Chapter 111: The Impudent Army Supervisor

Unable to resist, she followed his lead, meeting Dai Yuheng’s smiling gaze as she said, "Chang Geng, I can walk on my own. Stop pushing me!"

"I was terrified you might get hurt! Do you have any idea?" His hands gripped her shoulders, tightening with every word. She winced in pain but dared not make a sound.

Gouzi led over a warhorse, and Chang Geng supported her waist, hoisting her onto the saddle. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Dai Yuheng pursed his lips, wearing a look of immense satisfaction. She glared at him twice, but he deliberately looked away toward the direction of the Northern Palace’s retreat, sighing slightly, "It’s a pity Yinghuo didn't succeed."

Yinghuo? She suddenly remembered that when he kissed her, something round had rolled into her pocket. Amidst the chaos caused by Chang Geng, she had completely forgotten about it. Reaching into her pocket, she felt a smooth, round object. She pulled it out naturally, then blinked in surprise.

The others were drawn by her exclamation. They stared at what was in her hand: a transparent, palm-sized bead, much like a crystal glass marble, appearing entirely unremarkable.

She turned the bead over in her hands, puzzled. Why had Yinghuo given this to her? Did he have a hobby of collecting marbles? When Dai Yuheng saw the bead, his expression changed drastically, his voice trembling: "Where did you get this?"

"Right before Yinghuo left..." She quickly shut her mouth, glaring at him. "Why should I tell you!"

Dai Yuheng sneered, "The Northern Palace prince truly has a heart for the commander, giving you the Northern Palace's State Policy Pearl."

"State Policy Pearl?" She was stunned, staring at the plain-looking bead. "This is the State Policy Pearl?" One of the five palace pearls that Dai Yuheng had been obsessed with obtaining? But why would Yinghuo give her something so important?

Dai Yuheng scanned his surroundings quickly and whispered, "Keep quiet. We’ll talk when we get back!" He turned his horse around and ordered the soldiers gathering behind him, "The commander-in-chief has returned safely. Each unit leader shall count their casualties, handle the arrangements on the spot, and return to camp immediately!"

The leaders acknowledged, checking on their own soldiers' injuries, dragging spears and poles, and pushing the seized supplies as they victoriously headed back.

Kaiming glared at his retreating back, feeling annoyed for a long while. *I’m the commander-in-chief, after all! Giving orders is my right. How did this kid get ahead of me?* Preoccupied with the State Policy Pearl, she tucked it carefully back into her pocket and, suppressing her displeasure, rode away.

Upon returning to her camp, after having the wounds on her hands treated with new medicine, she couldn't resist taking out the pearl to study it closely. No matter how she looked at it, she couldn't see anything special. Could this thing really be that magical?

Just as she was wondering, the tent flap was lifted and several people burst in. Before they even reached her, their wailing was already deafening. "Kaiming! You’re still alive!"

She was shocked, and before she could react, she was enveloped in a powerful embrace. Sinking into that familiar body, she finally came to her senses and gritted her teeth, "Chunhua!"

Chunhua hugged her, sobbing incessantly, "It was so scary! War is so terrifying! There were dead bodies everywhere! Kaiming, Kaiming, I was afraid I’d never see you again!"

*What is going on?* A fierce woman as strong as a bear, afraid of dead bodies? Kaiming was both annoyed and amused. She shouted, "Let go of me! I didn't die at the hands of the enemy, but I’m going to be crushed to death by you!"

Chunhua immediately pulled away, wiping her red eyes. "Why didn't you tell me there would be ghosts on the battlefield?"

"What ghosts? What are you babbling about?" She rubbed her aching arms, annoyed.

"There really were ghosts!" Xia Cao and Qiuju chimed in, their faces full of terror. "We all saw it! The dead people stood back up—bodies cut in half, soldiers without heads... ah, it was too horrible!" The three of them clung to each other.

Kaiming was stunned. What was this nonsense? Bodies cut in half? Headless soldiers? Since when did such things happen in this world?

She furrowed her brows. "Where did you see this? Did you walk into the Illusion Mist?"

"It was all thick fog, and we were charging on the front lines!" Chunhua said timidly. "If I had known the Northern Palace soldiers were ghost troops, I wouldn't have gone out there even if you killed me!"

Kaiming finally understood. They had been caught in the Illusion Mist, causing hallucinations. It seemed these three were fearless against people, but terrified of ghosts. She chuckled inwardly, wanting to tease them. "Now you know the horror of war! You usually act so arrogant because you’re used to bullying others, so the gods sent ghost troops to teach you a lesson!"

The three of them wailed and hugged their heads, swearing they wouldn't do it again.

Kaiming thought to herself that it was a miracle these three women had survived the Illusion Mist. She said, "Actually, you need to carry spirit charms to fight ghost troops. It’s your own fault for charging in so recklessly! You’re lucky you didn't lose your heads. Next time, remember to listen to me; I’ll give each of you a spirit charm, and you’ll be safe and sound, and perhaps even earn promotions and titles!"

Having experienced the battle, the three were completely convinced by her words and nodded repeatedly. Not wanting to waste any more time, Kaiming ordered Chunhua to check if the food was ready and waved for the three to leave.

No sooner had they stepped out than someone else stepped in. She glanced up, her expression cooling. "I knew you’d come. Speak—what do you want?"

The visitor smiled, ignoring her coldness, and sat down at the foot of her couch, lifting his robes. He had changed out of his blood-stained garments, and with his hair neatly groomed, he looked refreshed. It was the young master, Dai Yuheng.

"Even if the commander doesn't welcome me, I had to come. Could I borrow the pearl in your hand for a look?" Dai Yuheng went straight to the point.

Kaiming snorted and pushed the bead across the wooden table. It rolled over to him.

Dai Yuheng quickly caught it, saying with concern, "Commander, you are too careless. What if you broke it?"

"There’s nothing to study," she said coolly. "Isn't it just a broken bead?"

Dai Yuheng shook his head. "You truly don't recognize a treasure when you see one." He held the pearl in his palm, examining it meticulously.

"No need to look; there’s nothing there," she said, stretching lazily and glancing at him. "I’ve looked at it a hundred times."

A strange expression appeared on Dai Yuheng's face. "Is this really the Northern Palace's pearl?"

"How would I know?" She leaned back on the couch, yawning. "Isn't that what you said?"

Dai Yuheng focused on studying the glass marble, muttering to himself, "The appearance is exactly the same as the Central Palace's, but why is there no inscription?"

"Inscription?" She narrowed her eyes, suddenly recalling Yinghuo’s probing question: *Is there any writing on the Central Palace's pearl?* Could the Central Palace’s pearl be different from the Northern Palace’s?

Dai Yuheng, seemingly off-guard, muttered, "The Central Palace’s pearl has an inscription, but the Northern Palace’s is completely blank. Why is that?"

"Wisdom?" She was even more confused and couldn't be bothered to ask.

Dai Yuheng glanced at her, and not seeing her, he realized she was lying on the couch. The corners of his mouth curled slightly, looking somewhat amused. "Commander Kaiming, when Yinghuo gave this to you, did he say anything?"

"Anything?" She immediately thought of the kiss that had left half her body numb. She shuddered, struggling to recall his whisper in her ear before he left: "Do as you see fit."

"What does that mean?" Dai Yuheng was slightly stunned. *Do as you see fit?* Did that mean he gave the pearl to Kaiming and let her decide its fate?

"Commander Kaiming," Dai Yuheng said, probing her, "could you lend me the pearl so I can study it for a few more days?"

She stretched out her hand from across the table and waved it.

Dai Yuheng frowned. "Is the commander unwilling?"

"It doesn't matter, take it!" she said languidly. "This thing can't be eaten or pawned, and it breaks easily. You keep it safe for me!" Her generosity took Dai Yuheng by surprise; he was stunned. Would she really let go of it so easily?

"However," she shifted gears, holding up a finger and declaring loudly, "since you’re borrowing my item, you owe me a favor. I will come to collect it in the future!"

Dai Yuheng couldn't help but smile. This was the calculation of this little woman—she really knew how to make a deal. She poked the air with her finger again. "No going back on your word!"

"Very well, I agree!" Dai Yuheng promised readily. *Future matters can wait for the future; getting the pearl now is what matters.*

In truth, the moment Dai Yuheng opened his mouth, Kaiming had already weighed the pros and cons in her mind. Dai had petitioned the Palace Emperor to serve as a military supervisor specifically to hunt for the Northern Palace pearl. By showing the pearl in front of so many people, she had already invited disaster. Since he was determined to have it, she might as well play along, give it to him, and earn a favor—it wasn't a bad trade.

As for whether the Tianjue Palace Emperor wanted it or not, that was none of her business. She wanted to stay as far away from the infighting between these two factions as possible.

Dai Yuheng, unaware of her inner thoughts, simply assumed she didn't know the value of the treasure. He put the pearl away and looked at the empty space across the table. He smiled, "Commander Kaiming, after this, I finally understand your purpose."

She snorted from across the table. "You only just realized my usefulness? Hmph!"

"Indeed." His fingers tapped lightly on the table. "So, the commander’s purpose lies with the State Policy Pearl."

She sat up with a start, her hair disheveled, and glared at him. "What do you mean by that?"

"I am emphasizing your role." Dai Yuheng smiled faintly, his jade-like face and bright eyes looking peerlessly handsome. "Because I have been weighing the issue of whether to keep the commander or not, and now I finally have the answer."

She frowned, unable to understand Dai Yuheng’s cryptic remarks.

Dai Yuheng stood up and walked toward her. She immediately flashed a look of vigilance.

Dai Yuheng walked to the edge of her couch and sat down. She scooted backward. "What do you want?"

"The commander need not be nervous." Dai Yuheng raised his long, slender fingers and gently brushed back her disheveled hair, his voice soft. "Your hair is messy."

Kaiming pushed his hand away, frowning. "Is the military supervisor always this disrespectful to his superior?"