Phoenix Vane had already foreseen the rift among the orcs and ordered the Fast army to ignore the demoralized soldiers of the other three races and focus their attack on the Lion-soldiers of Leth. Under her skillful command, the Phoenix Legion deployed their ultimate formation, "Phoenix Nine Heavens." A fierce wind arose within the formation, causing the Lion-soldiers to cry out in agony, being blown about unpredictably, while the Fast cavalry, charging past, remained completely unaffected, cleanly and swiftly slaughtering them.
Coupled with the bombardment of the Fast army's magic cannons from the mountain, the Lion Soldiers, caught in a two-front war, quickly fell into chaos and suffered heavy casualties. They were terrified by the magic cannon fire, something that could not be resisted by mere brute force. Their fighting spirit melted away like ice and snow under the sun.
In the chaos, a lion general grabbed Leth and shouted, "Your Majesty, things are hopeless! We should retreat!"
Leth watched as the screaming Lion Soldiers were slaughtered like grass by the Fastan heavy cavalry; the scene was one of carnage and rivers of blood. He angrily swung his club and knocked a Fastan cavalryman who charged at him off his horse, but this was of no use to the overall situation; the Fastan army had completely taken control.
The battle-hardened Leth knew that if things continued this way, his entire army might be wiped out. He wiped the sweat from his face and watched Phoenix Vane charging towards him with her spear raised. Behind her, a phoenix banner fluttered in the wind. Phoenix Vane's spear moved like a dragon emerging from the sea; with each strike, orcs fell with screams of agony. Several ferocious lion generals couldn't even manage a single move before being stabbed to the ground.
Heartbroken that his beloved was about to be killed, Leto spurred his horse forward and said through gritted teeth, "Phoenix Vane, I will never forgive you!"
The military advisor on the side swung his sword to deflect a slashing blade, and with a backhand motion, knocked back a Fast cavalryman. He anxiously said to Ret, "Your Majesty, we should retreat! Look at the other tribes; they have all preserved their forces. Being careful of them is the most important thing!"
These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head. The bloodthirsty Leth suddenly snapped out of his daze, turned his mount around, and shouted, "Retreat!"
Upon hearing the order, the three clans, already harboring disloyalty, turned and fled the fastest, leaving the lion clan behind as easy prey for the Fast army. Phoenix Vane wielded a lion general from his horse with a single spear thrust, then raised her spear and shouted, "Lett has escaped! Men, capture him!" The Fast army, upon hearing this, was greatly encouraged, while the demoralized lion soldiers wished they had two legs, abandoning their armor and fleeing at breakneck speed. The Fast army, their morale soaring, pursued relentlessly for thirty miles, utterly routing the lion soldiers, leaving rivers of blood, before finally halting their advance.
Still reeling from the shock, Lett ran fifty miles before stopping to gather his remaining troops. Looking at the two hundred thousand soldiers who had come with him, now reduced to a mere hundred thousand or so, Lett was filled with despair and could only sigh to the heavens, "Heaven has forsaken me!" Then, gazing in Fast's direction, he said viciously, "Phoenix Vane, you bastard, I will tear you to pieces to vent my hatred!"
The minister accompanying the army reminded him, "Your Majesty, our army's strength has been greatly reduced, and various ethnic groups within the country are bound to rise up. We must make careful plans." These words interrupted Ret's enthusiasm for continuing his eloquent speech.
Lie nodded, pondered, and said, "That's right! Brother Bu and Graybeard, who have been eyeing us for a long time, may take this opportunity to make trouble. I really need to be careful." He looked around at his men, who were all in a sorry state, and said weakly, "Let's go back to our own city first and then make a plan."
Thus, the "First Battle of Tianfeng," which holds an important place in the history of the mainland, ended with a great victory for Fast. Both Wu'an and Yasu were severely weakened, especially Yasu, whose powerful orcs were no longer able to advance south for a long time and were forced into a defensive posture.
※ ※ ※
A triumphant Aurelian Dragon led his troops down the mountain in triumphant glory, where the waiting crowd cheered and rushed forward. Lynette Quill, completely disregarding the reactions of others, threw herself into his arms, tightly embracing his waist, tears streaming down her face.
Aurelian Dragon embraced Lynette Quill's sweet and alluring body, her eyes fixed on Phoenix Vane standing beside her beloved horse, Flying Cloud. Phoenix Vane's phoenix eyes radiated tenderness as she gazed at him, a deep affection that could melt steel. She was forcibly restraining her demeanor; as the leader of an army, she couldn't afford to lose her composure like Lynette Quill and reveal her emotions so openly in front of everyone.
Holding the warm, beautiful woman in his arms, Aurelian Dragon deeply felt the intense love that both the woman in his arms and Phoenix Vane before him held for him. He felt that life was so wonderful at this moment. He truly had to thank this war.
The victorious Fast army held a grand banquet that night, with all the soldiers reveling in celebration. Aurelien Dragon, the hero of the night, was the center of attention, with officers constantly toasting him. In high spirits, Aurelien Dragon accepted every toast, downing each glass in one gulp. Soon, he was quite tipsy. Phoenix Vane, as usual, toasted everyone a few times to express her gratitude. After sitting for a while, she left the celebration. She knew that her presence would make the soldiers more reserved, and besides, she disliked such a chaotic scene.
Knowing her temperament well, the Phoenix Legion officers didn't care at all. As soon as Phoenix Vane left, they immediately became unrestrained, grabbing the female soldiers serving drinks and flirting with them. For a moment, the banquet was filled with the coquettish pouts of women and the rough laughter of men.
This was a scene Aurelian Dragon loved and excelled at. Not to be outdone, he immediately grabbed a beautiful female soldier passing by and began to flirt with her. Beautiful women love heroes, and the female soldier was happy to let this young general, who had just achieved great merit, take advantage of him. Besides, if she could win Aurelian Dragon over and make him fall at her feet, that would be even better. She believed this thousand-man cavalryman would rise to ten-thousand-man commander and become a new favorite of the empire.
Just as the two were locked in a heated argument, a young and beautiful Golden Phoenix Guard hurried into the tent and headed towards Aurelian Dragon. The generals could only verbally harass Phoenix Vane's personal guard; unless she herself consented, no one dared to lay a hand on her. After all, Phoenix Vane was like a goddess in their eyes, and no one dared to anger her. Therefore, this Golden Phoenix Guard reached Aurelian Dragon's side without difficulty.
Aurelian Dragon was smugly kissing the female soldier's rosy cheeks, making her giggle. Suddenly, a female voice rang in her ear: "Captain Liu invites Ye Qianqi!"
Aurelian Dragon reluctantly turned his head to look at the direction from which the voice had come from. The Golden Phoenix Guard to his right was smiling at him. The guard's large, watery eyes seemed to speak volumes, causing Aurelian Dragon's heart to flutter slightly.
Seeing Aurelian Dragon staring straight at her, the Golden Phoenix Guard blushed slightly. "Please come with me, General!" she said, turning gracefully and swaying her waist as she walked away. Aurelian Dragon, as if hypnotized, hurriedly followed. The remaining female soldier stamped her feet, but a general quickly came to comfort her.
Stepping out of the noisy tent, the cold wind cleared Aurelian Dragon's slightly dazed mind, and she realized that she had been following the Golden Phoenix Guard like a silly goose without saying a word.
Aurelian Dragon chuckled to herself, cleared her throat, and stared intently at the Golden Phoenix Guard's swaying waist and graceful hips, which were truly captivating and alluring.
"Excuse me, young lady, where are we going?"
The Golden Phoenix Guard chuckled crisply, "Now I'll take you to the Phoenix Tent!" His voice was as melodious as a silver bell.
Following a step behind Jin Fengwei, Aurelian Dragon saw the way she swayed her hips as she walked and knew that she was still a virgin. He couldn't help but feel a surge of lust and secretly swallowed.
Hey! I don't even know your name yet!
Jin Fengwei said in a low voice, "Why would a thousand cavalrymen need to know my name, a lowly soldier like me?"
Aurelian Dragon, undeterred by his lust, was no match for this expert. He took a step forward, reaching her side, inhaling the faint fragrance of her delicate body, and whispered in her ear, "Will we ever have a chance to meet again?"
Feeling the Aurelian Dragon's warm breath on her sensitive ear, Jin Fengwei was extremely embarrassed, her ears turning red. Her head drooped down to her breasts, and she hurried away.
"Ouch!" Jin Fengwei staggered as if she had stepped on something.
Taking advantage of the situation, Aurelian Dragon embraced her soft, delicate body, repeatedly saying, "Be careful, be careful!"
"Ah! Let me go!" Jin Fengwei was extremely embarrassed and struggled to get out of his embrace.
How could he let such an opportunity slip by? Aurelian Dragon not only refused to let go, but instead held her slender waist tightly, fully enjoying the incredible softness of her body as she struggled, and said shamelessly, "I won't let go until you tell me your name!"
The Golden Phoenix Guard, limp from his embrace, said helplessly, "My name is Tian Tian. Okay, put me down now!"
Aurelian Dragon repeated her name several times, saying, "What a lovely name. She truly lives up to her name; she's a sweet and adorable girl." As he spoke, he still held Tian Tian in his arms. Overwhelmed by his strong masculine aura, Tian Tian was powerless to resist and leaned against him, half-embracing and half-holding him.
Aurelian Dragon pressed her advantage, saying, "Give me a kiss, and I'll put you down."
Tian Tian knew she wouldn't give up until she gave this man a little something, so she obediently and cleverly leaned in, placing her delicate, pink cheeks near his large mouth. Unexpectedly, Aurelian Dragon seized the opportunity, lowering his head and pressing his large mouth against her cherry-like lips.
"Mmm..." Tian Tian only managed to utter half a sound before Aurelian Dragon's tongue took over her mouth. His nimble tongue roamed freely within her mouth, sweeping through every corner, finally prying out her delicate tongue and sucking it into his own mouth with force. Tian Tian felt dizzy, as if her heart was being sucked out. With Aurelian Dragon licking her tongue up and down, Tian Tian could only let out soft moans through her nose as her entire body collapsed into Aurelian Dragon's arms.
While Aurelian Dragon kissed Tian Tian deeply, one of his large hands roamed and explored her alluring body. Gradually, Tian Tian's body became hot, and her tongue, guided by Aurelian Dragon, began to awkwardly respond to the teasing of his tongue.
"Oh dear! I wondered what was going on? Why didn't you come for so long? Turns out you were stealing a kiss here!" Lynette Quill's voice, a jarring sound, reached the ears of the two people who were completely absorbed in their kiss.
Tian Tian's delicate body stiffened slightly, and she hurriedly used her jade-like hands to push away Aurelian Dragon's chest. Aurelian Dragon's lips left her cherry lips, and seeing Tian Tian's pink face as red as peach blossoms in March, with tears welling up in her large, watery eyes, he reluctantly embraced her delicate body that was trying to escape, and kissed her pretty face hard before releasing his hands from Tian Tian's slender waist.
Extremely embarrassed, Tian Tian felt as if she had been granted a pardon and turned to run away in a flash. Lynette Quill, however, was still behind her, giggling, "Tian Tian, Sister Feng wants you to come into her tent; she needs your service!" She then giggled again.
After watching Tian Tian disappear around the corner, Lynette Quill turned around triumphantly, only to find Aurelian Dragon standing right in front of her. She gasped and took a half-step back.
Aurelian Dragon looked at Lynette Quill, whose smile hadn't faded, with ill intent. "You know what? Rushing someone else's plans will get you punished." Before Lynette Quill could protest, he grabbed her and launched into a passionate kiss. Lynette Quill only struggled symbolically for a moment before returning Aurelian Dragon's kiss with equal fervor.
Two tongues chased and intertwined, Aurelian Dragon greedily sucking Lynette Quill's fragrant saliva, while his hands thirstily explored her beautiful body.
After a long pause, the two finally parted, panting. Aurelian Dragon looked at the passionate Lynette Quill and said, "You dare ruin my plans? Just wait and see how I deal with you later!"
"Have mercy! My lord!" Lynette Quill feigned fear. "Lynette knows she was wrong, please have mercy, my lord!"
Then she raised her head and said with a grin, "Why don't you ask my husband to let me make amends by capturing Tian Tian and presenting him to you?"
Aurelian Dragon swept her up in his arms, and Lynette Quill's hands naturally wrapped around his neck. Aurelian Dragon strode toward her tent, saying, "You're still causing trouble. It seems I'll make sure you don't even have the strength to scream today."
Lynette Quill's bright red lips brushed against Aurelian Dragon's ear, and she whispered sweetly, "You can do whatever you want later! Let's go to Sister Feng's bedchamber first!" Aurelian Dragon's heart fluttered, and he excitedly replied, "Yes, my lady!"
Upon arriving at Phoenix Vane's bedchamber, the two personal maids of Phoenix Vane standing at the door, upon seeing Aurelian Dragon carrying Lynette Quill, both revealed mysterious smiles, lifted the tent flap, and respectfully let the two of them in.
Upon entering the warm, spring-like bedchamber, filled with the sweet fragrance of women, Aurelian Dragon's eyes lit up. Under the bright light, Phoenix Vane, lightly made up and dressed in a pale purple robe, sat gracefully on a soft couch, her head slightly bowed, her posture as elegant as a celestial being. For a moment, Aurelian Dragon was stunned, her mouth agape, speechless.
Lynette Quill leaped down from his arms and said sweetly, "Sister Feng, I've brought the person to you! You two chat, I'm leaving now." With that, she turned and left the bedchamber. As she passed Aurelian Dragon, she gave him a meaningful look. Unfortunately, Aurelian Dragon, like a dumb goose, stared blankly at the undeniably feminine Phoenix Vane before him, completely oblivious to her.
After a long while, Phoenix Vane slowly raised her head, her delicate face gazing at Aurelien Dragon. In that instant, Aurelien Dragon felt her heart pound. At this moment, Phoenix Vane displayed a tenderness and allure she had never shown before. Her eyebrows were lightly drawn, her cheeks flushed, her lips were luscious and inviting, and her phoenix eyes held a captivating allure. She was completely different from the dashing and imposing General Fei Feng of the past.
Phoenix Vane parted her lips slightly and said, "Ye Qianqi, please sit down!"
"Ah! Sit, sit!" Aurelian Dragon hurriedly responded, walking nervously to the chair. She bumped into the chair leg with a "bang."
"Ouch! That hurts!" Aurelian Dragon cried out in pain.
Phoenix Vane couldn't help but chuckle. After laughing out loud, Phoenix Vane covered her mouth sheepishly, looking at Aurelian Dragon with amusement in her eyes. The bump startled Aurelian Dragon, who realized how she had lost her composure, a far cry from her usual professional self.
This is understandable, really. Phoenix Vane was already an incredibly beautiful woman, and out of the desire for beauty to please her lover, she dressed up even more carefully. In addition, Aurelian Dragon had always seen Phoenix Vane as a dashing and imposing general commanding thousands of troops, so the impact of seeing her in such a purely feminine form was quite remarkable.
Suddenly, Aurelian Dragon's gaze fell upon Phoenix Vane's jade-like neck. While the fair and beautifully shaped neck was captivating, what stirred Aurelian Dragon's heart most at this moment was the chest exposed beneath the collar. On the snow-white, shimmering skin, a crescent-shaped jade pendant gleamed with a greenish luster under the light, its ancient design testifying to the preciousness of the jade piece.
"This…" Aurelian Dragon could not describe his feelings at this moment. It was as if he had been struck by a thunderbolt. His heart felt like it was about to break. He pointed at the crescent-shaped jade artifact, and his voice trembled.
Phoenix Vane was also visibly excited, her phoenix eyes fixed on the Aurelian Dragon, filled with a deep, unwavering affection. She parted her lips slightly, suppressing her overwhelming emotions, and said, "This is 'Crescent Heart,' do you know it too?"
Aurelian Dragon took a deep breath, composed herself slightly, and said in a trembling voice, "Where did you get this?"
"I've been wearing it since I was little! Is there anything wrong with it?"
"No! The Crescent Heart is a family heirloom of one of my best friends. How did it end up in your hands?"
"A friend?" Phoenix Vane looked at Aurelian Dragon with slight surprise. "Just a friend?"
"I shouldn't tell her!" The thought had just crossed his mind when he suddenly remembered Phoenix Vane's words and that strange expression. "There must be something fishy going on here! This Crescent Heart is definitely related to her!"
"If she did this on purpose, then there's no way I could have fooled her. If that's the case, it would backfire! Fine, I'll take this gamble!"
Thinking of this, Aurelian Dragon gritted his teeth and said, "She's my childhood sweetheart! This crescent-shaped heart is our token of love!" As he spoke, he looked closely at Phoenix Vane's face. Now that he had calmed down, he easily noticed the excitement and joy on her beautiful face.
"There's hope!" he thought to himself, and continued, "Unfortunately, she left me for some reason, went to the capital, and we lost contact afterward. I never saw her again. But in my heart, she will always be my wife!..."
"Ah! Aurelian, I'm so happy!" Upon hearing this, Phoenix Vane couldn't help but rush forward and hug him tightly, murmuring, "It's me, it's me..."
Although he was mentally prepared, the shock still made Aurelian Dragon feel dizzy. He never dreamed it would be like this.
By the time Phoenix Vane finished recounting these events, quite some time had passed.
Phoenix Vane gently touched the crescent moon heart on her jade-like neck and said tenderly, "I've sent people to look for you these past few years, but your family moved away. I thought I'd never see you again!... Finally, finally..." She then raised her head and gazed deeply at the Aurelian Dragon before her.
The two looked at each other, their deep affection evident in their gazes.
Phoenix Vane seemed unable to bear Aurelian Dragon's intense gaze, or perhaps she had something on her mind. Suddenly, she gave him a charming smile, lowered her head slightly, and silently played with the crescent-shaped heart.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the tent fell silent again.