A fit of coughing and wheezing broke out. On horseback, Stanley Tang gazed at the southern sky in the distance, while Leonard Tang watched him anxiously from the side. Stanley's condition had remained dire these days, and now that chaos had erupted in the south, Liang Bing suggested taking Stanley directly there. She hoped that a victory in this campaign to suppress the rebellion might help him regain some of his spirit.
Meanwhile, the commanders and generals of the Wynn and Sage Domains had unanimously decided to kill all the rebellious slaves—leave none alive. They had already dispatched a large number of cavalry as reinforcements, including several generals. Mark Zou was among them. The Zou Clan's command had been handed over to the Wynn and Sage armies. Upon arrival, their first priority was to solve the supply problem and get provisions to the front lines as quickly as possible.
They should reach the south by early tomorrow morning. At that moment, the sound of hooves came from behind, accompanied by a sinister chuckle.
“Stanley Tang, what's wrong with you? You look like you've lost your soul.”
Stanley glanced at Mark Zou in confusion, responding to his sharp, wind-borne voice.
“Right back at you. Mark Zou, what do you think you are to the Wynn and Sage Domains right now?”
Leonard Tang replied with a faint smile. In an instant, Mark Zou's face darkened, and he glared at Leonard viciously.
“Heh, I heard about it, you know. Your clan is pretty much finished, right? So many people got slaughtered. Doesn't feel good, does it, Stanley?”
Mark Zou went on, and suddenly, terror appeared on Stanley's face—his expression changed. Clutching his forehead, he let out a wail, while Mark Zou laughed heartily at his side.
Suddenly, Mark Zou's horse let out a terrified scream, rearing and bucking. Mark Zou frantically pulled at the reins, but was thrown to the ground. Behind Leonard Tang, on horseback, Wraithshade's eyes glimmered with amusement.
Mark Zou landed face-first on the ground. Several soldiers dismounted to help him, as he spat out mud mixed with blood.
"What's wrong? Can't even ride a horse properly? You're nothing like your father—just a useless fool."
Leonard Tang spat out an insult and rode off. Mark Zou roared in frustration, but several generals rushed over and immediately restrained him. He could only swallow his anger, glaring menacingly at Stanley Tang.
A chorus of screams rang out as Wynn Domain cavalrymen sprinted in terror, glancing back at a lone pursuer on horseback. Though they still numbered over ten, none dared to turn and face their pursuer.
Arrows rained down, and soldiers kept falling from their horses. These were Wynn Domain scouts, sent to monitor movements around the stronghold.
Despite riding into the wind, the enemy's arrows flew fast and true, each one striking its target with deadly precision.
Soon, only one enemy cavalryman remained on the prairie. Lona Long lowered her black bow, its surface glittering with tiny pink stones like grains of sand. Satisfied, she pulled on the reins as more than ten cavalrymen finally caught up behind her.
"Clear the battlefield and bring back the enemy's weapons."
Lona Long gave the order, and the mounted soldiers immediately dismounted. Seeing the wounded enemies who had not yet died, they went over and finished them off.
Over the past two days, the unit's organization had been finalized. Skilled soldiers were assigned to Lona Long's command, tasked with protecting her. Meanwhile, Lona Long was responsible for identifying enemy commanders and killing them swiftly and accurately with her arrows.
Bella Liang was still gazing at the distant fortress. Just moments ago, she squinted and spotted fast-moving black dots on the horizon. The enemy seemed intent on wiping out the scouts she had sent. These days, very few scouts returned, and hundreds had died. She was puzzled—she had ordered a retreat if they encountered the enemy, yet so few soldiers made it back.
Over time, she realized the problem was the horses. The enemy's horses were exceptionally strong—the grassland breeds were far sturdier and faster than those from the mountains. Plus, the enemy had a female master archer who could shoot through strong winds and strike distant targets. This amazed Bella Liang.
"It must be that woman at the pass back then—the one following Yuna Ji."
Bella Liang tried to recall through the haze of memory. She remembered nearly being shot that day—if not for a soldier taking an arrow in front of her, she would have died. In such chaos, the enemy could shoot directly at a commander’s head. This realization made Bella Liang more cautious and saved her life.
Years of battlefield experience had earned Bella Liang a reputation for calm and composure. She was also known as the 'Unbeaten Commander.' No matter the size of the battle, she meticulously judged every outcome, steadily guiding her troops like a seasoned hunter who never faced a difficult prey without preparation.
A horse galloped toward them, the soldier on its back looked terrified as he approached.
"It seems this battle will be much harder than the last."
"Report, Commander! We were wiped out—I'm the only one left. I..."
"Go rest. But remember, don't let the other soldiers hear about this."
Bella Liang spoke quickly. The enemy's intentions were clear—even during the massacre in the northwest, they didn't kill everyone. Instead, they left ten or twenty survivors to escape, spreading news of the slaughter and letting fear infect the battlefield.
In recent days, the soldiers’ minds had been affected. Rumors spread about the terrifying enemy—they were not human, but beasts.
The thing Bella Liang feared most was happening, yet she smiled.
"If they're beasts, then as hunters, we need to be well prepared."
"Enough, I get it. Yusheng, can you stop nagging?"
Irrelevant system message, not part of the novel. This passage should be skipped in the translation.
Faced with Joseph Qiao’s repeated explanations of the southern terrain and post-arrival plans, Lucille Xing grew irritated. To prevent confusion during command, Joseph Qiao carefully selected generals with good memories and southern experience to join.
David Geng kept describing the southern terrain and landmarks. In these two days, he finally understood that Yuna Ji wasn't just making things up when she said only 12,000 cavalry were needed—she was truly confident, which was why she sent so few.
The generals passed key points down to their captains, who relayed them to the soldiers. Over these days, large numbers of troops gathered and prepared for battle.
Yuna Ji quietly watched Joseph Qiao, who kept drawing lines in the sand with a stick as he spoke.
"Remember, everyone—if you scatter the enemy forces on the island, once they come out, it will work to our advantage. To prevent encirclement, after regrouping, Lucille Xing, Sebastian Zhao, and Terry Mao will lead cavalry to break open the way back. The rear guard will be me, Lona Long, and Lily Mao. The flanks are Yuna Ji and Leonard Lei. Is that clear?"
Yuna Ji nodded. Leonard Lei chuckled confidently, looking at Yuna Ji with assurance.
"Alright, when you return, continue explaining things to the soldiers. Once the sun sets, everyone should rest for the night. We move out before dawn—our actions must be silent."
At that moment, Mason Mao stood at the doorway, looking at everyone with a conflicted expression.
The generals left, delighted. Terry Mao looked at his younger brother, seeming to understand his intentions.
"Mason, just say what you need to say."
"I... Can I come with you?"
Mason Mao entered, his voice trembling. He’d seen enough of the battlefield that night and had nearly died.
"You can come, but..."
Yuna Ji smiled, stood up, and poked Mason Mao in the chest with a finger.
"What are you doing, Yuna?"
Trying to keep your heart from pounding so hard. On the battlefield, the enemy might hear it from far away.
Everyone in the room chuckled, and Mason Mao blushed. Soon, he took a deep breath.
"Don’t underestimate me, Yuna. Remember, I saved you once—when you were almost starving, I was the only one left at camp while my brother and sister were out hunting."
Mason Mao shouted, his face red, but soon his heartbeat slowed and his breathing calmed.
"Alright, you can come with me."
Yuna Ji said, and Mason Mao reached out his hand. Yuna Ji grasped it, then suddenly pulled, sending Mason Mao crashing to the ground.
"Don’t let your guard down on the battlefield. It could get you killed."
"Yuna, why did you do that?"
In an instant, the smiles in the room vanished as Yuna Ji’s expression turned cold and stern.
"This isn’t a joke."
Everyone nodded, and Yuna Ji nodded along.
"By the way, come see me tonight."
Yuna Ji said, then hurried off, breaking into a run. Joseph Qiao smiled easily.
She hasn’t changed—Yuna is just like she was as a child, only grown up.
Night fell quickly. After finishing their tasks, nine people headed to Yuna Ji’s shelter.
"By the way, what does Yuna want with us?"
Lucille Xing muttered, while Joseph Qiao seemed to know something and replied.
"You’ll find out soon enough. But this time, I hope you all remember—don’t let Yuna fall on the battlefield. If necessary..."
Everyone exchanged determined looks as they arrived outside Yuna Ji’s shelter. A beam of light shone through the crack in the door.