Wild clouds stretched for ten thousand li as snow fell heavily. In the vast darkness, the howling north wind rolled like massive waves, surging and roaring across the endless snowy plains.

At the horizon, thousands of peaks pierced the clouds, their summits covered in pristine snow, standing silently. The snow realm stretched endlessly without a trace of human presence.

Hoofbeats crushed through wind and snow. In the boundless night, a black horse slowly galloped from the east, stopping before a steep mountain path, motionless.

The steed’s neighing was instantly swallowed by the mountain wind.

The man on horseback released the reins, his jade-colored eyes bright and clear as he quietly gazed down at the silent city beneath the distant snow-white mountain ranges. The fierce wind whipped his dark robes, making them flutter wildly. His face mask was blown off, revealing a grotesquely ugly face.

His gaze was calm, his tall figure seeming to merge with the thick darkness.

In the silence, several sharp, thin bowstring sounds suddenly rang out. As one sound arrived, bowstrings from all directions hummed in unison. Arrow after arrow cut through the wind and snow, flying toward Su Dangu.

These iron arrows came with fierce momentum, swift as lightning and thunder. Under the simultaneous release of ten thousand arrows, the wind and snow seemed to stop as cold light flashed across the sky.

The arrow rain was as dense as a spider’s web, layer upon layer descending like a sieve – no matter how tough the target, it would strip away a layer of flesh.

Though the taut bowstrings made one’s scalp tingle, Su Dangu acted as if he hadn’t heard, remaining motionless until he was surrounded by arrow light. Only then did he slowly raise his eyes, drawing his sword as his contained inner force surged forth. Where his sword pointed, the force of the wind was magnificent, the aura severe.

In a flash of sword light and arrows crossing, the arrows fell to the ground one after another, piercing holes in the snow.

The atmosphere was tense as the fierce wind continued to rage.

Su Dangu raised his arm with a crisp sound as the sword returned to its sheath, his gaze cold and clear.

Several savage laughs came from high on the mountain path as figures moved and horses’ hooves sounded. On the cliff appeared a man wearing a white cloak and holding a longbow, his face covered by a mask, his muscular body large and sturdy.

The creaking sound of footsteps filled the air as dozens of assassins dressed in white cloaks like him emerged from different directions, gathering on his flanks. Each held sharp weapons, their murderous eyes glaring at Su Dangu from behind their masks.

On the outermost circle, over ten archers drew their bowstrings tight, ready to coordinate with the assassins in launching their attack.

The leader’s eyes were cold as he swept his gaze over the arrows on the ground. He put away his bow, drew his sword, and pointed the tip at Su Dangu.

“Su Dangu, I’ve been waiting here for you for days! I’ve prepared long and laid this net of heaven and earth just to take your head, to drink wine from your skull! Even if your martial arts are supreme and you have three heads and six arms, today you won’t escape even with wings! Next year today will be the anniversary of your death, Su Dangu!”

At his command, he spurred his horse down the mountain path.

The others shouted, waving their blades as they charged toward Su Dangu with him.

Faced with the numerous fighters rushing at him, Su Dangu’s expression remained unchanged, his gaze calm as he slowly raised his arm to draw his sword. His dark robes pulled taut, his lean arms filled with profound strength.

The man’s face twisted as he raised his sword with a wild roar: “Kill! Kill him…”

Before his words finished, the bladeless sword cut through the air with a fierce sound.

The man’s savage expression froze on his face, his voice caught in his throat as he met a pair of eyes.

They were deep jade-colored eyes, like looking down at the mortal world from the clouds – cold, calm, indifferent. In the snowy night, a strange blue light seemed to flicker in their depths.

The man’s eyes widened in terror.

The two swords clashed with a sharp ring, spraying sparks like stars.

The man’s sword shattered instantly. After several tooth-grinding crack sounds, the fragments scattered like flying snow toward the ground.

Those jade eyes coldly watched him.

A rakshasa yaksha, violent and bloodthirsty.

A fear and despair rising from the depths of his heart seized the man. Remembering the various legends long circulated in the royal court, he tried to draw the dagger at his waist, but his arms were powerless. He could only watch helplessly as Su Dangu’s sword swept toward his throat.

The sword hilt slipped from the man’s hand as he fell from his horse. Closing his eyes, he felt something cold press against his forehead – the blade pressing against his head.

The intense pain never came – Su Dangu hadn’t killed him.

The man’s heart pounded as he opened his eyes.

Su Dangu sat on horseback, his sword pointing at the man’s scalp as he looked around, his aura overwhelming.

Seeing how he had easily broken through their encirclement and effortlessly struck down their leader, everyone knew they were no match for him. Their previously high morale instantly vanished as they looked at each other hesitantly, not daring to advance.

Su Dangu looked at one of the assassins in the crowd: “You want to kill me?”

Meeting his gaze, the assassin was terrified, trembling like sifting chaff. Without thinking, he threw down his sword and knelt, begging for mercy: “Regent, please forgive me! I was lured here by the bounty!”

Su Dangu said coldly: “If there’s a next time, my sword won’t spare anyone.”

The assassin froze, not expecting to be spared. Joy flooded his face, but fearing Su Dangu might change his mind, he quickly got up and fled, disappearing in an instant.

The others looked at each other, at a loss.

With a thud, another sword fell to the ground as someone released their weapon and carefully retreated from the encirclement.

Su Dangu didn’t move.

The assassin who had dropped his sword took a deep breath and ran at full speed.

Following that, the sound of falling swords came one after another as the assassins turned and fled.

Only Su Dangu and the ambush leader remained by the cliff.

Su Dangu raised his eyes to look at the distant horizon where dawn light was beginning to show: “Who ordered you to do this?”

The man spat and laughed loudly: “Su Dangu, you kill without blinking, your hands soaked in blood! Too many in the royal court want you dead! I wish I could skin you alive, dig out your heart, liver, and lungs, drink your blood, eat your flesh, and crush your bones one by one! I won’t tell you who sent me! When you die, you’ll know!”

Having failed his mission, he knew that even if Su Dangu spared him, he wouldn’t live past tomorrow. Letting out an unbridled roar of rage, he suddenly raised his head and struck it against the sword before him.

Blood gushed forth as the man’s limbs twitched a few times. His eyes wide open, he breathed his last.

The strong smell of blood was scattered by the fierce wind as thick blood splattered the sword, dripping down drop by drop.

Su Dangu lowered his gaze to look at the spots of blood on his sword. The blue light in his eyes flickered as a red mark faintly appeared between his brows.

He closed his eyes briefly, sheathed his sword, and removed his leather gloves, bringing his hands together in prayer.

Using battle to end battle, using killing to stop killing – all sins rest upon me.

A moment later, Su Dangu’s brows furrowed slightly as his shoulders trembled and he coughed up blood.

The mountain wind was bitterly cold, chilling to the bone.

He wiped the blood from his mouth corner, eyes tightly closed as he forcefully suppressed it. The red mark between his brows gradually faded as his lips turned pale without a trace of color.

The wind howled mournfully.

Dawn was approaching.

Su Dangu turned his horse around and rode down the mountain path alone.

After traveling the mountain road for about two hours, the snow fell more heavily as the wind roared. From the distance came faint human voices and the melodious sound of camel bells.

A merchant caravan wanted to reach the city gates before dawn. A Hu merchant wearing a felt hat and fur coat whipped an exhausted camel repeatedly, muttering curses non-stop.

Su Dangu didn’t approach, keeping his distance from the caravan.

Suddenly a scream came from behind.

As the Hu merchant continued whipping the camel, an elderly man with white hair couldn’t bear to watch and stepped forward to stop him. The merchant flew into a rage, raising his arm to strike the old man with his whip, the force vicious.

The old man’s skin split open as he fell to the ground, crying and begging for mercy.

The merchant’s face twitched as he continued whipping the old man.

The old man crawled toward Su Dangu, crying out.

“Spare me… save me! Save me!”

Su Dangu stopped, his gaze falling on the merchant.

“Don’t meddle in others’ business!”

The merchant caught up to the old man in a few steps, speaking viciously with angry brows as he raised his whip.

Su Dangu raised his hand.

The merchant’s hand suddenly went numb as his whip was caught by a sheathed sword. He narrowed his eyes, a crafty and vicious look flashing in them.

At that moment, the old man who had been groaning in pain at the horse’s hooves suddenly sprang up, lunging at Su Dangu with lightning speed. Cold light flashed from his aged hands – he had concealed a blade.

With a muffled sound, the blade pierced through the dark robes.

Following the old man’s movement, others in the caravan drew hidden weapons and rushed forward, surrounding Su Dangu in an instant.

Having landed his strike, the old man channeled his inner force into his palms, striking toward Su Dangu.

The blade had been coated with poison. Su Dangu’s movements froze for a moment as he fell backward off his horse.

The old man laughed wildly, drawing a flexible sword from his waist as he leaped to follow up, every strike meant to kill: “Haha, Su Dangu, don’t blame us for being heartless – blame yourself for being careless!”

“You are loyal to the Buddha’s Son, actually showing mercy! How can a battlefield general be so soft-hearted?! You brought this on yourself!”

The people around joined in the clamor, blades flashing amid a chorus of mockery and laughter.

They were the assassins who had ambushed Su Dangu on the mountain path. After their leader – merely a minor commander – died, they immediately retreated to observe Su Dangu from hiding. Seeing him cough blood and injured, they were overjoyed, joining another group to wait for him there.

They had people lying in ambush at every major town from here to the royal court.

Su Dangu’s head would be theirs!

The assassins swarmed forward – Su Dangu was injured, they had nothing to fear now!

Su Dangu fell into the snow, staggering backward with the blade still in his chest as blood gushed forth.

“Su Dangu, die!”

Thinking he could kill the Regent who struck fear into the hearts of ministers and nobles, the old man was overcome with wild joy. His flexible sword swift as lightning, he pounced forward with a laugh.

The next moment, there was a crisp sound.

The old man’s smile froze on his lips as his eyes widened in shock.

Su Dangu raised his head, his lips pale as his slender fingers lightly brushed past like Buddha picking a flower, steadily catching the flexible sword. With a gentle flick, the razor-sharp blade broke into pieces like a brittle twig.

The old man’s heart pounded as sweat poured down.

Su Dangu watched him coldly, expressionless. Blue light surged in his jade eyes, softly flickering as a faint red appeared between his furrowed brows. Covered in blood, his killing intent surged.

What strange martial art was this?

The old man was terrified out of his wits. Before he could even cry out, the broken sword swept across his throat.

Blood sprayed forth.

The old man collapsed at Su Dangu’s feet.

Morning light broke through the swirling wind and snow, and the open road suddenly fell silent.

Su Dangu stood in the pool of blood, his face splattered with bright red as his jade eyes swept around.

Like a rakshasa from the realm of Asuras.

The assassins were struck with terror, trembling uncontrollably.

…

Before dawn, the sound of horses neighing came from below the relay station as the personal guards began preparing their gear, ready to set out.

Yao Ying was awakened by the noisy talking outside. She got up to wash, applied a thick layer of ointment to her feet, and had just put on her thick fur coat and boots when Xie Qing came to knock on her door – breakfast was ready.

Ashina Bisuo was already up, sitting by the hall’s furnace polishing his sword. Seeing Yao Ying come downstairs, he pointed to the breakfast prepared for her.

“We set out today – in three more days, we’ll reach the royal court. It will continue snowing these days. Princess, you’re delicate – wear several layers of thick coats. Catching a cold in this weather is no joke.”

Yao Ying acknowledged with a sound as she picked up her soup bowl, glancing at the earthen pot in the furnace. Her brows furrowed slightly as she lifted the lid with a cloth.

The soup and flatbread inside were untouched.

She was silent for a moment before replacing the lid.

“The Regent didn’t return last night?”

Bisuo’s polishing motion paused, but he didn’t look up as he said: “The Regent has returned to the royal court. Earlier I was injured, so the Regent escorted the Princess in my place. Now that my injury has healed and the Regent has pressing duties, he hurried back overnight.”

Yao Ying held her soup bowl and continued drinking.

Neither spoke.

The felt curtain hung high as shadows moved before the door.

Bisuo stared at Yao Ying, suddenly asking: “The Princess prepared hot soup for the Regent, but he didn’t eat it – is the Princess unhappy?”

Yao Ying raised her eyes to meet Bisuo’s gaze, shaking her head, “No, I was just thinking, the Regent left in such a hurry he didn’t even drink a bowl of hot soup. He spent a day in the wilderness – he probably hadn’t eaten anything…”

Bisuo watched her, asking: “How does the Princess know the Regent ate nothing? He just didn’t eat the soup the Princess left.”

Yao Ying’s eyes curved slightly as she smiled: “The Regent never eats with others. Yuanjue prepares food separately for him, and sometimes when Yuanjue is too busy, I look after it for him…”

Before, she had thought Su Dangu was particular, but later discovered he wasn’t picky – just different from others in his habits. Whatever food she and Yuanjue prepared for him, he would quietly eat it all.

The soup in the pot was untouched, meaning he had left without eating anything.

Bisuo fell silent, putting away his sword as he stood and walked out.

One cup of tea later, the group set out.

Yao Ying rode in the middle of the group with Xie Qing and other personal guards following closely on her left and right.

Bisuo rode at the front of the group, continuously sending personal guards back to the royal court with messages. From time to time, fast horses would gallop up to report court news to him.

At noon, they reached an open plain at the foot of a mountain when thundering hoofbeats suddenly sounded ahead.

Snow and mud flew as two riders galloped up to the group. The riders rolled from their saddles, voices urgent and distorted: “General, something’s happened ahead!”

Bisuo’s expression changed slightly as he ordered the group to speed up, spurring his horse forward.

Soon they arrived at a mountain path leading to an oasis town.

Ahead came the frightened neighing of horses. The people at the front of the group saw what was on the path, their faces changing drastically as they immediately reined in their horses.

“General!”

Everyone was at a loss.

Bisuo’s face was dark as water as he dismounted.

A royal court guard rode back, signaling the merchant caravan members to stay where they were, not moving.

Yao Ying was near the front of the group. After thinking, she turned her horse forward.

Just turning the corner, a fierce wind blew past, bringing an overwhelming stench of blood.

Yao Ying forced down her nausea and continued forward, her eyes slowly widening.

The mountain path was in chaos, with overturned carts and cages. Bodies lay in pools of blood – old and young, men and women. Horses, camels, and long-haired cattle and sheep also lay dead, their bellies split open – unbearable to look at.

The entire merchant caravan – not a single survivor.

What kind of person could be so ruthless?!

Yao Ying couldn’t bear to look further and turned away.

Yuanjue was beside her, thinking of something as his hands trembled non-stop on the reins. His whole body shook as his brown eyes grew round, nearly bulging from their sockets, his expression terrified.

Bisuo looked back at him, thick brows furrowed tightly.

Yuanjue met his gaze, both their expressions grave, mixed with a barely perceptible worry.

A guard ran up, cupping his hands: “General! We’ve examined carefully – this merchant caravan was all killed by military swords, not a single survivor! Some bodies aren’t cold yet – this must have happened before dawn this morning. From the tracks in the snow, after killing everyone, the murderer fled up the mountain!”

Other guards discussed animatedly: “Too ruthless! Even women, children, and the elderly were killed!”

“Look at the sword technique on the bodies – the killer must be highly skilled!”

“The killer used a military longsword – could it be someone from the army?”

“All the wounds are deep to the bone, doesn’t seem like the work of bandits…”

“There’s only one path down the mountain – let’s guard the entrance and attack up the mountain!”

Bisuo’s face grew increasingly pale, his lips trembling as he took off his bronze token and turned to instruct the guards: “Go into the city and tell the garrison troops that I’m taking charge here – no one else is to interfere. You stay here, form teams of ten, bury the dead, clear the road, and set up barriers. No one else is allowed through.”

After speaking, he closed his eyes briefly, right hand gripping his sword as he turned his horse away from the group.

Yuanjue’s expression was complex, his eyes slightly red as he bit his lip and spurred his horse to follow.

Yao Ying remained in place, watching as Bisuo and Yuanjue rode up the mountain one after another, lost in thought for a moment.

Her heart felt heavy, as if pressed by a huge stone, making it hard to breathe as her heartbeat suddenly became very slow.

A cold, determined figure flashed through her mind.

On all those nights sleeping in the wilderness, no matter when she opened her eyes, she could always see him.

Yao Ying bit her lip, lightly kicked her boots against her horse’s belly, and galloped forward to catch up with Yuanjue and Bisuo.

Xie Qing immediately spurred his horse to follow.

Yao Ying turned back, her expression calm as she said word by word: “A-Qing, you all stay here – no one is to follow!”

Xie Qing froze for a good while, pulling his reins to stop in place.

Before the royal court guards could react, Yao Ying had already charged up the mountain path, catching up to Yuanjue and Bisuo.

Hearing hoofbeats approaching, Bisuo looked back, his pupils contracting as he said coldly: “Princess, please return!”

Yao Ying didn’t slow down, catching up to him as her gaze moved between his and Yuanjue’s faces.

“Have you already guessed who killed the merchant caravan?”

Yuanjue’s expression was tense as he remained silent.

Bisuo’s face was like water as he said: “This is royal court business, unrelated to the Princess. The royal guards will protect you. The mountain isn’t safe – we must capture the killer. Princess, please go back down.”

Yao Ying looked back at the guards stationed by the mountain path and the fallen bodies, then turned to look directly at Bisuo.

“Bisuo, do you suspect the killer is the Regent?”

Bisuo’s expression changed drastically.

Yao Ying looked at Bisuo, not letting him avoid her gaze: “Are you and Yuanjue going to kill him?”

A shudder ran through Yuanjue’s body as he looked at Yao Ying.

Yao Ying met his gaze frankly: “These past few days, whenever I approached the Regent, you became tense, your hand on your sword dripping with sweat. Were you afraid he would hurt me?”

Yuanjue’s face was pale.

“The Regent smelled of medicine – was he injured? Or did something go wrong with his martial arts practice? Why has he been avoiding people these days?”

Yuanjue dared not speak, his gaze evasive.

Yao Ying took a breath, her gaze falling back on Bisuo as she continued questioning: “You think he couldn’t control himself and killed an entire merchant caravan?”

The mountain wind howled as Bisuo remained silent, veins standing out on his hands as he gripped the reins.

Yuanjue made a sound as he wiped his eyes.

“The killer isn’t Su Dangu!” Yao Ying panted, trembling slightly. “Look carefully at those bodies – how could he slaughter innocents?!”

Bisuo turned his head to look at the mountain path.

“The Princess knows nothing – how can you be sure the killer isn’t the Regent?”

He paused, his voice suddenly becoming sharp and harsh: “I grew up with the Regent, have known him for over twenty years – I understand what’s happening better than the Princess! The Princess is just an outsider!”

Yao Ying took a deep breath, fingers tightly gripping the reins.

“I truly know nothing. I am just an outsider, unclear what secrets lie between the General, the Regent, and the Buddha’s Son. I won’t try to investigate. The General has known the Regent for over twenty years – I’ve only spent a few months with him.”

She raised her eyelashes, staring unblinkingly at Bisuo.

“Then may I ask the General – since the Regent began practicing martial arts, has he ever killed an innocent person?”

Bisuo was silent.

“In these years, when the Regent’s practice went wrong, has he ever hurt anyone?”

Bisuo still said nothing.

Yao Ying’s voice was calm: “Since you’ve never seen him hurt anyone, why do your hands stay on your sword hilts these past few days whenever you see him, ready to strike? Why do you look so pained seeing the merchant caravan’s deaths, leaving others behind to go up the mountain alone?”

Her voice rose slightly: “Ashina Bisuo, you suspect Su Dangu, don’t you?”

Bisuo looked at Yao Ying, wordless for a long time.

Yao Ying stared at him, expression stubborn. In her urgency, her cheeks were slightly flushed, her hair disheveled by the wind, her nose red.

She truly cared about the Regent.

Bisuo closed his eyes briefly, his face no longer wearing that carelessly teasing smile, his brow carrying an inescapable pain.

He let out a long sigh.

“The Regent’s martial arts technique is special – the slightest mistake can cause a backlash. Minor cases hurt oneself, serious cases lead to madness, not recognizing even close family, becoming cruel and bloodthirsty.”

Bisuo lowered his head to look at the sword his master had given him.

“Princess, Yuanjue told me the Regent showed signs of martial arts backlash a few days ago, which is why his behavior has been strange these days. He went in this direction – I calculated the time, he would have passed through the mountain path at dawn today.”

The mountain wind swirled violently as goose-feather snow fell heavily.

Bisuo’s voice trembled: “The Regent uses a military longsword common in the army.”

Beside him, Yuanjue’s whole body shook, his eyes growing redder.

Yao Ying wiped snow from her face, her expression calm, her jet-black eyes bright and shining.

“So what?”

Bisuo froze.

The wind cut like knives, its cold penetrating to the bone. Shivering in the wind, Yao Ying spoke word by word: “All the guards carry longswords. Without witnesses or evidence, you didn’t see the Regent hurt anyone – how can you determine he’s the killer based on speculation? His martial arts are now causing backlash, his temperament unstable – if you suspect him without distinguishing right from wrong, won’t misunderstandings between you only deepen?”

Bisuo was momentarily speechless, silent for a long while before his mouth twitched: “Does the Princess trust the Regent so much?”

Yao Ying raised her hand to smooth her hair.

“On the way to Gaochang, once we passed a cliff where a horse was startled and slipped off the plank road, nearly throwing its rider down the mountain. The Regent saved that guard.”

Su Dangu had been following far behind the group at the time, but when it happened, his figure had flashed over to save the guard.

“After the guard was safe… the Regent didn’t leave.”

Yao Ying looked into Bisuo’s jade-colored eyes, “He reached out over the plank road to calm the frightened horse, saving it too just as it was about to fall into the valley.”

It was just a horse – not worth risking falling off the cliff and being smashed to pieces to save.

Su Dangu had saved it.

Though his body carried killing intent, his sword technique contained mercy.

Yao Ying said firmly: “I believe in the Regent. Even if his martial arts are causing backlash and he can’t control himself, he wouldn’t slaughter innocent civilians.”

Bisuo’s expression was shaken.

Yao Ying continued analyzing: “Moreover, the Regent’s sword technique is precise – if he wanted to kill, it would be instant death. He wouldn’t deliberately torture. General, look carefully at those bodies – the sword wounds are messy, and those horses and camels too – it doesn’t seem like the work of one person.”

Bisuo and Yuanjue exchanged a glance, sharing a look.

They had been so worried about Su Dangu, they hadn’t dared look closely at the bodies.