Chapter Twenty: A Gift Too Grand for You to Handle

"You wish!" Ye Huang gritted her teeth, glaring at the dashing Sixth Prince of the Northern Wu Kingdom standing before her.

"For my wedding, I could accept anyone from my Great Qian Kingdom, but you—a barbarian from Northern Wu—you can forget it!"

No sooner had the words left her lips than Ye Huang snatched the hairpin from her hair and, without giving anyone a chance to react, plunged it deep into her own chest.

"Squish!"

Fresh blood sprayed out instantly.

For a fleeting moment, Ashina Yanyun was stunned. He stared in disbelief at the scene before him; the woman’s ruthlessness far exceeded his expectations. He had always assumed the women of the Southern Dynasty were soft and submissive, never imagining he would encounter one so fierce and unyielding.

Ashina Yanyun immediately grabbed the hairpin with one hand. As the sharp point pierced his palm, a jolt of pain shot through him. "You—are you really in such a hurry to die?"

Ye Huang cast a look of utter contempt at Ashina Yanyun. "A woman of the Great Qian would rather die than be humiliated! I am sorry, but I never intended to marry you, and no one can force me!"

The dignity of a princess was displayed in full measure at that moment.

The others in the tent were left dumbfounded by the scene. They, too, had never expected this princess to be so unlike the other women of the Southern Dynasty. A deathly silence fell over the tent; not a sound could be heard, as if one could hear a pin drop.

Suddenly, a scout rushed frantically into the camp.

Ashina Yanyun, still harboring a pent-up rage, let out a fierce roar the moment the messenger entered and hurled the nearest object at him.

"Crash!"

The object shattered into pieces on the ground.

"What is it!"

Terrified, the messenger stammered, "Sixth Prince, some people from the Southern Dynasty have arrived outside the camp. They are here to deliver something to us!"

"Deliver something?"

Ashina Yanyun paused, taken aback. He truly hadn't expected these lambs of the Southern Dynasty to be so sensible. First, he had abducted their princess; now, hoping to negotiate, they had sent one group, and now a second, coming to offer gifts and plead for mercy?

At this thought, the corner of Ashina Yanyun’s mouth curled into a treacherous smile.

"Good. It seems my guess was right—the people of the Southern Dynasty are spineless. Very well, let me go meet them!"

When Ashina Yanyun stepped out of the central command tent and saw the giant standing there like an iron tower, he couldn't help but pause. He hadn't expected the Southern Dynasty to possess such a ferocious warrior. However, looking around, he saw no carriages or horses, and certainly none of the fine wine or grain he had anticipated.

Could it be that these men were here to mock him?

The next moment, Ashina Yanyun gave the order: "Men! Drag this wretch out and hack him into pieces to feed the dogs!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanying’s expression remained entirely calm. He immediately drew a mace from his waist—a weapon weighing about four catties, capable of immense lethality at close range.

"Let’s see who dares to move!"

The roar was like that of a savage tiger, echoing through the camp like a beast’s cry in the mountains. Many Northern Wu soldiers were so terrified by the sound that they broke into a cold sweat and began to foam at the mouth.

Ashina Yanyun looked at the tower-like giant and chuckled. "Tell me, you black-faced brute, what are you doing here? Didn't you come to bring me gifts? Where are the beautiful women of the Southern Dynasty?"

"And there's no grain, no wine, no gold or jewels. Is this your idea of a plea for peace?"

Following Ashina Yanyun’s words, the entire camp filled with mocking laughter. The generals surrounding him roared with amusement.

"That's right! Besides sending us women, grain, gold, and jewels, what else can you people of the Southern Dynasty do?"

But the next second, Li Yuanying pulled something from his robe.

"My master said this is the gift he has for you. However, I fear that even if given to you, you wouldn't know how to use it, so my master sent me here to demonstrate."

"Oh?" Ashina Yanyun was stunned, watching the round, pitch-black object held lightly in Li Yuanying’s hand. What on earth was this thing?

Just as he was filled with curiosity, a general nearby, possessing a keen nose, seemed to catch a scent. He hurriedly pulled Ashina Yanyun aside.

"Sixth Prince, this thing seems dangerous!"

Ashina Yanyun blinked, his eyes narrowing to slits. "What dangerous thing could the Southern Dynasty possibly send? Besides, my personal guards are all here; who could threaten me within my own camp?"

Just as the general was about to urge him again, he saw that Ashina Yanyun had already begun walking toward Li Yuanying.

Suddenly, Li Yuanying raised a hand. "Wait!"

Ashina Yanyun stopped in his tracks, looking at him with a gaze full of doubt and confusion.

"My master's intention is for me to demonstrate it for you. My master does not wish to provoke a conflict, so I ask the Sixth Prince to step back fifty paces!"

Fifty paces? Fifty paces was a distance that even a galloping warhorse would take time to cover.

Ashina Yanyun sneered. "Playing mysterious, are we? Fine! All units, fall back fifty paces!"

He wanted to see what kind of bargaining chip the other side had that could possibly make him feel fear, especially since they were here to negotiate the return of the Southern princess.

In an instant, everyone in the camp retreated fifty paces, forming a wide circle.

The moment Li Yuanying ignited the "Heaven-Shattering Thunder," he turned and ran. Despite wearing heavy armor, Li Yuanying moved with incredible speed.

Only a few seconds passed before a sudden, thunderous explosion sent the onlookers flying. The blast wave and the thick scent of gunpowder and sulfur filling the air made them cough violently.

Before the bystanders could react, Li Yuanying lunged forward in a blur, reaching Ashina Yanyun’s side. With hands like iron pincers, he grabbed the Prince’s arm, twisted it forcefully, and instantly took him hostage.

"Tell them to fall back, and take me into the tent. We will talk inside!"