Lei Qian's body twitched violently. After a few seconds, it finally quieted down, and his hand gripping the spear shaft went limp.
Yao Ji swiftly pulled out his spear.
Looking up toward the direction of Qu Zhao's army, he slowly raised the blood-dripping Molin and pointed it at the enemy: "Who else dares to come and die?"
The scene fell into dead silence.
Qu Bai's knuckles turned white from clenching his fists. He knew the generals of Jinyang Army were formidable, but he never imagined Lei Qian would be killed in just two exchanges. Lei Qian was a well-ranked warrior in their ranks—and he had been slain so easily.
A chill ran down Yan Pu's spine. The generals of Jinyang Army were terrifyingly strong. Such a warrior on their side would be difficult to match unless several fighters joined forces to take him down.
Qu Cong's face darkened as the familiar feeling of helplessness returned. "General, should we continue the one-on-one duels?"
Before Qu Bai could answer, Yan Pu said, "If we back down now, it will only harm morale."
Morale was already low, and the situation looked grim. As difficult as it was, he still believed they needed to win at least one round to lift the soldiers' spirits—otherwise, the coming battle would be even harder.
He turned to look at Qu Bai, finally understanding some of the helplessness the man had faced earlier.
Qu Bai knew this too, but at this moment, he had no one to send.
"General, let me have a try," said a Qu Zhao general wielding a long blade.
His name was Ding Chun. His raw strength was slightly less than Lei Qian's, but he was more agile and unpredictable.
"Do you have confidence?" Qu Bai asked.
Ding Chun hesitated, then nodded. "His spear skills are impressive, but a spear is long and cumbersome. My blade is more flexible."
Qu Bai wasn't convinced. He could tell Yao Ji hadn't used his full strength yet. But looking around, he saw the other generals lowering their heads, unwilling to step forward.
He finally nodded. "Permission granted. Do everything possible to cut him down."
"Understood." Ding Chun bowed.
Watching Ding Chun ride out, Jiang Jin spoke up: "Call Yao Ji back. Shuangjiang, you go."
It wasn't that Yao Ji couldn't defeat Ding Chun, but she wanted to give new warriors a chance to grow.
At the same time, this would send a clear message to Qu Zhao: Jinyang Army has a constant stream of talent, and whoever you send, she'll cut them down—each time with a different fighter.
Hearing the drum signal, Yao Ji felt a flicker of regret but immediately turned and rode back to the city without hesitation.
Ding Chun frowned. What was this supposed to mean—was he retreating without even looking back? Could a warrior with a spear be afraid of him? Was his reputation really that intimidating?
While he was lost in thought, a small, thin girl slowly rode out on horseback.
Over the past year, Shuangjiang had grown taller, but given her poor starting point, at thirteen she barely stood around four feet tall.
To Ding Chun, who was over six feet tall, she seemed incredibly weak—frail enough that he could toss her aside with one finger.
Yan Pu was equally baffled. Why would they replace a clearly capable warrior with such a slender girl?
Qu Bai, however, felt a jolt. From his past dealings with Jinyang Army, he knew this seemingly weak girl was likely far from ordinary.
Ding Chun's face twisted in anger. "Is Jinyang Army sending a child out to mock me?"
Shuangjiang: "..."
A trace of envy surfaced on her face. She envied Ding Chun—his height and powerful build. The bulging chest muscles, the thick arms, and even his sturdy neck made her admire them deeply.
She ate three times as much as an ordinary soldier every day, but aside from her height, nothing else seemed to develop.
Even though she was incredibly strong, her arms stayed slim like bamboo poles—thinner than the handle of her own blade. It frustrated her to no end.
It also worried Jiang Jin, not because she wasn't gaining muscle, but because she feared Shuangjiang wouldn't even reach five foot three.
So Jiang Jin repeatedly instructed the army kitchen to give Shuangjiang extra food, especially meat.
Zhou Sui and others knew this well—Jiang Jin had a soft spot for Shuangjiang. But no one could complain, because over the past year, her progress was obvious to everyone.
She seemed to be a born warrior, and the heavens themselves seemed to favor her, gifting her a terrifying strength. Her potential was limitless.
Besides, her childhood had been rough, leaving her constitution weak. So everyone felt sympathy and hoped that by making up for lost time now, they could help her body recover to its peak.
Shuangjiang understood Jiang Jin's kindness well. To her, Jiang Jin was not only her lord but her savior. She would gladly give her life for her.
That was why she longed for a powerful, sturdy body, so she wouldn't let down Jiang Jin’s care and everyone's hopes.
Seeing Shuangjiang stay silent, Ding Chun grew furious. Was she mocking him?
Raising his blade toward her, he demanded, "State your name. I don't kill nameless warriors."
Shuangjiang showed no reaction to his provocation, her voice calm and steady. "Shuangjiang. And you, state your name."
Ding Chun: "..."
His eyes blazed as he roared, "You're asking for death!"
With that, he spurred his horse and charged at Shuangjiang.
Without any fear, she urged her horse forward to meet his attack.
Clang!
A screeching metallic clash echoed, and sparks flew. Ding Chun's long sword spun wildly into the air.
Boom!
Shuangjiang's blade came down with unstoppable force against Ding Chun's chest. His armor shattered like tofu under the sharpness of her blade and raw strength.
Blood splattered as Ding Chun was slashed off his horse and hit the ground, staining the earth red.
Qu Bai's pupils contracted, and a wave of cold ran up his spine.
Where did this tiny force called Jinyang Army keep finding such monsters? He had never heard of them before. Could Gefeng truly be a city blessed by heaven?
Shuangjiang rode her horse to a halt in front of Ding Chun, looking down at him with a calm, detached gaze. "Can you still get up? Want me to send you on your way?"
Ding Chun coughed up another mouthful of blood mixed with pieces of his organs. His trembling hand pointed toward her. "You… you…"
Nearly his entire chest had been torn open, ribs crushed, lungs and heart shattered. He knew his life was over, and a deep, desperate fear overwhelmed him.
Shuangjiang didn’t bother finishing him off. She watched, expressionless, as his body convulsed violently.
"Bastard, how dare you?!"
Angry shouts erupted. Three of Ding Chun's lieutenants ignored the rules of the duel and charged out on horseback.
Shuangjiang lifted her gaze, her eyes icy cold but her heart calm.
Her lord told her that whether in a duel or on the battlefield, she must stay absolutely calm. She knew she was still within the coverage of Jinyang Army’s crossbows.
If they actually charged in, she could take them all out at once.
Xia Chanyi grew anxious. "My lord?"
Jiang Jin remained expressionless. "No rush. We'll just kill a few more of their generals."
Qu Bai likewise kept a neutral face, neither stopping them nor calling the charge. Silent approval.
As the lead lieutenant approached Shuangjiang at a slower pace, his eyes glinted with menace. "Surround her together!"
The other two generals exchanged grim, determined looks.
As the distance closed, one lunged at Shuangjiang's warhorse, one struck straight at her midsection, and another raised his blade to cleave her head.
