0p0 Chapter 570
Chapter 570
As the morning light pierced the clouds, the tip of Dongfang Wan'er's sword still trembled slightly. The warm blood of the Northern King meandered down the blade, spreading into dark red patterns on the cuffs of her black outfit. Just when she thought this thrilling chase was about to end, the Northern King suddenly threw his head back and laughed, his laughter filled with madness and resentment, shaking even the morning mist in the valley.
The laughter came suddenly, and vanished just as abruptly. The madness in the Northern Frontier King's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a resolute look. Alarm bells rang in Dongfang Wan'er's mind, but she only saw the Northern Frontier King suddenly bite down on his back teeth, dark purple blood foam instantly spilling from the corner of his mouth. "No! It's poisonous!" She frantically reached out to pry open the Northern Frontier King's jaw, but it was too late. The Northern Frontier King made indistinct gurgling sounds in his throat, his body went limp like a kite with a broken string, his pupils dilated rapidly, and his last breath dissipated in the rising morning breeze.
"Damn it!" Dongfang Wan'er angrily kicked away the stones at her feet, sending the rubble rolling into the valley with a series of crisp crashes. She knelt on one knee, her fingertips trembling as she reached for the neck of the Northern King; there was no pulse. This all-night chase had only resulted in a cold corpse, leaving her with nowhere to vent her rage.
At this moment, Ying Yi crouched down, carefully searching the body of the Northern Frontier King. A moment later, he pulled a secret letter from the king's inner pocket, the wax seal bearing a lifelike image of a snow wolf. Dongfang Wan'er's hand felt slightly cold as she took the letter. The moment she unfolded it, the handwriting struck her heart like a hammer blow: "The hidden agents in the capital are in position. Once the explosion at the western granary is heard, immediately take control of all city gates..."
Dongfang Wan'er's face turned deathly pale instantly. She thought that severing the connection with the King of Northern Frontier would put her at ease, but she never expected that such a powerful force was lurking in the shadows. The capital city seemed calm at the moment, but in reality, it was like a volcano about to erupt; the slightest carelessness could destroy everything.
"Shadow One!" She looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with determination. "Leave ten men to handle this; the rest of you come back to the city with me! Quickly!"
The thunderous sound of hooves rang out once more as the elite cavalry turned and galloped towards the capital. Dongfang Wan'er lay prone on her horse, the wind whistling past her ears. Her mind raced: Were the guards at the city gates reliable? Who were the hidden accomplices in the court? Where was that mysterious force hiding?
When the majestic city walls of the capital came into view again, Dongfang Wan'er's nails almost dug into her palms. She dismounted and immediately summoned her trusted general: "Send word to close the city gates and thoroughly check all people entering and leaving! Mobilize the patrol battalion and focus on searching the western part of the city!"
As she ascended the city wall, Dongfang Wan'er gazed at the bustling crowds within, a chill creeping into her heart. Beneath the seemingly peaceful streets, countless eyes and hands lurked, ready to pounce. The rising sun cast her long shadow, a resolute silhouette against the weathered city walls. This conspiracy, seemingly concluded by the Northern Frontier King, was merely the prelude to a far greater storm. But Dongfang Wan'er was prepared. She gripped the soft sword at her waist, her gaze unwavering—no matter what conspiracies lay ahead, she would protect this peace, bought with blood.
The twilight, like blood, stained the banners atop the city walls a dark crimson. Dongfang Wan'er gently stroked the cold bronze crossbow mechanism; the raised taotie patterns beneath her fingertips seemed to whisper tales of impending doom. The aftershocks of the bizarre explosion at the granary three days prior had not yet subsided, and charred logs piled beneath the city walls still emitted wisps of smoke. At this moment, she stared intently at the small wooden figures moving on the sand table, deducing the enemy's possible attack routes.
"General!" The tense silence was broken by hurried footsteps. A soldier stumbled in, his armor still covered in wet mud. "News has come from the west of the city: several houses have inexplicably caught fire, and the flames, fueled by the wind, have engulfed half a street in the blink of an eye!" Dongfang Wan'er's hand gripping the command flag tightened suddenly. The candlelight reflected a flickering eerie light in her eyes—the granary fire three days ago had also come so suddenly. Could this be the prelude to the enemy's elaborate scheme?
"Leave a squad to guard the city gates, and keep the arrow towers on high alert!" She suddenly ripped off her cloak, revealing a silver-scaled soft armor beneath her dark outfit that gleamed coldly. "The rest of you, come with me to reinforce the west side of the city. We must stop before the fire gets out of control..." Before she finished speaking, she had already strode down the stone steps, the sound of armor clanging echoing behind her.
The scene in the west of the city was even more horrifying than expected. Towering flames licked at half the sky, thatched roofs turned to ash in the inferno, and burning wooden beams collapsed with a deafening roar, sending sparks flying everywhere. The cries of the people were deafening; some fled with swaddled babies, while others staggered back into the flames to search for their loved ones. Dongfang Wan'er leaped onto a broken wall and shouted, "Water teams to the moat! Archers, spread out and keep watch! Sergeant, lead your men to clear the fire lanes!"
Just as she was organizing the firefighting efforts, a slight tremor suddenly came from the blue bricks beneath her feet. Immediately afterward, a deep rumbling sound came from underground, like the growl of a giant beast awakening. Dongfang Wan'er's pupils constricted—the sound was exactly the same as the tunnel digging sound she had heard when they wiped out the bandit stronghold years ago! She ran swiftly in the direction of the tremor and finally discovered the entrance to the tunnel, half-hidden among the rubble, beneath the ruins of a burned-down winery.
The flagstones at the tunnel entrance were slowly pushed aside, releasing a pungent smell of sulfur mixed with the stench of blood. Dozens of men in black emerged like ghosts, their eyes beneath masks fierce as wolves, the poisoned daggers in their hands gleaming with a ghostly blue light. Dongfang Wan'er drew her soft sword from her waist, the blade tracing a silver arc in the firelight: "Form the Goose Formation!"
Amidst the clanging of swords, Dongfang Wan'er moved through the enemy ranks like a dragon. Her swordsmanship was cunning and ruthless, targeting the throat and ribs of her enemies, each strike carrying a chilling killing intent. Under her leadership, the soldiers' morale soared, their shields and spears forming an impenetrable wall, gradually forcing the men in black into a corner.
However, just as the tide of battle turned, a dark figure suddenly burst forth from the thick smoke. Dongfang Wan'er felt a chill run down her neck, and as she dodged to the side, a cold glint of light grazed her ear. The man in black had feigned retreat, launching a surprise attack while she was off guard! In the nick of time, a familiar figure flashed past like lightning, a resolute jawline revealed beneath the black iron mask—it was Shadow One!
The poisoned dagger plunged deep into Shadow One's left shoulder, instantly soaking his night clothes with blood. Dongfang Wan'er roared, her soft sword flashing like a venomous snake, aimed straight for the black-clad man's face. He hastily raised his knife to parry, but she kicked him in the chest, sending him crashing heavily against the broken wall. The remaining black-clad men, seeing the situation was dire, tried to retreat into the tunnel, but their escape was blocked by the timely arrival of the ambush troops.
When the battle ended, Dongfang Wan'er knelt beside Ying Yi. A stubborn smile lingered on the boy's pale face as he gently wiped the bloodstains from her cheek with his fingertips: "General...be careful..." Before he could finish speaking, he fainted. She picked up the blood-soaked Ying Yi, gazing at the churning dark clouds on the horizon, a sense of foreboding rising within her—this fire and the tunnel raid were merely the prelude to the storm; the real catastrophe was yet to come.