"No, Yuna Grant's approach is far too reckless."
Two days later, near a small stream by the Prairie Outpost, over thirty thousand cavalry regrouped. The surprise attack had cost fewer than 3,000 casualties, marking a significant victory.
George Grant looked tensely at Yuna Grant.
"If we don't do this, the enemy will never stop attacking."
Yuna Grant glared angrily at George Grant. The surrounding generals all voiced their opposition to her proposal.
"If we launch a raid on the south now, even if the enemy is weakened, once we move in and get surrounded, these cavalry will be lost. Even if we win, the price will be devastating. You need to wake up, Yuna Grant."
Lona Long watched Yuna Grant quietly, also disagreeing with her plan. After nearly ten days without proper rest, many soldiers were already exhausted.
"Absolutely not?"
Yuna Grant asked again. George Grant widened his eyes, staring at her.
"Absolutely not. We have to retreat now. If you insist on being stubborn, I'll have Sebastian Zhao and Lucille Xing tie you up and take you back."
Yuna Grant chuckled, while the surrounding generals and nearby soldiers looked on grimly at the dispute.
"Alright, let's go back."
Joseph Qiao finally felt a sense of relief in his heart.
"So Yuna Grant was just joking. Sigh."
Phoenix Yu sighed, but Joseph Qiao merely shook his head. After every battle, Yuna Grant felt strange, craving combat as if it were a game—her desire now exceeded her own reason.
"You three, keep a close eye on Yuna Grant. If she does anything strange, don't hesitate—restrain her immediately."
Joseph Qiao spoke to Lona Long, Lucille Xing, and Sebastian Zhao. All three nodded; lately, everyone felt Yuna Grant had grown more violent, especially on the battlefield, where she tortured enemies as if playing a game.
The troops began moving westward, slowly. On the way back, they could take different routes, laying out tactics and defenses as they went.
The complex routes through the western mountain forests were already imprinted in Joseph Qiao's mind. Most generals also remembered many of the remote paths.
The last rays of sunlight disappeared beyond the horizon, and the sky turned gray. A foul stench drifted through the air. In a large house at the Prairie Outpost, Wraithshade faced the wind; even he found the smell unbearable. Animals searching for food were everywhere, and many corpses had been gnawed beyond recognition.
"Too slow. It took so many days."
At that moment, before Wraithshade's eyes, a swirl of black mist rose from the ground. Old One-Eye appeared within the haze.
"So many people died, after all."
"You’re a lot like those guys, you know. Heh."
Wraithshade pointed at the flock of dark birds hunched over corpses in the distance, pecking at the remains, and laughed.
"You seem to be in a good mood! Did something good happen?"
"That monster is thriving. Nothing excites me more than that. She’s growing even more savage—Yuna Grant, I can’t wait for your death!"
As Wraithshade spoke, he stood up and looked westward.
"Tan Tian should be making his move soon as well."
James Grant jogged along, a look of joy on his face. King Jiang had summoned him urgently; though he didn’t know the reason, he already had a hunch. News had arrived a few days ago that the Zou Clan was in turmoil.