"So annoying."
With a sharp crack, Yuna Ji thrust her spear into a screaming soldier on the ground. He stopped moving, and the surrounding enemies, enraged, charged at her again.
Fortunately, there were no archers nearby. Most of the enemy cavalry's attention had already been drawn to the soldiers from Jiang Territory. The four of them pressed forward, covering each other, cutting down every enemy who came at them without exception.
Henry Lien quietly observed the situation. Up ahead, Bella Liang had completely suppressed the enemy. As long as reinforcements were secured, victory was certain. The only unstable factors were on the flanks. The cavalry from Jiang Territory had already been contained and couldn't break through. He sneered as he watched Yuna Ji and her group still locked in combat.
"You really are just like your elder sister, Yuna Ji! But your methods are extremely unpleasant—this senseless slaughter has no meaning at all."
Henry Lien glared at Yuna Ji and her group, immediately ordering some archers to assemble. He spurred his horse and charged toward Yuna Ji.
With a whoosh, a rope flew toward Bella Liang. She reacted quickly, flicking it aside with her spear. An enraged woman appeared before her, wielding a red-hot staff, and swung it at her fiercely.
Clang, clang—after a brief clash, Lily Mao nearly fell from her horse. Bella Liang flashed a smile.
"Women and children should just stay in the back and watch."
"Sis."
Mason Mao cried out in alarm as Bella Liang's spear grazed Lily Mao’s shoulder, sending blood spraying everywhere. Yet Lily did not flinch, breathing rapidly, gripping her staff, and quietly staring at Bella Liang.
"Xiao Xing, be careful. I’m going to take this one’s head."
Lily Mao roared, charged forward on horseback, and swung her staff at Bella Liang.
With a clang, Bella Liang looked at Lily Mao in surprise—the blow was even stronger than before, and this was coming from a wounded woman.
A nearby soldier seized the opportunity and rushed over, thrusting his spear at Lily Mao.
With a whoosh, Lily Mao’s staff swept across, slamming into the enemy’s cheek. The enemy screamed and fell from his horse.
Inside, Lily Mao was in turmoil—utterly confused. Terry Mao was not by her side, and she felt lost. Faced with this hellish war and slaughter, her resolve wavered. She even wanted to run away. If not for her brother still being here, she might have already fled.
A woman—she had always known she was a woman. Women were weaker than men; women were supposed to obey men. Why was she fighting in this war? Lately, Lily Mao kept asking herself this question.
She was not like her elder brother or younger brother, who had found new belonging. Their battles were to protect the place they had finally found as home. But her? She had never made a single decision in her life—her father and elder brother arranged everything.
With a whoosh, Lily Mao dodged Bella Liang’s attack and struck back with her staff. The screams around her faded, but inside, a deafening roar echoed—thump, thump, thump—as if something was about to burst out of stone.
Her mind felt empty—Lily Mao was fighting purely on survival instinct.
Bella Liang’s gaze changed, shifting from contempt to seriousness. After being wounded by Lily Mao’s spear, her eyes had changed too—before, Bella saw fear in them, but now that fear seemed to vanish in an instant.
With a thud, Lily Mao’s horse was struck by enemy infantry and suddenly reared up, then collapsed to the ground.
"Sis..."
Not far away, Mason Mao saw this and shouted, rushing over.
The sunlight was blinding—so bright it felt as if her head might melt.
"Ah... am I going to die...?"
Thinking back, when she was in that sacrificial well, she often gazed at the sky, waiting for death. It was her elder brother who pulled her back from the edge.
These years in Grant Territory had been happy, joyful, but Lily Mao and the others kept a subtle distance. She was never close to them. Long ago, Lona Long once asked her a question.
"What do you really live for in this world?"
With a crash, Lily Mao hit the ground. Her head spun, and she nearly lost consciousness.
"If I’m going to die anyway, I’d rather do something than just wait for it."
Suddenly, Lily Mao snapped back to her senses. She stared at the bone blades coming for her, gripped her staff, and swept it across. With a crash, the bone blades of two enemies shattered under her blow.
A blur flashed by—Mason Mao raised his spear to block Bella Liang’s attack, but the force sent him sliding backward. He realized he was about to fall off his horse.
Suddenly, a hand caught him. Mason Mao turned in fright—Lily Mao’s forehead was split open, blood dripping down her left cheek.
"I told you, Xiao Xing, get out of the way. I’ll take this one’s head myself."
Lily Mao quickly pushed Mason Mao aside. After dispatching two enemies, she leapt onto a horse, raised her staff with both hands, and glared fiercely at Bella Liang, who was brimming with killing intent.
At that moment, Bella Liang sensed danger. The woman before her reminded her of Zhaopeng, someone who had threatened her before. She had to eliminate Lily Mao now.
No words were exchanged. The two kept swinging their weapons, locked in a brutal fight, each with only one thought: kill the other.
With a swoosh, Gus Bull deflected a stray arrow and glared. Not far away, Phoenix Yu smiled at him from horseback, nocking another arrow. Joseph Qiao had already stopped, sword raised and aimed at Gus Bull. The more Gus Bull chased Joseph Qiao, the more his own generals and soldiers fell. He threw his head back and roared in fury, feeling as if he were being toyed with.
"If you’ve got guts, come and get me, Joseph Qiao! And you, hiding in the shadows with your cheap arrows—coward!"
The battle had reached a stalemate—neither side would yield. Only by killing the enemy and driving them to total defeat would this war end.
"Sorry, the surprise attack failed. We lost some soldiers too."
A cheerful voice called out. Phoenix Yu turned to look, her eyes lighting up with joy. Sebastian Zhao burst out from a side path, riding alone, and joined Joseph Qiao. Joseph pointed at Gus Bull.
"He’s yours. We can’t let the enemy keep suppressing us. I’ll rally the troops and push into their center."
Gus Bull glanced over—it was Sebastian Zhao, the one mentioned by Si Chen and Bella Liang. Bella had warned the generals more than once: if you face this enemy head-on, don’t think you can take him down with a few men. One-on-one, you have no chance.
"Let me play with you, Grand Commander of Wynn."
Sebastian Zhao gripped a dagger in his right hand. He’d rested, drunk some water, and eaten a bit of rations. He was refreshed, with no injuries.
"Grand Commander Gus Bull, fall back. This one’s no ordinary foe."
As he spoke, Sebastian Zhao charged at them. Gus Bull roared, gritted his teeth against the pain, and swung his spear at Sebastian Zhao.
In an instant, Gus Bull saw only a shadow, and felt his spear stab into empty air. With a sharp sound, something slashed across his spear—heading for his head.
Grand Commander, watch out!
Several generals rushed over. Gus Bull tilted his head, feeling a hot rush at his ear—blood dripped down. As he turned, a supporting general clutched his bleeding neck and fell slowly.
Did it miss?
Sebastian Zhao quietly watched the surrounding enemies as his troops charged forward.
It was fear—Gus Bull felt unprecedented terror. His ear had been sliced, hot blood streaming down his left cheek, and the attacking soldiers fell from their horses one by one.
Grand Commander, fall back! Don’t act recklessly.
After Sebastian Zhao carved a path through, Gus Bull escaped under the protection of several generals. Sebastian sneered, not pursuing further. The enemy’s morale seemed shaken—their commander had been defeated by a single foe and was now fleeing.
Attack! Gather and push into the enemy’s center!
Joseph Qiao swung his spear, shouting commands.
With a swoosh, an arrow pierced an enemy’s eye. He screamed and collapsed, while the other enemies looked in terror at the woman on horseback nearby.
Lona Long kept drawing arrows from her quiver, each shot never missing—enemy after enemy fell. She was guarded by nearly a hundred soldiers, who now defended confidently against the enemy.
Her last arrow struck a cavalryman’s head. Lona Long reached for her quiver, but it was empty.
Here.
A nearby general quickly handed Lona Long a quiver. Her hands were already bloodied and mangled, blood dripping everywhere. The ground was littered with fallen, arrow-riddled enemies, cut off from the main force.
Lona Long was extremely anxious—she could no longer see Yuna Ji, and was surrounded by enemies. The only comfort was that three allies were with Yuna Ji, and the Jiang Territory cavalry was close to breaking through the enemy’s center.