“What are they doing?”

“Digging a hole to bury our fallen soldiers, it seems . ”

Marvel narrowed his eyes . The panther, who had no trouble in snow, watched the three vague silhouettes on the other side . In a bewildered tone, he said, “I don’t understand what humanity wants . They’re burying our men? I thought I would see our fallen soldiers on their wooden fortress . We don’t value burials, but it is humanity’s respect for us . Soldiers, we must show the human soldiers respect, as well, if we clear the battlefield in the future . ”

“Do we still have a chance to?”

Marvel didn’t answer the question, because he didn’t know the answer; or rather, he knew the answer to the question, but didn’t want to acknowledge it . Yesterday’s attack was a success . They didn’t suffer too many casualties and managed to shock the enemy, but he could only succeed that once . Further, the success was pointless .

The difference in numbers was too big . Despite coming here with the determination to face an inevitable death, he still left a team at his territory . He had a pregnant wife, so he had to protect his family . He could die for this continent, but he didn’t wish for his family to die as a consequence of his decisions .

“There’s still a chance . Our victory this time will definitely be able to move everyone . Their confusion at present is surely because they don’t know if we can defeat humanity, but I’ve proved it . Humanity isn’t invincible . We can defeat them so long as we unite . ”

Despite not being convinced of his own words, Marvel still needed to say that to his men . He spoke with his usual determined and optimistic tone, combined with his gaze, which gave his soldier confidence and courage . His soldiers didn’t completely believe him, but they had no right to be worried when they saw their commander so confident . After all, their commander was with them in success and defeat .

Marvel looked at his soldier . He knew that this land no longer had any opportunity and humanity was unlikely to give them another chance to launch an attack on them . Clas.h.i.+ng with humanity’s army head on with his own army was a death wish . Thus, his only option was to walk the last path, which was also his last hope . And that was to defend the valley with his life .

There was a defence structure in front of the area in between the valley . A city wall was built there with a small stronghold behind it . Humanity has cannons, but they could defend at the stronghold for a while . He knew that he, alone, couldn’t defeat humanity’s army . If the other tribes didn’t send reinforcements, his only option would be to negotiate with humanity .

If they lost the valley, it would be hard to defend the area to the rear . If it came to that, humanity would be a horse on a flat stretch of land, and capturing the entire North would just be a matter of time . If he surrendered, then it would mean joining the strongest faction the same way he joined the alliance of the four tribes back then .

If they lost the valley, it would be hard to defend the area to the rear . If it came to that, humanity would be a horse on a flat stretch of land, and capturing the entire North would just be a matter of time . If he surrendered, then it would mean joining the strongest faction the same way he joined the alliance of the four tribes back then .

There was no right or wrong . If the three tribes in the North still refuse to come after this, then the North will be doomed sooner or later under their rule . Marvel loved this land and his family here . However, he didn’t love those three tribes . It was better to pa.s.s the leaders.h.i.+p to someone smarter than protecting the three tribes .

Furthermore, he had lost his love because of the three tribes .

If it wasn’t for them, his wife wouldn’t be his current elven wife . He loved his current wife, but Marvel yearned for the fiery red girl most .

“I was once engaged…”

“I was once engaged…”

“Huh…?”

I sat down to the side and panted . Ling Yue, who sat next to me, suddenly spoke . I wiped my sweat off my forehead and looked at her with puzzlement .

“I said that I was once engaged… to the eldest son of the panther tribe, which should be the tribe leader and commander of the panthers ahead of us… I really liked him . We never met until after I came of age . I was worried that we wouldn’t love each other, but I was wrong . Marvel was different to the normal n.o.bles . He was gentle, erudite, polite, and had a wide variety of hobbies . Not only was he good at martial arts, but also very good at poetry and music, as well . Moreover, he loved me, too . We soon fell in love . I was very happy at the time . I considered being able to marry the man I loved a gift from the heavens . ”

Ling Yue looked at the hole we just filled in front of her . She wrapped her arms around her knees as an infant does, “However, I didn’t manage to see that day come . My tribe got exterminated . I escaped . I risked my life to go and see Marvel after I escaped, only to discover that he had gotten married, and his wife was pregnant . I found out that things had been discussed and determined a few months before the extermination of my tribe, and he didn’t inform me, or protect my family . He even married somebody else without asking me… If you ask me what the worst wound I received was, it would be when I looked at his hopeless eyes…”

I didn’t cut her off . I patiently listened until she finished, not because I was interested in her personal life, but mainly because I was lazy to move . In addition, Ling Yue’s gaze and posture looked pitiful .

She sniffled, and then went on again, “I wanted to bury these people, because they granted me a period of time that was as beautiful as a dream . I wanted to forget that romance, but when I saw them, I couldn’t help but recall my blissful and happy life with him . I couldn’t steel my heart when I recalled it . I lied to you; I actually wanted to bury them for my selfish reasons…”

I didn’t cut her off . I patiently listened until she finished, not because I was interested in her personal life, but mainly because I was lazy to move . In addition, Ling Yue’s gaze and posture looked pitiful .

She sniffled, and then went on again, “I wanted to bury these people, because they granted me a period of time that was as beautiful as a dream . I wanted to forget that romance, but when I saw them, I couldn’t help but recall my blissful and happy life with him . I couldn’t steel my heart when I recalled it . I lied to you; I actually wanted to bury them for my selfish reasons…”

I looked at her with a smile, “Ah, it’s fine, I’ve buried them already . You expect me to dig them back out? That said, don’t let others know about this . I can understand, but others might not . Also, I’m only helping you this once . There won’t be a next time . ”

“Uhm… I know . Thank you…”

Ling Yue nodded nicely for the first time . She then looked at me, “But… Mm… Although I got engaged… he never touched my tail before…”

“Didn’t we agree to not bring up the past again?” I stood up and looked to the Noth, “I’m very interested in this Marvel you speak of after what you told me . I really want to see him, specifically, after I capture him as a prisoner . I really want to capture him with my own hands . I want to see how this liar and philanderer looks, and then I’ll let you give him a few slaps the same way you slap me . If you can’t find it in you to do it, I’ll do it . ”

Ling Yue giggled . She then lightly stood up, “You’re one to talk about others being philanderers . You’re the biggest philanderer I’ve ever met . ”