The sun is setting in the west, the sky is unclear.

North of the Yao River, dark clouds gather over Qingzhou City. It’s already mid-November, and the temperature has dropped sharply north of the Yao River. Snowflakes are flying, starting to cover the blood on the ground.

Ten miles outside Qingzhou City, the sound of hoofbeats breaks, wheel tracks shallow.

A large army marches slowly toward Qingzhou City along an ancient official road that runs through the Central Plains.

After several battles and under the pincer attack of the two armies of the Desolate Kingdom, Tiger Cage Pass finally couldn’t be held. With the breach of Tiger Cage Pass, the Celestial Dragon Army, less than fifty thousand strong, led by Zhao Qianyi, retreated south but was relentlessly pursued by the Desolate Kingdom’s forces.

Just an hour ago, they repelled another enemy attack, and the entire army showed signs of weariness on their faces.

"Princess, it’s snowing!" Wei Ying raised her hand to catch a snowflake. The icy touch made her more alert.

In front, Zhao Qianyi, atop a chestnut steed, wore an expression full of worry. The snow fell on her golden helmet, permeating with a chilling cold. She lamented, "This snow came too quickly."

"Princess, what’s wrong?"

"Winter is coming. By then, as the temperature drops, the Yao River will freeze. The vast regions of the Desolate Kingdom are cold all year round, and this weather is perfect for them. Once the Yao River freezes, the armies of the Desolate Kingdom can head directly south, threatening the Capital, and by then, the danger of national subjugation will loom." Zhao Qianyi sighed.

Now they’ve lost the geographical advantage, time is not on their side, and unity? With uprisings occurring within the nation, where is unity to be found?

Zhao Qianyi truly did not know how to resist the invasion of the Desolate Kingdom.

"Princess, there’s no need to worry too much. Didn’t we receive news not long ago of King Yan’s defeat? The Imperial Court should now be able to spare resources and should soon send troops to support us," Wei Ying said.

"I hope so." Zhao Qianyi did not hold out much hope for reinforcements from the Imperial Court.

If King Yan were in control of the court, with his ambition for the world, he might send troops to support.

But now it’s Xiao Yunqi controlling the court, an old rogue attempting to seize the throne.

When Qinyang County was in crisis, he only sent thirty thousand troops as support, while keeping his main forces reserved.

Now that the Desolate Kingdom is so far from him, hope for support is minimal.

Wei Ying spurred her horse to ride alongside Zhao Qianyi, changing the topic to lighten her mood: "This Chen Mo is truly fierce. With a hundred thousand men, he managed to defeat King Yan’s million-strong army.

And according to what I understand, ever since he started fighting King Yan, he has always had the upper hand, winning several battles and often foiling King Yan’s plans."

"He is indeed a fierce general, deserving of the title War God." Zhao Qianyi had heard of Chen Mo. This year’s martial examination champion, a nineteen-year-old First Grade Martial Artist, was hard for Zhao Qianyi not to know.

"Do you believe it, Princess? A nineteen-year-old First Grade Martial Artist, even the former Qin Zheng didn’t have such talent." Wei Ying looked at Zhao Qianyi.

"Whether it’s true or not, if we have the chance to meet, we’ll find out." Zhao Qianyi looked up at the drifting snowflakes: "It’s a pity that such a person has become Xiao Yunqi’s pawn."

"Drive, march at full speed, once we enter Qingzhou City, immediately focus on building the defenses."

Zhao Qianyi cracked her whip, and her chestnut steed suddenly galloped forward.

Wei Ying was stunned, hurriedly catching up, and shouted breathlessly, "Princess, aren’t we returning to the Capital?"

"Our mission as the Celestial Dragon Army is to hold Tiger Cage Pass. And now, we’ve retreated from Tiger Cage Pass, Jincheng, Liu City... and even Chen County. Qingzhou City is the last line of defense at Yao River, and we cannot retreat any further."

Upon hearing this, Wei Ying looked at Zhao Qianyi’s departing back, dazed for a long moment, then chased after her: "Princess, I swear to follow you to the death."

...

At this moment, Tiger Cage Pass had become the main camp of the Desolate Kingdom’s army.

A team of Desolate Kingdom soldiers, wearing broad-collared fur robes and tiger skin hats, stepped in crowned boots. Each one looked lofty and spirited.

They rode boldly down the avenue within Tiger Cage Pass. The refugees on both sides had been cleared, and even the blood on the avenue was washed clean with water.

Only a faint scent of blood remained in the air.

They were the personal guards of the Queen of Loulan, numbering only three thousand.

But the average strength of each was at Fourth Grade.

With coordinated battle arrays, even an ordinary army of about a hundred thousand was no match for them.

Behind them, a magnificent carriage slowly approached. It was not pulled by horses, but by four giant lions about a zhang in size. Their fur was smooth, but their eyes gleamed fiercely.

The captured soldiers and civilians in the city, seeing the magnificent carriage, recognized it as the carriage of the Queen of the Desolate Kingdom.

At this moment, three horsemen approached in front of the carriage.

When they were about ten meters away from the carriage, the four lions in front of the carriage roared simultaneously, causing the horses to panic and become uncontrollable.

Ling Zhi, leading them, controlled his panicking warhorse, quickly dismounting and kneeling on one knee, with his right hand flat on his chest. He bowed his head, respectfully saying, "Your servant Ling Zhi, pays respects to Her Majesty the Queen."

"Rise." Three breaths later, a cold voice came from within the carriage, and then a fair, slender wrist lifted the curtain. A beautiful woman in a white dress, supported by Yuxi, stepped down from the carriage.

The giant lions that had shown fierce light in their eyes immediately lay on the ground like obedient cats as Yuxi descended. One of the lions closest to Yuxi even stretched its head forward, seeking her caress obediently.

"Her Majesty the Queen." The Loulan soldiers nearby knelt on one knee, shouting out in unison.

"Thank you, Queen." Ling Zhi stood up, glanced at Yuxi with a trace of admiration in his eyes, then quickly lowered his head again.

"How is the situation ahead?" Yuxi inquired.

"Your... Your Majesty, forgive me, it was my incompetence that... that allowed Zhao Qianyi to escape. According to her escape route, she should have headed towards Qingzhou City. I sent people after her immediately, but... the chance is slim. By now, they should have crossed the Yao River."

"She won’t cross the river." Yuxi did not blame Ling Zhi. If he hadn’t brought the army, who knows how much longer it would have taken to breach Tiger Cage Pass. She said, "If Zhao Qianyi wanted to leave, you wouldn’t be able to stop her."

"Hmm?" Ling Zhi didn’t understand. Didn’t the Queen just say she wouldn’t cross the river, but now this—wasn’t it contradictory?

"I know her." Yuxi did not provide an explanation to Ling Zhi but uttered something that confused him even more.