When Aurelian Dragon and his men caught up with the main force, the long-waiting soldiers paid the highest tribute to the returning warriors. Even the people of Wu'an held Aurelian Dragon in high esteem.
As Tang Juan gazed at the Aurelian Dragon approaching him, his eyes flickered with an uncertain light, like the clouds in the sky, mesmerizing and alluring, making one eager to explore its secrets.
Aurelian Dragon laughed and slapped Tang Juan on the shoulder, saying, "I told you I would protect you, how about it? Now you can rest assured!"
Garrick Stonewall and Suo Chong frowned slightly, while Lynette Quill and Obsidia Shade smirked behind them, seemingly amused by the spectacle. This fueled Zhu Dejun's jealousy and resentment. He was clearly more handsome and dashing than this guy, and had no bad habits, yet he couldn't win the beauty's heart. Was it really true that the worse a man was, the more women loved him?
Tang Juan seemed somewhat accustomed to Aurelian Dragon's approach, and only took a half step back, and for the first time smiled and said, "General Ye is indeed worthy of his reputation. With a mere hundred men, he has defeated thousands in succession. The Battle of Motai Mountain in Gaoyang Prefecture will become a legend on the continent."
Aurelian Dragon looked at his handsome face with great interest and said earnestly, "This credit should belong to everyone. Without the heroic fighting of our brothers, how could I, Aurelian Dragon, have succeeded?"
The people listening nearby were all stunned. Every single one of them was moved by those words. If it were anyone else, they might have already claimed this immense honor for themselves, a qualification for promotion and advancement. His lack of arrogance only highlighted his extraordinary qualities.
Tang Juan suddenly suggested, "General, why don't you come to my tent with them and we can all celebrate!"
Zhu Dejun, who was standing next to him, was startled. Why had he changed his ways today?
Just when everyone thought Aurelian Dragon would readily agree, he turned to Lynette Quill and Obsidia Shade and said apologetically, "I'm so sorry! I need to go back to my tent with my favorite person to rest. You all should go ahead."
Upon hearing this, Lynette Quill and Obsidia Shade blushed deeply. Wasn't this a blatant declaration to everyone? However, along with their shyness came a pleasant surprise. This man's willingness to express his love for them in public without any embarrassment gave them a sense of pride that other women of their time could not match.
Seeing Tang Juan's astonished expression, Aurelian Dragon chuckled inwardly. She turned to Lynette Quill and Obsidia Shade and said loudly, "I think I'm a little injured and not feeling well."
Lynette Quill and Obsidia Shade rushed over, embracing him on either side, and repeatedly asked, "Where? Where?"
Surrounded by the Golden Phoenix Guards, Aurelian Dragon, Lynette Quill, and Obsidia Shade headed towards their command tent, leaving the others standing there dumbfounded with varying expressions.
The next day, Lynette Quill and Obsidia Shade happily followed the Aurelian Dragon, but Tang Juan's attitude towards him became extremely cold. When they met, he merely nodded slightly and passed by without saying a word. This sight made Garrick Stonewall, Suo Chong, and Zhu Dejun all feel uneasy, although they thought the reasons for their unease were different.
※ ※ ※
In the following days, following Aurelian Dragon's instructions, Sochong no longer followed the agreed route but rearranged the marching route. His knowledge of Fast's geography allowed him to arrange their itinerary without any difficulty, and Aurelian Dragon's performance in Gaoyang Prefecture ensured that everyone obeyed his decision without question.
Although this journey added to everyone's hardship, the result was as Aurelian Dragon had predicted: the Third Prince's men never appeared. It was unclear whether they were misled by his actions or simply hadn't followed.
And so, Aurelian Dragon and his companions enjoyed a remarkably peaceful journey, calm and undisturbed. However, a lingering unease remained in Aurelian Dragon's heart. What exactly was the Third Prince's scheme? What was swirling in his mind? He had no way of knowing. But he knew that with the Third Prince's control over the military, if he were to inadvertently reveal his presence, the Third Prince could easily find an excuse to transfer the local troops and launch an attack with pre-arranged forces. Afterward, he could claim they had encountered a band of thieves, and that Aurelian Dragon, as their commander, had failed miserably, leading to the mission's failure. This could result in Aurelian Dragon being imprisoned, or even killed outright.
However, despite this, aside from ordering his generals and soldiers to be extra cautious and on guard in secret, he couldn't come up with any good countermeasures. He could only conserve his resources, sending out several groups of five fast horses to patrol several miles around the main force, each carrying a flag with insignia, to signal immediately if any alarm was detected. But apart from this one thing that worried him, he was quite comfortable in other aspects. Relying on the prestige he had established in the previous two battles, he was seen by everyone as a near-hero, and everyone revered him like a god.
Wu'an's group also treated him differently, and Princess Xiu summoned him several times, showing a hint of interest in him. That subtle feeling was quite intriguing for a seasoned womanizer. Although her looks weren't as striking as Lynette Quill or Obsidia Shade, Aurelian Dragon felt quite pleased with her princess status. However, this was just wishful thinking. Ultimately, she would be the Crown Princess of the Second Prince, and he knew perfectly well that maintaining a good relationship with her was enough. Why should he bother getting involved in this mess?
However, he also had some doubts. This princess seemed to lack a bit of confidence, and there was always something off about her attitude towards him, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. So he just kept the question to himself and his relationship with Princess Xiu gradually improved.
Tang Juan's relationship with him had improved considerably. Although he still did some things that drew attention from others, and Tang Juan would occasionally storm off, he would soon seem to have forgotten about it and resume their interactions. This left some people quite puzzled.
Only Zhu Dejun was filled with jealousy and hatred towards him. Seeing Aurelian Dragon's smug appearance only fueled his anger. He simply couldn't understand why Lynette Quill and Obsidia Shade were still so fond of Aurelian Dragon despite his appalling behavior, as if they didn't care about his vile appearance at all.
※ ※ ※
The lingering smoke still drifted in the air, and occasional sparks of fire could be seen. Broken walls and rubble were scattered everywhere, along with pools of blood, all of which testified to the brutality of the war that had just taken place.
Phoenix Vane rode her beloved horse, Flying Cloud, slowly traversing the streets of Tianlang Pass, accompanied by dozens of Golden Phoenix Guards. The Phoenix Legion soldiers, who were cleaning up the battlefield, were filled with awe and respect upon seeing their war goddess, offering them the highest military salute. They deeply admired this beautiful and intelligent legion commander, whose beauty rivaled that of a celestial being.
"Who else has her abilities to achieve such feats?"
Watching their commander's departing figure, everyone felt a surge of pride. Indeed, under Phoenix Vane's skillful command, the Phoenix Legion captured Sirius Pass, known as the most dangerous pass on the continent, with minimal casualties. With control of this military fortress, the Great Lakes region no longer needed to fear the raids of the Assaurs.
For the orcs of Azur, losing this pass was a disaster. Now they had to constantly guard against Fast's army launching an attack from here. Behind Sirius Pass lay the vast, flat grasslands of Azur, and the Bear Clan's stronghold, Great Bear City, was completely exposed to Fast's army. This was especially unbearable for the Bear Clan, but the situation was unavoidable, and they had no choice but to accept it. They simply lacked the strength and the courage to launch an attack and retake Sirius Pass.
Following behind Phoenix Vane, Tian Tian gazed at her commander's stunning figure, knowing in her heart that her feelings were not what others imagined. Although the war had been won, this was the last time the Phoenix Legion would be under her command. On the way to attack Tianlang Pass, Phoenix Vane had hinted to Tian Tian about her future plans, and the quick-witted Tian Tian had guessed that General Phoenix was preparing to leave the army.
After turning a corner, Valeria Immortalis and her personal guards came galloping towards them. These guards were actually Phoenix Vane's Golden Phoenix Guards. For Valeria Immortalis's safety, Phoenix Vane had specially arranged for his own Golden Phoenix Guards to be her personal guards. This honor also made many people in the Phoenix Legion aware of how much their legion commander valued this new Thousand Rider.
Valeria Immortalis, clad in pure white armor, styled her long black hair into a phoenix bun and wrapped it with a red silk scarf. Her cold beauty was tempered with a touch of fiery maturity. Paired with a jade belt around her slender waist and fiery red boots peeking out from under her battle skirt, she looked so elegant and refined that one felt such a woman should not be associated with the cruelty of war.
However, the greatest contributor to this battle was Valeria Immortalis. She led two thousand cavalrymen who suddenly appeared on the flank of Sirius Pass, launching a lightning-fast night raid on the pass, which had not yet been closed. Initially, the orcish defenders of Sirius Pass looked down on this frail woman, seeing that she possessed only two thousand cavalrymen while their own army numbered twenty thousand. Thus, with contempt, the orcs entered into a battle that later military historians hailed as a classic siege.
Valeria Immortalis's keen sense of the battlefield was on full display at this moment. Although her army was at a disadvantage, she attacked the weakest point in the orc formation, defeating the Assau army as easily as waves parting.
Unexpectedly, the orc commander began to increase the number of troops he had deployed, completely unaware that he had made a huge mistake. Deploying troops in stages would not allow him to take advantage of his strengths and instead allowed Valeria Immortalis to hold them back.
By the time the orcs of Assou realized something was amiss, Phoenix Vane's Phoenix Legion had already surged in like a raging tide. By then, their chance to utilize the natural defenses of the pass was gone. Although the orcs possessed a suicidal spirit, they could only withstand Phoenix Vane's powerful offensive for less than half an hour, and Sirius Pass fell.
The reinforcements who rushed to the scene upon receiving the urgent report could only sigh in despair beneath the walls of Tianlang Pass. Faustian troops, who held the strategic advantage of the pass, unleashed a hail of arrows upon them, forcing them to retreat in defeat.
Upon seeing Valeria Immortalis, Phoenix Vane's eyes lit up, and he greeted her.
Valeria Immortalis bowed solemnly and said, "This humble general, Valeria Immortalis, has come to report to Your Excellency!"
Phoenix Vane nodded, then smiled and said, "Valeria Immortalis, you've done a great job this time. How should I reward you?"
Valeria Immortalis pulled on her horse's head, urging herself to ride alongside Phoenix Vane, and said, "Elder sister, let me guard this Sirius Pass!"
Phoenix Vane turned to look at her and sighed softly, "I know what you're thinking, and I'll definitely help you with your wish. But I hope you don't worry about it too much, otherwise it might backfire and make me and Aurelian worry about you."
Valeria Immortalis glanced gratefully at Phoenix Vane and said, "I know you're good to me, and I'll remember your words." Then she lowered her voice and asked, "Are you really sure about this, Big Sister?"
Phoenix Vane nodded, glanced at the general's mansion ahead, and said, "Let's talk inside!"
Handing the reins to their warhorses to the Golden Phoenix Guard, Phoenix Vane and Valeria Immortalis stepped into the freshly cleaned council hall. The hall was empty except for a few pearwood chairs, lined up along the wall by the windows.
Phoenix Vane walked to a chair next to an open window. The sky outside was slowly darkening, with dark clouds rolling in from who-knows-where, recklessly occupying the gray sky and changing into all sorts of shapes.
The cool breeze that rushed in through the window carried a hint of war. Phoenix Vane sniffed the familiar air, and a feeling of accustomed familiarity slowly welled up in his heart.
"It looks like it's going to rain soon." Valeria Immortalis walked over to her, sat down on a chair, and turned her pretty face to look at the silent Phoenix Vane, the general standing there.
"Yes!" Phoenix Vane responded casually, but for some reason, a very uncomfortable feeling suddenly arose in her heart, as if the damp breeze was conveying an ominous premonition.
"I wonder where Sister Qin and the others are now?" Valeria Immortalis asked, her voice filled with longing.
"Qin Mei?" Phoenix Vane suddenly realized why she felt that way; she was missing Aurelian Dragon and the others. "I wonder what difficulties Aurelian and the others have encountered?"
This thought surged strongly into Phoenix Vane's mind, frightening her. With her keen intuition, this feeling was completely unfamiliar to her; it was like a strange heartache, perhaps because she had practiced the "Dragon Heart Sutra."
In an instant, a thunderclap resounded from the sky, and a silver serpent cleaved through the thick clouds, dancing wildly in the air, as if the world had undergone a sudden change at that moment.
"Big sister, why don't you close the window?" Valeria Immortalis stood up to close the window.
A gust of cold wind, carrying a few drops of chilly rain, brushed against Phoenix Vane's stunningly beautiful face, sending a chill through her. Her unease grew.
Phoenix Vane slowly closed her eyes, calming herself to explore the reason for her unease. Her innate divination skills were exceptional, as evidenced by her past experiences, and after practicing the "Dragon Heart Sutra," she felt a rapid improvement, with her six senses and spiritual awareness becoming increasingly clear.
A terrifying clap of thunder seemed to echo in the courtyard of the general's mansion. Phoenix Vane's face turned deathly pale. She opened her eyes, her bright, star-like phoenix eyes revealing undisguised panic.
"Aurelian is in trouble!"
Before Valeria Immortalis could even ask a question, Phoenix Vane had already given her the answer.
"What?" Valeria Immortalis trembled slightly, looking at Phoenix Vane with a hint of surprise.
Phoenix Vane's heart began to pound. She had calculated that Aurelian Dragon's journey would be uneventful, so how could an unknown variable suddenly appear? And a very terrifying one at that; she could even smell the blood in it.
"We just received news from Sister Qin that they have defeated the thieves who tried to sabotage the mission, and Brother Ye's reputation is growing." Valeria Immortalis looked at Phoenix Vane, who had lowered the window, with some curiosity. "Besides, didn't Sister Qin calculate that they would complete the mission smoothly without any major incidents?"
"Yes, that's how I used to calculate it," Phoenix Vane replied, her voice trembling. "But just now I felt extremely uneasy; the impromptu lesson I had prepared has actually revealed…"
"What omen is this?" Valeria Immortalis asked hastily.
"Aurelian's life is in danger!" Phoenix Vane's words sent a chill down Valeria Immortalis's spine. "I don't know why, but my heart is very uneasy right now. It feels like I'm in great pain."
"Should we send them a message and tell them to be more careful?" Valeria Immortalis, feeling uneasy at Phoenix Vane's words, suggested anxiously.
Phoenix Vane hesitated for a moment, then shook her head and said, "Don't do that. It will only cause them panic. We've already warned them. Saying it again will only..." She didn't finish her sentence, but Valeria Immortalis understood, and she nodded. However, neither of them knew that this decision would lead to irreversible consequences. This is because clever women tend to overthink; sometimes, overthinking is worse than not thinking at all.
"I'm leaving soon, I can't delay any longer, as long as I can catch up with them!" Phoenix Vane made a quick decision, issuing a series of orders and explaining everything clearly.
She had already planned to return to the capital after capturing Tianlang Pass; this was simply a matter of bringing it forward. All matters had been carefully considered, so the arrangements were made very quickly. Although the generals of the Phoenix Legion were surprised by their commander's decision, they faithfully carried out his orders.
A moment later, under the reluctant gaze of the newly appointed Tianlang Pass garrison commander Valeria Immortalis, Phoenix Vane led dozens of Golden Phoenix Guards, headed by Tian Tian, out of Tianlang Pass in the rain and sped towards the imperial capital, Esnia.