Black smoke filled the air as flames raged, turning half the sky crimson. Suddenly, reinforcements bearing Western Army banners charged out and stormed into the Northern Rong camp.

Screams and horse neighs erupted as the Northern Rong cavalry’s morale plummeted, and they hurriedly retreated.

The exhausted defenders on the city walls immediately became energized, shouting: “Let’s sortie to support them!”

“Wait!”

Yaoying stopped Damo, her voice trembling. “How can we be sure those reinforcements are our own?”

Damo was stunned: “Aren’t they our people?”

Yaoying said: “The Northern Rong excel at encirclement, feigned retreat, surprise attacks, psychological warfare, wave after wave of charges, hunting tactics, and driving slaves and civilians to break through our fortifications to clear the way for their cavalry. We’ve seen all these tactics… The one thing they’re not good at is siege warfare.”

“We must guard against a feigned retreat. First, we need to confirm the reinforcements’ identity.”

In the books, the army led by the aged Haidu Aling had conquered territories with unstoppable momentum. After conquering various regions, he promoted a group of skilled craftsmen who excelled at making siege engines. These craftsmen were not only highly skilled but also understood mathematics and physics. Relying on the various siege weapons they invented, he had broken through the gates of city after city.

When Yaoying was in Haidu Aling’s camp, she collected sheep dung, combed wool, fed horses, and moved heavy weapons. She not only paid attention to the horse breeds Haidu Aling was cultivating but also noted the craftsmen he gathered. After escaping to the royal court, she had Old Qi help her look out for experienced craftsmen. Anyone with special skills, regardless of origin, she wanted to recruit.

The current Haidu Aling didn’t have enough craftsmen in his camp to help manufacture siege engines. Even if he had craftsmen, with the Northern Rong fractured, someone of his status couldn’t gather so many military supplies.

Yaoying even suspected the Northern Rong army outside couldn’t sustain their supplies for long.

“We’re short on troops and not skilled at countering cavalry. We can’t engage the Northern Rong head-on and must hold the city. We can’t rashly send troops out. If the reinforcements are a trap, rushing out to support them would be falling for their plan.”

Damo calmed down and said: “What if the reinforcements are real?”

A garrison commander beside them said: “I also think we shouldn’t send troops out. We can send scouts first to check.”

Scouts were dispatched as Damo anxiously stood on the city wall, observing the distant battle.

Suddenly reinforcements were still fighting with the Northern Rong army. The Northern Rong camp had burned halfway in the blink of an eye, their military banners toppling while the Western Army banners flew toward Gaochang, fluttering in the wind.

Yaoying’s palms were sweating.

If the reinforcements were real, not sending troops to support them would mean losing the best opportunity to attack the Northern Rong from both sides… but the Northern Rong forces outside appeared too suspicious. They couldn’t risk it.

Damo paced back and forth nervously.

The soldiers were drenched in sweat, eyes fixed in the distance, their fists clenched tight.

After a while, a scout scrambled back to the city: “Can’t see the reinforcement commander! The Northern Rong keep retreating…”

Damo’s heart sank: “Hold firm, don’t sortie. Continue scouting!”

The scouts knew all the commanders who might come to their aid. If he said he couldn’t see the commander clearly, it meant the other side was deliberately preventing them from identifying which tribe the reinforcements came from.

Following orders, more scouts descended the walls on ropes.

Damo gritted his teeth: “The Northern Rong is truly cunning. They burned their camp to lure us out – are they trying to kill our commanders? Shake our morale and force us to surrender?”

Yaoying’s expression was grave: “If only it were that simple…”

Damo broke out in a cold sweat: “We’re not their target?”

Yaoying sighed, dipped her finger in water, and drew on the mud bricks: “Now that Gaochang is surrounded, Western Army troops from around will surely come to our aid. The Northern Rong army only needs to hold key routes. When reinforcements think we’ve fallen, they can set ambushes, and the arriving reinforcements will surely fall for it. Then they can pretend to be ambushed by reinforcements and retreat urgently, luring us out of the city. If the city garrison pursues them, they’ll likely be cut off from retreat. Once the garrison is surrounded by them, how long can we hold out? If we can’t hold, won’t other incoming reinforcements become even more panicked?”

The Northern Rong could use this tactic repeatedly – using the fallen city as bait to ambush reinforcements, then using reinforcements as bait to lure out the garrison. As long as either reinforcements or the garrison fell for it, they could take the opportunity to annihilate the Western Army troops.

Yaoying worried: “We just need to hold firm and not sortie… but the reinforcements can’t wait…”

She was concerned the reinforcements would fall for the trap.

Damo was drenched in sweat.

Yang Qian and Li Zhongqian’s rescue forces hadn’t arrived – had they already fallen into an ambush?

…

Outside Gaochang City, on the Great Sea Road.

Li Zhongqian led several thousand Western Army troops in a forced night march across the Great Sea Road, covered in gravel and devoid of vegetation.

His subordinates urged him not to march at night: “General, the Great Sea Road is full of quicksand. One misstep and both horse and rider could sink into hidden pits. Moreover, we haven’t rested, and more men are falling behind!”

Soldiers who fell behind in the desert might lose their way.

Li Zhongqian raised his whip, pointing to the rolling black smoke from beacon towers set every few dozen li toward Gaochang, his face dark as water: “There’s no time to waste. Don’t wait for those who fall behind. Everyone speed up – we must reach Gaochang before dawn!”

With that, his whip fell, and with a whistle, his steed shot forward like an arrow.

His subordinate sighed helplessly and ordered the soldiers to follow.

They left behind the exhausted soldiers and finally emerged from the Great Sea Road the next day. In the distance, they saw a small oasis. The soldiers, throats burning with thirst, rushed toward the dusty village in the oasis.

Suddenly, the sound of hoofbeats arose, like a torrential rain beating on roof tiles. From the dense woods outside the village, dust flew and yellow clouds surged.

The vice commander was terrified and quickly reined in his horse: “It’s an ambush!”

With his cry, hundreds of iron cavalry wielding long sabers charged out from the dense woods, murderous intent thick in the air.

Li Zhongqian raised his head as sharp whistling filled the air. Iron arrows, dense as locust rain, shot out in unison, enveloping him.

“My Lord!”

His guard screamed in terror.

…

In Gaochang City, the Northern Rong had feigned retreat for dozens of li, abandoning their camp, but the garrison still hadn’t sallied forth.

At night, the city garrison and able-bodied men hurriedly dug deep trenches outside the city, strung up trip wires and caltrops, buried explosives, and commanders personally guarded the secret passages to prevent Northern Rong surprise attacks.

The commanders gathered in the council hall to discuss strategies, leading to arguments.

Some believed they should risk sending troops to break out.

More thought defending the city was safer – earlier, Yaoying had gathered supplies for the Western Army, so the city had abundant food and materials.

Damo asked for Yaoying’s opinion.

She didn’t directly state her thoughts, saying: “First, we don’t know where the cavalry outside came from. Before deciding to attack Yi Prefecture, the Duke of Weiguo and I sent scouts to gather intelligence, confirming that Haidu Aling’s forces were blocked outside White City. How did he manage to bring his troops through White City’s blockade? These past days, the cavalry outside have attacked the city repeatedly, extremely fierce, indeed like his style, but their desperation makes me suspicious.”

“The Wakhan Khan is dead. Haidu Aling should be preserving his strength for a future comeback, not drawing all Western Army troops to Gaochang.”

Yaoying’s brows furrowed slightly. “The Northern Rong troops outside have no supply lines, yet they’re unhurried – this army has abandoned thoughts of survival, leaving themselves no retreat. Haidu Aling was only Wakhan Khan’s adopted son. Would he disregard his life just to avenge the Wakhan Khan?”

Damo sneered: “Haidu Aling would never disregard everything just to avenge the Wakhan Khan.”

Yaoying said: “So we must be cautious. We’re facing a group of death troops. They’re likely scattered Northern Rong remnants. Haidu Aling abandoned his troops to lead them in besieging Gaochang – he must have other intentions.”

Damo nodded: “If they are Northern Rong remnants without supplies, they can’t hold out long. We just need to hold the city – they’ll have to withdraw eventually.”

He paused, looking at Yaoying, understanding why her face had grown increasingly troubled these past two days.

She wasn’t worried about holding Gaochang – she was worried about the reinforcements.

Could something have happened to the reinforcements? Damo worried silently.

The next morning, Damo’s premonition came true.

He had been comforting the city’s soldiers, exhausted, and had just retreated to the back hall to rest when shouts woke him. Several soldiers carried a large chest into the council hall: “The reinforcements coming from Yi Prefecture’s direction were ambushed – total annihilation! The Duke of Weiguo fought to the death, refusing to surrender. He died in battle!”

As they spoke, they took out a long sword, blood-soaked armor, and the Duke of Weiguo’s bronze seal from the chest.

An uproar broke out.

Damo was stunned, as if struck by lightning, and looked toward Li Yaoying. She stared at the bloodied sword and armor on the ground, her face white as snow, her whole body trembling.

The garrison commander said sorrowfully: “Princess, please accept our condolences…”

Yaoying raised her eyes. For the first time in days, her face showed a lost expression.

Everyone in the room couldn’t help but feel their noses and eyes grow hot as they looked away.

“The Northern Rong is challenging us again!” Footsteps sounded outside the hall as a soldier said with a trembling voice, “They want to hang the Duke of Weiguo’s corpse before their formation!”

Everyone was enraged. Yaoying’s face turned deathly pale as she rushed out of the council hall.

The Northern Rong army was arrayed outside the city. They threw out several burned military banners and shouted in unison that the Duke of Weiguo was dead.

Several Han soldiers with their hands bound behind them were brought to the front of the formation. The Northern Rong untied their bonds, and the soldiers immediately ran frantically toward the city gates.

Behind them, over a dozen Northern Rong cavalry surrounded Haidu Aling in golden armor as he rode out from the battle formation. Haidu Aling looked toward the city wall, drew his bow, and shot five arrows in succession. With several whistles, the fleeing Han soldiers fell with screams.

Yaoying stood on the city wall as wild wind blew past, her hands and feet ice cold, waves of tremors running through her body.

All her guards’ eyes bulged with rage as they gripped their weapons and rushed down the city wall.

“Stop!”

Yaoying’s clenched fists had her fingernails digging deep into her palms as her voice trembled.

The guards turned back, their eyes blood-red.

At the front of the formation, Haidu Aling sat on horseback, holding his longbow, gazing toward the city wall.

From such a distance, others couldn’t see the situation on the city wall clearly, but with his exceptional eyesight, he saw more clearly.

These past days, day and night, he had repeatedly gazed at Gaochang City, across mountains of corpses and seas of blood, seeing that familiar figure standing between the azure sky and solid walls. Though a woman, not tall, and still graceful despite her military attire, her face was unclear, her expression indiscernible.

He wanted to possess her.

Unfortunately, he had earlier looked down on women, failed to guard against her, and let her escape to the royal court. She had repeatedly outmaneuvered him without his knowledge, making each step difficult.

Fortunately, he had a Han person beside him who understood her well and knew her greatest weakness.

Haidu Aling’s lips curled. “Bring it over!”

A soldier rode out from the ranks, dragging a corpse behind his horse – a tall man stripped naked, hands bound with rope, being dragged across the sandy ground.

On the city wall, the guards shed hot tears and burst into curses.

“Princess, let me fight them to the death!”

The guards rushed forward.

Yaoying felt as if plunged into an ice cave, her teeth chattering as she suddenly raised her hand to stop the guards. “Everyone stop!”

Her voice trembled as she closed her eyes briefly, forcing herself to stay calm.

“Listen to the Princess.”

Damo said softly, walking to Yaoying’s side and signaling to those around.

Everyone exchanged glances, filled with admiration, pity, and grief, not daring to make a sound.

Below the city, Northern Rong soldiers dragged the corpse in a large circle and began trampling it with horses. Soldiers bent down, using long sabers to cut strips of wounds into the corpse while verbally mocking the city’s commanders as cowards, laughing loudly.

The commanders on the city wall were furious, their hair standing on end with anger. Several young commanders couldn’t endure it and stepped forward to request battle.

“This humble officer requests to lead two hundred men out to recover the Duke of Weiguo’s remains!”

Yaoying stood woodenly, motionless, then suddenly staggered and fainted.

All her guards were shocked and rushed forward in confusion to support her.

The city wall was chaotic for a moment as soldiers looked around bewildered.

Damo swept his gaze around, knowing morale was shaken, and sighed: “I’ll take the Princess back to her chambers. Remember, none of you act rashly!”

Everyone exchanged looks, veins throbbing at their temples.

Below the city, a Northern Rong scout galloped back to the front: “There’s chaos on the city wall!”

Haidu Aling’s lips curved upward, a savage smile flashing in his pale golden eyes.

The sun gradually sank as dusk gathered.

The subordinate excitedly clasped his hands and said: “The Prince’s calculations are brilliant! We only need to set ambushes to cut off Gaochang’s reinforcements! Now their morale is shaken – should we gather our forces to attack the city tomorrow?”

Haidu Aling’s face darkened as he swept his gaze over the soldiers behind him and sneered: “With these few troops, exhausted men and horses, how could we launch a strong assault?”

“Remember, our purpose is to use these remnant forces to lure reinforcements and delay as long as possible.”

The subordinate respectfully agreed.

After nightfall, the Northern Rong sounded the gong to withdraw, taking the now unrecognizable corpse back to camp.

…

The night was thick, without stars or moon. In Gaochang City, the atmosphere was heavy.

Damo paced back and forth outside Yaoying’s room, sighing repeatedly, his face filled with anxiety.

At midnight, with a creak, the door was pulled open. Yaoying stepped over the threshold, still in military attire, her face pale.

Damo didn’t know what to say.

Yaoying walked silently toward the city wall, with Yuan Jue and her guards following tensely behind.

No one dared make a sound as they surrounded her ascending the city wall. The cold wind was bitter, lifting the ribbons of her headscarf high.

Damo instructed the guards to watch over her carefully, then took people to patrol various areas. After the busy rounds, when he returned to the city wall, it was already dawn. Fish-belly white light floated on the horizon, faintly illuminating the outline of distant mountain ranges. Yaoying still stood before the wall, cold emanating from her body.

“Princess, please return to rest…”

Damo urged.

Yaoying shook her head silently.

Damo couldn’t bear to say more and turned to speak with the garrison commander when sudden shouts erupted nearby.

The soldier with the sharpest eyes pointed toward the Northern Rong camp and yelled: “It’s on fire!”

Damo was startled and looked up.

At the horizon, black smoke rolled as flames shot skyward.

Damo was stunned for a moment.

“Are the Northern Rong using the same trick again?”

He looked at Yaoying.

Yaoying shook her head, “This time might be different.”

The fire grew larger with no sign of slowing. The Northern Rong camp fell into chaos, horses neighing loudly.

Haidu Aling drew his sword and rushed out of camp, leaping onto horseback. His guards quickly gathered around him while others ran about like headless flies.

From the northwest corner came urgent horn blasts. Dust rose as several thousand troops approached in the rosy dawn light, fierce as wolves and tigers, their momentum magnificent.

Behind them, the royal court army’s banners and several command flags with Han characters unfurled in the wind.

Hoofbeats thundered like lightning as the leading commander, head covered in a face mask, cut down a Northern Rong soldier from his horse with one stroke.

Haidu Aling’s face darkened as he led his soldiers to resist for a while, but the opponent’s morale was overwhelming. The Northern Rong soldiers caught off guard, had already lost the initiative. When Gaochang’s gates opened wide and the city garrison roared forth to assist the reinforcements, they quickly cut off the Northern Rong army’s retreat, slowly surrounding the Northern Rong soldiers. If they didn’t flee, they would be annihilated.

“Go!”

Haidu Aling roared decisively, leading several personal guards to break through the encirclement. Looking back at the royal court army, he wiped blood from his face, his lips curling.

“All who should come have come, even the royal court’s reinforcements… Tanmoluojia, you have weaknesses too!”

Even the high and detached Buddhist son had a day when he would fall for a trap.

He couldn’t help but smile when suddenly several whistling sounds passed his ears. The royal court’s archers drew their bows in succession, releasing thousands of arrows. His guards were too slow to escape and fell from their horses, pierced through the chest by iron arrows.

Several more sharp sounds followed as pain struck – two iron arrows had penetrated his armor.

Haidu Aling broke out in a cold sweat, not daring to be careless. Enduring the pain, he turned his horse and galloped away.

The Northern Rong ranks fell into chaos. With Haidu Aling fleeing again, the remaining soldiers were quickly surrounded by the royal court army and Gaochang garrison. They refused to surrender, fighting to the death through gritted teeth.

On Gaochang’s walls, Damo watched the reinforcements and garrison attack from front and back, eliminating the Northern Rong soldiers. His wild heartbeat took a long to calm.

The battle continued until evening, the setting sun like blood.

Finally, the mournful sound of horns rose.

The city garrison erupted in cheers as Damo wept with excitement.

The reinforcements and garrison returned to Gaochang together.

Yaoying rushed down from the city wall, mounted a horse, and galloped out the city gate toward the three commanders riding at the front.

Seeing her, the three spurred their horses forward, casually wiping thick blood from their faces.

Yaoying rode first toward one of them.

“Brother!”

The man in white robes dressed as a royal court soldier smiled, reined in his horse, swept his long leg over, dismounted, and embraced Yaoying as she ran to him after dismounting.

The other two approached on horseback, then dismounted, silently watching the siblings.

Yaoying released Li Zhongqian and looked toward the masked man.

The man removed his face mask, revealing a young, handsome face with curly hair, brown eyes, and a scar on his cheek.

Yaoying was startled, “Prince Mopiduo.”

Mopiduo sighed in relief and smiled: “Seeing the Princess safe and sound, I can finally relax.”

Yaoying looked behind him where his subordinates followed – they all appeared to be from the Wujili tribe.

“My Lord!”

“My Lord is alive!”

Joyful shouts rang out as Yaoying’s guards rushed forward, recognizing Li Zhongqian and calling out together.

Damo and others approached with smiling faces. Seeing Li Zhongqian, they were dumbstruck, marveling for a moment before greeting Mopiduo. Their gaze fell on the other man who had been standing aside, his phoenix eyes fixed on Yaoying, their expressions puzzled as they all looked at Yaoying.

“Princess, who is this?”

They had seen a Wei Dynasty command flag among the reinforcements – was this man the reinforcement commander sent by Wei to support the Western Army?

Yaoying, holding Li Zhongqian’s arm, came to her senses and glanced at the man, their eyes meeting.

Among thousands of troops, he gazed at her, dark currents flowing in his phoenix eyes.

Yaoying frowned and said coolly: “This is His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Everyone was stunned.

Gaochang’s commanders were overjoyed – the Crown Prince’s presence meant Ganzhou, Suzhou, Guazhou, and Shazhou had all recovered. Now they could join forces to recapture Yizhou!

After the celebrations, soldiers remained to clean the battlefield while everyone else returned to the city for detailed discussions.

Damo had many questions: “How did the Princess know the Duke of Weiguo was still alive? And that the Duke, royal court army, and Liang Prefecture forces would come to our aid. The Princess had fainted at the time!”

Yaoying smiled, exchanging a glance with Li Zhongqian, and slowly said: “When that armor and bronze seal were sent back, I knew my brother was still alive, though I didn’t know he could bring reinforcements.”

…

When she saw the sword, it was like a thunderbolt striking her head – Yaoying could barely bear it. But thinking about the detailed description in the battle report, something felt wrong. When she saw the armor and bronze seal, she calmed down.

The Duke of Weiguo’s bronze seal was with her.

She thought of two possibilities: Li Zhongqian had encountered an ambush and, to escape, had a guard impersonate him – the person Haidu Aling captured wasn’t him. Or he had joined with other reinforcements, seen through Haidu Aling’s scheme, and deliberately deceived him.

Either way, it meant Li Zhongqian might not be dead.

So she went along with the plan, deliberately fainting on the city wall, then gathered her subordinate commanders to prepare for battle. If Li Zhongqian wasn’t dead, he would surely lead reinforcements to raid the Northern Rong camp.

…

At this point, Yaoying glanced at Mopiduo.

“How did my brother end up attacking the Northern Rong with Prince Mopiduo?”

Li Zhongqian exhaled deeply and patted Yaoying’s head.

“It’s a long story. When I was almost to Yizhou, I noticed no trace of Northern Rong remnants along the way. I quickly turned back. Halfway there, I learned Northern Rong remnants were besieging Gaochang and rushed back through the night. Just as we emerged from the Great Sea Road, we encountered a Northern Rong ambush. Fortunately, the royal court army came to our rescue…”

He paused, then continued, “The Buddhist Son saw that Haidu Aling was deliberately besieging Gaochang, setting ambushes to lure reinforcements. He had Mopiduo, being closest, bring troops to assist. My guards and I broke through the encirclement and sent men disguised as Northern Rong scouts to report back. Haidu Aling believed it, thinking that the corpse was me. While he was off guard, Mopiduo and I organized our troops, quietly approached, destroyed their military supplies at night, and then launched a surprise attack.”

Everyone listened with racing hearts.

Mopiduo smiled at Yaoying, his gaze intense, and said: “The Duke of Weiguo and I were extremely worried, fearing the Princess would believe it and, in her grief, give Haidu Aling an opening. We didn’t expect the Princess not only to avoid the trap but to deceive Haidu Aling. The city garrison also reacted quickly, allowing us to surround these Northern Rong remnants. If we had let them escape again, I really couldn’t have faced the King.”

Everyone recalled the heart-pounding days and felt like survivors of a disaster. They all breathed deep sighs of relief and laughed heartily.

Yaoying’s brows moved slightly as she released Li Zhongqian and walked to Mopiduo’s side: “What was Haidu Aling planning? Where is the Buddhist Son now? Is everything alright at the royal court?”

Mopiduo’s face reddened as he said softly: “To be honest with the Princess… most of these ten thousand Northern Rong remnants outside the city escaped from the Sand Sea Road. I was pursuing the Wakhan Khan there and saw him fall from his horse with my own eyes… but the Khan didn’t die. He was rescued by his youngest son Jin Bo and mixed in with the slaves, trying to secretly escape to Samarkand.”

Yaoying was shocked.

“Haidu Aling created such a big distraction, drawing all reinforcements to Gaochang, just to cover the old Khan’s escape?”

“Correct. With these few men, he couldn’t change the overall situation.” Mopiduo nodded. “It was because I was too careless and let the Northern Rong elite cavalry escape from the Sand Sea Road… To protect the old Khan, all Northern Rong remnants came toward Gaochang. The King saw through Haidu Aling’s plan and ordered me to bring several thousand men to save Gaochang and eliminate all Northern Rong remnants.”

Yaoying’s heart pounded: “Then what about the Wakhan Khan?”

If the Wakhan Khan had escaped, Haidu Aling’s scheme would still have succeeded!

Mopiduo said: “Princess, don’t worry. I only brought a few thousand troops to Gaochang. The Regent is leading the main army in pursuit of the Wakhan Khan. I was careless for a moment and almost made a grave mistake. With the Regent personally taking action, he will surely kill the Wakhan Khan with his own hands.”

Yaoying stood lost in thought for a while.

Sudan Gu had gone to intercept and kill the Wakhan Khan.

Last time, he had led troops to greatly defeat the Wakhan Khan but had to return quickly to the Holy City, fearing Haidu Aling would break through and needing to disperse his power quickly. Also, the Royal Guard couldn’t leave the royal court for too long, so he hurriedly returned to the Holy City and ordered Mopiduo to pursue the Northern Rong remnants in his stead. This time, with the Royal Guard defending the royal court, he took Mopiduo’s forces to pursue the Wakhan Khan. There was no need to worry about chaos in the Holy City, and he had even sent reinforcements to help her – he had considered everything.

Yuan Jue heard their conversation and gaped: “The Regent personally went to pursue the Wakhan Khan?”

Mopiduo nodded.

Yuan Jue broke out in cold sweat, secretly anxious: The interval was too short – would something go wrong with the King forcing himself to take medicine and exert his power?

While they stood aside whispering, Damo and the others surrounded Li Xuanzhen, asking questions from all directions.

Li Xuanzhen frowned deeply, unable to escape, his gaze constantly following Yaoying. The heavy stone in his heart slowly settled as waves of intense pain coursed through his body. His wounds reopened, blood soaking the bandages under his armor.

The pain brought him to his senses, making him realize this wasn’t a dream. She stood before him intact, whispering with Li Zhongqian and the royal court general, her expression cold when looking at him.

Thankfully, he had arrived in time.

Yaoying glanced at Li Xuanzhen and asked Li Zhongqian: “Brother, how did you meet Li Xuanzhen?”

Li Zhongqian said coolly: “While Mopiduo and I were secretly returning to Gaochang, we met him on the road. He was preparing to lead two thousand men in a surprise attack on Haidu Aling.”

Yaoying frowned: How had Li Xuanzhen arrived so quickly?

…

Laughter and joy filled the air, but Yuan Jue was secretly alarmed. After much thought, he still felt uneasy and decided to write a letter to Bisuo. Now that the Northern Rong remnants had been annihilated, letters could be sent out.

He wanted to go to the front lines to look after Tanmoluojia.

Yuan Jue said a word to Yaoying and hurriedly left the council hall, returning to his room. Just as he was about to close the door, heavy footsteps sounded.

A black shadow flashed, following him into the room.

Yuan Jue was about to cry out when there was a thud – the shadow collapsed on the ground, the cloth covering his face slipping to reveal a face covered in scars.

A thick smell of blood spread.

Yuan Jue was frozen like a wooden chicken, unable to speak for a long time, his eyeballs nearly popping out.

“Regent!”

He cried out in shock, trembling as he helped Tanmoluojia, who had fallen to the ground.

Tanmoluojia’s eyes were tightly closed, his consciousness hazy as he mumbled between his lips: “Don’t… make a scene…”

Yuan Jue agreed and helped him lie down, tearing open his clothes.

His shoulder was wrapped in thick bandages which, after just experiencing a great battle, were already dyed red.