Dark Legends 8

page views:1 Publication date:2023-06-11 09:38:06

*Dark Legend*

Genre: Fantasy/Magic

Author: Water Dance Red Maple

Volume 8: My Will is Invincible
Chapter 1: Grand Wedding
Banquet The night air was filled with the intoxicating aroma of wine, and gentle, joyful music echoed in every corner of the hall.
The Earl's mansion was brightly lit and bustling with people.
No matter where you stood, groups of nobles and their wives and children would inevitably be nearby, their loud chatter igniting the night.
As if by unspoken agreement, the noblewomen attending the banquet vied for attention, wearing the most magnificent and fashionable gowns and adorned with expensive and dazzling jewelry, flitting through the crowd like colorful butterflies.
The most lively were the noblewomen, striving to display their youthful charm, occasionally casting breathtaking glances at the young, handsome men.
People indulged in revelry, enjoying the fine wine and music.
The ladies' conversations invariably revolved around clothes and cosmetics, or they would slyly chuckle at the awkwardness and slovenliness of some nobleman in a corner.
The men's conversation was far broader, each one seemingly a visionary politician, raising their exquisite glasses brimming with fine wine, discussing topics of great interest with animated enthusiasm.
The Empire's crisis seemed both distant and imminent.
I wondered how many of these men could remain sober amidst the alcohol.
Lunger was dead, and Garnett had led Skyward and the others in a swift retreat, but this didn't signify a fatal blow to the Northern Alliance.
On the contrary, on Monston's eastern border, a hundred thousand orc troops stood ready to launch an attack at any moment; war was imminent.
This news was no secret, but how many truly cared?
To them, it was merely an ordinary episode in the Empire's history, unrelated to their lives, their power, or their status.
This was precisely why they were in such high spirits at the banquet, discussing animatedly, focusing on the newly blossoming beauties, and noticing whether their glasses were empty.
Earl Wainright only mentioned a small engagement party for his daughter and Ferro, yet over three hundred of the capital's elite flocked in, not counting those who hadn't received invitations but had managed to squeeze in.
I wonder what it would have been like if he had planned a "large-scale" banquet?
Princess Jingyue and I sat in a corner of the hall. If I hadn't agreed to be Ferro's witness at the wedding, I would have left long ago, or even attended this tedious banquet at all.
Princess Jingyue had just been bombarded by a group of noblewomen, and given her status, she was undoubtedly the center of attention in this setting.
Almost every nobleman's gaze would stealthily sweep over her; if they hadn't already known she was taken, she might have faced even greater harassment.
Learning from Olinan's experience, these people were much more subdued; after all, everyone only has one head.
In contrast, I was much more relaxed; apart from a few acquaintances from the capital, almost no one bothered me.
My killing of Lunger and acquisition of the Dark Moon had long been the talk of the town, but in this setting, everyone seemed to avoid the topic, not uttering a single word.
In the eyes of the vast majority of nobles, I remained an unwelcome figure.
Leaving aside the animosity between Prince Ott and the Temple, my background in the demonic sect alone was enough to deter many.
And what would happen if they knew my true origins?
How could these self-righteous nobles, who had devoted their lives to the God of Light, possibly lower themselves to associate with such an unwelcome person as myself?
After entertaining another noblewoman, Princess Jingyue returned to my seat and sat down with a wry smile. "Jingyue really shouldn't have come here. I should have stayed at Diecui Garden."
I chuckled and said, "It's just that you're usually too low-key. Now that you've finally made an appearance in public, aren't those people seizing the opportunity to curry favor with you?"
Princess Jingyue smiled and said, "You're wrong. Actually, at least half of them are here to get close to you. Jingyue is just benefiting from it."
"Oh?"
"Xiulan, your status now is different from when you first came to the capital. Everyone knows what the marriage between Earl Wenrit and General Chuku means, and they also know that His Majesty has personally betrothed him to you. In addition, there's your close relationship with Duke Jinsha. Even in Monston, you've already become a powerful figure attracting everyone's attention."
"Hmph, even so, they'd rather avoid me than fawn over me,"
Princess Jingyue sighed softly. "Xiu Lan, you've now forged exceptionally close relationships with the empire's royal family, court, and high-ranking military and political officials. Add to that the subtle connections you've made with the Holy Temple because of Jingyue, how could others not see that? They're only hesitant to approach you personally because they have reservations; they're using their wives and children to reach out."
I retorted dismissively, "This just proves those two-faced people are untrustworthy. If the situation changes, they'll probably run faster than rabbits. " "
Princess Jingyue sighed softly, "How many people aren't like that? Even within the entire empire, once war breaks out, how many can be truly trusted and relied upon?"
Just then, Debo came running over, sweating profusely, and plopped down next to me. He picked up a glass of red wine from the table, gulped it down, and exclaimed excitedly, "Tonight is truly lively! Earl Wainritt's influence is indeed immense; he's invited almost all the celebrities of the capital. Hey, Xiulan, did you see that? There are quite a few beauties!"
This guy had become quite familiar with Princess Jingyue, revealing his true nature, his eyes constantly scanning the crowd for beauties.
I said indifferently, "You're certainly busy."
Debo shook his head, "I'm much more relaxed than that kid Ferro. Didn't you see he didn't even have time to sit down? He was busy greeting guests with his father-in-law."
"Where are Bashi and his father?" I asked. The only change I made to Earl Wainritt's guest list was adding this father and son.
"They're busy entertaining Baron Sheffield. That guy controls the empire's mining approvals and is practically the bread and butter of the Bashi family. How can they not take this opportunity to win him over?" Debo replied.
"Your Majesty Xiu Lan, Your Highness the Princess!" A familiar call came from not far away, and Duke Ori strode over with a friendly smile.
"Duke Ori," Debo asked in surprise, "when did you arrive in the capital?"
"Just arrived at noon today," Duke Ori smiled and said, "As soon as I heard that my old friend's daughter was going to marry one of His Majesty Xiu Lan's top generals, I shamelessly sneaked in. Luckily, Earl Wenrit didn't kick me out, or I would have lost out big time."
"What, are you worried about your wedding gift?"
"No," Duke Ori shook his head and said, "I know there will be a good meal tonight, so I didn't bother with lunch. If I don't get dinner, I'll starve to death."
Everyone couldn't help but smile at his amusing words.
Of course, he wouldn't intentionally skip lunch; he was most likely summoned by Jiaxiu as soon as he arrived in the capital and had been busy until now.
Princess Jingyue invited Duke Ori to sit down and asked, "Has the Duke met His Majesty yet?"
"Is that so?" Duke Ori replied, "And I will be returning the day after tomorrow to prepare to mobilize troops to march into the Eastern Frontier."
Debo exclaimed in surprise, "Duke Ori, is your army also going to garrison the Eastern Frontier?"
Duke Ori smiled wryly, "A hundred thousand orc troops? Do you think that's a joke? Although His Majesty has already reinforced the east with another hundred thousand troops and sent two legions to the northern border to assist Duke Prince in dealing with the situation, who knows if they can withstand the first wave of the Northern Alliance's offensive?"
Debo retorted, "My father's army can't be that useless, can it?"
Duke Ori sighed, "You're still young and don't know many things. In terms of individual combat ability, three ordinary imperial soldiers can't defeat one orc warrior. Besides, this time they've deployed winged tribes and wolf riders, making their troop type advantage even more obvious."
"Will this war really break out?" someone asked worriedly. It turned out that Bashi and his father had wandered into our little circle.
“That’s for sure,” Princess Mirror Moon replied calmly, “and they might launch an attack before autumn even arrives. The orcish army of 100,000 has been stationed on the border for months, and their daily consumption is staggering. I’m afraid they don’t want to drag this out any longer.”
“We won’t lose, will we?” Debo asked worriedly after hearing Duke Ori’s words.
“How could we?” Duke Ori confidently patted Debo on the shoulder and said, “With your father and I working together, plus the 100,000 reinforcements His Majesty has sent, we’ll definitely drive the orcs back to their homeland.”
Debo breathed a sigh of relief and said, “That puts my mind at ease.”
Duke Ori looked at me and asked, “Your Majesty Xiu Lan, I heard that you are returning to Biarell tomorrow. It seems we won’t have time to get together again. But it’s better to leave early, so that we won’t be unable to leave once the war starts.”
It seems that there are no secrets in the capital; everyone can easily obtain all kinds of information. I nodded and said, "That's right, so I'll leave the capital first thing tomorrow morning."
"You should also be careful," Duke Ori reminded me, "If the orcs can't make a breakthrough in the Eastern Frontier, they might turn their attention to Biarell, hoping to find an opening there."
I said indifferently, "I'm afraid they'll be able to get in but not be able to get out."
Debo agreed, "I'm not worried about Xiu Lan at all. Don't underestimate Biarell just because it's a small country. Anyone who underestimates it will definitely suffer. Just look at how Xiu Lan used his troops when he reclaimed Biarell. Even ten wolf kings wouldn't be a match for him."
"Huh, why is Prince Ote here too?" Bashi suddenly asked in surprise.
Following his gaze, we saw Prince Ote walking towards us, followed by his strategist, Shuget.
"Knowing His Majesty Jiaxiu was also attending, how could he not come?" I sneered. "Just wait and see, Prince Mustin will definitely be here soon too."
"Your Majesty Xiulan, so you were all hiding here," Prince Ott said with a beaming smile, a stark contrast to his previous demeanor. "I've been searching for you all over the hall."
"Your Highness!" Murdoch quickly rose to offer him a seat.
Ott sat down without any ceremony, looking at Murdoch and asking, "Are you alright?"
Murdoch bowed slightly and replied, "Thanks to Your Highness's intervention, everything is now resolved."
Ott said smugly, "With just one word from me, even Mustin will have to release him. If you have any problems in the future, feel free to come to me."
He sat down there, acting as if he were the main character, and the previously relaxed and pleasant atmosphere vanished instantly. Even Duke Ori couldn't stand the prince's arrogance.
Murdoch repeatedly said, "Yes, thank you, Your Highness!"
"I heard that His Majesty Xiu Lan is leaving tomorrow?" Shuget asked, standing behind Ott. It was this man who devised the scheme to assassinate Duke Jinsha, but fortunately I caught him in the act; otherwise, the blame would likely have fallen on the other two princes. For that alone, he's quite a talent.
"Yes," Debo answered for me when I didn't speak, "We'll be leaving the capital early tomorrow morning. We already said goodbye to His Majesty this morning."
Ott feigned regret, saying, "I was hoping to host a welcome banquet for you, but I didn't expect we wouldn't even have time for a farewell feast."
Debo laughed, "The capital is so much fun; I'd like to stay a few more days. Unfortunately, the orcs might invade at any time, so it's best to go back quickly."
"Them?" Prince Ott sneered contemptuously. "A bunch of barbarians who eat raw meat and drink blood dare to defy the imperial majesty? If they dare to come, I will definitely ask my father for permission to lead the army to battle and wipe out the 100,000-strong orc army!"
Everyone else smiled and remained silent in the face of Prince Ott's arrogance, except for Murdoch, who flattered, "That's natural. Your Highness is concerned about the affairs of the country and is a model for us subjects."
Prince Ott said smugly, "I wouldn't call myself a model, but if everyone in the empire had the same mindset as me, what would we have to fear from the orcs?"
Duke Ori remained silent to the side, probably secretly glad that His Majesty Jiaxiu was so wise as not to let Ott lead the army to defend against the enemy, otherwise, this battle would have been lost more than halfway without even fighting.
Prince Ott turned to me, speaking in what he thought was his most sincere tone, "Xiu Lan, I heard you killed the Demon High Priest Lunger, which is a meritorious service to the Empire. Whatever misunderstandings we had before, they're all wiped clean after tonight. If you encounter any trouble in Biarell, feel free to come to me!"
He was clearly considering himself the rightful heir to the throne of Monston. A cold smile crept into my heart. Suddenly, I felt a warmth in my hand; it was Princess Jingyue's jade hand grasping mine. Her clear, autumn-like eyes held a thousand unspoken words, as if advising me not to embarrass Prince Ott.
I replied calmly, "I've remembered Your Highness's words. I don't hold grudges over the past."
Shuget laughed heartily, "In that case, let's all drink a toast to His Majesty Xiu Lan and General Debo!" He raised his wine cup.
I gave him a cold glance and remained motionless. Debord, feigning conversation with Duke Ori and ignoring the conversation, was equally engrossed in a treacherous plot against Duke Jinsha, and harbored a deep hatred for him, so how could he possibly clink glasses with him?
Just as things were getting awkward, a palace eunuch at the door called out, "His Majesty Jiaxiu, accompanied by Empress Angelina and Prince Mustin, has arrived—"
All the conversation in the hall ceased instantly, becoming completely silent.
To the strains of "God Save the Emperor," Empress Angelina helped His Majesty Jiaxiu into the hall, followed by a beaming Prince Mustin and General Glenon.
I saw the mysterious Empress Angelina again.
Compared to our last encounter at the capital's gates, her allure had not faded in the slightest; the moment she appeared in everyone's sight, the lights in the entire hall seemed to dim.
She gently and gracefully supported His Majesty Jiaxiu as they approached. Count Wainright, along with Ferro and Martha, had already gone to greet them.
A hint of surprise and pride flashed in Count Wainright's eyes—His Majesty Jiaxiu's attendance at his daughter's engagement ceremony despite his serious illness was undoubtedly a great honor for him.
The only disappointed one was Ott, who sat opposite me with a low, cold snort, his gaze towards Prince Mustin filled with jealousy and resentment.
This was understandable; as the eldest son, he was the most qualified to accompany his father, yet now Prince Mustin stood behind His Majesty Jiaxiu.
Some of the more astute nobles couldn't help but wonder if this was a latent omen.
"Long live the Emperor!" Everyone in the hall rose and bowed, shouting their praise.
I remained seated, leisurely sipping my wine and admiring the grand spectacle of hundreds of people offering their congratulations, which only added to the discontent and resentment of many.
The eunuch then announced loudly, "His Majesty has decreed: tonight is the engagement banquet for Miss Martha and General Ferro, and His Majesty and the Queen are among the guests. Therefore, please refrain from formalities and enjoy the celebration—"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Amidst the respectful greetings, Earl Wainright accompanied His Majesty Jacques toward us.
Ott reacted the fastest, rushing forward and bowing, saying, "Father, your health is of utmost importance. Your son and Mustin can handle this on your behalf; why come in person?"
Count Wainritt's expression changed slightly, but Jiaxiu remained calm, saying, "I know my own body best."
Seeing Count Wainritt's expression, Ott realized he had misspoke and quickly supported Jiaxiu's other side, saying, "Your son meant no harm, I was just worried about your health."
Jiaxiu snorted, looking at me and Duke Ori and the others with a smile, "Very good, you're all here."
Everyone rose and bowed again, but Jiaxiu waved his hand, saying, "I told you, there's no need for formalities tonight. Please sit down."
Only after Princess Angelina helped Jiaxiu to his seat did everyone dare to sit down. His Majesty Jiaxiu looked at Duke Ori and said, "You and Earl Wenritter are old friends, I knew you'd be there for this celebration."
Duke Ori laughed, "Your Majesty is wise. An old friend's daughter is getting married, I'd crawl here to get a drink. It's a pity Biarell is a bit far, otherwise I'd definitely be there on the wedding day."
His Majesty Jiaxiu smiled slightly and said to Debo, "You're returning with Xiulan tomorrow, aren't you?"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Debo was much more reserved in front of His Majesty Jiaxiu, answering respectfully.
"Please tell Duke Jinsha that he's had a hard time these past few days. Once the crisis in the Eastern Frontier is over, I'll invite him to the capital for a proper get-together."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
His Majesty Jiaxiu's gaze then turned to Murdoch, "I know you. I remember we met six years ago. You're Mr. Murdoch, the Empire's largest arms manufacturer, aren't you?"
Murdoch was flattered and quickly bowed, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty!"
"I heard that Stig had you imprisoned. Fortunately, you've been released. Otherwise, what merchant would dare to linger in Monston?" His Majesty Jiaxiu gently comforted him. "Don't be afraid. As long as you conduct business honestly and remain loyal to the Empire, I will be your greatest support. I reprimanded Stig at the morning meeting this morning, and I believe he won't dare to make things difficult for you again."
Murdoch was deeply moved and exclaimed excitedly, "Your Majesty—"
His Majesty Jiaxiu gently waved his hand, turned to look at me and Princess Jingyue, and smiled, "Xiu Lan, of all these people, I spoke to you last. Do you know why?"
I nodded and said, "I understand."
Jiaxiu said ... "See, I was right. Talking to someone as intelligent as you is the most worry-free and enjoyable thing."
Debo looked at Duke Ori beside him, puzzled. The Duke whispered, "His Majesty treated His Majesty Xiu Lan as family, which is why he spoke to him last."
His Majesty Jiaxiu raised his wine glass and said, "Xiu Lan, I already said goodbye this morning. Now I just want to have one last drink with you. After tonight's farewell, I don't know if we'll have another chance to meet. The same goes for Jingyue. Let's all drink together."
Everyone raised their glasses and drank with His Majesty Jiaxiu.
Jiaxiu put down his wine glass and smiled at me, "You came and went in a hurry this time in the capital. I believe everything will be different next time you come."
I was stunned, pondering the meaning of his words, when I heard the master of ceremonies announce, "The auspicious time has arrived, the ceremony begins—"
Chapter Two: I Am Not God .
The engagement banquet ended late at night. His Majesty Jiaxiu only sat for a short while before leaving. Soon after, Prince Mustin and Prince Ott also left one after another.
Our group left later, while Ferro was left behind—he had been plied with alcohol by the guests and was now in a coma, unable to leave even if he wanted to.
On the way back, Debo was still excitedly bragging to me about his conquest of women that night, finally saying with a hint of regret, "It's a pity I have to go back first thing tomorrow morning, otherwise I could definitely make those girls bow down to me."
I chuckled and mocked, "Come on, Debo. I've always heard you boast about how you've managed to seduce any noble ladies."
Debo blushed and croaked, "Of course I have, you just haven't seen it. Do you expect me to inform you before I sleep with them, so you can witness it before you believe it?"
Princess Jingyue sighed, "Debo, do you think Jingyue isn't around?"
Debo, already seven-tenths drunk, let out a burp and said, "How could I not see a beauty like you? But Your Highness is now Xiu Lan's wife, Xiu Lan and I are already family, so I don't need to worry about what you say."
Princess Jingyue was helpless against Debo's shameless behavior and could only smile wryly.
Debo suddenly remembered something and looked at us, saying, "Xiu Lan, Your Highness, at the banquet just now, His Majesty seemed to say that you and he are all family, and I am also family with you. So, does that mean His Majesty and I aren't outsiders either?"
I knew this kid was talking nonsense, and said irritably, "That's right, even Prince Otto and Prince Mustin are family with you."
Debo was startled, and after sobering up a bit, he shook his head and said, "No, I can't afford to offend those two princes. It's better to go back to Redstone City and hide far away."
Fortunately, the caravan returned to the Jade Garden, and someone helped Debo back to his bedroom to rest, which finally reduced the noise in my ears.
Princess Jingyue stood outside the door but did not immediately enter the room. She gently raised her face, looked up at the starry sky tonight, and sighed leisurely, "The moonlit night of Monston, I wonder how many more times I will be able to see it?"
The soft starlight quietly fell on her beautiful profile, and her bright and deep starry eyes in the darkness contained a hint of sorrow and reluctance.
I stood beside her and replied softly, "No matter where you are, the moon and the night are always the same. If you miss Monston, you can come back anytime, I won't stop you."
Princess Mirror Moon let out a soft moan and slowly fell into my arms. Her hot, full body, combined with the coolness of the night breeze, left a deep impression on my memory.
“You’re right, Xiu Lan,” she said calmly and affectionately. “No matter where you are, the moon in the sky is always the same. Wherever you are, that is Jingyue’s home. Just as the moon always follows the sun, it will never change throughout eternity.”
My heart warmed, and I hugged her tightly, whispering, “Don’t worry, we will come back one day.”
Princess Jingyue trembled slightly in my arms, raised her peerless face, and said softly, “What Jingyue fears most is that day. I know my man has the world in his heart, and that is what Jingyue admires and respects most. When I was young, I always regarded His Majesty as a hero because I admired his broad mind and great talent. So, once I saw you, I couldn’t help but be moved. But, Xiu Lan, once that day really comes, I don’t know how I will face it?”
I knew that she had already guessed my feelings in her wise heart, which was why she said this. I gently patted her shoulder and said in a deep voice, "We don't need to discuss this issue anymore. Monston's future is not entirely in my hands, and I will never do anything to harm Monston while His Majesty Jiaxiu is alive."
This wasn't me acting on emotion, but rather because I understood that as long as this wise old man was around, I couldn't possibly cross the empire's mountains and rivers. If we possessed equal strength, I was absolutely confident I could defeat him. But currently, my military and national power were less than a tenth of the empire's, so of course I wouldn't be foolish enough to fight a losing battle.
Princess Jingyue tiptoed and gently kissed my lips, the fleeting touch of affection intoxicating me.
"Xiu Lan, it's just that Jingyue is too sentimental. Perhaps she has a lot of regrets about the empire, which is why she's so downcast." Princess Jingyue embraced my waist, whispering tenderly, "When we return to Biarell, Jingyue will definitely be your most obedient and docile wife, and together with Feiya and Xihanya, we'll create a warm home for you."
Home?
I was slightly taken aback. What is home?
Whether it was before I regained my memories or now, this word seemed distant and unfamiliar, even somewhat repulsive.
But for some reason, hearing it from her lips, I felt a warmth in my heart.
I couldn't help but think of Xihanya and the others far away in Bialel, and my unborn daughter. This must be home, right?
When I finally lost my happiness a thousand years ago, fighting in despair, did I ever imagine that a thousand years later, heaven would still grant me fulfillment?
I emerged from darkness, filled with hatred and murderous intent towards the world; conquest became my sole purpose. But
when I rediscovered my past, when I embraced Princess Jingyue and the others, I discovered that besides hatred, revenge, conquest, and death, perhaps there are other things in this world worth fighting for, worth cherishing.
Perhaps she, in her thousand-year slumber, also hoped for this.
Understanding this, I felt a surge of relief. Holding her slender waist, I whispered with a smile, "Your Highness, it's late. Shouldn't we rest soon?"
Princess Jingyue, of course, understood the ulterior motive in my words. Her jade-like cheeks flushed, but she tacitly agreed.
I laughed heartily, and with her in my arms , we stepped into the hall.
Almost simultaneously, we stopped, exchanged a glance, and sensed the presence of others in the study.
That's my forbidden territory. Even Ferrocuse and the others can't enter without my permission. And the newcomer is clearly a master, only now deliberately letting us notice.
After I broke through human limits and gained the power of the Dark Moon and memories of my past life, anyone who can remain undetected from a hundred meters away must possess near-Grand Magus level skills!
Who could be waiting for me?
"Xiu Lan, it seems a distinguished guest has arrived," Princess Jingyue said with a slight smile, her lingering wine-red hue particularly alluring in the dim candlelight.
I suppressed my impulse and coldly retorted, "I'd like to see who's so rude!"
I led Princess Jingyue towards the study. The image in my spiritual perception grew clearer, and when I pushed open the study door, an old acquaintance was leisurely sitting in the guest seat, comfortably drinking a bottle of strong liquor he'd somehow acquired.
Wolf King Garnett.
I said coldly, "Do you always enter and take things without permission?"
Garnett smiled and said, "If you were a guest in our grasslands, you would understand that the gates of our Night Wolf tribe are always open to guests, and we will always share good things with our friends."
"We are not friends," I replied indifferently.
"But we are not enemies either," Garnett said with a slight smile, "At least, I am not challenging you to a duel tonight."
I sat down behind the desk and looked at him.
This Night Wolf tribe leader had been unfathomable from his first appearance.
On the surface, he should be an important figure in the Northern Alliance, having infiltrated the capital with the same purpose as Lunger and others. Now that Lunger is dead, their unfulfilled plans have probably largely failed.
But Garnett gave me a feeling that was far more unpredictable than Lunger. Although Kongxiang and his ilk were also tribal leaders of the orcs, they were as shallow and pale as children in front of the Wolf King.
He gave me a terrifying feeling, and he would definitely be a formidable opponent on the battlefield.
Perhaps Lunger deserved such praise in life, but the dead, no matter how glorious they were in life
, it's all for naught. Besides, the fact that he died at my hands shows his limited strength.
Only with this man before me, I still can't fathom his true intentions.
"Speak, what brings you here?"
"To say goodbye, of course," Garnett replied. "Lunger is dead, our plans must be temporarily shelved, and we'll be leaving the capital tomorrow morning—coincidentally, the same day His Majesty."
I snorted. "You've waited here all this time just to say such a pointless thing?"
Garnett wasn't angry at all, but smiled slightly. "Actually, I already said a lot in those last words."
"First, you told me that your trip to the capital was indeed purposeful, and Lunger was the mastermind; second, you've temporarily abandoned the plan, but that doesn't mean you won't re-implement it in the future; third—" "My gaze pierced through Garnet, and I coldly asked, 'Is the orcish army about to move out?'
A hint of admiration flashed in Garnet's eyes, and he nodded, 'You're right. Our army will invade Monston within fifteen days, but we have no immediate plans to attack Biarell, so Your Majesty can rest assured.'
Princess Mirrormoon casually asked, 'Shouldn't Mirrormoon consider leaving you here?'
The Wolf King chuckled, 'Your Highness is too kind. Since I dared to come, I'm confident I can leave. Besides, even if you stay, it won't affect the situation in the slightest. The supreme commander of this orcish alliance has already been decided as Chieftain Enrico of the Great Bear Tribe; I'm merely a foot soldier under him.'
Princess Mirrormoon calmly said, 'But in Mirrormoon's view, the Wolf King is far more threatening than any other orc.'"
"I am deeply honored by Your Highness's praise," Garnett said. "Unfortunately, I am aware of my limitations. The affairs of the orcs are not for me to decide, otherwise I would not have chosen this time to invade Monston."
"So the Wolf King is against sending troops?" Princess Mirror Moon asked in surprise.
"Of course," Garnett sneered. "The orcs and Monston are separated by vast mountains and forests, which are the territories of the Flash Clan and the Demon Clan. Even if we could take over a few counties of Monston, what would be the point? Would we make our subjects abandon the grasslands and forests they depend on for survival and come to live in Monston? Besides, how could Monston possibly be conquered by an army of 100,000 orcs? In the end, it would only benefit Tru's demons."
"So Your Excellency is already well aware of these important matters," I said.
“What good is it if we understand?” The Wolf King said with a bitter smile. “Tru is the overlord of the Northern Alliance, Lunger is the spiritual leader of the North, and Enrique and Kong Xiangwei obey their orders. If I oppose them, the Night Wolf Tribe will be the first to suffer.”
“What do you mean by telling me this?” I asked.
A tiny flame ignited in Garnett’s eyes as he stared at me, his voice low and slow: “Because I want to know, is His Majesty truly the successor of Aio? Do you know the enormous impact this will have on the entire North?”
“I’d love to say yes,” I replied calmly, “but unfortunately I’m not. I wouldn’t stoop to impersonating anyone. Aio is Aio, and he’s dead—at least to this world.”
“How could that be?” Garnet frowned. “Lady Dolores wouldn’t deceive us, and Lund’s reaction confirms it.”
“They don’t understand the truth,” I answered. “Aio did indeed intend to use the Demon Reincarnation to break free from the Demon King Ulysses’s control and gain an independent personality and rebirth. Unfortunately, his realization came too late; Ulysses’s resurrection was already complete before the ritual even began. So Aio chose the most extreme method, unleashing the Dark Annihilation to perish with Ulysses, and his memories and consciousness didn’t even have time to be infused into that infant named Xiu Lan.”
“How do you know all this?” Garnet looked at me in surprise, asking with a hint of disbelief. Fortunately, he was no ordinary person; an ordinary person probably wouldn’t have believed a single word I said.
“Because I was sealed within the Dark Ring for a full thousand years, unable to awaken due to the curse of Ulysses. When the energy of the Annihilation Darkness impacted the Dark Ring, it finally loosened its seal, allowing me to break free from the curse.” I slowly said in a slightly low voice, “At that time, I had just returned to this world, and my power was too weak to withstand any disturbance. In a critical moment, to protect myself, I made a blood pact with the infant sleeping on the altar, entering his body to be reborn. But this also consumed all my energy, forcing me to enter another period of slumber.”
“That infant was Prince Xiu Lan of Biarell,” Jingyue, who also shared my memories, said softly, “but the real him was killed in the Kolan rebellion a year ago. The Xiu Lan before us has only just awakened through his body, but his memories have been sealed again by the restrictions of Aio, so he has not known who he is for so long?”
"So when His Majesty Xiu Lan obtained the Demon Sword Dark Moon, he also broke all the seals and restrictions, finally regaining himself?"
"Yes," I replied, "the feeling at that time was indescribable, like a rebirth, a sudden awakening after a great dream."
"But, who exactly are you?" Garnett asked in a low, husky voice.
I smiled slightly, looked up at the stars eternally existing in time and space outside the window, and answered in a dreamlike voice, "I am who I am, from another world, from the night and hell."
Garnett remained silent for a long time, finally letting out a long sigh, and said with a wry smile, "Although your last sentence was very mysterious, I believe it to be true. But, from now on, how should I address you, Your Excellency?"
“Of course, it’s still Xiu Lan,” I smiled, “but not the prince of Biarell, but another Xiu Lan from a thousand years ago.”
Garnett trembled involuntarily, staring at me in disbelief, “You! You are—”
I stood up proudly, walked to the windowsill, and said casually, “Tell me, do I still need to live under the guise of the inheritor of Aio? The only identity I’m willing to be misunderstood as in this world is that of Prince Biarell, because without his blood pact back then, I would continue to drift in the darkness until the next millennium.”
Garnett nodded, stood up, and said, “I understand now. It seems that tonight’s gains are far greater than I expected. Your Majesty Xiu Lan, congratulations on finding yourself again. However, I have a premonition that we may soon meet on the battlefield. Even knowing that you are the most terrifying enemy I have ever faced, I will still have to fight with all my might to win.”
I chuckled, “You are the only opponent I am willing to respect so far, and you also yearn to face me on the battlefield one day. If we cannot be allies, then enemies will be the best choice for each other.”
“That’s how it is,” Garnett said with a carefree laugh, “I should go now, until we meet again!” With that, he vanished into the vast night.
“Why didn’t you stop him?” I asked, still standing by the window.
“Because Mirror Moon suddenly had a feeling that Garnett wouldn’t truly become our most formidable opponent. Perhaps one day he’ll be our best ally in the Northern Alliance.”
I chuckled, “That prediction is the exact opposite of Garnett’s. Which one should I believe?”
“Trust Mirror Moon,” Princess Mirror Moon smiled gently, “A woman’s intuition is always more accurate than a man’s. Even the Demon General from a thousand years ago couldn’t deny that.”
I chuckled and shook my head without speaking.
Princess Mirror Moon walked towards the door, saying, “Mirror Moon will go upstairs first. It seems quite a few people want to visit you tonight.”
Behind me, the door closed softly. My gaze fell on a dark figure outside the window.
Dolores stood there like a ghost, coldly staring at me, her eyes filled with complex emotions—hate, resentment, disappointment, despair, fear, or even admiration?
"You...you're really not Lord Aio's successor?" She stood there for a long time, finally managing to ask the question she most wanted to ask.
"You heard it all. I don't think I need to explain a second time," I replied calmly.
"That's impossible! I don't believe it!" Dolores's eyes blazed with a burning light as she cried out stubbornly and desperately, "You're deceiving me!"
"I don't need to," I said coldly. "I advise you to accept this reality: Aio may return in another form, just like me today; or he may never be resurrected, but at least I'm not some replacement for him!"
Dolores's body trembled in the wind. For so many years, Aio's reincarnation had been the only belief that sustained her survival. If this mirage were to suddenly collapse, her world would be destroyed, plunging her into a cold despair.
"I'm going to kill you, Xiu Lan!" A madness and murderous intent gradually surfaced on her face. Her cold eyes stared at me as she slowly said, "It was you who deceived me for twenty years; it was you who destroyed my master's last hope of reincarnation."
I remained unmoved, standing by the window, and said calmly, "If you want to kill me, go ahead, but I'm afraid you don't have the ability. Besides—can you even bring yourself to do it?"
Dolores shuddered, and the murderous aura that filled the air instantly subsided. She stood there blankly, and after a moment of silence, she chuckled, "Why can't I kill you? Why can't I bring myself to do it? Xiu Lan, you overestimate yourself. In my eyes, you're not even worth a finger of my master."
I looked at the desperate and deranged woman before me with pity, and said... He said, “Dolores, I’ve lived a thousand years longer than you. Even not counting the years I spent sleeping, my understanding of human nature is far deeper than yours. For the past twenty years, you’ve always considered me your master, unknowingly placing all your hopes and attention on me. Faced with someone like me, do you dare say you could bring yourself to do it?”
Dolores remained silent, her gaze shifting between light and shadow, before suddenly bursting into a cold laugh: “Forget it, Xiu Lan, you’re nothing but a cold-blooded demon. What right do you have to talk to me about humanity and emotions? Do you know what it feels like to deeply love someone? Do you understand the pain of losing a lover? You don’t understand, you don’t know anything, because in your heart there is only demonic intent and hatred!”
“You’re wrong,” I smiled calmly. “Perhaps you were right a few days ago, but when I regained my memories and learned that a thousand years ago I also fought for the woman I loved, willing to shake Ulysses and endure countless years of suffering for her, I have grasped the ultimate meaning of life. I am still me, but something has been added to my blood, and I hope you are too.”
Dolores stood there blankly, a hint of confusion on her face, the cold smile fading imperceptibly.
Tonight was certainly not a murderous night.
Chapter Three: War and Struggle
Nine days after we left the capital, war broke out.
A hundred thousand orcs, like locusts in a rice paddy, swarmed in from the northeastern border of Monston.
The two armies unexpectedly clashed at Tulouburg, where Duke Jinsha's 80,000 troops were stationed, and a massive battle ensued.
We received this news while still on our way to Redstone City.
The further east we went, the stronger the atmosphere of war became.
The smell of gunpowder was already clearly audible.
Among us, Debo was undoubtedly the most anxious. He joked less, talked less, and only wished to reach Tulouburg as soon as possible.
Because we left two hundred silver-armored guards and Angie in the capital to arrange for the families' return, only about three hundred people, all cavalry, accompanied me back to Biarell. So, after receiving news of the war, we traveled day and night, arriving at Cammai, a small border town in western Zhaibis County, on the fourteenth day.
The atmosphere here was incredibly tense; everyone's conversation revolved around the war. However, none of the townspeople seemed overly worried, all believing that the orcs would never be able to break in, let alone reach Kangmai Town.
During lunch, conversations frequently broke out, with some idlers excitedly recounting their supposed firsthand experiences, describing the orcs as red-haired, green-eyed monsters, or praising Duke Jinsha as a war god capable of moving mountains and seas—a plethora of ignorant claims.
But there was absolutely no information about the actual progress of the battle.
After all, it was still four or five days' journey to Tulu Fortress, and news wouldn't arrive so quickly.
After lunch, we ignored the town's clamor about the front lines and continued our journey. Ten miles east of Kangmai, the main road forked into two paths.
One led to Redstone City, the route we had taken;
the other stretched northeastwards, leading directly to Tulu Fortress.
Debo immediately stood at the fork, gazing north.
Dust billowed there; someone was approaching on horseback.
“Xiu Lan, let’s part ways here.” Debo said, extending his right hand to me. “Feia is still waiting for you in Redstone City. Pick her up and hurry back to Biarell.”
I nodded and took his hand.
Debo tightened his grip on my right hand, staring at me intently as he slowly said, "Promise me, Xiu Lan. No matter what happens between Dad and me, you must take good care of Fei Ya."
I replied calmly, "She's my woman; you don't need to remind me of that."
Debo forced a smile and said, "I don't know why, but I used to always hope for war so I could lead thousands of troops into battle. But now that day is almost here, I'm actually a little scared. Xiu Lan, in your eyes, am I a complete playboy, utterly useless?"
I frowned and said, "If you want to leave, just leave. Why all this nonsense?"
Debo laughed heartily, releasing my hand and saying, "You're right, Xiu Lan. It's not like we're going to die. Just wait, in three to five months at most, I'll definitely come to Biarell to find you, and I'll even ask for a cup of your wedding wine with the princess."
Princess Jingyue smiled and said, "General Debo, Jingyue is eagerly awaiting your triumphant return in Biarell." "
Debo nodded and said: "Don't worry, Your Highness Princess, we will beat the orcs so hard that they won't even know the way back to grandma's house.
Martha heard what he said was interesting. She smiled while sitting on the horse and blessed: "General Debord, Ferro and I wish you a smooth journey and success."
Ferro also nodded heavily towards Deborah and whispered: "Take care, friend." "
Debo suddenly felt his nose was a little sore, and quickly turned his head to hide his smile and said: "What are you doing? I'm just going to fight, not to die. See you all in Biarrel in a few months.
I nodded and said: "Go quickly, Deborah. No matter how long you talk, you won't be able to leave until dark." "
At this time, Kusai rode his horse to my side and whispered: "Your Majesty, there are eight fast horses on the road to the north, only two of them are sitting on people. It seems that they are the eight-hundred-mile express specially used by the imperial palace. "
Debo was startled, and then looked at the end of the road to the north, and saw nothing but smoke.
I chuckled and said, "They must be messengers heading to the capital. Stop them."
Kusei responded and was about to act when Princess Jingyue stopped him, saying, "Let Jingyue handle this. These people will surely give her face."
As she spoke, several small black dots appeared on the northern horizon, quickly closing in. Sure enough, it was two people and eight riders.
Princess Jingyue spurred her horse to a halt in the middle of the road, her melodious voice carrying far and wide, "Please slow down, gentlemen!"
The two men, dressed as knights, were covered in sweat and dust from their journey. They were startled to suddenly see a large group of several hundred people blocking their way at the crossroads.
Hearing Princess Jingyue's call, they slowed their mounts and shouted, "We are messengers from the Duke of Jinsha. The military situation is urgent. Please make way and don't block our path!" They
were indeed messengers from the north.
I wondered if they brought news of victory or devastation?
Princess Jingyue smiled slightly and said, "Jingyue wouldn't dare, I only wish to ask if you know the latest situation of the war in the north?"
The two knights were taken aback, reining in their horses as they approached, looking at Princess Jingyue's simple, light blue attire with suspicion, and asked, "May I ask who you are—"
Debo rushed out from the crowd, shouting angrily, "Sit, you idiot, don't you even recognize Princess Jingyue?"
The knight who had been scolded saw Debo and exclaimed in surprise, "General Debo, what are you doing here?"
Debo had no time to answer these questions, anxiously... He asked, "What happened to my father? Why didn't you use the Thousand-Mile Spirit to send a message to the capital? Why did you have to use this most foolish method?"
Sit smiled bitterly, "The winged tribe's scouts have blocked the sky, and all the Thousand-Mile Spirits we released were intercepted. We had to disguise ourselves and sneak out at night to avoid the winged tribe's ambush."
Another knight said, "Actually, we released the Thousand-Mile Spirit yesterday, but the Duke insisted that we go to the capital to see His Majesty, because some things can't be clearly explained on a note."
Debord urged, "Speak quickly! " "How's my dad? What are you doing in the capital?"
Sit said somberly, "The combined forces of the Great Bear Tribe and the Winged People, numbering 80,000, besieged Tulu Fortress. We held out for three days and three nights without any reinforcements. The day before yesterday morning, our defenses finally broke through, and Duke Jinsha led everyone to retreat towards Mokobi Mountain. We were ordered to the capital to request reinforcements."
Princess Jingyue asked curiously, "Aren't there two imperial legions stationed in Jisang City, more than a hundred miles away from Tulu Fortress? Why didn't they come to our aid?" A look of
utter dismay appeared on Sit's face. His expression was one of utter fury, his teeth clenched as he said, "As soon as the war began, the Duke sent messengers to contact Gisang City, requesting them to send troops to support them. However, three consecutive messengers were turned away. Counts Welling and Ister, stationed in Gisang City, refused to send troops, citing the need to guard against the 20,000-strong Night Wolf army. Thus, the 100,000-strong army of the Gisang Empire basked in the sun, while the Duke of Tuluburg's 80,000 troops fought a bloody battle against an equal number of orc troops for three days and nights, finally falling."
Upon hearing this news, no one dared to say that the Duke of Jinsha's army was useless.
Due to their innate physical advantages, orc warriors are far stronger than ordinary human soldiers. A single adult warrior from the Great Bear Tribe is enough to defeat three Monston soldiers, not to mention that among the 50,000 Great Bear Tribe troops in this invasion, 10,000 are renowned Black Helmet Warriors, each possessing an astonishing fighting strength of nearly ten men.
Given their similar numbers, it's already remarkable that Duke Jinsha was able to hold out for three days and nights.
Debo grabbed Sit, angrily shouting, "Those two old bastards, Welling and Ister, dare to say such things? Why doesn't my father strip them of their military command?"
Sit retorted indignantly, "Although their titles are lower than the Duke's, they are still His Majesty's direct subordinates. How can the Duke command them?"
Debo released Sit blankly, muttering, "Bastards, they make us fight desperately in Tulu Fortress, while they hide in Jisang City watching the show. We'll settle this score later!"
I watched coldly, remaining silent.
Under normal circumstances, even if Wei Ling and the others had ten times the courage, they wouldn't dare to stand by and watch someone die. After all, no one would dare to joke about matters of national importance.
Perhaps, someone's will was at work behind the scenes.
Princess Jingyue said, "General Debo, let Xi Te and the others get going first. The military situation is urgent; the sooner we get to the capital, the better."
Debo snapped out of his daze and said, "Why aren't you hurrying?"
Xi Te bowed to Debo and said, "General Debo, please take care!" He then hurriedly bowed to Princess Jingyue and the others before spurring his horse and galloping towards the capital.
Debo slowly withdrew his gaze from Shit's retreating figure, letting out a long sigh. "Xiu Lan, it's time for me to get going too. Farewell!"
I smiled and said, "Don't forget, Debo, you still owe me and Jingyue's wedding wine."
Debo laughed heartily and said, "Don't worry, my friend! Even if I have to crawl, I'll crawl all the way to Biarell. Wait for my triumphant return!"
With that, he spurred his horse and galloped off into the boundless north, followed by dozens of guards who gradually became tiny black dots on the horizon.
"Most likely to die young," Kusei blurted out, watching Debo's departing figure.
"Marquis Kusei, are you also concerned about General Debo?" Ferro asked curiously.
"Hmph, I just think it would be a shame if this kid died at the hands of the orcs," Kusei said coldly.
Martha asked worriedly, "The outcome can't be that bad, can it? After all, we still have nearly 200,000 troops in the Eastern Frontier, and Duke Ori's reinforcements will arrive soon."
I said indifferently, "Have you ever heard of a disorganized group winning a war?"
Ferro smiled bitterly, "It seems the Empire is really in trouble. His Majesty Jiaxiu's illness is really untimely."
I said with a stepping stone, "These are all Monston's problems, we can't worry about them anymore. Let's get to Redstone City first."
The group composed themselves and continued on their way. Due to the unfavorable war situation, everyone quickened their pace, and six days later they crossed the Yutu River, only a few dozen kilometers away from Redstone City.
News of setbacks kept coming in. First, Mokobi Mountain fell, and the Imperial army suffered heavy losses. Then, Marquis Welling's 50,000-strong army that attacked Tulu Fortress was ambushed by the Night Wolf Tribe on the way, and almost the entire army was wiped out. Marquis Welling himself also died at the hands of Garnett.
The further east they went, the more refugees they encountered along the way. Along the Yutu River, refugees were camped everywhere, waiting to cross westward. It took us half a day to manage to snatch a few ferries to cross the river.
As evening approached, thick smoke suddenly rose from the distant horizon, and the surrounding refugees cried out in terror. Many shouted in panic, "Run! The barbarians are attacking!" The
already chaotic situation became even more pronounced. The cries of infants, the shouts of women, the wails of the elderly—the crowds thronged the roads like ants on a hot plate, writhing, struggling, desperately fleeing westward.
Princess Jingyue frowned slightly and said softly, "Xiu Lan, it seems the orc army is arriving sooner than we expected."
Looking at the cavalry, unable to move due to the throng, I coldly ordered, "Kusei, take some men and clear the way. We must reach Redstone City before the orc army arrives."
There, Feiya awaited me.
Kusei, who had been waiting impatiently, didn't say a word upon hearing this, and led a dozen silver-armored guards to the front of the column to take over the task of clearing the way from Ferro. His heart wasn't as soft as the Templar Knights', and the group's speed noticeably increased.
Even so, riding a horse wasn't much faster than walking, and this area was mostly mountainous, with no other path besides the main road in front of us. We had only traveled a dozen miles by nightfall.
Meanwhile, the firelight reflected in the northern night grew brighter and closer; by sight, we were only twenty or thirty miles from Redstone City.
I frowned and said, "Fero, you and Martha lead the main force to follow from behind, being careful not to run into the orc vanguard. Jingyue, Kusei, and I will return to the city first and meet up with Feiya."
With that, I abandoned Ta Xue and leaped onto the steep cliff, throwing star pellets, not caring how shocking it seemed to the refugees, and headed straight for Redstone City under the moonlight.
We traversed several miles of mountains in an instant, and the valley ahead opened up, still teeming with noisy, panicked refugees.
Suddenly, someone shouted amidst the chaos, "Run! The barbarian army has stormed Redstone City!"
The crowd erupted into even greater commotion, and on the northern horizon, scattered torchlight appeared, as a troop of Monston's routed soldiers retreated towards Redstone City.
"Hey, maybe we'll see that kid Debo again soon," Kusei said beside me.
"Let's go, let's catch up and ask!" I said, and the three of us dodged the chaotic flow of people, practically flying.
As we approached the thousand-odd routed imperial troops, a piercing scream suddenly echoed from the distant darkness, a sound completely different from the common language of Xilan on the continent.
The routed soldiers panicked even more, fleeing desperately towards Redstone City, their formations completely broken, and few cared for the wounded who were unable to move.
I landed gracefully, blocking the path of the fleeing army, and coldly demanded, "Who is your highest-ranking commander here?"
A junior officer on horseback shouted, "Get out of the way, do you want to die?" He raised his whip to lash at my head.
I snorted coldly, easily catching the whip tip, and mercilessly punched him in the face with my left fist, even cracking his helmet. The officer screamed and fell from his horse, his skull shattered, dead.
"Spy! Murder!" Dozens of Imperial soldiers around me cried out in panic, many raising their weapons, ready to surround me.
Why should I be afraid of that? Kusei sneered and flashed forward, his Illusionary Purple Eye ready to activate at any moment, while the crimson-eyed demonic beast glared menacingly, ready to devour its prey.
"Stop!" Princess Jingyue shouted, her voice not loud, but clear enough to reach the ears of every imperial soldier. "I am Princess Jingyue of Monston, and beside me is His Majesty Xiulan from Biarell. Please have your commander come forward and answer this."
"What happened? Why aren't you leaving?" A general in silver armor shouted as he rushed from the back of the ranks, startled upon seeing us.
A subordinate whispered something to him, and the general's previously furious expression softened considerably. He looked at Princess Jingyue and asked, "Excuse me, you claim to be a princess, but do you have any proof?"
Princess Jingyue smiled slightly, flipped her hand to show the general the golden insignia of the Monston royal family, and asked, "General, you should recognize this, shouldn't you?"
The general, of course, recognized the royal insignia and hurriedly dismounted and bowed, saying, "Gronso greets Your Highness!"
"General Gronsso, you are a subordinate of Duke Jinsha, what brings you here?" Princess Jingyue asked.
Gronsso rose and replied, "This morning our army suffered a defeat in the Battle of Sibich, and His Highness the Duke ordered a retreat. However, we were pursued and ambushed by the Sand Leopard Tribe and the Winged People Tribe along the way, and by the afternoon, the entire army's formation had collapsed. I am leading the remaining thousand-odd men, preparing to retreat back to Redstone City to defend it to the death."
"Where are Duke Jinsha and General Debo?" I asked.
Just as Gronsso was about to answer, chaos suddenly broke out at the rear of the routed army. A soldier cried out in terror, "General, the leopardmen are catching up!"
Gronsso's expression changed, and he hurriedly mounted his horse, saying, "Your Highness, we can't stay here any longer. Let us escort you to Redstone City first!"
I sneered, "Cowards! It's just a small vanguard of the orcs, and you're already this scared. No wonder you lost half of Zhaibis County in less than ten days."
Gronsso's expression changed again. He didn't dare to draw his sword against me because of Princess Jingyue, and he said with a bitter smile, "You've never been on a battlefield. You have no idea how terrifying barbarians are. Your Highness, please hurry. The leopardmen are faster than warhorses. If we don't retreat now, it will be too late." "
At this moment, the screams and cries of countless refugees echoed from over a mile away. Unarmed, they were utterly powerless against the orcs' onslaught and became easy prey for the leopardmen.
Kusei's illusory purple eyes flashed, reflecting the figures of a thousand or so leopardmen warriors in the darkness. They were similar in height to ordinary humans, but possessed explosive muscles and sharp teeth. They marched without the aid of warhorses, running at breakneck speed on all fours like wild beasts, their hairy faces painted with a jumble of colorful stripes, making them exceptionally ferocious.
Among the orcs, the Sand Leopard tribe was a large group second only to tribes like the Night Wolves. With their innate speed advantage, they appeared unpredictable and swift on the battlefield, often used as surprise troops.
I sneered, "What's the panic? They're only a little over a thousand, deserted because they were greedy for merit. The orc army is still dozens of miles away. What's there to be afraid of?"
Gronsso composed himself slightly and said, "But even with so few people, we are no match for them." Princess Jingyue
gazed into the Illusionary Purple Eyes, where the crystal ball faithfully displayed the scene of leopard-men wielding their butcher knives, hacking down refugees blocking the road. She slowly said, "General Gronsso, have you seen our people being slaughtered and ravaged by the enemy? Their helpless eyes are pleadingly watching you from all sides. And you, the soldiers wielding weapons, are only concerned with fleeing, leaving your unarmed brothers and sisters behind to be bullied by the enemy. As a general of the Empire, can you tell me, is this what you should be doing?"
Gronsso looked ashamed and said, "I feel terrible too, but even Duke Jinsha is helpless. What can we do? My men are just throwing their lives away against the leopard-men."
As he spoke, a small squad of leopard-men soldiers roared in. Perhaps they were blinded by rage, or perhaps they were simply too arrogant to take the Imperial army seriously, but they charged towards this thousand-strong force.
Princess Jingyue stared at Gronsso and whispered, "Show your courage, General." "If we can hold out for even a moment longer, those refugees will suffer less harm and have a better chance of survival. The warriors of the Empire shouldn't be cowards who only know how to run away."
Having said that, I ignored Gronsso and the others, transforming into a streak of water and shooting towards the direction the leopard-men were charging.
Kusei, standing beside me, asked, "Your Majesty, what should we do?"
I sneered, "It's been a long time since we've had a major massacre. We'll just have to deal with these thousand-odd men."
Kusei chuckled, then vanished with me into the Imperial army. He'd been holding back a lot of pent-up frustration in the capital, and this was the perfect opportunity to vent.
Gronsso, sitting blankly on his horse, suddenly drew his longsword and shouted, "All troops, turn around! Fight those barbarians! Let's show them that the warriors of our Empire are not cowards!"
Chapter Four: The Night of Blood. The
moonlight dripped blood, and crimson flames illuminated half the northern sky.
The roads and the wheat fields on either side were teeming with helpless refugees.
Squads of Sand Leopard warriors, wielding their butcher knives, slaughtered indiscriminately in this frenzied night, unleashing their primal lust.
Men fell, girls fell, even the elderly and infants were their victims.
Seeing the terrified, contorted faces of the people, seeing the fleeing masses, brought them their greatest pleasure.
"Please, don't kill me!" Faced with the monstrous slaughter, an old man collapsed in terror onto the dry ground, unable to move an inch, only able to plead and cry out.
"You lowly people, you don't deserve to live in this world! Let me send you to hell!" The leopard warrior roared excitedly, raising his spear to pierce the old man's heart.
"Clang!" A bright, pale golden light flashed by, and the leopard warrior fell backward before he could even see who it was, his chest armor pierced by the Golden Holy Sword.
Amidst the clash of swords and the blood-soaked darkness of the battlefield, Princess Mirror Moon's ethereal figure, clad in a flowing blue robe, descended from the sky.
"Ah, what a beautiful human girl! Capture her alive!" a leopard leader shouted excitedly, his dozen or so henchmen shrieking as they swarmed towards Princess Mirror Moon.
They spoke in their tribal language, so Princess Mirror Moon couldn't understand what the leopard leader was saying. But seeing the dozen or so leopard warriors' ferocious faces attacking, the Golden Holy Sword flew lightly, the sturdy armor unable to withstand the sharp blade, and two more leopard warriors screamed and fell to the ground.
However, this did not frighten the others; instead, it fueled their ferocity, and more leopard warriors gathered around, engulfing Princess Mirror Moon like a tidal wave.
"Boom!" A dazzling purple orb exploded among the leopardmen, instantly sending more than ten warriors flying, their limbs soaking in pools of blood.
It was Kusei.
He disdained and refused to engage in close combat, using wind magic to float low in the air, his Illusionary Purple Eyes aimed directly at the enemy's concentrated area. In
just a few strikes, he had already inflicted heavy casualties on the leopardmen.
Almost simultaneously, I had reached Princess Mirror Moon's side, charging into the enemy ranks bare-handed without even drawing my sword.
"Bang!" The seventh leopardman warrior tonight, struck in the head by my iron fist, collapsed to the ground without even a groan. His helmet was twisted and deformed from the impact of the dark energy, and his face was completely disfigured, not a single intact piece of his skull remaining.
Just moments before, he had been shouting that he would capture Princess Mirror Moon alive.
"Thank you, Xiu Lan!" "Princess Mirror Moon whispered in my ear, her clear, bright eyes piercing through the murderous aura and glancing at me with a fleeting, startling glance.
"No need," I sneered, plunging into the densest part of the enemy ranks, moving with effortless grace amidst the gleaming spears and blades, as free and unrestrained as the wind.
Each punch delivered the final blow.
My heart felt no pity; on the battlefield, there was only the distinction between life and death, never a place for mercy. My
killing intent surged, and I seemed to hear a joyful roar deep within my heart, stepping over the corpses of my enemies, leading the path of blood from one end to the other—
"You devil, I'll kill you!" A tall leopard warrior brandished twin pistols, attacking from behind, his turquoise eyes filled with a mixture of rage, resentment, and fear.
He was quite strong, at least on par with an ordinary Templar Knight, but that difference was now negligible in my eyes.
I sidestepped, easily dodging the first thrust of the spear, and slammed my left fist into the tip of the second.
A metallic clang rang out as I snapped the spearhead in two, the powerful recoil driving the spear's end back into the warrior's chest.
Blood spurted—so, orc blood was red too.
The enemy finally realized the immense threat we posed; almost all the leopard warriors abandoned their pursuit of the refugees and the enemy, surging towards us like a tidal wave.
The moon sank and the stars faded; the boundless slaughter unfolded in that instant.
General Gronsso and his army had also turned back, witnessing firsthand our valor and almost godlike strength. This rekindled the courage of the soldiers, who had been terrified by the leopard-men's pursuit, and gave them the will to fight again. The
leopard-men never expected that the Imperial soldiers, who had been routed and in disarray, would dare to turn back and launch an attack. They were caught completely off guard.
Gronsso killed three leopard-men warriors in succession, his courage growing stronger. He couldn't help but think, "So, these barbarians aren't so scary after all. I can kill them too!"
But when the enemy regained their footing and turned to fight back, Gronsso's pressure increased dramatically. The innate difference in combat power between humans and orcs was once again revealed, often requiring the sacrifice of three to five men to kill a single leopard-men warrior.
But the Imperial soldiers, blinded by rage, had cast aside their fear. Gronsso, in particular, led from the front, and despite being wounded in the back and thigh by gunshots, he fought tenaciously without retreating.
Thousands fought a brutal and unprecedented battle on the vast plain, the cries of death echoing everywhere, blood flowing endlessly.
Seeing their army overwhelmed, young men among the surrounding refugees shouted, "Fight them!" They grabbed their weapons and joined the fray.
They were no match for the orcs; most charged forward fearlessly, only to fall before they could even draw their weapons. But no one retreated. These people, filled with hatred and rage for the invaders, used spears, their bare hands, their teeth, to issue an indomitable declaration of war against the enemy! Watching countless brothers fall beside him, Gronzor's eyes filled with
tears. His conscience, cleansed by the flames of war, was reawakened. He shouted, "Kill! Even if only one is left, fight to the end!"
"Fight to the end!" Countless people erupted in a unified roar, releasing the pent-up humiliation and hatred in their hearts.
They had been weak, helpless, and had only thought of escape.
At this moment, everyone became a valiant fighter, defending their land and dignity with their lives and blood!
In a short span of time, Gronsor's troops suffered over two hundred casualties, and the number of civilians who died in the battle was even more staggering. However, the Leopardmen also paid the highest casualty rate since the invasion began, with over three hundred warriors forever buried on this fertile land filled with blood and dignity.
Of course, at least two-thirds of them perished at the hands of me, Princess Mirror Moon, and Kusei.
Years later, people called this small-scale battle the "Battle of Awakening Day," and poets even set it to music, making it a widely sung song.
Because after that night, all the soldiers and civilians of the Eastern Frontier realized the courage and strength of the oppressed, and the entire war against the Orc invasion entered an incredible turning point.
All of this was something that none of those involved, including myself, had anticipated.
But courage and fighting spirit could not replace strength. The Leopardmen warriors, their ferocity ignited by bloodshed and death, let out piercing screams and charged fiercely at Gronsor's army.
General Gronzor's forces dwindled, his ranks long since broken, and he was on the verge of collapse when suddenly, torches flickered in the darkness. A cavalry unit, clad in silver armor and brimming with fighting spirit, charged fearlessly into the enemy ranks like sharp daggers!
It was Ferro leading his Silver Armored Guards.
Had the roads not been blocked, they would have arrived much earlier, but even now, it was enough.
These three hundred Silver Armored Guards possessed individual combat prowess far surpassing that of ordinary Imperial soldiers, even exceeding that of the Leopard Warriors. Their arrival completely turned the tide of the battle.
Ferro's longsword flashed, carving a bloody path to reach Gronzor. Gronzor, both surprised and delighted, asked, "May I ask your name, General?"
Ferro beheaded another enemy and smiled, "Ferro, a subordinate of His Majesty Xiulan of Bialerel!"
Gronzor exclaimed in surprise, "So you're General Ferro of Bialerel? His Majesty Xiulan and Princess are surrounded by leopardmen inside! Your arrival is just in time!"
He was slightly distracted as he spoke, nearly being pierced by a leopardman warrior's spear, but a small, golden-armored knight's longsword flew down, instantly ending the leopardman's life.
Gronzor then noticed, by the firelight, that the knight beside Ferro was another beautiful young woman, and couldn't help but be incredibly astonished.
The two armies joined forces, their momentum immediately increasing. Ferro's silver-armored guards on the left, and Gronzor's imperial soldiers on the right, like a pair of pincers firmly holding the leopardman army, charging relentlessly into the enemy ranks.
The orc warriors' fighting spirit finally crumbled; after all, they were only human, and they too understood fear and panic.
I don't know who was the first to retreat, but fear and retreat spread like a plague, quickly infecting everyone.
Victory was no longer their primary concern; preserving their precious lives amidst the pincer attack was paramount.
In an instant, the enemy's formation faltered, then crumbled completely.
A leopard-man general tried to halt the rout, shouting, "Don't retreat! Anyone who retreats will be killed!"
I smiled indifferently, appearing behind him and whispering, "Go to hell, child!"
The general turned around in terror, only to hear the crisp sound of his neck breaking. My hand moved from his neck, and his body slumped limply.
"Devil!" The surrounding leopard-man warriors, witnessing this, lost all will to fight, turning and fleeing, not even daring to claim their commander's body.
Seeing the enemy retreat, the Imperial soldiers' morale soared, and for the first time, they took on the role of pursuers, howling and relentlessly chasing after them.
Ferro rode up to my side and bowed from his horse, asking, "Your Majesty, are you alright?"
I replied dismissively, "These useless fools aren't enough to get me into trouble. Ferro, inform everyone not to pursue, lest we run into the main force of the orcs in the dark. After regrouping, retreat towards Redstone City."
Ferro acknowledged and relayed my orders.
Suddenly, Kusei floated down from the sky and whispered, "Your Majesty, I see Duke Jinsha's banner!"
"Oh?" It seems Duke Jinsha has also retreated to Redstone City. I wonder if Debo is with him.
For some reason, I'm becoming increasingly concerned about that bastard; perhaps his methods are becoming more and more to my liking.
"About three miles to the southwest, about three or four thousand men are retreating towards Redstone City," Kusei replied.
Princess Jingyue suddenly whispered, "Xiu Lan, Jingyue wants to see Duke Jinsha. You, Kusei, and Fero should wait for me in Redstone City."
I shook my head and said, "I'll go with you. Let Kusei and Fero lead everyone into the city first."
Kusei obeyed and left. Since Anludi recovered, the once arrogant Kusei had become much gentler, and he carried out my orders even more strictly.
But don't think that a demon can turn into an angel overnight; a raging Kusei is enough to make half the capital tremble.
Princess Jingyue smiled gently, her eyes filled with joy and relief, gazing at me affectionately, and said, "You didn't have to intervene, Xiu Lan."
I said calmly, "You are my woman. I will never allow anyone to harm you in the slightest. Is that reason enough?"
Princess Jingyue smiled sweetly, her captivating figure appearing incomparably beautiful in the firelight of the night, and softly said, "It is enough. These are the most beautiful words I have ever heard in my life."
I leaped onto the Snowwalker that Ferro had brought, reached out and pulled Princess Jingyue behind me, and whispered, "Sit tight!" The Snowwalker galloped northward.
Everywhere were the corpses of refugees and imperial soldiers, and the wounded huddled by the roadside, groaning and pleading in despair.
Groups of displaced civilians, with their families, were fleeing towards Redstone City or the mountains to the west. They included the old and the young, even newborn infants, all bearing the ravages of war and its wounds.
Any pity was superfluous that night. A chaotic battle was gradually unfolding, but this situation wouldn't last long. Once the main force of the orcs arrived, they would surely sweep through Redstone City like a whirlwind. I simply didn't believe that these remnants of the Empire could hold out for much longer.
Duke Jinsha's banners stood high, making it easy for us to find them.
Over four thousand Imperial soldiers were barely maintaining their ranks as they retreated south, almost every one of them with tattered armor, some even struggling to walk.
I rode my Snow-Treading steed forward and called out, "I am Xiu Lan of Biarell. Where is Duke Jinsha?"
A middle-aged general stepped out from the crowd and stood before me, examining me and Princess Jingyue by the firelight. After confirming our identities, he exclaimed with delight, "It really is you, His Majesty Xiu Lan? And Your Highness, what brings you here?"
I recognized the general who spoke; he was Shi Luo, a cavalry commander under Duke Jinsha. The bandages wrapped around his chest indicated that he too had suffered a serious injury.
"Where is Duke Jinsha, Shilu?" I asked.
"Right behind, he'll be there soon with the main force!" Shilu replied, pointing to the banners behind him.
Princess Jingyue asked, "Is the Duke alright?"
Shilu's face darkened, and he answered in a low voice, "He's seriously wounded and may not survive the night, but few know this to avoid demoralizing the army." Shilu
wanted to say something more, but I urged Ta Xue to gallop backward.
Amidst the defeated army, a troop of cavalry escorted a carriage slowly approaching, with two soldiers holding up a command banner behind it.
My heart sank; I knew that unless he was completely immobile, Duke Jinsha would never be lying in the carriage.
I pushed through the crowd and rushed to the carriage. Duke Jinsha's personal guards recognized me and didn't stop me.
I jumped off Ta Xue, opened the carriage door, and saw Duke Jinsha, covered in blood, pale-faced, sleeping soundly on the cushions, suffering at least four fatal wounds.
I recognized the mark left by the Howling Moon Wheel at a glance. A terrifying killing intent flashed in my eyes, and I said in a voice colder than ice and snow, "Kong Xiang!"
As if sensing the arrival of Princess Jingyue and me, Duke Jinsha's eyelids twitched a few times and slowly opened. By the light inside the carriage, he saw our faces clearly, and a weak smile appeared on his face as he said, "You've finally arrived, but unfortunately I—"
A violent cough interrupted his words, and his wound continued to bleed as his body trembled violently. Princess Jingyue let out a soft moan, and a ball of pale blue holy light shone from her slender hand, covering Duke Jinsha's wound.
Duke Jinsha's spirits lifted, but he smiled bitterly, "I've lost, and lost badly. I'm afraid I'll lose my life here."
I said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, victory and defeat are common in war. As long as you live, there's a chance to turn the tide."
A bitter smile appeared on Duke Jinsha's bloodless face as he said, "From Tulu Fortress to Redstone City, my 80,000 troops have dwindled to at most 30,000. Half of the eastern frontier has been lost. Even if I survive, I won't have the face to see my old friends again!"
Princess Jingyue sighed softly, "Your Excellency, it's already remarkable that you managed to fight the orcs for so many days with 80,000 troops. Anyone else would have fared even worse."
Duke Jinsha shook his head, "You don't need to comfort me. I know in my heart why I lost so badly!"
I sneered: "Don't worry, I know it was Kong Xiang who hurt you, and also those two bastards, Wei Ling and Ister. Wei Ling is already dead at Garnett's hands, and I'll settle the score with the rest for you sooner or later."
Duke Jinsha sighed, looking at me, and suddenly asked, "Why are you helping me, Xiu Lan? Is it just because of Fei Ya?"
I said calmly, "This is the second person tonight to ask me a similar question, and I can tell you the same thing: putting aside Fei Ya and all the power struggles, I will still help you. Don't forget, last year when I was preparing to restore my kingdom, you were the only one among the imperial ministers who supported me. No matter what your purpose is, the result is the same for me. So, today I will stand on your side, it's that simple."
"A true man distinguishes between gratitude and resentment, I didn't misjudge you, Xiu Lan!" Duke Jinsha smiled.
I looked at Princess Jingyue, and she shook her head at me almost imperceptibly. My heart trembled, knowing that this had sealed Duke Jinsha's fate.
Suddenly, I heard someone anxiously calling out outside the carriage, "Why aren't we leaving? The orc army is about to catch up!"
It was Debo's voice. I jumped off the carriage and saw him riding a warhorse, leading several men at full speed towards us. His armor was covered in blood, his left hand was bandaged and slinged to his chest, and his right hand gripped a longsword as he urged his mount on.
"Debo!" I called out.
"Xiu Lan?" By the torchlight, Debo saw me and exclaimed with delight, "What brings you here? Where are the others?"
"Princess Jingyue and I are here. The others, led by Fero, have entered Redstone City," I replied.
Debo dismounted in front of me and asked urgently, "How is my father?"
I didn't speak, only shook my head.
Debo's face paled. He used his longsword to brace himself and asked in a deep voice, "Xiu Lan, don't you and the princess have any other options?"
I replied indifferently, "If there were even the slightest possibility, I would never have seen such an ending befall the Duke."
Debo took a deep breath, leaned into the carriage, and called out in a trembling voice, "Father!"
Duke Jinsha saw his beloved son, and a relieved smile appeared on his pale face. He said with difficulty, "You're back?"
Debo nodded and replied, "We repelled three attacks from the Great Bear Tribe. The time was almost up, so I ordered a retreat."
Duke Jinsha smiled and said, "Good child, you've finally grown up. I won't have to worry about you anymore."
"Father!" Debo choked out.
“Don’t cry,” Duke Jinsha said calmly, his brow slightly furrowed. “You are now the commander of an army, how can you act like a child and cry all the time? I know I won’t make it through the night. My greatest wish now is to see Fia and your two younger brothers one more time. But I’m afraid even that wish won’t come true—”
Debo shuddered and shouted at the coachman, “Drive the carriage faster!”
Chapter Five: A Famous General’s Lament
His words had barely left his lips when Duke Jinsha suddenly coughed violently, spitting out mouthfuls of blood. His eyes began to glaze over, and he was clearly on the verge of death.
“Father!” Debo gripped Duke Jinsha’s cold hand tightly, his voice hoarse with despair. “You can’t die! You can’t leave me and Fia!”
I waved to the coachman, signaling him to wait a little longer.
At this moment, even the slightest bump would hasten Duke Jinsha’s death, and if Princess Jingyue hadn’t used the temple’s healing magic to protect his heart, he might not have even seen Debo before he passed away.
The orb of light in Princess Mirror Moon's palm grew brighter and brighter, making its final effort, but Duke Jinsha's eyes grew even dimmer and weaker.
"I've finally waited for you to return, because I have a few words I must personally tell you," Duke Jinsha said haltingly, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Debo finally managed to understand what he was saying and quickly nodded, "Please speak, Father. I will listen to you and never make you angry again."
Duke Jinsha forced a smile and said, "The ducal title in the family is hereditary, so after my death, you will naturally inherit my title and power. You must grow up a bit more so you can command the army well, especially in these critical times, when you need more courage."
Debo could only nod, tears streaming down his face, unable to speak.
Perhaps it was a final burst of energy before death, but a glint of light suddenly flashed in Duke Jinsha's eyes. He whispered, "Remember, never disgrace our family, and above all, reclaim our lost territories and drive the orcs out of the empire. Otherwise, you are not my son!"
Debo nodded repeatedly. Duke Jinsha laboriously turned his gaze to me and smiled bitterly, "I've spent my life on the battlefield, but I never imagined I'd suffer such a crushing defeat, losing even my life. A true man has no regrets for dying for his country, but I'm truly worried about Debo—this kid hasn't even been on the front lines for a single day."
I said slowly, "Speak freely." "
Xiu Lan, I know it's difficult for you, after all, you are the King of Biarell. But I really can't rest easy about Debo and Feiya. I beg you to look after them for me." Duke Jinsha's
eyes were full of hope as he gazed at me, awaiting my answer. Debo and Princess Jingyue remained silent, yet they too looked at me with eyes full of earnestness and hope.
Who do they take me for?
Could I single-handedly reverse this dire situation?
Or would I be a compassionate saint, willing to sacrifice everything for a nation unrelated to me, for the pleas of a group of people?
I slowly exhaled, turning my gaze to the northern sky.
There, flames burned like blood.
A vast, overwhelming orcish army surged forth, an unstoppable force.
Beside me, exhausted imperial soldiers, their morale waning, retreated hastily towards Redstone City; countless refugees, displaced and desperately searching for a safe haven.
Yet, amidst the smoke of war, this land was rife with carnage.
I knew the meaning of Duke Jinsha's words, and I knew the immense responsibility that accepting his request would place upon me.
Yet, for some reason, I couldn't refuse.
I recalled my first meeting with Duke Jinsha, his hearty, sincere laughter.
That tall, imposing figure walked further and further into the darkness, gradually becoming blurred and indistinct.
Such a man was about to die before my eyes, and I was powerless to stop it.
A strange murderous intent welled up within me, a chilling demonic aura spreading in my eyes.
It was as if I could already see Kong Xiang's triumphant, arrogant smile.
I clearly sensed that Duke Jinsha had utterly lost hope in the empire's internal strife, no longer expecting those carefree nobles to accomplish anything.
Although His Majesty Jiaxiu was still alive, the current situation was far beyond his immediate needs.
That's why he pleaded with me, hoping I could lend a hand.
He needed not only me personally, but also Bialer behind me!
Of course, I also understood that this was my best opportunity to seize control of the empire's eastern borders and bring Zhaiyasi County under my control.
But facing a hundred thousand orcish troops and the entire Northern Alliance—was such a price worth it?
I could have simply sat back and watched the tigers fight, waiting for a better opportunity to march out of the mountain city and achieve my strategic goals.
But once I agreed, that initiative would be gone.
The wind silently blew across the plains, carrying heavy smoke and mournful cries.
The distant horns drew closer, and the spirits of the night raged.
For a long, long time—
I slowly nodded, and everyone around me breathed a sigh of relief.
A final glimmer of light flickered in the Duke of Jinsha's eyes as he looked at his beloved son and said, "Debo, remember, no matter what happens, you must stay by His Majesty Xiulan's side, and never betray him! This is the only way our Jinsha family can express our gratitude—"
Debo sobbed silently, nodding, "I swear, Father, I will fulfill all your entrustments!"
The Duke of Jinsha let out a long sigh and smiled, "Debo, help me up. I want to see my land one last time."
"Father?" Debo asked in surprise, his gaze questioning me and Princess Jingyue.
Princess Jingyue nodded slightly, and together with Debo, gently helped the Duke of Jinsha down from the carriage.
His body needed the strength of others to stand, yet he remained as steady as a mountain.
His gaze had gradually lost its luster, but it remained so firm and composed.
Even in the face of death!
"This is the land I've lived and protected for forty-six years," Duke Jinsha sighed. "I'm so reluctant to leave like this. I long to see Feiya and the others one last time, and I truly wish I could personally drive the orcs from my homeland—but alas, it's time to say goodbye forever—"
The surrounding soldiers wept, kneeling before the Duke in unison, an eternal, heart-wrenching sorrow filling the night air.
"I've lived a life of swift retribution, even unto death on the battlefield. I have no regrets, only regret for failing His Majesty's great kindness. I can only repay it in the next life!" Duke Jinsha gazed westward, towards the capital, but it was shrouded in endless smoke.
"Father!" Debo cried out, unable to contain his emotions, but received no answer. "Father!
" Debo cried out in terror, only to realize that as he finished speaking his last words, Duke Jinsha had quietly stopped breathing.
A great general had passed away!
He departed so peacefully that even I hadn't noticed when it happened.
I gazed at his calm face, and there was even a faint smile at the corners of his pale lips.
His gaze, however, remained fixed on the west, resolute and unwavering!
I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the extremely uncomfortable feeling in my heart.
This was the first time I had witnessed someone familiar die beside me.
Countless people had fallen in my hands, around me, but none had shaken me so deeply!
I thought I could be indifferent to anyone's departure, as before, but I was wrong.
A strange sense of oppression welled up from the bottom of my heart as I gazed at the Duke of Jinsha's body, my eyes heavy as lead.
"Your Grace!" Sorrowful cries rose and fell; Debo could barely stand, leaning against the carriage. Even Princess Jingyue's eyes were filled with tears, her usual composure gone.
I coldly watched all this unfold, watching someone once so familiar walk away, never to look back.
The dark energy within me surged, a murderous intent rising within me.
I even asked myself, if I had gone with Debo that day, would the outcome have been different?
At least, would this man before me still be able to stand before a thousand armies?
"General!" A scout on horseback arrived from behind, shouting from his horse, "The main force of the orcs is less than ten miles away, and a small vanguard of the enemy has been spotted near Redstone City!"
Debo remained silent, carefully placing Duke Jinsha into the carriage to lie down.
Then, he turned and pulled the longsword from the ground, his face terrifyingly calm.
"What are you going to do?" I asked coldly.
Debo mounted his mount, his hateful gaze fixed on the north, gritting his teeth, "I'm going to slaughter those barbarians and avenge my father!"
"Yes, avenge the Duke!" The soldiers, reminded of the situation, rose to their feet, roaring with fervent passion.
I sneered, "Do you want to go and die? With so few men, you won't even fill a gap in the orcs' vanguard."
"I don't care!" Debo growled, his expression ferocious and terrifying.
I suddenly reached out and yanked Debo off his horse, pulling him to the front of the carriage. I forced his head towards the Duke of Jinsha and sneered, "Look at your father! He was a hero all his life, generous and composed until his death. How could he have given birth to such a good-for-nothing son like you? If he had known this, would he have entrusted you with such an important task?"
Debo looked at me with icy eyes and slowly said, "Xiu Lan, let me go. Don't stop me from taking revenge, if you still consider me a friend!"
I slapped him hard across the cheek and hissed, "I'm only stopping you because I consider you a friend, otherwise, what does it matter to me if you die?"
Debo staggered, staring at me in astonishment.
I sneered, "Look at these exhausted soldiers around you. They have at most a few thousand left, and even with the other troops, it's only ten or twenty thousand. Can they possibly be a match for the orcs? It doesn't matter if you die, it doesn't matter if they die, but what about Redstone City behind you? What about your father's entrustment? Can you solve all the problems with brute force alone? I really despise you!"
Debo stroked his cheek, speechless. Princess Mirror Moon walked to his side and said softly, "Debo, Xiu Lan is right. We all wish we could avenge the Duke immediately. But right now..." "Such reckless action under the circumstances will only rob us of our last hope of revenge and will be of no use. You need to calm down!"
Debo's expression softened, but he asked blankly, "Are we just going to let those barbarians ravage our land and let my father's blood be shed in vain?"
I gazed at him and said slowly, "Don't worry, Debo. I, Xiu Lan, promise you that I will help you drive the orcs out of the Eastern Frontier no matter what, and I will take Kong Xiang's head to offer as a sacrifice to the Duke!"
The hatred and madness in Debo's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a warmth and calmness. He nodded emphatically to me and said, "I believe in you, Xiu Lan!"
I smiled and said, "I believe in you too, that you will become a good commander."
Seeing the atmosphere relax, Princess Jingyue smiled slightly and asked, "General Debo, is your injury alright?"
Debo smiled bitterly and said, "This guy hit me really hard, luckily I'm thick-skinned. But oh well, what can we do? We're good friends, good brothers."
I looked at this young man who had just lost his father and smiled and said, "That's right, we are friends, and even more so, brothers."
And so, under the command of Debo and me, we retreated into Redstone City before the main force of the orcs arrived.
Fero and the others were already waiting eagerly at the city gate, and unexpectedly, I saw Sutton in the crowd.
"Xiu Lan!" A bright voice rang out, and Fei Ya flew into my arms like a happy little bird, saying sweetly, "I've been waiting for you for so long, why are you so late?"
I put my arms around her waist, feeling the fragrance of her hot body, and smiled, "You couldn't wait that long?"
Fei Ya whispered in my ear, "It's been a month since I saw you, the days have been hard."
I laughed and pinched her full skin hard.
At this moment, De Bo walked over and forced a smile at Fei Ya, "Little sister, have you forgotten your brother as soon as you saw Xiu Lan?"
Fei Ya pouted and said, "I don't miss you at all." Noticing that De Bo was injured, she immediately asked with concern, "How did you get hurt? Are you alright?"
"It's nothing, just a small injury," De Bo replied.
"Where is Father?" Fei Ya looked around and asked curiously.
De Bo looked at me, and I replied, "In the carriage in the back."
"What happened to him?"
"Go see for yourself," De Bo really didn't have the courage to say it himself.
Feya sensed something was wrong and quickly released me, running towards the carriage behind.
Then, I heard her sorrowful cry, followed by someone shouting, "Miss has fainted!"
Princess Jingyue said, "Xiu Lan, I'll take care of Feya. You all quickly discuss the defense of the city."
I nodded and entered the city gate with Debo.
Ferro and Sutton came to greet us. Ferro asked in a low voice, "His Excellency the Duke...?"
I shook my head without answering. Ferro understood the implication, his expression darkening.
Sutton bowed to me, saying, "Your Majesty!"
"Why are you here?" I asked.
“It was Mr. Kongsun who ordered me to go to Redstone City to await His Majesty,” Sutton glanced at Debo and replied in a low voice, “He said His Majesty couldn’t stay in the capital for long, and the orc invasion was only a matter of a month. I didn’t expect him to be right.”
I understood the meaning in his eyes and said calmly, “Let’s talk as we walk.”
“Your Majesty, Mr. Kongsun instructed me to tell you that in addition to the Azure Lan Legion, we have also secretly transferred the Dark Moon Legion to Silver Helmet Valley in the City of Mountains. In addition, Chief Yad’s 5,000 White Elf archers and Chief Red Feather’s 10,000 Mountain Clan warriors have quietly entered the Ruoyit Valley and are ready to enter the Empire’s territory to fight at any time.”
I was shocked and turned to look at Sutton.
He nodded to me, slightly excited, and said, "Mr. Kongsun said that the current invasion of the orcs is just the right time to fight the imperial army to the death. His Majesty Jiaxiu is nearing his end. Once he dies, the imperial court will inevitably be thrown into chaos by the struggle for the throne. You will definitely take this opportunity to annex the eastern border of the empire, and then march on the capital to complete the second step in unifying the continent."
Fortunately, Kong Sun was my subordinate; otherwise, I would have had to rely on overwhelming force to kill him.
He had even anticipated the development of the situation before me, and had even arranged the battle plan well in advance.
However, the death of Duke Jinsha was probably the only thing he couldn't have foreseen.
And this would cause me to change my original plan accordingly.
I glanced at Debo behind me and said in a deep voice, "We'll talk about that later. Right now, the most important thing is to deal with the 80,000-strong orc army outside the city."
After entering the Duke's mansion, we rested for a while. Debo placed Duke Jinsha's body in the hall and quickly set up the mourning hall.
But he ordered his personal guards to stand guard at the door, not allowing anyone to disturb him, saying he wanted some peace and quiet.
This worried his subordinates greatly. Seeing that the orc army could attack the city at any moment, and Debo was still immersed in grief and unable to recover, anyone would be anxious.
Helpless, the generals recommended Shi Luo to come to me, pleading, "Your Majesty Xiu Lan, General De Bo has locked himself in the mourning hall and refuses to see anyone. This can't go on. We all know he usually listens to you the most, please try to persuade him."
I walked to the entrance of the mourning hall, and the guards didn't dare to stop me when they saw it was me.
Hearing footsteps behind me, De Bo angrily said without turning around, "Didn't I tell you not to disturb me?"
I walked to his side and said calmly, "It's me, De Bo."
"Xiu Lan?" De Bo turned his head, remained silent for a long time, and slowly said, "You know, I've been standing here, recalling every moment I spent with my father. I've realized that he has always been the greatest hero in my heart, and my pillar. Because of him, I didn't have to worry about anything, and I could enjoy myself without a care in the world. But he left so suddenly, and I almost don't know what to do."
I looked at the Duke's body lying peacefully in the coffin, surrounded by large blocks of ice that emitted wisps of white steam to prevent decay.
“I’m hiding here because I don’t know how to command my father’s men—each of them is twice my age, and I don’t know if they will obey my orders,” Debord said in a hoarse voice. “I also don’t know how to resolve the current crisis, how to lead them to drive away the orc army.”
“You must learn to take responsibility, Debord,” I said calmly. “You have become the new Duke of Golden Sands, and the entire Eastern Frontier is under your rule. They are waiting for your command to fight like your father and ancestors, to defend the family’s honor. So, you cannot let them down.”
“I know all this,” Debo said painfully. “I understand the responsibility on my shoulders, but my mind is blank right now. How can I command them?”
I said coldly, “If that’s the case, then you can wait until tomorrow morning for the orcs to collect everyone’s corpses.”
Debo was startled, a glimmer of light returning to his eyes. He slowly said, “When I met up with my father that day, he only had 40,000 men left beside him, with twice that number of enemy troops behind him. Everyone was terrified, hoping to retreat to Redstone City as soon as possible and use the city’s strong defenses to wait for Duke Ori’s reinforcements. But my father remained calm and composed, resisting the orcs’ offensive step by step, delaying them on the road for so many days!”
I said, “So, this defeat is not the Duke’s fault. If the 100,000 Imperial troops in Jisan City had been able to come to their aid earlier, perhaps even Tulu Fortress wouldn’t have fallen.”
Debo clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, “Those bastards, I won’t let them get away with this!”
“Oaths alone are useless; first, you must learn to fight,” I said. “Only by surviving can you avenge the Duke; otherwise, only the enemy will rejoice.”
“I understand!” Debord puffed out his chest and said to me, “Xiu Lan, you know I’m good at indulging in pleasure, but I’m no match for you in military campaigns. Besides, my father’s dying wish was for you to take over command and deal with the current crisis. So, I want to ask you to help me!”
“You believe me?”
“Yes,” Debord nodded emphatically, “I believe only you can help us out of this predicament and help me avenge my father!”
I silently gazed at the Duke of Jinsha’s coffin. He was so peaceful now, no longer stirred by the drums and gongs outside the city.
Chapter Six: The City Burns
A moment later, a dozen high-ranking generals gathered outside, led by Shi Luo, quietly entered the mourning hall. Sutton and Ferro followed.
No one made a sound; even their footsteps were as light as possible.
Everyone's expression was unusually somber. Several generals had slightly red and swollen eyes, showing they had been crying outside.
After paying their respects to the Duke of Jinsha's remains, the mourning hall was filled with sorrow and sobs.
Everyone tried their best to suppress their grief and anger, but I could clearly feel that the mourning hall was like a dormant volcano, ready to erupt with scorching lava at any moment.
No one wanted to accept such a cruel reality, but it had happened after all.
These imperial generals, who had struggled through bloodshed and death, were now weeping uncontrollably.
Silence, sometimes, is more painful than unrestrained wailing.
Shiro straightened up and said in a deep voice, "General Debo, the Duke has died a glorious death, and you are now the lord of Redstone City. I believe no one will object to this. Now, please take charge!"
Debo glanced at the Duke's subordinates and smiled bitterly, "I know my own limitations all too well. If I weren't the son of the Duke of Golden Sands, if my father hadn't died at the hands of the orcs, I probably would have disappeared long ago. For me, war is far less tempting than beautiful women and fine wine."
If these words were spoken in another setting, they might have elicited a knowing smile, but at this moment, no one felt that way.
"But now I am willing to shoulder this responsibility, to live and die with everyone, and to fight the Northern Alliance to the bitter end!" Debord's voice was firm and powerful, no longer the witty and flamboyant man he once was. He slowly said, "Even if we fight to the last man, to the last drop of blood, I, Debord, will never give up!"
Shiro and the others felt their blood boil and shouted in unison, "We are willing to obey General Debord's orders, fight to the death, and avenge the Duke!"
Sutton whispered beside me, "So it turns out that Debord, besides being good at sweet-talking young girls, is also quite adept at dealing with old men."
I snorted coldly, and Sutton quickly shut up. This guy is even more of a scoundrel than Debord; he's never serious.
Debord smiled bitterly, "Thank you, generals, but if you were to follow my orders, you'd likely die even faster. When it comes to warfare, I'm more of a novice than any of you here. Besides, the Duke, on his deathbed, made arrangements for this, finding us a true military genius. I believe only he can lead us out of this predicament and avenge my father and the millions of our fallen comrades!"
This kid, he sold me out so easily.
Schro asked suspiciously, "General Debord, who is this person you're talking about?"
Debord patted my shoulder and looked at everyone, saying, "It's His Majesty Xiu Lan of Biarell!"
This statement caused an uproar.
For these people, accepting the command of an outsider was far more difficult than accepting a nobleman like Debord who knew nothing about warfare.
Perhaps it was their so-called pride and the sense of honor of imperial warriors foolishly at work.
An elderly general with graying hair said, "His Majesty Xiu Lan's military talent is undeniable, but after all, you are the King of Biarell, how can you—"
Debo interrupted him, slowly saying, "General Paul, this is not only my thought, but also the Duke's dying wish. In his view, only His Majesty Xiu Lan can save the situation and help us fight against the 100,000-strong orc army in the current dire circumstances. Don't you even trust my father's decision?"
The crowd exchanged glances, temporarily silenced by the Duke of Jinsha's imposing title.
I knew, however, that they all harbored resentment and doubt.
But I remained silent; at this moment, my silence was the best choice.
Debo, of course, understood this as well, and he understood even more the consequences if these people could not fully obey and trust me.
He smiled wryly, “Generals, the only person the Duke truly admired during his lifetime was His Majesty Xiu Lan. That’s why he didn’t hesitate to betroth Fei Ya to His Majesty. In that sense, His Majesty Xiu Lan and I are not only not outsiders, but brothers. Moreover, he is also Princess Jingyue’s fiancé and His Majesty Jiaxiu’s favored grandson. These are enough to convince anyone that the blood of the Monston people flows in his veins!”
Perhaps it was this damned bloodline that had an effect, as everyone’s expressions softened considerably.
Shi Luo hesitated for a moment, then looked at several senior generals with questioning eyes. Seeing that they remained silent, he said, “General Debo, we all want to know what His Majesty Xiu Lan’s plans and intentions are in the face of the current battle situation, and how he will deal with the 80,000 enemy troops outside the city?” Debo
smiled slightly and looked at me with trusting eyes.
“Who can tell me the current situation in Redstone City?” I wasn’t in a hurry to answer his question, but instead asked in return.
After a moment of silence, General Paul replied, "The Duke originally left 15,000 soldiers in the city, under my command. Adding the troops that retreated from the front lines, the total is roughly estimated at around 30,000, but the exact number will likely only be known after tomorrow's tally."
Around 30,000—this result was much better than I had anticipated.
"At dawn, the orcish army will attack the city; we don't have much time left." I turned to Debo and asked, "Can you tell me how long we can hold out against Redstone City's defenses?"
Debo hesitated, then smiled bitterly, "I don't know either. Perhaps if we all unite, we can hold out for a few more days."
The series of defeats had already demoralized everyone, and morale was low. Even those supposedly battle-hardened generals didn't look much better.
"We'll fight one day at a time. I heard Duke Ori's reinforcements will arrive soon!" General Paul said.
My gaze sharpened, fixed on his indignant face, and I sneered, "Duke Ori's army will take at least half a month to reach Redstone City. By then, we'll probably only be collecting corpses. Even if we can hold out until then, can his 60,000 troops turn the tide of the battle?"
Everyone knows this basic common sense, and Shi Luo came to his colleague's rescue, saying, "Your Majesty Xiu Lan, I agree with what you said. Since we can't count on Duke Ori's reinforcements, what should we do now?"
I slowly said, "Redstone City is indefensible, and there's no point in holding it. Against the winged tribes that can launch attacks from the air, city defenses are useless. I think this is largely why Tulu Fortress fell."
The generals who had witnessed the Battle of Tulu Fortress nodded, their eyes revealing both fear and anger.
"So, Xiu Lan, you mean—" Debo asked doubtfully.
"Abandon the city!"
My voice was cold and devoid of any emotion, as if I were talking about an extremely ordinary and trivial matter, yet it resonated deeply in the solemn mourning hall.
"What? Abandon the city? No way!" General Paul trembled with excitement, shouting, "Redstone City is the culmination of the Duke's decades of painstaking efforts, the capital of Zhaiya County! Losing it is equivalent to losing the entire county, and even more so, losing face for everyone. How can we face the Duke then?"
Another young general seemed to want to draw his sword and kill me, glaring at me and roaring, "No matter who you are, if you want us to flee without a fight and abandon Redstone City, I, Tiger, will be the first to object!" Someone else
hid in the crowd, glancing at me with contempt, and scoffed, "What military genius? Just a coward like Biarell!"
Hearing the insults, Ferro and Sutton's eyes flashed coldly, and they were about to draw their swords, but I quietly stopped them.
Tonight, for some reason, my patience was unusually good.
Perhaps it was because I didn't want to do anything to embarrass Debord in front of the Duke of Jinsha's body. But patience always has its limits, and if I crossed that limit, even if he was a god or a demon, I would still take his head.
Their reaction was exactly what I expected. I watched their impassioned performance with indifference, but I noticed that besides Sutton and Ferro, there were three others who hadn't joined the chorus of condemnation.
One was Shiro, who stood thoughtfully beside Debo, his lips moving a few times before he finally held back.
Another was Gronsso, whom I had specially summoned, who looked at me with a puzzled expression but didn't speak.
Debo suddenly roared, "Shut up! Xiu Lan must have his reasons for saying that. I, Debo, will be the first to object to anyone who laughs at him for being a coward. Do you know who it was that single-handedly infiltrated the Black Flag Regiment, assassinating Chago amidst a thousand men? Who turned back to save me from an attack by tens of thousands of hungry wolves? How many of you dare say you have such courage, yet on what grounds do you accuse my friend?"
The crowd was stunned by Debo's angry shout, and the mourning hall fell into complete silence; you could almost hear a pin drop.
Silence, a silence colder than ice.
The night wind carried the faint sounds of the arrogant howls of the orcs outside the city, the rumbling of their drums, and the heavy stench of blood.
At dawn, a new slaughter would begin.
But I would change the course of history, directing it in a completely different direction.
I said calmly, “What we need is not to hold Redstone City, but to completely drive the orcs out of Monston. Wasting the lives of 30,000 soldiers here is meaningless. The loss of a city or territory is insignificant compared to the depletion of the enemy's manpower and the attainment of final victory. If you don't even understand this, you might as well take off your armor and go home to be commoners.”
The crowd paused, vaguely beginning to understand my intentions.
Shiro hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Your Majesty Xiulan, if we abandon Redstone City, where can our 30,000-plus men go? Should we retreat south to try and rejoin Duke Ori's army as soon as possible, or head west towards Leicester County?”
I smiled confidently and instructed Ferro to spread out the map of the Empire's eastern border that I had prepared beforehand. The entire Zhaiyasi County is nestled amidst rolling mountains, with the central hilly region home to more than half of the nine cities of the Eastern Frontier, including Redstone City. To the east lies the Ruoyit Mountains, and to the north, the Gaobidi Mountains, upon which Tulu Fortress sits, guarding the northeastern gateway to the empire. A hundred miles further northwest lies Jisang City, its terrain even more treacherous than Tulu Fortress, but its strategic significance is far less.
It is precisely for this reason that the orcish army abandoned the 100,000 imperial troops in Jisang City, directly attacking Tulu Fortress, leaving only Garnett's 20,000 Night Wolf Warriors to maintain security in the rear.
“This is Redstone City, and this is Tulu Fortress,” I said, tapping the map lightly with my sword sheath. “The distance between them is 391 kilometers, with four passes in between, connected only by a single road. On both sides of the road are deep mountains and dense forests, a wild and uninhabited area, but hidden there are countless rugged paths for our march. Our next battlefield is there.”
“Northward, deep behind enemy lines?” Debo crouched down, staring at the map, and said in surprise, “Xiu Lan, that’s all within the Northern Alliance’s sphere of influence. If we’re discovered by the orc scouts, tens of thousands of enemies will surround us, and we won’t be able to escape.”
“It’s not that pessimistic,” I replied confidently. “First, the orcs will never expect us to head north; second, we’re specifically choosing remote routes deep in the forests and mountains, and with nighttime marches, even winged scouts will have a hard time spotting us.”
“But what are we going there to do?” Tiger frowned. “Cut off their supply lines and harass their rear bases?”
I said dismissively, “Disrupting their supply lines is too small a deal. What I want is Tulou Fortress!”
“Huh?” Everyone stared at me in surprise, stunned by my audacious and almost impossible plan.
At this point, probably no one would dare to mock me as a coward anymore; most would probably think I was crazy.
Schroe smiled bitterly, “According to our intelligence, Tulou Fortress has 4,000 troops from the Spirit Ape Tribe, which isn’t so bad. But behind it is the Night Wolf Tribe’s 20,000-strong army. That’s how Earl Welling was wiped out.”
“Moreover, Tulou Fortress is only twenty kilometers north of the Northern Alliance’s territory. They could send reinforcements at any time,” Paul added.
“I am not Marquis Welling, and history cannot repeat itself,” I replied. “Imagine if the Imperial army suddenly appeared before Tulou Fortress, posing as if to besiege it. How would they react?”
“Naturally, they would hold their ground and call for reinforcements from the Night Wolf Tribe,” Debo said. “Even I, an amateur, could guess that possibility.”
I smiled. “Indeed, Garnett will certainly come to their aid upon hearing the news, as he knows the importance of Tulou Fortress to the orcish army. But the shortest route from his camp to Tulou Fortress is through the southern foothills of Mount Gisang, the very place where Earl Welling was ambushed. Our main force should be hidden there, waiting to give them a proper welcome.”
“But, will Garnett fall for it? Can our forces of 20,000 men from the Night Wolf Tribe handle them?” Tiger hesitated. No one dared to underestimate the fighting power of the Night Wolf Tribe, especially their 10,000 wolf riders.
“He will come, and he will certainly follow the path I have laid out. The more arrogant a person is, the more likely they are to fall for the simplest tricks. With Garnett's intelligence, he would never believe that anyone would dare to wait for him in the same way as when he ambushed Earl Welling. As for the issue of troop strength, don't forget that the Empire's 50,000 troops are still sitting idly in Gisang City. We can make full use of this, ambushing them with a four-to-one force. Even the Wolf Riders will regret it on the battlefield!”
I didn't reveal my deeper thoughts. A four-to-one troop advantage would be enough against an ordinary enemy, but Garnett was not that simple. Fortunately, I had other considerations.
Everyone's eyes lit up, as if they saw the dawn of victory.
Although they all held an indomitable belief, no one dared to be optimistic about the situation before them. However, my plan made them see the possibility of victory.
Paul slapped his thigh excitedly, "Great! As long as we take care of Garnett's 20,000 men, Tulou Fortress will be ours for the taking. Then, once the Imperial reinforcements arrive, we'll attack from both the north and south, and see how those beasts survive!"
Gronsso, forgetting that he was the lowest-ranking among them, said, "Moreover, Tulou Fortress is stockpiled with a large amount of food and supplies for the orcs. Losing these will cause them a huge headache with their future supplies."
Seeing that everyone finally understood my strategic intentions and stopped doubting, Sutton snorted with satisfaction, "You finally understand."
Debord chuckled, "Sutton, when did you understand?"
Sutton paused, muttering... “I figured it out sooner than you,”
Paul said, readily admitting his mistake and sincerely sighing, “I only now understand that Corran’s defeat that day was truly justified!”
Schro, shrewd and calculating, still expressed some concern: “Will Earl Ister obey His Majesty Xiu Lan and General Debo’s orders? What if he refuses to relinquish his military power?”
I sneered, “I hope so. It would be perfect for killing him and bringing our 50,000 men under our control. And incidentally, it would avenge Duke Jinsha.”
Everyone harbored deep resentment towards Earl Welling and Earl Ister for their refusal to come to our aid. The former had already died in battle, so that debt had to be settled, but we couldn't let the latter get away with it. Therefore, my idea, for the first time, received the approval of most people.
Many people below shouted, "Yes, kill him! Avenge the Duke!"
Tiger sneered, "I think we should just kill him without saying a word."
Schro said with a wry smile, "No matter what, he is a commander-in-chief and an imperial count. Even if the Duke were alive, he wouldn't be able to touch him, let alone us. If we really kill him, the consequences—" Debo snorted
, "What consequences? He killed my father, so he has to pay with his life! That's the consequence! I'll take responsibility for His Majesty's death; it has nothing to do with you all."
Seeing Debo say this, everyone had no more objections, and many were even pleased that Debo, a son of a military family, was indeed courageous.
Seeing that the time was ripe, I brought up the old point again: "You should understand why I had to abandon Redstone City. If we were to fight on the plains, or engage in a battle around a city, we would be no match for the orcs. Only by disregarding the gains and losses of a single city or territory, and using the high mountains and dense forests of Zhaiya County as cover to maneuver against them, rendering their winged tribes' air superiority useless, and forcing the black-helmeted warriors of the Great Bear tribe to run themselves ragged on the mountain roads, would we have a chance to turn defeat into victory!"
"Understood!" Tiger exclaimed, "The military classics say that to take something, you must first give it—that's the principle. We'll give them Redstone City, and we'll get it back tenfold in the future!"
"You're wrong," I corrected, "The orcs won't even get Redstone City intact."
"What?"
"There's still some time until dawn, enough for us to make some more arrangements. First, evacuate all the civilians who haven't left the city yet; those who refuse to leave, we'll have to whip them. Then, take enough supplies for the army for ten days from the warehouse, leaving the rest untouched."
"Isn't this just giving the orcs an easy advantage?" Debor asked in surprise.
"They won't get anything. Tomorrow night I'll burn it all down. Not just military supplies, but everything of strategic value—buildings, baggage—leaving nothing behind. If it weren't for the fact that we'd be back soon, I'd even burn the entire city down, preventing their army from receiving any supplies."
As for why not burn it down immediately, firstly, I didn't want to alert the orc army too early and expose our intention to abandon the city; more importantly, perhaps we could also destroy the supplies they brought into the city.
"Then the city will be destroyed?" Paul asked.
"Don't worry, the orcs will be more anxious than we are. They'll do everything they can to put out the fire, and we can use this chaos to turn our army north from the mountains west of Redstone City, leaving them far behind!"
"Wouldn't it be even better if we left some men behind and wreaked havoc in the chaos?" Debor's eyes lit up.
“There’s no need for that, and leaving too many people behind will make it difficult to escape the winged people’s scouts,” I said. “Debo, there should be some secret passages leading out of the city from the Duke’s mansion or other places. Draw up all of these passages and give them to Ferro. Tomorrow night, Ferro, Kusei, and General Paul will lead two hundred elite men to carry out the arson plan, and then withdraw through the secret passages.”
I was prepared to sacrifice all two hundred men if necessary to complete the plan. However, with the strength of Kusei, Ferro, and Paul, they should be able to escape unscathed.
“No problem,” Debo patted his chest.
“Gronso, you lead your men to act immediately and evacuate all the residents of the city before dawn. If even one person is left behind, I will cut off one of your fingers.”
“Yes, Your Majesty Xiulan!” Gronsuo knew I wasn’t joking and hurriedly went out to make the arrangements.
"Paul, consolidate the troops retreating into the city. Withdraw in batches from the south gate. No torches, no noise. Reach Mount Gorgilho as quickly as possible and assemble for rest in the Kaze Forest."
"Tiger, prepare burning pine resin. Remember to add some spices to mask the odor."
"Shiro, light torches on the city walls, erect scarecrows, and raise several military flags to make the orcs think we intend to hold out for reinforcements."
My orders came one after another, and soon most of the generals in the mourning hall had left.
With a clear goal and hope, their steps were much lighter.
Princess Mirror Moon accompanied Feya in. The girl's beautiful face was filled with sorrow because of her father's death, losing its usual laughter and liveliness.
When her gaze fell on the coffin containing the Duke's body, tears that had already dried up silently streamed down her face again, and she sobbed helplessly.
Debo comforted her, "Feiya, don't cry. Dad wouldn't like you like this either. You know, he loved hearing your laughter the most when he was alive—" He wanted to continue, but his nose stung, and he quickly turned away.
After what seemed like an eternity, Feiya gradually stopped crying, looked up at me, her gaze hardening, and said in a hoarse voice, "Xiulan, Debo, you must take me with you when you go to war. I want to fight alongside everyone and avenge Father!"
I nodded and said, "You all go and prepare. We must leave before dawn."
Debo smiled bitterly, walked to the entrance of the mourning hall, gazed at the distant horizon, and slowly said, "Leaving this place, giving this beautiful city to the orcs, it's really a little hard to let go."
"War always comes at a price," I said calmly. "Soon, we will return, and the countless corpses of orc warriors will be the best reward."
Debo nodded heavily at me, took a deep breath, and murmured, "When will this night end?"

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