Goosebumps erupted across Wen Yu’s forearms in that instant, yet the eyes meeting that gaze were cold as a blade.

Zhao Bai also seized this gap, fiercely pressing down her wrist. The sword hilt pressed against the opponent’s blade and turned horizontally, the sword edge directly targeting the opposite throat. Pei Fifteen blocked with his scabbard. Zhao Bai then hooked one foot into a mud puddle, instantly sweeping up a spray of mud. Forced to turn his eyes away, Pei Fifteen was caught off guard as Zhao Bai’s freed left hand drew another long blade from her waist and slashed across his torso. Simultaneously she shouted to the Azure Cloud Guards behind her: “Take the Princess and go!”

That blade’s chopping momentum was so fierce, she was actually more skilled with the blade than the sword.

Pei Fifteen’s pupils contracted. He could only raise his blade to deflect Zhao Bai’s sword attacking his neck, switching to his thicker scabbard to block that ferocious strike at his side.

Several Azure Cloud Guards seized the opportunity to protect Wen Yu as they struggled through the crowd, trying to break through the encirclement. But a “whoosh” sound came from above as a signal flare shot into the sky.

Wen Yu looked up to see fireworks exploding in the firmament. Her heart sank.

That was the lackeys signaling the Pei army forces behind them.

Pei’s army would soon press toward this location.

The Liang army soldiers and Azure Cloud Guards below were clearly affected by that signal flare. Their vigor in resisting the lackeys’ attacks diminished considerably all at once. Momentarily careless, they were entangled by the lackeys, their defense revealing a breach. One lackey directly reached out to grab Wen Yu.

Wen Yu clenched her teeth, gripping the sword with both hands and fiercely slashing diagonally upward with all her strength.

That lackey clearly hadn’t expected her to actually use a sword. His eyes filled with shock. As he dodged sideways, he only managed to grab the hair ribbon binding Wen Yu’s dark tresses after she’d removed all her jewelry.

The fierce cold arc of the rising sword edge forced him to retreat. The ribbon on Wen Yu’s head was also pulled loose, and that cascade of hair fell down like a waterfall. Several strands were blown across Wen Yu’s cheeks by the cold wind, complementing her cold, intimidating moon-like eyes—quite soul-stirring.

Had the lackey not dodged in time, his entire arm would likely have been disabled by that sword strike.

The other party looked at her with complete disbelief, seemingly never expecting that though she appeared as delicate as a lotus in a pond, she could also bristle with thorns throughout.

That earlier mistake had also frightened the Azure Cloud Guards into a cold sweat. In these moments, they had regrouped, protecting Wen Yu tightly.

Wen Yu’s hands gripping the sword still trembled slightly from the intense muscle contraction of the previous moment, but her voice when she spoke was extremely calm: “Break out before Pei’s army arrives!”

She didn’t truly possess the martial skills for real combat. Previously in Pingzhou, because she exhausted herself mentally handling official business daily until her body couldn’t take it and she fell ill, she’d since set aside half a watch each day. Under Zhao Bai’s guidance, she’d practiced some physical training exercises, building up this body capable of wielding blades and swords.

Probably shocked by her composure, the Azure Cloud Guards who’d been somewhat panicked gradually gained order as they protected her in fighting their way out, no longer exposing breaches due to the lackeys’ fierce attacks.

“Hyah!” Bronze Sparrow’s shout came from ahead. Seeing both Wen Yu and Zhao Bai entangled, she immediately severed the reins attached to the carriage, leaped onto the horse’s back with half her body slanted along the horse’s side, one hand gripping the saddle while extending her other hand toward Wen Yu: “Princess, mount with me!”

Just as Wen Yu was about to reach out, the Pei lackeys who sensed trouble suddenly blew a sharp whistle.

Instantly cold arrows from both sides of the official road attacked like a torrential rain. Wen Yu was immediately knocked to the ground by the Azure Cloud Guards. Liang army soldiers also fell like wheat stalks cut by a long scythe, collapsing in great numbers in an instant.

Bronze Sparrow on horseback had even less chance to avoid. As the horse’s legs were struck by arrows and it neighed and toppled forward, she rolled on the ground to dodge that sheet of crossbow bolts that nailed into the muddy ground like steel spikes in perfect unison.

Wen Yu was covered in muddy water. The cold seeped through her soaked clothing into her bones, freezing her until her teeth chattered. But warmth and wetness came from behind her, the smell of blood growing thick. She tried to ask how the Azure Cloud Guard behind her fared, but saw the turbid yellow mudwater in the puddle beside her slowly staining crimson.

The Azure Cloud Guards protecting her had been shot full of arrows like sieves.

Her five fingers dug deeply into the muddy ground. In the north wind cutting like blades, her eyes reddened. She wanted to scream in grief but couldn’t hear any sound coming from herself.

In the distance, both Zhao Bai and Bronze Sparrow desperately tried to rush over, but Zhao Bai was tightly surrounded by Pei Fifteen and several other lackeys using that strangling method they’d used to encircle Xiao Li.

Her clothing had already been slashed with multiple bloody gashes, blood stains on her face as well. Eyes blazing with fury like a maddened leopard, she charged forward regardless, only to be viciously cut several more times by the lackeys. Her entire body staggered, supporting herself with her blade as she knelt in the mud.

Bronze Sparrow rolled into the roadside weeds. The moment she raised her head, she was forced back down by arrow rain like flying locusts. When she tried to force her way out, an arrow pierced through her shoulder.

Wen Yu didn’t know how long had passed before the arrow rain finally stopped, only knowing her hand braced against the ground had been completely submerged in blood past the back of her hand.

She heard footsteps approaching her. Eyes as crimson as the blood covering the ground no longer looked in any direction. Her hand with bulging veins pushed against the ground, gripping her long sword and shoving aside the Azure Cloud Guard pressing on her back as she tried to stagger to her feet.

But more arrows whistled shrilly from behind. Wen Yu couldn’t even see clearly which lackey was walking toward her before he was already knocked to the ground by the force of a long arrow piercing through his heart.

The lackeys who’d already lowered their crossbows realized reinforcements had arrived. They instantly split into two groups—one side re-raising crossbows to turn and aim their shots, the other rushing forward to capture Wen Yu.

But it was already too late.

Distant hoofbeats rumbled like thunder. Arrows shot from bowstrings on horseback flew like streaming light, instantly piercing the throats of several lackeys.

The lackey who’d come to capture Wen Yu also lost his center of gravity when an arrow struck his calf just as he reached her, falling to the ground. Wen Yu acted decisively, swinging her sword across the opponent’s throat. The spurting blood splashed across her face, yet she didn’t even blink again.

Her entire body was already covered in Azure Cloud Guards’ blood. She wasn’t afraid of being stained with more blood from Pei clan dogs.

On the other side, seeing things going badly, Pei Fifteen and the others could no longer afford to continue surrounding Zhao Bai. They turned to rush toward Wen Yu.

Already gravely wounded, Zhao Bai let out a violent roar, raising her blade and with her own strength alone, forcibly held back several people.

Bronze Sparrow also crawled out from the grass clutching her shoulder wound, picking up a crossbow dropped by a dead lackey. Bracing the crossbow base against her knee joint, she fired wildly at the lackeys still charging toward Wen Yu.

This moment’s breathing space finally allowed that mounted warrior to gallop to Wen Yu’s side. The rider showed no intention of stopping, directly leaning down as he passed Wen Yu’s side, sweeping his arm around her and bringing her onto the horse’s back, continuing forward without pause.

The scattered few riders following behind him stayed to resist the pursuing Pei lackeys.

Further back, more cavalry shouted and charged forward. The enormous Pei character banner fluttered fiercely in the bitter cold wind.

The lackeys’ morale surged. Seeing the unfavorable situation and that Wen Yu had already been rescued by Jiang Yu, Zhao Bai no longer fought Pei Fifteen and the others to the death. After splitting open a path with one strike, she rolled to the roadside, grabbed the wounded Bronze Sparrow and fled into the roadside scrub overgrown with withered grass.

Pei Fifteen glanced at the several gashes on his shoulders and waist, his expression completely dark. But now wasn’t the time to pursue one guard like Zhao Bai. He looked in the direction Jiang Yu had galloped away, saying in a low voice: “Pursue!”

—

The north wind was fierce. Both Wen Yu and Jiang Yu, who’d rushed over after a battle, were covered in blood. The smell of blood was so thick they couldn’t tell whether it was someone else’s or from their own wounds.

Jiang Yu controlled the warhorse with one arm. As the horse galloped, while steadying his form he tried to maintain distance from her. His voice torn by the north wind was muffled: “Are you wounded?”

Wen Yu shook her head. Her full head of dark hair blew wildly backward in the wind. She heavily closed her eyes in the cold wind, with no desire to speak.

Jiang Yu knew all this was caused by a traitor among his own troops. Though his mere hundred men had already suffered near total casualties when the Pei army arrived like hyenas following a scent, at this moment he still felt humiliated. Any words of comfort seemed to have no standing to be spoken.

He breathed two mouthfuls of ice-cold, throat-stabbing air in the cold wind. Finally his Adam’s apple rolled as he was about to speak when the sharp whistling of arrows breaking through air came from behind.

His body suddenly pressed down, bringing Wen Yu with him to dodge that arrow. Turning his head to see Pei cavalry pursuing from various mountain and wilderness shortcuts behind them, his expression became immediately ugly.

“Can you ride?”

Wen Yu’s entire body was nearly prostrate on the horse’s back. Only when the person behind her spoke in what was nearly a low shout did the sound enter her eardrums through the fierce wind. She could only shout back through the wind that cut so sharply she could barely open her eyes: “Somewhat familiar, not proficient.”

The person behind then shouted: “You control the horse!”

Wen Yu realized something. Turning her head, she’d just shouted out “What about you” when Jiang Yu again pressed down on the back of her neck. Several cold arrows whistled past practically grazing their scalps.

The warhorse beneath them had been galloping too long and was carrying two people. The Pei cavalry behind were continuously closing the distance and drawing bows to aim at them.

Jiang Yu took the bow hanging at the saddle’s side while still in that position, and as he stuffed the reins into Wen Yu’s hand, he suddenly embraced her forcefully across her elbow holding the reins.

So hasty that Wen Yu couldn’t tell whether it was truly the other party’s unintentional action, but the person behind her’s chest, firm as iron, did indeed heavily collide with her back. His breathing also became rapid and forceful in that moment, even somewhat pained.

The other party released his grip and jumped down from the horse. Wen Yu hadn’t yet recovered when, dazedly looking back, she saw Jiang Yu roll on the ground to dissipate the momentum, then draw his bow and release several arrows in succession, shooting down several Pei cavalry in the vanguard.

He turned his head to look at Wen Yu. His handsome face stained with blood, murderous intent rolling in his eyes, his shout tearing through the long wind resounding across the wilderness: “This subordinate Jiang Yu pledges loyalty to my lord! My lord Hanyang, receiving the Mandate of Heaven, shall have longevity and eternal prosperity!”

Having spoken, he looked at Wen Yu no more. Drawing his bow again and releasing several arrows, only when all arrows in his quiver were exhausted did he pick up a long blade from the ground. Not retreating but advancing, he charged toward the Pei cavalry, raising his blade to sever horse hooves, then thrusting his spear to take the lives of several cavalrymen. Truly displaying the momentum of one man guarding the pass against ten thousand.

Wen Yu wasn’t proficient in horsemanship. The cavalry behind, seeing they couldn’t bypass Jiang Yu on the official road, had already spurred their horses into the wilderness to pursue by another route. She could no longer turn back to look.

As she gripped the reins and shouted “Hyah,” something rolled from her eyes that the cold wind had made painfully dry. Blown by the oncoming fierce wind, it left no trace, leaving only wet marks that split painfully on her face.

She didn’t look back again. When she again fiercely dug her heels into the horse’s flanks and raised her whip, she shouted an even clearer “Hyah.”

Vast wind filled her ears. Her eyes reddened. In this instant she recalled this same season last year when her personal guards were escorting her to Southern Chen and were attacked. In the end only she escaped alone—the same desolate cold mountains, the same austere jade forest.

She recalled Elder Brother sending her out of Luodu, saying: “A’Yu, when you reach Southern Chen, don’t be afraid. Elder Brother will soon bring you home.”

Administrator Zhou sending her out of Yongzhou, saying to her: “Princess, proceed south with peace of mind. This minister will certainly guard Yongzhou for you, becoming a thorn in Pei clan’s bone.”

Li Yao accepting her as his student, saying: “Even as Imperial Tutor, this old man is worthy! You want this old man to strategize for you—for what purpose?”

…

Finally came Jiang Yu’s words: “This subordinate Jiang Yu pledges loyalty to my lord! My lord Hanyang, receiving the Mandate of Heaven, shall have longevity and eternal prosperity!”

Wen Yu desperately rode to escape, but under the relentless pursuit of the Pei cavalry skilled in horsemanship, she was still slowly overtaken. From time to time they released arrows to frighten her, loudly shouting to shoot the horse, wanting to capture her alive.

Arrows whistled past her clothes and hair. When the warhorse beneath her was finally struck and fell neighing, Wen Yu rolled on the ground to avoid being crushed by the horse. Supporting herself in the muddy ground and gripping her sword, she climbed up, looking at the Pei cavalry encircling from all sides of the wilderness. Her eyes held no fear, only the desolate resentment of great ambitions unaccomplished.

She bore the vengeance of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and carried the promise of restoring the realm.

Vengeance not yet repaid, promise not yet fulfilled.

She would not choose death!

The cavalrymen, seeing all escape routes from the wilderness completely sealed, seemed intent on breaking her spirit. They weren’t in a rush to capture her, only spurring their horses and circling while continuously tightening the encirclement, wanting to see this renowned Great Liang’s first beauty display a vulnerable expression of frightened panic under such intimidation.

Unfortunately, before the beauty showed timidity, horn sounds suddenly echoed from all four sides of the mountain wilderness. Snow on roadside tall trees trembled.

The Pei cavalry froze. When they looked up again, they saw cavalry bearing Wei character banners rapidly invading from the wilderness on all sides like a flooding tide.

After all, this was Northern Wei territory. This Pei cavalry unit was merely wandering nearby plundering and had only rushed over after receiving intelligence. How could they compare with the numbers of locally stationed Wei forces?

The cavalrymen grew panicked. In an instant the wilderness filled with warhorses’ neighing.

They quickly chose a direction to retreat. The cavalry in the rear galloped past Wen Yu’s side, reaching out to grab her onto horseback. But Wen Yu’s gaze was stern. Raising her sword she slashed, swinging with full force—clearly no mere show, frightening the cavalrymen into withdrawing their hands, not daring to risk severed arms to grab her recklessly.

The scene momentarily stalemated. Seeing Wei cavalry galloping ever closer, several riders suddenly charged toward Wen Yu against the direction of the Pei cavalry’s escape.

It was Pei Fifteen and several lackeys!

When Wen Yu saw the round object wrapped in black cloth tied to Pei Fifteen’s saddle and dripping blood downward, her face instantly turned deathly pale.

Pei Fifteen and those lackeys had been delayed in catching up—she knew they must have been entangled by someone. That head wrapped in black cloth—was it Jiang Yu’s or Zhao Bai’s?

Wen Yu breathed forcefully, yet still felt the frigid air she inhaled was like steel needles stabbing into her lungs. Her hands gripping the sword showed bulging veins as she stared fixedly at Pei Fifteen. The resentment in her eyes congealed almost tangibly, falling together with large hot tears.

Pei Fifteen could see Wen Yu’s desperate fighting momentum, but he paid it no mind whatsoever. As Wen Yu swung her sword, his body directly dodged at an inconceivable angle, then accurately and unerringly grabbed her shoulder and arm to haul her onto the horse.

In that instant Wen Yu only felt her entire body lift into the air, half her shoulder in acute pain as if the joint had dislocated. A pained groan escaped her throat. But before being brought onto horseback, the hand Pei Fifteen had gripping her shoulder suddenly released.

As Wen Yu fell back to the ground, disregarding the pain on her body, she desperately clutched the black cloth bundle hanging before Pei Fifteen’s saddle. Dragged several steps, she finally pulled the bundle free and tumbled to the ground.

After dodging that life-threatening arrow, Pei Fifteen saw Wen Yu had also pulled down the severed head hanging from his horse. His heart filled with great hatred. He wanted to turn back to grab Wen Yu, but those arrows came as if they had eyes, again and again, each arrow shooting toward his vital points.

Pei Fifteen raised his eyes to look at the archer, but momentarily careless, he was struck by a feathered arrow. Instantly the powerful force pierced him completely, knocking him from his horse. The frightened accompanying lackeys shouted “Fifteenth Captain” as they hauled him onto a horse, no longer daring to linger, fleeing in panic with the Pei cavalry.

Northern Wei sent part of their cavalry to pursue Pei’s army. The remaining troops surrounded Wen Yu, but she could no longer care. Enduring the pain all over her body, she knelt in the snow-mud chaos of the wilderness, hands trembling as she unwrapped that black cloth bundle, terrified she would see Zhao Bai’s features.

When she clearly saw the blood-covered young general’s outline, she let out a short, hoarse cry. Instantly using the black cloth to wrap it up again, the blood on her hands mingled with the snow-mud on the ground.

She painfully closed her eyes. As another hot tear fell from her eye socket, she murmured, “I’m sorry.”

“Who are you?”

A Wei general’s demand came from before her.

Wen Yu raised her eyes. Her face was now stained with blood and mud, and wearing ordinary mixed troops’ clothing. Were it not for her long hair torn loose and scattered, it would be difficult to distinguish whether she was male or female.

She opened her mouth as if to answer, but when she spoke her voice was terribly hoarse. Finally lowering her tear-reddened clear eyes: “This humble woman… is someone Commander Jiang kept at his side.”

So many people had already sacrificed themselves. After extreme grief, Wen Yu had become strangely calm.

These Wei forces had come upon hearing news—they must have also received intelligence of her being in the northern territories.

But she’d already ordered Zhao Bai to send messenger hawks back to the southern territories. Li Xun and the others would insist she’d never left Pingzhou. This Wei general didn’t recognize her. Then everything still had room for maneuvering.

The only trouble was these Wei forces had personally witnessed Pei’s army going to great lengths to capture her alive. To deceive them, she had to fabricate an identity they would believe.

When that Wei general heard her mention Commander Jiang, his gaze shifted to the head she’d re-wrapped in black cloth.

Unless it was someone of note, during military engagements heads wouldn’t be severed to claim merit.

An underling understood and quickly retrieved it.

That Wei general lifted the blood-soaked black cloth for a glance, then furrowed his brow tightly and turned his eyes away, waving for the soldier to cover it and take it away.

He looked Wen Yu up and down once, saying scrutinizingly: “Setting aside why Jiang Yu would bring a woman on campaign—he’s already been beheaded by Pei’s army, why would they spare your life?”

Grief deepened in Wen Yu’s eyes. Her hands covered her abdomen: “This humble woman encountered the Commander on the road. Fortunately the Commander showed favor, keeping me at his side, and I conceived the Commander’s child. The Commander… it was all to protect this humble woman and this unborn child in my womb that he met this fate!”

Her words carried ambiguity, making the Wei general think Jiang Yu had been careless and died at Pei forces’ hands while protecting her and the child. That’s why Pei’s army could only sever his head to claim merit.

As for her, this woman carrying Jiang Yu’s offspring—the child in her womb quite possibly Jiang Yu’s only bloodline—naturally had to be captured alive to negotiate terms with Southern Chen.

The Wei general scrutinized her twice more, still doubtful: “If you carry a child, how did you dare fight over a severed head while on horseback earlier?”

Wen Yu’s eyes instantly reddened: “The Commander is gone. This humble woman doesn’t wish to live either.”

Now the Wei general was rendered speechless by his own question. He reasoned: if the person before him were truly that precious Princess Hanyang, would she risk her life over a mere general’s severed head?

They’d watched from a distance earlier—her momentum being dragged across the wilderness yet refusing to let go made it clear this beheaded person was extremely important to her.

This woman was soaked in blood. One couldn’t tell whether she’d bled from that tumble.

Finally the Wei general said: “Since you carry two lives, still consider the child in your womb. Though our Northern Wei and Southern Chen are irreconcilable enemies, women and children are innocent. After returning to camp, this general will send someone to fetch a physician for you and relay your situation to the Chen camp. But you must truthfully answer this general’s question—was Princess Hanyang in your contingent?”

Wen Yu then miserably shook her head.

That Wei general deliberately threatened: “Do not deceive me!”

Wen Yu seemed frightened, shrinking her body. Her dark lashes still bearing moisture lowered as she said mournfully: “This humble woman heard the Commander mention Princess Hanyang to his subordinates, but the Commander spoke of releasing some intelligence to lure the Pei and Wei armies to clash, thus ensuring the Yang clan members could safely enter the southern territories…”

Hearing these words, the Wei general finally harbored no further doubts. Stamping his foot in anger, he exclaimed: “Tricked! We’ve been tricked!”

He strode toward the rear of the army, addressing the young valiant general sitting on horseback, eyes lowered as he wiped a dark iron great bow: “State Mentor! We’ve been played by that Chen camp fellow surnamed Jiang! Princess Hanyang isn’t here at all. That woman is his concubine! She’s carrying his child! Those Pei forces wanted to capture her alive!”

The soldier who’d been waved away earlier by the Wei general now stood before the other’s horse, cradling Jiang Yu’s bloody severed head.

Xiao Li put away the dark iron great bow, letting out a sound from his throat betraying no emotion—an “Mm”—saying calmly: “I heard.”