Enemies Across the Sea

"Those are... Western Pole warships?" Tsi Hong said in surprise.

Their towering hulls, conspicuous stern towers, and three main masts were all hallmarks of Western Pole vessels—she had seen similar seagoing ships before, when Natating had built a port northeast of Yama.

"No, the flag they're flying is the Seven Stars banner!" Wuyue frowned deeply. "As far as I know, that emblem is used only by the Seven Stars Bureau of Military Affairs."

"Seven Stars... Bureau of Military Affairs?"

"You mean they're from the mainland?"

"Could this fleet be connected to Jinxia City?"

For a moment, everyone broke into heated discussion.

"No." Wuyue clenched her fists. "Those who have come bear absolutely no goodwill! These people—they are Jinxia's enemies!"

Aside from those who had followed her and honed themselves in Jinxia, the people on Yama Island knew very little about the changes on the mainland. Most did not understand the relationship between the imperial court and the Bureau of Military Affairs, nor did they know that the Seven Stars Qi practitioners had already crossed blades with Jinxia City and become irreconcilable enemies. Their arrival could only mean bad news for the Yamato Kingdom.

Sure enough, no sooner had she finished speaking than clusters of red fire flashed among the fleet.

"They're bombarding King Dong Sheng's army!" Tsi Hong cried out.

As shells struck the ground in explosions and clouds of smoke, the soldiers already fleeing in rout ran even faster. In blind panic, they rushed toward Bumi Prefecture's northern wall, not even caring that the Yama princess's encircling line stood between them.

Now Wuyue Yao understood why these reinforcements did not even have a single horse left.

To reach Bumi from the north, they had to pass through a narrow mountain trail. They had likely come under attack from the