The soldiers were unable to use their Martial Perception effectively, so they had to rely on their own natural skill and numbers to beat their opponents. However, this was where another problem arose. These soldiers, while they displayed exemplary willpower and resolve to endure the Featherwind Sect's brutal training regime, were only soldiers in the end. What did that mean? Cardinal Hui, Lady Mingyu, and Protector Chang had carved their way into Perception Realm specifically because they were exemplary in every aspect. Whether it be in effort, skill, talent, or luck, they had it all to transcend mortal limits! Otherwise, why else would there be so few Perception Realms in the world? It was an achievement for the worthy! While these soldiers managed to touch upon that plateau, they were still fundamentally the same people underneath. Giving a pig wings did not mean it would fly. It was the same here. They were outclassed by people who earned their power! In a contest of skill, the Imperial Princesses' side would win!
Of course, it was not absolute. Everyone had their limits after all, and given enough injuries or fatigue, they would eventually fall. They were not invincible. That was why Cardinal Hui and the others prioritized escaping rather than fighting. Getting surrounded would guarantee their defeat. It was fortunate that Prime Minister Pon-Wai and the Imperial Council miscalculated their side's strength by this much. No one from their side survived Liguang, so they had no way of knowing how well they fared in that battle. If they did, then perhaps their strategy would have been different. One minute was all it took! Lady Mingyu smashed her way through the encirclement, as Protector Chang and the Imperial Princesses wrenched it open. Cardinal Hui and Imperian Qiang followed shortly after. Their opponents stumbled backwards in fear, as their morale plummeted. They realized how one-sided the battle became. It was suicide to stop them! That idea gripped the battlefield and froze everyone in their tracks. They had lost psychologically! Before the prime minister or captain could intervene, their targets had already vanished.
"How is this possible?" the captain croaked while his back became drenched in sweat. It was one thing to fail, but there was someone else spectating. As expected, a horrifying pressure washed over him.
"What are you waiting for?" Prime Minister Pon-Wai hissed with half a smile.
"N-Nothing! We'll capture them right away, Your Excellency! There's no need to worry!"
"Go!" After the captain rushed off, he turned to another person and issued his orders, "Seal the surrounding area and alert the city guards. Tell them that the Imperial Princesses and Imperian Qiang infiltrated the city, and anyone who captures them alive will be awarded the rank of Hou-Dan! In addition, we'll be changing the guard routes to the fifth pattern. If our information is correct, then we'll be able to locate and isolate any intruders. Kill them without prejudice!"
"Yes, Your Excellency!"
The Imperial Princesses soon exited the forest around Liutianhe Pagoda and re-entered the city limits. Thankfully, there were no guards to be seen. Prime Minister Pon-Wai must have been so assured of his victory that he never once considered the possibility of losing. That became his fatal error. And despite what unfolded at the pagoda, the streets, and by extension the whole city, remained as unmoved as ever. People continued to go to work, shop for things, or dine outside. The laughter of children could be heard too. Although the Alzar Kingdom had not sieged Yongtein in over a hundred years, everyone kept a surprising level of calm and peace. It was like no one cared that a battle took place outside the gates at all. There was never any doubt they would fail. One had to admit that the Imperial Council's control over Yongtein was impeccable. They had convinced the populace to prevent any chance of a mass panic or revolt. This played in the Imperial Princesses' favor though since they could seamlessly blend into the crowds. The city guard would struggle to find them unless they made a mistake. Once they were far away enough, they regrouped in a quiet part of the city and exhaled. The tension finally released from their muscles.
"We should be safe here for the time being," Cardinal Hui said as he kept an eye out.
"Is everyone okay?" Qiang asked.
"I'm fine but…" Protector Chang glanced at Lady Mingyu with a hint of amazement.
Being their vanguard meant taking the brunt of the attacks. Although she outclassed her opponents as a famous Perception Realm Master, she fought without any regard to her safety. None of her injuries were grave, but there were many of them. Her skin was riddled with innumerable shallow cuts and bruises! Her clothes were also shredded and bloodied from the battle. Moreover, she had reverted to her usual awkward personality, which made her look particularly pitiful. Protector Chang looked much better off by comparison, despite being almost an entire realm weaker. He sustained little injuries, and he repelled quite a few Perception Realms thanks to his powerful defensive swordsmanship style. Of course, he faced off against a handful of enemies at a time, while Lady Mingyu fought against ten or twenty at once, so she was still far superior.
Lady Mingyu hugged her shoulders and mumbled, "N-No problem. I-I can still fight…"
"Ow, ow, ow." Xiuying touched her waist and winced. It was a little bloody from a slipup she made earlier, and her hand was stained red, though she was more concerned about whether it would leave a scar or not. Her sister, on the other hand, was in a much worser state.
Ming was someone who obsessed over everything. Her hair was always tidy, her clothes were always straight, and her tone was always constant. Even her gait was perfectly symmetrical. Her appearance was refined to the tiniest of details. That was the image that she carefully crafted over the last nineteen years of her life. However, that perfectionist was currently hunched over, heaving and huffing, with her appearance in complete disarray. In the first place, she might have trained in the way of the spear, but that did not mean she liked it. It was purely for self-defensive. She only resorted to fighting as a last resort and this was the consequence. Xiuying was the exact opposite since she honed her saber skills everyday. Her instincts and skills stayed fresh. That was how she pulled ahead to become a Half-Perception Realm, one step further than Ming's Fundamental Realm Master. Her physical condition was at its peak! The difference was apparent at a glance. Xiuying suffered a few superficial injuries, whereas Ming had a harder time. She could not help but feel sorry for her sister.
"How many survived from the kingdom's side?" Qiang asked.
"Twelve soldiers, but it looks like we were separated in the chaos. I can't see them anymore," Cardinal Hui replied.
"Twelve out of two hundred… That's almost a complete wipeout," the man sighed. "Still, I guess we could call ourselves lucky to escape in that sort of situation."
"What should we do now then? Leave Yongtein?"
"Looking at the circumstances…" Qiang glanced at his two nieces. "That sounds like the best option. Prime Minister Pon-Wai anticipated our actions, which makes it likely that he anticipated our other attacks too. This operation is a failure. We should escape and notify General Petra immediately."
"It's too dangerous to return to the Inner City. We should think of another way out."
"If we make our way towards the eastern gate, then we should see the Featherwind Sect's flying ship. They can help us escape."
"We should decide quickly then. I can see more guards. It won't be long before they find us," Cardinal Hui noted with his senses.
Qiang nodded. "I know. Ming, we need to go. Can you move yet? We can wait a bit longer if you need to."
"T-There's no need for that," Ming exhaled shakily. She tried to straighten out her clothes and hair. "The Imperial Council can probably guess our next move, so we shouldn't move carelessly."
"Then should we stay here?" Xiuying wondered. "Or maybe try to capture the prime minister again?"
Ming shook her head. "The prime minister won't be careless after that battle. If we go back, then we'll certainly be captured. There's no doubt about it."
Qiang scratched his chin contemplatively. "There is something we can do… Something that I doubt even the prime minister would expect us to do."
"You don't mean…"
"It's the perfect time to try. Everyone's distracted by the battle or looking for us. Furthermore, we don't have to commit if it seems too difficult. The initiative is in our hands."
"No, you're right. This might be our only chance. Let's give it a try… for Protector Tai's sake."