Chapter 113: Capture

"From the direction of San Shui Kou, Yan Ji cannot block the Young Marshal; she'll arrive at Bai Ma Tan immediately," Township Hong reported.

Li Bucai calmly asked, "Is there any news beyond the pass?"

"Just reported, everyone is already in position."

Li Bucai cannot in any case let the Young Marshal cross the pass on her own; if he fails to restrain her at first, first, after all she is the most favored princess of Sky City, for her safety we cannot let her run amok; second, tomorrow we set out on the campaign, and if we encounter any danger, letting her act recklessly could cause huge trouble. This is in Huachi, not in Sky City; in Sky City she can come and go as she wishes, but here she must be restrained.

"Come, follow me to the pass and have a look."

……

The Bai Ma Tan garrison is located at the midpoint between Bai Ma Du and San Shui Kou. To the west of the garrison lies the Wolong Shan Pass, a mountain range over a thousand meters high. Here there is a low valley where the forest is sparse and the slope gentle, a very convenient route to the western Territory. When we previously chased the hornless ox, a small path was already made here, running straight from the Bai Ma Tan garrison through the pass. The entire pass has only a stand of fir trees at the summit that remains relatively dense; the path weaves through that forest.

The Young Marshal led 300 cavalry. When they encountered Yan Ji's blockade while passing the San Shui Kou water village, after passing the Bai Ma Tan garrison, no one blocked the road any longer. From there they turned west, admiring the scenery while heading toward the pass.

Jing Yi and Jian Yu stayed by the Young Marshal's side the whole time.

Jing Yi said angrily, "Li Bucai has such nerve, daring to send non‑human people to block the Young Marshal. If it weren't for the Young Marshal's face, he would have given them a good lesson."

Jian Yu replied, "That said, Li Bucai is also afraid something will happen to the Young Marshal in his Territory, as if he were just reporting to His Majesty. Yet he underestimates our Young Marshal; a mere pass, Li Bucai can cross and return unscathed, so how could the Young Marshal be any less than him."

Jian Yu continued, "The Young Marshal is here to settle scores with Li Bucai. Though we claim to be training troops, if we cross the pass ourselves, aren't we just clearing the obstacles for Li Bucai nearby?"

The Young Marshal sat proudly on her horse, heard this and snorted, "Clear obstacles for him? I won't be so cheap to him. Rest assured, he'll send men to tail me tomorrow. After we pass the pass, we'll take a proper rest, and tomorrow I'll launch a mid‑way ambush; he will have to kneel and beg for mercy." Her three knights under her are Sky City's most elite, thinking that handling a Li Bucai is not hard.

……

In the fir forest, Li Bucai rode his Qingwolf Mount down from the neighboring summit to the pass, where Wu Zhuoyue was waiting for him.

"Everything set up?"

Wu Zhuoyue nodded, "All set. They'll arrive here soon; once they cross the pass, we must capture her."

"Very good."

Wu Zhuoyue worried, "But... she is the princess of Sky City; would this be improper?"

Li Bucai resolutely looked at the entrance and said, "If it were someone else, we wouldn't need such trouble; it's a princess. If we don't restrain her today, her servants will use her authority to look down on you. This is our land; no one can yell at us here. The country has its laws, the family its rules, Huachi has its own regulations; everyone must follow them, otherwise they'll be treated like commoners. No need to worry so much; just follow the plan, and I'll bear any fallout alone."

The people, relying on the Young Marshal's authority and being elite of Sky City, speak to the locals with great arrogance; many matters here depend on Sky City, and many are too afraid to speak up.

It turned out the Lord had already taken notice and was willing to avenge them; Wu Zhuoyue said gladly, "Lord, rest assured, they won't get even a half step beyond."

At this moment, a servant reported, "Lord, Lord Yue Er, they have arrived."

Li Bucai nodded and said to Wu Zhuoyue, "I'll leave that part to you; I'll go meet her first."

Having spoken, he went down the path, and not far after exiting the forest, the Young Marshal's troops were already in front of him.

Li Bucai stood across the road, blocking their way, and asked from afar, "Young Marshal, where are you headed?"

The Young Marshal, seeing Li Bucai emerge midway, had already expected him here, reined in her horse, looked at him with a contemptuous gaze, and said arrogantly, "I intend to go over to the other side of the mountain. I informed you yesterday. You say I can't cross, but I can't think of a reason to obey you. The scenery over there is wonderful; tell me, what reason do I have not to go take a look?"

"The reason is simple: the other side is too dangerous. For everyone's safety, without my permission, no one in Huachi may step beyond half a step."

"'Hmph, laughable. Lord Li, don't forget, now in Huachi not everyone is your subordinate. Many indeed call you Lord, but these people behind me—do you think you can move them? Do you think you can command me?'"

Li Bucai said seriously, "It's not a matter of command; this is Huachi's village rule. I believe the Young Marshal has already seen our village regulations. The rule is set: anyone who dares to violate it—whether a villager or an outsider—whoever crosses the pass without permission will be expelled from Huachi."

The Young Marshal thought to herself, "You think my strength is too great, fearing it will hurt your standing in the village, so you want to drive me out? Fine, tomorrow I'll give you a good lesson, push you toward the west; perhaps you'll encounter something terrifying, and then you'll beg me for help, and your servants will all see how I made you plead."

"'What if I must pass? I'd like to see how strict Lord Li's village rule is, and how it treats outsiders like me.'"

Li Bucai finished speaking. "Since the Young Marshal is willing to risk her life to test the law, be my guest. But there will be no pleading later. You are of noble blood; if you cannot bear the village rule, don't regret it later." He stepped aside.

"'Let's see who ends up regretting,' the Young Marshal snorted coldly, urged her horse forward, and, upon reaching Li Bucai, gave him a disdainful glance.

Li Bucai remained by the roadside, watching the group pass. The people ahead had already reached the mountain ridge, and he mentally calculated: the Young Marshal is a practitioner of the Gale Mantra, with Yellow‑grade talent, self‑trained, untested in real battle; her level is 12, light‑step speed 24, movement range first leap 36 m, normal attack 110, naturally straightforward and decisive. If used properly, she would make a fine commander…

The Young Marshal stood on the summit, glanced back, saw Li Bucai still there, thought that he alone couldn't handle these people, so she could only watch. Smiling triumphantly, she led the charge, guiding everyone over the pass, down the western slope, following the stream in the valley, occasionally checking the forest on her left. After a stretch with no ambush, she relaxed her guard.

While moving, a figure suddenly flashed from the forest edge; Wu Zhuoyue appeared at the crossroads.

"Zhuoyue, obeying the Lord's command, waited here, 'Young Marshal, please turn your horse around and rest a day at Zhuowang. Tomorrow the Lord will personally lead troops to inspect this place; returning tomorrow will not be late.'"

The Young Marshal glanced warily at the dense foliage, seeing no figure, assuming someone was hidden in the trees, but believing her light‑step could escape any ambush, especially with three hundred iron cavalry, she was too lazy to tangle further, and said, "I saw your Lord on the way here; even he wouldn't dare block me. He's already agreed I can train troops here, so clear the road quickly."

Wu Zhuoyue bowed and said, "Young Marshal may not know that since the Lord established the village rule, even the Lord must obey it, otherwise everyone is equal. Without many village guards, your arrival here already violates the rule. Considering this is your first offense, if you turn back now the matter ends; but if you step another half step, I will have to enforce the rule."

The Young Marshal shouted, "What nonsense village rule, you can control you, but you can't control my people. Not even a half step, let alone a hundred or a thousand steps forward—I'll see what you can do to me!" She urged her horse forward, while Jian Yu and others kept alert guard beside her.

"'Then consider it an offense.' Having said so, Wu Zhuoyue leapt backward, thrust his left hand forward, and a silk net flew from his sleeve—a fishing cast net—flinging outward, instantly spreading like a fan, enveloping Jian Yu and the others.

The Young Marshal had already drawn her Dual Knives, which were honed by blue demonic essence and could cut hair in a single strike. With a single split‑slash, as she leapt from the horse, the knives cut a large hole through the net, piercing straight toward Zhuoyue, intending to seize her.

Wu Zhuoyue hurried backward, and at that moment a rustling rose from the forest. In an instant, seven or eight large nets shot out from the woods and stream banks, three inner layers and three outer layers, interlaced and descending onto the Young Marshal. The Young Marshal, a girl born without fear, held her blades calmly, swinging the Dual Knives whose blue light flashed up and down; the nets aimed at her were sliced apart in an instant. When she tried to move forward again, Wu Zhuoyue had already drawn a jade flute; as the "Soul‑Wavering Song" sounded, the Young Marshal's movements slowed considerably.

Wu Zhuoyue is a Green‑grade talent military officer, a junior‑rank general. This enchanting melody, though not very effective on a Yellow‑grade talent, still achieves a slowing effect.

Among the Young Marshal's twelve azure‑clad guards, there is a musician; seeing the Young Marshal affected, he tried to counter with music, but just as his fingers touched the harp strings, before the note could be released, a nightingale‑shaped soul burst from the forest, soaring toward the Young Marshal—it was the "Nightingale Sacred Soul" cast by Yue Ji.

If it were a normal one‑on‑one duel, the Young Marshal and Yue Ji have equal talent and similar levels; with her agile moves she could likely evade, but she was completely ensnared by the fishing net and Wu Zhuoyue's "Soul‑Wavering Song", leaving her unaware as the Nightingale Sacred Soul entered her body. Her light‑step hadn't activated yet; she felt a floating sensation, her soul fully drawn by the sacred soul's cry, unable to control her nerves. She let out a low hum and collapsed. Wu Zhuoyue, arriving before Jian Yu and the others could advance, drew a blade from his flute and pressed it to the Young Marshal's throat, preventing anyone from moving forward.

At the same time, a hundred archers and Yue Ji's thirty guards surged from both sides, weapons in hand, separating Jian Yu and the others from the Young Marshal.

From behind the formation, Li Bucai's figure appeared above the crowd, standing on high ground, shouting, "Seize their weapons, bring them all back!"

……