Chapter 09: Fright

He Lan Zhen and his group disguised themselves as guards outside the camp, lurking at the edge of the training ground. I, with He Lan Zhen, leaned against the forested slope behind us, allowing us to overlook the entire scene from a high vantage point, very close to the central military formation. In an instant, the surroundings were filled with swirling sand and dust, flags fluttering, and the sounds of battle resounded through the heavens.

The entire camp is built against the mountain, and beyond the final checkpoint in front of us lies the vast forest outside the camp, leading to the foot of the mountain

The sound of the horn wails high and clear, as the soldiers shout in unison, their voices echoing across the land

Xiao Qi looked down at the generals, slightly raised his hand, and the tens of thousands of soldiers in the training ground immediately fell silent, listening attentively without a sound

On the high platform, Xiao Qi raised his arm and lifted his cloak, "Light the beacon fires and summon the four corners!"

Not only the Helan Zhen, but also the common people who have suffered greatly from the ravages of war; who among them does not have a mother, sister, or brother? In the heart of that lonely and indignant youth, his mother and sister were perhaps the only remnants of beauty and longing that he held onto

The war drums urge on, the horns sound in unison, and the brilliant rays of light leap through the clouds, while the winds and clouds at the horizon surge with grandeur

On the command platform, a resplendent golden dragon flag rose majestically, fluttering in the wind and making a rustling sound

"We are here at the command of the esteemed envoy to conduct an inspection," the burly man with a thick beard declared, revealing the official token. "The token is here."

Halt! Who dares to intrude upon the sacred grounds of the school?

I cast a cold glance back, remaining silent

He Lan Zhen appeared at the door, clad in black, with a cloak trailing on the ground, blending seamlessly with the night behind him

The drill in the field was reaching a boiling point, with dust swirling all around. At a glance, one could see the banners fluttering and the glint of metal shining coldly.

It seems that tonight should be the time for them to take action, yet neither Helan Zhen nor Xiao Qi's people have made any further movements

The sky was faintly brightening, the campfires around the barracks were extinguished, and the training ground gradually became clear in the morning light

His voice was authoritative and deep, resonating from afar with each phrase: "General Xu Shou, the Great General of the Far, is sent by Heaven to patrol, personally arriving in Ning Shuo, diligently serving the royal affairs, stabilizing the border regions. Today, in the training grounds, the soldiers obey my commands, practicing formations, raising our military prestige, to honor the grace of Heaven"

Throughout the levels that have been successfully passed, there are flags of a reddish-yellow hue standing tall on one side of the commanding banner, with crimson tiger stripes reflecting the flickering flames, vibrant and striking

Young master! The burly man with a fierce mustache gazed intently.

The burly man with a twisted beard, followed by eight heavily armored soldiers clad in iron helmets, stood ghost-like at the door, shrouded from head to toe in cloaks

The grip of Helan Zhen tightened, like an iron clamp choking my throat

I was frozen, in an instant, even my breath solidified into ice

Although it is not a true battlefield slaughter, I still feel my heart and soul tremble. This grand military might is a hundred times more magnificent than the military rewards in the capital back in the day, with an atmosphere of solemnity and intimidation that leaves all spectators in awe.

The Helan Zhen beside me disguised as an ordinary guard, with a cloak covering his face, remained impassive.

After a moment of stalemate, he stood up and turned to leave

Who dares to plot against the King of Yuzhang and to take the Princess of Yuzhang hostage

I felt my entire body turn cold in an instant, as if a chill was seeping into my body from every pore

No wonder they could easily escape from Huizhou, blend into the convoy transporting military supplies, and even enter the Ning Shuo camp in broad daylight

"If you are not you, then I..." He suddenly fell silent, gazing at me with a dazed expression, as if experiencing a moment of vulnerability.

His words pierced the ears, chilling to the very core.

The burly man replied, "At the first watch of the night, it has not yet become late."

He draped a dark black cloak made of ochre silk over me, and in the moonlight, the familiar vermilion tiger emblem on the cloak caught my eye.

My hands and feet were cold, and I numbly followed him, stepping out the door one step at a time

The horn sounds, the golden drums resonate, and the beating of the drums grows increasingly urgent

The sound of drums resounded powerfully, each beat striking directly at the heart.

I was escorted by them out of the main camp and directly into the forest behind the camp

Thank you, esteemed gentlemen! The man with the long beard bows respectfully.

Tens of thousands of soldiers raised their halberds and spears in unison, emitting a deafening roar that shook the heavens and the earth, causing one's heart to tremble and ears to buzz

My breath suddenly caught in my throat, and my heart began to boil with emotion

The burly man with a twisted beard followed in, presenting a black wooden box before Helan Zhen

She unexpectedly donned a stunning scarlet dress, adorned with pearls and jewels, her hair elegantly styled in a high bun.

He lowered his voice, laughing sinisterly, "Watch closely, soon you will become a widow."

As I gazed at his crazily contorted face, I experienced a moment of profound realization.

He Lan Zhen led me to a hidden barrier, pretending to be a guard, while the others dispersed in different directions

Under his restraint, I struggled to speak, "He will surely come to rescue me"

As I closed my eyes in pain, he leaned down and coldly laughed in my ear, "Oh really, then open your eyes wide and watch closely!"

At this moment, seeing this person closely following Xiao Qi, my heart was immediately filled with anguish, wishing I could rush to him at once to warn him. However, with a distance of several dozen zhang between us, even if I could escape Helan Zhen's restraint, I would still be unable to reach him, rendering all efforts futile

I do not slaughter others, nor do others slaughter me

Do they... do they wish to serve as envoys for the Ministry of War?

The word "hate" leaves me in a daze for a while

As night falls, the room is enveloped in darkness

Suddenly, a deep horn sounded, echoing throughout the camp for several miles around

I was astonished to see that the pale-faced Xiao Ye was also among them, being held by two burly men, appearing gravely injured and on the verge of collapse

Xiao Qi suddenly turned his horse's head and galloped to the right. Behind him, the iron-clad guards formed a line, while the heavy-armored infantry with their large shields blocked the way. The formation moved swiftly like a nimble serpent, and in the blink of an eye, it separated Xiao Qi from Xu Shou, placing them on opposite wings.

I fixed my gaze upon him, "Today you have harmed me, but have you not also hurt the innocent? My parents and brothers will equally feel sorrow and pain. How does your actions today compare to Xiao Qi? He fought for the country, while you act solely out of personal grievances. Helan Zhen, if you have done no wrong, then what fault did Xiao Qi have on that day?"

He Lan Zhen sneered coldly beside me, placing his hand on my waist, and whispered, "If you do not wish to die alongside him, do not act recklessly."

It was already past the fourth watch, and the soldiers preparing for patrol in the forest were bustling back and forth, with no one paying attention to our group

Upon stepping outside, he did not look at me again

Numerous wooden stake barriers have been set up in the forest, along with various bizarre objects for combat training, presumably for the purpose of practicing formations

I tasted a hint of strong blood in my mouth, unsure whether it was from my bitten lip or blood choked from my throat, yet I no longer felt any pain

The units include the Heavy Armor Battalion, Infantry and Cavalry Battalion, Divine Machine Battalion, and Siege Engine Battalion... Each battalion is led by an officer, organized in formation, and trained to proficiency

In the suffocating pain, my vision gradually darkened, and my mind became hazy. Suddenly, a chill spread through my chest, the constriction in my throat vanished, but my collar was torn open. I coughed violently; each breath I took felt like a knife scraping against my throat, a mix of shame and pain overwhelming me, cold sweat soaking through my clothes

"The master has other important matters to attend to and will proceed first," the burly man with a thick beard said in a low voice. "We shall act according to orders."

He leaned down and pinned me to the bed

All around, there stood rows of heavily armored soldiers, advancing in formation, their bootsteps shaking the high platform and stirring up clouds of dust like a yellow dragon.

Everyone has something they cherish the most

Regardless of whether one is good or evil, there is always something most cherished in their heart that they will fiercely protect when it is threatened, even at the cost of their life. If I were in such a situation, witnessing my beloved family member suffer such a tragedy, I too would devote my entire life to avenging the perpetrator

The soldiers in the training ground shouted in unison, causing the mountains to shake and the earth to tremble

His hand remained stiff and frozen in place, staring at me without blinking, the intense gaze gradually cooling to ash

He Lan Zhen has already taken action, yet Xiao Qi remains seemingly indifferent.

Eliminate the southern barbarian thieves and pacify the Central Plains and its territories

A slight tremor stirred within my heart, and I lowered my gaze, vaguely beginning to understand, yet unwilling to believe.

However, no matter how one struggles, it cannot conceal the marks of humiliation

A stir in my heart, I vaguely sense a few hints

He Lan Zhen, your mother is watching you from above

Be quiet! He was furious, raising his hand to strike. The force of his palm barely grazed my cheek, yet it struck down on the low table beside me

Life and death are in the hands of others, I dare not seek help, nor do I have the opportunity to escape, I can only endure and wait for the right moment

A group of people brushed past me, and in the glow of the fire, I could see clearly that each of them had a fiery red tiger pattern on their cloaks

Looking around, one could see that all around were the lights of barracks, stretching far into the distance

His lips, coldly pressed against my ear, "The beauty is delicate, and I cannot help but feel pity upon seeing her"

I recoiled, avoiding the touch of his finger

He Lan Zhen suddenly stiffened all over, came to a halt, his chest rising and falling sharply, his complexion turning a terrifying shade of ashen.

"Wretched person, you speak with flowery words, only wishing to absolve Xiao Qi of his crimes!" He Lan Zhen's eyes turned red, suddenly filled with uncontrollable rage, a murderous intent surging, "A pair of shameless scoundrels, how dare you claim innocence! One day, I will slay all the southern barbarians and trample the Central Plains!"

The vermilion tiger talisman is the emblem of the Ministry of War, while the ochre yellow is the official color of the imperial envoy

I was stunned and forgot to break free

Only then did one see Xiao Qi leading the way on horseback, with Xu Shou closely following behind, as the black steed and the purple horse galloped into the arena.

At the place where the banners flutter, two columns of iron-clad cavalry surround two riders as they gallop out together, ascending the high platform

The deep and solemn sound of the drum resonated, and the commander ascended the tent

The man with the curled beard walked at the front, followed by Xiao Ye and others, while I was personally escorted by Helan Zhen at the back. The eight of us passed through numerous barracks along the way, and the patrolling soldiers, upon seeing us from a distance, all respectfully made way. At each checkpoint, the man with the curled beard displayed a crimson token, allowing us to pass without obstruction.

A group of people approached, similarly cloaked in black robes that concealed their faces, with the capes draping down adorned with ochre silk tassels

He Lan Zhen's eyelid twitched, and a hand rested on the box, yet hesitated to open it

The deep-seated blood feud between the two clans has persisted for generations, with relentless killings continuing unabated

"Do not move." He seized my hands, his expression as cold as frost, "The jade belt contains the most potent phosphorus fire poison. Once the mechanism is triggered, the phosphorus fire will erupt, instantly igniting everything within a radius of ten feet to ashes."

The cold night wind at the frontier blows, causing the sleeves to flutter, while the faint glow of the campfire can be seen in the distance

I curled up at the head of the bed, trying hard to pull at the collar of my sleeve, hoping to cover these unsightly scars

The person exchanged a glance with their companion, nodded slightly, and accepted the token

The poplar wood stump shattered with a sound.

A squad of black-armored cavalry was the first to charge into the training ground, galloping in all directions with a well-ordered advance and retreat, as the officers practiced the nine-palace formation with red flags in hand

I was cornered by him, biting my lip tightly, and I raised my head to meet his gaze.

I have never hated. I raised my gaze and smiled wistfully, "Even those who betray and abandon me are still my relatives and my husband; I cannot hate them."

The pain of the skin is drowned in humiliation and anger

On the lips, neck, wrists, and chest... all bear traces of bruises or abrasions.

The drill has reached its conclusion, and the commander-in-chief along with the Minister of Inspection will personally enter the arena to oversee and lead the troops in completing the exercise

He walked in front of me and gazed at me quietly

A beacon tower has been constructed in the camp, rising to several zhang in height, and thirty zhang in front of the tower is the general's platform for reviewing the troops.

Helan Zhen's complexion was even paler than before, and with a tremor of his fingertips, he ultimately opened the box

He carefully took out the jade belt and personally tied it around my waist

Helan Zhen suddenly grasped my wrist

At this moment, I suddenly recalled my aunt's words

"Helan Zhen, one day, if you can lead the great army to the south to conquer the Central Plains..." I gazed directly into his eyes, "Will you spare the women, children, and elderly of the Central Plains?"

"What kind of hero can one be if they cannot even keep their own woman?" He Lan Zhen laughed wildly, "Xiao Qi, you are nothing but a mere butcher!"

I believed that Helan Zhen truly possessed extraordinary abilities, yet I was unaware that there was another hidden hand behind it all

The earth emitted a faint tremor, and in the dim morning light, thick clouds of dust rose around the training ground

Nine heavily armored generals, each bearing a sword, rode forward on horseback to the front of the platform, saluted with their swords, and in unison shouted, "We respectfully welcome the commander to ascend the tent"

I cannot clearly see the expression in his eyes

The last trace of night fades at the horizon, as the dawn breaks through the clouds, casting its light upon the vast earth

In the end, I was left speechless, and I could only slowly withdraw my hand

On the battlefield, there are only victors and vanquished, with no distinction between right and wrong

Inside the box is an ordinary jade tablet belt

Whenever the imperial envoy inspects the border, a grand military parade and drill must be held, representing the emperor's inspection tour

I was taken aback, and in the blink of an eye, a terrifying thought vaguely surfaced.

The cold light flashed as Xiao Qi drew his sword, pointing it directly at the sky

If I am not mistaken, it should be the imperial envoy seal specially issued by the Ministry of War, the wax seal of the Hu Ben order

Suddenly, a ray of light shone in from the doorway

Once this order is issued, it is as if the imperial envoy is present in person

Under the moonlight, his face was as pale as snow, his fingers were icy cold, and his thin lips trembled slightly

The general's blood stains the battlefield, which has brought peace for countless common people. Today, I find myself trapped in the hands of Helan Zhen. If it were not for Wang Yuzhang's ten years of warfare to protect the home and defend the country, I fear that countless women and children in the Central Plains would suffer humiliation at the hands of foreign tribes

He gazed at me intently, his eyes fluctuating between light and shadow, as if a trace of pity had crossed his face

I suddenly turned around to look at the center of the field, where Xiao Qi had arrived, accompanied by nine generals.

That familiar yet unfamiliar figure suddenly leaped into my view, and my vision blurred abruptly, as if tears were welling up.

I looked up, and the large pile of firewood on the beacon tower had been stacked layer upon layer, standing tall like a tower

Indeed, it is an envoy of the emperor

Four soldiers stood on the signal platform, each facing the four cardinal directions of east, west, south, and north, waving their fluttering command flags

The leader of the opposing side stepped forward to receive the token, examined it closely, and in a lowered voice asked, "Why the delay?"

Whenever the patrolling soldiers passed by, I made a slight movement, and He Lan Zhen immediately reached out to grasp the jade belt at my waist

Beside him, Helan Zhen silently gripped the hilt of his sword, his brow sharp as a blade, exuding a heavy and menacing aura.

On the high platform, the jet-black divine steed let out a long neigh and stood firm, raising its hooves.

Before I could think it through, Helan Zhen had already seized me, "Follow me, remember, a single misstep will lead to being engulfed by poisonous flames"

It seems as if everything is frozen in death

"Do you understand? Have you ever hated?" He gazed at me with a chilling intensity.

No one has entered here again, nor has anyone brought food or water; I am being held in solitary confinement in this small room

At this moment, the moon reaches its zenith, the night is quiet and still, yet I have already embarked on a path of death, from which there is no turning back

It was once mentioned by my uncle that the military parade rehearsal would commence at dawn. The three armies would array in formation at the parade ground, the commander would ascend the tent to summon the generals, signal fires would be lit to intimidate the border enemies, and the soldiers of the three armies would conduct drills under the leadership of the commander, showcasing the formidable military might of the Celestial Empire

I bit my lip hard, yet I could not help but let the tears fall

Xiao Qi led the right wing and charged directly towards the edge of the forest where we were hiding

"Helan Zhen, you will regret it." I smiled proudly, "You will surely regret being an enemy of Xiao Qi."

The person in front, still wearing the familiar black helmet and white feathers, is clad in a dark embroidered golden dragon battle robe, holding the reins and a sword, standing tall and proud, with a black cloak billowing in the wind. Beside him is another person riding a purple lightning steed, dressed in a reddish-yellow python robe, wearing a tall crown and carrying a sword.

Who dares to collude privately with the remnants of Helan Yu?

In the courtyard, a group of subordinates under Helan Zhen are already on standby, ready to depart

The person nodded and said, "The personnel have been arranged properly. Once you take action, we will provide immediate support."

He turned his head and did not respond

Xu Shou is the imperial envoy who colluded with Helan during the inspection tour

"Not good, it's a trap!" Helan Zhen exclaimed.

Another day has passed

Xu Shou was surrounded on the left wing of the formation, with the cavalry turning in circles, leaving him with no way to advance or retreat. Around him, heavily armored soldiers surged like a tide, tightening the formation and forcing him toward the center. Xu Shou attempted several times to rein in his horse and retreat, but he found himself unable to act on his own accord.

Are you not the Young Master Helan? The person bowed slightly.

Who can manipulate the imperial envoy and deceive the ears and eyes of the father

You had better pray to the heavens to assist me in successfully slaying Xiao Qi, so that you may also escape death

Is it time? I smiled, stood up, and smoothened my disheveled hair

As the flames of war rise fiercely, the sound of the horn resounds once more, soaring high and piercing the skies

Helan Zhen's pupils constricted, and he suddenly tightened his grip around my neck

Behind him, the herald waved the black and gold dragon banner, signaling to both sides, and a squad of armored cavalry swiftly arrived.

The crowd receded like a tide to both sides, leaving a wide avenue of three zhang in the center

I do not struggle, nor do I kick or hit; I simply raise my head and smile lightly with disdain

I finally understand and have come to respect it solemnly