The western gate stood like a giant shadow against the setting sun.
Below it—
Shen Wu's army approached.
Armor glinted.
Footsteps thundered.
Banners snapped in the wind.
Inside the walls, fear spread like wildfire.
---
### THE PANIC BEFORE IMPACT
"THEY'RE HERE—!!!"
The alarm screamed.
Soldiers scrambled into position.
Archers climbed the towers.
Civilians fled deeper into the city.
Lei Hua stood hidden behind the battlements, hands shaking.
(*This is real… this is actually happening… enemies… at the gate…*)
She peeked down.
Thousands of soldiers.
Her knees nearly gave out.
(*SYSTEM… THIS IS ABOVE MY PAY GRADE—*)
---
### SHEN WU ADVANCES
On his black war horse, Shen Wu lifted his hand.
The army stopped in perfect order.
He raised his voice.
"Open the gate."
His tone was calm.
Deadly calm.
"If you do, I guarantee no blood will be spilled."
Lei Hua bit her lip.
(*THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT A VILLAIN SAYS BEFORE CHAOS—*)
---
### THE WEST GATE TREMBLES
On the wall—
The guards looked toward Lei Yue.
She stood quietly.
Sleeves fluttering.
Hair calm.
Eyes sharp.
She raised her hand.
"Do not open it."
Three simple words.
The city obeyed.
---
### SHEN WU'S SMILE
Shen Wu laughed lightly.
"So it's you…"
His eyes lifted to the wall.
"The rumored genius who hides behind shadows."
Lei Yue met his gaze without fear.
"You're standing too close," she replied calmly.
Shen Wu scoffed.
"And you're standing too high."
His hand dropped.
The army surged forward.
---
### THE FIRST CLASH
Drums thundered.
Arrows flew.
Shouts exploded across the walls.
Lei Hua covered her ears.
(*I'M NOT BUILT FOR WAR ARC—*)
Soldiers on both sides pushed and blocked.
No blood was seen clearly.
Only chaos.
Only motion.
Only thunder.
---
### SHEN WU'S TRUE MOVE
Shen Wu smiled.
From his ranks—
A second formation split off.
They turned.
Straight toward—
The unguarded side channel of the gate.
Lei Hua gasped.
(*A FLANK ATTACK— HE PLANNED THIS—*)
---
### LEI YUE DOES NOT PANIC
Lei Hua turned to Lei Yue in terror.
"Sister Yue—!! The side passage—!!"
Lei Yue already knew.
She lifted her fingers slightly.
"Unit Three."
The air shifted.
From behind the walls—
Hidden troops poured out like shadows.
They intercepted the attackers cleanly.
The collision was instant.
Shen Wu's fake retreat—
Failed.
---
### SHEN WU'S FACE TIGHTENS
"…So you prepared that far ahead," he murmured.
Lei Yue's answer drifted down calmly.
"You never stop using the same trick."
Lei Hua's eyes went wide.
(*SHE'S FOUGHT HIM BEFORE—?! WHEN—?! HOW—?!*)
---
### ZHEN RUO WATCHES FROM AFAR
From a distant tower in the capital—
Zhen Ruo observed everything through a spy scope.
His lips curved faintly.
"Interesting," he whispered.
"So she really has stepped into the light."
---
### LEI HUA'S SHAKEN HEART
Lei Hua clutched her chest.
(*This is no longer just gossip and exposure… This is real power…*)
She glanced at Lei Yue.
Unmoving.
Unshaken.
Commanding everything with calm words.
(*This is the queen… This is the one the whole empire doesn't deserve…*)
---
### THE GATE HOLDS
As the sun dipped lower—
Shen Wu's troops were stalled.
Blocked.
Delayed.
Frustrated.
The west gate still stood.
Unbroken.
---
### SHEN WU WITHDRAWS… FOR NOW
Shen Wu raised his hand again.
The troops pulled back slowly.
Not defeated.
But not victorious.
He looked up at Lei Yue one final time.
"This isn't done."
Lei Yue replied quietly:
"I know."
---
### END OF CHAPTER 23