Only Xue Qiming was capable of such arrogant and self-important words.
"I told you I’d teach you, so I’m going to teach you," Xue Qiming declared, ruffling Xue Niang’s hair. "If it’s something I can teach you, then it’s best that you learn."
The girl subtly pursed her lips.
The two continued walking up the mountain path, paying little heed to the chaos around them. Xue Qiming spoke non stop along the way.
"Anyone extraordinary carries a presence. What is presence? It’s something intangible, unseen and unfelt, yet undeniably real. And who are the extraordinary?
"Those who are out of the ordinary. This includes but is not limited to, warriors, those born with unique talents, people in positions of power, and individuals with unparalleled wit. They all possess a presence."
Xue Niang blinked, her expression one of half-understanding.
Xue Qiming’s gaze fell to the side of the path, where a partially torn camp flag lay. The characters "Xuanwei" were faintly visible on the flag. The flagpole was significantly thicker and longer than the spear he had discarded earlier.
Xue Qiming walked over, picked up the flagpole, and weighed it in his hand, seemingly satisfied. He continued, "People are like beasts in the forest. Some are rabbits, some are guinea pigs, and naturally, some are wolves and some are bears. Those with great presence are like those ferocious beasts. Wherever they go, the mountain hares and forest foxes flee in panic."
Xue Niang blinked her wide, glistening eyes and asked, "Then what are you?"
Xue Qiming threw his head back and laughed, his voice full of vigor. "Of course, I’m the Tiger King!"
Xue Niang squinted her eyes. "Then what am I?"
Xue Qiming patted the girl on the head and said gently, "You’re just a little tiger for now. But one day, you’ll be the Tiger King too."
"And what does it take to be a Tiger King?" Xue Niang asked.
A glint of light seemed to flash in Xue Qiming's eyes. "All beasts must retreat before the Tiger King. When it rests, it dominates its territory. When it moves, it sends the forest into an uproar! Every step it takes is filled with domineering might. All beasts see its awe-inspiring presence and unstoppable momentum, bowing their heads in submission."
At some point during their conversation, the Ruen Dynasty soldiers around them had all but disappeared. Perhaps the Ruen troops had been driven back, or perhaps they had been slaughtered. All that could be seen were the bloodthirsty Miao rebel forces climbing over the mountains and fields surrounding them.
Xue Niang glanced at the surrounding Miao soldiers, who had begun to notice the pair. She asked softly, "And what if... people don't respect the Tiger King?"
Xue Qiming’s gaze swept around the encroaching Miao soldiers. He licked his stark white teeth, his voice a low growl as though it came from the depths of a beast’s throat. "Those who dare tug on a tiger’s whiskers will..."
It was as if the king of the jungle had unleashed a furious roar, or a primeval monster had crawled out of its lair!
In the girl’s eyes, a tall figure holding a long flagpole became a blood-red silhouette in her vision.
"He moves... and the forest shakes," Xue Niang murmured.
Xiang Damao was leading the Battalion to the frontlines when a scout suddenly came running toward him.
"General!" The scout hurried over but stumbled and fell at Xiang Damao’s feet.
Xiang Damao grabbed the scout by the collar and hoisted him up, shouting, "Speak! What now? Have the rebels attacked?!"
"No, no..." The scout, panting heavily, stammered, "Xuanwei Battalion... they repelled the enemy! No, that’s not it. They’re advancing up the mountain..."
The scout stumbled over his words, unable to explain clearly.
Xiang Damao slapped the scout across the face, scolding, "Speak properly! What exactly happened?!"
The scout took a deep breath to steady himself and finally said, "Xuanwei Battalion repelled the enemy and is still advancing toward the mountainside!"
"Nonsense!" Xiang Damao spat in the scout’s face. "I just received a report saying the Xuanwei Battalion commander was killed and the battalion was routed! Now you’re saying they repelled the enemy?! Are you saying someone lied to me?!"
False reporting of military intelligence was a grave offense. The scout panicked, immediately kneeling to plead for mercy. "I don’t know, General! But I saw it with my own eyes! Xuanwei Battalion’s banner was raised high, charging up the mountain!"
Xiang Damao was momentarily stunned. The scout’s expression looked completely serious. Xiang Damao quickly regained his composure, realizing this was an opportunity for his soldiers to regain their morale. He immediately raised his blade and shouted, "Victory is at hand! All soldiers, follow me up the mountain! Take the enemy general’s head!"
Behind him came the thunderous chant of the soldiers.
"Take the enemy general’s head! Take the enemy general’s head! Take the enemy general’s head!"
The troops’ morale soared.
While Xiang Damao was still advancing with his army, Xue Qiming was already nearing the mountainside, where he could see the outlines of the Miao army’s main tent in the distance.
Xue Qiming held Xue Niang’s hand in one hand and carried a military banner in the other. His clothes were completely soaked with blood, sticking to his skin speckled with gore.
Behind him, looking down the path, the mountain trail was littered with the bodies of Miao soldiers, piled so high and scattered so densely that the path was nearly invisible.
The corpses all shared a similar fate and looked as if a herd of elephants had stampeded through the Miao forces. Bones were shattered in countless places, their joints grotesquely bent the wrong way, or their heads smashed to pieces. In many cases, only scraps of flesh held limbs together.
Ahead of the pair was a cluster of Miao rebel soldiers. With each step Xue Qiming and Xue Niang took, the soldiers instinctively retreated, barely able to hold onto their weapons, and trembling like leaves in the wind. If not for the strict military orders, they likely would have scattered long ago.
"This flagpole is much better than a spear," Xue Qiming said as he swung the banner, handling it as fluidly as a calligraphy brush. "It’s sturdier, thicker, but surprisingly flexible. No matter how hard I hit, it doesn’t break."
The girl beside him was a stark contrast to his bloody image. Xue Niang remained pristine, her clothes free of stains or even wrinkles. Her gaze drifted over the blockade of Miao soldiers, and she pointed toward the large tent on the mountainside.
"Five thousand taels."
Xue Qiming squinted in the direction she indicated and grinned. "They're ready for the taking."
After a short walk, the military camp on the mountainside came into view. It had rudimentary fortifications, and silhouettes could be seen moving along the walls.
The Miao soldiers blocking the path had nowhere left to retreat, but the camp’s defenders weren't inclined to open the gates and let them in. The cowed soldiers huddled together as tightly as possible, while a commander on the wall barked orders at them.
"Let’s go." Xue Qiming smiled at Xue Niang. "We’ll open the gates ourselves." With that, he swung the flagpole and pulled Xue Niang forward at a brisk pace.
The Miao soldiers crowded in front of the gate watched helplessly as Xue Qiming closed in, unable to stop themselves from crying out loudly in fear.
Just as Xue Qiming was about to reach the gate, a loud shout erupted from the wall. The Miao soldiers blocking the gate frantically scrambled to either side!
The camp gate suddenly swung open, and a massive battering ram came hurtling straight toward the two of them!