Chapter 104: Confrontation, the Hawk-Eagle Makes Its First Appearance

Though Shen Qianmo chose to ignore Yao Wentao’s obstruction, that did not mean she would overlook the man’s strangeness.

By her long experience in judging people and discerning things, she could be certain that Meng Tianluo had not sent Yao Wentao to Jinyang Pass with the relief army for any innocent purpose.

What exactly was hidden behind Yao Wentao, however, she had no clue at present.

In any case, she would have to tread with the utmost care at Jinyang Pass.

She made a quick calculation. It had been five days since she left the capital. In another ten days, the chill poison in Meng Yuanheng’s body would be entirely purged, and by Meng Yuanheng’s pace, he could reach Jinyang Pass from the capital in as little as three days.

Before Meng Yuanheng arrived, she had to make certain that Jinyang Pass was held successfully.

Yet the Flying Cloud Cavalry had already reached Jinyang Pass yesterday. Why, then, had the Meng army from Jingzhou, which was even closer, still not arrived?

After returning from the drill ground, Shen Qianmo raised this question to Wenren Yuan.

Wenren Yuan had clearly already noticed the anomaly as well. His expression grave, he said, “I was just wondering the same thing. I’ll send men at once to Jingzhou to inquire.”

General Lin had always been loyal, steadfast in promise, and true to his word. Once he received the prince’s order, he would certainly dispatch troops at the first opportunity and hurry to Jinyang Pass. If the Meng army had not arrived on time, then something must have gone wrong, or they must have encountered some trouble.

Standing nearby, Yun Yi spoke up. “Let my shadow guards from Drifting Cloud Manor go and investigate instead. They’ll be faster.”

Shen Qianmo nodded. “Thank you, Manor Lord Yun.”

In matters of reconnaissance, the shadow guards were indeed more professional than the Flying Cloud Cavalry.

Yun Yi’s handsome face fell. Pressing a hand to his chest in mournful distress, he said, “Qianmo, could you not address me like that? Meng Yuanheng already nearly treats me as though I’m no longer his brother, and now even you are keeping such a distance from me. Do you know how hurt I’ll be?”

Seeing his exaggerated expression, so unlike his elegant and carefree image as a dashing gentleman, Wenren Yuan and Cao Xun exchanged a glance and both held back laughter.

But Shen Qianmo remained utterly serious. “Then how should I address you properly?”

People who were all smiles and jokes feared nothing more than being taken seriously. That was a conclusion she had reached in her previous life.

Perhaps she should pass this experience on to Ning Hua, so that she would not be driven half mad every time by Yun Yi’s perpetual lack of decorum.

In truth, Yun Yi had originally wanted to suggest that she could call him something like Brother Yun or Brother Yi. But meeting Shen Qianmo’s stiff tone and placid gaze, he suddenly lost all interest in joking. He could only clear his throat awkwardly to ease his embarrassment and say helplessly, “Well... Qianmo, call me whatever you like.”

As expected, people who are not of the same kind do not belong in the same household. Was it that anyone who became part of Prince Xuan’s residence would grow so dull and uninteresting?

Sigh. He, the dignified lord of Drifting Cloud Manor, was so young, accomplished, witty, carefree, and handsome—so why were all the people around him such humorless oddities with no sense of romance or charm at all?

Yun Yi sighed, flicked open his folding fan, bade them farewell, and went off alone to arrange for the shadow guards to head to Jingzhou and gather information.

The Northern Di army was camped close to Licheng, so they must already have learned that Great Sheng’s reinforcements had arrived at Jinyang Pass the previous night. In order to guard against a surprise attack from the Northern Di, Shen Qianmo invited Wenren Yuan and Cao Xun to the main hall to discuss matters, intending to readjust the deployment of troops at Jinyang Pass so they could better repel the enemy’s assault.

The three were in the middle of their discussion when a soldier rushed in to report, “General, the Northern Di main force is gathering beneath Jinyang Pass’s city walls and appears to be preparing for an assault.”

On the high watchtower of Jinyang Pass, Shen Qianmo stood with the wind in her face. The cloak behind her was whipped wildly by the fierce northern gale; she gripped it on both sides and drew it closer around herself, shielding her body from the bitter cold at the frontier.

Below the tower, the Northern Di army stood in formation, all in dark red battle dress interspersed with black warhorses, arrayed neatly across the vast expanse of heaven and earth. Their battle standard, white with a red border, snapped in the wind. Upon it, a large character for “He” stood bold and forceful, displaying the bearing of the young general at the very front of the formation, astride a crimson steed and exuding the arrogance of one born under a favored sky.

Shen Qianmo looked out as far as she could. Through the curtain of yellow sand in the sky, she could not see He Liancheng’s features clearly, only sensing from afar the self-satisfied, world-dominating aura about him.

If Meng Yuanheng had not suffered the cataclysm seven years ago, then even today he would surely be like this too, dressed in finery, riding a fierce horse, unrestrained and brilliant.

Thinking of that man who kept everyone at arm’s length except her, the man with his strange temper and unpredictable moods, Shen Qianmo felt warmth rise softly in her heart.

At the same time, He Liancheng was also studying Shen Qianmo from afar, she who stood atop the tower surrounded by a host of tall and broad-shouldered generals.

His eyes, bright as cold stars, narrowed slightly as they swept over that slight figure.

So this was Meng Yuanheng’s woman.

Many years later, when he recalled their first meeting, the first image that surfaced in his mind was that distant, lofty silhouette wrapped in a great cloak, as though standing apart from the world. The peonies embroidered on the cloak blazed so brilliantly red that they lingered before his eyes for a long time.

At that moment, he could never have imagined what kind of hatred and entanglement would one day arise between them.

At that time, she was nothing more than his mortal enemy, Meng Yuanheng’s woman.

He withdrew his dark gaze and turned his eyes to the opposite side.

Three thousand black-armored elite cavalry stood there, a vast mass of darkness, their formation disciplined, their aura cold and severe. In the howling north wind and the yellow sand that filled the sky, they wore black robes and black armor, standing ready for battle like an indestructible iron-blooded guard defending the towering, continuous stretch of Jinyang Pass behind them.

The Flying Cloud Cavalry!

He Liancheng gave a cold snort in his heart.

Seven years without meeting in battle—today he would see for himself whether this iron cavalry, once so feared by enemy armies, was still as invincible as ever.

His gaze turned icy. His thin lips parted, and he slowly uttered two words.

“Form up.”

“Understood.” His deputy took the order, drew breath, and shouted, “Shadow Eagle, form up!”

The words had barely fallen when a cavalry unit on the left flank of the Northern Di army rode out in orderly and rapid formation. In the blink of an eye they shifted like quicksand to the front of the main force, taking position and arranging their lines with steady precision and flawless discipline, completing their formation almost instantly.

It was also a force of three thousand cavalry, similarly disciplined and superbly equipped: earth-yellow armor, earth-yellow horses. Seen from afar, they almost blended into the sea of yellow sand, making it impossible to distinguish reality from illusion.

Hidden in the sandy haze, they lay in wait, poised to strike, and when one least expected it, they would deliver a sudden and devastating blow.

From her high vantage point, Shen Qianmo took in the full formation of this Northern Di cavalry.

A spear at the front, solid flanks on both sides.

It was a wedge formation.

A wedge formation emphasized offensive breakthrough; its sharp, narrow vanguard was suited to frontal assault and to tearing apart an enemy’s lines, while the two wings could expand the gains further, working in tandem to destroy the opposing army.

“What is this?” On the tower, everyone was seeing this Northern Di cavalry for the first time, and they were all visibly shocked.

Shen Qianmo’s fine brows drew together slightly. Her expression was grave, but she understood at once.

This cavalry unit called Shadow Eagle had probably been formed by He Liancheng specifically to counter the Flying Cloud Cavalry.