"His Majesty was murdered by the Oirats, and they even took his body away. The commander-in-chief requests Daoist Priestess Pan's aid in reclaiming His Majesty's body."
Without another word, Pan Yun took Miao Zhen and the other three to the city wall.
Kuang Ye was directing the great army.
From his high vantage point, he commanded the whole field, using flag signals to relay orders to every division. Soldiers and officers alike, regardless of whether they were civil officials or military commanders, cast aside old grievances and worked together with all their strength. Driven by fury, they had actually trapped Yesen and prevented him from retreating.
When he saw Pan Yun arrive, Kuang Ye said hoarsely, "Daoist Priestess Pan, you were right. Cultivators are not invincible. We've killed twelve lamas."
Pan Yun looked over. Amid the masses of people, a group of monks in ochre robes wielded ritual implements as they darted about. Ming Dynasty soldiers attacked in military formations, nearly tearing apart the monks' protective barrier with human lives just to rush in and seize the corpse guarded at its center.
Yet those who rushed in were often slaughtered by the Oirat soldiers guarding the inside.
As things stood, charging in would only mean throwing away their lives in vain.
Kuang Ye looked deeply at her, complicated emotions swirling in his eyes. "We absolutely cannot let them take His Majesty's body away. Daoist Priestess Pan, if you truly cannot reclaim it..."
What he left unsaid was that even bringing back a false body would do.
Kuang Ye said, "You must bring the body back before everyone's eyes."
After giving him a glance, Pan Yun said, "I will bring back the real one."
She said softly, "We cannot let him lie abandoned in a foreign land."
Kuang Ye's eyes stung