As Chu Zhao’s group set off toward the morning light, a team of postal soldiers arrived at Yunzhong Commandery bathed in the dawn glow.

Compared to when they had parted from Chu Zhao, they looked even rougher. The usually arrogant A’Jiu’s face didn’t look good either. Though he still ran at the front, he couldn’t hide his exhaustion.

“We postal soldiers still fall short compared to real soldiers on the road,” Zhang Gu said hoarsely, pointing at Deputy General Zhong ahead.

Deputy General Zhong had traveled almost day and night without stopping, changing horses but not riders, so they had arrived at Yunzhong Commandery in half the usual time.

The postal soldiers had nearly collapsed trying to keep up.

“So don’t think you’re truly not afraid of hardship. Once or twice is fine, but long-term, it’s really brutal work.”

Perhaps because the mission was finally about to be completed, Zhang Gu was quite emotional and continued lecturing A’Jiu.

“After finishing this assignment, obediently apologize to your relative and go back to the Imperial Guard camp.”

He looked at A’Jiu. Anyone could see at a glance that this youth was different from them.

Indeed, he was different.

This young man had only arrived at their postal soldier camp a month ago. Supposedly he had connections at home and was originally assigned to the Imperial Guard camp, but because of his rebellious and unruly behavior that angered his relative, he was punished by being sent to the postal soldier camp to suffer.

When he first arrived at the postal soldier camp, they found this pampered soldier very displeasing and deliberately tripped him up—pouring water on his bedding, knocking over his food. This young man was indeed rebellious and unruly, absolutely refusing to suffer in silence. He went back and forth with them fighting for half a month until they themselves were exhausted from all the commotion.

However, there was one thing that earned their respect: if you hit him, he’d hit you back; if you poured water on him, he’d pour water on you too. He was fierce and aggressive, but he never used underhanded tactics against them. He neither reported to the superior officers nor told his family—and his family background must be extraordinary. Once, they saw the postal camp’s arrogant Captain Zhu actually make a gesture of respect toward A’Jiu.

“A’Jiu, your family background is extraordinary,” they had simply asked him directly at the time. “We bullied you before—why didn’t you retaliate?”

The youth had laughed heartily at this. “My family has such great capabilities—wouldn’t it be a waste to use them on bullying you few? Powerful family backgrounds are meant for bullying powerful opponents.”

It was the first time Zhang Gu had heard such reasoning. He was stunned.

But after that, their relationship improved. They ate, lived, and trained together. Apart from spending money generously, the youth A’Jiu seemed no different from them.

Especially after this mission, they had truly become comrades and brothers. Between true brothers, naturally they would genuinely consider each other’s welfare.

Hearing Zhang Gu say this, A’Jiu said with a smile, “Brother Zhang, you’re afraid, aren’t you? Because of me, you got stuck with this brutal assignment.”

According to reason, this assignment shouldn’t have fallen to their small team. It was A’Jiu’s relative wanting to make him suffer and learn a lesson. Zhang Gu spat. “For you it’s brutal work, but for us it’s nothing—”

A’Jiu reached out and wrapped Zhang Gu’s loose scarf tighter, saying with a half-smile, “Brother Zhang, your snot is running out.”

The other postal soldiers burst into laughter. While wiping his nose, Zhang Gu said indignantly, “That’s an accident! It’s not like we travel with border troops every time.”

Another postal soldier asked curiously, “A’Jiu, what exactly did you do wrong?”

A’Jiu smiled. “What I did wrong could be considered small, or it could be considered big.”

“What is it?” “Did you kill someone?” “Did you set a fire?” “Did you force yourself on a girl?”

The postal soldiers asked in a jumble of voices.

A’Jiu’s face was full of arrogance. “Never mind the rest—do I look like someone who needs to force himself on girls? Girls throw themselves at me, alright?”

Zhang Gu made a sound of acknowledgment. “Like that Miss Chu?”

A’Jiu’s face immediately stiffened. The postal soldiers all laughed. Thinking about this Miss Chu, she really was quite interesting. Even now they were still confused, not knowing what had actually happened, or rather, what was true and what was false.

“So what was the real reason?” Zhang Gu asked.

A’Jiu smiled faintly. This time he didn’t avoid the question and said, “Because I didn’t obey.”

Didn’t obey? The postal soldiers looked at each other. What kind of offense was that?

“Not obeying can be a very serious offense,” A’Jiu said, pillowing his hands behind his neck. “Stop asking about my affairs. Look, you just mentioned Miss Chu, and Deputy General Zhong has good ears—he’s looking over here.”

The postal soldiers quickly looked over and indeed saw Deputy General Zhong walking toward them.

“Gentlemen, we’ve arrived at Yunzhong Commandery,” he said. “I’m heading back to Mount Daqing now.”

Chu Ling was a Guard General, ordered to garrison Mount Daqing. He normally lived in the city there and only came to the commandery city when summoned.

The postal soldiers hastily saluted, watching as a terrifying smile appeared on Deputy General Zhong’s scarred face.

Deputy General Zhong said with a smile, “Regarding my young miss’s matter, I thank you all. I’ll tell the General, and we’ll prepare some modest gifts—I hope you won’t disdain them.”

Zhang Gu hastily said repeatedly that he didn’t dare. “We didn’t take good care of Miss Chu. We don’t deserve it, we don’t deserve it. Let’s just treat this matter as if it never happened.”

Deputy General Zhong nodded with satisfaction, the smile on his face even more amiable. “When your duties are finished, if you have time, come visit us at Mount Daqing.”

No need for that. Zhang Gu shook his head but then quickly nodded, exchanging a few pleasantries. Deputy General Zhong finally left, though before leaving he looked at A’Jiu a few more times.

A’Jiu didn’t mind. Seeing him look over, he looked back unflinchingly.

This young man—the scar on Deputy General Zhong’s face twitched. He said nothing and left with his men.

Watching the troops gallop away, Zhang Gu breathed a sigh of relief. This matter was finally over.

“I’m going to report in,” he told the postal soldiers. “You all wander around. A’Jiu, this is your first time in Yunzhong Commandery—open your eyes and see.”

The postal soldiers laughingly pulled at A’Jiu. “That’s right, the commandery city is quite lively too.”

A’Jiu waved his hand. “No rush to go sightseeing. Let’s talk about it tomorrow. Let me sleep first.”

The postal soldiers laughed. “A’Jiu, even you get tired?” “So you were forcing yourself too.”

Joking aside, Zhang Gu still immediately arranged for a familiar postal soldier here called Old Hei to take A’Jiu to rest. A’Jiu, as always generous with money, gave that postal soldier a bag of coins, asking for the best food and the best bed.

“You little fellow are much more likable than Old Zhang,” Old Hei laughed heartily, grabbed the money, and enthusiastically led A’Jiu away.

……

……

Before long, in a barracks room at a table laden with food and wine, the postal soldier Old Hei lay slumped in drunken sleep, still clutching a wine jug in his hand.

His clothes had been removed. A’Jiu stood to the side nimbly changing into them, then dragged the man to the bed, covered him with a blanket, felt for the token at his waist, wrapped his hat and scarf around himself, walked out and closed the door from inside, looked around—though this was an unfamiliar place he’d never been to before, the map was printed in his mind, transforming into lines that became crystal clear before his eyes, extending in all directions.

He lowered his head and walked away quickly.

He soon disappeared into the military camp with its constant coming and going of men and horses.

……

……

At dusk, layer upon layer of mountain ranges were draped in dark shadows, appearing even larger in the fading light, silently watching the troop of soldiers galloping at the foot of the mountain. They watched them traverse the rugged mountain paths, and before them spread an endless plain. On the plain stood a tall, imposing city—this was the Daqing Mountain Pass, the last city before exiting Great Xia to the west.

Luocheng.

Named for the place where the sun sets.

Located on the frontier, near the fierce Xiliang, it was full of danger but also full of commercial opportunities. Chu Ling had been stationed here for over ten years, his might震慑ing Xiliang, clearing out bandits and brigands, making this city a place where lost items weren’t picked up and doors weren’t closed at night. Merchants from everywhere flocked here, making it prosperous and bustling.

In the night, Luocheng was like a river of stars.

In the brightly lit study at the center of this river of stars, in the Guard General’s mansion, Chu Ling’s eyes shone as he looked at the sand table.

The enormous sand table occupied more than half the study, with cities and rivers rendered in lifelike detail.

Chu Ling reached out and planted a small flag in a mountain pass, a gentle smile appearing on his face.

He said, “This route is now also unobstructed for common people and merchants.”