When Feng Jiu’er came to, she found herself lying in a wide and comfortable bed.
She bolted upright and looked around quickly.
As her consciousness returned, Feng Jiu’er immediately got out of bed, pulled on her tall boots, draped her robe over her shoulders, and strode out with purpose.
The women standing guard on either side of the chamber heard the door open and instantly turned to look.
“Miss Jiu’er, you’ve finally woken up.” One of the women said excitedly.
“Miss Jiu’er, you’re finally awake — we’ve all been so worried about you.” Another woman’s face was full of emotion.
“Where is this place?” Feng Jiu’er quickly straightened her clothes.
She had not forgotten — when she had last lost consciousness, the army had already been close to the gates of Desert City.
So had she been brought inside the city?
“In answer to Miss Jiu’er — this is the interior of Desert City. Xuegu left us behind to look after you.” One of the women replied.
“Where is Xuegu now?” Feng Jiu’er looked at the woman who had spoken. “And the others? What is the state of the battle? And how long have I been unconscious? Tell me — all of it!”
The medicine from Xuegu and the blow from Keyan had merely been the trigger — her old ailment had flared up again, hadn’t it?
Remembering the circumstances before she had lost consciousness, Feng Jiu’er could not help but feel anxious. How could she possibly be incapacitated at a time like this?
“Miss Jiu’er, you’ve been unconscious for three full days and nights.” One of the women answered.
“Xuegu and the others are still outside the city fighting the enemy. As for the precise situation, I am not clear on the details.”
“Miss Jiu’er, Xuegu gave orders that when you awoke, food should be prepared for you. I’ll go and bring it right away.”
Before Feng Jiu’er could respond, another woman hurried off.
They all understood that Jiu’er would likely be setting out again at any moment.
Yet she had slept for three full days and nights, growing thinner and frailer by the day — if she did not eat now, she might truly not be able to hold on much longer.
No one other than Feng Jiu’er herself would think she had been resting idly.
The brothers — even if they themselves went without food or sleep — would want their Miss Jiu’er to rest well and eat a proper meal.
These past weeks had truly been hard on her. Anyone who looked at her would feel their heart ache.
“Prepare a horse. Half an incense stick’s time from now, I’m riding to the battlefield.” With those words, Feng Jiu’er immediately turned and went back inside.
The woman left behind gave her a worried look — but could only nod.
“Yes, Miss Jiu’er.”
Feng Jiu’er returned to the side chamber, drew the silkworm armor from her bundle and put it on beneath her outer robe, gathered her belongings, and turned to leave.
Just as she mounted her horse, another woman came rushing to her with a prepared meal.
“Miss Jiu’er, please take this with you. The brothers are all very worried about you — please remember to fill your stomach.”
“Good.” Feng Jiu’er took the cloth bag and water flask from the woman’s hands, pressed her heels to the horse’s flanks, and rode swiftly forward.
Those who followed in her wake could still see the woman on horseback open the bag with one hand while holding the reins with the other.
Eating a meal while galloping on horseback was considered wholly unbecoming behavior for a woman.
Yet on Feng Jiu’er, it bore no resemblance to “unbecoming” whatsoever.
Several guards — men and women alike — quickly fell in behind her, flanking her on all sides.
The inn was not far from the city gate. By the time Feng Jiu’er arrived at the gate, she had already eaten most of what was in the bag.
She lifted the water flask and took a long, deep drink.
The soldiers keeping watch at the gate had the rare fortune of witnessing General Feng’s bold and magnificent manner — and could not help but exclaim under their breath.
General Feng had finally recovered her customary spirit and vigor. Amid the hopeless despair of what had seemed an unwinnable fight, all of them at last caught a glimpse of hope.
With a thunderous boom, the city gates swung open.
Feng Jiu’er led a dozen or so soldiers charging out.
Her gallant and indomitable bearing left an impression no one who saw it could forget.
Leaving the city gate, she could make out the armies locked in battle in the distance. She looked back briefly.
“Has General Cai regained consciousness? The treatment I gave orders for earlier — none of that was neglected, was it?”
“In answer to Miss Jiu’er — I believe General Cai has indeed regained consciousness.” One of the women who had caught up with her said.
“Good — go and assess his condition.” Feng Jiu’er gave a satisfied nod. “If he is awake, bring him to the battlefield.”
For her, the flaring of her old ailment was never a welcome thing — especially at so critical a juncture.
Yet the reality was plain before her, and she could only accept it. At the very least, she had rested enough and eaten her fill — she would be full of life and vigor once more.
Since there was no turning back, she would fight alongside her brothers until the very last drop of blood.
As Feng Jiu’er appeared on the battlefield — one woman on a single horse — many of the brothers immediately felt their strength and resolve flood back.
Feng Jiu’er made no pause, riding directly toward the center of the field where the fighting was thickest.
Zhao Yusheng, Xiao Yingtao, and Xing Zizhou caught sight of Feng Jiu’er — and even though their bodies were already stained with blood, their hair in disarray, each of them seemed to grow instantly more formidable.
Feng Jiu’er gave them a brief smile, gripped her short blade, and vaulted from the saddle, launching herself through the air.
Just as Zhan Yuheng’s sword was on the verge of piercing Qiao Mu’s chest, Feng Jiu’er — still airborne — drew her blade in a perfect arc through the air.
With a resounding clash of metal, the force of Feng Jiu’er’s short blade deflected Zhan Yuheng’s long sword, sending it scraping a deep, long furrow through the grass below.
Zhan Yuheng had not yet fully recovered his strength, and with the long sword still in hand, he had no time to react — he was driven back several steps, forced to retreat.
Qiao Mu, already weakened, could not withstand the force of Feng Jiu’er’s blade either and stumbled quickly backward.
Feng Jiu’er swept a glance at Zhan Yuheng, then landed behind Qiao Mu and reached out to steady her.
Without a word, she drew out a pill and pressed it into Qiao Mu’s mouth.
“You are wounded. Try not to exert yourself any further — leave the rest to me.”
Looking at Qiao Mu’s face, gaunt and hollow compared to before, and at the blood staining her body, Feng Jiu’er felt as though her own heart were bleeding.
This woman — had it not been for Feng Jiu’er threatening her, deceiving her, and luring her away — might still be living as a grand young mistress on the mountain.
And yet here she was, for the sake of a promise she had made, willing to give up her very life. What a fool!
“Jiu’er.” When she made out the face of the one who had come, even someone as fierce and unyielding as Qiao Mu felt her eyes grow red. “You’ve finally woken up.”
“I knew it — I knew you would wake up. I…”
The words were not yet finished when a mouthful of dark blood welled up from Qiao Mu’s lips.
“Qiao Mu.” Feng Jiu’er bit down on her own lips, refusing to let herself cry. “Say no more — rest for a while.”
“Someone — escort General Qiao back!”
The moment Feng Jiu’er’s voice fell, two guards came forward to support Qiao Mu.
“Qiao Mu — go back, rest well, and wait for my good news!”
She gave Qiao Mu one firm, unwavering look, then turned to face Zhan Yuheng.
All around them, soldiers from both sides had encircled the area — yet with the Crown Prince silent and Feng Jiu’er not speaking, no one dared to move.
Thinking of how, had she arrived just a moment later, the dearest friend she had would have died at this man’s hand, Feng Jiu’er’s expression grew ever darker.
Zhan Yuheng quickly composed himself from his momentary shock, looking at the woman before him whose martial abilities had advanced by leaps and bounds. A faint smile touched the corner of his lips.
“Jiu’er — it has been a long time.”