Wave after wave of pursuing guards came on, and in the pitch-black night, unsettling bowstring sounds occasionally rang out. Haidu Aling swung his sword across his body, filling the sky with cold blade flashes.

People kept falling with agonized screams.

Yuchi Damo’s tightly gripped shoulder burned with pain. Though trembling like a sieve with terror written across his face, his brown eyes calmly surveyed their surroundings.

They escaped the palace, the sounds of fighting gradually fading behind them.

Haidu Aling’s clothes were in tatters, his body covered in blood as if he’d been dragged from a blood pool. He leaped onto a snow-covered rooftop carrying Yuchi Damo, then threw him aside and let out a series of sharp whistles.

Suddenly footsteps sounded in the darkness. Shadows moved as several black-clothed guards appeared, kneeling at his feet.

“Jin Bo is still alive. He’s gone back to report me to the Great Khan.”

Haidu Aling’s voice was ice-cold.

The guards were shocked, exchanging glances before kowtowing: “We failed in our duty. We will return to Ya Ting and confess our crimes to the Great Khan, and will not implicate the Prince.”

Yuchi Damo lay in the snow, secretly admiring how Haidu Aling, having just broken through the encirclement and barely escaping with his life, not yet even out of Gaochang, could already calmly plan how to clear himself of guilt. No wonder he was the Great Khan Wahan’s most valued successor.

Haidu Aling gave a fierce smile, casually wiping the sticky blood from his cheek. With a clang, he discarded his blade, now blunted from combat, and declared: “You have loyally followed me, risking life and death, daring to assassinate Jin Bo for me. You are all men of supreme loyalty and courage – what crime have you committed? Man proposes, but Heaven disposes. It wasn’t that you failed in your duty; Jin Bo simply had great fortune.”

The guards were stunned, showing signs of being moved.

“This tribulation was destined for me.” Haidu Aling stood with his hands behind his back, looking at his subordinates, speaking word by word: “The Great Khan will surely be furious. One bears responsibility for one’s actions. I gave the order to assassinate Jin Bo, and I will bear all blame, accepting whatever punishment the Great Khan decides.”

He bent down, drew the sword from his subordinate’s waist, and handed it back to him.

The guard took the sword, looking bewildered.

Haidu Aling patted his shoulder: “My attempt to assassinate Jin Bo has been exposed. The Great Khan and other princes won’t spare me. Yina’s pursuers will be here soon. I don’t want to die at a woman’s hands. Cut off my head and return to claim the reward – the Great Khan will not only forgive you but will reward you with gold, silver, and beautiful women.”

The guard finally understood, his hands trembling.

Haidu Aling’s gaze moved across each subordinate’s face as he calmly said: “You have already fulfilled your duty. You need no longer to follow my orders. From now on, each seek your path.”

The guards’ eyes filled with tears as they gazed up at his resolute, towering figure, speechless for a long while.

Suddenly, with a clear clang, the guard who had taken the sword threw it aside and stood up angrily, his eyes red enough to drip blood, crying: “The Prince has campaigned north and south, fighting valiantly, achieving great merit for Northern Rong, always charging at the front – who in the army doesn’t know this! Just because the Prince isn’t the Great Khan’s son, he’s been neglected and suspected. The Crown Prince and Second Prince set ambushes to harm the Prince, and when the Prince was severely wounded, though the Great Khan knew they were the most suspicious, he only executed a few thieves to gloss it over. Such favoritism – I can’t accept it!”

His accusations broke the silence, stirring up waves of response. The other guards also showed indignation, shouting: “The Prince cannot just surrender! The Prince is Northern Rong’s greatest warrior. The Crown Prince and Second Prince struck first with poison – the Prince was only protecting himself!”

“The Great Khan acts foolishly and weakly, while the Crown Prince and Second Prince are narrow-minded and vindictive. If they inherit the Khan’s position, how can we survive?”

“Right! Death comes early or late, but rather than suffer under them, we might as well follow the Prince. Only the Prince can lead us to conquer more lands, win more battles, and capture more beautiful women!”

“Prince, let’s rebel!”

The guards raised their heads to look at Haidu Aling, placing their left hand over their hearts in a gesture of loyalty, shouting in unison: “We will follow the Prince, brave fire and water for the Prince until the day we die in battle!”

Haidu Aling gazed at his subordinates, his eyes slightly reddened, sighing: “I really cannot bear to have you all die with me.”

The guards shouted: “We have no regrets!”

Haidu Aling stood motionless, silent for a long while, then sighed helplessly: “We are descendants of the Divine Wolf, with the Wolf’s blood flowing in our veins. We cannot scurry like rats in the gutter – if we die, we must die heroically! We’ll return to Ya Ting. If the Great Khan truly demands my death as penance, I have nothing to say, but before I die, I’ll first take the Crown Prince and the others with me as companions!”

The guards’ spirits were roused as they shouted in agreement.

Yuchi Damo remained silent, quietly observing as Haidu Aling stirred his subordinates to rebellion.

Lady Yina was hunting him, and Jin Bo and the other surviving princes would send assassins. In his desperate situation, he was putting on an act to win over his subordinates. No matter what difficulties he faced next, these utterly devoted subordinates would never betray him.

Indeed, beneath his roughness lay cunning.

Having calmed his enraged subordinates, Haidu Aling turned to Yuchi Damo, helping him up: “I was too rough in the urgency earlier, please forgive me, Lord.”

Yuchi Damo impatiently shook off his hand, his face dark as water, asking: “Do you truly intend to rebel against Northern Rong?”

Haidu Aling’s light golden eyes flashed with cold light as he said: “If the Great Khan truly wants to kill me, I cannot meekly await slaughter.”

Yuchi Damo’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied him for a moment, then lowered his voice: “I have only a few thousand troops, not enough to resist Northern Rong. I cannot promise the Prince anything unless you can stand as an equal with the other princes. Only then could I lend you aid.”

Haidu Aling’s gaze suddenly turned vicious.

Yuchi Damo stumbled backward in fright, nearly falling off the roof. After several wobbles, he barely steadied himself, his eyes bulging as he shouted angrily: “Tonight I almost died because of you! You have so few men – I can’t die with you!”

He shouted while trembling, clearly putting on a brave face while terrified inside. Haidu Aling saw through his bluster and inwardly smiled with contempt: this Lord of Yuchi was indeed as cowardly as rumored. Tonight when Yina had signaled her men to loose arrows en masse, he had been so frightened he’d wet himself – the smell of urine still lingered.

Coward.

Haidu Aling despised men like Yuchi Damo, but now he stood alone and had no choice but to ally with such a person. Though Gaochang’s forces were few, any reduction in aid to the Crown Prince and others gave him a better chance of victory.

He turned to gaze southeast, his thin lips pressed together.

He should have been a wolf, roaming the grasslands and hunting at will, but to survive, he had to become a rat scurrying in gutters. Today he had nearly died in a woman’s trap. This humiliation he would remember. Sooner or later, he would personally kill everyone who had mocked and looked down on him, washing away his shame with their blood!

The strong rule.

The Khan’s position would eventually fall into his hands. The most beautiful women under heaven, the most fertile and prosperous lands, the most precious treasures – all would be in his grasp.

…

Two hours later, Lady Yina’s guards found a barely breathing Yuchi Damo thirty li outside the city gates.

The guards hurriedly brought his blood-covered body back to the palace.

Lady Yina came to visit upon hearing the news.

The shaman doctor had just removed several arrows from Yuchi Damo, revealing several bloody holes in his body. Lying on the couch with blue-black lips, he raged: “Viper of a woman! How poisonous you are! You saw me in Haidu Aling’s hands, yet still ordered arrows fired! Did you want to take the chance to kill me? Thank Buddha, I managed to roll down the city wall when Haidu Aling wasn’t paying attention and saved my life – your calculations failed!”

Lady Yina suppressed her anger: “My Lord truly misunderstands me. How could I disregard your safety? I rushed to capture Haidu Aling precisely because I was worried about you.”

Then she changed tack.

“Why were you meeting secretly with Haidu Aling? What did he say to you?”

Yuchi Damo’s temple veins bulged: “You suspect I was collaborating with Haidu Aling? He nearly killed me! You placed me under house arrest, and surrounded me with your spies – I should be asking you, how did he get into the palace? Did you deliberately let him in, hoping he would kill me?”

His agitation pulled at his wounds, making him grimace in pain, crying out repeatedly, alternately cursing Lady Yina’s viciousness and Haidu Aling’s cruelty. After a few curses, he was drenched in sweat, his breathing weak, his voice growing fainter.

The shaman doctor hurried to treat his injuries.

Lady Yina coldly watched the doctor applying medicine to Yuchi Damo. Confirming he was truly injured, she turned and left the room, asking the guards how they had found the Lord.

The guard answered truthfully, his voice growing quieter: “My Lady… when we found the Lord, his undergarments were soaked through.”

Lady Yina’s face showed disgust.

To think he had been so frightened he wet himself! No wonder when the Northern Rong army hadn’t even attacked the city, Yuchi Damo had already presented his surrender.

Lady Yina’s lips curled in a slight smile. With such a cowardly husband, even if he knew their twin children were dead, he would never dare revenge himself against her. With Uncle Khan Wahan as her support, she could do as she pleased in Gaochang.

She set aside her suspicions of her husband and ordered the guards to continue tracking Haidu Aling.

Half an hour later, the palace guards came to report that the city’s noble families, having heard about the Lord’s near-assassination, feared Haidu Aling might return and wanted to send their private armies into the city to protect the Lord.

Lady Yina grew alert: “Don’t let them enter the city!”

Her control over Yuchi Damo stemmed from having all the city guards be her people from Northern Rong, and she had secretly bought the loyalty of the palace guards. Though the city’s noble families showed her outward respect, they each harbored their schemes. If their private armies entered the city, how could she intimidate the nobles?

The palace guards went to issue the decree but returned looking troubled: “My Lady, the Yang, Meng, and Zhang families say they cannot rest easy until the assassin is caught. They must send additional men to protect the palace and their residences to sleep soundly.”

Lady Yina’s face turned ashen as she said coldly: “Then let them stay alert at night. Without my orders, no private armies may enter the city!”

The palace guard’s forehead broke out in a sweat as he carefully said: “My Lady when the Lord was brought back, the city’s people all saw. Now the city is in turmoil. I fear this situation cannot continue long.”

Lady Yina cast a cold glance at her guards. If they had killed Haidu Aling last night, would they have all these troubles now?

The guards dared not speak.

The palace guard cautiously suggested: “My Lady, perhaps we could issue a decree in the Lord’s name, sending the noble families’ private armies to hunt down Haidu Aling and his dogs. This way, you can both calm the people, prevent the private armies from entering the city, and take the chance to weaken the Hexi and Helong refugees.”

Lady Yina pondered for a moment before clapping her hands with a smile: “Brilliant!”

Most of Gaochang’s nobles came from prominent Hexi and Helong families. Relying on their deep family roots, they often paid lip service while secretly resisting. She had long disliked them. Their request to send troops into the city was surely aimed at retaking the palace – she couldn’t let them succeed.

The palace guard was right. Since they used protecting the Lord as an excuse, she would send their armies far away!

…

That afternoon, the palace issued a decree ordering the noble families to gather their men and guard various locations against assassins. They were to select their best warriors to form ten teams of five men each to pursue the Lord’s would-be assassins eastward.

“Lady Yina says don’t come back without catching the assassins!”

The noble families immediately objected. They wanted to enter the palace to protect the Lord, not be sent to eat sand in the desert!

“We want to see the Lord!”

“We want to enter the palace to guard the Lord!”

Clamoring voices filled the area before the palace.

Inside the palace, Lady Yina laughed coldly: Want to seize power? Let’s see how you like having your stone dropped on your feet!

Outside the palace, in the Yang family residence.

After hearing his subordinate’s report, Yang Qian rubbed his hands together excitedly, turning to rush down the corridor, saying with a smile: “Princess, you guessed correctly. The louder our people shout, the more suspicious Lady Yina becomes, and the more she fears letting the private armies enter the city.”

A graceful figure stood before the corridor, looking up at the faded murals on the wall. Hearing this, she turned to smile at him, wearing a narrow-sleeved brocade robe with round patterns, her skin snow-white, her eyes bright and clear.

Yang Qian could barely contain his excitement as he stepped closer, lowering his voice: “Princess, I had already selected the people. Now that Lady Yina requires them to pursue Haidu Aling, they must depart immediately.”

He sighed, as if helpless, though excitement at their successful plot flashed in his eyes.

Yao Ying exchanged a smile with him.

She had learned from Sudan Gu that Northern Rong scouts were spread throughout the Western Regions, with strict controls at every checkpoint and tight management of all tribes.

Quickly sending messages to the Central Plains seemed as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Over the years, Yang Qian had recruited many willing to risk death to deliver messages.

Yao Ying trusted their loyalty, but loyalty and determination alone couldn’t break through the Northern Rong blockade. Without Northern Rong internal travel documents and bronze tokens, they would be hunted by Northern Rong cavalry wherever they went.

She and Yang Qian discussed several ways to disguise their identity: merchants, monks, and diplomatic missions.

Finally, Yao Ying had a flash of inspiration: what identity could be more suitable than Lady Yina’s guards?

With Lady Yina’s decree, the teams could pass unhindered, at least on the road from Gaochang to Guazhou and Shazhou. No one would scrutinize them closely.

That’s why Yao Ying and Yuchi Damo had reported to Lady Yina.

If Lady Yina could ambush and kill Haidu Aling, that would be best, but failure didn’t matter. They had calculated every possible outcome and decided the risk was worth taking.

Now, they had obtained decrees from Lady Yina, acquired passage documents and bronze tokens, and could mobilize troops under the name of protecting the Lord, moving their secretly trained volunteer army and positioning people throughout Gaochang – all right under Lady Yina’s nose.

Yang Qian couldn’t help but marvel: “With the decree, everything becomes much easier.”

Yao Ying reminded him: “We can’t be careless. Lady Yina’s decree will only work for a few months. Past Shazhou, everything depends on their adaptability.”

Yang Qian said: “They know the journey will be difficult. They fear nothing.”

Yao Ying nodded.

The first group to depart was already prepared. When the palace decree reached the Yang residence, everyone immediately packed their belongings, ready to set out.

Yao Ying and Yang Qian went to see them off.

Over a dozen young men stood in the corridor, wearing headwraps, carrying precious swords at their waists, and dressed in white cloaks. Hearing footsteps, they looked up, and seeing Yao Ying approach gracefully, hurriedly gave her the crossed-hands salute.

Yao Ying walked to the steps, her gaze moving over each face, lingering long on everyone.

They were so young, yet so determined, so brave. Though knowing this journey might lead to their deaths, they remained unwavering.

Yao Ying composed herself solemnly, bowing deeply to everyone, making three formal military salutes with both hands.

Everyone held their breath, a dozen gazes fixed upon her, burning bright.

Yao Ying raised her head, looking at them all: “To explore the tiger’s den and enter the dragon’s palace, to breathe to the heavens and become a white rainbow. Once, Prince Dan bid farewell to Jing Ke at Yi River’s bank – how tragic yet magnificent, remembered through the ages. Today, as I bid you farewell…”

Everyone’s expression grew solemn, their eyes flashing with heroic spirit.

One young man clenched his fists tightly, declaring: “Please rest assured, Princess. We will deliver the message to Liangzhou. Until we reach Liangzhou, we won’t turn back!”

Others joined in responding, a chorus of oaths, each full of passionate words.

Yao Ying thought of the bleached bones in the yellow sand and shook her head.

Everyone froze for a moment.

Yao Ying looked at them all, her eyes seeming to hold flowing starlight, speaking word by word: “You have set aside thoughts of life and death, earning my deepest admiration and respect. Today, as I bid you farewell, I have no song to offer, no poem to give, no grand words of valor. I have only one request: please take utmost care to protect yourselves, and be cautious in all things. One day, we shall surely meet again!”

Her tone was gentle, yet each word rang clear and powerful.

These words fell like great weights on everyone’s hearts. They all trembled, setting aside their youthful fearlessness, and returned Yao Ying’s salute.

After the salute, they raised their heads and mounted their horses.

Yao Ying stood on the steps, watching them leave.

When they had ridden far, they looked back to see Yao Ying still standing there watching. They scratched their heads and exchanged somewhat shy smiles.

“Will we survive to return?”

“We definitely will.”

“Weren’t we impressive just now? Will people sing stories about us too?”

“I was more impressive than you. Look how pale your face is – scared, aren’t you? Once we’re out of the city, just stay close to me, I’ll protect you!”

A voice sighed: “The Princess is so beautiful…”

The others stopped and shouted angrily: “Zhang Jiu, you’re impossible! What are you thinking? Were you stealing glances at the Princess just now?”

Zhang Jiu defended himself quietly: “I was just saying…”

The young men’s chattering and arguing carried on the wind.

Yang Qian’s face turned red: These useless fellows! Just moments ago they were more serious than his grandfather, how did they turn frivolous so quickly?

Yao Ying stood in place, shaking her head with a smile as she watched the spirited young men’s figures disappear into the vast snow and wind.

This time, she hoped they would not be betrayed.