Pawns Beneath the Blade

"General Cen." 

Xuan Yue raised an eyebrow, a smile gracing her lips as she exerted a slight pressure on her grip. The blade of Xue Po swiftly sliced a small incision across Cen Can's neck, blood oozing forth, yet the sword remained glimmering silver, unmarred by any trace of blood. 

"General!" 

Fang He shouted in alarm, clearly taken aback, attempting to rush forward, but Yi Lan's flying knife was already pressed against his chest, rendering him utterly motionless. 

"Stay right where you are," Xuan Yue commanded, turning to the bewildered Xuanyuan soldiers surrounding her. 

The previous rain of arrows had thrown their retreat into disarray; Yue Ying and her team had ceased firing, maintaining their archery stances atop the hill. 

With both commanders taken hostage, the soldiers were acutely aware that they could become targets at any moment. No matter how valiant they were, they would not dare to act recklessly now. 

As the Xuanyuan soldiers finally complied and stood still, Bai Pingting's troops arrived promptly. The early morning sun began to illuminate the scene, the mist gradually dispersing. The commanding figures of the soldiers adorned with the Fenglan banner added a vibrant contrast to the desolate Black Wind Ridge, leaving Cen Can in disbelief as he beheld the encircling female warriors. 

"Lower your weapons." 

Lu Zhu, Ya Er, and others had also arrived, followed by over three hundred troops to collect the weapons. 

In battle, arms represented a soldier's life; no one would relinquish their weapons until the last moment, for it signified surrender and defeat. Yet, their lives were now at the mercy of others, with their commander threatened by a blade, leaving them with no other option. However, as Xuanyuan soldiers, they held onto their pride, reluctant to yield. 

"Did you not hear me?" 

Xuan Yue, seated upon her horse, turned to regard those soldiers still unwilling to lay down their arms. 

"What do you intend to do?" 

Cen Can glared at Xuan Yue, his complexion ashen, his anger causing his beard to bristle. 

"General Cen, you surely wouldn't want to witness these soldiers, who have fought alongside you, fall in battle, would you?" 

Cen Can fell silent, diverting his gaze from Xuan Yue to the Xuanyuan soldiers clutching their weapons. His lips tightened as he glared defiantly, his eyes wide with resolve: "They are Xuanyuan warriors; to die for Xuanyuan is their honor." 

His fervent declaration seemed to galvanize the soldiers, who appeared invigorated, their faces radiating determination. 

Xuan Yue snorted softly; she had long accepted that death was an inevitable outcome of war. She was aware of this reality, yet she pondered how she would act if ever faced with a similar situation. However, individuals like Cen Can held no significant influence over the course of the battle. Why not minimize the suffering of the innocent? 

If one day, Bai Pingting or Lu Zhu and Yi Lan were surrounded by Xuanyuan soldiers, she would hope they would surrender to preserve their lives. Such a choice would grant her some solace, and she would never cast blame upon them. Yet, she knew that if that day ever came, they would never relinquish their weapons or stand idly by like these soldiers. They would fight until the end, and the same was true for those facing Xuanyuan Hao. Their admiration was genuine; even at the cost of their lives, they would not allow their beliefs to tarnish. 

"Kill or torture, it is all the same to me." 

Compared to Cen Can, Fang He was considerably younger, his expression contorted with rage as he glared fiercely at Yi Lan. Finally, his gaze turned to Xuan Yue, the intensity of his wrath suggesting a desire to unleash his frustrations upon her. 

"You're a defeated foe; what are you so arrogant about?" 

Yi Lan retaliated with a forceful punch to his abdomen. 

Fang He's fierce glare, glinting with malice under the sunlight, drew a laugh from Ya Er, who stood beside Xuan Yue, though she felt discontent and pointed at Fang He, "If you dare to look at our princess with such disrespect again, I'll gouge out your eyes." 

Ya Er tilted her head back, extending her index and middle fingers in a mock gesture of eye-gouging, her youthful face taking on a ferocious expression. 

"While a soldier may die, he must not be humiliated. What exactly do you intend to accomplish?" 

Over the years, Cen Can had traversed the battlefield, unbeaten, his forces largely invincible. Yet, he never anticipated that today he would be bested by a mere girl. Although this girl was renowned throughout the realm as either the queen of Feng or the queen of Lan, she was a novice when it came to warfare, and yet she had triumphed over him. Though the heir had ordered that failure would incur no consequences, Cen Can felt an overwhelming sense of guilt toward the heir. 

The queen of Feng bore no injury, yet this mission to investigate the strength of these female warriors had failed spectacularly. Even now, he could not fathom the reasons behind his complete and utter defeat. 

"Did you not see?" 

Xuan Yue pouted in anger, "I'm currently experiencing what it's like to hold a blade to a Xuanyuan general's neck." 

Cen Can glared at Xuan Yue's smiling face, nearly choking on his own blood: "If you wish to kill me, then do it." 

Cen Can steeled himself, closing his eyes in a display of fearless resignation. 

Years of battle had taught him to regard life and death with indifference. This devastating defeat was something he found hard to accept, and he could not bear the thought of returning to face the heir. 

"Who says I intend to kill you?" 

Xuan Yue chuckled lightly, retracting the sword from Cen Can's neck and resheathing it at her waist, patting her horse's back gently before dismounting gracefully. 

Seeing this, Yi Lan also withdrew the flying knife pressed against Fang He's chest and approached Xuan Yue. 

Cen Can and Fang He both regarded Xuan Yue with intense scrutiny as they dismounted their horses, silently speculating about her true intentions. 

"I wish to have a serious discussion with your commander," Xuan Yue smiled, her gaze sweeping over the Xuanyuan soldiers, pointing at their weapons, "Lay down your arms, and we can converse amicably." 

Fang He scrutinized Xuan Yue, his youthful face betraying not only anger and wariness but also confusion. 

Converse? As the hunter, she held all the power; what more was there to discuss? 

"Yi Lan, Lu Zhu, instruct your people to withdraw, and let Bai Pingting know to pull back her troops as well." 

The warriors beside Xuan Yue exchanged concerned glances but said nothing. With a wave of her hand, the female soldiers accompanying them began to retreat in an orderly fashion. Before long, Bai Pingting and her forces also followed suit, while Yue Ying's group set aside their bows. Soon, only Lu Zhu, Yi Lan, Ya Er, and a few others remained at Xuan Yue's side. 

Seeing Xuan Yue's people depart, the Xuanyuan soldiers glanced at Cen Can and Fang He, hesitating momentarily before finally lowering their long spears. 

"Are you not worried that we might strike against you?"

"Xuan Yue raised an eyebrow, her smile radiating confidence. 'If I wished to leave, even all of you combined would struggle to restrain me.' 

That self-assured grin, dazzling in the sunlight, was utterly blinding. The Xuan Yuan soldiers' attire seemed ill-suited on her, yet it captivated their gaze, rendering them unable to look away. 

'I believe General Cen is not that kind of person,' she stated, her tone unwavering and instilling admiration, mingled with an inexplicable sense of regret. 

On a winter morning, the sun shone warmly, casting a soothing light upon them. Xuan Yue stretched languidly, pointing towards the exit of Heifeng Ridge. 'You may leave now.' 

After speaking, she twisted her arms and waist, adding, 'Honestly, next time you choose to ambush me, please pick a different time. It's quite unsettling to be interrupted at night.' 

Her complaints were not loud, yet Cen and Fang could hear her clearly. 

'You intend to let us go?' Fang stared at Xuan Yue, disbelief evident in his eyes. It wasn't just him; other soldiers shared the same incredulity. 

They were soldiers of Xuan Yuan, and with a seasoned veteran like Cen present, should she not take them to Bai Chu to bolster her authority? To let them go without a clear motive seemed unfathomable. 

'Are you truly so kind-hearted?' 

While the others were skeptical, Cen suspected Xuan Yue harbored ulterior motives. 

They were enemies; how could she so readily allow them to depart? Especially considering she was the infamous Feng Xuan Yue, who had taken lives since the age of four? 

'Believe it or not,' Xuan Yue said, nonchalantly waving her hand. She turned to her companions, Yi Lan and the others. 'Let's go.' 

Only then did Cen realize she genuinely meant to let them go, prompting him to hasten after her. 'Why?' 

Xuan Yue glanced back. 'Those truly ambitious are the ones in power. These soldiers—' she gestured to the Xuan Yuan troops, 'are merely pawns in the hands of lofty rulers, charging into battle, just as innocent as common folk. Although I am not a virtuous person, I still wish to see fewer lives lost if possible.' 

She smiled sincerely, pointing to the weapons and several warhorses on the ground. 'Let those remain as tokens of my first victory.' 

Her joy grew as her delicate brows arched playfully. 'A gift for myself.' 

With that, she turned and walked away. 

'General, what does her action signify?' Fang watched her, his mind a whirlwind of questions, swelling like a snowball. What kind of person was she? He had never encountered such an odd woman in his life. Was she truly letting them go? It appeared so. Were they merely pawns? Perhaps that was indeed the case; if the heir commanded, they would charge into battle willingly. Now that war had begun, who among the innocents could escape unscathed? 

She was truly a peculiar woman. Such thoughts were not his alone; the other Xuan Yuan soldiers felt similarly. She genuinely let them go without reservations. 

Cen gazed at Xuan Yue's retreating figure, momentarily lost in thought. It was not until someone arrived to gather their weapons that he snapped back to reality, releasing a long sigh. 'Why isn't she our Xuan Yuan's heir consort?'"