And these non-humans would still meet their end either by being devoured by zombies or succumbing to the self-destructive effects of the virus.

War has always been cruel, not just between humans, but also between humans and non-humans.

If one does not actively grow stronger, the only thing that awaits everyone is inevitable extinction, sooner or later.

After leaving the prisoner-of-war camp, Wen Yuesheng led a group of generals, traveling from the northern route, rushing for a long time until they reached the border of the lush and beautiful Source City.

The geography of the border area is such that the main city is closer to the desert, while Source City, located at the opposite end of the main city, is the place with the best climate in the entire border area.

Here, there are dense forests, clear water sources, and the most fertile soil.

For this reason, Source City is one of the most fiercely contested cities between Hao Zhou and Da Hui.

Every year, conflicts at the border with Hao Zhou begin in Source City.

Due to years of war, the people here have had a hard life.

Once a prosperous city, Source City is now increasingly desolate.

In Luo City, though the environment was poor, with alternating cold and heat, making life tough for the people, the surrounding areas like the Western Town that Wen Yuesheng visited had long stretches of fields and common folk.

However, upon arriving at Source City, even though it had the most pleasant climate of the four cities, desolation was evident everywhere.

In order to reach Source City quickly, Wen Yuesheng and his group intentionally took a small path through the green forest.

It was nearing spring, and many trees had sprouted new buds.

The grass was lush, and the sky was a clear blue.

For the border generals, who had been living in the harsh environment of Luo City, this fresh, relaxing atmosphere brought them much-needed relief.

But as they entered this small path, the surrounding area became noticeably quieter.

Lu Hongying, riding beside Wen Yuesheng, whispered, “This place really feels quiet.”

“We’ve walked all this way and haven’t seen a single small animal.”

She had hoped to catch a rabbit or some wild game, but after walking so far, not even a single strand of fur could be seen, let alone a rabbit.

Wen Yuesheng did not reply, but the few generals ahead suddenly stopped.

“What’s going on?” Lu Hongying asked, puzzled.

Liu Yi came back from the front, his expression grim. “The road ahead is blocked.”

He was not an inexperienced general; he had already sensed something was off due to the unusual quietness, but with the urgency of the situation, he had not paid much attention.

However, after walking this long, they had finally been blocked.

Liu Yi coldly said, “I’ve heard that Source City and its surroundings are often troubled by bandits.”

They had set out two hours earlier than the main army, and upon receiving information midway, they had changed to a shorter route.

Now, they were far from the main army.

Unexpectedly, because they hadn’t traveled with the army, they had been targeted by bandits from Source City.

Lu Hong Ying was taken aback and couldn’t help but glance at Wen Yuesheng.

In her lifetime, she never imagined she would see someone robbing the Princess.

… She really couldn’t tell whether they were courting death or just foolish.

Wen Yuesheng tightened the reins, and just as her horse came to a stop, dozens of people suddenly appeared ahead.

These bandits from Source City were all men.

The few leading them were robust in build, while those following them varied in height.

They were holding typical weapons like knives and guns.

Without saying much, their imposing presence already outshone the generals around Wen Yuesheng by a large margin.

It was unclear what they were thinking, but they had come to intercept Wen Yue Sheng’s group.

Lu Hongying furrowed her brow.

Her gaze shifted, landing on the leader of the group.

The man in front was slightly more robust than most Da Hui men, though he could never match someone like Zhang Yulin, a giant among men.

What surprised her even more was that this bandit had an unexpectedly handsome face.

He didn’t possess the elegant and refined features typical of Da Hui men, but his face was sharp and deep, giving him some of the characteristics of people from Hao Zhou.

However, his brows and eyes were distinctly Da Hui in appearance.

The combination of the two made for an unusually striking and handsome face.

But beneath that handsome face, his cold eyes stood out.

Lu Hongying only glanced at them a few times, and her heart sank.

Her family consisted of generals who had fought on the battlefield, so she was naturally familiar with such gazes.

This was a cold feeling born from years of being soaked in blood.

This bandit leader was likely not easy to deal with.

Before she could speak to warn the others, the cold gaze of the bandit leader had already fixed on Wen Yuesheng.

Wen Yuesheng and her group were extraordinary in both appearance and presence.

Normally, the bandit leader wouldn’t have dared to intercept people like them, but with the war starting in Yuan City, his men were injured, and the supplies in the village had been cut off.

For three days in a row, only Wen Yuesheng and her group had passed through.

Even knowing that these people were not easy to handle, Jiang Yan still ordered his men to block their way.

His second-in-command, standing beside him, looked at Wen Yue Sheng.

The second-in-command immediately raised his large blade and pointed it at Liu Yi, shouting loudly, “Leave the woman and the silver!”

“You all get lost, don’t make me say it again.”

Compared to Jiang Yan, this second-in-command was much more burly, and with the large blade in his hand, he did look intimidating.

Unfortunately, he was facing Liu Yi, a general from the border.

Liu Yi didn’t even want to speak to him. He simply unsheathed his sword from the side of his horse.

As soon as Liu Yi made a move, the surrounding bandits quickly gripped their weapons.

Jiang Yan shifted his gaze from the still seated Wen Yuesheng to the front, holding a large sword similar to the second-in-command’s.

As he swung his sword, many of the surrounding generals’ expressions changed.

They had initially thought they were dealing with a bunch of mountain bandits, a disorganized mob.

However, Jiang Yan’s strength far exceeded their expectations.

When Jiang Yan swung his large blade at one of the generals, he cut through the general’s blocking sword as if it was nothing.

The force of the blow was so strong that the general’s arm went numb, and he staggered back several steps.

Liu Yi’s face darkened, and he raised his hand to counterattack.

Another general next to him moved as well.

The general who joined Liu Yi in fighting Jiang Yan was one of the top warriors in the Knife Camp, a camp known for its exceptional martial skills.

With Liu Yi’s own martial prowess, the two of them together could easily deal with any lowly bandit, and even many of Hao Zhou’s generals might not be their match.

However, after they struck, things weren’t as easy as they had imagined.

Every move Jiang Yan made was vicious, each one a lethal blow.

His fighting style seemed to disregard his own life.

There was no defense, only continuous, aggressive offense.

Everyone who faced him was overwhelmed by his flashing sword, each blow aimed directly at their faces.

Jiang Yan’s expression remained cold. In nearly the same instant, he swung his sword horizontally and sliced through the swords of both Liu Yi and the other general.

His large blade cut through all obstacles and directly pressed against Liu Yi’s neck.

With his other hand, he completely ignored the throwing darts the Knife Camp general had shot at him.

The darts sank deep into his palm, tearing through the skin and causing blood to flow freely.

Yet, he seemed to feel no pain and completely ignored the darts.

He grabbed the Knife Camp general’s throat with one hand.

One dart had pierced his flesh, and the other was pressed against the general’s throat.

The generals fighting the bandits nearby all changed their expressions.

This bandit leader was holding the lives of two men in his hands, facing them alone!

“General!” someone called out.

Jiang Yan’s face changed drastically, “General?”

He tightened his grip on the Guard Camp general’s throat and spoke slowly, “Are you from the Great Hui, or from Hao Zhou?”

Before this, he had not planned to kill anyone.

However, just as he finished speaking, there was a loud crash.

Jiang Yan suddenly turned around and saw his second-in-command in the village, who was being kicked in the ribs by a thin woman in black attire.

“Ah!” The second-in-command screamed in pain, his voice shrill and piercing.

When his ribs broke, the cracking sound was so loud that everyone in the vicinity changed their expressions.

Jiang Yan’s face also darkened.

He was about to loosen his grip on the two men’s hands and move toward Wen Yuesheng, but just as he turned his head, a sword was already pressed against his neck.

Jiang Yan’s face changed drastically, and his large sword was immediately pulled away from Liu Yi’s neck.

He swung it towards his rear.

But before he could strike, the woman who had kicked his second-in-command’s ribs stepped forward and, with the same leg, kicked his knee, shattering his kneecap.

Crack!

The sound of his bones breaking sent a chill down the spines of those around them.

The excruciating pain made Jiang Yan’s scalp tingle, and his face turned pale in an instant.

But he had an exceptional tolerance for pain, and despite the situation, he did not scream out.

Even as one of his legs was pinned to the ground by Wen Yuesheng, he still attempted to swing his blade.

His attack was vicious, with no hesitation, aiming to strike Wen Yue Sheng as though he wanted to hack her to pieces.

“Princess, be careful!” Liu Yi shouted, his expression changing drastically.

He had been on the battlefield for years but had never seen such a reckless madman.

At his sharp cry, Wen Yue Sheng moved just once.

She immediately snapped Jiang Yan’s sword hand.

Bang!

The sword in Jiang Yan’s hand fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

Jiang Yan’s hand was forcibly broken by Wen Yuesheng.

This ferocious man, under Wen Yuesheng’s control, felt as fragile as a twig that could easily snap.

Even in such a vulnerable state, he still did not utter a sound, though beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

He still tried to attack, but this time, Wen Yuesheng didn’t even give him the chance.

In the chaotic green forest, she raised her foot and stomped on Jiang Yan’s already half-kneeling head, pressing it deep into the dirt.

Jiang Yan’s entire body was trapped in the mud, his neck jerking violently as if he could feel the intense pressure.

With just a small effort from Wen Yuesheng, his neck would snap.

In the overwhelming sense of suffocation, he couldn’t even speak.

He could only hear Wen Yuesheng’s cold, emotionless voice from behind:

“Still fighting? Defector from Hao Zhou?”