Even before the person opposite spoke, Jiang Hanyuan had already thought of Chi Shu.

Three years ago, after Qingmu Sai returned to the Great Wei, this Sixth Prince of Beidi had established his residence at Yan and You with the title of South King. During this period, the two countries had engaged in several battles around Qingmu Sai. Without exception, each time it was Beidi who initiated them, yet the scale was never large. Jiang Hanyuan judged these to be the enemy’s probing and reconnaissance, so she hadn’t exerted full effort either, always having her subordinates lead the battles. But undoubtedly, those conflicts must have been ordered by Chi Shu.

As the frontline military commander directly facing the conflicts between the two armies, Jiang Hanyuan had naturally conducted intelligence gathering on this enemy leader. According to what she knew, Chi Shu was not old, had learned culture from Han scholars in the Beidi court since childhood, could speak fluent Chinese, had an arrogant personality, possessed exceptional martial skills, and dared to take risks. During his father’s period of unifying the various tribes, he once fell into a trap set by an enemy tribe and was surrounded. In that critical moment, he exchanged horses with his father, disguised their banners, drew the enemy’s attention to himself, and fought his way out in bloody battle, thus allowing his father to escape death. Such courage, combined with fierce bravery – it was from that incident that he began to stand out among the many princes and gain attention.

If she gathered intelligence on enemy leaders, the other side would naturally do the same. The person before her – not only his age and characteristics, but also that condescending attitude – all matched Chi Shu. From his words, he also seemed to know her thoroughly.

Among the Beidi people with status and position, apart from Chi Shu, she couldn’t think of anyone else it could be.

But what she hadn’t expected was that this Sixth Prince of Beidi would be so arrogant as to dare infiltrate Chang’an.

At this moment, since he had appeared before her like this, he absolutely couldn’t be alone.

“You are Chi Shu? I know you. What do you intend by infiltrating Chang’an?”

While continuing to speak with him, she very quickly observed the surroundings. Indeed, behind a low hill not far away, people were faintly visible peering over the hilltop, spying on this side. About ten or so people in total.

Jiang Hanyuan dared not show any contempt. By her judgment, if she fought to the death with this Chi Shu alone, victory and defeat would be evenly matched. But if his ten or so subordinates were added, wanting to escape by force was unrealistic. Since Chi Shu had penetrated deep into enemy territory, the people he brought with him must be the best of the best.

Opposite her, Chi Shu also noticed she was observing his subordinates positioned behind him. Looking at her, a trace of a smile appeared at the corner of his lips. “General Jiang, Jiang Hanyuan! I know you even better. Since you are a Wei general, I won’t treat you as an ordinary woman, nor do I wish to humiliate you. But I tell you, you have no chance today. Better to surrender and come with me. I guarantee your life will be safe with honor and wealth. How about it?”

His words sounded quite polite, but the arrogance in his tone was unmistakably revealed.

Jiang Hanyuan said nothing.

“Besides me, my subordinates are also no ordinary people – all valiant warriors under my command, veterans of a hundred battles. Do you think you can still escape today? You are young and beautiful, with natural military talent – why be this worthless Wei Regent Prince’s consort? I tell you, in the future, this Chang’an territory will also be in my Great Beidi Dynasty’s pocket! When I ascend the throne, you can be a general of my Great Beidi Dynasty – how is that different?”

Jiang Hanyuan still said nothing, already forming a plan in her mind.

Seeing that she still gave no response, Chi Shu nodded. “Good. I’ve long wanted to see what abilities you truly possess. Though this place today is not a battlefield, being able to compete with you like this is also rare!”

He whistled, and those dozen or so people stopped behind the hill immediately rode out, came near, and lined up in formation behind him in a neat row.

“Jiang Hanyuan, I also don’t want to be criticized for attacking with superior numbers, especially since you are a woman.”

He raised his hand in a gesture, and from behind him came a warrior with cold eyes and an aquiline nose – clearly one whose head had hung by a blade’s edge, definitely not a good person.

Jiang Hanyuan watched the opponent draw his sword and spur his horse toward her. She maintained a one-handed horse control posture without moving, until the opponent pressed to within one horse-head’s distance and raised his blade toward her. Suddenly she kicked with both feet, her body leaping into the air toward the opponent. Her arms twisted, immediately pulling the person down from horseback, then her feet landed on the ground.

She knew that at times like this, training ground techniques were completely useless. She could only treat this as close-quarters combat on a real battlefield, fighting for her life.

The aquiline-nosed warrior fell from his horse and felt humiliated before his master and companions. Fierce light blazed in his eyes. He rolled on the ground to get up and swung his blade at Jiang Hanyuan again. This time his strike was both fast and heavy, quick as lightning, the blade edge carrying wind – he wanted to sever her head with one mighty blow.

Chi Shu watched from the side. Seeing this, his gaze moved, and he secretly cursed the recklessness.

This Wei female general, daughter of Jiang Zuwang, consort of the Regent Prince – if he could capture her, then this southern expedition would have an unexpectedly huge gain.

He was about to intervene, but saw Jiang Hanyuan dodge to one side, barely avoiding the blow. The blade edge swept past the top of her head, cutting off a lock of hair.

Taking advantage of the opponent’s downward blade momentum not yet finished, Jiang Hanyuan followed up, reaching out to grab the opponent’s sword arm, pulling hard. His body tilted over and fell backward to the ground. Jiang Hanyuan was also pulled down by the great weight. Just at the moment of falling, she bent down to draw a dagger from her boot, and with a flash of steel, she thrust it into the opponent’s lower abdomen.

The man screamed but was also fierce and brave, still able to suddenly straighten up to counterattack. Jiang Hanyuan gave him no chance, pulled out the dagger, and like a fierce tiger, pounced again, thrusting another blade into his heart. Gripping the knife, she twisted and ground it. Blood gushed like a fountain. The warrior could no longer hold on, collapsed on the ground, convulsed a few times, and died.

From leaping to tackle the man to the ground to killing the opponent with two stabs – it was all accomplished in just a few breaths.

Chi Shu and the dead warrior’s companions were stunned before reacting. Chi Shu stared at Jiang Hanyuan again, his gaze now completely different from before.

This subordinate he had sent to capture her had followed him for years, killed countless people, and was one of his ten brave warriors. Yet he had died under the blade so quickly upon engaging – this was truly beyond his expectations.

At this moment, he finally believed that this Wei female general who had gained fame at Qingmu Plains was indeed a female demon who killed without blinking, and not the mistaken impression he had formed at first sight when he had felt pity for her.

Dealing with such a formidable opponent required no more carelessness, and there was no need to worry about attacking with superior numbers. Being able to capture and take her away was the only objective.

He narrowed his eyes and made another gesture. This time it was no longer a single-person attack – the remaining ten or so people all surrounded her.

Jiang Hanyuan quickly retreated to her mount’s side. Chi Shu thought she was going to mount and escape, was certain this was impossible, and it wasn’t urgent. He didn’t expect that she was using the horse’s body as cover to take something from a leather bag hanging from the saddle. Suddenly, she shouted, “Chi Shu!”

The Sixth Prince looked up in response, only to see a rope coiling like a snake flying straight at him, falling and looping around his body, immediately tightening.

It was a lasso.

This was a type of loop rope used in hunting to snare large wild beasts or in horse training to catch fierce horses. He hadn’t expected to become the target of the lasso. When he tried to draw his waist knife to cut the rope, it was a step too late. Jiang Hanyuan had already secured the rope end to her saddle, pulled the lasso tight until it was locked around him, then struck the horse’s rump heavily with her knife handle. The horse, pained and startled, took off galloping madly forward. The Sixth Prince was immediately pulled down to the ground, completely unable to break free. In the blink of an eye, he was dragged several zhang away by the panicked horse.

His dozen subordinates were stunned by this turn of events. When they reacted, they couldn’t spare attention for Jiang Hanyuan, and all mounted their horses again to chase after and rescue their master.

This method could only temporarily break the encirclement. Once Chi Shu was rescued, given this person’s temperament, he wouldn’t let this go.

Jiang Hanyuan surveyed her surroundings.

The setting sun was heavy, and it was getting dark. She mounted Chi Shu’s horse, left on the spot, spurred it, and immediately galloped toward the mountain forest to the side.

Indeed, as she had predicted, after Chi Shu was dragged by the horse for a while, he remained calm in danger. His skills were also considerable. He steadied his form, risked using his back to scrape the ground, struggled, and finally successfully drew the short knife still on his body. With one cut, he severed the rope and thus escaped danger.

The clothes on his back were worn through and torn into strips. Through the shredded clothing, his flesh was bleeding and burning with pain. He lay on the ground panting, in complete disarray. His subordinates finally caught up, panicking as they begged forgiveness, helped him up, and wanted to examine and treat the wounds on his back.

His face was gloomy as he knocked away the hands reaching toward him, only accepting a garment to put on.

The sky grew darker. No one dared speak. Among them, the warrior leader named Nu Gan hesitated, then finally said, “South King, the person must have already escaped. Should we hurry on our way?”

Capturing the Wei female general princess consort had originally been a spontaneous, opportunistic action. Success would be best, but failure wouldn’t count as a loss since they hadn’t expected such an opportunity originally. Their main objective now was to quickly and safely leave Chang’an territory and return to Yan and You.

That group of subordinates from the city hadn’t come out as agreed these past days and had lost contact. Eight or nine times out of ten, they must have been captured. At this moment, who knew where, Wei government troops might be searching everywhere for them.

Chi Shu’s eyes stared ahead.

Dusk enveloped everything. The mountain forest ahead was full of shadows, with dots of black shadows of returning birds circling above the forest canopy, making continuous harsh cries.

“Chase her! Capture her!”

He gritted his teeth and gave the order.