night operation to recover the body. However, the shadow of defeat already loomed over them.
"We cannot allow this attack on the commander to demoralize the troops. We will hold the line and, when night falls, we will reclaim what is ours," ordered the officer firmly, though inwardly he knew the psychological battle had already begun against them.
Reaction at the Blue Lion Fortress
On the other side, news of the precise shot spread quickly through the ranks. Li Wei was seen as a symbol of hope and bravery. The soldiers, already fatigued by the siege, felt a new wave of energy and confidence surge within them.
"That's it! Our commander is not just a leader, he's a master archer!" exclaimed one of the veterans, raising his fist in the air.
The recruits, just beginning to grasp the weight of war, exchanged looks with bright eyes, knowing they could trust someone who did not fear facing the enemy directly.
Li Wei, though aware of the responsibility he bore, remained calm. He knew the battle was not over, but that shot had changed the course of the war of wills.
The rest of the day passed with even stricter vigilance and careful preparation for Chu's possible nighttime counterattack. The medics stayed alert, the commanders reorganized defenses, and the colossi reinforced vulnerable points.
The colossi unit, in particular, received orders to protect any breaches that might appear, fully aware that the next phase would be decisive.