Standing atop the high ridge, Ding Mujie’s emotions surged wildly. The pitfall traps, barricade poles, long-handled war scythes, signal flags— every strategy and tactic had been devised by him. He should have felt confident and assured. Yet, seeing his plans come to fruition could not compare to the thrill of watching Lin Dan charge through the enemy ranks, unstoppable.

He stared unblinkingly at her invincible figure, his heart pounding fiercely, and blood boiling in his veins. Those who hadn’t lived through his past life could never understand how he felt at this moment. It was because of today’s battle that the Great Wei Dynasty would be utterly defeated by the Xiongnu, plunging into chaos and fragmentation from that point onward.

Later, he assisted the Ninth Prince in ascending the throne. Though he held immense power and influence, he could not change the increasingly dire state of the Great Wei Dynasty. Every year, they had to pay a hefty tribute to the Xiongnu and send princesses for marriage alliances. The people at the border lived under constant threat of slaughter by the Xiongnu, yet they dared not resist.

The once-glorious Great Wei, revered by many nations, had become a struggling, cornered beast, bound to be strangled by the Xiongnu one day. When Ding Mujie died, the Great Wei Dynasty was still barely holding on, not yet destroyed. But he had long foreseen that end, leaving him restless even in death. Reborn, aside from marrying Lin Wan and saving the Lin family, he had another, far grander ambition, although it was more difficult to realize. He wanted to restore Great Wei’s might and rescue the people from their suffering.

Yet, he also knew, even with the knowledge of two lifetimes and foreseeing many opportunities, that this dream might remain just that— a dream, despite a lifetime of effort. In his past life, he had exhausted his body and mind, managing only to bring the Great Wei Dynasty a decade or so of peace. In this life, he would need to work even harder to turn the tide. But what he never anticipated was that with this one battle, with this one person, a dawn he could have only dreamed of had begun to blossom on the war-torn frontier.

Watching the Xiongnu cavalry flee in defeat and the Great Wei forces surging forward with unstoppable momentum, Ding Mujie’s eyes filled with hot tears, his emotions in turmoil. He mounted his horse, and for the first time, the youthful vigor shone on his face as he shouted, “Let’s go! We’ll head back to welcome our triumphant comrades!”

“Yes!” The soldiers who had watched the battle with him were just as overjoyed.

They hurried back to camp, arriving just in time to meet the heroes returning on horseback. Their clothes were still soaked in blood, their faces weary, but their eyes gleamed brighter than ever.

“Lin Dan, thank you!” Ding Mujie, unable to contain his excitement, dismounted and rushed towards her, pulling her tightly into his arms and patting her back forcefully. His eyes were bloodshot, desperate to weep aloud, but he stubbornly held back. This victory completely changed the fate of the Great Wei Dynasty. It wasn’t just him who owed Lin Dan gratitude, all the people of the land owed her thanks.

At this moment, she had no idea what kind of miracle she had performed or how she had pulled countless people back from the brink of despair. If…… if in his past life, he hadn’t stood in her way, everything might have turned out differently.

Every time Ding Mujie had that thought, his heart would twist in pain and his eyes would sting.

Before he could fully express his emotions, a large hand pulled him away. Li Xian teased, “Master Strategist, how about giving me a victory hug as well? Without your tactics, we wouldn’t have won so easily today. You deserve the highest credit, and I will petition my imperial father to reward you accordingly when we return.”

Ding Mujie quickly embraced the other party, giving his shoulder a hearty slap, like brothers-in-arms.

Most soldiers in the army were bold and straightforward. It was common to embrace and pat each other on the back. Moreover, Lin Dan, with her formidable martial arts skills and imposing presence, was no longer seen as a woman by the others. Thus, no one found it strange for her to hug men. Everyone was immersed in the joy of victory, eager for a grand celebration.

This battle had finally dampened some of the Xiongnu’s arrogance and they wouldn’t dare provoke the Great Wei Kingdom again anytime soon. Moreover, the Lin family’s army learned how to fight the Xiongnu through this battle. With enhanced training and upgraded equipment in the future, and with General Lin guarding the frontier, they would eventually form a cavalry even stronger than the Xiongnu’s. At that time, their victories would not rely on clever strategies but on true strength. They would utterly defeat the Xiongnu!

Victory, especially such an overwhelming one, had instilled in these soldiers a powerful fighting spirit and confidence. In the past, the mere sound of the Xiongnu cavalry’s horns would make the Great Wei forces tremble in fear. But now, they had come to love battle and longed for it.

Of course, this shift in attitude was only present in the Western Army, led by Lin Dan. Other armies still struggled under the shadow of the Xiongnu cavalry. However, Ding Mujie believed that with time, the Great Wei Dynasty would grow stronger. With the Western Army defending the borders, the people would finally enjoy peace.

However, he had underestimated the selfishness and stupidity of the Great Wei Dynasty’s politicians. Before the Western Army could fully consolidate the fruits of this victory and drive out the remaining Xiongnu forces, the Crown Prince, Prince Kang, and the Ninth Prince in the capital were already scrambling to grab the fruits of other people’s labor.

Barely two months after the victory banquet, while Lin Dan was still busy on the grasslands, crushing the remaining Xiongnu forces and plundering more riches, an imperial decree arrived at the military camp. It stated that, as a woman, Lin Dan was not permitted to serve in the military and ordered her to immediately relinquish her position as general and return to the capital to face charges. The decree also emphasized that she must explain her actions in killing her father.

Despite her great contributions, she received no praise but only reprimands. It was only in the final lines of the decree that there was a slight attempt at appeasement, mentioning that, given the Lin family’s history of loyalty, she would not be overly punished and should return without worry. Meanwhile, Prince Zhuang, the emperor’s son, was lavishly praised, though he was not permitted to remain as the commander-in-chief. Instead, some of the imperial guards had been dispatched to pick him up and bring him back to the capital. Prince Kang, who was tasked with issuing the imperial decree, was to replace Prince Zhuang and take over command.

Thus, Lin Dan’s hard-earned victory was wiped away, leaving the credit for those idle in the capital to enjoy……

Li Xian hadn’t even finished listening to the imperial edict before a wave of anger surged inside him. Just as he was about to rise and argue with Prince Kang, Lin Dan stretched out a hand to firmly press his shoulder, silently signaling him to stay calm.

Li Xian immediately calmed down, though unwillingly, and accepted the edict. Ding Mujie and the other soldiers suppressed their emotions as well, avoiding any confrontation with Prince Kang.

This time, Prince Kang brought his trusted generals to replace Prince Zhuang’s people. Lin Dan’s achievements were too great and her influence had grown too high. In just five or six months, she had completely unified the Western Army and established a legendary reputation for the Great Wei on the battlefield. Her charisma was unmatched, making her a true heroine in the hearts of the people, like a character out of folklore. At the borders, the people only knew Lin Dan and not the emperor. Upon hearing she was passing by, they would bow from miles away. In the army, the soldiers only knew Lin Dan and not the emperor. An imperial edict could not compare to a single command from her. Such rumors had gradually made their way back to the capital, stinging the emperor’s ears. Naturally, he would not allow Lin Dan to remain at the borders any longer.

In short, to steal her glory, Prince Kang and the others spared no effort in slandering Lin Dan to bring her down and replace her with their own people. In addition to taking over the Western Army, Prince Kang’s other mission was to negotiate with the Xiongnu, signing a peace treaty to end decades of war. This would be a historic political achievement and a stepping stone in his fight for the position of crown prince. Eager to secure this success and afraid that Prince Zhuang would take the credit, Prince Kang pushed them to depart that very night.

That evening, Li Xian and Ding Mujie had a private discussion in the tent for half an hour before deciding to leave.

Lin Dan had already mounted her horse, sitting quietly and waiting for them. Behind her was Lin Qing with reddened eyes and several black coffins. This time, they were taking the bodies of the Lin family members who had died for their country back home for a proper burial.

“Don’t you feel unwilling at all?” Li Xian rode up close to Lin Dan and asked in a low voice.

“Compared to unwillingness or resentment, taking my fallen family members home for burial is far more important to me.” Lin Dan replied crisply as she urged her horse forward. “Let’s go!”

“Let’s go!” Lin Qing waved to the soldiers who had come to see them off and followed closely behind his sister.

Watching Lin Dan’s graceful figure, Li Xian stood in silence for a long time. Ding Mujie sighed, saying, “Lin Dan knows in her heart how to balance emotions with reason and family with power. She’s clear about what matters most.”

Li Xian suddenly chuckled softly, speaking in an almost tender tone, “How can ordinary people like us compare to her? Hurry, let’s catch up. If we delay, the fairy might leave us behind!”

Though Li Xian seemed to joke, he didn’t slow down at all as he rode to catch up. Ding Mujie hurried after him, his eyes dimming as he watched Lin Dan’s slender but upright figure. He knew that Li Xian wasn’t really joking. In his heart, and even in Ding Mujie’s own heart, Lin Dan was an extraordinary existence. Brave and fearless, yet deeply loyal and compassionate. How much they longed to be close to her and gain her favor, perhaps only the heavens and the two of them knew.

But Lin Dan remained oblivious to their subtle approaches and hidden affections. She had always been able to distinguish between what was urgent and what wasn’t. The battle was over and Old Madam Lin was still waiting for her to bring the family back so everyone could reunite. Naturally, she wouldn’t delay. As for those schemes and power struggles, what does it have to do with her?

Lin Dan was fully focused on the journey ahead, but she hadn’t anticipated an ambush of assassins along the way. Their primary target was Prince Zhuang, Li Xian, and she was the secondary target. As a fellow soldier, Lin Dan couldn’t stand idly by and watch as Prince Zhuang was harmed. Of course, she stepped in to protect him.

Compared to battlefield combat, she seemed even more skilled in close-quarter fighting. The moment she raised her large blade, she was overtaken by a killing intent that was hard to control. To give herself a more satisfying fight, she pointed at the suspension bridge behind them and said, “You go ahead first, I’ll cover the rear!”

Li Xian and the others, fully aware of her capabilities, quickly crossed the bridge to avoid holding her back. Lin Dan remained at the bridgehead, preventing the assassins from advancing even an inch. Her eyes burned red with fury, striking fear into the hearts of the assassins. In a desperate attempt to complete their mission, they turned their attention to the coffins guarded by Lin Qing. Seeing one of the coffins’ ropes severed and about to fall into the ravine, Lin Dan quickly reached out to grab it. But although she managed to save the coffin, she herself fell down.

In that critical moment, she shouted, “Don’t worry about me! Cut the bridge ropes once you’re across and head back to the capital!” With that, she plunged into the raging river, disappearing from sight.

Lin Qing dared not disobey his sister’s orders. Though his heart was filled with rage and his eyes brimming with tears, he gritted his teeth, transported the coffins, and severed the bridge ropes before leaving. The assassins circled the deep ravine, realizing they could not cross. Frustrated, they gave up. But although they hadn’t killed Li Xian, the fact that they had eliminated Lin Dan was enough to consider their mission accomplished.