Legend of the Female General

Chapter 157: Fire Attack

Above the canal, the fierce battle raged on.

Xiao Jue ordered twenty elite soldiers to dive underwater with iron claws to breach the Wutuo warships.

There were thousands of Wutuo warships, and breaching all of them was impossible. Underwater, strength was difficult to exert. They worked in groups of ten, targeting the two central ships for heavy strikes. As a result, the Wutuo warships, linked by iron hooks, were thrown into chaos. While they scrambled to cut the hooks, they could only watch helplessly as He Yan’s small boat escaped right before their eyes.

“These bastards!” Maka roared in fury, snatching a bow and arrow from a nearby soldier and firing at the soldiers in the water. However, the twenty men selected were all skilled swimmers, agile and quick to evade. This cat-and-mouse game of pursuit and retreat disrupted the Wutuo forces’ advance.

“Continue using the iron forks,” Maka ordered with a grim expression. “I refuse to believe they can stay underwater forever. First, capture that woman!”

The woman impersonating Mu Hongjin had deeply humiliated him. Wutuo men valued face above all else. If he failed to capture that woman today, his subordinates and trusted aides would secretly mock him. Even if they won the battle, upon returning to Wutuo City, this incident would likely become a laughingstock, spreading far and wide.

Only by capturing that woman and subjecting her to brutal torment could he salvage his dignity.

“After them!”

A faint breeze brushed against their faces, stirring a slight itch—so subtle yet immediately noticed.

He Yan looked at Mu Yi, whose eyes were filled with delight. “There’s wind!”

Though the wind was gentle, Heaven was finally on their side.

With enemy warships hot on their heels, He Yan’s expression darkened. “Lead them into the ambush.”

“Yes!”

The small boat seemed desperate to flee the water, rowing frantically into the distance, though it appeared pitifully small beside the towering warships.

“Where are they heading?” a deputy soldier beside him asked.

Xiao Jue watched the direction of He Yan’s small boat as it sped away. The canal was calm, and if he remembered correctly, the path ahead was dotted with submerged reefs. A small boat could easily avoid them, but a large warship…

Xiao Jue commanded, “Follow them. Divide the Wutuo forces.”

“Commander?”

“The wind has risen,” he murmured coldly, lowering his gaze.

The wind remained gentle, like the tender play between lovers, brushing past everyone. Mu Yi rowed with all his might, asking He Yan, “Miss He, can we light the fire now?”

“Not yet,” He Yan replied. “The wind isn’t strong enough.”

If the wind wasn’t strong enough, even if they lit the fire, the thousands of Wutuo warships wouldn’t immediately be engulfed in flames. They had various means to extinguish the fire quickly. Timing was crucial in battle.

“What do we do now? They’re about to catch up,” Mu Yi said anxiously.

He Yan glanced back and declared, “I’ll hold them off.”

“You?” Mu Yi worried. “Can you manage alone? I’ll go with you.”

“No need,” He Yan patted his shoulder. “Take this boat and stay in position with the others. When the Wutuo warships see our boats, they’ll likely attack. You must protect the boats,” she paused, then added, “and protect yourselves.”

“But—” Before Mu Yi could finish, He Yan had already leaped from the bow of the boat, darting toward the large warship where Maka stood.

“Miss He went alone!” the deputy soldier exclaimed in surprise.Xiao Jue said, "Let's begin."

With a loud crash, the small boat rammed into the larger vessel, causing it to tilt slightly. Maka's face turned livid with rage. "Why won't you just disappear?" he sneered. "With just a few thousand men, you think you can stop us? Since you’re so eager to die, this general will grant your wish!"

He brandished his sword and roared to the men behind him, "Warriors, attack!"

The two sides clashed in a chaotic melee. Though outnumbered, the Jiyang City Army showed no fear. At the forefront, He Yan and Xiao Jue fought their way into the midst of Maka’s men. He Yan’s whip, tipped with iron claws, was as effective against people as it was against ships. With a single swing, she sent one man tumbling to the ground.

But a whip was no sword or blade. Once embedded in an enemy, it couldn’t be retracted quickly. As more Wutuo People surged forward, one closed in from behind. She had just kicked away the man in front of her when she felt a rush of wind at her back. He Yan sidestepped, and a gleaming sword appeared before her.

Xiao Jue stood with his back to her, his blade dripping with blood as he withdrew Drink Autumn from the chest of a Wutuo soldier. He reminded her calmly, "Be careful."

"Commander," He Yan said, "let’s fight together!"

Back to back, one holding a sword and the other a whip, they entrusted their defenses to each other, placing their full trust in one another. Though they had never fought side by side before, in the face of life and death, a remarkable synergy emerged between them—a silent understanding born of mutual respect, where every move was anticipated and seamlessly coordinated.

For a time, the Wutuo People could not even get close.

The deputy commander pushed aside a Wutuo soldier and glanced back, taking in the scene. She pondered for a moment, thinking, "Just who is this Miss He? How is she so skilled?"

She wasn’t relying on Xiao Jue’s protection or waiting for him to rescue her. Instead, she fought alongside him, not only keeping up but complementing his movements with effortless grace.

"General, that woman is formidable!" a trusted aide said to Maka.

Xiao Huaijin’s prowess was expected—after all, he was the Right Army Commander and General Feng Yun of Great Wei. But this woman’s name had never been heard before, and she seemed young. How could she be so skilled? Could it be that Great Wei’s military was overflowing with talent, and there were others like Xiao Huaijin?

For a moment, Maka regretted volunteering to lead the attack on Jiyang. He had assumed the city was poorly defended and that with Mu Hongjin, a mere woman, in charge, capturing it would be a simple task—an easy victory to claim. Who could have predicted he would run into Xiao Jue and now this troublesome woman? Together, their skills were unparalleled. And then there were the Jiyang City Army. Just days ago, spies had reported that the city’s forces had not seen battle in years, their tactics outdated and no match for the Wutuo People. Yet in actual combat, they discovered the soldiers’ morale was high, their spirit unbroken, and their formations unlike anything seen before.

Though the Jiyang City Army had already lost more than half its men, against the Wutuo’s army of 150,000, they had not only failed to take the city immediately but had also suffered significant losses. It was an unimaginable humiliation!

"Send more men, charge!" Maka gritted his teeth as he watched the man and woman encircled by Wutuo soldiers. "I refuse to believe they can withstand my 150,000 troops!"The mast on the ship stood straight and motionless, but the flags hanging from it began to sway—not the faint, almost imperceptible rustling from earlier, but a visible, flowing motion like birds spreading their wings.

"The wind has risen!" He Yan's voice was filled with excitement. "Commander, the wind has truly risen!"

It wasn't a gentle breeze but more like a fresh wind, perhaps even one that would grow into a strong or fierce gale.

And more than that...

"It's a southeast wind!" He Yan smiled, her eyes curving with joy. "It's a southeast wind, Commander."

Xiao Jue glanced at her and simply said, "Now we can lure them into the trap."

He Yan met his gaze, a fleeting smile passing between them, then she leaped up and exclaimed, "Let's go—"

The two of them broke through the encirclement, appearing as though their strength was failing, and jumped onto a small boat belonging to the Jiyang City Army. The soldiers on the boat rowed desperately, as if trying to carry them far away.

"Trying to escape?" Maka sneered, waving his hand grandly. "After them! Today, we must take the heads of these two!"

At this critical moment, the Jiyang City Army's forces were dwindling rapidly. It was clear that Xiao Huaijin and the woman were outnumbered. Though a flicker of doubt crossed Maka's mind—was Xiao Huaijin the kind of man to abandon his troops and flee?—this doubt was quickly washed away by the joy of impending victory. No matter how brave and invincible they were, with so few soldiers left, they likely had no chance of turning the tide. The Great Wei people loved to say, "As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood." Perhaps these two, seeing the situation turning against them, intended to retreat, bide their time, and make a comeback later. Maka was determined to chase them to the end today.

His trusted aide hesitated slightly. "General, it's unwise to pursue a desperate enemy. Shouldn't we first eliminate the remaining Jiyang City Army forces here and focus on landing and entering the city? That's the proper course of action."

"What do you know?" Maka said disdainfully. "The Jiyang City Army is already in disarray. Capturing Xiao Huaijin..." A greedy glint flashed in his eyes. "The king will reward me handsomely. This is a military achievement that will go down in history!"

Everyone in the Wutu Kingdom knew he had led troops to attack the city. Not only would he capture Jiyang, but he would also kill the fearsome Xiao Huaijin with his own sword. Such a feat would be worth boasting about for a lifetime! Moreover, he had suffered a significant loss at the hands of the woman impersonating Mu Hongjin. Maka was a man who repaid every slight, and he could not bear to let this go.

For now, his only wish was to hunt them down and annihilate them completely.

"After them!"

The small boat ahead sped swiftly across the water. Beneath the vast and wide canal lay countless inconspicuous hidden reefs. Merchant ships passing through here had long since learned to steer clear of them from a distance. But these Wutuo People might not know.

Nor might they know what kind of deadly weapons were concealed within the small, seemingly insignificant boats scattered around them.

"General, have you noticed those small boats?" the trusted aide asked Maka.

Dozens of small boats had appeared on the water around them. These boats resembled those of the Jiyang City Army, but the people on board were not as numerous as the earlier Jiyang City Army soldiers. They were positioned at various points around the Wutuo warships, maintaining a vague, ambiguous distance that seemed almost menacing.

A growing sense of foreboding filled the aide, and he spoke up. "General, could this be an ambush? Should we perhaps...""What kind of ambush is this! If you're scared, then get the hell back to your hometown! My Wutuo soldiers don't raise cowards!" Maka kicked the man beside him away. "With just these few boats, calling it an ambush is a joke! We have so many ships and so many men—they're not ambushing us, they're coming to die! I say it's good they're here. Everyone, get ready! Wait until they get closer, then fire arrows!"

After a moment's thought, the trusted subordinate realized Maka's words made sense. These small Jiyang boats were like moths flying into a flame. Even if they were approaching from all directions, they still seemed to have no chance of victory.

He Yan's signal had already been sent out. The remaining boats led earlier by Mu Yi were now all heading toward them. He Yan glanced back at the Wutuo warships behind her—they were drawing closer and closer.

At the same time, the wind grew stronger.

It whipped the flags on the ships, making them snap and flutter, and stirred waves of joy in her heart, impossible to suppress.

"Light it?" He Yan asked Xiao Jue.

Xiao Jue curled his lips slightly. "Light it."

The two ordered the surrounding Jiyang City soldiers to stop rowing. "Quick, into the water!"

Plop, plop, plop—

The sounds of splashes followed one after another, leaving the people on the Wutuo warships stunned. "Why are they all jumping into the water?"

"Prepare the iron tridents! Even if they're in the water, we can still fight," Maka said darkly, assuming they were at their wit's end and had reached a dead end.

He Yan smiled faintly, stepped onto the bow of the boat, and pulled out a flint from her pocket.

Sss—

A faint sound came from her hand, but no one paid it any mind. The girl's eyes were bright, her smile sly. "Here's a big gift for you—catch it well!"

A spark streaked through the air like a shooting star, and the next moment, it landed on the boat. At the same time, splashing sounds echoed from all directions as the Jiyang City Army dove into the water.

The spark fell onto the uncovered tarpaulin and onto the dry firewood soaked in grease oil. With a deafening boom, a massive burst of flames erupted from the small boat, almost lighting up the entire sky.

The Wutuo warships were quickly engulfed in the fire, and the wind gradually grew stronger, slanting the flames toward the enemy vessels.

...

The commotion on the canal seemed to have reached Jiyang City.

Lin Shuanghe walked out from the backyard of the Cui residence and looked into the distance, muttering to himself, "What was that sound?"

Beside him, Zhong Fu also listened intently but couldn't answer his question. After a moment, Zhong Fu turned to Lin Shuanghe and asked, "Young Master Lin, are you really going to stay here?"

He now knew Lin Shuanghe's true identity. The so-called "graceful and elegant Steward Lin" clearly didn't exist in this world—at least, in all his years, he had never met one. This young man seemed refined and particular, and he was said to be a physician. Unlike Xiao Jue and He Yan, he had no martial skills at all. Why wasn't he evacuating with the civilians? What was he doing staying here?

"There are so many sisters in this residence," Lin Shuanghe said with a smile. "If I leave, who will protect them?"

Zhong Fu fell silent for a moment. He made it sound as if he were some formidable figure.

"The wives of Commander Cui are still in the residence. If even these sisters dare to stay, how could I run away alone? After all, I am a man," Lin Shuanghe fanned himself, his smile as carefree as ever. "A man should protect the ladies, of course."Second Aunt, leaning on her hand as she watched Lin Shuanghe speaking with Zhong Fu outside the window, remarked, "This Young Master Lin looks so frail, yet he proved quite manly at the critical moment. If I were ten years younger..."

"What then?" Aunt Wei shot her a glare. "What time is this for you to be thinking such thoughts!"

"I was just saying it casually, sister, no need to get so worked up." Second Aunt stretched lazily. "We don't even know if we'll survive today—can't you let me dream a little?"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Fourth Concubine chimed in. "Second Sister, don't jinx it! The master will surely defeat those Wutuo People. Not only will we survive today, but also tomorrow, and many, many days to come! Didn't the master say that Young Master Qiao Huanqing is actually Great Wei's General Feng Yun? With General Feng Yun here, this battle is bound to be won. Don't worry!" She spoke quickly and urgently, as if brimming with confidence, though it was unclear whether she was comforting others or convincing herself.

Third Concubine, who was prone to tears, had been holding them back for a long time. Upon hearing this, she finally couldn't hold back any longer and wept, "What does it matter if he's General Feng Yun? Our city hasn't seen war in years, and there are fewer soldiers than civilians. He's not a god. I'm still so young—I don't want to die. I... the master hasn't favored me for long. I'm so scared..."

"Stop crying!" Aunt Wei snapped sternly. Seeing Third Concubine shrink back but still unable to hold back her tears, she finally sighed and handed her a handkerchief, her voice softening. "What is there to fear? Though we are concubines, we are still people of the Zhongqi Mansion. We can't have the master risking his life at the front while we weep and wail behind his back, dragging him down."

"Even as concubines, as women, we are still the women of Zhongqi. We must have integrity and not fear death. If this battle is won and the master returns alive, we'll celebrate and prepare soup to comfort him. If it's lost... and the master doesn't return, we won't beg for our lives under the Wutuo People. The ropes are in our hands—everyone dies eventually, whether sooner or later."

"At least we sisters are together. Even if there truly is no way out, we'll have each other on the road to the underworld. What is there to fear?" she said.

Second Aunt let out a soft laugh, tears glistening in her eyes as she took Third Concubine's hand and said, "That's right. We sisters are all together—what is there to be afraid of?"

Third Concubine sniffled and wiped the tears from her face, refusing to speak. Fourth Concubine looked out the window and murmured, "The wind is rising."

...

"The wind is rising," Mu Hongjin said, gazing at the trees outside the window.

At first, it was just a gentle breeze, but it soon grew stronger, whipping the willow branches outside into disarray as if they might be uprooted at any moment. The pond stirred with shallow waves.

Inside and outside the prince's mansion, it was eerily empty, save for a few elderly servants who had stayed by her side. She had allowed everyone who could leave to do so, following the civilians evacuating outside the city. Every life saved was one less needless sacrifice.

"What was that sound just now?" she asked the maid beside her.

The maid shook her head.

"Of course," Mu Hongjin sighed. "How would you know?"The deafening explosion echoed through the city and beyond, seeming to originate from the direction of the canal. Messengers had come twice with updates, both reporting that the Wutuo People were now engaged in a fierce battle on the water with the Jiyang City Army led by Xiao Jue. The Wutuo soldiers had yet to make landfall and enter the city, but... the Jiyang City Army had already suffered heavy losses.

Outnumbered and outmatched, this battle was truly a trial for Xiao Huaijin. Mu Hongjin thought to herself, filled with self-reproach for her own helplessness. If only she knew how to command troops and lead charges, she wouldn’t be sitting idly in this empty palace, waiting powerlessly and in vain for an outcome.

If the city fell, she would perish with it. If it stood, she would continue to live. It seemed this was all she could do now.

A gust of wind blew in through the window, knocking over the mirror she had placed on the soft cushion. It fell to the ground with a thud. Mu Hongjin paused, then walked over to pick it up.

The mirror had already been dropped once before, leaving a faint crack. This time, the impact was even harder, and cracks now spread across the entire surface. As soon as she reached out to touch it, the mirror shattered. The broken pieces scattered across the soft, long rug, like gems strewn across the sky or memories scattered deep within the heart.

A sudden pang of sorrow struck her, and she knelt down, tears inexplicably streaming down her face.

...

Deep within the dense forest, a swordsman in white was surrounded by dozens, even hundreds, of Wutuo People.

Blood dripped steadily from the long sword in his hand, and large patches of his white robes were stained crimson, indistinguishable whether the blood was his own or others'.

"Attack!" The surrounding Wutuo People surged forward in waves, yet the swordsman’s skill was extraordinary. Fighting one against ten, even a hundred, he still refused to fall.

But he had suffered many wounds.

His arm bore a long scar from a Wutuo blade, and his leg was bleeding as well. Yet his movements remained light and graceful, like the mist atop Qiyun Mountain—elusive and unfathomable. He resembled a celestial being descending to endure mortal trials, forever calm and composed, facing everything with a smile.

He imbued the surrounding slaughter with an air of transcendence, like the heroic youths of old tales—wandering swordsmen with their swords and lutes, roaming freely across vast lands.

But even heroes have their limits.

Liu Buwang’s vision was gradually blurring, his eyes growing hazy. The earlier formation had drained much of his energy, aggravating old ailments. Now, he was merely fighting on borrowed time.

Yet every moment he held out meant another moment of peace for Jiyang City.

The wind began to rise, and the smile at the corner of his lips grew brighter and more radiant, as if recalling the carefree laughter of a girl in a red dress with silver bells, pretending boredom yet turning away to smile unknowingly.

A blade swept toward his face. Liu Buwang leaped aside to evade it, and as he moved, something flew from his robes. Instinctively, he reached out and caught it, clutching it tightly in his palm.

It was a silver bracelet, its edges engraved with a ring of tiny wild daisies. Worn smooth by the passage of time, its once-sharp edges had grown soft and warm, still carrying the faint warmth of body heat.

Someone had once told him, "This is called the Joyful Heart Bracelet. Give one to the one you love, and you will never part."

Seventeen-year-old Mu Hongjin had pleaded with him, "Young Master Liu, hurry and give me one!" But he had replied coldly, "She is not the one I love."However, while returning to the mountain with Yushu, at the foot of Qiyun Mountain, he encountered the old woman once more and, as if guided by some unseen force, took out money to buy the bracelet.

At that time, Liu Buwang did not understand why he had done so. He tried to convince himself that it was because he feared Mu Hongjin would grow bored waiting alone at the inn, and upon his return, she would surely put on an affected act. This bracelet, he thought, would serve as a gift to silence her. Unfortunately, for many years to come, he would never have the chance to give it to her.

Perhaps there had been a moment—or perhaps many moments—when he had genuinely wished to spend his entire life with that beautiful, radiant girl, to live and fly together, side by side.

"Thud—"

A long blade pierced through from behind, its tip emerging from his chest as if to carve open his heart, forcing him to see clearly for himself just who it was that truly held his affections.

The Wutuo man behind him burst into laughter, shouting, "This head is mine! No one can steal my military merit!"

A clamor of raucous laughter erupted all around.

Liu Buwang fell.

Even as he fell, he still clutched the Yuexin Bracelet tightly in his hand.

The wind, like a maiden's hand, gently brushed across his brow. Lying on his back, he no longer had the strength to rise.

In a daze, it felt as if he had returned to many years ago, the first time he descended the mountain.

That year, as a young man, he rode on horseback with his sword, filled with lofty ambitions. His senior brother had teased him with a smile, saying, "Women down the mountain are like tigers—don’t let the mortal world cloud your eyes." He had scoffed, unimpressed, but as he turned his head, he saw a girl in a red dress with long braids sitting beneath a tree, peach blossoms falling like rain around her.

(End of Chapter)