From the distant mountains, the first rays of sunlight barely grazed the peaks. At the central pass, a flood of enemies was already surging forward.
Joseph Qiao was holding a freshly baked flatbread, eating quietly as steam drifted up. He gazed at the enemy in silence. Today, there were many more of those large shields carried by two men, signaling their intent to keep up the aggressive siege.
The wooden bridges over the first and second trap trenches had already been dismantled. Last night, they tried to cross and lost some soldiers—no matter how dark it got, the enemy would fire arrows at any sound from this direction, making it impossible to reach the third trap trench.
The enemy had noticed the archers hidden in the dense forests on both flanks. Today, if given the chance, they would surely prioritize taking out the archers in the woods. So Joseph Qiao only positioned archers on either side of the first and second trap trenches.
Concentrate all firepower to keep the enemy from approaching the earthen wall.
What worried Joseph Qiao most were those battering rams—the earthen wall couldn't withstand their pounding. Just a few strikes, and it would collapse.
But now, Joseph Qiao noticed the enemy making a move at the fifth trap trench, removing the wooden bridge, and then enemy soldiers began carrying sand and stones to fill the trench.
Joseph Qiao grew anxious. The enemy no longer wanted a standoff—they were starting to fill in the traps and push forward steadily.
All morning, Joseph Qiao watched helplessly as the enemy filled two trap trenches, leaving half a man's height exposed and unfilled. Now, the two trenches had become natural cover for the enemy.
Though they fired arrows, the effect was minimal. The enemy began filling the third trap trench, and Joseph Qiao immediately ordered an attack. Waves of arrows rained down, some tipped with fire.
A general looked at Bella Liang, who was seated in the chair, staring intently at the pass ahead, and asked.
"First, we need to fill in all three trap trenches. That way, there will be no obstacles when we advance. After all, no matter how sturdy the wooden bridge is, it's empty underneath, it will sway, and we'll still have to face archers hidden in the dense forest on both sides. It's extremely disadvantageous for us."
Stanley Tang still wore a helpless expression, watching from the side.
"Uncle, how long will this boring war drag on? Our forces are several times stronger than theirs. If we just keep charging wave after wave, this pass in front of us would be broken through easily."
Leonard Tang chuckled softly.
"Stanley, what you said isn't wrong, but if we do as you suggest, the losses could reach 150,000. Even if we break through the pass, next we'll clash with the Grant Family's reinforcements. How would we win then? The Grant Family has only committed 200,000 troops to the pass, but the other clans combined have at least another 200,000. The Grant troops are stationed here every day, resting and recovering. Even if we breach it, if the cost is too high, we won't stand a chance in a direct confrontation. And don't forget, the ranch is wide open—Grant Family still has their Bull Cavalry."
Stanley Tang gave a noncommittal response, gazing into the distance. At this moment, Leonard Tang felt helpless inside. So many years had passed, and Stanley Tang still hadn't had a son—only two daughters. For Leonard Tang's continued survival, he would have to rely on Stanley Tang's future son. That way, he could extend his life for decades.
"Stanley, if you're bored, let's go back. We can come again in a few days."
Stanley Tang looked at Leonard Tang in confusion.
"Uncle, why go back now? Actually, I want to visit the Zou Clan and see what kind of face Mark Zou is pulling these days. Ha!"
"Yuna, it's windy here. Why did you come out?"
Terry Mao was directing soldiers to set up simple traps among the scattered rocks. Yuna Ji stood quietly to the side. The mountains and fields were littered with corpses, many already being pecked at by birds. The stench of blood and decay filled the air.
Terry Mao wasn't worried about the wind, but rather the bloody smell and the carnage on the battlefield. The wounded enemies who hadn't died yet were being finished off one by one, and their clothes and weapons stripped from the bodies and thrown far from the pass.
Yuna Ji's face was ashen; the innocence she once had was completely gone.
"Come on, Yuna, let's go back. It's time to eat. Stop staring—there's nothing worth seeing in those corpses."
After Terry Mao exchanged a glance with Lily Mao, she walked over and took Yuna Ji away.
Before entering the pass, Yuna Ji looked back once more. Now, flocks of birds were circling in the sky.
Back inside the pass, Yuna Ji was still shaken. Grant Chang and Grant Wang had both rushed to the central pass, leaving everything here in the hands of Phoenix Yu and Lona Long.
"How do you feel, Yuna?"
As soon as she returned to her quarters, Phoenix Yu was already eating. Yuna Ji sat down, pale-faced. Faced with a table full of food, she suddenly felt nauseous. With a retching sound, she ran to the doorway, clutching her mouth, and vomited.
"For every clan, winning a war means honor and celebration. But in reality, it's not like that at all. Have you finally come to understand?"
Phoenix Yu spoke as he stood up and wiped his hands. Lily Mao glared at him.
"Even if you marry into another clan someday, if you can't overcome certain things, you'll live in fear forever. You've spent your whole life protected."
Phoenix Yu said this while pulling Yuna Ji along.
"What are you doing?"
Lily Mao called out. Phoenix Yu looked at her seriously.
"Don't worry, I won't do anything reckless."
Phoenix Yu led the weak and trembling Yuna Ji back to the slope in front of the pass, then took her toward the place where the corpses were piled. Over there, a massive flock of dark birds had descended, frenziedly pecking at the bodies.
With a retching sound, Yuna Ji vomited again before even getting close. Her stomach was empty, but she kept dry-heaving, clutching her belly. Lona Long watched silently from the side, not stopping Phoenix Yu.
"Look closely. Life and death are this simple. You've never truly experienced it, have you? You've always grown up inside a palace, happy every day, like a flower in a gentle place. But if you were sent somewhere cold and damp, you'd die. What are you afraid of?"
They reached the mound of corpses. Some soldiers saw them and hurried over to intervene, but Phoenix Yu stood firm, pressing down on Yuna Ji's shoulder.
Yuna Ji trembled uncontrollably, covering her mouth, tears streaming down her face. Phoenix Yu quietly pointed at the pile of corpses in front of them.
"Yesterday, these people were still alive, but today they're just rotting flesh. That's war. No matter how much you glorify it, no matter how you disguise it, war is death. War is stealing away someone else's future."
"Enough, Phoenix Yu."
Lona Long, face full of anger, grabbed Phoenix Yu's hand.
"What kind of life did we have before coming to the Grant Family? You've seen plenty, haven't you? Don't talk like that. Haven't you seen people eat people before, Lona Long?"
Suddenly, Yuna Ji collapsed to the ground, hugging herself, shaking uncontrollably.
"But things like this are unavoidable. When will you finally accept that, Yuna?"
Suddenly, Phoenix Yu stood in front of Yuna Ji, squatted down, and looked at her seriously.
"Do you feel sorry for them? Do you think it's tragic? These people shouldn't have died like this—some can't even be buried whole. But if it wasn't them dying here, it'd be you, or your Grant Family, or any of us."
Tears rolled down Yuna Ji's cheeks as she sobbed. Phoenix Yu reached out, embraced her, and pressed her head against his chest, gently patting her back.
"Maybe one day you'll step onto this battlefield yourself. But I hope you remember—war is nothing to praise. But there's one thing: think carefully about your second sister. Think about this vast land in front of you. What are you fighting for? That's what you need to consider."
A warmth welled up from deep within Yuna Ji's heart. She stared at Phoenix Yu with wide eyes.
"I remember when the nine of you came to save me, that blinding light at the end—I was so happy!"
Phoenix Yu smiled and nodded, then stood up and pulled Yuna Ji to her feet.
"This land will soon be stained with blood. Take a good look at it now, before it turns red. Remember what color this land really is."
Yuna Ji stood up and looked into the distance—the vast rocky plain and the faraway, unreachable mountains—her head held high.
"It's just like the feathers of the Ninewing Bird! This land is full of colors."
"Yes," Phoenix Yu said softly, "but soon, all those colors will be drowned in blood."
Yuna Ji fell silent, her gaze lingering on the land before her.
The wind carried the stench of blood and death across the rocky plain, mingling with the cries of birds and the distant thunder of war.
Phoenix Yu stood beside her, silent.
Lona Long watched them from behind, her face unreadable.
The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows over the battlefield.
The colors of the land faded, swallowed by the coming night.
Somewhere far away, the drums of war began to beat again.
The soldiers at the pass braced themselves for the next wave of blood and sand.
Night fell over the battlefield, and the horrors of war continued, unending.