“To be honest, I really didn’t expect the stronghold master of Panlong to be a woman,” Feng Jiu’er said softly, looking at Gong Xinyue.

Gong Xinyue, however, kept staring at her—for a long moment.

Just as Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu were about to say something, Gong Xinyue’s voice finally sounded again.

“Are you… Long Jiu’er?”

Gong Xinyue’s moth-like brows knit together.

“If I remember correctly, the woman who conquered Li City, killed Lei Shenbao, and became the master of Yongshan City is also called Long Jiu’er.”

Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu exchanged a glance, and the corners of both their mouths lifted—ever so slightly, in a way only the two of them would notice.

Qiao Mu’s look seemed to say: I didn’t expect you to be this famous.

Feng Jiu’er’s look replied: You’re only realizing that now?

In that brief instant of exchanged glances, Feng Jiu’er turned her gaze back to Gong Xinyue.

“That’s right, I am Long Jiu’er—the Long Jiu’er you’re speaking of.”

“Xinyue, you’re clever. Can you also guess that the reason I asked to meet you isn’t only about the herb trade?”

A flash of surprise crossed Gong Xinyue’s eyes, but she quickly steadied her emotions.

“Jiu’er, you need our help?”

She said the name “Jiu’er” more stiffly than before, but she said it nonetheless.

“Yes,” Feng Jiu’er nodded.

“However, it is true that my Longying Pharmacy intends to open a branch in this town.”

“My pharmacy will spread to every corner of Yue City, Li City, and Yongshan City.”

“No—” She stared unblinkingly at Gong Xinyue, her hand on the table lightly clenching into a fist.

“Not just those three cities. There’s one more place.”

“One more place?” Gong Xinyue’s brow tightened slightly. “Do you mean… another city?”

Such a young girl—Gong Xinyue truly found it hard to imagine that she was the legendary Long Jiu’er. But now that she’d seen her in person, she had no doubts left.

This woman was clearly no ordinary person.

Panlong Stronghold might only be a mountain stronghold, but their brothers were not confined to this one place.

Gong Xinyue had informants scattered across much of the Black Pool region, and whenever something major happened in any city, she quickly received word of it.

Her forces weren’t large, but they reached far and wide.

“Xinyue, you’re very clever!” Feng Jiu’er gave Gong Xinyue a thumbs-up.

She casually took out her needle case and set it open on the table.

“My apologies. My position requires me to be cautious.”

“It’s fine,” Gong Xinyue said, waving a hand.

Feng Jiu’er picked up a silver needle and tested it in her own tea, then in Qiao Mu’s.

Finding nothing wrong, she put the needle back into the case and picked up her cup for a sip.

“Xinyue, may I ask what you think of Mao Zhongcai?” Feng Jiu’er looked at Gong Xinyue again.

“Scum, no different from Lei Shenbao!” Gong Xinyue replied without hesitation.

She wasn’t the least bit offended that Feng Jiu’er had tested the tea she’d poured with a silver needle—on the contrary, her admiration for Feng Jiu’er only grew.

“Wasn’t the battle for Yongshan City already settled?” Gong Xinyue asked. “I only just received the news myself.”

“Yes,” Feng Jiu’er nodded. “Mao Zhongcai won’t let us off so easily, so…” Feng Jiu’er set down her cup gently.

“We don’t intend to sit and wait for our fate, either. The war has already resumed—only now, the site of the fighting is no longer Yongshan City.”

“Xinyue, I’m glad to have met you today.” Feng Jiu’er looked at the woman across from her.

“I’ve come to find you because I have thirty thousand troops here, and I want to pass through Panlong Stronghold to reach Pingyuan City.”

“I’m not yet certain about the situation in Xiang City, so I haven’t planned to send my army there. Your location is the most suitable.”

“Whatever conditions you have, feel free to name them. We’ll do our best to agree.”

“I’d prefer peace—I don’t advocate for war, understand?”

Feng Jiu’er’s final gaze carried a deep meaning.

Meaning: whether or not Gong Xinyue agreed, the matter had already been decided.

Cooperate, and everyone would remain at peace. Refuse, and war would be unavoidable.

For Gong Xinyue to have earned the position of stronghold master of Panlong, she surely understood what Feng Jiu’er meant.

But she didn’t respond right away.

Hearing footsteps, Gong Xinyue turned her head to look.

“Jiu’er, Qiao Mu, shall we eat first?” she asked, withdrawing her gaze.

“Sure.” Feng Jiu’er nodded with a soft laugh.

Qiao Mu also nodded slightly, saying nothing further.

Over the meal, the three of them chatted like old friends.

Feng Jiu’er asked Gong Xinyue how she’d come to think of cultivating herbs, and praised and encouraged the stronghold’s transformation.

Qiao Mu also mentioned that she herself had once been a stronghold master, and she and Gong Xinyue hit it off as if they’d known each other for years.

The private room was full of laughter and conversation, which left Feng Yinan and Jian Yi—seated not far away in another private room—somewhat puzzled.

Still, neither of them said anything, quietly eating the meal in front of them.

By the end of the meal, the three women had grown quite close.

The waiter cleared away the leftovers and brought in Chun Tao tea.

Gong Xinyue looked up at one of her men, her brow arching.

The man cupped his hands and said in a low voice, “Stronghold Master, aside from these two young ladies and the two heroes who came with them, there’s no one else on the second floor.”

“As you instructed, the shopkeeper won’t let anyone else come up.”

“Good.” Gong Xinyue waved a hand. “Go keep watch, then.”

“Yes.” The man cupped his hands and turned to leave.

Gong Xinyue stood again and poured tea for both Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu.

She sat down, picked up her cup, and raised it slightly.

Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu picked up their cups at the same time and raised them in return.

The three of them drank together.

Gong Xinyue set down her cup and looked at Feng Jiu’er.

“Jiu’er, are you… trying to unify the entire Black Pool region?” she asked, brow furrowing, keeping her voice as low as possible.

Starting from Yue City, then Li City, then Yongshan City, and now Pingyuan City—and after that, would there be more still?

Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu exchanged a single glance before Feng Jiu’er withdrew her gaze and looked at Gong Xinyue.

“If circumstances allow, yes,” Feng Jiu’er replied.

“Why?” Gong Xinyue wasn’t surprised by the answer, but she immediately posed another question.

“The reason isn’t convenient to share right now,” Feng Jiu’er said, looking at her openly.

“Xinyue, what have you decided about what I said?”

“There’s no need to decide,” Gong Xinyue said, the corner of her mouth curving slightly. “You’ve already destroyed the dense forest, and next you’ll break through my stone-forest formation.”

“Whether I agree or not, your army has already chosen this place.”

Gong Xinyue picked up the teapot and shook her head helplessly. “You have a full thirty thousand soldiers—how could I possibly shake my head no?”

As she finished speaking, her teacup overflowed. She looked up, meeting Feng Jiu’er’s gaze.

“Everyone has their own ideals. I really shouldn’t ask too much.”

Feng Jiu’er looked at her, the corner of her mouth curving even deeper than before.

“Xinyue, what is your ideal?”

—