Volume One, Chapter Two: The Lady General Within the Tent

Liu Qi stood frozen in place for a moment. He had expected to serve a man seasoned in battle—someone perhaps old, perhaps portly, perhaps lecherous or repulsive.

He never imagined that the general he was to serve would be a woman, and a strikingly beautiful one at that.

In the dim light, the female general, appearing slightly intoxicated, raised her head and looked at Liu Qi. "Come here."

Recovering his senses, Liu Qi walked slowly toward her.

The general shifted, causing her robe to slip slightly and revealing most of her collarbone, a sight that made Liu Qi flush and his heart race. She seemed entirely indifferent to her state of undress, instead observing him with keen interest, scanning his face, then his physique, and finally lingering on his thighs.

"Undress me." The general stood up. Though she was half a head shorter than Liu Qi, her presence felt two meters tall. It was the distinct aura of a veteran who had weathered countless battlefields.

Liu Qi stepped forward and pulled at the general’s sash, slowly untying it. Freed from its hold, her garment loosened, no longer able to conceal her form. Her robust, toned physique was laid bare before him. Her curves were exquisite; she possessed a full bust and a midriff defined by powerful, well-defined muscle lines—a truly captivating sight.

As Liu Qi reached to undo her belt, the general suddenly spoke: "You do not seem like a commoner."

Liu Qi’s hands froze. His heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat broke out across his back. Perhaps due to his upbringing, his habits and mannerisms were difficult to shed; even though he had been extremely cautious, he had still betrayed a hint of his true identity.

He bowed his head lower, hiding his face, and adopted a tone of extreme subservience. He could not be recognized; he could not expose his lineage. He carried the blood feud of a fallen nation and was the last hope of the Great Kang Dynasty. He could not die here.

"My lady, this servant is merely..."

"A commoner would not have the courage to lift their head in my tent, let alone stand and speak to me."

Liu Qi immediately knelt and kowtowed, his body trembling like a leaf as he feigned terror. "This servant... this servant was simply too afraid and forgot... forgot to kowtow. Please, my lady, spare me..."

The female general smiled playfully. "A commoner wouldn't even dare to look at me when I stand."

She undid her own belt, stepped out of her trousers, and placed her bare foot atop Liu Qi’s head, pressing it firmly into the ground. "After all, the killing intent I carry is not something an average person can withstand."

Liu Qi remained silent, cold sweat streaming down his face. His mind raced, searching for a way to escape, a way to survive.

"This servant... this servant was so frightened that... that my neck seized up. I was staring at the General against my will..." Liu Qi’s voice was filled with panic, his body shaking violently.

The general did not speak. She leaned forward, resting her arms on her knees, and stroked her chin, studying him with interest. Liu Qi dared not move, enduring her gaze and the pressure of her foot grinding against his head.

"Enough." The general retracted her foot.

Liu Qi felt a surge of relief, thinking he had saved his life. But when he looked up, his heart leapt into his throat; his face burned, and a feverish heat consumed him. The general had already removed her remaining garments and was reclining on the bed in nothing but her undergarments. In the soft light, her body was as beautiful as a statue. She was not soft or plump, but possessed a beauty defined by tightness and raw power. Her curves were fluid, her legs long and straight, and her waist and hips were firm and athletic. Truly, she was a general; her physique was nothing short of breathtaking.

"Strip," the general commanded.

Liu Qi did not speak. He had already accepted his fate. He silently removed his clothes, revealing his own body. Though the hardships of recent days had taken a toll, his frame still retained its grace.

The general’s narrowed eyes widened slightly; her lips parted, and her breathing grew heavy.

"Come here. Lie down," she commanded.

Liu Qi walked to the bed and lay down in silence, closing his eyes.

The general stood up, looming over Liu Qi as if she were a monarch looking down upon her domain. The corners of her mouth curled upward, a playful expression dancing across her exquisite, heroic face.

Liu Qi had never encountered such a woman. In the Great Kang Dynasty, women could never be generals, nor could they act with such boldness. The women of his homeland were expected to be demure, virtuous, and focused on raising children; even the most outgoing were taught to be gentle as water. Feudal propriety forbade them from dressing with such abandon or taking the initiative to satisfy themselves with men.

To Liu Qi, this woman was a revelation. Consequently, the events of that night stirred a strange, unique emotion within him.

He knew what was to come. As the crushing weight and intensity of her presence bore down upon him, he clenched his fists. A sudden, searing heat flooded his senses, scattering his thoughts like chaff in the wind. He was adrift, tossed about, his spirit unable to focus. The relentless onslaught left him unable to distinguish between pleasure and pain, until at last, he lost consciousness.

When Liu Qi finally opened his eyes, he was drenched in sweat. His head throbbed, his thoughts were muddled, and his vision was blurred. It took him a long time to recover. By then, the general was fully dressed, though even in loose clothing, her form could not be hidden.

*This woman... she is nothing like a woman,* Liu Qi mused internally. Yet, he felt no hatred or resentment. On the contrary, he harbored a strange, lingering affection for her—perhaps because she was his first.

"I am a woman—are you surprised?" the general asked suddenly.

"Yes..." Liu Qi replied.

"Did you think you were here to serve a man with a penchant for cut sleeves?" She turned, a playful smile on her heroic face.

"The General is wise..."

She continued, "You are not the first man to enter my tent, but none of them ever carried the news of my gender back to you lot of slaves. Care to guess why?"

Liu Qi pondered for a moment, and a chill ran down his spine.

Seeing his look of shock and disbelief, the general laughed aloud. "Because they all died after I was done with them."

As the words left her lips, a group of guards entered the tent and dragged Liu Qi from the bed.