For days on end, the strong ones of the Evernight had ceaselessly attempted to assault Zhao Juandu’s command post. The two sides were almost locked in a great battle every two or three days. Before this steel fortress, countless corpses lay fallen, their numbers unknown.
In these continuous battles, Zhao Juandu demonstrated unparalleled combat prowess, slaying powerful enemies in seemingly impossible situations. In less than a month, three marquises and seven counts had perished under his gun, and the number of viscounts and barons was innumerable. Whether it was a frontal assault, a sneak attack, a one-on-one duel, or a group battle, the Evernight strong ones despondently discovered that Zhao Juandu had no weaknesses; he handled everything with ease.
After several rounds of supposed clever sneak attacks ended in miserable defeats, the Evernight forces finally abandoned their cunning plans and began relying on their strength and numerical superiority to launch relentless direct assaults, hoping to overwhelm their opponent with a grand and just offensive.
Yet in the blood-soaked battles, Zhao Juandu displayed unprecedented ferocity and bravery.
Within a single month, he had been seriously injured three times, with innumerable minor injuries, yet he never left the command post. There was even an instance when, not fully recovered from severe wounds, he encountered the Evernight forces launching another attack. Disregarding his injuries, Zhao Juandu fearlessly led the imperial generals and the Evernight strong ones from dawn till dusk, personally slaying a marquis and two counts. Finally, he drove back the enemy, thwarting the Evernight’s plan to eliminate him.
Following this battle, the steel fortress was stained a dark red with the blood of the strong ones, and Zhao Juandu’s reputation soared, matching that of the divine generals. From then on, the Evernight called the steel fortress the Tomb of Dusk.
It was because of such a record that, even though the casualty rate of ordinary troops was high and the defensive advantages of the fortress were not fully utilized, the imperial generals and the noble families only questioned Zhao Juandu’s command style, never considering replacing him. If the Tomb of Dusk had not been defended by Zhao Juandu, it would have long been leveled by the Evernight. Neither the noble families nor the army’s high-ranking generals were foolish; they clearly understood that it was not the time for power struggles. No one wanted to take Zhao Juandu’s place. That was a true volcano’s mouth, where the slightest lack of skill meant death without a place to be buried.
Inside the steel fortress, countless imperial soldiers and craftsmen were busily working, repairing the damages from the recent battles. At the fortress’ various firing points, the soldiers tensely watched the opposite side, ready to bombard any appearing enemies. Many craftsmen were still digging underground, expanding more space.
Now, the underground part of the fortress had already surpassed the above-ground portion but was still being expanded. A young girl in the uniform of an imperial lieutenant general held a blueprint, pointing to a corner and said, “We need to excavate another hall here, thirty meters long, ten meters wide, and at least ten meters high. I want to install a set of engines here so that the entire fortress will have enough power. We can also dismantle a warship’s main cannon and install it on top of the fortress.”
The craftsmen around her were mostly elderly, many with white hair. They wore the insignia of the Zhao clan, indicating they came from the Craftsmen’s Hall. Experience often accumulated with age, making the older ones more knowledgeable, but they all followed the girl’s arrangements without question, clearly convinced of her capabilities.
The girl then pointed to another part of the blueprint and said, “Install three power conduits here to deliver power steam to the upper levels of the fortress.”
Two craftsmen nodded and accepted the task.
A few young craftsmen, while listening to the girl’s instructions, stole glances at her. She appeared very young, often looking a bit lost, but her large eyes shone brightly when she spoke about the blueprints, and she spoke with great confidence.
Her imperial uniform was slightly ill-fitting; the sleeves were too long and had to be rolled up, and the hem was too long, clearly a size too big. Yet, even so, her chest was tightly constricted, causing concern that the buttons might suddenly pop off.
Such a girl was extremely attractive to young men, especially on a battlefield where life and death hung in the balance, and temptation could be magnified manifold.
At that moment, a soldier hurried over, saluted the girl, and said, “General Nan Gong, General Zhao has asked you to come over.”
“Alright, I’ll be right there.” The girl handed the blueprint to a nearby craftsman and followed the soldier.
They passed through two doors and entered an underground chamber. Zhao Juandu emerged from inside, his hair still damp, buttoning his uniform as he walked. Through the unbuttoned collar, one could see several scars on his well-defined chest muscles, which had not yet healed.
The girl quickly saluted, “General Zhao!”
Zhao Juandu smiled slightly and gestured to a chair, saying, “Xiao Niao, no need to be so tense, sit down.”
The girl sat, her body still tense, as anyone would be in the presence of the famous Fourth Young Master Zhao of the empire.
“How is the base construction going?”
“The advanced recovery pool will be completed in two days, and the severely wounded will be able to receive treatment immediately, speeding up your recovery. The power replenishment pool is still under construction but should be finished tomorrow. It will allow you to recover all your power in about four hours. If we double the black crystal consumption, the recovery time can be shortened to two and a half hours,” Xiao Niao said.
Zhao Juandu raised his eyebrows and praised, “The power replenishment pool is truly impressive. With it, I have even more confidence to hold this ground and keep the dark races at bay! I didn’t expect you to design such a facility. If it can be promoted in the military, the empire’s strength will surely rise, and you will be the first to receive the credit. What do you want? Feel free to say.”
Praised, Xiao Niao blushed and mumbled, “I… I just want to stay in the Zhao clan.”
Zhao Juandu was taken aback but then said, “That’s not a problem. You can stay as long as you want. If the old fogies from the Nan Gong family dare to bother you, I’ll beat them to a pulp.”
Xiao Niao nodded eagerly, her face glowing with excitement.
Years had passed since the little rookie from the Red Scorpion Clan had grown. Not only had she easily crossed the threshold of becoming a war general, but she had also showcased her talents in power and mechanical design. After hearing of her, Zhao Juandu specially transferred her from the Evernight to the Floating Land battlefield, and this steel fortress was her design. Part of Zhao Juandu’s astonishing achievements, leaving both the empire and the Evernight in awe, was due to this fortress.
Zhao Juandu looked at Xiao Niao, pondered for a moment, and suddenly asked, “Xiao Niao, what do you think of Qian Ye?”
This unexpected question made Xiao Niao’s face turn crimson, and she stammered, “Ah, this, what… what do you mean?”
“What do you think of Qian Ye?” Zhao Juandu repeated.
Xiao Niao’s voice dropped to a whisper, almost inaudible to Zhao Juandu’s keen ears, “Young Master Qian Ye, of course… he is, naturally, good in everything.”
Zhao Juandu nodded and continued, “Would you be willing to stay by his side?”
This time, Xiao Niao jumped up, knocking over the chair. She fumbled to pick it up but knocked over the table, sending a cup of tea flying. Hurriedly, she tried to catch it, but the cup bounced between her hands, splashing tea all over her.
Zhao Juandu couldn’t bear to watch, and with a wave, the cup flew into his hand. Another wave of gentle power, and the chair and table returned to their places, even the spilled tea evaporated. The ability to do so much with a single gesture showed Zhao Juandu’s mastery of power.
Xiao Niao stood there, tightly gripping the hem of her uniform, almost in tears.
Zhao Juandu said gently, “From your reaction, I assume you are willing.”
Xiao Niao stiffened, her breathing stopped. After a long while, she barely nodded, a movement that only Zhao Juandu, with his superior combat skills, could detect.
Zhao Juandu’s expression turned serious, “Xiao Niao, if I say that staying by Qian Ye’s side means just being with him, without a title and certainly not as his principal wife, would you still be willing?”
Xiao Niao still dared not look up, but she managed to muster some courage and whispered, “I am willing, no matter what.”
Zhao Juandu sighed softly, “I know this is a lot to ask of you, but Qian Ye needs someone like you to take care of him. That guy never learns to take care of himself. Since you are willing to be with him without any other considerations, I won’t hesitate to help you. If you want anything or have any concerns, tell me. Within the empire, there are few things I, Zhao Juandu, cannot accomplish.”
Xiao Niao thought for a moment and said, “I… don’t really want anything. Things are good now. If… if I can stay by Young Master’s side, that would be… the best…”
Zhao Juandu laughed heartily, “Seems I chose the right person. Since you can’t decide, I’ll arrange it for you.”
Xiao Niao lowered her head again, slowly saying, “But… Young Master has so many wonderful women, and Sister Yeto is exceptionally beautiful. I… I am nothing, why choose me?”
Hearing her insecurity, Zhao Juandu smiled, “You are very good, truly exceptional. In my heart, you might be the most suitable for Qian Ye. Sadly, that fool won’t listen to me.”
Xiao Niao looked up, her voice earnest, “Young Master is not a fool, he is very smart!”
Zhao Juandu laughed again, “Very well, he is smart, smarter than me!”
Xiao Niao nodded immediately, then felt something was amiss but couldn’t pinpoint what. Zhao Juandu’s laughter became louder, making her even more flustered.
At that moment, the door opened, and a trusted aide hurried in, ignoring Xiao Niao and walking straight to Zhao Juandu, whispering, “Young Master, an urgent report from the Neutral Grounds.”
Zhao Juandu took the sealed envelope, opened it, and read the note several times, his expression growing more serious. He suddenly stood up, muttering, “Maldrazar and Roxas went to the Neutral Grounds, and the Everburning Flame is there too? So, there are no dukes left in the Floating Land? Maybe one, but at most one!”
He paced faster, deep in thought, “Why wouldn’t the Duke of Qingyang and the Duke of Zhi Ji know about this? No, their future notices do not mean they are unaware of the movements. Perhaps they have already left!”
Thinking of this, Zhao Juandu halted and shouted, “Issue my orders, all units prepare for an immediate attack in half an hour!”
That night, Zhao Juandu led a fierce offensive, decisively crushing the enemy in front and pursuing them throughout the night.
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