Far away at the border, Wu Caiwei was unaware of the events in the capital. Had she known, she would have been surprised by the effect her departure had brought.
At this moment, she stood under the moonlight, gazing deeply at the starry sky, while listening to the sounds from outside. The drought in the northern regions of the Heavenly Dynasty had extended to the Xiongnu, leaving them severely weakened. To survive, they had gathered over a hundred thousand soldiers a few days prior and hastily marched south.
Xicheng, bordering the Xiongnu, was caught off guard. Despite their fierce resistance, they were still overrun, and all soldiers of the Heavenly Dynasty perished in a brutal scene.
This time, they had come with overwhelming force. After successively capturing two counties, they reached the prefectural capital. Everyone was on high alert. Shops on the streets were all closed, and many residents had already begun packing their belongings to flee south.
If the prefectural capital could hold out for some time and the Xiongnu were driven away, they might return. Of course, if the capital fell, they would have to find a new place to settle.
Those who could leave were mostly from families with more substantial means. The common folk faced much helplessness. They hid in their homes, silently praying, while also preparing for the worst. If the Xiongnu broke in, they could quickly retreat into the tunnels they had dug, hoping to escape disaster.
Standing in the courtyard, Wu Caiwei’s heart was in turmoil. She could have taken these children away back then. However, a sense of responsibility and mission compelled her to stay.
Hearing the clamor of battle, Wu Caiwei knew that the area outside the city must be awash in blood, with countless lives lost. Each of these fallen soldiers was likely the pillar of their families. Without even stepping outside, she understood that the imperial reinforcements had not arrived, and everyone was fighting an exceptionally arduous battle. The sounds of this slaughter had persisted for days and nights, and it was estimated they were close to breaking point.
After much hesitation, Wu Caiwei returned to her room, retrieved the bows and arrows she had recently crafted, and headed towards the city walls.
“It’s so dangerous outside. Madam, venturing out alone, I cannot rest assured. Let me accompany you.” Wu Ye had been suffering from insomnia for the past few days, often standing at the main gate, peeking through the cracks to observe the situation outside. He happened to see his young lady leaving and quickly stepped forward.
“No need. With your amateur skills, you’d just be sending yourself to your death out there. If the direction of the city gate is engulfed in flames, signaling its fall, you must quickly lead everyone into the tunnels. I will join you shortly.”
“Madam, if you see things going south, you must flee quickly. Our strength is meager. At a time like this, preserving yourself is paramount.”
Wu Caiwei knew he meant well. Nodding casually, she walked out the door. In moments of crisis, she feared no exposure of her martial arts. Only by displaying formidable strength could she earn respect. Her hesitation had stemmed from the governor's deep suspicion of her; he would not have allowed her onto the city walls, nor would he have permitted her to participate in combat, until the very last moment.
She had been judging the progress of the battle based on her senses. Thinking it over, she decided to set out early. If something unexpected were to happen, the loss would be too great.
The governor, having held the city walls for days, felt as though he might faint at any moment. When his subordinate reported that Wu Caiwei requested an audience, he couldn't help but frown, muttering inwardly about her coming to cause trouble at this juncture.
He quickly ordered someone to dismiss her. “Why are you here? How did you get up here? Didn’t I tell you to wait below for notification?” The next moment, he heard the astonished question of the person reporting to him.
“This is a battlefield, not a place for a woman like you to meddle. Hurry and take those children to leave through the south gate.” Although the governor was unwilling to admit it, he understood they could not hold out much longer. The enemy outnumbered them, attacking in waves while they had only their limited numbers. After days and nights without sleep, their bodies were reaching their limit.
“Sir, do not underestimate women. Perhaps I am here to help you.” Wu Caiwei’s brow furrowed after just a glance at the battlefield. Without further hesitation, she drew her bow and arrows, pushed aside the nagging words, and focused intently on the front.
The governor’s cautionary words abruptly ceased as he stared, dumbfounded, at an enemy general tumbling from his horse.
After consecutively shooting down several enemy commanders, chaos erupted in the enemy ranks. Soon, for the first time in many days, they heard the signal to retreat. After the enemy withdrew, everyone collapsed onto the ground. Nearly half of them fell asleep the moment their rear touched the ground. They were utterly exhausted, sustained only by sheer willpower. The moment the tension released, such a spectacular scene unfolded.
“Miss Wu is indeed a hidden master. I should have realized that a woman capable of establishing such an academy could not be ordinary. Your display today has astounded me.” Although he felt the situation was still precarious, any respite was valuable. If they could only hold on long enough to receive reinforcements, wouldn't all the city’s residents be saved?
“I had intended to offer my assistance long ago, but I knew that sir harbored deep misunderstandings about me and would never allow me onto the city walls. The reason I could ascend just now was due to the urgent shortage of manpower. Seeing me with a bow and arrows, they assumed I was here to help. Although they knew you did not permit it, they intentionally or unintentionally let me pass, facilitating my actions.”
The governor knew she spoke the truth. Yet, who could have imagined that the seemingly unremarkable Miss Wu was such a profound master? The distance she shot from was certainly not reachable by ordinary people. Even the best archers in the army could only reach half that range. Otherwise, why wouldn't they have employed such an advantage earlier if it were available?
“If sir trusts me, I am willing to contribute. I believe my martial arts are not weak; at the very least, none of you here are my match. I will not be a burden.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the generals became displeased. They had honed their skills on the battlefield for over a decade. While not invincible, they were certainly among the elite. Otherwise, how could they have become generals? Although Miss Wu’s display was astonishing, she couldn't simply boast like that. How could a young girl of her age possibly surpass a group of seasoned warriors?
“Everyone is tired today. After resting, we can spar.” Wu Caiwei knew they didn’t believe her, especially given her youth and lack of combat experience.
“No need to wait for us to rest. I wish to seek your guidance now. If you can defeat me, I will immediately call you master. After all, at your age, I only knew some flashy but ineffective techniques.” General Liu stepped forward first. His words, though seemingly humble, were actually rooted in the belief that it was impossible.
Wu Caiwei did not refuse. To gain authority in a short time, she had to win their complete conviction. The moment they engaged, General Liu was defeated. He assumed it was all a fluke and quickly got up, drawing his sword to attack again. Before he could even see how she moved, he found himself sprawled on the ground once more.