Chapter 16 Then there were 6

[Chief Huo Lian]

"He left?!" The words tasted bitter on my tongue as I spat them out, disbelief hanging heavy in the air.

I was sitting at the breakfast table with Li Na, enjoying a cup of hot tea. The fragrant steam curled up from the cup, mingling with the morning air, the scent of jasmine soothing my nerves. The world outside seemed serene, the sunlight filtering through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the wooden floor. Suddenly, an officer approached, his expression grave as he handed me a report. The crisp paper felt cold in my hands, a stark contrast to the warmth of the tea.

Opening it, I read that the army of 48,000 – the same force from which we had killed 2,000 soldiers two nights ago – had retreated in the middle of the night. I looked up, my eyes searching the faces of my officers for answers. They mirrored my confusion.

"Commander, apparently General Zheng was heavily wounded last night," one of them ventured, the uncertainty in his voice palpable.

"Huh?" The word slipped out before I could stop it. My mind raced. We attacked two nights ago. Timing was crucial to keep our ambushes unpredictable. Attacking nightly would only make us predictable and vulnerable to counter-attacks. My strategy was to keep the enemy sleepless, on edge, and then strike when they least expected it. But this – an attack I hadn’t ordered – left me perplexed. I glanced around the room, my eyes asking, "Was it one of you?"

One officer laughed nervously. "Commander, if we could take credit for fighting a core formation stage cultivator, we'd be beaten to death by our colleagues."

The room filled with chuckles, and I nodded, the corners of my mouth lifting slightly. But who had intervened? A secret protector within our kingdom? My thoughts drifted to the old man who had healed me when I was a child. Could it be him? No, he was more of a hermit, acting on whims.

"Do we know where he was attacked?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

The officers shook their heads. "All we know for sure, Commander, is that it happened close by."

"Hmm," I mused. "Somewhere close by."

At that moment, I heard the ragged breathing of a soldier. "Commander, urgent message!" he gasped, staggering into the room.

I saw an unfamiliar face, drenched in sweat, his uniform soaked. "Commander, you are summoned at the palace. It's urgent."

I nodded, a sense of foreboding settling in my chest. "Probably regarding the departure of the enemy’s main army," I thought aloud. A smile tugged at my lips. If the main army was gone, we had won the war. I had hoped to distinguish myself further, but at least my men were safe. I owed thanks to the mysterious benefactor who had attacked General Zheng.

Turning to Li Na, I said, "You are in charge. Watch the men and discipline them as you see fit. If they question you, tell them your word is my word."

I noticed the officers swallowing nervously. Li Na laughed, nodding. "As the lord orders."

I moved with a light step, my hands clasped behind my back. The air outside seemed sweeter, the tension of imminent danger lifted. The thought that my people no longer had to fear for their lives every second was a relief.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Arriving at the palace, I was greeted by one of the Chiefs. His name was Chief Yi Lao, his face alight with joy. "Congratulations, Commander! You ended this war perfectly."

I raised my hand. "We had outside help. I was about to inform His Highness."

Chief Yi Lao nodded. "Follow me. His Highness is with the council. They’re reviewing construction projects to enhance security."

"Good idea," I remarked, following him through the palace grounds. Yet, something about the situation felt off. I eyed the chief, noting his strength. He was only slightly stronger than the old perv I had once killed. This was what happened when one abused power instead of training – others surpass you.

True to his word, the entire council, including Huo Long, awaited us at a table overlooking a majestic waterfall cascading down an enormous cliff. The scene was breathtaking, the mist from the waterfall cooling the air, a reminder of the beauty we were fighting to protect.

I approached the assembly with confidence. "Your Majesty, the enemy forces have fled. The war has been won."

But it was not Huo Long who answered me. A man seated on Huo Long’s right spoke for the first time, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. He held a position second only to Huo Long himself, his silence in previous meetings now shattered. His sudden speech sent a shiver down my spine, leaving me to wonder why he had remained silent until now and why his voice sounded so fraught with emotion.

His frustrated look and the sight of his bleeding hand, a deep gash oozing crimson from wrist to forefinger, set off warning bells in my mind. His laughter rang out, chilling in its callousness. "That useless general couldn't handle one little girl," he jeered, his tone dripping with contempt.

My guard rose, instincts screaming at me to be ready for anything. Glancing at Huo Long, I expected to find him reacting, but he remained unmoved. Wait.

My gaze locked onto him, my heart pounding in my chest. Three seconds passed, each one stretching into eternity. He wasn't breathing.

A chorus of laughter erupted from the other five members, echoing through the air like a sinister symphony. The second Chief, Zhang Wei, spoke again, his words like daggers aimed at my heart. "Yes, Huo Lian, your father is dead, and we killed him," he declared, displaying his wound as if it were a trophy. "Even though he was poisoned for so long, he was still a pain in the ass to kill."

I unsheathed my sword, the steel glinting in the sunlight as I aimed it at him. But as I assessed his strength, a sinking feeling settled in my stomach. He stood before me like a mountain, his presence overwhelming. I couldn't gauge his strength; it was beyond my comprehension.

He and the other traitors rose from their seats, a united front against me. His words cut through the air like a whip, taunting and cruel. "Now it's time to unite father and daughter," he sneered.

With that, they attacked, their movements synchronized and relentless. I braced myself, every muscle tensed for the battle that was about to unfold.

The six council members surged toward me, their movements a deadly dance of treachery and power. I gripped my sword tightly, every sense heightened, the roar of the waterfall below me blending with the rush of blood in my ears.

The first strike came from Zhang Wei. His blade sliced through the air with lethal precision. I parried, the force of the blow reverberating up my arm. I countered with a swift thrust, aiming for his exposed side, but he dodged effortlessly, a cruel smile twisting his lips.

Before I could recover, another council member, Chief Lin Yao, lunged at me, his weapon arcing toward my head. I ducked, rolling to the side, and came up swinging. My blade found purchase, slashing across his thigh. He cried out in pain, staggering back, but there was no time to savor the small victory.

The others closed in, their attacks coming from all directions. I moved on instinct, blocking and dodging, my sword a blur of steel. Despite my skill, their combined strength was overwhelming. Each clash of blades sapped my energy, each narrow escape leaving me more breathless.

"Is this the best you can do?" Zhang Wei taunted, his eyes gleaming with malice.

I ignored him, focusing on the fight. I spun, bringing my sword down in a powerful arc aimed at his shoulder. He deflected it with a swift upward strike, the force of the impact nearly knocking my weapon from my grasp.

Another council member, Chief Wu Xian, seized the opportunity, his sword cutting a shallow gash across my back. I gasped, pain flaring through my body. Desperation fueled my movements, but my strikes were growing slower, my defenses weaker.

One of them, Chief Han Bo, caught my wrist, twisting it cruelly. My sword fell from my grasp, clattering to the ground. A powerful kick to my midsection sent me sprawling, the breath knocked from my lungs. I tried to rise, but a boot pressed down on my chest, pinning me in place.

Zhang Wei loomed over me, his blade glinting in the sunlight. "Your father always resented you, Huo Lian," he spat, pressing the tip of his sword against my throat. With a sudden surge of strength, I shoved his foot away and rolled to the side, scrambling to my feet. But it was too late. The others were on me in an instant, their combined weight driving me back.

I felt the edge of the cliff beneath my heels, the abyss yawning behind me. The roar of the waterfall filled my ears, drowning out all other sounds. I glanced back, the sheer drop dizzying. There was no escape.

Zhang Wei advanced, his eyes cold and triumphant. "Goodbye, Huo Lian."

With a final, desperate effort, I lunged at him. But he sidestepped easily, his hand lashing out to shove me backward. My balance teetered, arms flailing as I fought to stay upright. For a heartbeat, I hung suspended on the brink, then gravity...