Chasing Jade (Zhu Yu)

Before the army set off, orders were given for the cookhouse camp to light fires and prepare meals so the soldiers could eat their fill.

Fan Changyu went to help slaughter pigs. The veterans in the cookhouse camp, who were still spreading tales of her deeds, said to the new recruits transferred from elsewhere to assist: "Miss Fan has the courage of Mulan!"

The new recruit was illiterate and scratched his head, asking, "Who's Mulan?"

The veteran gave him a disdainful look. "You don't even know about Hua Mulan? The great heroine from the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Her father had no sons, and when he was conscripted by the imperial court in his old age, she feared he would die on the battlefield. So she disguised herself as a man and took his place in the army for eleven years, achieving glorious military feats!"

The recruit exclaimed in surprise, "How did a woman manage to hide in the army for eleven years without anyone finding out?"

This question clearly stumped the veteran, who impatiently replied, "That's how the stories go! She just had the skill, and in the end, she was personally honored by the emperor!"

The speaker had no intention, but the listener took it to heart.

From the moment Fan Changyu learned the army was about to march, her heart had been unsettled.

Now, hearing the veteran's story about Hua Mulan, she paused while wiping the blood off her butcher knife, a bold idea faintly forming in her mind.

She had previously noticed Xiao Wu seemed quite close to Yan Zheng and learned upon asking that they had once been in the same squad. Knowing Yan Zheng had a bad temper, she worried he might offend others and lack support on the battlefield. When she asked about the others in their squad, hoping to help Yan Zheng foster camaraderie, she was shocked to hear Yan Zheng say everyone else had died, leaving only him and Xiao Wu.

With the entire army mobilizing now, he and Xiao Wu would be reassigned to other battalions.

Reorganized into new units with no familiar faces, finding support on the battlefield would be even harder.

Given Yan Zheng's injuries, this campaign might well be a one-way trip. But if she took his place in battle, Yan Zheng could help her by taking Changning with him to follow the logistics troops of the cookhouse camp in the rear. That might be the best way to ensure their survival.

By replacing Yan Zheng on the battlefield, he wouldn’t be considered a deserter. Moreover, aside from Xiao Wu, no one in the new battalion knew Yan Zheng, and Xiao Wu would surely keep the secret. No one would discover she was taking his place, and after returning, they could switch back.

Once this idea took root in her mind, she couldn’t suppress it no matter what.

Along this journey, she had lost too many loved ones and friends. Just imagining Yan Zheng being hacked to death on the battlefield made her chest tighten as if gripped by an invisible hand.

After leaving the cookhouse camp, Fan Changyu went straight to the wounded soldier camp.

The army doctor wasn’t there. A half-grown boy was brewing medicine for the severely injured soldiers who still couldn’t leave their beds.

The boy was named Wu Sanjin. It was said his mother gave birth to him while fleeing disaster. Adults on the run were already emaciated, let alone having enough nutrition for a child. He weighed only three jin at birth, and his parents thought he wouldn’t survive. Yet he grew up healthy, so they named him Sanjin ("Three Jin").

After enlisting, he was assigned to the logistics troops due to his small stature.

When he saw Fan Changyu, Wu Sanjin immediately greeted her warmly: "Sister Changyu, are you looking for Doctor Han? He’s out."

Doctor Han was the army doctor who had treated Xie Zheng.

Fan Changyu said, "I came to see you."

Wu Sanjin, holding a palm-leaf fan for stoking the fire, looked puzzled. "Me?"

When Fan Changyu felt guilty about something, her expression became even more righteous. She asked, "Do you know where the knockout medicine is kept?"Wu Sanjin had been working in the wounded soldier camp these days and knew exactly where the medicines were stored. He asked, "I know, Sister Changyu, what do you need the knockout drug for?"

Fan Changyu maintained a righteous expression and said, "I want to hunt a few wild boars to prepare a feast for the triumphant army's return. Mixing the knockout drug into the bran for a trap will make it easier to catch them."

Wu Sanjin didn't suspect anything and quickly fetched a packet of powder from the tent, handing it to Fan Changyu. "This is enough to hunt ten wild boars."

Fan Changyu thanked him, tucked the powder into her robe, and left.

Inside the main tent, the personal guards who had been feigning illness for days had already donned their armor.

Xie Wu reported the frontline situation to Xie Zheng: "Our vanguard has intercepted the rebels, waiting for the main force to encircle them. However, scouts reported that the rebels secretly withdrew part of their troops last night, with Sui Yuanqing among them."

Xie Zheng's eyes darkened instantly. "Order Chen Liang to take a thousand elite cavalry and pursue them."

Xie Wu clasped his fists. "I'll relay the command immediately."

Xie Qi, standing guard outside, suddenly announced, "The madam is coming!"

Both Xie Zheng and the personal guards inside the tent tensed slightly.

Fan Changyu entered the tent carrying a bowl of soup, only to find all the "wounded soldiers" fully dressed, as if ready to return to camp at any moment.

After awkwardly greeting Fan Changyu, they quickly gathered their belongings and left.

Xie Wu glanced at Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng before standing up. "I should go prepare as well."

With only the two of them left in the tent, Fan Changyu placed the soup on the table and asked, "How are your preparations going?"

Xie Zheng chuckled. "What else is there to prepare for battle besides weapons?"

Fan Changyu picked up the tattered armor hanging by his bedside and frowned at its condition. "How can you wear armor in such a state? Let me mend it for you."

This set of foot soldier armor had been procured earlier by Xie Wu. Since the other wounded soldiers in the camp kept their armor hung by their beds, not having one there would have raised Fan Changyu's suspicions.

Xie Zheng had been pondering the battle situation, but his gaze inadvertently fell on Fan Changyu as she threaded a needle. Watching her, he became lost in thought.

The last time he joined the army, he hadn't even properly bid farewell to Fan Changyu. Now, as he prepared to depart, he suddenly understood the bittersweet emotions of parting.

Neither spoke. Fan Changyu kept her eyes down, focused on mending the battered armor. A strand of hair slipped down, brushing against her fair cheek, her small, delicate ear peeking through the dark locks. In this moment, her expression was gentle and serene.

Of course, if one looked at the stitches, they were neither gentle nor serene.

Unfortunately, Xie Zheng didn't notice. His gaze lingered on the ear half-hidden by her hair, his heart pounding as if a beast were rampaging inside. Almost involuntarily, he reached out to tuck the stray strand behind her ear. When his fingers grazed her small, delicate ear, Fan Changyu looked up at him.

The dark urge in his heart suddenly became uncontrollable. Instead of withdrawing, his fingers pressed slightly and moved to the back of her head.

He leaned down and kissed her—gentle yet not gentle at all.

One hand tangled fiercely in her hair. When she didn't resist, he pulled away, veins bulging at his temples, his breath scorching hot. His eyes burned red, like a ravenous wolf forced to stop despite its hunger."Wait for me to return." His clear voice had grown hoarse.

Fan Changyu's lips ached dully from his bite. She suppressed the urge to slap him and sincerely proposed: "Yan Zheng, let me go to the battlefield in your place?"

Xie Zheng's handsome brows immediately furrowed: "What nonsense are you saying?"

Fan Changyu countered: "Your injuries haven't healed yet. What if you can't even swing your sword on the battlefield?"

Remembering his earlier lie, Xie Zheng looked slightly uncomfortable: "I'm just a blade soldier in the infantry formation, only responsible for mopping up scattered remnants after the vanguard's charge. There's no real danger."

Seeing his resolute attitude, Fan Changyu seemed somewhat disappointed: "Then be careful in everything."

She then asked: "Which blade battalion are you in? Under which general's command?"

Xie Zheng hadn't expected Fan Changyu to become familiar with military organization after just days in the camp. Knowing he shouldn't keep lying but with no alternative now, he fabricated: "Third Battalion of the Left Guard Army, under General Li Lian."

Fan Changyu memorized this and brought over the bowl of chicken soup from the table: "I secretly caught a pheasant to make this for you. Drink it before returning to camp with Brother Xiao Wu."

Unsuspecting, Xie Zheng drank the soup in several gulps.

Fan Changyu watched him with complex emotions: "While I'm gone, please take care of Changning for me."

As the world began spinning, Xie Zheng finally realized something was wrong, his expression changing: "You—"

But his body had already gone limp. As he collapsed mid-step, Fan Changyu caught him, whispering to the unconscious man: "I don't want you to die."

Fearing someone might inspect the wounded soldiers' tents and discover Xie Zheng's identity, Fan Changyu carried him first to the tent she shared with Changning.

Seeing Xie Zheng on Fan Changyu's back, Changning paled: "Sister, is brother-in-law dying again?"

Fan Changyu choked slightly: "No, he's just temporarily unconscious. He'll wake in about half an hour. Ning Niang, guard your brother-in-law in the tent. If there's danger before he wakes, poke him with this needle."

She'd used enough knockout drug from Wu Sanjin to fell a wild boar—knowing Yan Zheng's extraordinary willpower required an extraordinary dose.

After giving Changning the needle, Fan Changyu also handed over the dagger strapped to her leg: "Just in case, take this dagger too. Remember—if there's danger, wake your brother-in-law with the needle first, not the dagger. Once awake, he can protect you."

Clutching both needle and dagger, Changning nodded vigorously but asked: "What about sister?"

Fan Changyu replied: "Sister's going to fight the bad people who took Ning Niang and Bao'er. I'll return after defeating them."

Tugging at Fan Changyu's sleeve with teary, grape-like eyes full of worry, Changning said: "Then sister must be careful."

Fan Changyu patted her head: "Don't worry, sister will avenge you!"

After these instructions, she tucked her butcher's cleaver and chopping knife at her waist and headed for the Left Guard Army camp. By chance, she encountered Xie Wu en route.

Seeing her in Yanzhou military uniform, Xie Wu immediately suspected the worst, stammering: "Miss... Miss Fan."

Fan Changyu asked curiously: "Brother Xiao Wu, haven't you returned to camp yet?"Xie Wu said stiffly, "I... I'll go find Brother Yan."

Fan Changyu glanced around before pulling Xie Wu aside and whispering, "Brother Xiao Wu, you know my husband is still severely injured. Sending him to the battlefield would be sending him to his death. I'll go in his place. Just pretend you don't know anything. After the battle, I'll switch back with him. No one will ever know."

Xie Wu thought to himself, how could no one find out!

Although the battle plan had been set long ago, with various army units methodically deploying down the mountain, it would be impossible to explain if the Marquis never showed his face!

Yet he didn't dare reveal Xie Zheng's true identity to Fan Changyu on his own. He could only advise, "Miss Fan, don't be reckless. This violates military law—it's punishable by death!"

Fan Changyu looked at Xie Wu with round, earnest almond eyes, resolute yet carrying a chilling intensity like a hunting tiger. She said, "I'm sorry, Brother Xiao Wu. I just don't want my husband to die needlessly on the battlefield. If he weren't injured, I wouldn't resort to this. Right now, sending him to fight would be worse than sending me—it wouldn't harm the army's efforts. As for punishment after breaking military orders, I'll bear it alone when I return. I drugged my husband unconscious, and to avoid implicating you, I'll knock you out here too."

Seeing Fan Changyu raise her hand, Xie Wu hurriedly said, "I'll keep your secret! Let's fight together—at least we can watch each other's backs on the battlefield."

Surprised by his sudden change of heart, Fan Changyu lowered her hand. "Then let's return to camp."

Xie Wu exhaled in relief. If it came to a fight, he'd certainly lose to her.

For now, his only option was to send word to the other personal guards to find Xie Zheng while he stayed with Fan Changyu to protect her.

Xie Wu let out a sharp whistle. Fan Changyu suddenly turned to him. "Why did you whistle?"

Cold sweat broke out on Xie Wu's back. Spotting an eagle soaring overhead, he pointed stiffly and forced a smile. "An old soldier once said trained eagles respond to whistles like this. I was testing if it's true."

Fan Changyu asked, "Does it work on untrained eagles?"

Xie Wu pointed at the eagle awkwardly. "Tried it. Doesn't seem to work."

Fan Changyu was deeply disappointed. She had hoped to learn the trick and catch a falcon for Changning later.

The central army had already begun its march. Fan Changyu found the Third Battalion of the Left Guard Army by its banners. As she and Xie Wu joined the rear ranks, squad leaders were counting their soldiers.

The fully armored captain stood imposingly at the front.

When the last squad leader reached Fan Changyu and Xie Wu, he barked, "Which squad are you from? Why are you in my unit?"

Unfazed, Xie Wu answered loudly, "Reassigned from the dispersed infantry battalion."

He did this deliberately to draw the attention of the battalion's captain, Li Lian.

Sure enough, Li Lian noticed the commotion at the rear and strode over, demanding sternly, "Why the disturbance before deployment?"

The squad leader reported, "Commander, two extra men appeared in the ranks. They claim to be reassigned from elsewhere."Li Lian had once been part of the Personal Guard in earlier years. After proving himself capable of independent command, Xie Zheng had assigned him to the Left Guard Battalion. Naturally, he recognized Xie Wu.

Those in the Personal Guard who were granted the Xie surname had once been Martial Assassins—nameless and faceless. They were also the most loyal to Xie Zheng.

When Xie Wu signaled Li Lian with a glance, Li Lian didn’t question why he and an unfamiliar soldier had appeared in his ranks, assuming they were on some secret mission. He only berated the squad leader: "Last time we defended the mountain, I lost so many men. Now that I’ve finally been assigned replacements, you’re complaining about having too many in my unit?"

The squad leader immediately fell silent under the scolding.

The soldiers who had been craning their necks to scrutinize Fan Changyu and Xie Wu quickly straightened up, no longer daring to look.

Fortunately, the soldiers Changyu had previously dealt with were from the cookhouse camp and the infirmary. Those from other battalions had only heard of her name but never seen her.

Now, clad in battered armor and keeping her head low in formation, the soldiers merely thought this new recruit was as scrawny as a monkey, and no one paid her much attention.

Li Lian clasped his hands behind his back and returned to the front of the ranks. Xie Wu grew frantic, wanting to signal Li Lian to find a way to remove him and Changyu from the unit—after all, he couldn’t possibly let Changyu go into battle. But before he could act, the front lines erupted in chaos as a scout galloped back with urgent news: "Shi Yue has broken through the vanguard and is fleeing south! By the strategist’s order, the Left Guard is to reinforce the vanguard immediately!"

The Left Guard commander barked, "First three battalions of the Left Guard—full speed ahead!"

The neatly arranged formation instantly dissolved into five-man columns sprinting toward the battlefield.

Xie Zheng’s Personal Guard often used whistles to relay simple messages.

The sharp, urgent ones signaled that Xie Zheng might be in danger.

Upon hearing Xie Wu’s whistle, the guards rushed to find Xie Zheng. Discovering he wasn’t in the infirmary tent where he’d last been, they followed the trail and soon reached the tent where Fan Changyu and her sister were staying.

Changning had been clutching an embroidery needle, keeping watch over Xie Zheng. When rapid footsteps approached the tent, she quickly jabbed him with the needle.

The unconscious man’s eyes snapped open instantly. The guard who lifted the tent flap was overjoyed to see Xie Zheng awake and, heedless of Changning’s presence, cried out, "Marquis!"

Xie Zheng’s expression was terrifyingly dark. He tried to rise and stride out, but the lingering effects of the knockout drug left him weak. He steadied himself by gripping the bedpost.

The guard hurried to support him. "Marquis, what’s wrong?"

Spotting the dagger by Changning’s bedside, Xie Zheng seized it and slashed it across his palm. Blood dripped from the blade’s tip, drawing a startled gasp from Changning, her small face pale.

The pain clearly counteracted the drug’s effects, but Xie Zheng’s expression grew even grimmer. He demanded of the guard, "Where is Li Lian’s Left Guard unit now?"

The guard replied, "Shi Yue has somehow recruited a fierce warrior—a man of monstrous strength, unstoppable in battle. Using him as a spearhead, Shi Yue tore through our vanguard. The strategist ordered the Left Guard to plug the breach."

Xie Zheng could wait no longer. Striding out of the tent, he coldly commanded, "Fetch my armor! And muster five hundred elite cavalry!"The vanguard he had dispatched this time was one of the fiercest generals under his command. If even the vanguard couldn't stop Shi Yue, this battle was likely not going well.

Soon, personal guards came forward with his heavy black-scaled armor to help him put it on. Changning dumbly chased out of the military tent and, seeing Xie Zheng's icy expression, swallowed the word "brother-in-law" that had reached her lips.

She had never seen her brother-in-law with such a terrifying expression before—it was as if he wanted to devour someone alive. He didn't resemble the brother-in-law she remembered at all.

And these people called her brother-in-law "Marquis." What was a Marquis?

A personal guard led Xie Zheng's warhorse over. He fastened his black cloak and coldly ordered the guards beside him, "Send word to Gongsun Yin to tighten the rear encirclement. There's no need to dispatch troops to the vanguard anymore."

As he mounted his horse, he glanced at Changning, who stood at the tent entrance like a little cabbage, and said to Xie Qi, "Keep an eye on her."

Xie Qi clasped his fists in acknowledgment, but Xie Zheng had already spurred his horse and galloped away, followed instantly by over a dozen personal guards.

Tears welled up in Changning's eyes, but she didn't dare cry. Why had her brother-in-law become so fierce after waking up?

Xie Qi had no experience with children and awkwardly tried to comfort her. Changning, likely realizing he wouldn't scold her, suddenly burst into loud sobs. "I want my sister—"

Xie Qi hadn't seen Fan Changyu and found it strange. He asked, "Then where did your sister go?"

Changning sniffled. "Sister said she went to fight the bad guys."

Xie Qi's heart skipped a beat. He pressed further, "The Marquis... I mean, your brother-in-law—how did he get here?"

Changning hiccuped. "Sister carried him back."

Xie Qi choked, suddenly understanding why his Marquis had worn such a murderous expression upon waking.

He looked at Changning and decided it would be best to take the child away from this dangerous place. "Don't cry. How about I take you to see some pheasants?"

But Changning continued to sob uncontrollably. Frightened, she kept repeating that she wanted her sister. Xie Qi listed every wild animal he could think of—wild boars, bison—until he mentioned falcons. Only then did Changning's sobs pause. Her teary eyes widened. "Falcon?"

Seeing an opportunity, Xie Qi quickly said, "A white-headed gyrfalcon, with wings this big. Want to see it?"

Changning nodded at the size he gestured. "Yes."

To ensure messages could be retrieved as quickly as possible, the gyrfalcon had been tended to in shifts by the personal guards these past days. Day or night, whenever the bird returned with a letter, the guard on duty would deliver it to Xie Zheng.

Xie Qi happened to be on duty these past two days. He figured taking the child there would allow him to keep an eye on both her and the falcon—a convenient solution.

Fan Changyu didn't know where the battlefield between the two armies was located, but as she ran, the landscape shifted from mountainous greenery to trampled, barren earth. From afar, she could already hear the deafening roar of battle, surging like tidal waves, one crash louder than the next.

The wind sweeping over the hills carried the metallic tang of blood.

This was Fan Changyu's first time participating in a large-scale battle. She didn't feel fear, yet her heartbeat inexplicably quickened, and goosebumps prickled across her arms beneath the sturdy vambraces.She and Xiao Wu stood in the middle-back of the formation, unable to clearly see the situation on the battlefield ahead. All they heard was some general's voice cracking as he roared, "Cavalry charge!"

Then another wave of battle cries erupted, loud enough to make one's eardrums ache. Tremors came from the mountain pass ahead, making the entire earth seem to shake.

Fan Changyu noticed that Xiao Wu seemed even more nervous than she was. He said to her, "Miss Fan, once we're on the battlefield, stay close to me and don't take any risks!"

Fan Changyu responded with an affirmative, but the infantry formation ahead erupted into a deafening roar, instantly drowning out her voice. Everyone was drawing their swords and charging forward.

At this point, military commands were completely inaudible. It was almost a case of seeing what those in front were doing and following suit.

Fan Changyu's heartbeat pounded like a drum, her blood surging with tension to the point where she couldn't even feel the exhaustion from the long march. She followed the army as it poured into the battlefield like a flood.

The ground was littered with corpses—they were practically stepping over bodies as they charged forward. When they clashed with the rebel soldiers who had fought to the point of bloodlust, the roars that erupted served only to bolster their courage.

A soldier running ahead of Fan Changyu was impaled clean through by a rebel wielding a spear. The squad leader of that soldier—the same one who had previously questioned Fan Changyu and Xie Wu's identities—let out a furious roar, his face twisted in rage as he swung his ring-pommeled sword down at the rebel's face, sending blood spraying everywhere.

The remaining three soldiers in the squad, their eyes bloodshot, charged forward with their leader. When one was knocked down, the others worked together to rescue him.

At this moment, Fan Changyu suddenly understood Gongsun Yin's words from the day they seized the provisions more deeply.

Not only did generals consider the lives of their soldiers their responsibility, but even squad leaders and platoon leaders fought with everything they had to protect their men.

Facing living, breathing people, Fan Changyu still couldn't bring herself to strike fatal blows as if cutting melons or chopping vegetables. She aimed to avoid vital areas, ensuring only that her opponents lost their ability to fight.

When that squad leader nearly had his head taken off, Fan Changyu deflected the fatal strike for him. He glanced back at her but said nothing, his face covered in blood as he continued battling the rebels.

A rebel general on horseback charged into their midst, his spear stabbing and slashing with the momentum of his horse, killing many Yanzhou soldiers.

Even those not immediately killed were knocked down, only to be swarmed by Chongzhou soldiers who finished them off. The Yanzhou infantry was clearly at a disadvantage.

Xie Wu, being a seasoned soldier, grew furious at the sight. Seeing that Fan Changyu's martial skills were solid and none of the surrounding soldiers could harm her, he seized the moment when the rebel general charged past. Grabbing the saddle, he used the momentum to flip onto the horse, his long blade slashing downward.

The rebel on horseback hastily raised his spear to block, but Xie Wu had already landed firmly on the horse's back. The rebel's long weapon became a liability in close quarters, allowing Xie Wu to slit his throat with a dagger and shove him off the horse.

"You there—your life is forfeit!" Another rebel general, witnessing this, charged forward, his pair of spiked hammers whirling through the air with terrifying force. As he advanced, countless soldiers were sent flying under the crushing blows—clearly, this man possessed monstrous strength.

Xie Wu's fighting style emphasized agility, so he dared not engage directly. He quickly abandoned the horse and dodged away. Li Lian, seeing the rebel general slaughtering their soldiers with such brutality, moved to intercept him.

But when his lance clashed with the rebel's weapon, both man and horse were forced back several steps. The impact sent a sharp pain through Li Lian's hands, nearly making him lose his grip on his weapon. His expression instantly darkened.

The rebel general laughed heartily. "Pathetic! Your arms are as weak as noodles!"From afar, an unknown general spotted Li Lian engaging the rebel commander and shouted, "General Li, be careful! That brute has immense strength—even the Commandant was struck from his horse by him!"

Hearing this, Li Lian was horrified. As the rebel commander charged toward him with his hammers, Li Lian barely managed to exchange a few blows. He realized this man possessed monstrous strength—the pair of spiked hammers were not only heavy but also unnaturally agile in his hands. A single hit would mean certain death or severe injury.

When the rebel launched another fierce attack, Li Lian swiftly raised his lance to block, but he was no match for the other’s freakish strength. The spiked hammer struck him, sending him coughing up blood. Fortunately, most of the force had been deflected, sparing him from instant death.

"Not a single worthy opponent among you!" the rebel commander roared arrogantly. As he raised his hammer for a second strike, a rope suddenly flew out of nowhere, looping tightly around his neck. A powerful yank followed, but the rebel dug his feet into the stirrups, dropped one hammer, and gripped the rope with one hand, engaging in a tug-of-war to avoid being dragged off his horse.

He glanced sideways toward the source of the rope and was stunned to see a scrawny Yan Army soldier holding the other end.

Seizing the opportunity, Li Lian thrust his lance forward. The rebel blocked with his remaining spiked hammer, nearly knocking the weapon from Li Lian’s grasp. Realizing he stood no chance, Li Lian swiftly retreated.

The rebel commander, a mountain of a man astride his horse, glared murderously at Fan Changyu, his face twisted with malice. He gripped the rope with both hands and yanked hard, trying to drag the frail-looking Yan soldier toward him.

Caught off guard, Fan Changyu stumbled but quickly planted her feet firmly into the ground, as if rooted to the earth. No matter how hard the rebel pulled, she refused to budge.

Refusing to believe it, the rebel strained with all his might, his muscles bulging. Meanwhile, a rebel soldier seized the chance to thrust a spear at Fan Changyu. She timed it perfectly—releasing the rope and kicking the attacker away.

With the rope suddenly slack, the rebel commander lost his balance and toppled backward off his horse.

Quick-eyed Yan soldiers immediately lunged with their spears. Despite his bulk, the rebel was surprisingly agile—he rolled aside, grabbed a knife to sever the rope around his neck, then seized a soldier’s spear. Lifting both man and weapon, he swung them like a flail, forcing the surrounding Yan troops back before hurling the soldier into a densely packed group, sending them sprawling.

The Yan forces suffered heavy losses, and the soldiers’ initial fearless fervor visibly waned, replaced by hesitation.

The rebel commander retrieved his fallen spiked hammers, casually crushing Yan soldiers underfoot like ants as he strode straight toward Fan Changyu. Grinning savagely, he taunted, "You scrawny rat, you’ve got some strength in those arms. Let’s see how many of my hammer strikes you can take!"

Xie Wu, having just beheaded a rebel soldier, screamed hysterically at Fan Changyu, "Run!"

Fan Changyu wanted to flee, but as she watched the rebel commander swing his hammers with brutal efficiency—shattering skulls, splattering brains, and sending Yan soldiers flying like ragdolls—she found her feet rooted to the spot. Xie Wu, determined to cover her, charged recklessly at the rebel commander, leaving her no choice but to stand her ground.She discarded the ring-pommeled sword she had picked up earlier, drawing the black iron cleaver and bleeding knife from her waist. With a sharp scrape of the two blades—one long, one short—against each other, she charged toward the rebel general, her gaze as cold as the white lightning flashing through the storm.

Xie Wu, relying on his agility, managed to slash the rebel general once but was violently slammed to the ground, instantly losing sensation in half his body. As the spiked hammer descended toward his face, he braced for the impact that would splatter his brains, instinctively closing his eyes. Yet the fatal blow never came—only the grating screech of metal colliding.

Xie Wu cracked his eyes open to see Fan Changyu half-kneeling on the ground, her two black iron butcher knives crossed to block the rebel general’s hammer. Her teeth were clenched tight, and one knee had sunk into the dirt.

Xie Wu’s eyes burned with emotion. Through gritted teeth, Changyu spat out a single word: “Go!”

Without hesitation, Xie Wu rolled away from the hammer’s range, hurling a dagger at the rebel general as he retreated. The general, forced to deflect the dagger with his other hammer, gave Changyu the opening she needed.

Seizing the moment, she twisted her cleavers upward, pressing the blades down onto the back of the general’s hand and slicing a deep, bone-exposing wound. As the general roared in pain and swung his hammer horizontally, Changyu leaped back to evade the blow.

The rebel general glanced at his bleeding hand, his face contorted with rage. “You’re dead!” he bellowed, disregarding his injury as his hammer strikes grew even more vicious, aimed solely at taking Changyu’s life.

His spiked hammer was solid, weighing over eight hundred jin. When Changyu had intercepted the earlier blow to save Xie Wu, the impact had nearly torn her palms apart. Her butcher knives were too short and too light to match the hammer’s force.

Now, she avoided direct clashes, dodging whenever possible. The few times she had no choice but to block, the hammer’s force sent shocks through her arms, blood from her torn palms staining the knife handles. In another unavoidable clash, the bleeding knife was knocked from her grip.

The rebel general grinned savagely at the sight. “I’ll pound you into paste!”

Changyu kicked up a fallen broadsword to replace the lost knife, but the hammer’s next strike shattered it in two.

The Left Guard Colonel, wounded by the rebel general’s hammer and unable to remount, had been dragged to safety by his personal guards. Watching Changyu trade blows with the enemy, he remarked in surprise, “Which unit is that soldier from?”

His guards shook their heads, clueless.

After a closer look, the colonel said, “With the right weapon, he might stand a chance against that rebel. Someone, give him my Horse-Cutting Sword!”

As a guard hurried to fetch the long, ornate polearm, Xie Wu—frantic—rushed over and shouted, “Colonel Yan Yi of the Left Guard, where are you?”

Recognizing him as Xie Zheng’s personal guard, the colonel quickly responded despite his injuries, “At your service.”

Xie Wu, eyes bloodshot, pointed toward Changyu. “Send troops to save Madam, now!”

The colonel froze. “Madam?”Xie Wu could no longer afford to hesitate and blurted out, "The one fighting that rebel general is the Marquis's wife!"

The Left Guard Army captain instantly felt as though he had several heads to spare for the chopping block, but his injuries were so severe he could barely lift a weapon. He could only order a few junior officers to lead troops in reinforcement.

Xie Wu borrowed a horse from him and galloped back to support Fan Changyu. The Left Guard Army captain thrust a Horse-Cutting Sword into his hands: "Might come in handy!"

Xie Wu didn't have time to think. Wielding the Horse-Cutting Sword, he hacked his way through rebel soldiers toward Changyu.

Meanwhile, Changyu had picked up several broadswords, only for them to meet the same fate—shattered. When another hammer swing came her way, she failed to dodge in time. The spiked hammer scraped off her helmet, revealing her hair still tied up but unmistakably that of a woman.

The rebel general seemed stunned that the opponent who'd exchanged so many blows with him was a woman. Even in such disarray, her features remained striking. He roared with laughter: "A woman? Take her alive! Every soldier in Chongzhou can be a groom tonight!"

The Chongzhou troops erupted in raucous cheers, their battle fervor intensifying.

The rebel general no longer seemed intent on killing Changyu, focusing instead on capturing her alive. His hammer strikes lost their previous lethality but became more persistent.

Changyu's face was icy as she snatched a spear from a Chongzhou soldier to use as a weapon. With the longer reach, her attacks turned razor-sharp, her movements expansive and forceful, actually forcing the rebel general back several steps. But when he mustered his strength, the spear in her hands snapped clean in two.

The rebel general threw back his head and laughed mockingly.

A bloody scratch marred Changyu's face. She discarded the broken spear, her gaze fixed fiercely on the spiked hammer in the rebel general's right hand—his right arm bore a deep gash she'd inflicted, bone visible beneath. Disarming his right side would be easier.

Suddenly, a voice shouted from behind: "Catch!"

Changyu turned to see a long-handled Horse-Cutting Sword flying toward her.

She reached out to grab it, but the rebel general swung his hammer at her. If she continued reaching for the sword, his spiked hammer would crush her hand.

Instead, she feinted toward the sword while driving her foot hard into the rebel's armpit as he swung. The general howled in pain. Changyu's hand, which had pretended to catch the sword, now wrenched the spiked hammer from his grip. Without pause, she swung it viciously at him.

The rebel general hastily raised his own hammer to block. The two massive spiked hammers collided with a deafening metallic clang that left nearby soldiers momentarily deafened.

The spikes on one hammer flattened upon impact. The rebel general staggered back, nearly losing his grip on his weapon.

His jowls quivered as realization dawned—with a weapon matching his own, this woman might very well defeat him.

Changyu showed no signs of stopping. Her second hammer blow split the rebel general's palms open. Baring her teeth in a grin that mirrored his earlier mockery, she taunted: "Let me show you how to pound meat paste!"

With bloodied hands gripping the hammer's shaft, she delivered a crushing blow. The rebel general instinctively blocked with his own hammer, but the force sent both man and weapon flying backward.

One hammer embedded itself deep into his abdomen—truly hammered into flesh.He struggled to sit up, but only managed to spit out a mouthful of blood before collapsing with wide, lifeless eyes.

The vast battlefield seemed to fall into sudden silence.

The rebel soldiers who had been leering at Fan Changyu moments ago now scattered like frightened ghosts, their faces pale as they fled in panic.

Even their own allies looked at Fan Changyu with trepidation.

The soldiers gathered at a distance, too afraid to approach her.

Several severely wounded generals lay slumped on a distant slope, swallowing hard.

One of them said, "Truly worthy of being our Marquis's wife."

Another whispered, "Using the same tiger-tooth meteor hammer, how did Madam send that mountain of a man flying?"

The question left them all in stunned silence.

Was their lady even more monstrously strong than the rebel's prized champion?

After confirming the rebel commander's death, Xie Wu rushed to Fan Changyu's side. "Miss Fan, are you alright?"

Fan Changyu looked at him, her vision tinged red as if through a bloody veil. Waves of nausea washed over her—the world spun violently yet refused to let her faint.

Bracing her hands on her knees, she dry-heaved before managing to say, "I'm... fine."

Xie Wu quickly retrieved a waterskin from his horse and handed it to her. "Rinse your mouth, Miss Fan. It's common for new soldiers to have nightmares for weeks after their first battle."

After rinsing and drinking some water, the nausea subsided slightly.

She'd never witnessed such large-scale carnage before—it felt like her blades had been stabbing at something less than human.

But on the battlefield, you either killed or were killed.

As unrest still rippled through the remaining enemy troops, Xie Wu picked up a blade and approached the dead rebel commander.

Fan Changyu asked, "What are you doing?"

Xie Wu answered, "Taking his head to intimidate the remaining soldiers into surrendering."

Glancing at her butcher's knife lying nearby—the weapon that had been knocked from her grasp multiple times amid taunts—she said, "Let me."

Xie Wu, already poised to strike, stepped aside at her words.

Though she'd killed before, decapitation was new to her.

The black iron cleaver sliced cleanly through flesh and bone with a single stroke.

Since death had already claimed him, no blood sprayed from the severed neck.

Xie Wu lifted the head high and bellowed toward the remaining rebels, "Your general is dead! Lay down your arms and surrender, and your lives will be spared!"

The distant rebels exchanged glances before gradually lowering their weapons.

Then thunderous hoofbeats approached, forcing the exhausted Yanzhou Army to remain alert despite their fatigue.

A scout scrambled up the slope to identify the approaching banners before shouting down, "Allies!"

From generals to foot soldiers, everyone exhaled in relief.

Were it not for the sea of corpses and blood surrounding her, Fan Changyu would have collapsed to the ground then and there.

She was exhausted beyond anything she'd ever known—too spent to lift even a finger.

As the hoofbeats drew nearer, the setting sun bled across the sky like an open wound, while geese cried mournfully overhead.Fan Changyu looked toward the allied forces approaching in a cloud of yellow dust. They seemed to have just emerged from a fierce battle, with fresh blood staining their horses' legs, armor, and weapons. Even the wind blowing from their direction carried the scent of blood.

Her gaze swept over the general charging ahead on a sleek black steed. At first, it was just a casual glance, but then she suddenly snapped her attention back, narrowing her eyes. She pulled Xie Wu over and asked, "That general of yours wearing the Bright Light Armor with qilin shoulder ornaments, charging ahead on that tall horse—why does he look somewhat like my husband?"

Xie Wu stared at Fan Changyu, opening and closing his mouth, but not daring to utter a single word.