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She was able to accurately deduce the enemy general's psychology by observing the deployment of troops and their approximate schedules. She pointed out the drawbacks of the city guards entering the city in batches and instructed them to kill the commander-in-chief with lightning speed when the soldiers were complacent and relaxed. Under the trap and surprise attack, the soldiers who had never truly experienced the chaos of battle were indeed thrown into disarray.

She then arranged for several secret guards to infiltrate the enemy ranks under the cover of darkness and chaos after the raid, spreading rumors of Ling Yuxiang's return to create panic and disorient the already demoralized soldiers. They would then lure several groups of soldiers together, who, in their confusion, would mistake them for Ling Yuxiang's men and start firing indiscriminately and killing each other. All the secret guards had to do was clean up the last bit of the mess, a task they themselves could hardly believe!

She also realized that the Imperial Guards were far superior to the City Guards, but the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, Wei Wen, was a far-sighted man. He only compromised because he saw that the Empress Dowager held both the Imperial Guards and the City Guards and he was powerless to change the situation. Empress Dowager Xiao Yun also knew that he could see the situation clearly. She had only used this man because she was short-handed at the moment, but now she had given them a tremendous opportunity.

After Youying successfully assassinated the commander of the Imperial Guard, Zimo and Yepiao appeared leisurely as Feng Xinglie had instructed them. They explained the situation to Weiwen in a relaxed manner. In the middle of their explanation, a soldier rushed in to report that the city guards had suffered heavy casualties and had completely lost their way. They were fighting indiscriminately in the city's alleys, without distinguishing friend from foe. Weiwen was shocked, and they were also alarmed.

A plan is just a plan. When the arrangements began, they were also uneasy, almost determined to do it to the death. Who would have thought that the princess would actually predict everything so accurately! The results were even better than expected!

Wei Wen understood that even without this incident, Ling Yuxiang would eventually return to power. He made a decisive move and loudly proclaimed the various crimes of Empress Dowager Xiao Yun in her attempt to seize control of the court. Then, with Ye Piao and the other two urgently pressing him, he led a group of guards to the Dark Fragrance Pavilion in a whirlwind.

Five hundred Imperial Guards are no joke! Even if the city guards suffered a crushing defeat, they are still just a ragtag army, while the Imperial Guards are Empress Dowager Xiao Yun's trump card. If something happens to the Princess alone while holding them off, it will be disastrous! If something happens to her, not only will they be unable to explain to the Prince, but they themselves will also feel terrible.

Wei Wen was no fool. He knew how important this woman, who had saved the Ling Kingdom from a catastrophe with such skill, was to the Prince of Ling. Ling Yuxiang's attitude a while ago seemed perfectly normal now. He immediately waved his hand and shouted, "Put out the fire immediately! Ten of you come with me. You must rescue the Princess!"

The fire raged fiercely. Ye Piao and the others, soaked to the bone, leaped inside without a word. Looking around, a chill ran down their spines—what a hellish place! The corpses in the flames were undoubtedly those five hundred Imperial Guards! The Princess had actually killed five hundred Imperial Guards single-handedly with a single kick! If they hadn't seen their bodies with their own eyes, probably no one would have believed it.

The ferocious fire had already engulfed the entire Dark Fragrance Pavilion, and the building was on the verge of collapse. Ye Piao and the others searched in vain and had no choice but to retreat. The other ninety-six members of the Dark Pavilion excitedly brought news of their victory and rushed over, only to find a ruin still smoldering.

Zi Mo's expression darkened: "The Princess Consort..."

"Shut up!" Ye Piao clenched his fists, unsure of his own feelings. The ninety-six members of the Dark Pavilion all lowered their heads. They were secret guards, and should have put the country first. They had clearly saved the country from a national crisis and a catastrophe, and they had clearly created a miracle, yet not one of them could say with a clear conscience that they had won!

What made them win? The one who devised the strategy, the one who led them to this miraculous victory, the one the prince ordered them to risk their lives to escort out of the city—yet…

Before Zi Mo could finish speaking, Wei Wen quietly continued for her.

"The princess may have... perished together with the imperial guards..."

Ye Piao felt a lump in her throat, an indescribable discomfort. She didn't know if it was because she couldn't explain to the prince, or simply because of that arrogant, sharp, and radiant woman.

Wei Wen handled the cleanup with remarkable speed. The city streets were quickly cleared by the Imperial Guards, and Ling Yuhan soon contacted the Dark Pavilion. Empress Dowager Xiao Yun's crimes had been exposed, and almost all available military forces had been wiped out in the battle. Without troops, she could no longer cause trouble. Considering that she was still the Empress Dowager, Ling Yuhan only placed her under house arrest.

Then there's the thorough investigation of the traitors, the execution of their associates, and so on, which will keep him busy for quite some time.

The rumors could not be silenced. The next day, in the still bustling capital, the story of this extraordinary battle between a hundred and ten thousand men spread like wildfire. Although there was a curfew that night, some daring people still watched from inside their homes, and they talked about it with great enthusiasm, adding their own embellishments.

With a single imperial edict from Ling Yuhan, "Princess Ronghua" was posthumously honored as "Princess War Goddess," and a host of other honorary titles were bestowed upon her. Her wisdom and courage were lavishly praised, causing the people to sing the praises of this heroine even more fervently. The entire nation mourned for several days, and with a grand funeral, this person finally departed in glory.

Amidst the nationwide mourning of the "War Goddess Princess" in the Great Ling Kingdom, a long, large caravan leisurely traveled along the official road leading to Tianwu City.

Several bored family retainers chatted and laughed with each other.

"These days, the Great Ling is in chaos. The capital has undergone tremendous changes. Prince Ling and the Emperor are already causing enough trouble, and now even Empress Dowager Xiao Yun has gotten involved!"

"What is Empress Dowager Xiao Yun! How dare a mere woman interfere in court affairs!"

"Actually, Empress Dowager Xiao Yun was quite ruthless. If it weren't for the emergence of the War Goddess Princess, I think the capital would have really changed, and we probably wouldn't have been able to continue our trade route."

"I heard that the War Goddess Princess is the most beautiful woman in the Southern Region, with unparalleled beauty. The Emperor didn't even see her in person before bestowing her upon Prince Ling, giving him a free ride."

“Prince Ling was truly devoted to the Princess. During that time when the Princess was seriously ill, everyone in the capital knew about it. Prince Ling stayed by her side day and night! Now that the Princess is gone, I think the prince at the front must be feeling terrible.”

"What a pity for the princess..."

People sighed and shook their heads, their voices fading into the golden sunset.

"My lord...you and that Ling Yuxiang..." Youying's worried voice suddenly rang out. The young man who was lying on the horse with his head propped up by one hand and his eyes closed to rest finally opened his eyes a crack. His gaze revealed a hint of sharpness and domineering. He raised an extremely charming smile on his handsome face and sat up.

Dressed in magnificent black, with his hair tied up with a red ribbon, he possessed a face so handsome it defied the law, and an unparalleled elegance that no one could ignore!

When he closed his eyes, many women in the caravan secretly peeked through the carriage windows. At this moment, even many men's eyes involuntarily drifted over. Even the man who had just said that Princess Ronghua's beauty was unparalleled in the world couldn't help but pat his horse's back and laugh until he was panting.

"What nonsense are we talking about! Let's be realistic. Of all the people I've ever met, Feng Liu Shao is the most handsome! He's probably even more handsome than Prince Ling, the most handsome man in Da Ling!"

"I've never met Prince Ling, but Sixth Young Master's looks are definitely captivating to both men and women! Haha..."

Feng Xinglie smiled strangely, and snapped open his folding fan with a "snap!" He looked completely harmless: "Old Qiu, Brother Yu, I suddenly have an itch to use my hands..."

Before he could finish speaking, the two horses spurred their horses and disappeared in a flash, followed by a burst of boisterous laughter from the caravan.

With a meaningful glance at the receding city behind him, Feng Xinglie smiled faintly and said to Youying, "Do you still remember what I said when I founded the Dark Moon Sect and summoned the Ten Netherworld Guards?"

Youying nodded firmly, never forgetting a single word of what he had been told back then.

“My Lord, you told us that things that should be forgotten should be left in the past, and we should never look back. Like the morning dew, which dissipates with the sunrise, or like the clouds on the mountaintop, which are dispersed by the wind.”

"I was thirteen years old then..."

“At that time, Youying was only sixteen years old.” Youying seemed to understand something and didn’t ask any more questions.

Seemingly lost in memories of the past, Feng Xinglie let out a long sigh with a gentle smile.

If we can't bury the past and instead dwell on it, how will we move forward?

The responsibilities that must be borne must always be borne by someone. What reason does she have not to see the people she can't let go of, the people who have gone to great lengths for her? What reason does she have to keep running away?

The Qin state was in chaos, and bandits were rampant on the border. The suddenly rising but isolated and helpless Liejun was undoubtedly her former Lieyan Cavalry. They were all working so hard, could she just stand by and watch?

However, she also knew that some things, some warmth, could pass but could not be forgotten.

If we could meet again...

Let Feng Xinglie and Ling Yuxiang compete again on the battlefield!

Facing the setting sun, how arrogant the smile on his lips was!

[Border Storm: Chapter Sixteen - Fierce Shadows on the Battlefield]

From Dadu to the border, and from the border to Qin territory, as the number of bandits they encountered increased along the way, Feng Xinglie's brows furrowed even more deeply.

The last time I came to this land, it was full of flowers and lush greenery. Although it was not as prosperous as the capital, it was not as desolate as it is now! However, in just a few months, the world has changed like this in the blink of an eye!

The surrounding rioters were filled with a sickly indifference. Fighting for food, begging, fleeing, robbing—what wouldn't they do to survive? Youying sighed softly beside him, as if he were thinking of the days when he was a wanderer many years ago. If it weren't for his master, he might not be much worse off than these refugees fighting and brawling over a dead rat on the ground.

"Won't these people think we're easy prey..." Guan Qiu smiled with a fearful look in his eyes. He and Yu Shaofan both liked to stick around Feng Xinglie. Ever since she showed off her extraordinary martial arts skills and easily threw them away on the day they met, these two young men who admired heroes were afraid of her, but they were also determined to fight her to the death.

Feng Xinglie narrowed his eyes slightly. To avoid being met with an overly intense gaze, he covered half of his face with a small silver mask on the second day of their journey. She glanced at him indifferently, her voice light and gentle, as she lay lazily on her horse, showing no intention of getting up.

“They won’t do anything. Eating grass roots and tree bark for a couple of days won’t kill you, but if they rush up, they’re really asking for death.”

Even in their frenzy, the refugees couldn't withstand the threat of force. They wanted to survive, but until the very last moment, no one wanted to walk into the line of fire! Although the caravan appeared large, every man carried a sword at his waist and rode a horse. Each one looked like a seasoned镖师 (bodyguard/escort) who had faced life and death for years. Their eyes gleamed with ruthlessness and coldness. Which of the survivors hadn't suffered terribly over the past few months? Upon seeing this scene, they lost all interest in begging and hid far away.

This large caravan was, to put it bluntly, a smuggling operation. Its main business was trading medicinal herbs and horses with the army. Wherever there was war, that's where they went. After so many years, who wouldn't become numb to it?

Feng Xinglie and Youying accompanied them not for business, but to sneak out of Dadu. The city had undergone great changes, and checks inside and outside Dadu were particularly strict. Traveling with them would avoid many troubles. Moreover, Youying had also discovered that these people's trading partners were precisely Feng Xinglie's target—the Lie Army.

When Feng Xinglie founded the Dark Moon Sect, ten of her most astute business strategists, who had followed her since her youth, went their separate ways to various capitals to develop and expand their own empires. Several years later, they had become the largest intelligence organization in the martial arts world. These ten were the ten most renowned masters of the Dark Moon Sect, the Ten Netherworld Guardians, and another group was the Flaming Riders. Each of them had been rescued by Feng Xinglie during the chaos of war in the Qin Kingdom. Given Feng Xinglie's keen eye for talent and her methods of cultivating it, who wouldn't be devoted to her? It wasn't that Feng Xinglie was arrogant; the sixth young master of the Feng family, a once-powerful underworld business family in the 21st century, truly possessed a superior ability to manage talent and subordinates compared to Ling Yuxiang!

The Dark Fragrance Pavilion is just a small branch of the Dark Moon Gate in Dadu, not the whole of it. It's not that Youying doesn't have manpower, but those people are only good at using various channels to gather intelligence. Their skills are not as good as those in the Dark Pavilion. Therefore, Feng Xinglie does not directly command the Dark Moon Gate in Dadu.

As an undefeated war god, Feng Xinglie's success wasn't solely due to strategic planning in military tactics, but also to the numerous trump cards she held in her hand. Knowing oneself and one's enemy is the key to victory; she would never be foolish enough to expose her strength to others.

Although Feng Xinglie did not regret her willful and resolute actions back then, seeing the land within the Great Qin territory that she had once protected in this state now, she felt somewhat sad and uneasy.

"When war breaks out, it's always the ordinary people who suffer." Yu Shaofan sighed, feeling a sense of shared sorrow. Feng Xinglie wore a mask. He was arguably the most handsome young man in the group, and as the major owner of the caravan, he didn't ride in a carriage, drawing most of the attention.

The guards beside him laughed: "Master is joking. After running around in life and death for so long, haven't you seen enough? After seeing so much, you should be able to take it all in stride."

Feng Xinglie simply closed his eyes: "Since you know this, why are you still sending supplies to the Lie Army? Your actions are actually promoting the war effort, even if not directly."

"And what does Sixth Young Master think? We're in this business, living a life of constant danger. We've all risen from the ashes of war, from among these refugees. We're not some kind of chivalrous heroes; we just forged this path to survive. Over the years, our brothers have come and gone. Sometimes I really don't want to send them to their deaths, but if I don't, we could end up like these people." Yu Shaofan chuckled, pointing to the listless refugees on the ground. "Even if we manage to climb out of these people, without encountering powerful figures or opportunities, where will we find connections? Nobody respects us, nobody can give us a job. Sixth Young Master, tell me, what else can we do?"

Slightly opening his eyes, which gleamed with a faint light, Feng Xinglie saw the sparkle in Yu Shaofan's eyes, scanned Yu Shaofan's features, and smiled slightly.

"That's right. The fact that you were able to open up trade routes and expand them to this scale shows that you have a great business mind and talent."

While saying this, Feng Xinglie was deeply moved. What a talent! This guy was able to climb out of these refugees, slowly lead his group to where he is now, build such an experienced and self-defense-capable caravan, and even recognize her extraordinary identity, trying his best to win her over and get out of this predicament. What else could such a person be but a talent?

Come to think of it, she too had once been homeless, starting from scratch and building a business with a group of followers. If she hadn't met Qin Han, things might be very different now...

However… Yu Shaofan's vision was still not long-term enough. Even after experiencing a lot of trials, he ultimately failed to see the drawbacks and never suffered a truly great hardship. But this time…

Hearing Feng Xinglie's praise, Yu Shaofan was initially pleased, but then he saw her shake her head and sigh softly, which puzzled him.

"Sixth Young Master, have I not done enough?"

“As a businessman, you’ve certainly done well, but…” The extremely elegant and slender figure suddenly sat up. Feng Xinglie’s expression was somewhat solemn. His sharp eyes swept over the uneven mountains in the distance, and he sighed, “They’re here.”

The people around them all changed their expressions and stopped walking. They had walked this road for many years, and it would be strange if they couldn't figure out what had happened after hearing such words.

"They are..."

"Those three ragtag armies that spend their days burning, killing, and looting—judging from their voices, there must be a thousand or two of them. And those so-called 'King of Xianshan,' 'Marshal of Fengzhou,' and 'General Huaichun,' humph!" Feng Xinglie was furious just thinking about it. These three bastard armies, though forced into rebellion by refugees, were actually led by three former officials of the Great Qin! Seeing the internal strife in Qin, with Qin Han and Qin Yue locked in a stalemate, they immediately rose up in rebellion on the border, daring to use the banner of serving the country and its people. Wherever they went, they were like locusts swarming across the land, resembling the Japanese invaders entering a village—their 'Three Alls' policy was thoroughly implemented! You can rebel, you can loot, but why kill? You can't survive yourselves, so you take it out on the innocent. You don't follow any military rules at all; you're really giving the Great Qin a good name!"

Before they could even think, a dark mass of heads covered the mountainside. The shouts of battle instantly deafened the heavens, making their eardrums buzz. Although Yu Shaofan and the others had faced many life-or-death situations, they had never seen such a real military formation before. For a moment, their knees went weak and their courage diminished.

Although Yu Shaofan was not panicked, his face eventually turned pale, and he said bitterly, "I understand. This time our caravan is too big, the business conflicts are too wide, and we chose to come when the Lie Army and them were at a stalemate. It is difficult to avoid attention. These people will not reason with us. They are all bandits. They will burn, kill, and plunder without restraint. We don't even have room for negotiation!"

This is the life they live! Everything he's done over the years has been ruined by this one wrong step!

Feng Xinglie rolled his eyes at the sky: "At least you're not too stupid."

"Help us, Sixth Young Master! I know you're no ordinary person. If you can save us, this caravan will serve you from now on! Is there any way to escape?" Even in this critical moment, Yu Shaofan noticed that Feng Xinglie's tone, though serious, wasn't overly tense, like a drowning man grasping at a last straw. He knew what to choose: if the goods were gone, they still had some meager savings elsewhere, enough to start over; but if they lost their lives, they would truly have nothing left.

"Escape? How could you even think of that? In the mountains, we could use the terrain for guerrilla warfare, but this is a plain. Even if we escape quickly, it won't be as fast as an army pressing in. Once we're scattered, it'll be even harder to hold out. With so many guards in the caravan, dealing with those poorly fed ragtag troops shouldn't be difficult for us to hold out for a while." Feng Xinglie glanced at the formation, then suddenly raised his voice, his drawn-out words reaching everyone in the caravan: "Immediately concentrate your firepower! Don't act alone. Scattering is suicide! Form small teams of twenty, and form your own circles. As long as we hold on, we have hope!"

Yu Shaofan's men immediately formed small teams in circles. These men had all experienced life and death and did not desert in the face of battle. On the other hand, the owners of several other small merchant caravans emerged from their carriages with pale faces. They abandoned their goods and ordered their servants to lead them in a desperate escape.

Looking at the people who were scattered along with the refugees, Feng Xinglie shook his head and sighed.

Can they escape? They don't know which army is ahead, but aren't there troops blocking their way from behind? Although these three ragtag armies are utterly incompetent, their leaders are still former junior officers. Under the relentless pressure of the Lie army, how could they not be working together?

Youying, who was standing to the side, had already handed over a crimson longsword that was placed inside the carriage. Feng Xinglie instructed Yu Shaofan to take care of his men, gently patted the horse, changed his riding position, and a crimson arc cut through the void as the longsword was already behind his back.

The neighing of enemy horses was already close at hand. Feng Xinglie spurred his horse, and his silver mask emitted an eerie light. He charged straight ahead on light cavalry, shouting to those behind him, "Hold on to the first wave of pressure! The ones behind us are just refugees and rabble, nothing to fear!"

With a swift, backhanded dance, he leaped from his horse! His moves were powerful and sweeping, leaving a trail of blood in his wake!

"Bang bang bang bang!" A long, mournful cry suddenly rang out! Feng Xinglie's move wasn't aimed at the people, but at the legs of the horses of the front-line cavalry!

In an instant, the horses collapsed like a mountain collapsing, and amidst screams of agony, countless men fell from their horses, and even more died under the relentless hooves of the charging horses. A charge like this, if unimpeded, is incredibly powerful, but this ragtag army was too tightly packed together, completely oblivious to maintaining distance. Their sole focus was seizing supplies; their eyes were bloodshot, and they cared nothing for formation. Now that the front ranks had halted, those behind couldn't rein in their horses in time, resulting in utter chaos. Those behind trampled those in front, and those behind trampled those behind, causing countless deaths and injuries. The momentum of the charge was drastically reduced, its force utterly depleted!

With a flash of black shadow, Feng Xinglie gracefully landed back on his horse, frowning at the stunned Yu Shaofan and Guan Qiu, and roared, "What are you standing there for! They're here!"

With bloodshot eyes, the troops, neither soldiers nor civilians, finally regrouped and charged forward again, roaring. The two sides immediately clashed! However, the miscellaneous soldiers looked at Feng Xinglie with more fear and apprehension in their eyes, and they all rushed back as if their lives depended on it. No one was willing to face Feng Xinglie head-on!

Just kidding, they came here to steal things and survive, they didn't want this demon to rip their guts out first!

Feng Xinglie was frustrated. Wherever she went, people ran faster than rabbits. Even when several soldiers pointed their weapons at her with trembling hands, no one dared to attack first.

The enemy leader was even more frustrated. They were just a ragtag army, not a regular one. When had they ever seen a general with such terrifying martial arts skills leading the charge? They had run into a brick wall during a robbery! How could such an extraordinary person be in this small caravan!

A crimson longsword, its passage leaving behind only agonizing cries! Those icy eyes showed no hesitation whatsoever in the face of death. The silver mask made her appear even more like a demon from the deepest hell. Without a second thought, she cleaved open heads, severed bodies, and cut people in two at the waist! Blood danced wildly, flesh flew everywhere. Such carnage and slaughter, such cold-blooded ruthlessness, finally made some people tremble with fear, their legs buckling!

A ragtag army is just a ragtag army; without the absolute discipline of a regular army, who would be willing to gamble with their life? The momentum of the attack slowed down at some point, becoming listless and weak.

At this critical moment, another scream suddenly rang out, and more than ten dark figures rushed into the ranks of the miscellaneous troops like meteors. Like a strong wind destroying withered grass, they also brought with them a series of tragic cries. The orderly troops that followed completely shattered their hopes. The miscellaneous troops finally gave up and stopped fighting. They cried out for their parents and fled in all directions.