For several consecutive days, He Yan had been unable to see Li Kuang.

Li Kuang seemed to be deliberately avoiding him. He Yan couldn’t find him, and his subordinates refused to reveal his whereabouts. He Yan had tried to intercept Li Kuang several times, but Li Kuang showed no desire to engage in conversation. He Yan could only say, “Lord Li, before coming to Run City, I had already sent someone to request reinforcements. Moreover, as I mentioned before, Run City’s current forces do have a chance of defeating the Wutuo people. Why must Lord Li stubbornly persist down this dead end, deliberately blocking his path?”

“This is Run City, not Liang Province,” Li Kuang’s attitude remained firm, unmoved by He Yan’s words. “Although you are the Wu’an Lang appointed by His Majesty himself, your authority does not extend to commanding me. Regarding the night raid on the enemy camp, I appreciate your help, but that’s where it ends. How I proceed from here is not for you to interfere with.”

He Yan studied him carefully. When they first arrived in Run City, although Li Kuang’s brow had shown traces of worry, he still maintained some vitality. Now his expression was different, his gaze heavy and melancholic, as if he had made some unshakeable, stubborn resolution.

His mood was poor, but not just because of the Wutuo people – He Yan could sense that much.

“How does Lord Li plan to handle the famine within the city?” He Yan asked, watching his retreating figure.

Li Kuang flinched and said, “I’ve told you, I have my methods. This is none of your business!”

He Yan moved in front of Li Kuang, looking directly into his eyes. “Lord Li, I may not be from Run City, but I understand the current situation clearly. Things haven’t reached their worst point yet. We burned the Wutuo people’s provisions once, and next time we can defeat their forces. If Lord Li continues to harbor thoughts of mutual destruction, this battle cannot be won. The city simply cannot be defended.”

Her words were indeed quite severe. Anger flickered across Li Kuang’s face. “What do you know!”

“I know that if Lord Li misjudges the current situation, he will make the wrong decisions.”

A hint of agitation appeared in Li Kuang’s eyes. After trying to contain himself repeatedly, he finally couldn’t hold back and pushed He Yan aside, saying, “I have my judgment on how to proceed. I don’t need your guidance!”

He strode away, giving He Yan no chance to speak further.

He Yan frowned at his retreating figure, her unease growing stronger.

This wasn’t her first dealing with Li Kuang, and his current reaction clearly showed the frustration of someone at their wit’s end. He refused to believe in He Yan’s alternative approach, and without being able to convince him, she had no way to command Run City’s forces. Even if she knocked Li Kuang unconscious, Run City’s soldiers wouldn’t follow her orders—Li Kuang had led these troops for far too long.

Perhaps it was precisely for this reason that he would be even less likely to choose the “risky” decision He Yan spoke of.

She slowly walked out of the room, lost in thought. These past few days, even Zhao Shiming had rarely emerged. Food was becoming increasingly scarce. An empty stomach was bearable when staying still, but once moving about, the hunger became unbearable, making one wish everything could be transformed into food to fill their mouths.

Hu Yate hadn’t yet launched an attack on Run City. After that night’s raid where their provisions were burned, the Wutuo people were likely not as calm as they appeared on the surface. Hu Yate surely wanted to attack the city immediately, but the presence of the “Flying Swan General” made them somewhat hesitant.

But this hesitation would eventually dissipate. Hu Yate would discover the truth; they only needed to send someone to the Huayuan area to learn that the current occupant of Run City was an impostor. The moment Hu Yate discovered that the “Flying Swan General” was fake, they would immediately launch an attack on Run City. So these past few days were a time that He Yan had bought for Run City’s citizens.

Yet Li Kuang remained stubborn and conservative.

As she walked, she ran into Qi Luo. The young woman appeared thinner than when He Yan first arrived in Run City. Her once oval face had become sharp at the chin from hunger, losing some of its sweetness but gaining a certain allure. However, upon seeing He Yan, her eyes curved into familiar crescents as she smiled: “Young Lord He.”

“Miss Qi Luo.”

“Did you argue with the Master?” Qi Luo pointed toward the door. “I just saw Master storm out angrily. Young Lord He shouldn’t quarrel with Master. Though Master’s temperament is somewhat rigid, he’s a good person. If he has offended Young Lord He, this concubine apologizes on Master’s behalf.”

She was truly devoted to her master’s interests. He Yan smiled bitterly and shook her head. “It’s nothing, we just had some differing opinions.”

Qi Luo nodded with partial understanding.

He Yan noticed she was holding something that looked like a flower wreath and asked curiously, “Are there still flowers available?”

In Run City, anything edible had likely been dug up and eaten by the hungry people. How could there still be flowers for making wreaths? Qi Luo smiled and handed the wreath to He Yan. Upon receiving it, He Yan saw it was quite small, woven from some kind of grass and dotted with small purple flowers. As He Yan leaned in to smell it, Qi Luo hurriedly stopped her: “You mustn’t smell it, Young Lord He, these flowers are poisonous!”

“Poisonous?”

“It’s heartbreak grass. The prettier it blooms, the more poisonous it is. Everyone in Run City knows this, so no matter how hungry they get, no one would eat it. That’s why I could use it to make a wreath.” She sighed again, “No matter the time, poisonous weeds always grow especially vigorously. If only the crops in the fields could grow like this.”

Seeing He Yan’s silence, Qi Luo smiled again, “Is Young Lord He interested in this wreath? This concubine can teach the Young Lord He how to make one. Perhaps you could give it to your beloved; they might be very happy.”

She was still thinking about He Yan’s nonexistent “beloved.” He Yan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, thinking that if she were to give Xiao Jue a flower wreath, he would probably think she was ill and would be lucky not to kill her.

“Never mind,” He Yan shook her head, “He doesn’t like flowers and such things. I appreciate Miss Qi Luo’s kind intention.”

Qi Luo looked somewhat disappointed as she took back the wreath from He Yan’s hands. “Well, alright, but how could there be any lady who doesn’t like flowers and grass? When Master picked flowers for me, I was happy for quite a while.”

“Lord Li?” He Yan thought to herself, surprised that someone as fierce as Li Kuang would pick flowers for his beloved concubine.

“Yes,” Qi Luo nodded vigorously, as if afraid He Yan wouldn’t believe her, “He picked them for me just this morning, and I made this wreath right away.”

He Yan’s smile froze. “This morning?”

“That’s right,” Qi Luo beamed, “Master has been very good to me lately.” She even forgot to refer to herself as “this concubine,” too caught up in sharing her joy with He Yan. “He promised that once the conflict in Run City is over, he’ll give me a larger room to live in and let me plant plum trees in the courtyard. Yesterday, he even saved his rations for me to eat.”

As she spoke, confusion crossed Qi Luo’s face. “Could it be that I’ve grown more beautiful lately? Or perhaps my deceased mother is blessing me from heaven, making Master so indulgent toward me. I barely recognize him anymore.”

He Yan’s heart sank as that terrible suspicion surfaced again in her mind. She asked Qi Luo, “Besides this, has Lord Li shown any other unusual behavior lately?”

“No,” Qi Luo shook her head, then reproached He Yan, “Besides, Young Lord He, how can you call being good to me ‘unusual’? Master has always been good to me, he’s just being even better now. It must be that ‘true feelings show in times of hardship.’ Since I’m staying by Master’s side now, he must be moved by that.”

He Yan frowned and stepped forward. “Miss Qi Luo, you’d best avoid Lord Li these next few days.”

“Why?” Qi Luo asked in surprise.

He Yan looked at her. The beautiful young woman had grown quite a bit, her smile always carrying a fox-like cleverness that made her appear quick-witted and lovable, though her eyes still revealed her innocence.

A charming beauty, and a… woman without any fighting ability.

“Perhaps… Lord Li might harm you,” He Yan said gravely.

Qi Luo was stunned for a moment before laughing, “Young Lord He, what do you mean? Master can’t love me enough, how could he harm me?”

He Yan knew she wouldn’t believe it. Indeed, women often thought too highly of men’s fidelity, not knowing that… not knowing that such fidelity came with conditions.

“In peaceful times, naturally a lady deserves to be cherished,” He Yan’s voice lowered, becoming almost inaudible in its gravity, “But in times of chaos, lives are as worthless as grass. To Lord Li, no matter how important you are, you cannot outweigh the entire city of Run.”

Qi Luo: “I still don’t understand.”

“It’s alright if you don’t understand.” He Yan looked up at her, “Lord Li is very busy all day. These next few days, just avoid being alone with him. During the day when you have nothing to do, go somewhere else, whether to see Lord Zhao or anyone else. In short, if you can avoid seeing Lord Li, then avoid seeing him.”

Qi Luo looked at her strangely. The words of this young Wu’an Lang were utterly baffling – how could anyone advise someone to distance themselves from their own master? If it weren’t for knowing that He Yan had recently led troops to raid the enemy camp and rescue those captured women, Qi Luo would have suspected this person of ill intent.

She said, “Young Lord He, I… I am a Master’s concubine. How can I not see Master?”

“Once the conflict in Run City is over, you can see him however you wish, but right now, stay away from him!”

The youth’s eyes were clear and dark, carrying great force when fixed steadily on someone. Qi Luo unconsciously nodded, then shook her head.

He Yan was also hesitant. As the “Wu’an Lang,” no matter how suspicious she was or how worried about Qi Luo, she couldn’t keep someone else’s concubine by her side without inviting gossip. If she did so, Li Kuang might think she had become a second Jiang Jiao and might kill Qi Luo. She said, “Go find Lord Zhao’s wife and stay with her during the day. If Lord Li suddenly wants to see you, have someone notify me, and I’ll go with you.”

Qi Luo was somewhat dubious, but He Yan was so insistent that she finally agreed. Only after countless reminders did He Yan go to find Wang Ba and the others.

On the night of the raid, Wang Ba and the others who had accompanied her were also injured. Shi Tou and Jiang Jiao were fine, Wang Ba had injured his leg though not too seriously, while Huang Xiong’s wound was deeper, with a severe cut on his left hand. Fortunately, it wasn’t his right hand, otherwise he might never have been able to wield a sword again.

Nevertheless, they were all recuperating. When they arrived at the room, Hong Shan and Huang Xiong were sleeping, while Shi Tou and Xiao Mai had gone to help repair weapons and shields. Only Jiang Jiao and Wang Ba were sitting by the doorstep.

Seeing He Yan, both raised their heads, and Jiang Jiao asked, “Brother He, how did it go?”

He Yan shook her head.

Wang Ba was furious: “What’s wrong with that Li fellow? He looks big and tall, but how can he be such a coward? Just hiding in the city like a turtle in its shell? I’ve gotten so damn thin from hunger these past few days. If this continues, we’ll all starve to death together. We’ll be hungry ghosts in the underworld – might as well have died fighting the Wutuo people!”

Jiang Jiao said, “Lord Li also fears the city falling and all its citizens perishing with it, but…” He looked toward He Yan, “I asked the soldiers here, they’ve run out of food. These past few days, we’ve been surviving solely on the dried rations we brought from Liang Province, and even those were finished yesterday. From yesterday until now, we haven’t eaten anything. This can’t continue.”

“Exactly! In this Run City, even the rats have been dug out and eaten, not even an insect can be seen. Does he expect us to chew on tables? What is Li Kuang thinking? Had we known on the day we burned their provisions, we could have grabbed what we couldn’t carry, even a handful would have lasted half a day.”

Jiang Jiao was both amused and annoyed. “At that time, who could think of such things? Brother He,” he turned to He Yan, “don’t you have any other options?”

“The Wutuo people’s provisions were burned, but they’re outside the city and can still hunt. They won’t starve to death,” He Yan said worriedly. “If it’s just a matter of who can last longer, Run City’s citizens definitely can’t outlast the Wutuo people. Therefore, Li Kuang’s thinking is impossible. And now that he won’t agree to leave the city and face the Wutuo people head-on, I can’t command Run City’s forces. We can only seek external aid, but…”

But she feared that before that day came, Run City would first descend into chaos. Li Kuang’s attitude these past few days has been very concerning.

She sighed and said nothing more.

…

Meanwhile, Qi Luo went to find Lady Zhao.

Although He Yan’s behavior was strange, oddly enough, Qi Luo felt an inexplicable sense of closeness to He Yan. Therefore, even though she didn’t believe a word He Yan said, she was willing to do as He Yan suggested. Currently, Li Kuang was busy every day and had no time for her, so she was free to go wherever she wanted during the day, even more freely than before.

Lady Zhao was holding her young grandson, her face full of worry. Her daughter-in-law was gravely ill in bed, and several visits from the doctor had been useless. Everyone knew in their hearts that this was simply an illness born of starvation. Without food, how could one recover? Lady Zhao herself was also emaciated from hunger. A proper magistrate’s wife, now her clothes hung loose, her exposed arms so thin they looked as if they could snap with the slightest force.

Qi Luo thought to herself how in the past, the delicate young ladies of the city would daily cry about eating less, thinking that looking frail and delicate would inspire tenderness. Likely after this conflict ended, no one would think that way again. The taste of hunger was truly unbearable – a flower must first drink its fill of dew before it can bloom for others to see.

Lady Zhao only spoke a few words with Qi Luo before closing her mouth, looking listless. At times like these, when hunger became severe, one didn’t even want to speak.

After sitting with her for a while, a soldier came from outside and said to Qi Luo, “Miss Qi Luo, the Master is looking for you.”

“Looking for me?” Qi Luo was somewhat surprised. Li Kuang was busy with Run City’s military affairs all day, and unless she actively sought him out, he would never take the initiative to find her. However, thinking of his special fondness for her these past few days, joy welled up in Qi Luo’s heart. Perhaps the only benefit of Run City’s conflict was that it had shown Li Kuang her loyalty. Maybe this favor wouldn’t just last three years – ten years was entirely possible.

At this moment, she was so filled with the joy of her fantasies that she completely forgot He Yan’s warnings. Happily lifting her skirts, she said with a smile, “Very well, I’ll go see Master right away.”

Qi Luo followed the soldier to a room where not only was Li Kuang present, but also his deputy soldiers and several officials from Run City. There were also several of Li Kuang’s trusted subordinates. Qi Luo found it strange – she had thought Li Kuang missed her and wanted to be intimate with her, but with so many people present, it didn’t seem like a time for intimacy. Perhaps some important person was coming? Was she, the most beautiful girl in Run City, to help Li Kuang save face? But that wasn’t right either – if an important person were coming, how could Magistrate Zhao Shiming not be present?

She stepped forward and said, “Master.”

Li Kuang had been facing away from her but turned around at her voice. These days had aged him considerably; standing next to Qi Luo, he truly looked like her father. The famous Flying Swan General of Great Wei had once joked about this, though Qi Luo hadn’t minded. Her father had died early, and Li Kuang had given her food, shelter, and protection – many birth fathers couldn’t even do this much for their daughters. Moreover, Li Kuang was a hero who protected the people; she admired him and never thought ill of him.

Now, her “husband” raised his eyes to look at Qi Luo. His gaze held meanings she couldn’t understand, seeming both pained and tinged with cruelty. After looking at her for a long time, he asked in a hoarse voice, “Qi Luo, how long have you been with me?”

Qi Luo tilted her head in thought, “Master, this concubine has followed Master for over three years. When this summer passes, it will be four years.”

Li Kuang doted on her greatly, which was why he brought her along wherever he went. His own wife and son were in Shuo Capital, and he had to support his parents – they couldn’t possibly follow him to such a harsh border region. Yet Qi Luo, such a young and beautiful woman, had followed him for many years without complaint.

He was straightforward and rough by nature, disliking women’s scheming. Qi Luo had some harmless little tricks, but more than that, she had pure enthusiasm. She was easily satisfied, always wearing her desire for favor plainly on her face. She was courteous in her dealings with others, and his colleagues all envied him for having such an understanding flower. In truth, Qi Luo had never truly enjoyed much luxury.

As his beloved concubine, Qi Luo’s life was not comparable to those of women in the capital.

Li Kuang murmured, “Four years…”

His tone was heavy, and Qi Luo inexplicably felt afraid. She turned her head to look at those around her, but the soldiers who were usually familiar with her turned away, avoiding her gaze.

Why was this happening?

Despite her usual cleverness, she couldn’t understand what was happening, and so she fixed those grape-like, dewy eyes on Li Kuang, full of confusion.

Pain flashed through Li Kuang’s eyes, but after a moment he said, “Come here.”

Qi Luo obediently stepped forward.

…

He Yan had been talking with Jiang Jiao and the others when Shi Tou and Hong Shan also woke up. Xiao Mai and Shi Tou had finished helping repair the weapons and returned to the room to find He Yan, only asking, “Brother He, aren’t you going to find Lord Li today?”

“Already did,” He Yan shrugged.

Jiang Jiao thought for a moment, “Why don’t we go with you to find Lord Li? We can try to convince him together?”

He Yan felt that Jiang Jiao’s suggestion wouldn’t be very effective, given how firm Li Kuang’s attitude was. However, things had already come to this point, so they might as well try everything possible. She stood up and said, “Alright, we can try again.”

Back then, even Liu Buwang had taken her as a disciple because she had annoyed him to death, and Li Kuang’s patience wasn’t even as good as Liu Buwang’s, so perhaps this might work – although the likely result would be Li Kuang drawing his sword against her.

He Yan led the group to find Li Kuang again. Halfway there, passing by Zhao Shiming’s courtyard, they saw Lady Zhao sitting at the entrance holding her young grandson, staring blankly. He Yan started, went forward, and asked, “Lady Zhao, haven’t you seen Miss Qi Luo?”

She had arranged with Qi Luo to find Lady Zhao before she left, so why was Lady Zhao alone now?

Lady Zhao seemed not to understand He Yan’s words at first, and after a while finally answered, “She was called away by the Commander.”

He Yan’s heart dropped, and without another word, she immediately ran toward Li Kuang’s courtyard. Behind her, Wang Ba and the others were puzzled, with Wang Ba asking, “Why is he so anxious? Does he have an affair with that woman?”

Hong Shan: “Don’t talk nonsense! He Yan has only been in Run City for a short while.”

“He could still attract butterflies and bees,” Wang Ba muttered.

He Yan ran to Li Kuang’s courtyard. Today, soldiers were guarding Li Kuang’s room, which alarmed her. As she was about to rush in, the guards at the door stopped her: “What are you doing? The Master has ordered that no one is to enter!”

He Yan stared hard into his eyes: “What is he doing in there?”

Her gaze was as cold as an ice blade, startling the soldier. Before he could speak, Zhao Shiming also arrived and, seeing the scene, frowned and said, “What’s all this commotion about? This is Young Lord He, let him through.”

The two soldiers seemed to come to their senses but still looked at He Yan, their tone firm: “The Master ordered that no one is to enter, and that includes the Wu’an Lang.”

He Yan: “Get out of my way!”

She grabbed the sword from one guard’s waist, and though both men tried to stop her, how could they? He Yan knocked them to the ground with one palm strike, kicked open the door, and strode in, only to freeze in her tracks.

In the room, besides Li Kuang, there were many deputy soldiers and officers. By the chairs knelt a group of women. These women were neatly dressed, some with tear-stained faces, others calm, but He Yan recognized one or two faces – they were Great Wei captives she had rescued from the Wutuo people during that night raid.

In the center of the floor lay a woman, her body covered with white cloth, making it impossible to see who it was, but in her hand, she tightly clutched a flower wreath, small and delicate, dotted with sparse purple flowers.

He Yan’s eyes immediately reddened.