"Oh, so you choose death, Guo Fang!"
said General Lu Chen in a cold voice that echoed over the sound of his troops' footsteps. His gaze was sharp as a knife.
"Hahaha... you're so confident you can kill me, General Lu Chen," Guo Fang said with a loud laugh, glaring at the woman before him. "You think just because you have the title 'The Frozen Blade,' I'll cower? This world isn't as weak as you think!"
Lu Chen stared at her emotionlessly. "Confident? No. I only know the limits of human strength. And your limit... is already here, Guo Fang."
"Tsk! You're as arrogant as people say," Guo Fang replied mockingly. "But I want to know how strong that woman who's said to be heartless really is."
Lu Chen didn't reply. He simply turned his head slightly toward Lieutenant Tianlong and gestured.
"Lieutenant Tianlong. Now."
"Ready, General!" Tianlong shouted, giving the command to the troops.
A few seconds later—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of gunfire echoed loudly throughout the old factory. The flames from the muzzles bounced off the metal walls, casting a brief glow on tense faces.
A gunfight was inevitable. The mobsters, who had been partying, now panicked and tried to fight back, but their movements were slow due to their intoxication.
"Attack them! Don't let them get out alive!" Guo Fang shouted hoarsely, trying to encourage his men who were falling one by one.
Lu Chen raised his pistol and fired without hesitation. "One... two... three... too slow," he muttered after each bullet hit.
Lieutenant Tianlong ran behind the front line, firing and shouting, "They're retreating, General! They're retreating to the east side!"
"Don't give them any breathing room, Lieutenant," Lu Chen replied without taking his eyes off his target. "On the battlefield, those who hesitate are the first to die."
Tianlong nodded quickly and fired twice. "Yes, General! But be careful—they have heavy weapons in the corner!"
"I know. Focus on the left, I'll handle the right," Liu Chen replied coldly.
The sound of bullets continued to ring out, dust filling the air. In no time, the bodies of the mobsters fell one by one.
"Damn!" Guo Fang cursed, slamming the table. "My men are useless! You can't even shoot straight!"
"Hahaha... what do you think, Guo Fang?" Lu Chen said, stepping forward with a sinister smile. "Still feeling superior with your drunken gang?"
Guo Fang gasped. "You think I'll give up that easily, damned General? Even if all my men die at your hands, I won't submit!"
Lu Chen raised his pistol. "What a shame. I was hoping you'd surrender so I wouldn't stain my hands with your foul blood."
"Shut up!" Guo Fang shouted, raising his gun.
Bang!
Another gunshot rang out.
A loud scream rang out. "Aakhhh!"
Guo Fang staggered, blood gushing from his chest.
Lu Chen slowly lowered his gun. "You shouldn't have called me 'damn.' That was a poor choice of words."
Guo Fang knelt down, her face pale. "You… crazy woman…"
"I know," Lu Chen replied flatly.
Lu Chen's men began searching the room, ensuring there were no remaining enemies. Tianlong reported quickly, "General, the entire area is secure. Guo Fang appears to be dead."
"Make sure all weapons are confiscated. Leave nothing behind," Liu Chen ordered firmly.
"Yes, General."
But in the midst of this bustle, Guo Fang's lying hand suddenly moved slowly. His fingers trembled, reaching for the pistol lying nearby.
With his dying breath, he muttered softly, "If I die… at least you have to die too, bitch…"
BANG!
"General Lu Chen, watch out!!" Tianlong shouted.
But it was too late. The bullet whizzed through the air.
BANG!
Liu Chen staggered, the bullet piercing his chest. Fresh blood splattered, staining his black military uniform.
"Akkhh…" a soft sound escaped his lips, his body falling to the cold floor.
"GENERAL!!" Tianlong and the troops shouted in unison.
Tianlong ran, supporting Liu Chen's weakening body. "General! Hold on! We'll take you to the military hospital! Please hold on a little longer, please!"
Liu Chen shook his head slowly. His breathing was heavy. "N-no... it's fu-useless, Le-lieutenant... Tian...long..."
"Don't talk, General!" Tianlong interrupted, his voice trembling. "We can save you! We still need you in this army! The country of Xion still needs you!"
Lu Chen smiled faintly. "I... have entrusted... everything... t-to you... Tianlong..."
"No, don't talk like that, General! I can't replace you! You are The Frozen Blade! You can't die like this!"
Liu Chen stared at his subordinate's face. "Every... sword... will have a time... when it rusts... and breaks..."
"General... sob... don't leave us," Tianlong sobbed, his tears falling onto Lu Chen's uniform. "Please, hold on..."
"D-don't... s-cry..." Lu Chen whispered weakly, raising his hand to wipe Tianlong's tears away.
"General... don't talk like that... we'll—"
"Enough, Lieutenant," Lu Chen interrupted in a barely audible voice. "You... are a strong soldier... don't let tears become your weakness..."
"B-but..."
"Enough." Lu Chen looked at him gently for the first time. "Take care of the troops... and take care of yourself..."
He took a deep breath, then whispered softly, "Go-good... bye... L-Lieutenant... Tian...long..."
"General... NO!!" Tianlong screamed, shaking his shoulders.
But Liu Chen's eyes slowly closed, his breathing stopped.
"Am I going to die now?" he thought vaguely. "So I died young... but it's okay... at least I died after completing my mission... and killing that damn Guo Fang..."
Silence fell over the room.
Lieutenant Tianlong cradled his general's cold body. He broke down in tears. "General Lu Chen... the strongest woman... I've ever known... why so soon...?"
The other troops stood silently, bowing their heads in grief. They had lost not just a leader, but a symbol of strength and determination.
Tianlong hugged Lu Chen tighter. "I promise, General... I will continue your fight... for Xion and for the name of The Frozen Blade, which will never be forgotten..."