The underground hall was silent.
Ten thousand ghost soldiers knelt beneath the earth like a frozen sea of steel and death.
Blue soul flames burned inside empty eye sockets.
Ancient armourburnt reflected the dim spiritual light from the walls.
And at the centre—
General Bai Wuchen remained on one knee before me.
Even kneeling, he felt like a mountain.
His broken black armour carried the scars of ancient wars, and the sword in his hand looked like it had once cut through kingdoms.
Honestly—
Hearmour was cooler than me.
I took that personally.
Behind me, Yue Lian and the Phoenix Flame Guards looked like they had forgotten how breathing worked.
Hu Mei whispered,
"Master, if you ask nicely, maybe he'll adopt me too."
Mo Jianli folded his arms.
"He's more dignified than all of us combined."
Fair.
Very fair.
Feng Yuehuang stood quietly beside me, golden eyes fixed on Bai Wuchen.
For once—
Even though she was serious.
That meant danger.
Excellent.
I looked at the ancient general.
"Stand."
His voice echoed like old thunder.
"Yes, my lord."Even
He rose slowly.
The pressure in the underground hall changed instantly.
This was not just a strength.
This was a command. My lord."
The kind that made armies obey before words were spoken.
I stepped closer.
"Who are you?"
He looked at me with those burning blue eyes.
"I was once the Northern Guardian General of Great Yan."
His voice carried the weight of centuries.
"I led the Imperial Ghost Legion during the Northern Demon Beast Tide."
The Fifth Prince's memories stirred.
A forgotten war.
A disaster buried by history.
I frowned.
"The records say the army disappeared."
Bai Wuchen's grip on his sword tightened.
"They lied."
Ah.
Of course they did.
He continued.
"We were ordered here by the former Crown Prince… your grandfather," a command.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
"Ten thousand elite soldiers. Our mission was to stop the Demon Tide before it reached the capital."
He looked toward the distant stone walls, as he could still see that battlefield.
"We won."
Silence.
Then his voice became colder.
"But victory frightened the wrong people."
Politics.
Always politics.
Even in death.
I already knew where this was going.
"The emperor feared the army."
Bai Wuchen nodded once.
"The ministers feared a loyal general with ten thousand soldiers and the support of the people."
His blue flames burnt brighter.
"So they sealed us here."
No one spoke.
Even Hu Mei lost her smile.
Betrayed after victory.
Buried alive by the empire they protected.
Classic royal family behaviour.
I sighed.
"My family really has terrible customer service."
Mo Jianli laughed once.
Even Bai Wuchen looked like he almost approved.
Almost.
I folded my arms.
"And now?"
The ancient general looked directly into my eyes.
"We waited."
"For someone with royal blood…"
"For someone worthy…"
His voice became heavier.
"For someone who would not use loyalty as a weapon."
I blinked once.
That hit harder than expected.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
He slowly lowered his head again.
"The Ghost Legion does not serve the throne."
He placed his sword before me.
"We serve the sovereign."
Behind me, the ten thousand soldiers lowered their weapons in unison.
The sound echoed like thunder.
The system flashed.
[Legendary Army Bound Successfully]
Imperial Ghost Legion 10,000
Commander: Bai Wuchen
Loyalty: 60 → 75
Special Ability:
Undying Battle Formation
Army Skill:
Ghost Flame Suppression
Excellent.
Very excellent.
I liked free armies.
Especially when they came with trauma and loyalty.
I picked up Bai Wuchen's sword and handed it back.
"No kneeling."
He looked up.
I smiled faintly.
"The people who betray loyalty deserve kneeling."
I pointed at him.
"The people who protect kingdoms deserve respect."
Silence.
Then—
for the first time—
I saw emotion in those dead blue eyes.
Not much.
But enough.
Good.
That mattered.
His loyalty panel flickered.
[Bai Wuchen Loyalty: 75 → 82]
Perfect.
Outside the stone gate, the valley suddenly trembled.
Lin Xue turned sharply.
"Something is coming."
Of course it was.
Peace was illegal in this novel.
A soldier rushed from the entrance tunnel.
"Your Highness!"
He dropped to one knee.
"Scouts from the Third Prince!"
Ah.
Excellent timing.
I smiled.
"How many?"
"Nearly three hundred cavalry are 10,000 approaching the valley."
Three hundred?
I looked at my ten thousand ghost soldiers.
Then at Bai Wuchen.
Then back at the messenger.
Honestly—
I almost felt bad.
Almost.
Hu Mei grinned like a criminal at a festival.
"Oh, this will be hilarious."
Feng Yuehuang folded her arms.
"The capital still believes you are hiding in the snow."
I nodded.
"Yes."
Then smiled slowly.
"Let's correct that misunderstanding."
I walked toward the stone gate.
The Ghost Legion rose behind me like a storm waking from the grave.
Ten thousand armoured footsteps.
No sound.
Just pressure.
Just death.
Beautiful.
Bai Wuchen walked one step behind me.
A general returning to war.
Mo Jianli rested his blade on his shoulder.
"Now this feels like a proper welcome party."
Ye Shura smirked.
"I approve."
Fa Yun quietly whispered prayers for the enemy.
Reasonable.
Very reasonable.
As we reached the valley entrance, I could already see them.
Three hundred elite cavalry wearing black wolf insignia.
Another force from Chen Lie.
Arrogant.
Confident.
Completely unaware that they had accidentally ridden into a cemetery with poor customer service.
Their commander rode forward.
A young noble in silver armour.
Smug.
Always a bad sign.
He looked down at me and laughed.
"So this is where the dead prince hides."
I smiled politely.
"And this is where arrogant men disappear."
He scoffed.
Then I finally noticed the figures rising behind me.
Rows.
Thousands.
Blue flames.
Ancient armour.
Silence.
His horse took one terrified step backwards.
Good horse.
Smart horse.
The noble's face turned white.
"What… what is that?"
I stepped aside.
Letting him see all of it.
The full ghost legion beneath the snow.
I smiled.
"My argument."
And behind me—
General Bai Wuchen raised his ancient sword.
The valley itself seemed to kneel.
Tonight—
The Third Prince would lose more than scouts.
He would lose sleep.
And honestly—
That was my favourite kind of victory.