Dawn light filtered through the mist and spread across the earth. The sky grew gradually brighter.

That streak of morning glow along the eastern horizon was dazzling in its beauty. Though the sky grew ever clearer, the atmosphere on the flat ground before the mountain ravine had completely frozen.

Both sides held stubbornly to their positions, neither willing to yield — yet the two people at the center of it all had said nothing more.

At last, Feng Jiu’er said calmly, “Since Chieftain Qiao is unwilling to admit defeat, then very well — let us have another round.”

“General Feng!” The brothers of the Longqi New Army — Xiao Yingtao and Huo Yan among them — all changed expressions at once.

At a time like this, she wanted another round? Now that Qiao Mu was on her guard, trying to wound her with hidden weapons again would be out of the question.

More than that — with daylight fully broken, the flight of the needles would be far easier to track. With Qiao Mu’s skill and internal energy, evading them entirely would be a trivial matter.

Another round, and General Feng would surely lose.

“The people of Phoenix City are still suffering, waiting for the Prince to go to their aid. We cannot afford to waste time here.”

Feng Jiu’er turned her head and glanced at Huo Yan. Her smile carried a trace of helplessness. “General Huo, no matter what happens later, please do not intervene.”

“General Feng, you—” Huo Yan wanted to say something, but found he could not get a single word out.

Xiao Yingtao was frantic. “General Feng, her internal energy is far deeper than yours, and now she’s on her guard. You—you—”

“You can’t beat her” — Xiao Yingtao couldn’t bring herself to say the words, but everyone understood the meaning well enough.

The brothers of the Longqi New Army were sick with worry — every one of them. Only the figure in the carriage remained sitting perfectly upright, seemingly at perfect ease.

As though even if Feng Jiu’er were struck down by Qiao Mu’s spear — even if she fell dead right in front of him — he would not so much as blink.

Was this too cold-hearted — or was it absolute trust in his vanguard General?

Qiao Mu stared at Feng Jiu’er. The fire in her manner from before had dimmed considerably. “Are you certain you wish to fight me again?”

Fighting again was, plainly, to her advantage — and yet for some reason Qiao Mu felt as though she herself were the one being shamed.

No. It wasn’t Feng Jiu’er shaming her. It was that she had shamed herself.

“Yes.” Feng Jiu’er cupped her hands toward her and said sincerely, “Chieftain Qiao, I can see that you are a person of true feeling — not someone of ill intent. If you were otherwise, your brothers would not have followed a young woman so loyally for so many years.”

Qiao Mu didn’t know what she was getting at. She simply narrowed her eyes and said nothing.

Feng Jiu’er went on. “Phoenix City is under assault from an outside enemy. The garrison troops are waiting for the Prince to come to their aid. This journey carries a great and weighty burden.”

“Feng Jiu’er is unworthy, but she presumes to make a request of Chieftain Qiao — if within three exchanges, Chieftain Qiao cannot take Feng Jiu’er’s life, then please, Chieftain, stand aside and let the Prince’s company continue toward the border city.”

“General Feng!” What was she saying? Every one of her subordinates was alarmed.

Their opponent was a true master. And Feng Jiu’er had almost no internal energy to speak of.

Three exchanges? One strike might reach her vitals. This wasn’t a contest — this was staking her life.

Feng Jiu’er seemed entirely indifferent to her own survival. She went on, “If I am fortunate enough to gain even half an advantage in even one exchange, I also ask that Chieftain Qiao be magnanimous and let us pass.”

“And if I truly fall in battle at Chieftain Qiao’s hands — Feng Jiu’er still has one unworthy request: please, Chieftain, help us still. Let the Prince first save the people from their suffering.”