"Uwahh.. I'm so tired, we are reaching the border town by sundown. All these riding has made my butt numb and now we're walking through these rocky place and humid dense vegetation. Anyways, Captain, do you think it would work?"

Giving a dirty look at to his whining junior, Captain Huang yawned a reply,

" I don't know but commanding General Tianhuo has already agreed. Besides I trust in esteemed general Feiyun."

Captain Zhang adjusted the long bow on his back, trying to fit it comfortably as they moved along the uneven gravel as quickly as they can.

He looked ahead trying to catch up with the small back of the fine girl who smelt of herbs and flowers.

Although he said he trusted Feiyun he still had some worries.

"Here's the plan."

Feiyun set the wooden tiger onto the landscape, right on top of the border town. Her eyes scanning the room with confidence.

"We will do nothing."

Silence continued as the generals stared flabbergasted at Feiyun.

" ....N-nothing?"

Some of the younger generals managed to chock out before the elder ones could burst into rage.

"That's right. The plan is to simply to remove the townsfolk to the next town for safety.

Once the townsfolk are evacuated, following which, we will open the gates and surrender the Town to the Bu lords."

The generals surrounding scratched their heads some looking at each other as though feiyun had just gone mad. The older, less forgiving generals felt the pressure in their veins rise wanting to spit out at least 3 meters of blood.

"I knew this would happen when we let an inexperienced woman start talking about war tactics. To treat this as a joke."

An older general across the table clicked his tongue.

"Oh? Then I will prove to you my logic with a simple game."

'Hmp, no respect for someone older than her, is she truly general Xue's daughter? If she wasn't a princess I would have kicked her out of here tsk.'

Slouching slightly, the old general displayed an obvious frown. The rest silently watched. Some glancing toward Tianhuo wondering if Tianhuo would move because of the disrespect shown to his princess.

But Tianhuo knew that Feiyun could take care of herself. He continued to watch as Feiyun's lips curled slowly into a half smirk as she challenged the old man, to prove her plan.

"We will play leaf, fire and water. If you win, I will walk out of here without any questions. But if you lose, you will apologise for having underestimated me."

Having thought for some time, the old general saw that Feiyun's suggestion did not have much loss for him, if possible he wanted to kick her out now but with Tianhuo watching, this was probably the only way that he could kick her out without giving Tianhuo a chance to blame him. The game was also observed by everyone and there's no way Feiyun could dare cheat.

"Fine. Princess, make sure you keep to your words."

"You too old man, ah... also, I'll let you know I'll be playing Fire."

'Hmm? Fire? Could it be a joke? Does she intend to make me play water so she can play leaf? No no no... But what if it's the other way round? Hmp so naive. Then wouldn't the safest bet be to play fire to beat her at her own game? Tsk'

The old general bit his bottom lip as his brows scrunched together. He had never felt this tense and confused before. What should he play ah?

Feiyun was confident she could read the old men, her eyes revealing a hint of slyness. Reading a person's facial details and playing with their psychology was but child's play for her.

As Ruyi began the count down, the old general grew even more frustrated and finally threw out a fire sign on the last call.

"...You lost old man."

Opening his eyes, the old general was bewildered.

'What? she actually threw out water?'

Chuckling slightly, Feiyun turned to the rest of the generals who had been watching the most intense match of leaf, fire, water in their life.

"That is basically what my strategy is.

Our foes are not the terrain, they are all but fickle minded humans.

And what do humans do? They doubt, especially when the answer is given in front of them. Add on a countdown and their frustration and doubt would surely grow."

Feiyun continued as she turned a glanced towards the annoyed blushing old man who seemed to have figured out that feiyun had used him to prove her point.

"When they've finally scratched their heads about up and down, they will choose the most reckless move which they thought would be the smartest. Only to find that they have fooled themselves. Just like Old General Liu.".

Breaking the silence the young general spoke out,

"There's no guarantee this would work. If the opponent choose not to believe and to just play leaf then wouldn't you have loss?"

Feiyun frowned at the young general as she corrected him.

"Don't be stupid. My decision was made by observing old man Liu afterall. It wasn't random."

Ruyi simply wondered how smart Feiyun truly was. He himself had been caught thinking what to throw out if he was in General Liu's position and he too made a silent choice to throw fire. Unable to help himself, he shook his head as he silently praise Feiyun's intelligence.

" We will leave it at that for now. The rest of the plan will be made know to you all when we reach the border town."

Having said his fill, Tianhuo simply picked up Feiyun and left, leaving the speechless generals gaping at the scene.

'What does he mean he will tell us when we reach the border town ah? What is this meeting for then?'

Outside, having struggled her fair share, Feiyun finally gave up and grasped Tianhuo's neck as she pouted slightly, digging her head into his shoulder.

"Put me down. Why did you suddenly decide to leave? Am I not good enough, do you really not trust me?"

Chuckling softly beside her ear, Tianhuo continued making their way towards their quarters.

The men who saw them coming had turned around and faced the walls for some unknown reason. Not daring to peek or move until Tianhuo and Feiyun had completely disappeared from their sight.

Once they were in alone again, Tianhuo finally replied in a soft and gentle whisper.

" No. I trust you more than I trust those old fools, you didn't even plan to reveal the entire thing to them in the first place right?"

Slightly surprised, Feiyun couldn't help but wonder whether there is anything Tianhuo didn't know.

'With that little explanation just now, he had already guessed?'

" Y-you...how did you know?"

"To fool your enemies you must first fool your allies."

Feiyun knew that her knowledge on modern warfare and her studies on many different war tactics such as the ones found in Sun Tzu's art of war book had obviously gave her an edge but to think that Tianhuo would understand her intentions so quickly.

"Tell me then, what is my plan?"

Feiyun's confident eyes challenged Tianhuo. Upon seeing her cheeky smirk, Tianhuo smiled slightly as he continued his theory.

"Leaving the gate wide open would force the Bu lords to doubt whether our army truly had surrendered the town to them or whether we planned an ambush.

Since withdrawing is not an option as their goal is to take the border town which we have so kindly "surrendered" to them and the fact that we are not doing anything would probably spur them to attack.

As time passes they would slowly get more and more frustrated and finally unable to withstand will send men to check things out.

While their attention was on us the entire time, your men will gather behind them and surround their back up who are mainly the archers. Once trapped in the center without the back up of their archer, it would be an easy clean up."

Feiyun blinked in shock. Aside from the fact that Tianhuo actually spoke more than a few words, the fact that he got the entire thing right was more shocking. Goosebumps ran through her skin as she stared at him speechless.

'This man... Is his name actually Zhuge Liang?'

Glancing back to the spaced out Feiyun, Tianhuo confidently questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"So? Am I correct?"

The charming and magnetizing appearance of Tianhuo under the dim evening light made he appear mysterious and enchanting. The unconscious smile of his made her heart thump as she couldn't turn her eyes away.

"...You are."

Seeing her so bashful, Tianhuo's desire to monopolise and tease her grew.

"What do i get?"

Feiyun broke eye contact, glancing to the side as she hesitantly reached up and stroke his head.

"W-well done..."

She could feel her face burning beneath the half mask. Her sudden surge of shyness must have clogged her brains, to think she only managed to think of this lame method of praise.

'what am I doing?'

Tianhuo breathed out a short defeated sigh slightly pouting unconsciously. If the generals who feared him saw this side of him, they would have went pale with fright.

"My princess truly is sly."

Feiyun glanced at him, wondering what he meant but there was no need for his answer.

In his arms, their faces were barely inches apart. His deep blue eyes that stared straight down into hers, laid bare the words he didn't need to speak.

Enthralled in his gaze, Feiyun inched slowly towards his lips. The faint and usual scent of mint driving her desires for him wild. The untamed desire in her eyes igniting as the soft tongues touched and warm breath collide.

Tianhuo smirked slightly, his forehead still touching hers, his lips so close she could feel his warm breath lingering as he whispered.

" Truly sly."

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