Zhu Yanyu murmured to her brother, knowing he couldn’t hear her but still repeating herself. She was afraid that if she stopped talking, she too would fall into unconsciousness, and then they would truly die in this wilderness.

“Xiangyu, wake up, talk to sister, okay? Sister…” She wearily closed her eyes, feeling incredibly sleepy.

She didn’t know how long she had been in this state when suddenly, she heard the sound of horses approaching in the distance.

Someone was coming!

Zhu Yanyu was overjoyed and rushed onto the main road, waving her hands to seek help.

“Hey! Where did this young lady come from?” The leader of the group, a young man in white, stopped his horse and looked at her with a mocking smile.

“Young Master, we must hurry. Don’t delay here,” his guard urged.

“I know, I’m just thirsty,” the young man in white replied impatiently. “There’s a big tree by the road for shade. Let’s rest here and have a drink of water!”

“Young Master…”

Before the guard could finish, the young man in white had already dismounted and approached Zhu Yanyu. Seeing the large greenish-blue patch on her cheek, he was startled.

“It’s an ugly girl! How unlucky! Go away, don’t get in my way!” He waved his hand dismissively.

Zhu Yanyu endured the humiliation and spoke softly, “Young Master, this humble servant only wants a bowl of water to drink.”

“My water is not for an ugly thing like you to drink! Get lost!” The young man in white had no sympathy for her.

However, one of his guards saw her plight and secretly handed her a water pouch.

“Thank you.” Zhu Yanyu whispered her thanks and was about to leave when she heard another rumble from the end of the dusty road.

This time, it was the sound of a disciplined and powerful cavalry, their horses’ hooves pounding the ground in unison, their armor clanking, and their aura overwhelming.

The young man in white and his group instantly changed their expressions, drawing their knives. Zhu Yanyu stood by the road, stunned, before she could understand what was happening, a fierce battle had already begun around her.

The young man in white, protected by his guards, shouted nervously, “Bai Yun Sheng, I am of royal blood. How dare you act without authorization?”

“Even if you are the son of a prince, a royal bloodline, so what? I, Bai Yun Sheng, govern this borderland with only four words—lawless and unrestrained!”

This was the most ruthless and severe voice Zhu Yanyu had ever heard, like hailstones in the cold winter, each word striking painfully and coldly.

“…Ah Hu has been with me since I was sixteen, through life and death. Today, I will have your blood to accompany him in death!”

With his command, thunder suddenly roared in the sky. Amidst the lightning and thunder, Zhu Yanyu saw flashes of swords and knives, and a scene of bloodshed unfolded before her eyes.

After the slaughter, blood flowed like a river. A severed head rolled to her feet, cut off by the leader of the cavalry himself. She stood frozen, staring at the head of the young man in white, who clearly died with his eyes wide open, feeling a chill down her spine and her mind going blank.

Raindrops fell one by one, splattering on the bloodied corpses on the ground. An officer suddenly noticed her and dragged her, without any mercy, to the leader of the cavalry.

“Commander, there is a woman here.”

Zhu Yanyu knelt on the ground, her body stiff. After a long while, she tremblingly raised her head.

In the misty rain, she first saw a magnificent horse, its coat as black as ink, with round, bright black eyes staring at her intently.

It was a spirited and intelligent steed.

The man and his horse stared at each other for a long moment before she shifted her gaze upward, focusing on the rider.

He was also dressed entirely in black, with a cloak draped over his shoulders and an iron-gray helmet on his head. His posture was elegant and proud, and his chest was adorned with a silver cloud insignia.

He was a soldier of the Iron Armor Army. Zhu Yanyu vaguely recalled the idle talk she had heard from the escorting soldiers—the northern border of the Great Qi was guarded by only one commander, known as the “Military God.”

The man before her had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, with features as if carved by a knife. His entire demeanor was stern and formidable. Even though the rain made it difficult to see his expression clearly, she could still feel his gaze pressing down on her heavily. His dark eyes were as cold and ruthless as the polar ice, devoid of any emotion.

Was he the revered Military God? To be able to so coldly and decisively behead someone, he must be incredibly ruthless and bloodthirsty…

Zhu Yanyu couldn’t stop her body from trembling, murmuring softly, “I’m not with those people… I was just passing by…”

The man didn’t seem to hear her explanation, or perhaps he heard but didn’t care. He made a slight gesture.

“Kill her!”

At his command, Zhu Yanyu felt all the blood in her body freeze.

Was she going to die here? After witnessing such a bloody scene, she had no doubt that her life could be snuffed out as easily as an ant’s.

But she couldn’t die. She had to live, for herself and for her young brother.

She watched as the man pulled on the reins, turning his horse, and as two of his personal guards approached her, one of them swiftly drawing his long knife…

“Sir, save me!” she suddenly screamed, desperately crawling forward and hugging the front leg of his black horse.

Everyone was stunned. No one expected her to dare to hug the commander’s beloved horse, and even more unbelievably, the usually ill-tempered horse, which normally allowed no one but the commander to approach, did not kick her away. Instead, it let out a low whinny, seeming both proud and annoyed, snorting a few times from its nostrils.

Even the man seemed somewhat surprised by his horse’s reaction, raising an eyebrow.

“Sir, please spare my life!” Zhu Yanyu didn’t care how everyone was staring at her in shock. She clung tightly to the horse’s leg, pleading desperately.

The man looked at her indifferently, narrowing his eyes. “This commander does not do pointless things. Who are you? Why should I spare your life?”

If he knew she was the daughter of a convicted official, her life would be even more at risk.

Zhu Yanyu bit her lip bitterly, ignoring his question about her identity. “As long as sir agrees not to kill me, this humble girl will do anything you ask.”

“What audacity!” He laughed instead of getting angry, his gaze cold. “What do you think you have to offer me?”

“I…”

Zhu Yanyu had barely spoken when she felt a hint of mockery flash in the man’s dark eyes. She paused, suddenly feeling ridiculous. With her current appearance, what man would want her? Even if she were as beautiful as before, this powerful commander would likely disdain her.

But besides her body, what else could she offer this man?

In her past life, she had lived on a ranch and practically grew up on horseback. Judging by the magnificent appearance of this man’s horse, he must be someone who loves horses…

She smiled sadly, deciding to take a gamble.

“I… can raise horses.”