CHAPTER 528: CHAPTER 527: THE EMPEROR LEADS THE BATTLE, THE SPEAR AGAINST THE SHIELD

Yan Li’an grew intensely curious about this girl called Su Bai.

This person who had suddenly appeared was deeply favored by the Chu Kingdom’s King, even more so than the Princess herself.

Interesting.

It seemed that a nocturnal visit to the Chu Kingdom’s Imperial Palace was in order tonight.

...

On the training ground.

A woman in white, wearing a Ghost Face mask, was deftly wielding a Red-tasseled Spear.

Her movements were smooth, flowing like water; they caused many of the soldiers who were still in training to stop and watch, unable to resist pausing to observe.

At the sight of a spectacular move, many could not help but shout out in praise, "Good!"

The Red-tasseled Spear in the young woman’s hands seemed to possess its own consciousness, leaping within her palm, its red tassels more dazzling than the twilight sky.

Everyone was transfixed.

After what felt like an eternity, the woman halted, deftly slotting the Red-tasseled Spear back into the weapons rack and wiping the sweat from her chin with the back of her hand.

"Su Bai, your martial arts have significantly improved," remarked a voice.

A bag of water was tossed through the air, which Su Bai caught with precision.

She twisted off the cap, tilted her head back, and took a big gulp, her action free and unreserved.

"It’s all thanks to foster father’s teachings," replied Su Bai calmly and humbly, a trace of a soft smile appearing beneath her mask.

The man referred to as foster father was clad in a grey robe with locks of white hair replacing what once were black. Despite his aged features, he maintained a tall and sturdy posture.

Standing below the platform, he smiled kindly and said, "This is the result of your diligent training day and night."

Jumping down from the platform, Su Bai approached her foster father. "Foster father, please stop praising me. What brings you to the training grounds so unexpectedly today?" she asked, her curiosity evident. It was unlike her foster father, who was normally elusive, to seek her out specifically, and it was the first time he had done so.

"I heard the Emperor went out of his way to find you materials for forging a sword," the foster father slowly replied, his gaze carrying an unfathomable meaning.

Hearing this, Su Bai sighed, "I have already clearly declined the Emperor, but he insists on doing so. I’m powerless to stop him. I hope foster father can convey my intentions to him, and persuade him not to waste effort on me."

"If the Emperor would take heed of my words, he wouldn’t have been pursuing you relentlessly for three years," her foster father said with a helpless chuckle.

Su Bai became somewhat impatient at this topic.

"I will soon be battling Dawei; I have no interest in romantic affairs," Su Bai emphasized firmly. "As time passes, the Emperor will eventually understand that I am not like the usual women. The words ’to marry and teach children’ will never be part of my life, Su Bai’s life."

Her life was destined to be one of bloodshed on the battlefield!

How could she ever be confined to the harem, gazing up at only that sliver of the sky?!

Seeing her resolve, her foster father could only nod in agreement. "You’ve always been decisive. It’s a matter between you and the Emperor, so I won’t interfere. You are capable of handling it yourself," he assured, before adding a word of caution. "I’ve come today to tell you that the Emperor of Dawei will personally lead the campaign. You must be extremely careful when you face him. He is inscrutable and full of guile. I fear you might not be his match."

"Are those words true?" asked Su Bai, her eyes gleaming with a murderous intent. "Is that dog actually going to lead his army here personally?!"

"Indeed, it’s the truth."

"Perfect!" Su Bai revealed a bloodthirsty smile. "After I am victorious in this battle, I will take his head to commemorate the spirits of my Su Family!"

Her foster father placed his hand on her shoulder, his voice laden with emotion: "You’re a good child. Unfortunately, I was only able to save you from the carnage that day, and not your family..."

His expression grew much dimmer.

Immediately, Su Bai comforted him, "Foster father, please do not feel sorrowful. With every day I am alive, I think of how to exact vengeance upon our enemies. Such a tyrant deserves death by everyone’s hand!"

Observing the girl’s eyes brimming with unwavering determination, her foster father nodded in approval.

"That’s good to know."

After bidding farewell to her foster father, Su Bai went to lead her horse. Soldiers she passed saluted and greeted her, to which she responded in kind.

Three years ago, a great fire claimed the lives of everyone in the Su Family.

Only Su Bai was left.

Yet after the fire, she lost all her memories. It was her foster father who slowly narrated her past to her, informing her of her identity, her origins, and the heavy burden she carried.

The Su family was a wealthy household on the border of the Chu Kingdom, originally living in abundance.

However, when Dawei suddenly waged war against the Chu Kingdom, the high and mighty Emperor of Dawei directly issued an order to slaughter the city, leading to the complete annihilation of the city—the entirety of the Su family, more than fifty people, all perished in the fire.

Only she, barely clinging to life, was saved by a passerby adoptive father onto a small boat, and thus escaped calamity.

After several turns of fate, the adoptive father caught the eye of the Chu Kingdom’s Emperor with his talent and was retained by the Emperor to offer counsel.

Under her adoptive father’s tutelage, she discovered that she was a martial arts prodigy, and thus began her three-year journey as a soldier.

Who could have imagined that she, who was originally slow-witted, would take to the battlefield like a fish to water, winning every battle quite handsomely.

Towards those enemies who wantonly trampled over the lands of the Chu Kingdom, Su Bai never showed mercy, which is why she slowly garnered the title of "God of Killing" within the army.

She also wondered why she possessed such abilities, what kind of person she was before she lost her memory.

The adoptive father then told her that there was a very formidable general in the Su family lineage—she must have inherited this general’s talents.

"General Su, please wait!" someone called from behind.

Su Bai reined in her thoughts and turned around.

She saw the soldier approach her, his dark face twisting uncomfortably.

"What is it?" Su Bai asked.

Although only the lower half of her face was visible, her fair skin, which never seemed to tan, along with her rosy lips, were enough to involuntarily captivate one’s mind and soul within the military camp.

However, due to Su Bai’s ruthless methods and the harsh lessons many had learned, not a single person dared to harbor amorous thoughts towards her again.

The soldier took a yellow talisman from his chest and explained, "This is from my wife, who personally went to the temple to pray for it; she asked me to give it to General Su. General Su is about to go to war again soon, and we hope this talisman can keep you safe and sound."

The inept ruler of Dawei, Xiao Pingfeng, was infamous, but his talent should not be underestimated.

Although General Su is also very formidable,

when facing him, everyone still harbored anxiety about the upcoming battle.

Su Bai looked at the clean, well-preserved talisman and accepted it. "Then, please thank your wife for me."

The talisman was folded into a triangle with a vermillion seal on the yellow surface. She held it in the palm of her hand, feeling the sincerity of the person praying for her.

"How is your wife’s health?" she asked.

Su Bai remembered saving a woman who was about to be knocked down by a horse on a whim; unexpectedly, her husband was one of her subordinates.

"My wife is in good health, she always talks about General Su. She even wanted General Su to come over for a meal..." the soldier spoke at length before realizing what he had said.

How could someone like General Su possibly go to his home for a meal?

Su Bai thought about it and realized she didn’t have much else to do next.

"Are you also going home for a rest day today?" she asked the soldier.

The soldier nodded, somewhat puzzled.

"Then let’s go buy some groceries in the market later. I would like to try your wife’s cooking; you don’t mind, do you?"

The soldier was shocked and honored, "Of course, I don’t mind!"

Having General Su willing to come to his home for a meal was a blessing acquired over several lifetimes.

The soldier couldn’t contain his happiness.

Su Bai nodded, "What’s your name?"

"I am Chen Qing."

"Chen Qing, let’s go, let’s go buy groceries." Su Bai mounted her horse and looked down at him.

Chen Qing promptly led his own horse out, "Alright, alright."

At the market, Su Bai bought chicken, duck, fish, meat, and a few jars of fine wine, following Chen Qing to his home.

Madam Chen was overjoyed to see Su Bai arrive, quickly tying on an apron and getting busy.

Chen Qing doted on his wife and soon went to help her in the kitchen, leaving Su Bai standing in the courtyard admiring the scenery, the garden, and the vegetable patch.

When would she ever have such a leisurely and refined life of her own?