The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 55 Part 2

In fact, Zheji had already laid the groundwork earlier when she stated that she had no reason to harm the interests of the various tribes. The envoys understood that for someone with power at Boka’s level, there was no need to collude with the enemy just to deal with a few tribal factions. In some cases, they had simply overthought things.

As the envoys remained silent, Zheji swept her cold gaze around the hall. Her eyes briefly lingered on the Bolo Tribe’s envoy before she gave a chilly smile and said, “Since the misunderstanding has been resolved, I have a few more words for you. The Bolo Tribe’s envoy made some inappropriate remarks earlier. I won’t pursue the matter today, but I ask that the envoy—and everyone present—be mindful of your words in the future. You must ensure that you verify what is right and what is wrong before speaking.”

“Yes, I acknowledge my mistake.”

Being directly reprimanded by the princess, the Bolo envoy panicked, immediately kneeling with a trembling body. He had indeed been arrogant earlier. Although Zheji had remained composed and unexpressive, that did not mean she wasn’t angry. Her pride would not allow anyone to question her intentions.

Seeing this, Lin Aoxue found it remarkable. This princess was truly unmatched in her influence. The Bolo Tribe’s envoy had been so arrogant just moments ago, and yet Zheji had subdued him without deploying a single soldier, merely through words. Now, he had completely submitted without the slightest resistance.

Such mastery in controlling people, along with the vast network Zheji had built within the Boka Tribe over the past twenty years—including even the favor of the barbarian king—seemed astonishing from an outsider’s perspective. Yet, all of these achievements stemmed from her ability to understand human nature and to show sincerity at precisely the right moments.

With the matter settled, the envoys had no reason to stay in Zheji’s palace any longer. They bid their farewells and left, leaving only Lin Aoxue behind. She, too, was about to withdraw and return to her post when a servant hurried in to report that a general under the command of the Eldest Prince had come to seek an audience with Zheji.

Zheji waved her hand, signaling the servant to let the man in. Lin Aoxue bowed and excused herself. Zheji hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not ask her to stay. She had planned to speak with Lin Aoxue today, but with a visitor arriving, this was clearly not the right time.

As Lin Aoxue was leaving the palace, she unexpectedly bumped into the general under the Eldest Prince. She kept her head down and did not look closely, but just as she was about to take another step, a sudden, vicious gust of wind struck toward her. Lin Aoxue immediately sensed danger, swiftly shifting her footing and retreating, narrowly evading a sudden palm strike from the man.

Having been ambushed multiple times over the past few days, Lin Aoxue was beginning to feel frustrated. Her eyes sharpened with cold fury as she glared at her assailant. But when she saw who it was, her pupils contracted in shock, and she almost laughed out loud in anger. It was truly a case of enemies meeting on a narrow road—no matter where she went, she always seemed to run into old foes.

The barbarian warrior who had just thrown a punch at her was someone Lin Aoxue had encountered before. Though their meetings had been brief, she remembered him very well.

He was the same barbarian general who had shot an arrow into her shoulder from the shadows long ago, back when she was still a platoon leader. That time, she had been trapped in battle due to a reckless and overambitious commander leading a charge. Despite being surrounded, she had managed to turn the tide, slay a barbarian general, and lead a hundred remaining soldiers to break through enemy lines in a desperate retreat.

They had crossed paths several times on the battlefield, though never in direct combat. Since this man was a general under the Eldest Prince, it also indirectly confirmed that Zheji had not been lying—she truly had no involvement in this war.

Now, the barbarian general had clearly recognized Lin Aoxue, and his immediate response was to attack her, intending to kill her on the spot. Though Lin Aoxue had worn a mask during battle, hiding part of her features, anyone who had seen her two or three times would still be able to recognize her.

Lin Aoxue’s gaze grew icy. She smirked coldly and, seeing the man charging toward her again, did not hesitate to fight back.

The commotion at the palace gates quickly drew Zheji’s attention. She glanced over and saw Lin Aoxue and the Eldest Prince’s general exchanging blows without hesitation. Her brows furrowed slightly, but she did not immediately intervene. Instead, she rested her chin on her hand and watched the spectacle unfold.

With her influence, Zheji could have easily uncovered Lin Aoxue’s true identity—it was only a matter of time. Two days ago, she had received reports from Xingbei Pass, confirming Lin Aoxue’s identity. Originally, she had intended to suppress the matter and speak with Lin Aoxue privately. If she could convince her to defect, that would be ideal. She preferred not to resort to force unless absolutely necessary.

However, the situation had escalated too quickly. Le Bo, the Eldest Prince’s general, had exposed Lin Aoxue’s identity before she had a chance to intervene. Now, there was no way to keep it under wraps. Lin Aoxue was a trusted lieutenant of Beichen Long, and once her identity was revealed, the barbarian warriors of the Boka Tribe would all turn against her. Convincing her to surrender would become even more difficult.

Zheji smirked. Since these two already had personal grudges, she decided not to take sides.

Lin Aoxue was from Beichen, so Zheji had no reason to help her. Meanwhile, Le Bo was a Boka warrior, but he was loyal to the Eldest Prince and had even conspired against Zheji herself. She had no intention of repaying treachery with kindness. As long as their fight did not harm her palace’s innocent bystanders, she would let them handle it themselves.

Le Bo had excellent archery skills but was not particularly strong in close combat. Meanwhile, Lin Aoxue was still recovering from her injuries and couldn’t fight at full strength. As a result, they were evenly matched.

Realizing that Lin Aoxue was too formidable to let escape, Le Bo suddenly shouted toward Zheji inside the palace, “Princess! This man is Lin Aoxue, the fierce general of Xingbei Pass! He has infiltrated your palace—please, order his capture immediately!”

Lin Aoxue’s heart sank. The moment she recognized Le Bo, she had already expected this outcome. Now, the entire Boka Tribe would turn against her, seeking to capture or even kill her.

If she were just an ordinary soldier, Zheji saving her would be of little consequence. However, she was not. Although her rank was not high, she was still a junior general of Xingbei Pass, making her far more valuable than a common soldier.

The Boka princess had the means to uncover her identity, but until then, she could still negotiate with Zheji. While she had not interacted much with Zheji and did not know her deeply, she had a vague sense that Zheji was not a deceitful person. With Zheji’s pride, she would not resort to underhanded tactics.

Thus, there was still a chance to negotiate. However, the situation had now changed. Le Bo had exposed her identity, ensuring that everyone in the princess’ palace knew who she was. The dynamic between her and Zheji had now shifted drastically.

As Boka princess, Zheji had not directly led troops against the northern borders, but her identity as the daughter of the barbarian king was undeniable. Her personal interests were closely tied to the Boka royal family. Therefore, from Lin Aoxue’s perspective, Zheji had no reason to help her at this moment. It was far more likely that Zheji would seize the opportunity to capture her, torture her for information that could benefit the barbarians.

Given Zheji’s dominant nature, now that Lin Aoxue’s identity had been exposed, such an outcome was not out of the question.

If Lin Aoxue wanted to escape, she could only rely on herself—and she had to act quickly.

The sudden turn of events caught her off guard. She had not expected to encounter Le Bo here, but since she had, hostility between them was now inevitable. There was no reason for hesitation. Once she made up her mind, she held nothing back. She ignored the wound on her back—it had been healing well over the past few days, and it was no longer a major concern.

In a flash, she switched from defense to offense, catching Le Bo off guard. Within ten moves, she forced him back five steps—almost out of the palace hall. However, from her seat, Zheji clearly saw Lin Aoxue’s intent. A faint smile played on Zheji’s lips, her eyes dark as an abyss. Then, she calmly gave her order, “Stop him.”

Lin Aoxue heard Zheji’s voice and felt a surge of frustration. As expected, Zheji was making her stance clear—she intended to capture her publicly.

Le Bo, who had been forced to retreat multiple times, was shocked. He had not expected Lin Aoxue’s explosive power to be this terrifying. Just moments ago, she had been slow and reserved, but after he exposed her identity, her entire demeanor changed. He gritted his teeth, realizing that Lin Aoxue had been pushed into a desperate situation—she was going all out.

If he could just hold her off for a little longer, Zheji’s guards would arrive, and then Lin Aoxue would have no escape.

Soon, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside the palace. Lin Aoxue’s heart pounded as anxiety flickered in her eyes. Time was running out. She could not allow herself to be captured. If she fell into enemy hands, her identity would be completely exposed, and escaping later would be even more difficult.

With a powerful strike, Lin Aoxue sent Le Bo stumbling backward. The wound on her back split open slightly, but since it had been healing well, the pain was manageable. She twisted her body, swiftly snatching a dagger from a nearby guard’s waist, and lunged at Le Bo.

Le Bo was horrified. He hurriedly drew his sword to shield his chest and neck, and with a sharp clang, Lin Aoxue’s dagger was deflected. However, instead of retreating, the blade slid sideways and plunged into his shoulder with a sickening squelch. Blood splattered onto Lin Aoxue’s body.

Seeing this, Lin Aoxue smirked coldly and sneered, “An eye for an eye. You shot me with an arrow, and now I stab you with a knife. Are we even now?”

Without hesitation, she drove the dagger deeper, piercing clean through Le Bo’s shoulder. The severity of the wound mirrored the arrow she had once suffered. The dagger had barbs and a blood groove, so when Lin Aoxue twisted it, Le Bo screamed in agony and collapsed to the ground. Blood gushed from his shoulder, instantly staining his clothes red.

From her estimation, Le Bo’s arm was as good as useless now. Even if it didn’t become completely crippled, it would never regain full function. She had deliberately severed the key muscles in his shoulder—while the wound itself could heal, he would never have the same strength in that arm again. His combat ability would be reduced by at least thirty percent.

She sneered and, seeing that Le Bo was unable to get up immediately, decided not to waste any more time. She dashed toward the palace gates.

By now, over a hundred guards had gathered outside the hall. Every one of them was a skilled fighter. As Zheji’s personal guards, these warriors were elite soldiers who could take on ten foes at once on the battlefield. Breaking through them would be extremely difficult.

But Lin Aoxue had never been one to back down. This was only the first hurdle. Even if she managed to get out of Zheji’s palace, more soldiers would be gathering to pursue her. She had no certainty of success, but no matter how slim the odds, she had to fight for her freedom.

Her attacks were swift and relentless. Within a few heartbeats, nearly ten guards had collapsed at her feet. Because Zheji had once saved her life, she refrained from killing Zheji’s men, only incapacitating them enough so they could no longer block her path.

Zheji remained seated, unmoving like a mountain. Watching the battle unfold before her, she grew increasingly intrigued. She absentmindedly rubbed her chin, a flicker of admiration in her eyes as she murmured, “Impressive. So, he was holding back before.”

More and more guards swarmed the entrance. What had started as just over a hundred men had now grown to nearly a thousand, with reinforcements still arriving. The overwhelming numbers put immense pressure on Lin Aoxue.

Despite this, she fought on, unyielding. Using nothing but her own strength, she sought to break through the hundreds of guards blocking her path. It was an impossible task, yet she never wavered. Every strike incapacitated another enemy, carving a bloody path toward freedom.

Slowly but surely, she forced open a gap in the thick human barricade. The exit was finally within reach. Lin Aoxue’s eyes gleamed with determination, and her attacks only grew faster. Fueled by sheer willpower, she charged toward the palace gates with everything she had.

Just as she was about to break through—when victory was almost in her grasp—a shadow suddenly leaped over her head, landing gracefully in front of her.

Lin Aoxue’s breath caught. Her heart clenched.

It was Princess Zheji.

This was the greatest obstacle of the day.

Her heart pounded, but her expression remained unreadable. She refused to back down. No matter who stood in her way, she had to fight.

Stepping forward without hesitation, Lin Aoxue launched herself at Zheji.

Unlike the straightforward fighting style of the Beichen warriors, Zheji’s martial arts were eerie and unpredictable. Each strike was precise and deadly, aiming directly for vital points. She fought with an unusual rhythm, making her moves nearly impossible to anticipate.

The moment they clashed, Lin Aoxue felt the pressure increase. Zheji was young, but her martial skills were formidable—stronger than most so-called masters Lin Aoxue had encountered. In fact, the only person Lin Aoxue had ever met who surpassed Zheji in skill was Sui Liang.

As Zheji moved, her guards instinctively stepped back, clearing the space for her to fight freely. They no longer tried to intervene—because in their eyes, once Zheji took action, no one could escape her grasp.

Lin Aoxue had already battled over a dozen opponents and had fought Le Bo, which had further drained her stamina.

With Zheji attacking at full strength, the advantage was heavily in her favor. After exchanging over a hundred moves, Lin Aoxue’s weakness became apparent. The wound on her back had worsened, splitting open further. Zheji extended two fingers toward Lin Aoxue’s throat. Lin Aoxue swiftly withdrew, raising her hand to block, but unexpectedly, Zheji altered her move mid-strike. Her wrist flicked downward, fingers curling, and with the back of her hand, she struck Lin Aoxue squarely in the chest.

Lin Aoxue staggered backward from the impact, and Zheji seized the opportunity, her gaze icy and unwavering. Within twenty more moves, she had Lin Aoxue collapsing to the ground. A trace of crimson blood seeped from Lin Aoxue’s lips—the force of Zheji’s palm strike had inflicted an internal injury.

As Lin Aoxue lay on the ground, Zheji used an acupoint technique to immobilize her completely, ensuring she could no longer resist.

Eyes wide in shock, Lin Aoxue stared up at Zheji, her expression a mixture of astonishment and fury. Clenching her teeth, she snarled, “You actually know acupoint strikes! That’s a Beichen martial art!”

Zheji took a slow step toward her, gazing down from above. A faint, cool smile played on her lips—detached yet tinged with a sense of satisfaction. “Is Beichen martial arts something I am forbidden to learn?” she mused. “I have long heard of County Commandant Lin’s valor, capable of facing a hundred foes alone, rarely tasting defeat. Now that you have fallen into my hands, how does it feel?”

Though Zheji had acted when Lin Aoxue was already weakened, her superior martial skill was undeniable. Even at her peak, Lin Aoxue wasn’t certain she could have bested her. There was no resentment, no unwillingness—only helpless acceptance. Today, escape was impossible.

A sigh escaped her lips, and with gritted teeth, she admitted, “Your Highness is both a formidable warrior and a brilliant strategist. I concede defeat.”

The amusement in Zheji’s eyes deepened. She clapped her hands lightly and ordered the attendants beside her, “Escort County Commandant Lin to the dungeon.”

With her acupoints sealed, Lin Aoxue was unable to move. The attendants lifted her from the ground and carried her away toward the dungeons of the princess’ palace.

As Zheji watched Lin Aoxue being taken away, the corners of her lips curled into a small, knowing smile. Now, she held an invaluable bargaining chip—one that could secure her a rather profitable deal with that cunning Beichen woman.