Ye Luan's expression was indifferent, and she remained silent.
The crowd was displeased. As the Empress of their Northern Qi, she was secretly stabbing them in the back and protecting the people of Great Liang.
Some generals' gazes were extremely displeased, and they drew their swords, surrounding her.
If they hadn't been unsure of His Majesty's attitude, they would have thrown this woman off the city walls and spilled her blood on the spot.
Xie Beihan watched her from across the crowd.
After a moment, he slowly walked closer, took her hand, and stood by the city wall.
"You worry about him so much; I'll kill him even more."
Ye Luan struggled, but his strength was too great, and she couldn't break free.
"Dare to move again, and I won't mind putting on a battlefield erotic show for him to admire."
His voice turned cold and deep, his handsome features tinged with sinister chill. His entire aura was like that of a demon from hell, instilling fear.
Ye Luan glanced at his piercingly cold eyes and said nothing more.
"King Dingbei, long time no see."
His voice, imbued with internal energy, instantly pierced through the entire battlefield, like cold light cleaving the sky, deafeningly loud.
Xiao Chizhan, mounted on his horse, his eyes a deep crimson, radiated a chilling killing intent.
"Not staying in Northern Qi to be your Emperor, but running to the Southern Border to seek death?"
Xie Beihan raised an eyebrow. "I'm here to see the King off."
"Such a big boast! I'd like to see whose life is being sent off!"
Their voices, mixed with internal energy, penetrated the earth. Their profound power made the ears of those around them ring, and some even bled from their seven orifices.
Ye Luan also felt a tightness in her chest and pain in her ears.
From afar, Xiao Chizhan sensed her discomfort and dared not use his internal energy any further.
However, Xie Beihan, as if not wanting to be outdone, transmitted internal energy to Ye Luan's waist with one hand, his words relentless, each sentence aimed at striking Xiao Chizhan's heart.
The sky was dark and overcast. A cold wind, mixed with an undeniable smell of blood, raged. The battle armor was soaked in blood, and the corpses seemed to wail in the air.
The voices of the two commanding generals confronting each other reverberated through the land.
"The day I officially ascend the throne will be the day I establish my Empress. I hope King Dingbei will grace us with his presence."
Xiao Chizhan's eyes turned scarlet, his crimson pupils flashing with ferocity.
"Rest assured, I will send Northern Qi a great gift."
With that, he gave a look behind him. Li Qiongyu understood and spoke to the generals behind him.
"Attack the city!"
As the order was given, the general immediately raised his saber and spear, shouting loudly, "Kill—"
Instantly, over a hundred thousand soldiers, a dark mass, surged past the foremost war chariots and advanced towards the city. Shouts, battle cries, and the clang of weapons resounded through the heavens and earth.
Xie Beihan's eyes were cold as he directly gave the order.
"Open the city gates!"
The city gates opened wide, and the Southern Border soldiers rushed out like a surging tide.
As the two armies met, the war drums pounded, and the entire earth seemed to tremble.
On the city walls, stones rained down like a tempest. Archers stood in formation, unleashing a volley of arrows.
Under the dusky sky, the arrow rain flew wildly through the air, leaving long trails in their wake, piercing through the soldiers' armor.
The Great Liang army immediately raised their shields to block. Amidst the earth-shattering roar, thunderous sounds made one's scalp tingle.
Ye Luan watched the battle unfolding below the city tower, her hands gripping the city wall bricks, turning slightly pale.
Her gaze was fixed on the figure within the Liang army, not blinking.
"Are all these people from the Southern Border to be abandoned?"
Chi Yan walked to Xie Beihan's other side and asked.
Xie Beihan watched the battle with amusement and said, "Those who should have retreated have already done so. Let him have this Dragon City."
Hearing his words, Chi Yan felt a surge of displeasure.
Xie Beihan was too cunning and malicious. When they attacked Hong City, they had made the Mo Bei troops lead the charge, resulting in tens of thousands of Mo Bei soldiers being ambushed and buried alive by that madman.
Now, the Southern Border army was charging forward for him, yet he intended to abandon them.
If this scheme could kill Xiao Chizhan, it would be well and good. If not, wouldn't it all be in vain, and their deaths meaningless?
"Does Your Majesty believe that Xiao Chizhan will attack the Holy Pagoda after occupying Dragon City?"
Xie Beihan chuckled and simply responded with an "Mm," offering no further explanation.
Chi Yan, unsure of what he was truly thinking, furrowed his brows slightly, hoping the plan would not go awry this time.
As she pondered, her gaze suddenly shifted to Ye Luan, who stood silently beside them.
Xie Beihan keeping this woman by his side was truly dangerous.
Ye Luan sensed her gaze. Although her eyes were fixed on the battle below, she vaguely heard their conversation.
This further solidified her suspicions; they must be plotting something.
Holy Pagoda?
What did they want Xiao Chizhan to do at the Holy Pagoda?
Ye Luan slightly pursed her lips. Xiao Chizhan, with his extensive battlefield experience and profound cunning, likely wouldn't be unaware.
"What? Worried about him?"
Xie Beihan glanced at her sideways. He was smiling, yet his eyes held no warmth.
Ye Luan withdrew her gaze and said indifferently, "I am worried Your Majesty might die from a hail of arrows."
"On what grounds?"
Ye Luan remained silent.
Xie Beihan sneered and directly seized her waist, pulling her into his embrace. He looked provocatively at Xiao Chizhan, who was behind the army.
"Hiss."
Ye Luan turned her head and twisted his hand, pressing it down.
Although their movements were subtle, Xiao Chizhan, who had been watching them, surely noticed.
His expression instantly darkened, and the killing intent in his eyes became even more terrifying.
Li Qiongyu clicked his tongue. "He's provoking you on purpose."
"—"
"Diantai Ye is entering the Southern Border alone. It might be difficult for him to find a hiding place. Perhaps, with Ye Luan by Xie Beihan's side, she might actually find that little lamb."
Xiao Chizhan's face was grim. "Useless. During the wedding, the bride was abducted."
"Hahaha----" Li Qiongyu laughed heartily. "You're worried about your little fox."
"However, these Southern Border people's control over poisonous insects is truly vexing. Back then, when Tantai Ye and I ventured deep into the Southern Border, we suffered quite a bit because of these damned bugs."
Xiao Chizhan had no interest in his rambling. A thought of regret arose in his heart; he shouldn't have let her go back then and should have forcefully taken her away, which wouldn't have led to this situation.
If he didn't kill Xie Beihan, he couldn't quell the hatred in his heart!
On the city wall, Ye Luan was captured by Xie Beihan with a single move.
She angrily said, "Don't force me to slap you."
With a "puchi" sound, Chi Yan, standing beside them, couldn't help but let out a laugh.
Xie Beihan had never been slapped before; she really wanted to see it.
Xie Beihan cast a displeased glance at the audacious Chi Yan but did not release Ye Luan.
"Go ahead and hit me. I like it."
Damn it.
So cheeky.
Ye Luan glared at him in anger, scratching his palm hard. Blood immediately flowed from the cracked wounds.
Xie Beihan, however, remained expressionless.
After a moment, he glanced at the fiercely attacking Liang army and said to Chi Yan, "Tomorrow night, let the army enter the city."
"I'm afraid they won't wait until tomorrow night; they'll take the city tonight."
Xie Beihan said coldly, "We must drag it out until tomorrow night."
Chi Yan, "----"
Lightning flashed across the sky. On the battlefield, there was blood and corpses everywhere. The Liang army's attack was fierce, and the Southern Border troops could not match them, retreating towards the city gates in a panic.
Xie Beihan looked at the chaos on the battlefield, his gaze falling on Xiao Chizhan behind the army. His voice, amplified by internal energy, reverberated through the sky.
"Today is my wedding night, so I won't play with you anymore, King."