By the time Kaguya and her group arrived at the scene, the village was already reduced to ashes in the blazing fire. Scorch marks were everywhere, and the buildings had been burned to the ground, leaving only charred wood and crumbling walls standing.
Corpses lay strewn across the ground, their bodies covered in cuts and wounds. The blood had dried, leaving behind a dark red stain that was shocking to see. Many of the bodies had been so badly burned in the fire that they were unrecognizable, reduced to charcoal. The air was filled with a burnt smell that made one want to vomit.
Among the bodies were men, women, and even children, all of whom had been brutally killed. In some corners, there were bodies of women who had been violated and murdered, and bodies that had been dismembered. The scene was hellish.
Kaguya's face was as calm as water, her beautiful features emotionless, with only the occasional flash of cold light in her clear eyes.
"Bastards!" Seryu shouted angrily, punching a wall blackened by fire. The wall collapsed instantly, sending dust into the air. "I will kill those beasts!"
Sensing its master's anger, the little creature recently released by Kaguya wore a furious expression on its dumbfounded face, baring its teeth and clenching its tiny fists.
Kurome showed no reaction, no hint of emotion, as she calmly wiped her long sword with a handkerchief.
"I'm going to kill them!" Seryu exclaimed, grabbing her horse's reins, ready to charge after them.
"Stop," Kaguya commanded in a low voice.
"Why? Are you cold-blooded?" Seryu shouted, gripping the reins tightly. "Can you remain indifferent after seeing so many innocent people murdered?"
"Follow my orders," Kaguya said firmly.
Seryu's face showed stubbornness, and she shouted in anger, "No, I'm going to..."
"Didn't you hear what I said?" Kaguya interrupted loudly, her eyes emitting a chilling aura that made Seryu shiver.
Seryu bit her lip, clenching her fists, her face full of defiance.
"Go," Kaguya urged, riding forward and patting Seryu's shoulder gently. "I will deal with those beasts."
Seryu was momentarily stunned. She looked up at Kaguya's cold expression and felt a slight tremor in her heart. She nodded involuntarily.
"Let's go," Kaguya said, pulling the reins and galloping into the distance. "A blood debt must be paid in blood."
"Yes."
Five hundred soldiers in black armor followed closely, their horses' hooves thundering and kicking up dust, forming a black stream of steel rushing toward the horizon.
"Heh, boss, that woman was really something," said a bald brute with a wicked grin, nudging his companion.
"Shut up," replied another burly man, slapping the bald man on the head. "If you hadn't been so rough, she wouldn't have died so quickly. I wasn't finished."
This man was lean but equally strong, with a striking scar running from his right shoulder to his left abdomen, adding to his fierce appearance.
"They were all broke, no money at all," the bald man spat on the ground. "What a waste."
"Come on, at least we had women and meat," the scarred leader snorted. "In the north, you'd have starved long ago."
"Boss, don't say that. I'm following you, aren't I? You eat, and I'll drink the broth," the bald man said, bowing obsequiously.
"Hmph, be careful, or you'll die on a woman's belly someday," the scarred leader warned, glancing at him.
"Don't worry, I'm in good shape," the bald man chuckled. "They say the imperial princess is the most beautiful woman in the empire. I wonder if it's true."
"Stop dreaming," the scarred leader scoffed. "You wouldn't know what hit you."
"Heh, you never know," the bald man laughed, his eyes gleaming lecherously. "If I get the chance, I'll enjoy her."
Just then, a melodious voice, sweet like a silver bell, rang out, captivating everyone who heard it.
"Yes, I'll make sure you enjoy it."
"Who's there?"
The bald man and the scarred leader jumped to their feet, and the northern tribe soldiers around them also stood, gripping their spears and swords, alert and staring at the bushes from where the voice came.
A stunning silver-haired girl walked out elegantly. Her eyebrows were like distant autumn mountains, and her eyes were like serene autumn waters. Her shoulders were slender, her waist slim, and her chest was proudly prominent, like budding flowers. Her steps were light, and her posture graceful. Without any makeup, she appeared even more strikingly beautiful.
Everyone present was dumbfounded, unable to take their eyes off her. Some even drooled at the sight.
Kaguya frowned slightly, finding the barbarian's lustful gaze revolting, as disgusting as a wriggling pile of maggots.
"Hey, boss," the bald man whispered, staring intently at the silver-haired beauty. "I can't believe a girl came to us. We're going to have a great time."
Noticing the lack of response from the scarred leader, the bald man turned to look at him and froze.
The scarred leader looked as if he had seen something terrifying. His eyes were fixed on the silver-haired girl, filled with fear. He was trembling, cold sweat pouring down his back, oblivious to the bald man's words.
The bald man thought his boss was just awestruck and was about to tease him, but then he realized something was wrong.
Suddenly, the scarred leader turned and fled, running for his life.
Others might not recognize her, but he did. This was the silver-haired girl who had killed thousands of their men in Eisen Town—none other than the imperial princess.
He would never forget what happened that night: the deafening explosions, the blinding light, the suffocating heat. It was the most terrifying experience of his life, and the scar on his chest was a reminder of that night.
The scarred leader had narrowly escaped death that night, thinking he'd never see her again. But now, encountering her once more almost scared him out of his wits.
As he fled desperately through the woods, the scarred leader felt a chill in his groin. Only then did he realize he had been so frightened he had wet himself.