Feng Jiu’er held Xue Gu’s gaze without blinking, her hands slowly curling into fists.

Xue Gu gripped her arm, her own expression heavy.

“Jiu’er, for the sake of tens of thousands of brothers, you must be willing to set some things aside. Once the war is fully settled, I will go and bring him back for you.”

“Give the order now. Advance.”

Feng Jiu’er closed her eyes, drew in a long breath, and gave a single nod.

When she turned around, the rims of her eyes were tinged with red, but the look on her face had already returned to its usual composed coldness.

“All commanders, hear the order. Every camp prepare at once. We march in a quarter of an hour!”

The words had barely left her lips before Feng Jiu’er swept her sleeves and turned to leave.

Zhan Yuheng’s army had always been the one to press forward on the attack, yet now, in the wake of the Crown Prince falling gravely wounded, the call of the enemy’s horn descended upon them.

Feng Jiu’er rode on horseback, leading her brothers through encirclement after encirclement, cutting down everything in their path without mercy.

In the span of just two days, Zhan Yuheng’s forces were driven from Ya Mu City.

By the night of the third day, the city gates closed once more.

Within the city, lanterns blazed bright. The brothers sang and danced, the celebration full of life.

In a side room, Feng Jiu’er sat in the bathtub, her gaze drifting out the window toward the night sky.

“Jian Yi, where are you right now?” She watched the stars flicker and released a quiet sigh.

This fellow was more pitiful than anyone, really. From the time he was small, he had been utterly alone — not a single person to talk to, not even someone to quarrel with.

To survive, he had pushed himself forward relentlessly, never knowing the slightest warmth of human closeness.

Then, by some miracle, he had found himself receiving care from Feng Qingyin — only for it to turn out to be a lie.

Thinking of the moment Jian Yi discovered Feng Qingyin’s true nature and walked away, Feng Jiu’er’s brow furrowed gently.

“That fellow must have been in so much pain back then.”

He had ended up being picked up by her quite by accident on his way back, and he had told her he was doing just fine — yet she had always had one mission after another waiting for him, with no end in sight.

And now he was gravely injured, and she did not even have time to go looking for him.

Every time she thought of Jian Yi, Feng Jiu’er found herself thinking of words like homeless, licking wounds alone in the dark. It made her heart deeply uneasy, and she longed to go find him and bring him back as quickly as she could.

“Jian Yi, can you hear me? We drove the enemy out of the city. Jian Yi, you’ve done something remarkable.”

“I’ve always been one to reward what deserves rewarding and punish what deserves punishing. When are you coming back to collect your prize?”

When Xiao Yingtao pushed the door open, she heard the voice coming from behind the folding screen.

She understood very well that Jiu’er’s coldness these past two days was not only because of the war, but because of Jian Yi.

What Jian Yi’s situation was right now — even Xue Gu could not say with certainty, let alone her.

“Jiu’er.” Xiao Yingtao drew in a breath and called out softly. “Zhao Yusheng is roasting lamb. He knows you like it and asked you to come down once you’ve washed up.”

This fellow had been up here for a full hour already, and yet here she was, still bathing.

Feng Jiu’er reined in her thoughts, pulled her gaze back, and glanced toward the folding screen.

“Alright. Let me get ready and I’ll head down.”

Through the screen, Xiao Yingtao could still make out the shape of Feng Jiu’er rising from the tub.

She kept her head lowered and did not leave.

“Jiu’er, are you thinking about Jian Yi?” After a moment, she asked in a hushed voice.

“What good does thinking do? That fellow just up and left without a word.” There was a faint note of complaint in Feng Jiu’er’s voice.

But Xiao Yingtao knew she had absolutely no intention of blaming Jian Yi. All there was beneath those words was missing him.

“I just spoke to Zhao Yusheng. He said we might be able to try sending a messenger bird to find Jian Yi. I brought Jian Yi’s bundle along with me.”

“Xue Gu mentioned that she told Jian Yi — if he wants to restore his martial power, he could go to the south lands and seek out a high mountain called Heavenly Spirit Mountain.”

“She said she once heard that there is a pool at the summit there that is useful for healing and restoring one’s strength.”

“Jian Yi definitely wants to come back. How could he bear to leave everyone behind? It’s only because he was afraid of being a burden that he left.”

“I think he must have gone to the south lands. Once he recovers and his strength returns, he’ll…”

Before Xiao Yingtao could finish, Feng Jiu’er appeared in front of her, casually wrapped in a single outer robe.

“How did I not think of the messenger bird? Where is Jian Yi’s bundle? I need to write him a letter.”

“That fellow, leaving just like that without even asking for my opinion. When he comes back, I’m absolutely going to give him a proper punishment!”

“Right.” Xiao Yingtao glanced at Feng Jiu’er, the corners of her lips lifting slightly, and turned to step outside.

“Definitely a punishment. Let him understand that the army has its own rules — this is not a place where he can come and go as he pleases.”

Carrying Jian Yi’s bundle, Xiao Yingtao turned back and came to stand in front of Feng Jiu’er.

“Jiu’er, shouldn’t you get fully dressed first? If you fall ill, it’ll be quite awful.”

“I’m not cold.” Feng Jiu’er took the bundle from Xiao Yingtao’s hands. “This fellow always travels lighter than everyone else. Back and forth with just two sets of clothes.”

“Xiao Yingtao, when Jian Yi comes back, add two sets of clothes for him. Consider it part of his reward.”

Feng Jiu’er took the bundle, turned, and walked back to the window. She untied a small whistle hanging from a piece of clothing inside.

She put the whistle to her lips and blew for a moment. A small bird flew in through the window and perched on her shoulder.

She glanced sidelong at the bird, then turned and walked back.

Finding a brush and paper, Feng Jiu’er settled at the table.

“With that body of his, how is he even going to make it to the south lands?”

She released a quiet sigh, lifted the brush, and set it to the blank page.

Xiao Yingtao retrieved a robe and stepped up behind Feng Jiu’er, draping it over her shoulders.

She glanced at the blank page and blinked. “Jiu’er, do you want Jian Yi to come back?”

“Of course.” Feng Jiu’er continued her task without pause. “The south lands are no place for him to go in his current state.”

“And with the fires of war still burning, he cannot leave Ya Mu City.”

“As long as he comes back, I can find a way to help him recover. And if it truly cannot be helped, then in the future I’ll go to the south lands with him. He is not going alone.”

Jian Yi never said it aloud, but Feng Jiu’er knew how much he loved being around people and noise.

How could she bear to let a person who loved liveliness hide away and nurse his wounds in silence?

Xiao Yingtao gave a small nod. “He’s been gone two days. He’s almost certainly still within Ya Mu City somewhere. Let’s hope the messenger bird can find him in time.”

“Jiu’er, don’t worry. Jian Yi listens to you more than anyone. The moment he receives your letter, he will come back.”

“If he listened, he wouldn’t have acted on his own, let alone left without a word.”

Feng Jiu’er sighed softly, folded the finished letter, and tucked it into the small tube attached to the messenger bird’s leg.

She held the bird close and let it catch the scent of Jian Yi’s clothing for a while, then cradled it and turned toward the window.

“Go now. Bring him back.”

Watching Feng Jiu’er’s slight, solitary silhouette, Xiao Yingtao felt the weight of it settle in her own chest.

She could only hope that Jian Yi would truly come back. They were all family here. None of them would ever worry about being a burden to the others.

She drew a slow breath and stepped forward toward Feng Jiu’er.

“Jiu’er, let’s go. Head down for dinner. The lamb should be ready by now.”

Feng Jiu’er gave a small nod, turned, and began tying her outer robe.

“He will come back.”