"Four centaur patrols circle the village," Ren Hao whispered.
He crouched low behind a cluster of bushes, eyes focused on the distant settlement.
"They move in pairs. One pair patrols the southern side of the village. The other guards the eastern entrance."
The soldiers behind him exchanged surprised glances.
The darkness of the night concealed almost everything, yet Ren Hao spoke with absolute certainty.
None of them could see that far.
Ren Hao continued calmly.
"None of them are wearing armor. Only short blades and short bows."
"Each carries around twenty arrows."
He paused slightly.
"They're tired."
"One pair is resting near the southern wheat field."
"The other is sitting beside the eastern well."
The cavalrymen stared at him as if he were some kind of monster.
Ren Hao's gaze sharpened again.
"There's also a beast-tamer among the eastern pair."
"A brown owl with white markings is perched on the tree above them."
Captain Yuna Frostmane's eyes widened slightly.
"That owl…"
Ren Hao nodded.
"It's their alarm."
"Two weeks ago a villager tried to escape at night. The owl spotted him."
"The centaurs dragged him back and killed him in front of everyone."
Silence followed his report.
Even the hardened frontier soldiers felt a chill.
Ren Hao shifted his attention again.
His Dragon Blood perception stretched beyond simple sight.
He lowered himself to the ground and pressed his ear against the earth.
Sound vibrated through the soil.
The results were immediate.
"I hear voices inside the village," he murmured.
"The centaur chieftain is still awake."
"Female voice… crying."
"Two others are speaking to her."
"Drunk."
Ren Hao inhaled slowly.
"The smell of rice wine is strong."
"Most of the centaurs must already be asleep."
Lady Feng studied him carefully.
The admiration in her eyes was no longer hidden.
"A natural scout…"
She muttered quietly.
Then she turned to the soldiers.
"Prepare to move."
The centaur cavalry wrapped cloth around their hooves to silence their steps.
Moments later they advanced toward the village.
Exactly as Ren Hao predicted.
Two sentries rested near the southern fields.
Another pair guarded the eastern well.
The owl sat quietly in the tree above them.
Lady Feng confirmed the information herself.
Then she glanced back toward Ren Hao.
"Your eyes are extraordinary."
Her expression softened slightly.
"Perhaps even more valuable than your arrows."
Without warning she spurred her white warhorse forward.
Her bow appeared in her hands.
Three arrows were drawn in a single smooth motion.
The bowstring stretched into a perfect crescent.
Twice.
Three times.
The arrows vanished into the night.
A heartbeat later—
Two centaur guards collapsed.
The third arrow pierced the owl in midair.
Three targets.
Three kills.
The soldiers stared in awe.
Lady Feng smirked proudly.
"Not impressed?"
Ren Hao blinked.
"That was…"
He struggled to find the right word.
"Terrifying."
Lady Feng laughed softly.
"Good."
Then she leaned closer.
"With eyes like yours, why waste your life farming?"
"Join the Northern Frontier Legion."
"Serve as my scout."
"I'll promote you to squad leader immediately."
Ren Hao hesitated.
The offer surprised him.
"Thank you for the honor, General," he said slowly.
"But… I need time to think."
For the first time, Lady Feng looked genuinely shocked.
Her crimson lips formed a small pout.
"You're refusing me?"
Ren Hao coughed awkwardly.
"I didn't say that…"
Lady Feng huffed and turned away.
"Fine."
"Then watch carefully."
Her expression turned sharp.
"I'll show you why the soldiers of the frontier call me the **Flying Valkyrie**."
The cavalry split into three groups.
Captain Yuna led one team toward the granary.
Another squad moved toward the tents where the centaur warriors slept.
Lady Feng and Ren Hao advanced toward the central square.
Exactly as Ren Hao described, five centaurs remained there.
Three drunk.
Two asleep.
Bird calls echoed softly through the darkness.
Both squads were ready.
Lady Feng lifted a small bone whistle.
A sharp call cut through the night.
Then she charged.
Her white horse exploded forward like lightning.
The first centaur barely had time to react before her halberd pierced straight through his chest.
The massive weapon lifted the creature off the ground.
Blood sprayed across the square.
Lady Feng roared.
With a violent twist of her arms she hurled the body aside and swung again.
The second centaur was cut cleanly in half.
Ren Hao watched in stunned silence.
Her strength was monstrous.
But the battle wasn't over.
The final enemy—the centaur chieftain—suddenly raised both hands.
A strange pink glow appeared around Lady Feng's horse.
The animal screamed and reared violently.
The spell took effect instantly.
The warhorse lost control.
Lady Feng fought to maintain balance, but the horse twisted violently and crashed sideways.
Six hundred kilograms of muscle and armor slammed into the ground.
A sharp crack echoed.
Lady Feng's leg was trapped beneath the fallen horse.
Ren Hao's eyes widened.
The centaur chieftain was a **spell-caster**.
And the battle had just turned dangerous.