Chapter 380: and translation of chapter title

Xiao Ningxun hastily spoke: "Father! The two armies face off; grain and fodder must be heavily guarded! You absolutely must not personally risk danger! Moreover, Tuan Tuan hasn't awakened yet! If..."

"It's precisely because she hasn't awakened!"

Xiao Yuanhang interrupted his son.

He lifted his head, his gaze slowly sweeping over everyone in the tent.

"You all have held her, and have gone through life and death with her."

"Now she lies there!" Xiao Yuanhang pointed back at the cot, "My daughter lies there! I don't know when she will wake."

He spat out word by word: "Someone thinks that after hurting her, they can still get away unscathed."

He suddenly laughed.

That smile only twitched the corners of his mouth, with no pleasure at all, making people feel a chill down their spines.

"I will make them know: whoever moves against my daughter, I will burn their grain and fodder to ashes, fell their warhorses, and scatter their morale!"

Xiao Yuanhang donned armor, fastened his side sword; the scabbard struck the armor, emitting a sharp "clang" of metal on metal.

Xiao Ran clenched his fists, Xiao Er's eyes blazed with fire, Lu Qi licked his dry lips.

Xiao Ningxun opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing, just nodded.

Xiao Ran took a deep breath: "Rest assured, I will guard Tuan Tuan without leaving his side."

"Thank you, Your Highness. Xiao Er, Xun Er!"

"Here!"

"You two follow me! Xun Er and I will be the vanguard; Xiao Er, lead the men with ample fire powder and fire oil, burn whatever you see, especially the grain and fodder and the horse stables!"

"Yes!"

"Lu Qi."

"Here!"

"You lead a light cavalry unit to provide support, shooting from the outskirts to intercept and kill enemy reinforcements; if you cannot stop them, raise smoke as a signal."

"As you command!"

At this moment, Prince Ning was no longer the father who stood immovably by his daughter's bedside; he was the iron wall of Lie Kingdom's northern border, the war god who once drove back the hundred thousand iron cavalry of Da Xia.

Outside the tent, the night was deep.

At the same time, in Jingcheng, the Guoshi Residence.

By the window, Meiwei and Jiayao tilted their heads, watching Chu Yuan unfold those two slips of paper.

In the candlelight, on his usually calm-as-water face, a crack appeared for the first time.

He sprang up, his robe sleeves overturned the teacup on the table, the sound of shattering porcelain echoing throughout the room.

"Someone come!"

"Disciple is here!"

"Tomorrow I will enter the palace to report to His Majesty that the Immortal Envoy is in trouble; this poor Daoist must personally go to the border."

"Yes!"

Chu Yuan lifted his gaze to the northern horizon; the astral omens were dim, with a faint bloody glow.

He murmured softly: "Wait for me, Tuan Tuan."

"Prepare the horses!"

The hour of zi approaches.

Xiao Yuanhang walked to the bedside, gazing at Tuan Tuan's sleeping little face, his eyes gentle as water.

"Be good, sleep well; Father will go and return shortly."

Having said that, he turned and left.

Outside the tent, three hundred black-armored elites had already gathered.

Men and horses held bits in their mouths, hooves wrapped in thick cloth, blades smeared with charcoal, like a group of phantoms emerging from the night.

Zhang Wu'an, Fang Qing, Li Lao San… those uncles of Tuan Tuan were all boiling with blood, awaiting his order to set out.

These past few days, they too have been anxious as fire, holding their breath, wishing they could charge into Da Xia's camp and have a good fight.

Xiao Yuanhang swung onto his horse, finally casting one last glance at his grand tent.

There lay his soft spot, and that soft spot had been wounded by Da Xia!

"Go!" The three hundred riders, like a dark tide, silently streamed out of the main camp, merging into the deep night.

Xiao Ran rubbed Tuan Tuan's little head, whispering: "Little squirt, your dad went to vent his anger for you; wake up quickly, so you can see the excitement."

After half the zi hour had passed, Da Xia's grain and fodder camp.

Vast rows of tents lay like black beasts crouching in the night, sporadic torches flickering around.

The night‑watch soldiers clung to their spears, leaning on the wooden rail, their eyelids heavy as if about to fall.

For several consecutive days there had been no fighting, the taut nerves had already relaxed; moreover, this was a grain and fodder camp heavily guarded.

All around was a death‑like stillness.

"Boom!"

When the first explosion blasted the hayfield at the Xibei corner of the camp, countless soldiers were still dreaming.

Several haystacks burst in the roar, dry grass mixed with sparks shooting skyward, scattering everywhere, igniting more spots; in an instant the camp was engulfed in a sea of fire!

"Enemy attack——!"

"Enemy forces surprise attack——!"

The alarm bell clanged wildly, tents were violently flung open, half‑awake soldiers rushed out bare‑armed, only to see flames shooting up from all directions!

"Where did this fire come from?"

"Someone has sneaked in! How many?"

I don't know! Ah—!

A stray Arrow shot from somewhere, piercing his throat.

The crowd instantly erupted, scattering like headless flies, while the officers' shouts were drowned out by the growing roar of explosions.

The grain storages, haystacks, and even the dry grass piles beside the stables burst into flames!

Fire fed by the wind, wind aiding the fire, instantly the whole Main Camp fell into chaos.

Thick smoke billowed, heat waves hit the face, scorching so people couldn't open their eyes.

The three hundred Black Armor scattered, moving like ghosts through the Main Camp and then quickly withdrew to the side.

Xiao Yuanhang stood on horseback, coldly gazing at the Main Camp collapsing in the flames.

Blood-curdling screams shook the heavens, warhorses fled in all directions.

Burn.

The more vigorously it burns, the better.

Xiao Ningxun rode his horse close, lowered his voice: "Father, the fire has started, we should withdraw."

Xiao Yuanhang did not answer.

His gaze fixed on a large tent obviously twice as wide as the others, several figures quickly emerging.

One tall figure, countless soldiers guarding him at the center.

Xiao Ningxun followed his father's gaze, his pupils suddenly constricting.

"That is—" he caught his breath, hardly believing his eyes, "the Emperor of Da Xia, Gongsun Chi?"

How could he be here? Though the grain and forage Main Camp is important, there's no need for the emperor to personally station.

The ice in Xiao Yuanhang's eyes suddenly shattered.

He reached up and took down the jet-black iron-spined bow hanging beside the saddle.

He drew the bow and nocked an Arrow.

When the bowstring was pulled to a full moon, it emitted a faint 'squeak'.

The first Arrow left the string, tearing through the night sky, piercing the throat of a guard beside Gongsun Chi on his left.

He didn't even utter a groan before collapsing face up.

Xiao Yuanhang's expression unchanged, the second Arrow already left the string.

It nailed into the brow of the man on his right.

Only then did the startled cries erupt: "Guard the emperor—!"

But the third Arrow had already arrived, aiming straight at Gongsun Chi's face!

In a flash, Gongsun Chi jerked his head sideways; the arrowhead grazed his left cheekbone, pulling a string of warm blood beads.

Gongsun Chi slowly raised his hand, touching his cheek.

His fingertip felt a scorching gash, sticky fresh blood welling out, dyeing half his palm red.

He stared at the glaring crimson in his palm, then lifted his gaze toward the Arrow's origin.

Xiao Yuanhang? You actually dare!

Gongsun Chi, shocked and angry, was momentarily speechless as more people quickly gathered around, shielding him once again at the center.

Withdraw.

Xiao Yuanhang lowered his bow and turned; of the three hundred Black Armor, only a few lightly wounded, they swiftly retreated into the night, vanishing in an instant.

Gongsun Chi retreated to the safety of the large tent; a physician stepped forward to treat his wound, but he brushed him away.

The wound on his face burned with pain, but what he could not endure more was the humiliation he suffered today!

A mighty emperor's dignity, yet in his own Main Camp he was struck by an Arrow and disfigured!

Wu Luo lifted the curtain and entered, his clothes disheveled, face blackened with soot, clearly also awakened from sleep by the fire: "Your Majesty!"

Gongsun Chi raised his hand to stop him.

He had returned to his usual demeanor: "Issue the order—anyone who leaks even a word of tonight's events shall be executed."

Yes!

He stared at the crimson in his palm: "Xiao Yuanhang, this Arrow, I have noted it."

In the Main Camp of the Lie State, inside the central commander's tent.

Xiao Ran saw them return safely, and only then did his heart settle.

But hearing that Xiao Yuanhang had actually wounded Gongsun Chi's face, he began to worry again.

Will the Emperor of Da Xia use this as a pretext to launch a nationwide invasion?

Xiao Ningxun wiped the dust from his face: "Don't worry, he won't."

An emperor personally leading a campaign yet being struck in the face by an Arrow is a tremendous disgrace; he will only suppress it, forbidding any spread.

Oh! That makes sense.

Father, Gongsun Chi actually personally led the campaign? This is no small matter; should we report to His Majesty?

Even if the Emperor himself arrives, what of it? Dare to harm my daughter, then don't blame me for assassinating the king and killing the emperor.

Xiao Yuanhang seemed not to hear, softly walking to the bedside, bending to gaze at the still-sleeping Tuan Tuan.

The firelight and blood faded from his eyes, leaving only deep pain and tenderness.

"This Arrow," he reached out and gently touched his daughter's small cheek, "is the first debt Father collects for you."