Mo Li

In the camp at Vulture Peak Mountain in the north, Ye Li sat calmly in her tent, reviewing the battle reports and memorials sent from various regions. After suffering several minor defeats at their hands, He Lianpeng had ceased challenging them to battle. The two armies had since maintained an uneasy peace. Meanwhile, Mo Xiuyao had fought two major battles, thoroughly crushing the Northern Rong army's morale. However, this had left the soldiers under Ye Li and Lyu Jinxian restless and eager for action.

Lyu Jinxian’s side was manageable, but Ye Li had to remain vigilant against Lei Zhenting’s forces at their rear, preventing any rash moves. This only intensified the frustration among the officers and soldiers, who grew increasingly restless with each report of victories elsewhere.

"Wang Fei, Generals Zhou Min, Sun Yaowu, and He Su request an audience," Qin Feng announced with a smile as he entered.

Ye Li set down the battle report in her hand and chuckled, "Here to petition for battle again?"

Qin Feng nodded with a grin. "They’ve been cooped up for too long. They must be itching for a fight."

After a moment’s thought, Ye Li said, "Let them in."

"As you command." Even Qin Feng’s eyes lit up at her words. Though he couldn’t personally charge into battle now, he could still share in the spoils. It wasn’t just the generals who were feeling stifled.

Soon, He Su, Zhou Min, and the others filed in, bowing in unison. "Greetings, Wang Fei."

Ye Li smiled. "No need for formalities. What brings you all here instead of guarding your respective camps?"

Sun Yaowu stepped forward eagerly. "Wang Fei, I request permission to lead an attack!"

Ye Li raised an eyebrow, watching him with quiet amusement. Sun Yaowu, though bold, held deep respect for the young Wang Fei. Under her gaze, he grew slightly flustered and added, "Wang Fei, staying idle while others fight is frustrating. It’s affecting the soldiers’ morale, isn’t it?"

Ye Li nodded. "A fair point. What do you propose?"

The generals’ eyes gleamed with excitement. Sun Yaowu grinned. "I volunteer to lead the vanguard and take Luozhou City by surprise!"

Having fought alongside him, He Su and Zhou Min knew that the loss of Luozhou City weighed heavily on Sun Yaowu. Neither sought to steal his chance for redemption. He Su said solemnly, "I’ll support General Sun as the rear guard."

Zhou Min added cheerfully, "I’ll hold Vulture Peak Mountain." Since someone had to defend the mountain, Zhou Min was patient—once the fighting started, there would be no shortage of battles.

"You’re quite united," Ye Li remarked.

The three exchanged smiles before turning expectantly to her. Ye Li tapped her finger lightly on the table, considering for a moment before saying, "Submit your plans to me first. Let me review them."

Delighted, the three saluted in unison. "As you command! We take our leave!" Without waiting for further dismissal, they hurried out to prepare their troops.

Watching their retreating figures, Ye Li shook her head in amusement and turned to Qin Feng. "Have the Qilin stand ready. If we’re taking Luozhou City, there can be no mistakes. He Lianpeng isn’t an easy opponent."

Qin Feng bowed. "Understood."Luozhou City was rather inconspicuous in the entire Great Chu—neither a strategic frontier fortress nor a renowned metropolis. However, it had one particularly vexing flaw: while most cities were easy to defend and hard to attack, Luozhou was the opposite—easy to attack and hard to defend. Located far from the border, it had never been breached by the Northern Rong despite their frequent incursions throughout history. As a result, while cities near the frontier were fortified like iron bastions, this unremarkable Luozhou had barely passable city walls, practically nonexistent.

If the Northern Rong army could breach those heavily fortified frontier cities, capturing a small place like Luozhou was naturally effortless. Thus, when Luozhou fell, it couldn’t be blamed on Sun Yaowu’s poor defense. With no favorable conditions—neither timing, terrain, nor popular support—even if Sun Yaowu were the reincarnation of Sun Wu or the rebirth of Bai Qi, defeat would have been inevitable.

After the Mo Family Army mobilized, though Luozhou was close to Vulture Peak Mountain, the army lacked sufficient troops. Moreover, retaking such an easily attacked, poorly defended city wouldn’t be difficult, but holding it would be nearly impossible. At best, they’d end up in a meaningless tug-of-war with the Northern Rong forces. Hence, the Mo Family Army had long ignored it. The reason Ye Li now agreed to Sun Yaowu’s request was that the central army under Mo Xiuyao had already pushed the Northern Rong’s main forces back in several battles. Their side naturally had to coordinate by driving out He Lianpeng’s army. As for how to defend Luozhou after capturing it—the Mo Family Army was no longer the old Great Chu army. Even if He Lianpeng wanted to fight for it, he’d have to weigh whether it was worth the cost.

Luozhou wasn’t an ideal place to station troops, so He Lianpeng’s main forces weren’t garrisoned there—only a small detachment was left behind. Under the cover of night, the city lay in silence, with only occasional flickers of light visible. Over the past two years, the northern regions had been devastated—most of the populace had either died or fled, leaving barely one in ten. Though it wasn’t very late, Luozhou was already shrouded in darkness.

Under the veil of night, a group of black-clad figures swiftly scaled the practically nonexistent city walls and vanished into the darkness. Not far outside Luozhou, hidden in the shadows, Sun Yaowu paced restlessly as he gazed at the dimly lit city. Leaning lazily against a tree trunk beside him, Qin Feng chuckled, “General Sun, what’s troubling you?”

Sun Yaowu frowned. “If we’re hiding here and they alert Luozhou’s garrison, won’t Northern Rong reinforcements arrive and ruin everything?”

Qin Feng smiled. “No need to worry, General Sun. If this were Li Cheng, Chu Jing, or somewhere guarded by Lei Zhenting, caution would be warranted. But in a place like Luozhou, if they can’t handle this without alerting the garrison, they might as well quit.”

Though Sun Yaowu had heard of the Qilin’s fearsome reputation, he’d never witnessed their prowess firsthand. Skeptical, he asked, “Commander Qin is so confident?” Qin Feng raised an eyebrow. “Naturally. If I can’t trust my own subordinates, who can? Surely you trust your own men too, General Sun?”

Sun Yaowu chuckled. “Fair enough. I’d like to see just how formidable the Mo Family Army’s Qilin truly are.”

Qin Feng grinned. “Then watch and see, General Sun.”In less than half a quarter-hour, a green signal flare rose from Luozhou City. Sun Yaowu was stunned. "That's it?" Qin Feng smiled and said, "General Sun, after you." When Sun Yaowu led his troops to charge into Luozhou City, they found the city gates wide open, with chaos reigning inside. Yet, the Northern Rong soldiers who could climb the city walls to resist their attack were few and far between. In less than half an hour, they had already taken Luozhou City. By the time Sun Yaowu stood once more on the city walls, he still couldn't quite believe it.

If Luozhou City could be captured so easily, what had he been agonizing over for the past two years?

Seeing his complex expression, a mix of joy and sorrow, Qin Feng said gently, "General Sun, don’t dwell on it. As Wang Fei mentioned earlier, Luozhou is easy to attack but hard to defend. Militarily, it holds no strategic value—anyone could have taken it. So, the loss of Luozhou back then was not your fault."

Leaning against the watchtower, Sun Yaowu listened to Qin Feng’s words and suddenly burst into uncontrollable sobs. Deep down, he had always known Luozhou’s fall was inevitable. But as a general, the countless civilian deaths caused by his failure weighed heavily on his conscience. He didn’t know what others thought, but he could never forgive himself. Had it not been for encountering the Mo Family Army and Princess Ding, Sun Yaowu might have either died in regret or abandoned himself to a life of banditry. That was why he held Ye Li in such high esteem and loyalty—not just because she trusted him, but because she gave him new hope and purpose.

Qin Feng watched Sun Yaowu calmly, offering no comfort. Wang Fei was right—though Sun Yaowu could be careless in minor matters, he was a rare general with a true conscience.

Only after Sun Yaowu had vented his long-suppressed emotions did Qin Feng step forward and pat his shoulder with a smile. "Alright, enough crying. The real battles are just beginning."

A grown man weeping so openly in front of others embarrassed Sun Yaowu. Roughly wiping his tears, he forced himself to ignore Qin Feng’s amused expression and said, "I always thought I had nerves of steel, but isn’t Wang Fei’s plan too risky? What if He Lianpeng doesn’t take the bait and doesn’t come to Luozhou’s rescue? That would spell trouble for her."

Qin Feng stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Wang Fei said He Lianpeng will definitely come."

"Why? She even admitted this place has no strategic value," Sun Yaowu argued.

Qin Feng chuckled. "Even so, occupying Luozhou is like planting a thorn in He Lianpeng’s back. More importantly... Wang Fei said he can’t afford the humiliation. So, he’ll come." From the way He Lianpeng had repeatedly provoked Princess Ding from the start, it was clear he was an extremely proud man—one who couldn’t tolerate failure. He would never allow the Mo Family Army to hold territory within his controlled region, especially not a place retaken from his grasp.

Sun Yaowu scratched his head and nodded. "That... makes some sense."Qin Feng smiled and said, "General Sun, you'd better prepare to defend the city. When the Northern Rong reinforcements arrive, things won't be easy for us here." Sun Yaowu nodded solemnly and replied, "Rest assured, I will never let the Bei Rong people take Luozhou from my hands again."

The news of Luozhou's capture by the Mo Family Army quickly reached He Lianpeng's camp, and the subordinate generals all urged immediate action to retake the city. Since entering the Central Plains, these Northern Rong soldiers had been virtually unstoppable. Even though their advance had stalled somewhat after encountering the Mo Family Army last year, they had not suffered any significant losses overall. The troops stationed near Vulture Peak Mountain, in particular, had never faced the Mo Family Army's main force, leading them to gradually develop a sense that the Mo Family Army was nothing special. Upon hearing that Luozhou, which they had already occupied, had been silently recaptured by the Mo Family Army, how could they tolerate it? Naturally, they clamored to retake the city.

He Lianpeng, however, was in no hurry. Although the Mo Family Army's sudden attack on Luozhou did surprise him somewhat, the recent skirmishes with them had made him much more cautious.

"We can retake Luozhou anytime we want. But why would Ye Li attack Luozhou now? Luozhou is still some distance from Vulture Peak Mountain. Even if she captures it, she can't connect it to the territory she's defending. Instead, she'd have to deploy even more troops to garrison it. Logically, Ye Li wouldn't make such an unwise decision," He Lianpeng said gravely.

One of his deputy generals curled his lips disdainfully and said, "That Princess Ding is just a woman—what does she know about warfare? But no matter what, we can't let the Mo Family Army look down on us Northern Rong warriors."

A glint flashed in He Lianpeng's eyes as a cold smile played on his lips. "In that case, Deputy General Zha, why don't you lead the troops to retake Luozhou?"

The deputy general immediately accepted the order. "This general swears to retake Luozhou before dawn tomorrow."

He Lianpeng neither agreed nor disagreed, merely saying indifferently, "We'll talk about it after you succeed. If you do, I'll commend you to the Seventh Prince." Though the deputy general was rough by nature, he could still sense He Lianpeng's skepticism. He paused for a moment but ultimately accepted the order and left.

Only after the deputy general had departed did He Lianpeng sweep his gaze over the remaining officers and say coldly, "Find out immediately where Ye Li actually is!" The others were taken aback. One stepped forward and asked, "General, do you suspect Princess Ding's attack on Luozhou is part of some other scheme?" Though He Lianpeng had only recently arrived and had been directly appointed by Yelv Ye to take command of the troops at Vulture Peak Mountain, his ruthless and decisive methods had earned him the awe of many officers. No one dared to look down on him for his youth or lack of prior military experience.

He Lianpeng nodded. "Exactly. Launching a reckless attack on a place of little strategic value doesn't seem like Ye Li's usual style."

The other generals privately dismissed the idea—how would they know anything about Princess Ding's usual tactics? But they couldn't disregard He Lianpeng's orders, so they quickly accepted their tasks and left.

"A scheme? This is clearly an open stratagem," Ye Li said with a smile, standing high above the vast landscape outside the Vulture Peak Mountain camp. Behind her stood Zhuo Jing, Lin Han, and Zhou Min, who was stationed at Vulture Peak Mountain.Zhou Min asked curiously, "Wang Fei, will He Lianpeng truly take the bait?"

Ye Li smiled faintly, "This isn't about whether He Lianpeng will take the bait or not. Even if he clearly knows there's a problem... he has no choice but to follow the route we've designed. Otherwise, he might as well prepare to surrender all three cities near Vulture Peak Mountain to us."

Zhou Min pondered for a moment before frowning, "Wang Fei sent General Sun to capture Luozhou while deploying General He to take Huiyun City. Even if He Lianpeng is willing to abandon Luozhou, he certainly can't give up Huicheng and will inevitably dispatch troops for reinforcement. But... in doing so, He Lianpeng will surely realize our forces are spread thin. What if he—"

Ye Li turned to look at Zhou Min and sighed helplessly, "If that happens, then it will be up to you, General Zhou." The Mo Family Army's limited numbers were indeed a weakness. Currently, the Vulture Peak Mountain camp had about 300,000 troops, but less than 100,000 were true Mo Family Army elites. The rest consisted of remnants from Great Chu's forces and soldiers under He Su's command. Although He Su's troops were better than those under other Great Chu generals, they still couldn't compare one-on-one with Northern Rong. However, this wasn't He Su's fault.

Zhou Min hesitated before lowering his voice, "Wang Fei, why doesn't Wang Ye recruit more troops from the Northwest?" The Northwest's military conscription system differed slightly from other regions, giving it a stronger capacity to draft new soldiers. If Mo Xiuyao wished, he could mobilize over a million new recruits at any time. Moreover, these recruits weren't like ordinary fresh soldiers—they had all received some level of training. This was somewhat similar to Northern Rong, though the latter's martial culture meant everyone practiced combat, while the Northwest's system required every male to serve two years in the military between the ages of sixteen and twenty.

Ye Li shook her head with a smile, "Though Northern Rong is fierce, they aren't enough to make Prince Ding's Estate exhaust all its resources to oppose them. The next few years will likely be turbulent for the world. If we deplete all our manpower and resources now, what will we do later?"

"I see." Zhou Min admitted he didn't consider matters as thoroughly as Wang Ye and Wang Fei. His duty was simply to fight the enemy head-on. Since Princess Ding had spoken, he wouldn't press further.

"Reporting to Wang Fei, He Lianpeng has just dispatched 100,000 troops toward Huicheng," a black-clad man announced from behind.

Ye Li nodded, "Understood. You may leave." After dismissing the messenger, she mused, "He Lianpeng should have over 400,000 troops. Even after sending reinforcements to Luozhou and Huicheng, he must still have at least 200,000 left."

Zhou Min's expression turned grave. "Wang Fei, our current forces number less than 150,000."Ye Li waved her hand and said, "It's alright. Abandon the other two camps and just hold the central army. The mountain paths of Vulture Peak Mountain are rugged and easy to defend but hard to attack. As long as we can hold out for half a month, it will be enough time for He Su to capture Huicheng. Even if the worst happens... this Wang Fei will notify General Yuan Pei. Once Vulture Peak Mountain falls, he will immediately lead troops out of Flying Goose Pass to block the Northern Rong army's retreat." Although this plan was somewhat risky, if successful, He Su would occupy Huicheng while Sun Yaowu held Luozhou, forming a triangular encirclement with Vulture Peak Mountain to trap Helianpeng's forces in the middle. By then, Helianpeng would have no choice but to retreat.

"This subordinate understands. I swear to defend Vulture Peak Mountain with my life. However... might Wang Fei consider relocating to Flying Goose Pass first?" After some thought, Zhou Min still asked. It wasn't that he doubted Wang Fei's willingness to stand with the soldiers, but given her status, there was no need for her to take such risks.

Ye Li shook her head. "There's no need. This Wang Fei believes General Zhou can hold Vulture Peak Mountain."

With Ye Li's firm stance, Zhou Min could say no more. He could only resolve in his heart to never let Helianpeng set foot on Vulture Peak Mountain. If—heaven forbid—they truly couldn't hold out, he would forcibly escort Wang Fei to Flying Goose Pass if necessary.

Soon, fierce battles erupted around Vulture Peak Mountain. Just as Ye Li and Zhou Min had predicted, Helianpeng didn't personally lead troops to relieve Huicheng or Luozhou. Instead, he concentrated his remaining 200,000 troops in a full-scale assault on Vulture Peak Mountain. To the east, his forces had been locked in a stalemate with Lyu Jinxian's army for a long time without breaking through. In the central route, Yelv Ye and Helian Zhen jointly commanded over 800,000 troops, yet after half a month of fighting Mo Xiuyao's less than 500,000 soldiers, they had suffered more defeats than victories and were forced to retreat. If Helianpeng could open a path through Vulture Peak Mountain, it would resolve the Northern Rong army's current predicament. More importantly, winter came early in the north, and its arrival was imminent. By then, the Northern Rong army's supplies would become even more strained. Thus, though Helianpeng knew Ye Li's arrangement might work against him, he had no choice but to stake everything on taking Vulture Peak Mountain.

At the front lines of Vulture Peak Mountain, both sides fought fiercely for five days, suffering heavy casualties, yet neither showed any sign of retreat. Comparatively, the Mo Family Army was truly at a disadvantage this time. Their combat strength was already inferior to the Northern Rong army, and they were outnumbered. Were it not for Vulture Peak Mountain's natural defenses, the Mo Family Army would likely have been defeated by now.

Even so, Helianpeng was no better off than Ye Li and Zhou Min. Although his casualties were slightly fewer than the Mo Family Army's, he only had about 200,000 troops left, and the reinforcements sent to Luozhou and Huicheng had yet to send back any news. If casualties continued at this rate, even if he completely wiped out the defenders at Vulture Peak Mountain, the remnants of his army might not be enough to withstand the Mo Family Army waiting at Flying Goose Pass. By then, it would truly be a case of mutual destruction. Worst of all, Ye Li could afford the losses—she still had Yuan Pei and the garrison at Flying Goose Pass behind her. But Helianpeng couldn't. If Luozhou and Huicheng fell completely, even if he took Vulture Peak Mountain, he wouldn't dare advance past it. Doing so would leave his army completely isolated."Ye... Li!" Standing before the army, surveying the exhausted soldiers covered in wounds, He Lianpeng gritted his teeth, his eyes burning with fervor. "Truly worthy of being Princess Ding. This general has still fallen for your schemes. But... this time, have you also calculated your own life into the equation?"

Gazing at the black banner of the Mo Family Army fluttering in the wind atop Vulture Peak Mountain ahead, He Lianpeng gave a cold laugh. "Since things have come to this, if this general doesn't conquer your Vulture Peak Mountain, wouldn't it make people laugh at my incompetence?"

"Men!"

"General?!" An officer hurried over to receive orders. He Lianpeng raised his eyes, staring at the hillside not far away as he said in a deep voice, "Continue the assault on Vulture Peak Mountain. Don't stop until it's taken!" The officer hesitated, looking troubled as he said, "General, Vulture Peak Mountain is easily defended but hard to attack. I'm afraid..." He Lianpeng's cold, sharp gaze swept over him, forcing the man to swallow his words. He Lianpeng fixed his eyes on him and said sternly, "Anyone who dares retreat will be executed!"

"Yes, sir!"

On Vulture Peak Mountain, the atmosphere was equally tense, filled with bloodshed and a sense of urgency. Lin Han followed behind Ye Li as she inspected the front lines outside the camp. Seeing soldiers resting in small groups, many of them wounded and unable to receive timely treatment, Lin Han couldn't help but frown. He glanced worriedly at Ye Li walking ahead, but the words to persuade her to leave earlier stuck in his throat.

When the soldiers resting on the ground saw Ye Li approaching, they scrambled to stand and salute. Ye Li waved her hand, signaling them to remain seated, then walked up to a young soldier leaning against a haystack, his left arm covered in blood. She asked softly, "What happened? Why haven't you bandaged your wound?"

The soldier, no more than seventeen or eighteen years old, blushed nervously at being addressed by Ye Li and quickly shook his head. "R-Reporting to Wang Fei, my injury isn't serious. It's just a scratch—no need for bandages." Ye Li crouched down and lifted his sleeve. The wound wasn't severe—it hadn't hit any vital areas, but it had bled profusely. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be a problem, but in their current situation, any exertion could worsen the injury. Frowning, Ye Li sprinkled some medicine on the wound, and Lin Han handed her a cloth strip from behind. She took it and deftly bandaged the wound.

The young soldier stared blankly at the woman in white tending to his injury. To his surprise, Wang Fei seemed quite skilled—within moments, she had applied the medicine and wrapped the wound more neatly than even the army medics he'd seen. Noticing his dazed expression, Ye Li smiled faintly and asked, "How old are you? Are you afraid?"

The boy shook his head firmly. "I'm not afraid." In truth, he was a little scared, but if Wang Fei, a woman, wasn't afraid, how could he, a man, show fear?

Ye Li patted his shoulder. "Rest well. There's still a tough battle ahead." Standing up, she turned to Lin Han and said, "The camp isn't short on medical supplies. Have the medics distribute some to the soldiers. For minor injuries, let them help each other with the medicine and bandages."

"Yes, Wang Fei." Lin Han nodded, flagging down a passing soldier to relay the order before falling back into step behind Ye Li. Seeing this, Ye Li sighed helplessly. "I won't be in any danger here in the camp. You don't need to follow me everywhere."

Lin Han shook his head. "Wang Ye's orders—Wang Fei must not be left unprotected."

Knowing she couldn't persuade him, Ye Li let it go. Just as she was about to leave, she heard faint moans of pain nearby. Frowning, she turned toward the sound. It came from a simple shelter housing the severely wounded, where two medics were gathered around a young soldier, discussing something. The moans were coming from him.In truth, ancient battlefields with cold weapons were far more brutal than those of her previous life. There were no professional battlefield medics or nurses to rescue the wounded. Those severely injured usually met their end amidst the chaos of war. Only the lucky few who survived the battle and weren't killed by the enemy would be dragged back by their comrades. Even then, the mortality rate among these severely wounded was shockingly high. This was also why there weren't many disabled survivors from the battlefield.

"How bad is the injury?" Ye Li asked softly.

The two physicians turned around and reported helplessly, "The arrowhead is lodged in the bone. I'm afraid..." If the arrow couldn't be removed, even though the wound was on the leg, the man would eventually die from infection and other complications.

Ye Li looked down at the young man lying on the bed. His wound had turned bluish and was already showing signs of infection. His young eyes were filled with despair and pain. A shadow crossed Ye Li's heart as she pondered before asking, "What about amputation?"

"Amputation?" The two physicians were startled but quickly understood her meaning. Hesitantly, they replied, "If we remove this leg... there might be a slim chance of survival. As long as the wound doesn't fester afterward, he should be fine. But... but..." Such a procedure wasn't something just anyone could perform. Though they were physicians, they had never done anything like this. There had been an experienced old military doctor in the camp, but he had fallen gravely ill from exhaustion a few days prior and had been sent back to Flying Goose Pass.

After a moment of contemplation, Ye Li said calmly, "I'll do it."

"Wang Fei?!" Not only the two physicians but even Lin Han was shocked.

Ye Li replied composedly, "Don't worry, I can do it." In her past life as a special forces soldier, Ye Li had naturally learned battlefield first aid. It wasn't just about treating external wounds; she had even performed basic battlefield surgeries. Amputation happened to be one of the most common procedures.

The two physicians were still hesitant. Though they couldn't save this wounded soldier, they couldn't just stand by and let Wang Fei take over. The soldier might still live a few more days as he was, but if Wang Fei intervened, he might die on the spot.

Ye Li walked up to the young man and said gently, "I need to amputate the leg with the arrow. Don't be afraid."

A flicker of fear rose in the young man's eyes. He struggled to shake his head, but the pain in his leg left him unable to utter a word. Ye Li looked at him and said firmly, "Your life is more important than a leg. Given the circumstances, are you really willing to give up your life without even trying to fight for it? Is there... someone waiting for you to return home?"

The young man's gaze grew distant, as if recalling something. Slowly, a glimmer of hope and vitality appeared in his eyes. Ye Li said softly, "If you want to live, you must do your utmost, even if it means enduring to the very last moment."

Finally, the young man nodded. Though fear still lingered in his eyes, it was no longer as panicked. Only then did Ye Li stand up and instruct the two physicians beside her, "Prepare painkillers, hemostatics, clean hot water, strong liquor, clean cloths, and fire." The two physicians had no choice but to comply and gather the requested items.When all the necessary preparations were complete, Ye Li took out an unused thin-bladed short knife. After wiping it with alcohol and briefly holding it over a flame, she stood beside the young man on the bed and made a precise incision on his leg. The two assisting physicians watched her movements intently, their eyes wide. Her cuts were swift yet measured—though slightly hesitant at first, she quickly found her rhythm after two or three strokes. Her technique soon appeared even more precise than that of seasoned military surgeons.

As Ye Li worked, the thunderous sound of war drums suddenly erupted outside, accompanied by the distinct horns of the Northern Rong army—clearly, another assault had begun. Lin Han voiced his concern, "Wang Fei..."

Without lifting her head or pausing her hands, Ye Li instructed, "Go inform Zhou Min that he is to take full command. I will join them shortly." Lin Han glanced at the half-conscious patient on the bed before finally turning to leave.

Ye Li soon set down the knife, deftly threading a sterilized needle to suture the wound before bandaging it. Only then did she straighten up and exhale softly. The two physicians, momentarily entranced by her skill, snapped back to attention when she looked at them. "Wang Fei..." they murmured.

Setting aside her tools, Ye Li washed her hands in a nearby basin and said, "Please take good care of him. You are more knowledgeable than I am about anti-inflammatory and detoxifying medicines. Keep his wound dry—if he remains stable for the next few days, he should recover." Without further delay, she strode out of the tent toward the battlefield.

On the battlefield, He Lianpeng frowned when he failed to spot Ye Li from afar. Raising his voice mockingly, he called out, "What? Has the famed Princess Ding finally fled in fear?" His tone carried a strange mix of emotions—unsure whether he wished she had truly left or stayed.

Zhou Min sneered in response. "Where our Wang Fei chooses to be is none of your concern, you Northern Rong barbarian!"

He Lianpeng's expression darkened. "I had thought the legendary Princess Ding was a heroine among women. Turns out she’s just a coward who flees at the first sign of battle."

"I have no patience for your nonsense, you Northern Rong savage. If you want a fight, then fight!" Zhou Min leveled his spear at He Lianpeng.

"Perfect," He Lianpeng grinned. "After I kill you, I’ll hunt down your precious Princess Ding myself! Charge!" Without waiting for the drums, he spurred his horse uphill, leading the charge. His soldiers, inspired by their general’s boldness, followed without hesitation, surging toward the Mo Family Army’s front lines.

Zhou Min stood his ground. With a cold snort, he barked, "Cut them down!"The Mo Family Army roared in unison, unleashing arrows and hurling massive logs and stones mercilessly toward the Northern Rong forces. After five or six days of continuous attacks, the Northern Rong troops had gained some experience. This time, many managed to evade the rolling boulders, logs, and rain of arrows, charging upward. Without hesitation, the Mo Family Army soldiers rushed down, and the two armies immediately clashed in close combat.

He Lianpeng, relying on his formidable martial skills, leaped toward Zhou Min's position. The archers ahead swiftly shifted their aim, firing at He Lianpeng mid-air. The Black Cloud Cavalry of the Mo Family Army was renowned for its archery, and even He Lianpeng dared not face a volley of a dozen arrows head-on. He flipped in the air to dodge the arrows, slashing his long blade to deflect several more before landing.

He Lianpeng laughed heartily. "Fine archery! This general would like to test the Mo Family Army's famed marksmanship."

Before his words faded, he dove toward Zhou Min again. His Light Body Skill was exceptional, and his speed was astonishing—within moments, he was within a few yards of Zhou Min. Swinging his long blade, he unleashed a fierce slash toward the archers. A sharp blade energy surged forward. The archers reacted swiftly, rolling aside to evade, but two were still wounded. He Lianpeng ignored them, turning to attack Zhou Min.

Arrows were deadly at range but useless in close combat. Unfazed, Zhou Min thrust his spear at He Lianpeng. The latter grinned. "General Zhou, your command is impressive, but your martial skills fall short."

Zhou Min replied coldly, "General He Lianpeng talks too much."

He Lianpeng chuckled. "Is that so? Then let this general witness your skills firsthand."

Zhou Min was a battlefield commander, not a lone martial arts expert. Against He Lianpeng, he was naturally at a disadvantage. With Ye Li, He Su, and Sun Yaowu absent, Zhou Min was solely responsible for directing the frontlines, leaving him unable to focus entirely on the duel. After a few exchanges, his disadvantage became evident.

He Lianpeng was in high spirits, swinging his blade as he taunted, "General Zhou, is Princess Ding truly not here? If she's absent, you're doomed today."

Zhou Min snorted, ignoring the gash on his arm, and thrust his spear again. He Lianpeng leaped into the air. "What a pity... The Northern Rong has few generals like you." His blade gleamed with a dark crimson hue under the sunlight as it slashed toward Zhou Min's neck.

"Clang—!" A shadow flashed as Lin Han, his expression icy, raised his sword to block He Lianpeng's blade. He said coldly, "General He Lianpeng, if you wish to witness the Mo Family Army's archery, why the haste?"

He Lianpeng froze, sensing a gust of wind behind his head. He barely dodged as a black-feathered arrow whizzed past his face. The force of this arrow was incomparable to the earlier volleys—even though it missed, the mere graze left his skin stinging faintly."General He Lian is indeed impatient. Such eagerness to lead the charge is quite unexpected for this consort," Ye Li stood not far away, her expression calm as she regarded He Lianpeng. He Lianpeng laughed heartily and said, "So the Wang Fei is still with the army. It seems this general has misunderstood you."

Ye Li replied serenely, "No matter. Since the General has come, why not stay a while longer? General Zhou, you may attend to your duties." Zhou Min glanced at Ye Li and He Lianpeng, realizing he had no place here, nodded, and turned to leave.

He Lianpeng raised an eyebrow and smiled, "If Princess Ding wishes to keep this general here, it would be my honor."

Ye Li was not in the best mood and did not engage in banter. She said coolly, "That would be best." With a wave of her delicate hand, several arrows shot toward He Lianpeng from various directions. He Lianpeng swiftly leaped away, slashing at the incoming arrows with his blade. No sooner had he deflected the first volley than another gust of wind came from behind. Despite relying on his profound inner energy to avoid being hit, he was momentarily thrown into disarray.

"Incredible!" Earlier, a dozen archers had showered him with arrows without posing any real threat. Yet now, these sparse arrows had him scrambling.

"General, you may now appreciate the difference between Qilin and Yazi," Ye Li remarked coolly.

By the time He Lianpeng finally broke through Qilin's arrow barrage, he had been forced dozens of yards away from the Mo Family Army's camp. Gazing from afar at the white-clad woman standing before several black-clad men, He Lianpeng sighed with reluctance. "I sincerely invited the Wang Fei to visit Northern Rong as our guest. Why must you be so ungracious?"