Bai Country’s Cha Mountain was neither as imposingly towering as Changmang Shan, the foremost mountain of Dong Chao, nor as precipitously secluded as the Tianbi Mountain of Huangguo, yet it was a remarkably famous mountain. Its fame lay in its cleaved summit, split into two.

A legend had long circulated among the common folk: in ancient times, the god of Cha Mountain, consumed by envy, wished to surpass Changmang Shan and become the tallest peak in the world, and so stole a drink of the Heavenly Emperor’s Langgan wine. It was said this Langgan wine was brewed from the pearls borne by the immortal Langgan tree of the celestial court — a single sip would turn an ordinary mortal into a warrior of boundless strength, and a single sip would cause a mountain god to grow a hundred zhang taller. After the god of Cha Mountain stole that one sip of Langgan wine, it indeed grew a hundred zhang taller overnight. Yet just as it reached for a second sip, the Heavenly Emperor discovered the theft. Furious beyond measure, the Emperor not only reclaimed the Langgan wine but also sent down a thunder-axe to cleave the divine peak in two, condemning it to endure the eternal agony of division as punishment.

Whether the legend was true or false, the main summit of Cha Mountain was indeed split in two, east and west forever separated. As oceans turned to mulberry fields and grasslands transformed into deserts, the gap between the two peaks slowly widened — from a secluded ravine into fertile land, from barren wilderness to inhabited settlement. Over the long passage of time, this place gradually developed from households to villages, from villages to towns, from towns to a city. This small city also produced a unique fruit in abundance. It was said that when the Heavenly Emperor reclaimed the Langgan wine, a single drop accidentally fell, and that drop, landing on Cha Mountain, transformed into a tree that bloomed with white jade-like flowers and bore fruit resembling lustrous pearls. This was the Langgan fruit, a specialty unique to Cha Mountain, and the small city became known throughout the land for producing it in such abundance.

The changing of dynasties and the surging flow of history’s long river only caused the small city to expand further, and through its unique geography it gradually revealed its strategic importance. By the present day, it had become the vital stronghold of Bai Country: Ding City.

“This Ding City — let’s hear how you all think we should break it.”

In the lavishly comfortable royal tent, after casually dropping these words, Lanxi lifted that Yunmeng jade cup and began unhurriedly savoring the worldly Langgan wine within.

Seated beside him, Xiyun was fixedly gazing at the jade lion paperweight carved from Jingshan jade set before her, not so much as casting a glance at the map of Ding City’s terrain spread across the table, as though that jade ornament held more value than Ding City itself.

The other generals of the Mo Yu Cavalry and the Fengyun Cavalry, who should have been seated around the table, were scattered throughout the tent in various postures, their expressions varied, without any of the tension one might expect before a battle.

Qiao Jin sat at a distance, polishing the treasured sword in his hands. Duanmu Wensheng leaned back in his chair with his head tilted up, gazing at the glazed palace lanterns hanging from the tent ceiling. He Qishu was searching out and flicking dust from his collar. Ren Chuanyun propped his chin in both hands, watching his elder brother. Cheng Zhi swung his pair of massive powerful palms, laboriously generating a faint breeze. Xu Yuan coolly eyed Cheng Zhi with cold indifference. Lin Ji interlocked his fingers, playing with evident relish. Only Ren Chuanyu and Xiu Jiurong sat upright at the table, earnestly studying the map and carefully deliberating on methods to breach the city.

“Ding City is flanked by mountains on two sides, with only a single passage running north to south — easy to defend, difficult to attack,” Xiu Jiurong murmured. “Moreover, I’ve heard that the Bai King dispatched Grand General Gongsun Bizhong with one hundred thousand troops to garrison the place. Taking it by force truly won’t be easy, yet the road to the Bai capital must pass through Ding City…”

“Is there truly no way for us to breach this city?” Ren Chuanyu raised his eyes toward the person before him, his expression warm and deferential, like that of a gentle scholar.

“A direct assault would naturally break through, but we would suffer devastating losses ourselves.” Xiu Jiurong answered earnestly, his brows immediately knitting together.

“Is that so?” Ren Chuanyu gave a faint smile, a cunning light flickering in his eyes.

“Both east and west are sheer vertical cliff faces — there is simply no path to be found. A large army cannot encircle and attack from both sides. And to the north it connects directly to the royal capital, which can supply provisions and weapons in an unending stream, making it impossible to starve out. They could hold the city for a lifetime without difficulty; it would be our side that would be in trouble instead…” Xiu Jiurong’s gaze bored into the map, as though hoping to suddenly spot some celestial path emerging from somewhere within it.

“Why are you only thinking of attacking? There are other methods, young brother.” Ren Chuanyu smiled again with gentle amiability, in that moment resembling a patient and guiding teacher.

“Hmm?” Hearing this, Xiu Jiurong naturally lifted his head to look at him, his pair of bright eyes widening considerably — the picture of an eager and eager-to-learn student.

Seeing this, Ren Chuanyu couldn’t help but smile and nod, raising a hand to stroke his smooth chin. Hmm — in a few more years he would be able to grow a fine beard, and then stroking it would surely give him quite the distinguished bearing.

“Why would we exhaust ourselves attacking them? We can lure them out of the city to meet us in battle, then wipe them out in one decisive strike outside the city walls.” He said it as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

These rather audacious words made Xiu Jiurong’s eyes light up; even Xiyun, who had been meticulously examining the jade lion paperweight, gave a faint curl of her lips into a smile, as though in appreciation.

“How do we lure them?” From a distance, Qiao Jin tossed out this question.

“There are far too many methods.” When it came to stratagems, Ren Chuanyu couldn’t help but smirk with self-satisfaction, smiling like a crafty fox. With his intellect, he could produce any number of ideas at will. “However, given the current situation, all of them will require a bit of time before we can coax General Gongsun Bizhong — whose courage we’ve thoroughly shattered — to stick his head out from his shell.”

“We have swept through four cities in succession with an unbroken string of victories. Our morale is extraordinarily high, but if we get bogged down here unable to breach the city, it will certainly cut into that morale!” Xu Yuan swept a glance toward Ren Chuanyu and spoke, finding that smile of his quite disagreeable to look at.

“Fair point.” Duanmu Wensheng’s resonant voice chimed in agreement.

“Well then…” Ren Chuanyu stroked his chin again. What sort of scheme should he devise to make Gongsun Bizhong take the bait as quickly as possible?

“There is a path here.” Xiyun’s gaze at last shifted from the jade lion to the map, and she drew a light stroke with a vermilion brush across it. “On the mountainside of East Cha Peak there is a concealed cave, within which lies a hidden passage that slopes down to the foot of the mountain. The exit is at the Juecheng Wall of Dongfan Temple inside Ding City.”

“There is a path atop East Cha Peak leading into Ding City?” Ren Chuanyu stared at Xiyun. “For as long as anyone can remember, I’ve never heard of this, nor seen it recorded in any book. Feng Wang… how did you come to know of it?”

To think that he, for the sake of helping his lord win this world, had read ten thousand volumes and surveyed every map in existence — the entire empire of Dong Chao existed in his mind as a series of city layout diagrams assembled together. For the map of Ding City he had drawn right there on the table, he would confidently boast that it surpassed in detail and accuracy even the one hanging in the deliberation hall of the defending general Gongsun Bizhong! Yet this person with a casual point had indicated a secret passage unknown to the entire world — how could he possibly be willing to believe or accept it?

“Reading ten thousand books is no substitute for traveling ten thousand li.” Xiyun swept an indifferent glance at Ren Chuanyu, who seemed somewhat unconvinced, and paid his doubts no mind. As if sensing a gaze from behind, she turned her head and saw Lanxi gently swirling the jade cup in his hand, his expression hovering somewhere between a smile and not quite a smile. She couldn’t help but lower her eyes in a faint smile — one that carried a hint of sheepishness.

Oh! She could hardly tell these generals that, years ago, she had dragged a certain someone along as company to climb East Cha Peak purely for the sake of eating free Langgan fruit, dressing it up grandly as harvesting divine fruit made all the more delectable by natural rainfall from the heavens. That certain someone, who only had to extend a hand to have food, was of course unwilling to engage in such bone-wearying labor, so naturally the entire climb was filled with bickering and squabbling. Then, in a moment of carelessness, the two of them tumbled into that cave — and to their great surprise, within the cave lay a naturally formed interior passage. Once their aching, battered limbs had recovered somewhat, she had dragged that certain someone along to explore the hidden depths. Although the passage twisted and turned steeply, it was no match for the two of them. It was only that afterward she had grown tired from walking and also ravenously hungry, and so tried to snatch away that certain someone’s last remaining Langgan fruit, leading inevitably to another round of fierce scuffling. The final result was that the cave wall — perhaps rotted with age — simply could not withstand the impact of the “Phoenix Cry of Nine Heavens” and the “Lan’s Dominion Over All Skies,” and was blasted clean through! And so they crawled out through that opening, turned a corner, and found themselves at the Juecheng Wall of Dongfan Temple.

“There is indeed a hidden passage.” The refined and elegant voice drew Ren Chuanyu’s eyes back from where they had been fixed on Xiyun. Lanxi lightly tapped the jade cup with the pale jade thumb ring on his finger, and his gaze passed over Ren Chuanyu without a ripple.

“Since there is a hidden passage into Ding City, breaking through will be considerably easier for us.” Ren Chuanyu lowered his gaze under Lanxi’s attention, and it fell back onto the map. He deliberated for a moment, then spoke. “We can first send elite warriors to infiltrate Ding City in secret, then act on two fronts simultaneously.”

“Fire and flood know no mercy — since ancient times they have been calamities capable of destroying everything. A flood is of course out of the question now, so we shall instead create a man-made disaster…” This last phrase was said softly, almost as if speaking to himself, yet he himself seemed unaware of it, his eyes blazing with intensity as he studied the map, fingers moving rapidly to tap across it. “These six locations are the points where the Bai army’s provisions and supplies are stockpiled. Setting them ablaze will compel the enemy to rush to save them, but we must ensure they cannot respond in time — thus it must be a fire that engulfs the entire city, burning so fiercely that it sends the people’s hearts into a frenzy. This is how we throw the civilian morale into chaos!”

His fingertip moved toward the city gate tower, and his voice turned cold in stark contrast to his blazing eyes. “While the citizens of the city erupt into panic, our forces will launch an assault on the city — it must be sudden and conducted with tremendous momentum. When the defending troops witness this, they will be thrown into terror, their minds scattered and rudderless. This is how we throw the military morale into chaos!”

“By this point, Ding City will be engulfed in a sea of fire amid civilian mayhem and military panic. At the same time, our elite warriors can seize upon the chaos to launch a surprise strike on the city gate towers. Regardless of the cost to life or limb, they must open the city gates and allow our forces to storm in for a decisive assault!” Ren Chuanyu lifted his head, his eyes burning fiercely as his gaze swept across all the generals present. “The moment those city gates are opened, Ding City is ours!”

A moment of silence fell over the tent — though it lasted only a moment.

“Hmm… it might be better if those sent ahead to set the fires and carry out the surprise attack all change into Bai army uniforms. This way they will be somewhat safer, and after setting the fires they can spread rumors in the name of the Bai army amid the chaos, which would further cause Bai Country’s soldiers and civilians to collapse into complete disarray.” Xiu Jiurong’s clear voice, carrying a slight note of refinement, rang softly through the tent.

Ren Chuanyu and the four generals of the Mo Yu Cavalry all turned their heads to look at him simultaneously — none of them had expected that this seemingly guileless young man was actually capable of devising cunning schemes.

Having so many eyes suddenly trained on him, Xiu Jiurong couldn’t help flushing slightly. His gaze instinctively sought out Xiyun, and when he caught sight of that calm gaze carrying a quiet undercurrent of encouragement, it was as though he had swallowed a steadying pill; he immediately regained his composure.

“General Xiu’s words are most apt.” Ren Chuanyu nodded.

“Then how are the timing and manpower to be arranged?” Ren Chuanyun asked his elder brother. “Those going in for the surprise attack…”

Ren Chuanyu’s gaze swept over once, and Ren Chuanyun swallowed back the rest of his sentence.

Ren Chuanyu raised his eyes and surveyed the tent, then allowed his gaze to settle quietly upon Xu Yuan, offering a faint smile. “Entering Ding City via East Cha Peak means the mountain paths and interior passages will be extremely steep and treacherous — only those with swift and agile skills will be able to manage it. And the business of setting fires and carrying out the surprise attack must be conducted with the utmost care; discovery by the Bai army absolutely cannot be allowed.” At this he paused slightly, his gaze seeming to drift without intention toward Xiyun before settling back on Xu Yuan, whose expression had not changed from its perpetual coldness from beginning to end. “The formidable reputation of the Fengyun Cavalry is known throughout the world — every one of them is agile and superbly skilled in the martial arts. Entering Ding City would present no difficulty whatsoever. And as for General Xu… along the entire journey thus far, everyone here has witnessed firsthand how he is not only composed and unflinching but also acts with meticulous care and thoroughness in all things. Therefore, for this surprise mission, there is no one but General Xu I could possibly consider!”

The moment Ren Chuanyu finished speaking, Ren Chuanyun instinctively glanced toward He Qishu, only to find him looking down as though absorbed in studying the embroidery on his collar, seemingly having not heard a word Ren Chuanyu had said.

Xu Yuan, upon hearing this, maintained his characteristic look of imperturbable stillness, merely shifting his gaze toward Xiyun. Xiyun’s own gaze rested placidly on Ren Chuanyu, as if inviting him to continue.

Seeing that no one spoke up, Ren Chuanyu promptly drew his fingertip across the city gate tower on the map, then turned his gaze to Cheng Zhi, who from the moment he had entered the tent had been busy fanning himself and wiping his sweat. “General Cheng Zhi possesses the valor of ten thousand men combined — with his overwhelming presence, the Bai forces will surely tremble with fear and flee in disarray at the mere sight of him. Therefore, the role of main assault general for the attack on the city falls to none other than General Cheng!”

The moment Ren Chuanyu’s words concluded, the four generals of the Mo Yu Cavalry all shot simultaneous glances at him. Yet he seemed entirely oblivious, his gaze dropping toward Xiyun as he bowed respectfully. “These are your subordinate’s proposed arrangements — may I ask how Feng Wang regards them?”

After hearing out Ren Chuanyu’s arrangements, Xiyun’s gaze rested lightly upon him. This military strategist of the Mo Yu Cavalry — his features bore some resemblance to Ren Chuanyun’s, yet lacked the vigorous heroic spirit between Ren Chuanyun’s brows. Fair-complexioned and refined, he always wore a genial smile, looking every bit the well-read scholar. And yet… to serve as strategist to someone whose scheming reached as high as the heavens, the contents of his mind could hardly be few. In truth… in certain respects, he was rather similar to his lord.

All of the generals of both the Mo Yu Cavalry and the Fengyun Cavalry directed their gazes toward Xiyun, speculating about what her reaction might be. Yet they saw only her expression of perfect composure, her eyes like the tranquil surface of an autumn lake in still weather, undisturbed by any ripple — utterly impossible to read even a thread of her thoughts from within.

“Ding!” A soft chime rang out as Qiao Jin’s long sword slid back into its scabbard. Then, only slowly rising to his feet, he turned his gaze toward Ren Chuanyu and had just opened his mouth to speak when Xiyun’s gaze swept toward him silently and soundlessly, and the words at the tip of his tongue were swept away just like that. She seemed to know what he was about to say — and she had stopped him! In that moment, Qiao Jin, who had never submitted to anyone but his lord, felt a deep and profound admiration surge through his heart.

Compared to the other three generals of the Mo Yu Cavalry, Qiao Jin lacked Duanmu Wensheng’s bold and magnanimous bearing, lacked He Qishu’s refined and elegant air, and lacked Ren Chuanyun’s handsome and heroic spirit — but he possessed his own quality of distinguished excellence: in his words and actions there was a natural generosity of spirit, and a pair of eyes that always radiated steady composure, naturally inspiring in others a sense of trust. It was not without reason that this man led the Mo Yu Cavalry. Xiyun looked at him, and a faint smile tinged with gratitude bloomed across her face — clear and gentle. Her voice, equally bright and soft, rang lightly through the tent at the same moment, though it was addressed to Ren Chuanyu.

“The military strategist has given thought to every detail. This king is thoroughly reassured.”

As those words concluded, Lin Ji couldn’t help clenching his fist, and he was on the verge of springing to his feet — but Xiyun’s gaze happened to drift his way as if by chance, and the words he had been about to blurt out were swallowed back down. Drawing a long, deep breath, he sat quietly still.

And yet that exceedingly light and faint smile made Qiao Jin bow his head without a word.

Lanxi, who had been sitting quietly the entire time savoring his fine wine, finally finished the last sip, gently set the jade cup down on the table, and slowly rose to his feet. The four generals of the Mo Yu Cavalry, upon seeing this, all rose to their feet as well.

“What does the King think?” Ren Chuanyu asked respectfully.

“Replace Xu Yuan with Qishu — have him lead the Light Feather Cavalry in the advance.” Lanxi said mildly.

At these words, the four Fengyun generals may or may not have understood, but the four Mo Yu generals knew perfectly well what it meant. The Mo Yu Cavalry was the fastest cavalry in the world at the present time, and the Light Feather Cavalry was the finest among them. And among the four generals, Duanmu Wensheng excelled at direct assault, while He Qishu excelled at surprise attacks.

“Understood.” He Qishu bowed his head in acknowledgment.

“As for the provisions the Light Feather Cavalry will need for their mission…” Lanxi’s gaze shifted toward Xu Yuan. “I’ll trouble General Xu with the responsibility of preparing them.”

“Understood.” Xu Yuan rose to his feet in acknowledgment.

“Qishu departs at the hour of Xu. At the hour of Zi, one hundred thousand troops launch the assault on the city.” Lanxi’s gaze swept briefly across Qiao Jin. “General Cheng leads the main attack; Qiao Jin and Chuanyun support him on left and right.”

“Understood.” Cheng Zhi rose to his feet in acknowledgment. In the instant of rising, a trail of sweat droplets fell onto the carpet. He couldn’t help but raise his hand to wipe away the sweat. Honestly speaking, he didn’t care in the slightest who led the main attack or who carried out the surprise strike — he just wanted to get out of this tent as quickly as possible. Looking at the others gathered around him, while he couldn’t exactly say they radiated cool refreshing breezes, he alone had been drenched in unceasing sweat from the very moment he had entered the tent. Compared to sitting here like this, he would far rather be on the battlefield killing enemies.

“Understood.” Qiao Jin and Ren Chuanyun also bowed their heads in acknowledgment.

“That should leave nothing unaccounted for, then.” Lanxi’s gaze drifted gently toward Xiyun.

“Yes.” Xiyun nodded slightly and likewise rose to her feet. “When the assault on the city commences, Lin Ji shall lead the Arrow Rain unit to provide cover.”

“Understood!” Lin Ji acknowledged.

“Good, that makes it even better.” Lanxi nodded. “Go back and each prepare accordingly.”

“Yes, we take our leave.” The generals bowed and withdrew.

Only after everyone had departed from the tent did Xiyun move toward the tent entrance.

“Xiyun.” Behind her, Lanxi’s warm and refined voice sounded.

Xiyun’s footsteps paused. Then she turned and looked back. “I wonder if there is something more Xi Wang needs to say?”

Lanxi looked at her. After a long silence, he finally shook his head with something of a faint sigh: “Nothing.”

“If there is nothing, then Xiyun will take her leave.” Xiyun gave a slight nod, then turned and departed.

In the moment the tent curtain fell, both of them simultaneously let out a quiet sigh — one gazing upward at the sky, the other lowering her eyes and clenching her fist, with that single curtain standing between them.

“Chuanyu, your behavior was a bit out of line.” After walking some distance away from the royal tent, Qiao Jin called out to Ren Chuanyu, who was ahead of him.

“Oh? Was it?” Ren Chuanyu turned back to look at Qiao Jin.

“What exactly are you up to?” Even the habitually taciturn He Qishu couldn’t help but question him, those sharp and perceptive eyes bearing a look of barely concealed reproach as they fixed on Ren Chuanyu. The other two also turned to look at him in unison.

“Oh, nothing at all.” Having four pairs of eyes all trained on him at once, Ren Chuanyu couldn’t help but laugh, raising a hand to stroke his chin. “Well — people generally tend to look after their own interests, so my behavior is something that can be perfectly understood, isn’t it?”

“Hmph. That is Feng Wang — do you take her for someone without a mind of her own?” Duanmu Wensheng said, his brows drawing together.

“Hmm, indeed — that is the wise, brilliant, and formidable Feng Wang.” Ren Chuanyu stroked his chin and kept on nodding. “So from now on I’ll be sure to pay more attention and make proper corrections.” With that, he waved a hand and turned to go. “All right, there’s still work to do tonight. Go back and prepare — as for me, I’ll go stand in a corner and reflect on my faults.”

Of the four behind him, Ren Chuanyun shrugged and headed back to his own tent. Qiao Jin and He Qishu exchanged a wordless glance. Duanmu Wensheng frowned, watching Ren Chuanyu’s receding figure, which seemed to be in extraordinarily good spirits.

Meanwhile, back in Feng Wang’s royal tent, the four Fengyun generals sat quietly, silently watching their lord who was absorbed in reading at the table before them.

At last, Xiyun set down the book in her hands and raised her head to look at the subordinates in her tent.

“I know what you are all thinking — but I am telling you: absolutely not!” Xiyun’s voice was quiet, yet her tone was as resolute as an axe striking iron. “Remember — Xi Wang and I are husband and wife, one body; Feng and Feng Country are bound together by flesh and blood!”

The four generals heard this and let out a silent sigh in unison, then rose to their feet together and replied: “Understood!”

“A great battle is at hand — go back and each of you prepare.” Xiyun waved a hand.

“Yes, we take our leave.” The four generals withdrew.

Stepping out of the tent, they came face to face with the four Mo Yu generals returning. The eight of them met each other’s gazes, sizing each other up in silent appraisal without exchanging a single word. At last they turned away, each returning to their respective tents.

On the night of the eighteenth day of the eighth month, the moon was hidden and the stars were dim.

“General, will you not rest yet?” On the city walls of Ding City, Vice General Song Can asked the Bai Country Grand General Gongsun Bizhong, who stood beside him gazing into the distance at the Feng-Feng encampment.

“With enemy troops at the gates, how could I sleep?” Gongsun Bizhong stared fixedly at the orderly encampment across the way, his thick brows furrowed.

In the depths of such obscuring darkness, he could still feel the fierce and sharpened air emanating from the opposite side — a dense killing intent, like a precious sword held in its scabbard yet unable to conceal its blade. And furthermore… the formation in which the Feng-Feng forces had set up camp was one he had never seen before; combing through military texts, he had never come across it, let alone known its name or how to break it. If one gazed upon it for even a slightly extended time, it felt as though thousands of troops were charging in with full force, about to submerge everything in an instant.

Feng Xiyun… Feng Lanxi… these two renowned heroic rulers whose names resounded throughout the world — could he, Gongsun Bizhong, today genuinely face off against them? Was this a stroke of fortune or of misfortune? And those two… was he even capable of defeating them?

“It is precisely because the enemy has come, General, that you must rest well — otherwise, what strength will you have to kill them?” Song Can urged. Gazing far off at the White Phoenix banner and the Ink Orchid banner swaying in the wind in the night sky — banners that inspired awe across the entire world — would they one day be planted atop the walls of Ding City?

“Has the matter I assigned been taken care of?” Gongsun Bizhong asked.

“This subordinate has, as ordered by the General, selected one thousand elite troops to be stationed at the traveling palace to protect the two princes and Princess Langhua.” Song Can replied.

“Good.” Gongsun Bizhong let out a faint sigh.

At a time like this, the King had sent two princes — nominally to assist him in defending the city — but whether the true purpose was to keep watch over him, or something else… he did not particularly care about that at the moment. Only those two princes… ah! Since their arrival, they had obstructed him at every turn. A sound and carefully devised defensive plan — the moment they arrived, they disrupted it entirely, altering everything at every juncture according to their own views, sending the soldiers of the entire city marching east then west with no sense of purpose or direction. In their eyes, Ding City was a place of natural strategic impregnability — as long as the city gates held firm, it would repel a hundred assaults without falling. They had withdrawn all the soldiers he had deployed to patrol and guard the foot of East and West Cha Peak, reassigning them all to the city walls, declaring: “If the city walls stand as solid as iron, then Ding City is secure!”

And what gave him an even greater headache was… earlier today, Princess Langhua — who had very obviously sneaked out of the palace — was the King’s most cherished treasure. If anything untoward were to happen to her, even his death, Gongsun Bizhong’s, would not be sufficient atonement.

“General, you had better go back and rest for a bit. This subordinate will keep watch here, and if anything happens, I will immediately report to the General.” Song Can urged the Grand General, whose eyes had been threaded with red veins and whose expression had been worn and tense since the day the Feng-Feng forces had surrounded the city. “Besides, it’s nearly the hour of Zi, and it looks as though the Feng and Feng armies have made no movements. I don’t suppose anything will happen.”

“All right then. I’ll leave this place to you.” Gongsun Bizhong patted Song Can on the shoulder, cast one final gaze at the Feng-Feng army encampment, then turned and left.

Leading more than a dozen bodyguards toward the residence, he had turned no more than two streets when a burst of firelight shot up to the sky, illuminating nearly half the city in an instant.

“That is…” Gongsun Bizhong stared in the direction of the flames.

“General, that is where we store grain in the eastern city.” A bodyguard beside him immediately reported.

“Could it be that…” Before Gongsun Bizhong could finish his words, several more blazes erupted in rapid succession. In an instant the entire Ding City was engulfed within a sea of firelight. The night wind swept through, and the flames spread further — tongues of fire leaping up toward the sky, staining the pitch-black heavens a brilliant, blazing crimson.

“Fire! Fire! Fire!…”

Panicked shouts rose from all directions, accompanied by the simultaneous banging and clattering of doors being thrown open.

“Oh no! It looks like there’s a fire in the western outskirts!”

“The northern city is on fire too!”

“The fire in the eastern city has already spread to the entire street!”

“Heavens! There are fires breaking out everywhere! What on earth is happening?”

“A fire this massive — how are we supposed to fight it?!”

In an instant, the entire Ding City dissolved into utter chaos — people rushing to battle the flames, people frantically grabbing their valuables, people desperately calling out for their family members, people fleeing for their lives… Rising alongside all this were all manner of screams, mixed with the agonized cries of those burned by the great fires or frightened out of their wits, the wailing and weeping of children and women lost in helpless confusion, and the sound of voices cursing heaven and earth… Set against the firelight that seemed to have set half the sky ablaze, Ding City within those walls was like a pot of wildly boiling, chaotic gruel.

“Do not panic! Do not panic!” Gongsun Bizhong bellowed in a thunderous voice at the citizens fleeing in all directions around him — yet to no avail; there was no longer anyone capable of heeding his words.

“General, this… how did this happen, how did fires break out everywhere? This… what do we do…” Watching those heaven-reaching flames, even the bodyguards were beginning to panic one by one.

“Fight the fires first!” Gongsun Bizhong roared.

“Yes… yes…” The bodyguards immediately rushed off — but had run no more than a few steps before turning back at a run. “General… which… which fire do we fight first?”

Gongsun Bizhong gripped the great saber at his waist, the muscles in his face twitching. At last he drew a deep breath and spoke. “Relay this general’s order: have Deputy Commander Cao lead two thousand troops to fight the eastern city fire; dispatch Vice General Li with two thousand troops to fight the western city fire; have General Xie lead two thousand troops to fight the northern city fire; have…” Before he could finish speaking, a startled cry rang out — “General!” — as one bodyguard lunged toward him. As they hit the ground together in a roll, a flaming arrow shot into the precise spot where he had been standing.

Before they could even react, countless flaming arrows came raining in from all four directions at once. Gongsun Bizhong seized that bodyguard and rolled across the ground, dodging the arrows — but some of the bodyguards were unable to evade in time and were struck by the flaming arrows, and at once agonized screams rose in all directions.

No one could tell how long the barrage lasted before the storm of fire-red arrows finally ceased. Gongsun Bizhong crawled upright from a corner of a building, and the sight before his eyes left him completely dumbstruck. The row of houses lining the street, which had still been intact moments ago, were now entirely enveloped in roaring flames, tongues of fire crackling and burning with ever-increasing fury. Countless citizens were fleeing from within the fires, screaming… And the dozen or so bodyguards who had been standing beside him just moments ago had all collapsed to the ground, their bodies all alight with flames, their agonized cries of pain mingled within it all…

“Gene… Gene… General…” The sole remaining bodyguard trembled and crawled upright, so thoroughly frightened that half his soul had already fled his body.

“The two princes are abandoning the city and fleeing back to the royal capital — that’s why they’ve set the city ablaze!”

“The Feng Country’s great army has broken through!”

“The city gates have already been breached!”

“Grand General Gongsun has already died in the line of duty!”

…

Scattered shouts, the source unknown, drifted faintly to the ears — from distant to near, from faint to loud, from few to many… Within the span of a single breath, these cries of alarm had spread throughout the entire city, echoing across every corner of it. Those citizens who had already been thrown into a frantic panic by the great fires were now plunged into even more total and utter chaos.

“Feng army has broken through! The Feng army has broken through! Run for your lives!”

The shouts rose and fell without cease, and in an instant every single person thought only of carving out an escape route. No longer could anyone spare a thought for the family possessions burning in the fire, nor for the beloved ones wailing amid the flames, nor for whether what lay underfoot was the body of someone still living or already dead…

“Boom boom boom… Boom boom boom…”

Suddenly, the sky-shaking sound of war drums erupted, drowning out every clamoring voice in the chaos — striking once and striking again, each beat ringing with piercing clarity and shattering the souls of every soul in Ding City.

While minds still muddled by chaos had yet to make sense of what was happening, a soldier came sprinting wildly. “Gene… General, the Feng… Feng great army is attacking the city!”

“Attacking the city?” Gongsun Bizhong’s voice came out in a ragged, hoarse rasp.

“Yes… yes! The assault is ferociously intense — Vice General Song is requesting that you come to the city walls at once!”

Gongsun Bizhong immediately wheeled about and headed in the direction of the city gate. Yet he had walked no more than a few steps before another soldier came flying toward him at a sprint. “General… General… there are… there are infiltrators! The city gate has come under attack! The city gate has already… has already been breached!” Having spoken his final word, the soldier collapsed to the ground — and in his wake, a long trail of blood stretched out behind him.

“Your Highness! Your Highness!” An urgent, frantic cry rang out alongside fierce pounding on the door, outside the chamber of Princess Langhua in the traveling palace.

“Stop that noise! This princess has not yet slept enough!” In the midst of her hazy drowsiness, Langhua snapped in irritation. For the sake of slipping out of the royal palace and evading her royal father’s pursuit, she had gone two full days without a proper night’s sleep. And today she had been lectured endlessly by her two elder brothers and that General-Whatever Gongsun Bizhong for the entirety of the day. Right now, all she wanted was to sleep until heaven and earth grew dark and she forgot the whole world of men.

“Your Highness! Your Highness! Please open the door!” Outside the door, Pin Lin — the maidservant who had snuck out of the palace with Langhua — kept calling out.

“If you keep making noise, this princess will have you married off to the southern barbarians!” Langhua let out a grumble, turned over, and went back to sleep.

“Your Highness! You need to get up! Huge fires have broken out everywhere across the city, and the Feng and Mo armies have also attacked!” At this point Pin Lin was using both hands and feet to kick and pound at the door, doing everything she could to rouse the princess, who had no idea catastrophe was upon them.

“What?” Langhua shot upright, padded barefoot to the door and threw it open. “Pin Lin, did you say the Feng army has attacked the city?” Not a shred of shock or fear in her tone — instead, her pair of eyes gleamed with excited brilliance.

“Yes, Your Highness — the Feng army has already broken into the city, and they’ll soon be killing their way here. Come with your servant quickly!” Pin Lin grabbed Langhua by the arm and began dragging her outward. “The two princes have already prepared a carriage, and they’ve taken all the palace-guarding soldiers with them. They ordered your servant to wake Your Highness and join up with them immediately!”

“Wait! Pin Lin!” Langhua grabbed the pillar by the door and refused to budge. “I’m not fleeing at all! This princess is going to drive off the Feng army and render great merit for Father King!”

“Oh my dear princess, please stop this willfulness at a time like this!” Pin Lin tugged at Langhua with all her might. “Right now the city is already in total chaos. Word has it that General Gongsun has already died in the line of duty, and even the two princes are fleeing — what can you, a girl, possibly do to turn the tide? Just come with your servant quickly!”

“I’m not going!” Langhua flung Pin Lin’s hand away and ran back into the room. “It is precisely by stepping forward at a moment like this that I can better demonstrate the importance of this princess, Langhua! Once I repel the Feng army and save Ding City, I will make my name known in a single battle — even more formidable and more renowned than that Feng Xiyun!”

“Your Highness! This is a battlefield! Do you think those Feng soldiers are the palace guards who play around with you? They are killers who don’t even blink!” Pin Lin was frantic, chasing her into the room — only to see her mistress ransacking the place in search of something. “Your Highness, what are you doing?”

“Where is my armor? Pin Lin, all the things we brought — where did you pack them? Oh… found them! The bow and arrows Father King had specially crafted for me!” Ransacking every chest and overturning every cabinet, Langhua finally turned up what she was looking for. “Oh! And this is my short blade!” Langhua exclaimed with gleeful delight, pulling out the bow and arrows and short blade — crafted with exquisite artistry and inlaid with gorgeous and precious gemstones.

“Your Highness!” Pin Lin cried out. “You can’t…”

“Oh! My armor!” Langhua turned up a set of fire-red armor as well. “Pin Lin, come quickly and help me put it on!”

“Your Highness!” Pin Lin listened to the shouts and clamor coming from outside the palace, her heart burning with anxious urgency. Hastily she stepped to Langhua’s side and quickly helped her into the armor — after all, one still needed to be clothed even while fleeing for one’s life. “Afterward we’ll go out through the back gate — the two princes’ carriage is parked right there. We need to move quickly!”

Langhua was deaf to her words. Once the armor was on, she fastened her helmet, bowed her head to inspect herself — yes, truly a dashing and heroic figure! She seized her blade and bow and arrows, lifted her head, squared her shoulders, and strode out toward the palace entrance.

“Your Highness! Your Highness! This way!” Pin Lin chased after her.

“Pin Lin dear, you go ahead with the two brothers back to the royal capital. Once I’ve driven off the Feng army, I’ll send for you!” Langhua called out without so much as turning her head, her pair of eyes ablaze with radiant brilliance as she gazed toward the palace gates beyond. The moment she stepped through those gates, she could cut down enemies and build merit — just thinking of it made her so excited she wanted to leap for joy!

“Your Highness! You cannot go!” Pin Lin cried out loudly.

“Pin Lin dear, do not follow me!” Langhua turned her head sharply and silenced her. “This is your mistress’s command!” With that, she turned and strode at a rapid pace toward the palace gates beyond.

“Your Highness… Your Highness!” Pin Lin watched that figure grow smaller and smaller in the distance, so fretful she cried out at the top of her voice. “Come back! Your Highness!” But that figure vanished swiftly beyond the palace gates.

“What do I do? What do I do?” Pin Lin tugged at her collar and muttered to herself in a daze. What on earth was she to do now?

Stepping through the palace gates, a vast sea of fire spread out before her eyes. Those tongues of flame leaped high, so high the very heavens seemed set alight, sky and earth appearing to connect as one through this ocean of fire. A scorching, acrid smell came rushing at her face, stopping her breath for an involuntary moment. Sweeping her gaze across the scene, soldiers clad in black and white armor were everywhere, slashing and cutting down soldiers in red armor, while the ground was already blanketed with fallen soldiers in red armor, with more falling even as she watched. In the firelight, the ground had already turned a deep red color… that was the vivid red of blood and… those who had perished. The sounds of battle cries and cries of pain were incessant, piercing the eardrums… The thick, cloying smell of blood and the acrid stench of flames consuming everything, carried on the night wind, seeped into every corner of the city… In the blazing crimson firelight, everything seemed to be leaping and flickering, everything seemed to be warping and twisting out of shape. Heaven and earth in this moment were no longer the heaven and earth she had known…

“Urgh—!” Her stomach heaved and churned; Langhua clapped a hand over her mouth.

This… why was it like this? This was completely different from what she had imagined. No! It shouldn’t be this way! Why was there so much blood? Why were so many people dying? It shouldn’t be this way! It should be… shouldn’t it be her leading thousands of troops and horses, sweeping across a battlefield filled with drifting yellow sand, shooting Lanxi off his horse with a flying arrow, cutting Xiyun down with a raised blade, then trapping and capturing the enemy with her arcane formations — then routing the Fengyun Cavalry and the Mo Yu Cavalry without losing a single soldier, after which the name of Bai Langhua would spread throughout the world and be sung for ten thousand generations? But… why was it this scene before her now? These fires, these corpses, this blood, these piercing screams… was this still Ding City? Was this still the beautiful city known as the “Langgan Garden of Bai Country”? No! This was not Ding City! This was hell!