The Divine Bird

Shangguan Ru rode along, glancing back over her shoulder. She saw the Great Peng Bird swoop down from the sky. Even from far away, it looked every bit the mighty creature.

She thought that when her father had hunted down the two Golden-Crowned Great Pengs, it had been an ill omen. And she had been the one pushing things from behind the scenes. Now, she had indeed become an "accomplice" in the destruction of Golden Peng Fortress.

A deep sense of fate washed over her, easing her sorrow at parting and her uncertainty about the future. Then she thought that the Dragon King had made a wise decision. The secluded Xiangji Kingdom was the best place for her to settle.

Hong Fu rode alongside the instructor, a resentful look on her face. "Why is the Dragon King in such a hurry to send us away? Can't the female soldiers of Xiangji Kingdom fight?"

Shangguan Ru smiled. After enduring so many betrayals, she sometimes overlooked the loyalty of those around her. "The Northern Court is already in chaos, and the Western Regions will soon become a dangerous place too. The Dragon King wants us to return to Xiangji Kingdom while it's still safe."

Hong Fu's eyes lit up. "Then we'll send out troops and attack Golden Peng Fortress from north and south with the Dragon King, taking it together, right?"

"Perhaps." Shangguan Ru knew it was almost impossible.

Hong Fu had only just recovered her strength, and she was itching for a fight. "Maybe we'll get to fight Golden Peng Fortress when we pass through Qianqi Pass. Even with only a thousand people, we won't be afraid."

Shangguan Ru shook her head. "The Dragon King kept Third Brother in his hands and sent the Golden Peng Assassins with us. He's making