In the end, the Tartar was whipped to death by the woman. Whether it was due to Ning Shu's example or the woman's deep-seated hatred for the Tartar who had tried to violate her, her first lash was aimed directly at his most vulnerable area.
This was a man's weakest point, and to be struck there was akin to losing half of one's life. Every man present felt an instinctive chill near their crotch. The bloody, mangled sight of the Tartar left even the hardened soldiers of Great Yong pale with fear.
Only after the Tartar drew his last breath did the woman collapse into tears. Her sobs were heart-wrenching, and she cried out desperately for her parents.
After a while, she wiped her tears away, steadied herself, and walked over to Ning Shu. Dropping to her knees, she offered the whip back with both hands. As she did so, the cloak draped over her shoulders shifted, revealing patches of her skin.
However, none of the men dared to look. The earlier events had completely extinguished any trace of lust they might have harbored.
Ning Shu accepted the whip and observed the woman kneeling before her. Her skin, tanned from the sun, bore the characteristics of those living near the border. Her hair was thick, and although she wasn't conventionally beautiful, her strong brows gave her a resolute and determined appearance.
"General, please allow me to follow you into battle and fight the Tartars," the woman pleaded, her voice steady despite the anguish in her eyes. "I have nowhere to go. The Tartars have killed my family and destroyed my home."
Ning Shu reached out and pulled her onto the horse. "What's your name? From now on, you can stay with me," she said.
The woman hesitated, her face flushing as she stumbled over her words. "I… this servant, this commoner, this humble…"
"You can refer to yourself as 'this servant,'" Ning Shu interjected with a hint of amusement. "From now on, you will serve me. Call me 'Princess.'"
The woman's eyes widened in astonishment. "Princess?" she repeated, clearly shocked. It seemed unthinkable to her that a princess of the nation would fight on the battlefield.
"This servant begs Princess to grant this servant a name," she said earnestly. "Princess saved this servant's life. From now on, this servant's life belongs to Princess!" Her tone was firm and filled with conviction.
A small smile appeared on Ning Shu's face. Who said women couldn't stand alongside men? While they might lack the same physical strength, a woman's resilience was not to be underestimated.
"From now on, your name will be Cai Sang," Ning Shu declared. She was pleased—finally, she had a follower of her own. Even if it was just one person, this one belonged wholly to her.
Earlier, when she had sought volunteers for her mission, not a single man had stepped forward. Their disdain for women was evident, even though she was a princess. In their eyes, women belonged at home raising children, while the battlefield was exclusively for men.
Cai Sang, however, deeply respected Ning Shu. After changing into a fresh set of clothes, she returned and chose not to sit beside Ning Shu. Instead, she walked alongside her, leading her horse.
"Capture these Tartars and bring them back for interrogation. They're likely scouts," Ning Shu commanded, her voice cold and detached.
She maintained a façade of icy indifference, though it wasn't easy. Pretending to be calm and collected under pressure was far from effortless.
Just as Ning Shu turned her horse around to head back to camp, the sound of approaching horse hooves reached her ears. Judging by the noise, it was a sizable group.
Her expression turned grave as she issued an urgent order to Duan Xinghui. "Quickly, fire a signal flare!"
Without hesitation, Duan Xinghui pulled out a signal flare and shot it into the sky, where it exploded in a burst of light.