The two armies remained locked in a standoff for less than two hours before the city gates fell. The fighting shifted from outside the walls to within the city itself.

In the deep of a cold winter’s night, everyone was locked in fierce, blood-soaked combat — not a trace of winter’s chill was felt by any of them.

The battle raged on for two full days and two full nights without pause. At last, Feng Jiu’er and her company, together with Zhao Yusheng’s army — one from the north, one from the south — drove the enemy forces into a mountain valley and held them trapped there.

Outside the valley, the camp’s torchlight shone brilliant and steady.

Even a small victory was worth celebrating.

After so many grueling days, a proper meal was naturally called for — a true celebration.

The camp was filled with laughter and song, voices rising in merriment.

Outside the camp, three riders were drawing near.

The brothers standing guard spotted the approaching figures and moved to block their path.

“Who goes there?” One brother called out.

“Zhao Family Stronghold. Zhao Yusheng.” Zhao Yusheng said quietly.

“Ah — the young chief of the Zhao Family Stronghold. Please, come in!” At the name of the Zhao Stronghold’s chief, the brothers immediately stepped aside and gestured the way forward.

Zhao Yusheng and his two brothers rode their horses into the encampment.

At that moment, Feng Jiu’er was seated around a campfire with the brothers, eating porridge and meat.

“This battle truly would not have been possible without General Feng. If she had not run their forces in circles the way she did, there is no way we could have breached the city gates in such a short time.”

One attendant raised a bowl of porridge and stood up.

“Come — let us offer this porridge in place of wine and drink a toast to General Feng. What do you say?”

“Come, a toast to Jiu’er.” Huo Baixue also raised her bowl of porridge and got to her feet.

“Alright — let us all toast General Feng.” The rest of the brothers rose in turn.

Feng Jiu’er smiled, lifted her own bowl of porridge, and stood.

She glanced sideways at Jian Yi sitting quietly beside her and gave him a gentle nudge.

“Jian Yi — have a bowl with the brothers.”

Jian Yi took up his bowl and stood as well.

Everyone gathered there — including Huo Baixue and Dugu Yezhou, who had come over to join them — raised their bowls and looked toward Feng Jiu’er.

“Come, brothers — we drink to Jiu’er!” Huo Baixue’s bright, resonant voice rang out across the encampment.

“Hear, hear!” the other brothers answered in unison. “We drink to General Feng!”

In that moment, not only those gathered around this particular fire stood — every brother near enough to hear the call rose as well.

Feng Jiu’er smiled, lifted her bowl in a gesture toward everyone, then brought it back and drank the porridge down in deep, satisfied gulps.

Zhao Yusheng had just dismounted and was walking over when he caught sight of Feng Jiu’er’s bold, joyful manner.

It had been many days since they last met. Now that he could finally see her, he let out a genuine breath of relief.

Even without being at Feng Jiu’er’s side, they had kept in contact by letter, and Zhao Yusheng had a rough understanding of what she had gone through during this time.

It was a relief. She had returned safely — and had brought an entire army back with her, helping them win this battle.

“Brothers.” Feng Jiu’er drained the porridge from her bowl and swept her gaze around at everyone.

“When there’s porridge, we drink porridge; when there’s meat, we eat meat. We don’t need so many polite words between us. Winning this battle is the credit of every single brother here.”

“If it were not for all of you coming to save us, neither Jian Yi nor I would know where we might have ended up. It is I who should be thanking you.”

Feng Jiu’er looked at Huo Baixue beside her and gave her shoulder a light pat.

“Baixue — this debt of lifesaving grace, I will never forget it as long as I live.”

She knew clearly: that morning before dawn, if they had not arrived in time, both she and Jian Yi would very likely have lost their lives.

“Don’t mention it!” Huo Baixue gave Feng Jiu’er’s shoulder a light pat in return.

“Jiu’er.” Zhao Yusheng called to her in a low voice and strode over quickly.

In an instant, every brother who had been sitting fell silent, all eyes turning toward the approaching figure.

Zhao Yusheng was visibly stirred — especially after hearing the words “lifesaving grace” from Feng Jiu’er’s lips.

He could well imagine how desperate the situation must have been at the time, yet he had not been able to arrive in time. As the man who had gone through the wedding ceremony with her, he had very nearly failed to carry out the task she had entrusted to him — and when she was in danger, he had been unable to come to her rescue. He had truly been derelict in his duties.

Watching Zhao Yusheng approach, Feng Jiu’er was taken aback for a long moment.

Zhao Yusheng’s appearance was something she had expected — but what was the matter with him right now?

While Feng Jiu’er was still gathered in her thoughts, Zhao Yusheng reached out and caught her arm, trying to pull her into an embrace.

Feng Jiu’er reacted sharply, shooting one hand up against his chest.

“Zhao Yusheng, what are you doing?”

Zhao Yusheng lowered his gaze to meet Feng Jiu’er’s eyes, then let go of her abruptly.

“Jiu’er.” He could not help reaching for her small hand. “Are you alright? Are you injured?”

Before Feng Jiu’er could respond, Jian Yi had already closed his hand around the arm Zhao Yusheng was using to hold Feng Jiu’er’s hand.

“Jian Yi, I am fine. This fellow is just too emotional.” Feng Jiu’er looked at Jian Yi and reminded him gently. “You still cannot channel your inner energy right now — do not use force!”

Zhao Yusheng glanced sideways at Jian Yi, then looked at Feng Jiu’er, blinked, and released her small hand.

Seeing this, Jian Yi also loosened his grip.

“Jiu’er, this is—” Huo Baixue gave a small, tactful cough, smiling with obvious delight.

Feng Jiu’er gave her hand a light shake, then guided Jian Yi over and sat him back down.

“He is the young chief of the Zhao Family Stronghold — Zhao Yusheng.” She glanced back at Zhao Yusheng. “Sit. We can talk.”

“Making everyone’s heart jump like that — I thought something terrible had happened. I had barely just managed to relax, and you nearly had me on edge all over again.”

While Feng Jiu’er scolded him quietly, Zhao Yusheng sat down obediently without a word.

A moment later, one of the brothers brought over an extra chair.

Feng Jiu’er took the chair and sat down between Zhao Yusheng and Jian Yi.

“Zhao Yusheng, let me introduce you.” Feng Jiu’er leaned past Zhao Yusheng toward Huo Baixue and gestured with her hand.

“This is the daughter of the lord of Desert City — her surname is Huo, and her given name is Baixue.”

Turning to meet Huo Baixue’s gaze, Feng Jiu’er curved her lips slightly. “Baixue — he is the young chief of the Zhao Family Stronghold, Zhao Yusheng.”

“Miss Huo, a pleasure.” Zhao Yusheng turned his head toward Huo Baixue and clasped his fists in greeting.

“Young Chief Zhao, likewise.” Huo Baixue looked at the person beside her and returned the gesture with a nod.

“Young Chief Zhao, likewise.” The brothers around them also followed Huo Baixue’s lead, dipping their heads.

“Likewise, everyone.” Zhao Yusheng swept his gaze around at all of them and gave a nod.

“Good — now we are all acquainted.” Feng Jiu’er’s voice cut in. “We are all brothers from here on out. No need to stand on ceremony.”

“Young Chief Zhao, here you go.” One of the more straightforward, easygoing brothers handed Zhao Yusheng a portion of meat and a bowl of porridge.

Zhao Yusheng smiled, stood to receive the food, then sat back down.

“In any case, I must still thank everyone for bringing Jiu’er back safely.”

Anyone who did not know the full story might have assumed he and Feng Jiu’er shared some unusual relationship.

“Young Chief Zhao, you are too polite!” Huo Baixue’s bright, easygoing voice rang out. “Everyone, carry on — let us eat and talk.”

“Yes!” the brothers responded.

The campfire blazed high and warm, a perfect reflection of how everyone felt inside — spirits running full and high.

Even knowing clearly that a hard battle still lay ahead, not a single face showed a trace of weariness.

In no time, the camp was alive with noise and laughter once more.