Rou Hua Heng's army was the last to arrive, now marching toward their designated camp in the lowest section of the Copper Warriors' encampment. As they walked, the mocking stares of the other soldiers made their skin crawl. Their General and commanders remained stoic, their calm demeanor a stark contrast to the simmering anger within the ranks.
"Just you wait," hissed a soldier, his voice laced with venom. "Our General will teach those arrogant fools a lesson! They'll be begging for mercy, calling him 'Uncle' before long!"
The six people who overheard this threat would have probably choked on their own blood, sputtering, "Uncle? Whose uncle? Are you crazy?!"
Finally, the group—a mix of men and, ahem, one very capable woman (wink wink)—reached their designated campsite. The sight that greeted them made them gasp in disgust.
"Pah! What kind of land is this?!" Yu Heng roared, his anger palpable.
"This isn't fit for a camp! Not even a dog would relieve itself here!" Du Fang brandished his twin blades, fury sparking in his eyes.
The others echoed their disgust, their faces grim. The land was a wasteland of dark, oil-slicked soil, littered with sharp rocks and the stench of animal and human waste. It was clear that the malicious Copper Warriors had deliberately sabotaged their camp, their evil laughter echoing in the minds of Heng's soldiers as they witnessed the grim scene.
"General," Chen Diyu asked calmly, though his eyes were filled with a dark, simmering rage, "the land is unsuitable. What should we do?"
Hua Heng, perched atop her magnificent black steed, remained unfazed. She didn't even bother to dismount, her presence exuding a chilling calm that seemed to cool the heated atmosphere. Her warriors, their hands gripping their weapons, watched her intently, awaiting her command. They were ready to unleash their fury upon the enemies who had dared to disrespect them. Hua Heng sighed inwardly, her heart filled with a motherly worry for her overly eager soldiers.
"Did I spoil them a little too much?" she thought, a mischievous glint in her midnight eyes. "So eager for battle, so impatient for the perfect time... heh."
Her lips curled into a wicked smirk as she pulled the reins, her voice, as cold and alluring as winter's breath, echoing through the camp.
"They ruined our land. Why not kill a chicken to warn the dogs and cats? Du Fang, Chen Diyu—follow me!"
The two commanders sprang to attention, their expressions a mix of eagerness and amusement. Du Fang yipped with excitement like a dog with a bone, while Chen Diyu, though outwardly calm, couldn't suppress the tremor in his hands. Hua Heng couldn't help but chuckle at the expressions of the remaining soldiers, especially her three lieutenants—Yu Heng, Mo Ren, and Mo Ran—who were visibly upset at not being chosen for the initial confrontation.
The General and her two commanders galloped toward the royal family's platform, ignoring the jeering laughter and sneering comments of the Copper Warriors.
"Pah! This General wants to complain to His Majesty! How daring!"
"Thick-skinned! As if His Majesty will take action!"
"They're just a low-rank army with a bottom-of-the-barrel General, hahaha!"
Unfazed, Hua Heng and her commanders met the emperor's gaze, his expression neutral, his wrinkled phoenix eyes fixed on them. Suddenly, Hua Heng leaped from her horse, her black battle robes billowing out behind her as she gracefully landed atop her stallion's back. The Copper Warriors gasped, unable to believe their eyes. They were accustomed to seeing generals trembling before the emperor, yet here she was, standing tall and unyielding. A cold, deep voice echoed through the arena, captivating the attention of every warrior present.
"Your Majesty! This low-rank General greets the Blessed Son of Heaven and wishes him boundless fortune!" Hua Heng and her group bowed in unison.
The emperor's eyes twinkled as he stroked his long white beard, his magnetic voice booming across the arena. "Speak! This Zhen grants you permission to talk!"
The other generals and warriors gaped in shock. The emperor, known for his hot temper, was allowing this lowly general to speak? Their jealousy and hatred for Hua Heng reached a new fever pitch. One Copper General, his eyes blazing with murderous intent, muttered under his breath:
"Damn it! I should have killed him that time! That weak bastard!"
Hua Heng, oblivious to their venomous thoughts, remained focused on the emperor. She would have rolled her eyes and yawned, perhaps even dug for earwax if she wasn't currently engaged in a game of high-stakes diplomacy.
"Your Majesty," she began, her voice laced with mock innocence, "as you can see, our camp location is utterly unsuitable. It seems we were unfortunate enough to stumble upon a land where dogs and cats have been indulging in their… less pleasant habits." She pouted, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Even her own commanders were speechless. "Heng!" one of them sputtered. "How dare you speak so casually to His Majesty?"
"He's seeking death!" another chimed in, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Such atrocious disrespect!" A chorus of outraged voices rose from the ranks of the Copper Warriors, eager to see Hua Heng punished for her audacity. Yet the emperor and his family (except for the third Prince) ignored their buzzing, their eyes fixed on the intriguing low-ranking general who waited patiently for a response.
"Hmph! How atrocious!" a haughty voice boomed. "His words are so daring! Why don't we just kick him out? He's nothing but trash!" The third Prince scoffed, his eyes condescendingly fixed on Hua Heng.
"Ge'er! Don't speak so rudely," the second Prince reprimanded him gently as he sipped his tea. "After all, he's the son of the oldest clan in the kingdom."
"Heh! That rotten clan, only an injured old general..." the third Prince muttered, his disdain for Hua Heng obvious.
"Ge'er! Stop talking nonsense! Badmouthing families for their misfortunes!" the Empress warned him, her voice stern.
The third Prince shut his mouth, stomping his foot angrily on the marble floor before storming out, his servant trailing behind him. The Empress and the second Prince exchanged a sigh, lamenting the third Prince's childish behavior.
The emperor and the Crown Prince remained silent, their eyes fixed on Hua Heng. Finally, the emperor spoke, his voice smooth and cool. "What do you want from this Zhen?"
He knew, of course, the hidden meaning behind Hua Heng's complaints. Instead of anger, he was intrigued. He wanted to see what this seemingly weak general would do next.
"(-_-) The emperor is quite bored, meh, because the real game is about to start," a voice whispered inside Hua Heng's head.
The crowd gasped once more, their eyes glued to the bronze general.
"We want to claim a new land." Hua Heng's lips curved into a breathtaking arc. If anyone were to look closely at her, they would be swept away by her beauty, their hearts pounding in their chests.
But only one man saw her smile. His red eyes gleamed, his thin, straight lips curved into a devilish grin as he stared at his target.
"Found you."
Rou Hua Heng savored the shock and curiosity of the others, but a shiver of apprehension ran down her spine. She frowned, feeling eyes boring into her. She turned to face the source of the chill, and there they were: a pair of glowing red eyes, staring at her intently.
"That dangerous man is staring at me... so creepy!" she thought, her heart pounding in her chest.
The stage was set for a confrontation. Rou Hua Heng had made her move, and the consequences would be felt by everyone present.