Chapter 1007 – Battle at the Northern Frontier (Forty-Fourth)
“Tsk—another one ready to die! If you die too, won’t the morale of the Northern Frontier collapse?”
Jiang Pengji hoisted her bloodied knife over her shoulder, coldly gazing at Abalu charging forward on horseback.
Abalu tightened his lips, his massive and corpulent frame resembling a block of wood, unable to muster even a single grunt after a long pause.
Though his temperament was a bit dull, his mental fortitude on the battlefield was stronger than average, as he was less impacted by trash talk.
“Stop with the nonsense—come and fight!”
With that, Abalu charged right in.
He knew he wasn’t a match for Jiang Pengji, but a flicker of hope lingered in his heart—
Jiang Pengji had already fought two opponents and exchanged over a hundred moves; her stamina must be severely depleted.
Taking this little advantage, maybe he could win.
Even if he didn’t win, as long as he played it safe, he could retreat unscathed.
However, this sliver of hope shattered almost instantly—when he first clashed with Jiang Pengji, her overwhelming strength nearly knocked him off his horse, causing his steed to rear and neigh in distress—Abalu knew the previous two had not died in vain.
Strangers instinctively thought Jiang Pengji had a nimble nature and was not particularly strong.
Common folks believed that strength was linked to size—the bigger the person, the stronger they were.
Abalu was heavyset, so naturally, he was strong.
Although he wasn’t the strongest in the Northern Frontier, he ranked in the top ten.
He never expected this young boy in front of him to defy common sense, as it was only after they engaged that he realized just how terrifying this guy’s strength was.
Abalu assumed Jiang Pengji lacked power and, upon confronting her, suffered a minor setback.
He grunted softly, adjusted himself, and charged in again.
Meanwhile—
“Find the best archer and have him kill that kid—”
The Sixth Prince coldly observed the two engaged in battle on the field, aware that Abalu was likely to meet a grim fate, but he still sent him into the fray. It was solely to divert Jiang Pengji’s attention while sending someone to launch a sneak attack and kill her.
With only two sons under his father-in-law’s knee, the elder had died, and Hakei was not only the old man’s child but also his only remaining seed.
This debt would surely be reckoned upon him, and he might even find himself supporting other brothers to usurp his position as Dai Wang.
To avoid such a possibility, the Sixth Prince had to appease the old man’s wrath with the head of a killer.
Sneaky tactics with a surprise attack?
Ha! The Northern Frontier was not a rigid place like the Central Plains, where rules were strictly adhered to; warfare didn’t concern itself with such details.
Victory was everything, and who would care what methods were used in the process?
Additionally, the Sixth Prince had his own considerations.
They had already lost two generals; their morale had dropped significantly, so they needed to figure out a way to regain some.
The Northern Frontier was not only adept at cavalry but also extraordinary in marksmanship.
Almost every citizen of the Northern Frontier grew up on horseback, mastering riding and shooting.
Sneaking in a surprise arrow was—
Absolutely no problem!
Abalu was completely unaware he had become bait for the enemy. He was furiously clashing with Jiang Pengji and soon found himself panting.
The sun blazed overhead, sweat beaded on Abalu’s skin, quickly soaking his hair and the shirt beneath his armor.
The more he struggled, the greater his internal dread grew.
Why?
Because the young boy before him not only maintained steady breathing but also didn’t seem to sweat after such a prolonged fight!
This indicated that his opponent hadn’t been using full strength; it was all a game to Jiang Pengji.
Realizing this, Abalu knew there was no need to continue battling and should find a way to escape the battlefield quickly.
If he continued, his stamina would only deplete further, and his chances of survival would grow slimmer.
While Abalu pondered his escape, Jiang Pengji sensed an icy chill.
She feigned a move and retreated, catching a glimpse from the corner of her eye—Northern Frontier soldiers standing by Abalu lifted their bows and arrows towards her.
The audience in the live stream reacted, collectively furious.
【Yamada Mia】: What the hell! Is the Northern Frontier shameless? They plan to shoot from behind; watch out, streamer!
【Business Watching】: Damn—doesn’t this bunch of Northern Frontier folks worry about hitting their own? How disgraceful!
Hitting their own?
The Sixth Prince had already abandoned Abalu. As long as Jiang Pengji was dead or in mortal danger, Abalu’s sacrifice would be worthwhile.
Thus, the archer targeting Jiang Pengji had no qualms about hitting Abalu.
When Jiang Pengji caught sight of them, the bow was already drawn to a crescent moon, ready to unleash.
Buzz—
A series of tremors echoed as the bowstrings vibrated, with several arrows launched at cunning angles aimed at Jiang Pengji’s vital points.
As the arrows shot through the air, the audience members who had been monitoring the battlefield screamed, instinctively shutting their eyes.
Jiang Pengji, who had been effortlessly maneuvering, suddenly made her move—stabbing Abalu dead, she grabbed onto his collarbone, pulling him down from his saddle and using him as a human shield to block several poison-tipped arrows, then she knocked away the remaining arrows with her weapon.
Xiao Bai acted on its own without Jiang Pengji’s command, turning and racing back to their army.
At that moment, Xiao Bai’s explosive power shone through.
Before the archers could launch a second wave, Xiao Bai had already sprinted out of their range with Jiang Pengji.
Jiang Pengji grinned as she tossed Abalu’s unblinking corpse onto the ground—
“All troops—kill!”
The battle drums beat like a sudden downpour, the call to attack sounded.
After Jiang Pengji had taken down three opponents and evaded the enemy’s hidden arrows, the soldiers witnessing it were bursting with pent-up frustration, eager to let loose.
Seeing this, the Sixth Prince turned pale with fright—
Damn it, they’re fighting without hesitation, attacking without giving any buffer time!
“Kill—”
The battle cry shook the heavens, with their cavalry taking the lead in the assault. Countless hooves thundered, trampling Abalu’s body into a bloody mash.
Jiang Pengji seized the initiative, abruptly shifting the Northern Frontier’s strategic stance.
By the time the Northern Frontier cavalry reacted, Jiang Pengji’s cavalry had already gained considerable distance.
Jiang Pengji’s cavalry was unlike that of the Northern Frontier.
Most Northern Frontier cavalrymen wore simple leather and fabric armor—virtually unprotected.
They were incredibly fast, running like the wind, highly mobile, but their defensive capabilities were weak.
On Jiang Pengji’s side, however, her cavalry donned heavy armor reminiscent of the Zhanma camp soldiers, each clad in robust armor and wielding long spears or great swords. Moreover, even their steeds were armored.
Though the warhorses were not quick, their load-bearing capacity and endurance greatly exceeded that of similar breeds.
This was one of Jiang Pengji’s trump cards against the Northern Frontier.
With just over three thousand men, fewer than the Zhanma camp, each was like a moving silver mountain.
If Northern Frontier cavalry was the wind, darting around in battle, then this cavalry unit was a heavy hammer, coming straight at the enemy!
Fu Wang commanded from the center; he had already received a note from Jiang Pengji, detailing the formation of the Northern Frontier troops.
Fu Wang carefully studied it, feeling informed.
He had already guessed how the Northern Frontier would deploy their forces.
