> "I just wanted to get some sleep… and somehow woke up as the prize every army is fighting for."
— Lin Zhou
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[1] War Drums, Fog, and Approaching Enemies
At midnight, the sea of fog outside Frostmoon Camp churned like boiling water.
The deep rumble of war drums rolled in from three sides, mingled with dragon roars, horn calls—and a certain unmistakable laugh—
Crown Prince Chiyan: "Hanshuang, hand him over!"
Honglei: "Anyone who dares to steal what's mine will drown in rivers of blood."
Dragon Clan Saint Son: "Lin Zhou is the Dragon Clan's Saint Son—touch him, and I'll wipe out your clan."
Lin Zhou crawled out from under his blanket, bleary-eyed. "Me? When did I become yours?"
Xiao Li clung to his leg, shivering. "Brother, I think we're the only dishes on tonight's dinner table."
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[2] Hanshuang's Declaration
The gates creaked open, and Hanshuang stepped out in full armor, her spear gleaming like frost under the moon.
Her voice was so cold it could crack bone:
> "Frostmoon Camp doesn't welcome guests."
Crown Prince Chiyan laughed loud. "Then I'll just have to come in and see for myself!"
Honglei raised her eyes, a sly curve to her lips. "Me too."
The Dragon Clan Saint Son cast off his cloak, revealing half-dragon-scale armor. "All the more reason for me."
Behind them, Lin Zhou whispered to Xiao Li, "They're all out of their minds."
Xiao Li: "Brother, they're not afraid of dying—they're afraid you'll run."
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[3] The Battle Begins
First Wave: Crown Prince Chiyan
With a single wave, the Chiyan Army charged, blades and flames surging like a tide.
Hanshuang's cold snort rang out; her spear moved like a dragon, flipping the three vanguard soldiers in an instant.
Lin Zhou was about to duck for cover, but a soldier threw himself at his feet—"Creditor, be careful!"—and whisked him to a "safe zone" like he was a holy relic.
Second Wave: Honglei
She lashed out with a crimson whip, shattering half the fog barrier at the camp gate in an instant.
As the mist cleared, Honglei's gaze fell on Lin Zhou, softening. "Are you hurt?"
Lin Zhou blinked. "Huh? I… I'm just sleepy."
Honglei shot Hanshuang a frosty glare. "You won't even let him sleep?"
Third Wave: Dragon Clan Saint Son
The roar of dragons shook the sky as he charged in atop a dragon-shaped war beast, the ground shattering beneath its steps.
But just as it reached the gate, the beast knelt, lowering its head toward Lin Zhou with a low growl—like a worshiper before a god.
Lin Zhou: "…"
Hanshuang raised an eyebrow. "Looks like the creditor's debts are bigger than I thought."
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[4] Lin Zhou "Joins" the Fight
In the chaos, a stray arrow flew toward Lin Zhou.
He reflexively raised a stick, and by sheer luck, the shaft caught the arrow's tail, flipping it back—where it planted itself in the ground at Crown Prince Chiyan's feet.
For two seconds, the battlefield fell silent. Chiyan's face darkened. "Is this provocation?"
Lin Zhou: "No, it was an accident!"
Hanshuang, Honglei, and the Dragon Clan Saint Son all spoke coldly at the same time: "Anyone who harms him—dies."
And just like that, the three factions stopped fighting each other and turned as one toward the source of the stray arrow. The unlucky assassin who fired it didn't even have time to scream before being obliterated by combined fire from all three sides.
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[5] The Night Raid Ends
The battle raged until dawn, leaving the ground outside the camp scorched and blackened.
In the end, none of the three factions succeeded in taking Lin Zhou; instead, they left behind piles of discarded weapons and a crowd of surrendered prisoners.
Hanshuang stood at the camp gate, looking down at them from above. "Go back and tell your masters—the creditor is still here. If they want him, they'd better bring their lives to trade."
Standing behind her, Lin Zhou petted Xiao Li and sighed. "Now I get it—I'm not their friend, and I'm not a guest… I'm a walking battlefield trigger."
Xiao Li blinked. "Brother, doesn't that mean… you're really valuable?"
Lin Zhou gave a bitter smile. "Valuable enough to make me afraid to leave the house."