Chapter 75: The Terror of the Emperor

Among the Five Tiger Generals of Southern Liang, Long Ye stood at the top. Even Long Ye could not defeat the Empress; how, then, could Murong Xiao possibly have the audacity or ability to challenge her alone?

The moment Murong Xiao saw the Empress, he realized he had fallen into a trap.

“Taste it. The tea is freshly brewed.”

The Empress lifted her cup and took a delicate sip. Murong Xiao forced an awkward smile, raised his own cup, and drained it in a single gulp before hastily setting it down.

“Linjiang City was originally the homeland of Eastern Zhou. Shangguan Wei’s invasion was already unjustified—yet you marched your troops to occupy Fishing City as well. That is even more so.”

The Empress spoke slowly, a hint of amusement on her lips.

Murong Xiao stood up at once and bowed. “I am at fault. I will leave at once!”

With that, he turned to flee.

A fragrant breeze swept past. The Empress was already standing at the doorway, blocking his escape.

“Since you’ve come, you might as well stay,” she replied with a faint smile.

Murong Xiao’s hand gripped the hilt of his great blade. He wanted to fight but dared not make the first move.

“Your Majesty, forgive me. I didn’t know you were in the city. Please… have mercy.”

Murong Xiao’s courage faltered; all he desired now was to be spared.

Tao Zhigang and the personal guards had long heard of the Empress’s profound cultivation, but only now did they truly experience it. Just moments ago, she had been seated in the hall—then, in a blink, appeared at the door. None of them had seen how she moved.

Tao Zhigang’s calves trembled, and his hands grew unresponsive.

“You have seized my city, slain my soldiers and civilians, and now you ask for mercy?”

The Empress’s gaze turned icy. Murong Xiao knew he was doomed and resolved to risk everything.

With a metallic hiss, his great blade flashed from its scabbard as he charged at the Empress with all his might. Tao Zhigang shouted, raising his own weapon to follow.

The Empress laughed coldly, pulled the hairpin from her hair, and her form flickered like a phantom through the crowd.

A thin, chilling sound—the edge of her hairpin slashed open Murong Xiao’s throat. Blood sprayed forth as his body slowly collapsed.

Tao Zhigang and the personal guards stared, bewildered, at the corpse. They did not even know whether they ought to seek revenge.

From both flanks, squads of female soldiers surged forth, their long spears leveled at Tao Zhigang. “Surrender and you shall be spared!” they shouted.

With a clang, Tao Zhigang’s blade fell to the ground. He sank to his knees.

Outside the city, Murong Xiao’s great army was advancing.

Seeing the banners of Southern Liang flying over Fishing City, the troops surged forward, eager to enter. Half the army poured into the city while the rest remained outside.

Suddenly, both inside and outside the city, soldiers of Eastern Zhou appeared. Arrows rained down, and chaos erupted in the ranks of Southern Liang.

Battle broke out both within and without the gates. The army was thrown into confusion—hadn’t they just occupied Fishing City? Why were they being ambushed?

At the gates, many female soldiers, clad in glimmering armor and brandishing sharp blades, swiftly reclaimed the city’s entrances and closed the gates behind them.

Southern Liang’s army was split in two, locked in savage combat both inside and out.

“Murong Xiao is dead! Surrender, and you will live!”

Upon the east gate tower, Wu Jian held Murong Xiao’s severed head aloft. Behind him stood Tao Zhigang and the personal guards, blades pressed to their throats.

The soldiers of Southern Liang looked up and, sure enough, saw Murong Xiao’s bloody head, and Tao Zhigang in captivity.

“What’s going on? General Murong is dead?”

“Haven’t we already taken the city? Why has it come to this?”

“It’s an ambush! We’ve been tricked!”

At the sight of Murong Xiao’s head, panic and turmoil seized the Southern Liang forces.

Wu Jian shouted, “Surrender and live! Resist and you will be slain without mercy!”

The armored female warriors were fierce beyond compare. Wielding blades shaped like feathers that sang with a cry like a phoenix as they cut, they left carnage in their wake. Though Southern Liang’s numbers were greater, their morale was shattered, and surrender spread like wildfire.

Outside the city, when the soldiers saw the severed head, the ranks began to collapse. They fled eastward in droves, scrambling for the tall warships to escape across the river, back toward Caishi City.

“General, should we not pursue?” a female officer asked.

More than fifty ships lay moored at the riverbank. Shadow Phoenix had already set forty of them ablaze, leaving only a few sturdy vessels. Southern Liang’s soldiers fought to board them, even coming to blows with one another.

Shadow Phoenix shook her head. “No. Let them climb aboard. Cornered, they might fight desperately; these are Liang’s elite.”

She had gained the upper hand through ambush and the slaying of Murong Xiao, which had shattered the enemy’s morale. But she commanded only three thousand troops—so few, compared to the enemy. If forced into a desperate engagement, the outcome would be uncertain.

Some soldiers made it onto the ships; many more fell into the river and drowned. The warships weighed anchor in haste, sails catching the wind as they withdrew.

Those left ashore cursed bitterly, having missed their chance to board.

Shadow Phoenix rode over and called out, “You’ve been abandoned. Why not surrender?”

The stranded soldiers, furious and despairing, threw down their weapons and surrendered.

When the ships reached midstream, black smoke suddenly billowed forth. Oil bombs hidden aboard were ignited; those on deck perished in fire or leaped into the river’s depths.

The soldiers ashore, seeing the ships ablaze, sneered in grim satisfaction.

“Serves them right for not letting us on board.”

“Thanks to missing the ship, I get to keep my life.”

Shadow Phoenix regarded them with a cold smile and marched the prisoners back into the city.

Inside, all captives were gathered together, guarded by female soldiers.

Shadow Phoenix and Wu Jian proceeded to the general’s residence, where the Empress was sipping tea.

“Your Majesty, the city is fully pacified. Nearly ten thousand enemies slain, over thirty thousand taken captive, and many more perished at sea,” Shadow Phoenix reported.

The Empress nodded slightly. “Cross the river,” she instructed. “See how Luo Xi fares.”

Shadow Phoenix received the order and immediately departed with her troops by boat.

Wu Jian remained, awaiting further instruction.

The Empress asked, “What is your post in the Long household’s army?”

Wu Jian was momentarily stunned, not expecting such a question.

“Cavalry captain, commanding three thousand horsemen.”

He did not attempt to conceal anything—the Empress would not have asked if she did not already know.

“You have rendered great service today. I appoint you as cavalry captain; you need not return to the eunuch quarters.”

The Empress’s tone was calm.

Wu Jian bowed low. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The Empress nodded, and Wu Jian withdrew.

Shadow Phoenix reached the docks, boarded a swift boat, and, unfurling the sails, sped across the river toward Linjiang City.

Thick smoke and the sounds of fierce battle drifted from the city walls, and Shadow Phoenix’s brow furrowed deeply.

This was a brutal struggle—both sides would pay dearly—but in the end, it would be Eastern Zhou’s victory.

The swift boat reached the northern shore, where soldiers on the walls drew their bows and shouted, “Who goes there?”

Shadow Phoenix’s vessel bore the banners of Eastern Zhou, but with the city under siege, caution reigned.

She flung a rope skyward, hooked the parapet, and vaulted onto the wall in a single bound.

“State your name!”

Startled, the soldiers drew their swords and encircled her.

“Shadow Phoenix, Deputy Minister of the Secretariat,” she announced coolly.

They had heard her name, though never seen her in person. Now, they hesitated—unsure whether to let her pass.

Shadow Phoenix wasted no words. She found a horse and charged toward the South Gate.

There, Emperor Luo Xi and three companions were still locked in a desperate battle with Shangguan Wei.

Li Xiannan had taken a spear to the shoulder, the wound splitting it open. Xuan Yi and Qing Yue were also injured, with only Luo Xi in slightly better shape.

Shangguan Wei, battered and weary, clung on, hoping for news from Fishing City.

Shadow Phoenix arrived on horseback and shouted, “Murong Xiao is dead! Why do you not surrender?”

Her voice brought all fighting to a halt.

Shangguan Wei planted his halberd in the ground, legs spread for balance.

Luo Xi gasped for breath, hands numb from exhaustion.

Li Xiannan leaned against the wall, glancing at his injury.

Xuan Yi and Qing Yue were spent, standing only by sheer will.

The old general, beset by four opponents, had forced a bitter contest.

Shangguan Wei fixed his gaze on Shadow Phoenix, eyes filled with unwillingness.

Her presence meant the Empress was here as well.

This battle—he had lost!