Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

October 18th, 3:00 AM, Black Stone City Commander's Mansion.

Nangong Ye woke up with a severe headache.

What I saw first was a blurry dark red—the color of bloodshot eyes.

Then consciousness gradually returned:

A dull ache in my neck, an empty study, the pitch-black sky outside the window, and...

"Mysterious Shadow!"

He growled hoarsely, his voice incoherent.

Almost simultaneously, Xuan Ying emerged from the shadows and knelt on one knee: "Your Majesty, you're awake."

"What time is it now?"

Nangong Ye propped himself up.

I still feel a little weak in my hands and feet.

The acupoints were hit with great precision.

The force was controlled perfectly.

This will keep him unconscious for a long enough time without causing any serious damage.

She can even calculate things perfectly clearly, even in situations like this.

"At the third quarter of the hour of Yin (3:45 AM)," Xuan Ying said, bowing his head. "Her Majesty has already departed... in fourteen hours."

Fourteen two-hour periods.

The battle report from Luoyingpo should be sent back soon.

"How is the battle going?"

Nangong Ye struggled to get off the bed, but his legs gave way, and Xuan Ying hurriedly stepped forward to help him up.

"We received the first urgent report half an hour ago."

Xuan Ying took out a blood-stained note from his pocket.

"The Northern Desert Army launched seven attacks yesterday, all of which were repelled."

Our army suffered approximately 2,000 casualties, while the enemy lost over 10,000.

Nangong Ye snatched the note and quickly scanned it in the dim candlelight.

The handwriting is messy, indicating that it was hastily written by a frontline clerk on the battlefield.

But the key information is clear:

The Empress commanded with composure and high morale.

But the enemy has begun a fierce offensive, regardless of the cost.

"Where's the second battle report?" He looked up abruptly.

Xuan Ying was silent for a moment: "They should have arrived two hours ago... but they didn't."

Nangong Ye's heart tightened suddenly.

If the carrier pigeon hasn't arrived, there are only three possibilities:

The pigeons were intercepted and killed, and the messenger died.

Or... the front lines are in such chaos that it's impossible to send out intelligence.

"Prepare the horses." He turned around and grabbed the Emperor's Sword hanging on the wall.

"Your Majesty!" Xuan Ying knelt hastily, "Her Majesty has ordered—"

"I'm supposed to obey her orders now?!" Nangong Ye's eyes were bloodshot. "Get out of my way!"

"If Your Majesty wishes to go, then kill me first."

Xuan Ying's forehead touched the ground.

"The Empress said... His Majesty's life is more important than hers."

She said, "My son can't be without a father."

That last sentence struck Nangong Ye's heart like a heavy hammer.

His knuckles turned white from gripping the sword hilt so tightly.

After a long while, he suddenly smiled.

His laughter was both tragic and insane.

"Xuan Ying," he said softly.

"you're right.

My life is very important because I am Bao'er's father.

Xuan Ying just breathed a sigh of relief.

"But—" Nangong Ye suddenly drew his sword, the tip pressed against Xuan Ying's throat.

"If Bao'er's mother dies, what's the point of me, her father, living?"

The sword's edge was icy cold; it pierced the skin, drawing out beads of blood.

Xuan Ying remained kneeling, motionless.

"His Majesty,"

His voice was hoarse.

"Even if you kill your subordinates, you won't be able to leave the city."

Before she left, Her Majesty... transferred all the personal guards you could mobilize.

Those guarding the city now are all the Empress's people.

Nangong Ye's pupils contracted.

He staggered back a step, the tip of his sword drooping.

Yes, she's so smart.

Since you dared to knock him out, how could you not be fully prepared?

"She even foresaw this..."

He murmured, then suddenly remembered something.

"You just said that the second battle report, which should have arrived, didn't—"

When did it start to break?

"After 3 PM, there was no further news."

Shen Shi (3-5 PM).

That was during the most intense part of the battle yesterday.

Nangong Ye closed his eyes, his mind racing: seven charges, over ten thousand enemy casualties… The Northern Desert people weren't fools.

Having suffered such a huge loss, they will definitely change their tactics.

If a direct assault doesn't work, then they will...

He suddenly opened his eyes: "The southeast cliff! Prince Jing's men are there!"

Xuan Ying was taken aback: "How did Your Majesty know?"

"Baby!"

Nangong Ye strode to the desk.

Searching through the paintings that Shen Qingci had previously looked at—

Bao'er's childlike drawing serves as a warning.

"Bao'er drew it! There's an ambush in the southeast corner, we can't leave!"

He found the drawing: a little red man standing on a hillside, with an arrow and a large cross drawn in the southeast corner.

"The Northern Desert people launched a strong frontal assault to draw attention away from the enemy."

Prince Jing's men sneaked up from the southeast cliff, attacking from both sides...

Nangong Ye's voice trembled.

"She must have discovered it, so she ordered her troops to retreat and set a trap."

But what if... what if Prince Jing's men are not just one group...

He dared not think any further.

"Your Majesty," Xuan Ying gritted his teeth, "I will lead a squad of secret guards and secretly leave the city—"

"No," Nangong Ye interrupted him, "Your going is useless."

He walked to the window, pushed it open, and a cold wind rushed in.

In the distance, towards Eagle Falling Slope,

The sky was faintly tinged with an unnatural dark red—not the glow of dawn, but the light of fire.

"She's burning the mountain."

Nangong Ye said in a low voice,

"Use fire to buy time."

But once fire attack is used, it means... the defensive line is about to collapse.

He turned around, his eyes filled with unwavering resolve:

"Xuanying, I command you—to gather everyone you can still mobilize right now."

Five hundred riders are enough.

"His Majesty?!"

"I'm not stupid, I won't go to my death."

Nangong Ye quickly put on his light armor.

"But I must go to meet them."

If she is indeed surrounded,

Five hundred cavalry charging from the outside should be able to tear at least one opening.

Give her a chance to break through.

He paused, then lowered his voice:

"If...if she really can't get out."

"Then I will go in and keep her company."

---

At the same time, on the southeast cliff of Luoyingpo.

Shen Qingci guessed correctly.

Prince Jing's men are indeed here.

But it wasn't the small elite force she had envisioned—it was a full three thousand people.

All dressed in black and black armor,

His face was smeared with black ash.

The weapons used were of mixed types.

There is a Northern Desert Scimitar.

There are also Nangong military knives, and even Xiling wolf-tooth clubs.

These were the private soldiers that Prince Jing had secretly raised for many years, codenamed "Shadow Snakes".

They climbed up from the pool at the mouth of the underground river, as silently as real venomous snakes.

The leading general was named Chen Xiao.

He was once a captain in the northern border army.

He was dismissed from his post for embezzling military funds and secretly sought refuge with Prince Jing.

"Her Majesty the Empress truly lives up to her reputation."

Chen Xiao looked at the retreating defensive line above the cliff and sneered.

"Unfortunately, we were still a step too late."

He made a gesture.

The three thousand shadow snakes were divided into three teams.

One team launched a feint attack from the front.

The two teams climbed up the cliffs on both sides—

They brought specially made climbing hooks and ropes, clearly indicating they were well-prepared.

"Release the arrows!"

The Nangong garrison on the cliff spotted the enemy and unleashed a hail of arrows.

But Shadow Serpent was extremely agile, dodging nimbly on the cliff face.

Only a handful of people were hit by arrows and fell off the cliff.

"Hold on! Hold on!" the commander roared hoarsely.

However, the defensive line had retreated fifty paces, making it already weak.

At this moment, they were attacked from both sides by three thousand elite troops and were in imminent danger!

---

Main position, observation tower.

Shen Qingci received an urgent report from the southeast cliff.

"Three thousand men?" She frowned. "Where did Prince Jing get so many elite troops?"

"Your Majesty, the southeastern defense line is about to collapse!" The messenger, covered in blood, cried out, "Requesting reinforcements!"

Shen Qingci looked towards the main battlefield.

The Northern Desert Army is assembling for its eighth assault.

This time, Temujin personally led the troops, which numbered over 20,000.

Once troops are redeployed from the main defensive line to support the southeast, the main line will inevitably be breached.

Dilemma.

"Send orders to the southeast defense line,"

She made a quick decision.

"Abandon the edge of the cliff and retreat to the second trench."

Use kerosene to set the cliff edge ablaze, delaying their ascent.

"The front..."

"I'll take the lead."

Shen Qingci mounted his horse.

"Have all the heavy infantry advance, and have the archers prepare armor-piercing arrows. Tell the soldiers—"

She raised the command flag, her voice echoing across the hillside:

This is the final battle!

If we hold out, the Northern Desert will surely perish!

If we cannot defend it, the thousands of miles of land behind us will be trampled upon by others!

"war!!!"

The roar was deafening.

---

At Chen Shi (7-9 AM), the decisive battle broke out.

Twenty thousand cavalrymen from the Northern Desert Army surged toward Luoyingpo like a black tsunami!

This time, Temujin learned his lesson.

The forwards are no longer heavy cavalry.

Instead, light cavalry scattered and charged.

Specifically designed for tripping horse traps —

They used lassos to drag and arrows to clear the traps from the ground bit by bit.

It's slow, but effective.

Shen Qingci directed the battle from the front lines, constantly changing the command flags.

Heavy infantry formed a shield wall, their spears like a forest;

The archers took turns firing from behind the shield wall, the rain of arrows almost blotting out the sky.

But there are too many people in the northern desert.

Twenty thousand people surged forth like waves.

The shield wall began to shake, gaps appeared in the spear formation, and soldiers fell one after another.

"Fix it! Fix it!" the generals roared.

Shen Qingci rode his horse through the formation, going wherever the danger was.

She no longer relied solely on command.

The longbow in his hand opened and closed continuously.

Every arrow struck the enemy's vital points with pinpoint accuracy.

But individual bravery cannot change the course of the battle.

To the southeast, flames soared into the sky—that was the cliff she had ordered burned.

But soon, figures in black rushed out of the flames and began fighting with the defenders.

Besieged on all sides.

"Your Majesty!"

A lieutenant, his face covered in blood, rushed to the front of the horse.

"The southeastern defense line... has fallen! The enemy has already charged in!"

Shen Qingci looked southeast.

Sure enough, the enemy soldiers in black swarmed up the hilltop like ants and engaged in a fierce battle with the Nangong garrison.

On the front, the Northern Desert army finally broke through the first shield wall.

A pincer attack.

The 30,000 defenders were sandwiched between 50,000 enemy troops.

A desperate situation.

Shen Qingci gripped the bow tightly in his hand.

Her mind raced, calculating: Xiao Jue would be able to breach the royal court at the earliest tonight, and it would take half a day for the news to reach them.

She needs to stay on guard for another six hours.

But right now... we might not even be able to hold out for an hour.

"Shrink the formation!"

She gave the order sternly.

"A circular defensive formation!"

The wounded are inside, the able-bodied are outside! Hold the line!

This is the last resort.

Hold out and wait for reinforcements, or... be completely wiped out.

---

At 9:00 AM, outside of Luoyingpo.

Nangong Ye led five hundred cavalrymen around to the ridge on the west side of the battlefield.

Looking down from here, the battlefield scene is shocking.

Luoyingpo is like an isolated island surrounded by ants.

The Northern Desert army launched a fierce attack from the north.

Black-clad enemy troops infiltrated from the southeast.

The red banner bearing the character "Shen" in the center stood firm amidst the chaos of the army.

"Your Majesty," Xuan Ying's voice trembled, "the Empress has been surrounded and killed..."

Nangong Ye stared intently at the commander's flag.

He saw the commander's flag moving—

She moved through the ranks, sometimes drawing her bow and shooting arrows, sometimes waving her flag to give orders.

A red-clad figure on a white horse stood out like a drop of blood amidst the gray-black enemy tide.

It is as fragile as a drop of blood.

"Five hundred men, charging in would be suicide."

An old general said in a low voice,

"Your Majesty, why don't we circle around to the rear of the Northern Desert army?"

Set fires to harass them and force them to divide their forces—

"It's too late," Nangong Ye interrupted him.

He saw to the southeast that the enemy troops in black had broken through the last line of defense and were closing in on the commander's flag.

At most 15 minutes.

She will be completely overwhelmed.

"Xuan Ying," Nangong Ye suddenly spoke.

"Your subordinate is here."

"Take four hundred men and launch a feint attack from the north to draw the attention of the Northern Desert army."

"Then Your Majesty—"

"I'll go in alone." Nangong Ye tightened his grip on the reins.

"No!" Xuan Ying and several generals exclaimed at the same time.

Nangong Ye smiled.

He looked at the red banner of the commander growing smaller and smaller in the distance and said softly:

"Three years ago, I personally banished her to the Cold Palace."

"Three years ago, I watched helplessly as the Cold Palace caught fire; I was too late."

Three years later—

He suddenly spurred the horse, and the warhorse neighed and charged down the hillside!

"I cannot stand by and watch her die!"

"His Majesty--!!!"

Xuan Ying's roar was swallowed by the sound of the wind.

Nangong Ye charged into the enemy lines alone!

Instead of going straight ahead, he went around to the southeast—where the enemy troops in black had just broken through the defenses and their formation was in disarray.

He was dressed in ordinary black light armor and did not carry any banners, so in the chaos of battle, no one immediately recognized him as the emperor.

The Emperor's Sword was drawn.

The sword light was as white as snow.

Nangong Ye's martial arts skills were indeed reduced to 70%.

But the killing skills he honed in the military during his youth are still there.

Every sword strike is unpretentious, aimed directly at vital points, precise and efficient.

He shot straight at the red banner like an arrow.

Along the way, they were constantly intercepted by enemy soldiers in black and obstructed by northern desert cavalry.

He sustained numerous wounds.

He was hit in the left shoulder by an arrow, and his right leg was slashed open with a deep gash that exposed the bone.

But he didn't stop.

He can't stop.

---

At the center of Luoyingpo, a circular defensive formation.

Shen Qingci's quiver was empty.

She drew the dagger from her waist—

That was a gift from Nangong Ye, inlaid with gemstones, and exceptionally sharp.

But no matter how sharp a dagger is, it's too short to be effective on the battlefield.

A northern desert cavalryman broke through the defenses and charged towards her!

She dodged the spear to the side, her dagger slicing across the horse's belly, and the warhorse neighed in agony as it collapsed to the ground.

But the cavalryman immediately leaped off and slashed his scimitar toward her neck!

She parried, and the dagger was knocked away.

The scimitar slashed down again—

"clang!!!"

A sword blocked the curved blade.

Shen Qingci was stunned.

She saw a blood-covered figure blocking her way.

His light black armor was soaked in blood, and a broken arrow was still stuck in his left shoulder.

But his hand holding the sword was very steady; with a flick of the blade...

The northern desert cavalryman now had a bloody hole in his throat.

"His Majesty?"

She barely recognized him.

Nangong Ye turned around, his face covered in blood and ash.

Only those eyes shone like burning coals.

"I've arrived," he said, his voice hoarse and incoherent.

"Are you crazy?!" Shen Qingci's voice trembled. "You're injured like this—"

Before he could finish speaking, another group of enemy soldiers surrounded him.

Nangong Ye pulled her behind him, and the two stood back to back.

"The three on the left are yours," he said breathlessly, "the five on the right are mine."

Shen Qingci gritted his teeth and picked up a long spear from the ground.

There's no time for arguing, no time for being moved. Only slaughter.

Back to back, she guarded his left wing, and he protected her right back.

The spear and sword worked together with surprising harmony.

She pierced one enemy's chest, and he severed another enemy's wrist.

She blocked the slashing curved blade, and he stabbed the attacker in the throat with his other hand.

It's like we've rehearsed it a thousand times.

But they never fought side by side.

"Southeast!" Shen Qingci suddenly shouted.

A cold arrow shot from the chaotic army in the southeast, its angle tricky, heading straight for her back!

Nangong Ye turned around almost instinctively and pushed her away!

"puff--"

The sound of an arrow piercing flesh.

Shen Qingci staggered to her feet, then turned around.

The arrow was seen embedded in Nangong Ye's right chest—

It wasn't a fatal wound, but the eerie dark blue color on the arrow shaft clearly indicated that it had been poisoned.

Nangong Ye swayed, barely managing to stand up only after his sword was planted in the ground.

He glanced down at the arrow in his chest and actually laughed.

"This time..." He coughed up a mouthful of black blood, "I protected you."

Shen Qingci's mind went completely blank.

She rushed over to support him, her hand touching his back—

The arrowhead had pierced through his back, and the blood around the wound was black.

poison.

Highly poisonous.

"Medical officer!!!" she screamed hoarsely, her voice cracking.

The fighting was still raging around them, but several guards rushed over at the risk of their lives to protect them.

Nangong Ye leaned on her shoulder, his breathing growing weaker and weaker.

"Qingci..." he whispered, "Don't cry."

Shen Qingci then realized that her face was completely wet.

"Hang in there," her voice trembled uncontrollably, "I have medicine, I have the antidote..."

She took out the small leather pouch from her bosom—inside were three pills, the white one of which could keep her alive.

But Nangong Ye held her hand.

"Don't waste it..." He shook his head. "This poison... I recognize it. 'King Yama's Smile' from Xiling, there's no antidote..."

He paused, then looked at her with the last of his strength:

"But... it was worth it."

"This time... I wasn't late."

His hand fell to his side.

His eyes were still open, staring at her, and there was even a slight smile on his lips.

Shen Qingci held him and knelt in the pool of blood.

The shouts of battle were deafening all around.

But she couldn't hear anything.

She only saw the man in her arms, his face quickly turning ashen, and felt his body temperature rapidly decreasing.

"Nangong Ye..." she whispered his name.

no respond.

She lowered her head, her forehead touching his, and tears fell drop by drop onto his face.

Then, she looked up.

All the emotions in his eyes—fear, grief, panic—vanished.

All that remained was a cold, almost inhuman killing intent.

She gently put Nangong Ye down and stood up.

Pick up the Emperor's Sword from the ground.

The sword was heavy, but she held it very steadily.

"Xuan Ying!" she roared hoarsely.

A shadowy figure suddenly appeared and knelt before her, trembling as he looked at the emperor, whose life hung in the balance on the ground: "Your Majesty..."

"Take His Majesty back to the rear."

Shen Qingci's voice was eerily calm.

"Use the best medicine to keep him alive. If he dies—"

She paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:

"I want the entire Northern Desert tribe to be buried with him."

After saying that, she picked up her sword and walked to the front of the battlefield.

Red robes stained with blood, white horse fallen.

But the Emperor's Sword in her hand reflected a dazzling, cold light in the sunlight.

"Soldiers!" Her voice, amplified by a brass trumpet, resounded throughout the entire battlefield.

"His Majesty was shot while protecting me!"

"Now--"

She pointed her sword northward, towards the direction of Temujin's golden wolf banner:

"I demand the head of the Northern Khan to cure His Majesty's poison!"

"kill--!!!"

In that instant, the 30,000 remaining soldiers erupted in a deafening roar!

It's not "Your Majesty the Empress".

Yes--

"Avenge His Majesty!!!"

"Kill all the Northern Desert dogs!!!"

Morale reached its peak at this moment.