Even the youngest can understand what the battle formation sketched on the snow means, or perhaps it’s precisely because of youthful exuberance that they yearn for such battles even more.

Xue Changqing’s breathing was slightly heavy, his eyes bright, staring intently at the battle formation with envy, saying: "Truly splendid, a battle like this will surely be recorded in the annals of history, right?"

"Yet neither Prince Qin nor General Fan Qing are willing to let me go to the frontline, even though I’ve already reached the Third Layer Heaven!"

"Brother Li led General Fan Qing and the others in defeating General Yuwen Hua’s three thousand heavy cavalry, then retreated a thousand miles. He was only thirteen or fourteen then, younger than I am now, and only at the Second Layer Heaven!"

Saatanati glanced at the young man from the Central Plains, saying:

"People die in war."

Xue Changqing replied: "If a man fights for his homeland and dies beyond the frontier, wrapped in horsehide and returned, it is only natural!"

Saatanati did not want to talk to someone who had never experienced the battlefield. When she was young, she followed her small tribe, wandering across the vast Western Regions, always careful, afraid of being caught in warfare.

As a child, she was even captured by nobles. At that time, Wolf King Chen Fubi was in his prime, recorded in history as exceptionally spirited, and the Western Region nobles feared the Wolf King’s might, capturing people from passing small tribes as gifts.

If it weren’t for Tian Ge’er, she might have been sent to the frontline as a slave.

Having witnessed the cruelty of the battlefield firsthand,

she knew how fragile life was on the battlefield; those who were lively and chatting just moments before might not return after a battle, leaving only a sword and a word.

Therefore, she naturally disliked people who lightly regarded the battlefield.

People living in peace often have an excessive longing for the battlefield, overlooking the decision to face swords and risk everything, exaggerating the joy of returning triumphantly after glory.

But the former is the norm.

On the battlefield, there must always be a loser.

Sometimes, there might even be two losers, with no winner.

Why doesn’t he understand that what he finds mundane now, the simple daily life, is the most unattainable dream for those living through the chaos of wartime?

Saatanati thought but did not say it out loud.

She wasn’t one to preach or impose her thoughts on others.

Perhaps because every time Mr. Wen He wanted to do this to Mr. Yan Daiqing, he faced Mr. Yan Daiqing’s iron fist; and every time Mr. Yan Daiqing wanted to preach to Mr. Wen He, he would be met with an even more enjoyable ’revenge’.

Even Mr. Siming used these two distinct personalities as metaphors for [Yin] [Yang], casually teaching Saatanati some mystical skills of the Yin Yang School.

She looked at Xue Changqing’s bright eyes and sighed.

Xue Changqing inexplicably felt uncomfortable all over, rubbing his temple, then his forehead, saying: "What, what’s the matter?!"

The girl from the Western Regions, who grew up on the battlefield, smiled slightly:

"Nothing, just very envious of you."

"You must have grown up in a place at least somewhat peaceful and cherished, right?"

Xue Changqing paused, sensing emotions and experiences in the girl’s eyes that he couldn’t understand, as he hadn’t lived such a life, but somehow, it made him feel a bit deflated.

Saatanati turned to leave: "Mr. Yan Daiqing’s teachings are not yet complete, Captain Xue Changqing, please help me."

Xue Changqing maintained his composure: "Naturally."

But watching the girl holding scrolls, her black hair tied in a man’s fashion, dressed in Mo School ranger attire, and wearing a pair of swift calfskin boots, Xue Changqing exhaled, touched his cheek, gritted his teeth: "Do, do women of the Western Regions not concern themselves with propriety?"

"Staring at me...and not shy at all."

He wanted to use the word shy.

But in the language of a boy raised in Jiangnan, so clean, he couldn’t utter anything insulting, so he grudgingly held his Battle Halberd and quickly followed Saatanati.

The task Mr. Yan Daiqing assigned was actually a task for the foundational officials of the Heavenly Strategy Mansion —

To receive people coming from the frontline.

The frontline warriors, prisoners from foreign lands, and the ten thousand elite of Chen Country, some severely injured, some who had lost the will to fight, some already too old to battle, all were brought down and placed under the command of the Qilin Army.

Among them, a decision had been made.

Prince Qin did not intend to spare Emperor Chen Dingye.

The temporary alliance was for the greater good of the Central Plains, to overcome current difficulties, but after many matters concluded, Chen Dingye would not be given any respite to recover, and after the campaign against the Turkic was over,

it would be between Prince Qin and Chen Dingye.

At this moment, Great General Yue Pengwu was forced to stay in the heart of the Central Plains, as one of only two generals qualified to command a large army, guarding the entire Chen Country’s territory to prevent unrest in newly captured regions.