The sky was dim and overcast, with dense clouds gathering, and the visibility outside the city was unclear.

At the Luoyang city gates, numerous Chu army flags with red characters on black backgrounds fluttered in the wind.

The right-wing general of the Imperial Guards led thousands of elite Imperial Guards to hold this city gate.

In the pitch-black night, the patrolling soldiers on the city wall suddenly noticed a distant movement near the southern bank outpost — a defensive line made of thorny branches, behind which was an important grain warehouse supplying the Imperial Guards inside the city. At first, faint red lights flickered in the distance, but soon these lights grew stronger and eventually became a blazing fire that illuminated the sky. Immediately, thick smoke began to rise from the outpost, enveloping the entire southern bank.

In the moment of panic, the drumbeats and horn blasts sounded like thunder, followed by the distant sound of galloping hooves and the clash of weapons. The smoke and dust from the southern bank outpost filled the air.

The sentries vaguely saw a massive display of smoke and dust, as if thousands of horses were charging. The banner of the Northern Army waved high, appearing and disappearing amidst the thick smoke.

“Enemy attack! The grain warehouse in the southern outpost is under attack!”

The northern cavalry was known for their fierceness and battle prowess. The sentry immediately blew the alarm horn.

The sharp alarm pierced the air over Luoyang.

The right-wing general, alarmed, ordered all Imperial Guards to enter a state of heightened alert. He first called together all the archers on the city walls and instructed them to fire arrows toward the source of the smoke and flames. Then, he sent his most capable commanders with thousands of elite guards out of the city to confront the enemy, determined to drive them back and secure the grain warehouse.

The Imperial Guards, clad in iron armor and wielding long halberds, marched towards the southern outpost under the commander’s leadership.

At this moment, only a little over a hundred soldiers remained on the city walls.

As the elite Imperial Guards finally arrived at the front of the southern outpost, ready to face the enemy, a loud “Boom!” sounded.

With a crack like thunder, the dark sky seemed to tear open, and a torrential downpour began to fall.

The pouring rain gradually extinguished the fire at the outpost, and the smoke cleared.

Only then did the Imperial Guard commander realize that what had seemed like a massive surprise attack from the Northern Army was actually just a few heavily armored cavalrymen dragging dust brooms made of withered grass behind their horses, galloping back and forth along the southern bank. They had intentionally raised dust and used the fire and mist to create an illusion of thousands of horses charging.

“Damn it!” The Imperial Guard commander couldn’t help but curse, “You barbarian mongrels, just a handful of you, how dare you act so arrogantly!”

Saying this, he drew his waist knife and charged forward with his troops.

“Hahaha!” The Northern Army commander at the head of the cavalry couldn’t help but burst out laughing. As he whipped his horse, he shouted insults to the Imperial Guards, leading the few dozen heavy cavalrymen, riding off in a cloud of dust. He turned back to mock them, “You little bastards, you can’t even touch a hair on your grandfather. Go home and suck on your mother’s milk!”

Even though the Imperial Guards had the numbers and strength, they were on foot, while the famous northern cavalry was known for their speed. The Imperial Guards could only watch, frustrated, as they got a noseful of dust and a bellyful of anger.

Meanwhile, the deputy general left behind on the city tower, watching the retreating Northern Army, realized a more serious problem and said to the right-wing general, “General, if the southern outpost was just a feint from the Northern Army, then… what are their true intentions?”

The right-wing general looked at the empty city tower defenses and the main forces that had just been diverted from the southern bank. A cold shiver ran down his back under the dark sky, and he raised his voice, “Order immediately! Dispatch… dispatch…”

“Whoosh—”

A sharp arrow pierced through the night, cutting through the rain and clouds, and struck his throat, the tail feathers still vibrating uncontrollably.

The deputy general stared in horror at his twitching lips, watching the blood froth from his mouth. The right-wing general could not utter a single coherent command.

His body collapsed weakly, and in his wide-open eyes, filled with disbelief, the last thing he saw was several eagle-claw hooks climbing up the city wall.

A dark figure silently leaped onto the city wall.

The deputy general, terrified as if he had encountered a ghost, quickly drew his waist knife. “Enemy—”

“Clang—”

The long sword shot out, and the chilling killing intent, accompanied by the icy cold rain, cleaved downward!

“Assa… ugh—” The deputy general felt a flash of silver in front of him. Before his eyes could fully track the movement, the pain of his neck being sliced to the bone overwhelmed him. His vision spun, and in his disoriented gaze, he saw the figure standing sideways, tall and slender, with eyes as cold as the night rain. The knife in his hand was dripping blood…

His own blood.

Xiao Heng kicked aside the severed head that had rolled to his feet.

Behind him, fifty soldiers of the Northern Army, dressed in black, surged up the city tower, climbing the eagle-claw ropes through the thick rain.

Xiao Heng had divided this group of Northern Army soldiers into two halves. Half of them, fully armored heavy cavalry, had used feigned intimidation to draw fire, while the remaining half, under his command, took advantage of the cover of the night to seize the lightly defended city tower.

At this moment, the commander of the Imperial Guards had already fallen.

The remaining hundred-odd guards were now leaderless, thrown into disarray, unable to mount any effective resistance.

In the blink of an eye, they were all cut down by Xiao Heng and his men.

Xiao Heng swiftly and decisively slashed the last sentry’s throat. He shook the blood from his blade and sheathed both knives in one smooth motion.

The Northern Army ensign, following closely behind Xiao Heng, couldn’t help but be shaken by his calm efficiency in killing.

In his experience, the bravest man he had ever seen was the Northern King, Duan Yu, whom he had seen fight a tiger with his bare hands.

The heir, Duan Yunfeng, was similar to the Northern King. On the battlefield, he was like a fierce and merciless wolf, leaving a trail of blood and carnage in his wake.

But they were nothing like the person before him.

This person killed quickly.

Too quickly.

It was as if he understood human anatomy perfectly, knowing exactly where to strike to end a life, doing so in a way that no one could even scream.

Every slash, every movement, was aimed at taking a life, and there was no unnecessary motion.

Beneath the veil lifted by the wind, the person’s pale, sharp jawline was spotless, not a drop of blood staining it. If not for the overpowering smell of blood, one might mistake him for a gentleman who had accidentally wandered into a slaughterhouse.

Could this really be something a princess could do?

Could it be… that this princess was actually the top assassin of the Great Yan?

If only the emperor of the Great Yan had half the martial skills of this princess, the country wouldn’t have fallen so soon…

In the moment the ensign was lost in thought, Xiao Heng threw him a cold glance.

The ensign immediately snapped out of his trance. Following the prearranged plan, he ordered his men to raise the Northern Army’s banner atop the city tower and hold up their torches.

At that moment, a scout returned from the southern outpost.

The scout saw that the “Great King’s Flag” had already been replaced, and a group of Northern Army soldiers stood atop the tower, shouting, “Our general has led five thousand elite troops to capture the city gates and surrounded Luoyang! You are all like turtles in a jar. Surrender now!”

With that, they began to release arrows toward the city below.

The scout, panicking, immediately fled back to the southern bank.

The commanders of the Imperial Guards, upon hearing the scout’s report, were horrified.

With the city gates captured by the Northern Army and no siege equipment at their disposal, returning now would be a death sentence. They immediately ordered the entire army to halt and set up camp, instructing them not to act rashly and to wait and see how the situation developed.

On the main road leading to the city gates, the people in the neighborhoods shut their doors tightly. The heavy rain extinguished the firelight, and in the dimness, the Crown Prince of Chu, Li Min, led an ambush of Imperial Guards from the alley and clashed fiercely with the remnants of Duan Yunfeng’s personal guard.

Not far off, Li Jichang was leading a large force, advancing through the streets from the rear, gradually surrounding Li Min’s group.

Li Min watched the figure riding through the night, bloodied and killing without opposition, and faintly on the verge of breaking through the encirclement. He stood in the shadows, nocking an arrow, aiming at Duan Yunfeng among the crowd.

“Boom!”

A thunderous sound exploded, a flash of white light split the sky, illuminating the terror-stricken blood in Duan Yunfeng’s eyes.

Li Min, whether frightened by the thunder or intimidated by Duan Yunfeng’s cold killing aura, missed the shot.

He drew his long sword, gritted his teeth, and shouted angrily, “The city gates have long been blocked by our forces! Now, you can’t escape! I suggest you dismount and surrender immediately. My father is not so petty; he might even keep you as a dog in the mansion…”

Thunder and heavy rain continued to batter the skies above Luoyang.

“Your Highness! Ugh—”

The frantic neighing of a steed rang out, and an arrow from the city tower struck a soldier beside Li Min, who collapsed, “W-watch out…”

Li Min turned in shock, his wide, frightened eyes reflecting the Northern Army flag fluttering in the wind.

“The city tower has been taken by the Northern Army—! Enemy attack! Beware of the enemy!”

Amid the chaos of the ongoing battle, someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, causing the Imperial Guards to scatter in disarray.

“The city gate is right ahead. Charge out with me!”

Seizing the opportunity, Duan Yunfeng raised his sword and led his guards in a fierce battle, charging straight through the enemy’s encirclement.

As his words fell, the closed city gates suddenly swung open, revealing a broad path for him.

Li Jichang, who had just arrived with his troops, stared in disbelief at Duan Yunfeng’s retreating figure. “How can this be…”

“Your Highness, be careful—!”

Someone suddenly shouted.

Li Jichang looked up just in time to see a sharp arrow streaking through the air, heading straight for his face amidst the thousands of soldiers.

The cold gleam of the arrow approached rapidly.

There was no time to dodge.

Li Jichang immediately grabbed a man beside him and shoved him in front to block the arrow.

“Father… ugh—”

The person he used as a shield was none other than Li Min. The long arrow pierced through Li Min’s throat.

Li Min’s eyes widened in disbelief as he died. In the moment before he passed, he desperately tried to swallow the blood frothing at the corners of his mouth, staring fixedly at his father, who had used him as a shield, as if trying to catch something in his eyes.

Unfortunately, Li Jichang didn’t even glance at him—not even a single look.

Li Jichang, panic-stricken and furious, turned to look at the Northern Army flag on the city tower and the figure on top, drawing his bow and aiming directly at him. The person stood in black, with his face concealed beneath a veil, exuding an air of calm as he faced the storm, as if completely unconcerned with the army behind him.

Looking at Li Min’s body collapsing to the ground, “Enemy attack! Protect the King of Chu!” Li Jichang’s personal guards immediately raised their shields in defense. One of his generals, a skilled archer in the Chu army, swiftly drew his bow and aimed at the figure atop the city tower.

Facing the imminent threat of thousands of soldiers, Xiao Heng remained unmoved. He drew a second arrow, nocked it, and aimed at Li Jichang…

It was a pity—had the man who just died been Li Jichang, they could have launched a counterattack on Luoyang today.

“Clang!”

A powerful arrow shot past Xiao Heng’s ear. He released the bowstring, and the sharp arrow flew through the air.

“Your Highness!”

A shout came from the lieutenant of the Northern Army beside him.

Xiao Heng’s veil cap fell, and his hair, tied high, fluttered in the night wind. He wiped the slight bloodstain from his cheek, expressionless, and looked down at Li Jichang from atop the city tower. His deep eyes met Li Jichang’s across the distance.

Unfortunately, the arrow he had just released was blocked by one of Li Jichang’s guards, who raised a shield.

Tonight was not the right time to retake Luoyang.

“Who is he?” Beneath the black rain, Li Jichang stared at the figure atop the city tower, the one in black who had nearly taken his life twice. A flash of fear instinctively crossed his trembling pupils. This was the first true exchange of glances between him and Xiao Heng. The cold, ink-like depths of Xiao Heng’s eyes showed no emotion, only a glance full of disdain.

It seemed that Xiao Heng had no regard for him at all.

Li Jichang let out a scream from his chest, “Who is the person on the city tower?!”

His instincts told him that this person was even more formidable and dangerous than Duan Yunfeng.

He had to eliminate this person, or they would become a future disaster!

Of course, Li Jichang’s guards couldn’t answer him. They only saw the figure atop the tower vanish in an instant, like a ghost, disappearing from their sight.

…

Xiao Heng replaced his veil cap to hide his face and descended the city tower with the Northern Army lieutenant by his side.

In the cold, rainy night, Duan Yunfeng, who had broken through the encirclement, saw the figure beneath the towering city walls. The person, clad in military attire, rode the white horse that had been sent to him, and behind him, several dozen soldiers from Hedong were guarding the city gates. The wind stirred the person’s flowing veil, as if a streak of light pouring from the silent night sky.

The rain, falling rapidly, slid down Duan Yunfeng’s face as he urged his horse forward, racing toward him.