"You've lost weight..."
Xu Cheng cupped Ju Zi's fair, soft cheek and gently studied her. The beauty had yet to remove her armor and still wore a suit of crimson officer's armor. She tilted her head up, her lovely eyes gazing at her beloved with the same tenderness as water.
It had been a long time since they had parted.
Neither poured out their feelings, but as their eyes met, each understood the other's heart.
"Reporting to Your Highness: we achieved a great victory in this battle, taking the heads of five dukes, thirteen Soul Saint corpses, and one hundred and twenty-three Soul Emperor corpses... Seventy-three thousand soldiers surrendered. Not a single ordinary Soul Master was spared."
Ju Zi's voice rang firm, edged with a sharpness forged on the battlefield.
She suddenly clasped her hands in salute.
"Good. Very good..." Xu Cheng looked Ju Zi over with evident appreciation.
First, she had used drones to wear down the enemy, then led the Mecha Battalion at the forefront to seize control of the skies. A furious bombardment drove straight into the enemy's core, scattering their command, before she ordered the Fire Phoenix Corps Battalion to launch an all-out assault.
Although the battle seemed unremarkable, she had borrowed the methods of blitzkrieg: steady, precise, and ruthless, giving the enemy no chance to react. Her adaptability throughout the fighting also showed that, through these days of tempering, she had indeed learned a great deal from Aunt Qing.
No wonder Aunt Qing kept sending letters praising her...
"What reward would you like? Whatever it is, I'll grant it." In a fine mood, Xu Cheng rose and walked outside, surveying the courtyard scenery. Lotus leaves floated across the pond in the rear courtyard, while koi shattered the reflections of glazed eaves on the water. Tiny