This was a fractured distance, and during this stretch, Huang Bei Shuang needed to create more fractures.
Mang Hu stood atop a sand dune, his broad shoulders rising and falling, and his ox-like eyes wide with excitement. He stared intently at the distant line of troops. Soon, a soldier rode up to him.
“Well? What did you see?” Mang Hu asked eagerly, his voice filled with anticipation.
“I saw her! It’s really her!” The soldier’s face was equally excited.
“How many troops does she have? Who’s leading them?” Mang Hu tried to suppress his excitement and asked carefully.
The soldier hesitated. “G- General… I’m not sure, maybe ten or twenty thousand?”
Mang Hu lashed him with his whip. “Idiot! Is it ten thousand or twenty thousand? Can’t you even count?”
The soldier replied nervously, “General, their formation is strange. It’s hard to tell!”
“Hmph! It really is that woman. It must be heaven’s will! Just as the commander is about to arrive at Zhun City, she comes to us herself.” Mang Hu kicked his horse. “Let’s go!”
In the western desert, a booming sound echoed in the sky, and thick yellow smoke billowed from a vast crescent-shaped dune. As the smoke cleared, two massive armies stood five miles apart, facing each other. The flags of Tian Du and Yunpei waved wildly in the air, as the two forces prepared to clash.
Jing Tian Wang’s top general, Ji Hua, and King Zhan’s skilled general, Guang Zhao Yun, stood at the highest points on either side, their cold, gray eyes piercing through the hatred and anger swirling in the air, evenly matched in their intensity.
Suddenly, the two generals gave a signal, and the vanguards from both armies rushed forward for a duel. The two soldiers fought fiercely, with neither able to gain the upper hand. Ji Hua smiled and shouted at Guang Zhao Yun, “Are these your country’s best soldiers? Why don’t I see your greatest general here? You’re no match for me, Guang Zhao Yun!”
His taunt was, of course, directed at Wu Jihai. Ji Hua had faced him in battle ten years ago and had been defeated, leaving him with the only blemish on his record. Hearing Ji Hua’s boast, Guang Zhao Yun thought to himself: General Wu mentioned this man before. In terms of raw strength, I cannot compare. I was sent here only to delay them, to draw Tian Du’s attention.
With that in mind, Guang Zhao Yun signaled for the drums to beat three times. His troops surged forward, intending to engage before retreating.
Behind him, Zhan’s ten thousand cavalry, dressed in red, were waiting.
* * *
Zhun City.
Ruo Wen was meticulously cleaning his sword, spear, and blade—his trusted weapons that had accompanied him through countless battles. Although he now stood at the pinnacle of power, with countless servants at his beck and call, he never entrusted these three weapons to anyone else for maintenance. Sitting nearby, Ge Xin Wei watched him silently. She had seen Ruo Wen’s coldness and charm, but never had she seen this distant look in his eyes. It was as if he were gazing far, far away, stroking distant memories. In that far-off place, no one was beside him, and no one was in his heart. That distance, however, was nothing but a deep, desolate wasteland.
“Your Majesty... let me help you!” she offered, reaching out to take the spear from the table.
But Ruo Lan and Fei Wen immediately stepped in, blocking her. “Don’t touch the leader’s things!” they said in unison.
The three women glared at each other, the tension between them thick with hostility.
“Leader!” At that moment, Mang Hu rushed in. He was always so reckless, even having interrupted Ruo Wen during intimate moments without ever facing punishment. In the Mad Yellow Army of Heaven, he was the one who understood Ruo Wen’s thoughts the best. Ruo Wen was extremely lenient with him, and even the other brothers treated him with indulgence. “Leader, I’ve come for my reward again! Hehe!” Mang Hu plopped down at the table, his gaze falling on the chipped spear. His high-pitched, mischievous voice grated on the ears. “I found your woman!”
The moment those words left his lips, Ruo Lan, Fei Wen, and Ge Xin Wei froze in shock, all turning to look at him simultaneously.
Ruo Wen said nothing, continuing to clean his spear. After a long pause, he finally asked, “Where is she?”
“Near Zhun City, heading towards Mizan!” Mang Hu replied.
“How many soldiers?” Ruo Wen asked.
“Not sure. Around twenty thousand, maybe! But that woman’s up to something—our scouts couldn’t get an accurate count,” Mang Hu added, eyeing Ruo Wen carefully. The leader wasn’t reacting as excitedly as he’d expected. “Should we... go?”
Ruo Wen continued polishing his spear, his expression unreadable. Ge Xin Wei, on the other hand, was alarmed. “Do we even need to ask? Of course not! The west is about to erupt in battle between Tian Du and Yunpei. We’ll need to send troops soon. What’s the point of going to Mizan now? Even if they’re going to negotiate, it won’t make a difference. It’s too far!”
Despite her agitation, Mang Hu paid her no mind. He remained focused on the leader, waiting for his orders.
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