Beheading the head of the Shu Kingdom’s great general Pang Pingguo and annihilating a hundred thousand elite troops of Xi Liang – this could not be encompassed by mere luck. For a commander who could lead troops to victory with an unblemished record of triumph, that person… could become the morale of an entire army. More importantly… Bai Qingyan was a member of the Bai family! The Bai family was a hereditary military household that had served as the Jin Kingdom’s backbone and pillar of the state since following Emperor Gaozu in conquering the Jin Kingdom. And Bai Qingyan was personally trained by Duke Zhenguo, the eldest granddaughter of Duke Zhenguo, Bai Weiting, the Young Bai Commander of the Bai family army!

The Great Liang soldiers besieging the city looked at the Jin troops howling atop the city walls, exchanging confused glances.

“What’s gotten into these Jin Kingdom soldiers today?”

“And it’s not just one of them!”

“Could this be some new tactic? Howling to win battles?”

The Liang army chatted and laughed dismissively.

The Great Liang general Zhao Tong, mounted on a jet-black warhorse, stood at the very front, pointing his silver spear at Lin Kangle atop the city wall: “I say… after Zhang Duanrui died in battle, is there no one in the Jin Kingdom who dares to fight anymore? Just cowering inside the city to survive! Not even as good as that Bai family girl, Princess Gaoyi!”

Speaking of Princess Gaoyi! She should be captured alive by our Liang army soon. How about when the time comes, I bring your Princess Gaoyi beneath Longyang City walls and strip off her clothes piece by piece, so we Great Liang people can broaden our horizons and see what’s different between Great Jin Kingdom women and our Great Liang women!”

Zhao Tong turned his head and shouted: “Oh right… Wasn’t that girl’s military flag captured by us? Come, come, come! Send two people to bring out that black sail, white python banner!”

Lin Kangle saw Bai Qingyan arrive in military attire and immediately bowed respectfully: “Princess!”

“General Bai!” Wang Xiping’s throat constricted. Perhaps having fought life and death together in Nan Jiang, Wang Xiping held natural trust and reverence for Bai Qingyan, feeling that as long as Bai Qingyan was present, they would surely triumph! Moreover, Wang Xiping truly hadn’t expected that Princess Zhenguo would leave the reinforcement army behind and arrive at Longyang City first. Calculating the days, Wang Xiping could easily deduce that Bai Qingyan must have traveled day and night without stopping – how could this not move his heart?

“General Bai!” Du Sanbao’s eyes grew hot as he knelt on one knee. “General Zhang Duanrui died in battle, and Young General Bai, who left the city for rescue, has also lost contact! General Bai… you must save Young General Bai!”

Bai Qingyan stood atop the city wall, looking at Zhao Tong, who rode his black horse impatiently, cursing below. From his words, he knew Xiao Si’s whereabouts.

She steadied herself and unhurriedly untied the iron sand weights wrapped around her arms.

Lu Ping stepped forward and whispered in Bai Qingyan’s ear: “This is Zhao Tong, grandson of General Zhao Yi, who once died at Duke Zhenguo’s hands. About three days ago, that Great Liang General Fan who was attacking the city was injured, so today they switched to Zhao Tong! It seems… Xun Tianzhang’s patience is wearing thin, so he sent such a fierce general to attack the city.”

Two Liang soldiers emerged from behind the shield formation carrying the black sail, white python banner, and spread it on the ground beside Zhao Tong. The two men chuckled as they loosened their belts, planning to urinate on the black sail, white python banner to provoke the Jin army into battle.

“Miss!” Lu Ping’s eyes widened.

The black sail white python banner was the symbol of the Bai family army and the Bai family – how could it be allowed to suffer such humiliation?!

Without a word, Bai Qingyan’s eyes flashed with terrifying sharpness as she drew two feathered arrows and nocked them on the Sun-Shooting Bow, pulling the bowstring to its absolute limit until the bow frame creaked and groaned.

Steady, release!

The arrows shrieked through the air with whistling sounds, piercing through the throats of the two Liang soldiers whose belts were not yet undone. The bloodied white-feathered sharp arrows struck directly into the shields at the very front of the Liang army formation, the arrowheads penetrating nearly half an inch deep into the wood, shocking the heavily armored shield bearers until their arms went numb.

Fresh blood sprayed from the soldiers’ necks, dispersing into crimson mist.

Another arrow came whistling swiftly overhead. The “Zhao” character banner held high within the Liang army suddenly snapped and fell along with the two Liang soldiers who had intended to defile the black sail white python banner.

The two Liang soldiers collapsed beside the black sail, white python banner, the white python on the flag… nearly dyed red.

Zhao Tong’s black horse reared in fright, neighing as it rose on its hind legs. He gripped the reins tightly, controlling his startled mount, his gaze falling on the blood-dripping feathered arrows embedded in the shields. He widened his eyes and turned to look up at the city wall.

The Jin troops standing atop the city wall surged with excitement, erupting in loud cheers.

Bai Qingyan’s eyes were cold and murderous as she stared at Zhao Tong.

Even across such a distance, Zhao Tong could still feel the killing intent emanating from that silver-armored general.

“Raise the banner! Beat the drums!” Bai Qingyan commanded loudly, her gaze fixed deadly on Zhao Tong. “Accept the challenge!”

The Bai family guards behind Bai Qingyan responded in unison.

Lin Kangle hurried forward upon hearing this: “Princess! You’ve traveled day and night to arrive and haven’t yet rested. This Zhao Tong is a fierce general under Xun Tianzhang’s command!”

Whether Zhao Tong was a fierce general or not didn’t concern Bai Qingyan. She knew he had information about Xiao Si, so… today she absolutely must capture him alive and interrogate him about Xiao Si’s whereabouts.

Furthermore, due to General Zhang Duanrui’s death in battle, the Jin army’s morale was low and urgently needed a victory to boost their spirits.

She should thank General Zhao for letting her know that Xiao Si was still alive!

When the Liang army saw the black sail, white python banner suddenly raised on Longyang City’s gates, fluttering in the wind with hunting sounds, they fell silent for a moment before erupting in commotion.

“Have Jin army reinforcements arrived?”

“The black sail, white python banner – has that killing god Princess Zhenguo arrived?! So quickly?!”

The Liang army buzzed with discussion.

“General Zhao! We should retreat first! Return to report to the commander!” Zhao Tong’s lieutenant shouted.

Zhao Tong gritted his teeth and was about to rein in his horse to retreat when he heard war drums thunder from Longyang City’s walls, accompanied by resonant horn calls.

Zhao Tong remained mounted in place, watching as the moat drawbridge slowly lowered. A silver-armored woman on a white horse emerged, leading twenty silver-armored guards. Gripping a silver spear, she slowly approached from the far end of the drawbridge, with twenty silver-armored guards on fine horses arranged in a line behind Bai Qingyan.

Zhao Tong pointed his long spear at Bai Qingyan: “Who are you?!”

Bai Qingyan fixed Zhao Tong with cold eyes, her voice indifferent: “Bai Qingyan…”

Zhao Tong looked at Bai Qingyan’s slender figure and chuckled lowly: “So you’re the killing god Bai Qingyan? What a beauty! The title ‘killing god’… that’s just something you Jin Kingdom people made up yourselves, isn’t it!”

Zhao Tong’s lieutenant glanced at the arrow shafts in the shields, wanting to call Zhao Tong back, but since they had come to challenge the enemy, they could hardly retreat now that the Jin Kingdom had accepted the challenge.

“Try it and you’ll know!” Bai Qingyan pointed her long spear toward Zhao Tong.

Bai Qingyan’s current spear technique had not recovered to its former standard, but fortunately, these days of persistently increasing the iron sand weights meant her strength could match Zhao Tong, who appeared skilled with the spear, in single combat.

She understood in her heart that this battle should not be prolonged. Once the engagement lasted too long, Zhao Tong would surely discover her weaknesses.

Understanding her shortcomings, Bai Qingyan could only fight for a quick victory.

Zhao Tong laughed coldly, spurred his horse, and charged toward Bai Qingyan’s position.