Chapter 442: Ni Zi, I'm Your Second Uncle!

When the Kingdom Knights were charging with whips, under Ke Li Si Ting's leadership, they engaged in fierce battle with the Centaur Legion.

The Mage Battle Team also hurried to find a good slope, relying on chariots and earth magic, quickly setting up a casting position like a base vehicle.

Under strict regulations and procedures, row after row of AOE magic was ready, like an otherworldly Katyusha spraying toward the grassland people's camp.

The grassland people who had painstakingly gathered nearby, intending to rescue their fellow tribesmen, died thus under the dense magical bombardment.

Looking at the night sky almost illuminated by magic, the Third Prince sitting in the carriage trembled as he readjusted the curtain with his fingers.

After a moment of silence, he couldn't help but slap his thigh.

"Beautiful!"

It's no wonder he's excited; now everything is proceeding according to his prearranged plan, and surely before long he will complete this legendary breakout.

As for him, as commander-in-chief abandoning the city and fleeing, thereby losing troops and generals, causing losses of nearly ten thousand……

If he died, even if he didn't run, his older brother would surely pin such a charge on him, making him a stepping stone for others to climb higher.

But if he lived, he could rely on his connections to turn his funeral into a celebration, even the historical records, turning it into a great achievement!

For example……

The Third Prince sacrificed himself, using himself as bait to attract Bei Mo Si Ke Han and all his main forces, relying on an unimportant fortress, he stubbornly held them for a full seven days!

No, no, this is too conservative; how can it show my importance? I need to add a couple more lines.

Hmm……

Ah, right!

If it weren't for this prince's intervention, Bei Mo Si Ke Han, underestimating our army's strength, would surely gather a hundred thousand… no, two hundred thousand troops! Fully invade the Northern Border.

Although our Deep Forest people are brave and fearless, the troops unafraid of death, most importantly we have my father the king, wise and martial, with peerless leadership, yet greater casualties are still inevitable.

Thanks to this prince proving the courage of the Deep Forest people, they abandoned that strategic gamble, avoiding the northern ruin, indirectly saving countless lives.

So where am I, Ageluo, a coward?

I, Ageluo, am clearly a hero, a great hero!

As everyone knows, the pinnacle of lying is deceiving with truth, but if speaking of the highest realm, it's absolutely being able to deceive even oneself.

So the Third Prince, frantically writing little scripts in his mind, kept drafting and even genuinely worked himself up into a few drops of oily self-movement.

His face alternated between joy, anger, hesitation, and a hint of gloomy, unfulfilled sorrow.

Fortunately the carriage curtains were drawn tight; otherwise, if someone happened to see this sight, his next stop would likely be a mental asylum.

But it's still well known that fantasizing about little scripts, opening champagne at halftime, going all-in on national fate—these are all major taboos for military strategists.

Even if he temporarily wins a bit, he will definitely be slapped in the face in the end.

Thus, as expected, the unexpected arrived.

"Wuu~~~"

Accompanied by the low, mournful horn blast that had almost been etched into the Deep Forest people's bones alongside fear, the whole battlefield's atmosphere suddenly changed.

Objectively speaking, even if the Deep Forest people exerted themselves to the utmost and launched surprise attacks, whatever they could disrupt would ultimately only be a part of the grassland people's vast formation.

When the enemy realizes the situation, draws superior forces from elsewhere to launch a pincer attack, the advantage they gained from surprise will begin to be infinitely compressed.

For example, now, amidst flashing blades and swords, an elite unit composed mainly of werewolf blade-shield infantry surged onto the battlefield from the flank amid the rising and falling howls.

Although they ultimately couldn't catch the highly mobile prince's guard, who kept dodging battle, they still slammed hard into the Deep Forest infantry right behind them.

Under normal circumstances, Feng En, a valiant general, would have enough confidence to lead his troops to swallow that bunch of stupid dog heads in one gulp.

But at this moment they had only just broken halfway out of the encirclement, exactly at the center of the grassland people's camp, which is the most dangerous moment.

Any hesitation could possibly cause the enemy's encirclement to finally close, so they simply had no time to fight.

"Hurry, hurry, don't linger in battle!"

Feng En could only repeatedly order messengers to report to the entire army, urging each hundred-man team to speed up, absolutely avoid getting stuck here!

However, the enemy commander, whether or not he was Bei Mo Si Ke Han, had precisely grasped their weak point.

This group of agile and inherently cruel wolf soldiers specialized in a sickeningly entangling tactic.

If you can't hold back your anger, turn and strike me? Then I'll just clatter my shield a couple times and quickly withdraw to create distance.

If you grit your teeth and run headlong? Then I'll chase after you and stab you in the vitals to see just how hard your scalp really is!

Moreover, from the numbers given earlier, it's clear that this fourth section has the most troops—in fact, a full ten thousand infantry are allocated here.

Originally the grassland people's camp layout wasn't simple, plus the howling wind and snow, heavy snowfall made their progress slower than expected; now, being desperately restrained by the enemy, it's become difficult to move even an inch.

Thus, the Third Prince marching at the front, upon hearing this news, even had his mind go blank for a moment.

——What, what the heck? This part isn't in my script!

Although after his brief dazed state he quickly regained composure, just as he was about to order other units to hurry and support, he suddenly realized……

The Kingdom Knights are currently locked in combat with the centaurs; being unable to reach far, they can merely keep the exit open—there's no way to break back into the chaotic enemy camp.

Although the Mage Battle Team has already set up its magic position, now that the enemy is mingled with our forces and they can't disable friendly fire, they certainly can't unleash a barbaric barrage to clear the field.

Moreover, I've already reduced my guard to the bare minimum; further cuts would very likely cause me to capsize in the gutter, unable to escape and become a prisoner, or simply turn into a corpse.

——Hey buddy, how did I suddenly run out of cards!

Fortunately, as a prince, the Third Prince's specialty is bluffing his way through nothing, conjuring cards out of thin air.

Therefore he immediately ordered the rear guard suicide squad to pick up speed, as if for me, to flank and encircle from the sides!

Although anyone can see this is intended to use the suicide squad as bait, dispersing the enemy's assault so the infantry regiment can regain speed and quickly escape the enemy camp.

But at this point, who would still sign up for a damn suicide squad for a few coins—how could their minds possibly be normal?

They even turned the tables, thinking this wave the main force was tying down the enemy's main force for them, so they might actually greatly lower the difficulty to clear the stage and break out even faster!

Unfortunately they really overthought it this time; the Third Prince truly isn't that kind-hearted—the direction he gave them is actually a dead end.

Consequently the suicide squad hadn't gone far before crashing head‑on into the just‑arrived Leopard People Elite Legion, a troupe of tall warriors wielding spears and battle shields.

Frankly, if the commander of the Leopard People Legion knew the composition of this strange bunch, he would certainly let them pass without hesitation.

Just a bunch of useless discardlings; those with the "cai" character at the forefront can't possibly affect the battle.

It would be better to rush to aid our werewolf comrade, and perhaps we could tear off a few more pieces of meat from that hard‑to‑chew bone.

However, the Third Prince schemed a "good" deed with ill intent, claiming it was to safeguard the suicide squad's lives, and he specially approved a batch of high‑quality equipment for them.

In fact, when the leopard‑people commander saw the hundreds of warriors clad head‑to‑toe in heavy armor, each looking like a more ornate iron can,

Hiss…

Grandma, you're dressed so garish!

Main force!

This is definitely the real enemy main force!

It could even be…

Could this be the personal guard of that so‑called "Prince of Hanging Hair"? Wouldn't that mean…

Now the leopard‑people were even more excited and, without a word, joined the suicide squad.

And precisely because of that, under Feng En's command, the pressure from the werewolf infantry regiment was gradually suppressed, its strain lessened, and the march resumed.

Meanwhile, the prince who had been stubbornly trying to break through finally escaped the grassland people's camp under the life‑risking escort of his guard, and linked up with the mage battalion stationed outside.

"Very good, everyone performed excellently!"

Although unexpected setbacks arose midway, his astonishing wisdom ultimately resolved them.

Moreover, the most valuable cavalry and mages among the nearly twenty‑thousand troops have already withdrawn smoothly; the planned objectives are fully achieved, and any additional troops that can be pulled out are a windfall.

Thus, upon reaching the mage position, he clutched the hand of that mage commander—also his most important aide—with such excitement that he was reluctant to let go for a long time.

—In the end, this round was won by this prince!

But the already satisfied Third Prince was even contemplating leaving early, while Ke Li Si Ting still felt sorry for her meager assets.

However, although the infantry regiment had resumed moving outward, its speed simply could not pick up.

Except for the relatively lucky escape champions, not a single familiar face appeared at the exit she was desperately protecting.

Instead, after another horn blast, a group of beastmen riding horses—or rather Ok—charged out of the darkness.

They were the most authentic big green‑skins, whose sharp tusks could pierce the curved sky, and their knobby flesh was exceedingly robust.

Under their cavalry sabers, the kingdom knights—already on the verge of annihilating the centaurs—suddenly saw their situation reverse.

"Ha!"

Among the green‑skins, the biggest and greenest, bearing a serrated greatsword, the Ok commander was especially fierce, capable of slaying the kingdom's elite knights as if they were mere foot soldiers.

Seeing that enemy general, a four‑hoofed demonic silhouette in the dim firelight, made him even more excited; he immediately lunged forward, ready to battle for three hundred rounds.

But the centaur commander, already crippled by Ke Li Si Ting to the point of being unable to care for himself, his spear broken in two, hurriedly blocked him.

"Hold on, brother, that woman is extremely sinister; you're very likely to be unable to defeat her!"

Yet even death cannot stop an impatient big green‑skin, let alone a hapless centaur.

"Ha ha, what a joke!"

Instead, it made the big green‑skin let out a hearty laugh, patting the still‑unbroken shoulder of the centaur.

"Don't worry, little brother, just stay here; I'll bring her back and make her your father!"

Having said that, he spurred his horse toward the monster, and while the foe faced away, he raised his hand without hesitation and struck with a blade.

However, the opponent's instinct was sharper than he imagined; before his body could even turn, the Ma Mao in his hand already swung toward him.

"WTF!"

That strike frightened him into a suddenly genteel composure; he quickly switched to defense and barely blocked the icy blade sweeping toward his neck.

But such danger did not make him retreat; instead he grew more excited, clutching his blood‑soaked palms and shouted loudly,

"Impressive! I am Barun Bloodblade, King of the Ok; who are you, hero?"

Ke Li Si Ting instinctively wanted to say, "Got it, King Barun, right? When you die I'll carve this on your tombstone," but she suddenly recalled her current identity.

"Heh, if not now, when?"

He cleared his throat.

"I am a Deep Forest noble, Ke Li Si Ting, Viscount Pearl; since you are a grassland person, you should remember this surname!"

I know, I truly know, knowing so well that Barun's eyes turned into copper bells.

"You're from the Pearl Tribe!?"

But someone was even more surprised—though already strong enough, the centaur commander had still been beaten by Ke Li Si Ting as if he were a child.

He limped on one leg, swung an arm, walked over, and pointed at Ke Li Si Ting's face.

"You… Fa Bu Li Ke! Fa Bu Li Ke Pearl, who are they to you?"

Ke Li Si Ting was the type who preferred to fight before talking; seeing the other still trying to chat, she impatiently stamped her hooves and spoke harshly.

"That is my father's name; have you two old things finished chatting? I'm going to cut off your heads!"

However, their next remark completely deflated her momentum, leaving her utterly bewildered.

"Then I/He is your second uncle!"

???

Second uncle also broke down, waving his hand aimlessly in the air, gesturing for a long while before managing to mutter a sentence.

"No, although our Tribe's centaurs are indeed a circle larger than those of other Tribes, how did you grow so big?"

"I…"

How could Ke Li Si Ting possibly know the answer to that question? She was choked off by the query.

Seeing this, Barun, whose temperament was already blunt and whose bond with his second uncle was very strong, stepped forward.

"Little brother, since this one is your niece, I, the older brother, cannot let her go astray."

"Hold on a moment, I'll help you bind her back to the grassland!"

Having said that, he clutched the horse's belly and rushed toward Ke Li Si Ting.

It's not that Ba Lun likes to brag; at least in close combat, he, who wields a broadsword, is certainly stronger than the centaur whose primary role is mounted archery.

But that's all there is to it; even setting aside his mount, however pure‑blooded and fine it may be, it can't compare to the sheer thrill of Ke Li Si Ting's "human‑horse fusion."

Even if that gap were eliminated, relying solely on his personal fighting ability, aside from barely staying uninjured, he would still have to retreat step by step against Ke Li Si Ting's ferocious onslaught.

"Little brother! Are you sure this is your niece? I still feel like it should be your ancestor!"

(End of chapter)