Morning light climbed up the exquisite golden top of the cowhide-secured tent, spilling down a sheet of golden radiance from the highest point. Cheng Shaoshang walked into the main tent sporting a pair of dark eye circles, seeing a spirited pair of lovers sitting before a black lacquer case and silver mirror, chatting and laughing.

After a good night’s sleep, his sister was naturally in high spirits. The silver threads at Huo Buyi’s temples also seemed to have lessened considerably, as if after a long drought meeting sweet rain, withered trees returning to spring.

Beside the ebony mirror case sat a bunch of fresh wildflowers gathered from who knows where—pale scarlet, apricot yellow, powder white, lotus purple… The small blossoms were scattered across the simple table and in the girl’s dark hair.

Hot water had warmed the young general’s skin. The girl held a sharp small silver knife, carefully shaving away the stubble that had just emerged. A jar of ointment emanating fresh herbal fragrance was opened. The girl’s tender fingers slowly traced down the man’s fair cheeks, to his elegant jawbone, then to his distinct Adam’s apple…

Cheng Shaoshang’s eyelids twitched watching this—how did these two manage to make such a proper matter appear so improper?!

When the Cheng Shi and Cheng Zhi couple did such things, he found it quite ordinary. But witnessing this scene now, his whole body felt uncomfortable. He rubbed his own rough chin as nameless anger rose—he’d been standing at the tent entrance this whole time, yet those two were busy with their affections and stubbornly hadn’t noticed!

Hearing a heavy cough, the Huo-Cheng pair finally saw Cheng Shaoshang standing by the door with a stern expression.

Shaoshang quickly withdrew her hands, face flushed as she called out “Third Brother,” then made a show of tidying the silver knife and mirror case on the table. Huo Buyi laughed cheerfully: “Shaoshang is here, come sit quickly… I’ll be right back.” The latter half was said to Shaoshang. Then he rose and brushed past Shaoshang, walking out of the tent.

Cheng Shaoshang sat beside his sister, lowering his voice: “You two didn’t do anything improper last night, did you?”

“Third Brother mustn’t talk nonsense. Lord Huo and I are both people who observe propriety and self-restraint!” Shaoshang worked hard to present a dignified face.

Cheng Shaoshang had a bellyful of complaints: “Hmph, propriety—the Duke of Zhou’s rites are also rites.”

Shaoshang kept a straight face: “If Third Brother has the guts, say that to his face. Then I’ll admire Third Brother as a true hero!”

Cheng Shaoshang stared at his sister’s face: “…If it were normally, you would definitely brazenly admit it, then say ‘Since Third Brother knows the Duke of Zhou’s rites are also rites, why ask so much?'”

Shaoshang exclaimed and sat down on a stool: “To tell Third Brother the truth, I fell asleep before dark yesterday. When I opened my eyes, it was already dawn. What could I have done? Lord Huo… he also had ‘nothing to do’… If Third Brother doesn’t believe it, look—he slept over there last night!”

Following the girl’s finger, Cheng Shaoshang saw the simply made bed frame on the other side of the tent did indeed show traces of tossing and turning. Only then did he relax somewhat. However, hearing several notes of regret in his sister’s tone, he couldn’t help feeling angry again. Just as he was about to speak, Huo Buyi had already returned, followed by four or five personal soldiers carrying food boxes.

The personal soldiers moved nimbly. In moments, they laid out large plates, small dishes, plus a large pot of steaming hot millet porridge on the table, then bowed and withdrew.

Cheng Shaoshang was even more displeased—for high-ranking generals like Huo Buyi, there were always several trusted personal soldiers serving and guarding inside and outside the tent. Yet just now Huo Buyi had to walk outside the tent to summon anyone, clearly having sent them away early, not allowing them to stand close to the tent. As for why—everyone knew, so don’t ask.

“What were you siblings discussing?” Huo Buyi personally ladled a bowl of millet porridge for Shaoshang, the second bowl for himself, then passed the long ladle to Cheng Shaoshang.

Shaoshang: …Did you have to be so obvious?

Shaoshang laughed dryly: “Hehe, nothing much, nothing much. Just asking Third Brother why he looks so tired—perhaps he didn’t sleep well last night.”

Shaoshang held the long ladle and shot her a sideways glance.

Huo Buyi picked up a fragrant sauce meat flatbread for Shaoshang, smiling: “Third Young Master didn’t just sleep poorly last night—he didn’t sleep at all, right?”

Shaoshang’s ladling motion paused. Shaoshang was surprised and hurriedly asked why. Cheng Shaoshang answered in a muffled voice: “I went to pursue Luo Jitong and her group last night.”

“So Third Brother already extracted the information? Oh my, Father said nighttime marching is most dangerous. How could Third Brother casually take such risks! Wait, which one confessed?” Shaoshang first asked about yesterday’s friendship competition results.

Shaoshang said gloomily: “Both confessed, and they both said the same place. I thought there was no time to waste, so I pursued through the night.”

Shaoshang was somewhat disappointed that the Luo family household soldiers were so unsteady: “Then… did Third Brother catch anyone?” Actually, from Cheng Shaoshang’s expression, she knew last night he’d probably come up empty.

Sure enough, Cheng Shaoshang shook his head: “When I arrived, the place was already deserted.”

Shaoshang sighed lightly, saying regretfully: “Luo Jitong is quite alert, just unclear about what should and shouldn’t be done. Ah well, later we’ll go settle accounts with the Luo family! For Luo Jitong to mobilize several hundred able-bodied men to block and ambush on the road, her family can’t escape responsibility!”

Huo Buyi said: “Luo Jitong isn’t entirely without calculation. Her timing to ambush you now—first, several counties in Shu Commandery have rebelled again…”

The Cheng siblings both exclaimed in surprise.

“Second, Luo Bin fell from his horse into a coma and hasn’t awakened yet. Yesterday, many of those Luo family household soldiers were part of Luo Jitong’s dowry retinue who accompanied her to the northwest. With the family head comatose, naturally they followed Luo Jitong’s orders.” Huo Buyi completed the explanation.

“Colonel Luo fell from his horse? Could it be that Lady Luo made her move? Oh my, this woman has such a vicious heart—that’s her own father!” Cheng Shaoshang clicked his tongue repeatedly.

“How did Shu Commandery rebel again? It was just recovered last year.” Shaoshang was no longer surprised by Luo Jitong’s ruthlessness.

Huo Buyi answered: “What’s so strange about that? Shu territory was divided for over ten years. The powerful families and aristocratic clans have ample money, grain, troops, and horses. Combined with divided loyalties, various factions are deeply entrenched. Shi Xin, who guards Shu Commandery, couldn’t withstand being tempted by interested parties with power and wealth, so he raised troops in rebellion, calling himself Grand Marshal, attacking and killing everywhere. Seeing the court is currently busy suppressing the land survey rebellions, lawless elements in surrounding counties all responded…”

“Bottom line, His Majesty recovered Shu territory too quickly. If he’d fought for ten or eight years, creating widespread resentment and injury in every household, then people’s hearts would turn toward reunion and there wouldn’t be so much trouble.” Shaoshang concluded.

Huo Buyi smiled in spite of himself.

Cheng Shaoshang complained: “What kind of talk is that? Matters of warfare are naturally better resolved quickly. Dragging it out not only devastates lives, but also wastes the court’s money and grain! Isn’t Marquis Yu planning to relocate tens of thousands of officials and commoners from Yanmen, Shanggu and other commanderies to settle east of Juyong Pass and Changshan Pass? Father says the court will definitely strike north against the Xiongnu around next year or the year after. That’s another huge expenditure of money, grain, troops and horses!”

Shaoshang said: “I know, I know. I’m just saying. Alas, everywhere needs money, grain, troops and horses. No wonder Governor Liang is so short-handed that he let Luo Jitong infiltrate Yu Province and run around everywhere. He probably transferred quite a bit of Yu Province’s forces to the capital region.” Thinking about it, Imperial Uncle also had it tough.

Returning to the matter at hand, she continued: “However, whether that Colonel Luo is truly or falsely injured, innocent civilians died tragically. This account cannot be lightly forgiven, no matter how impressive their Luo family’s marriage connections are!”

Huo Buyi sneered lightly: “Pinning family honor and disgrace on marriages is fundamentally putting the cart before the horse. Luo Bin is soft-hearted, indulging his evil daughter—he can hardly achieve great things.”

Shaoshang listened with delight, praising loudly.

“…Alas, I fear that Colonel Luo isn’t soft-hearted.” Seeing both their gazes shoot over, Cheng Shaoshang hurriedly said: “You two might not know this. I heard several classmates mention that Lady Luo—whether in appearance, talent, learning, or reputation—is the outstanding one among the Luo family daughters. Ever since Marquis Huo released word of mutual disinterest, quite a few families unaware of the reasons sought to propose marriage.”

Shaoshang said sourly: “Who knew Luo Jitong was so popular? No sooner had you rejected her than marriage proposals came in an endless stream.”

Huo Buyi glanced sideways: “You’re not far behind either.”

Cheng Shaoshang teased: “If it were another family’s daughter who had a broken engagement, people might have some unfavorable speculation. But Lord Huo…” He looked playfully at the two at the table. “The entire capital knows the fault doesn’t lie with the Luo family, but rather due to you two’s years of tangled connections! I guess Colonel Luo couldn’t bear to lose a good marriage connection, which is why he indulged Lady Luo.”

Shaoshang glanced at Huo Buyi and muttered: “In any case, it’s all your fault.”

Huo Buyi wanted to speak some soft, gentle words of appeasement, but with a third party present, he could only cough lightly: “Things have come to this. What do you plan to do next?”

Shaoshang said: “Naturally continue to Her Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager’s hometown to fulfill her last wishes.”

“The Luo family captives can be handed over to Anguo Commandery’s reinforcements to take back and have the magistrate send people to escort them back to the capital region. But how will you handle your wounded soldiers? You’re not planning to send them to Anguo Commandery too, are you? I see some only have light wounds and just need slight recuperation.”

Shaoshang’s big eyes blinked: “Going back and coming back again is too troublesome. Better to continue forward.”

Huo Buyi frowned: “Setting aside the wounded, after a major battle your forces need rest. Continuing to travel isn’t quite appropriate.”

“It’s not that…” Shaoshang’s expression suddenly became bashful. “If we continue south, it’s less than two days’ journey. West of the main road is, ahem, is Yao County. It’s… it’s Yao’s posting.”

A chilly atmosphere swept through. The tent inexplicably filled with cold air, silent as a grave. Cheng Shaoshang, holding a scallion oil flatbread, silently retreated from the table somewhat.

“…Yao County.” Huo Buyi smiled faintly. “I’d completely forgotten that’s Lou Yao’s county seat.”

Cheng Shaoshang hid his face behind the flatbread, silently grumbling: How could you forget? You simply stopped paying attention, right? Anyway, Lou Yao has already suffered complete defeat—you just treat him as non-existent!

“Was this your original plan?” Huo Buyi’s expression was indifferent. “Fulfill the Grand Empress Dowager’s wishes, and conveniently go see Lou Yao on the side?”

“No no no!” Shaoshang said repeatedly. “Matters always have priorities. I originally planned to first fulfill Her Majesty’s last wishes, then go see… go see Lou Yao on the return journey…!”

Cheng Shaoshang clicked his tongue inwardly: Is there much difference? You might as well not have said anything.

Huo Buyi narrowed his long eyes, slowly clenching a hand on the table: “Mm, wait until you’re free and unencumbered, then go see Lou Yao so you can ‘properly’ reminisce. You’ve put considerable thought into this.”

“Don’t let your imagination run wild! I only regard Yao as an old friend of many years!” Shaoshang cried out in distress. “After all these years, I don’t know how he and He Zhaojun are getting along. Old friends unseen for years—what’s wrong with visiting!”

“If he and He Zhaojun are happy together, how would you feel? If the couple is discordant, what would you do then?”

“If they’re doing well, of course that’s good. I’d be too happy for them to celebrate it. If they’re not doing well…” Shaoshang said with difficulty, “naturally I’d advise them to get along well! Even if a marriage doesn’t work out, human feelings remain. Even Yuan Shen—I plan to visit him in the future too!”

Huo Buyi’s eyes cleared slightly as he released his slender fingers: “True. Old friends of many years—no harm in visiting.”

Before Shaoshang could breathe a sigh of relief, Huo Buyi suddenly added: “Speaking of ‘old friends of many years,’ I recall that day when Empress Yue invited us to a banquet, you told me that when matters had passed and grievances were all dissolved, you’d be willing to treat me as an ‘old friend’ too?”

Shaoshang’s heart jumped up again.

“That being so…” Huo Buyi’s expression gradually turned unfavorable. “If you had married Yuan Shen, you would treat me the same way in the future—when conducting business and conveniently passing through, bringing your husband and children to visit me, this wretched person?!”

Cheng Shaoshang silently retreated a bit further. Shaoshang was nearly speechless, questioning the heavens.

From before, she’d felt that Huo Buyi normally seemed quite normal—gentle in speech, refined and courteous—but his thought process regarding her was especially peculiar. He could seamlessly connect jealousy from any angle. You might be innocently gnawing on a steamed bun, and his next sentence would somehow relate to how some ex of yours had family in the steamed bun business.

She’d heard that the late Huo Chong couple were both straightforward, magnanimous, broad-minded, and upright people. Did you know in heaven that your youngest son grew up with such a strange temperament?!!

“…Those were all my immature thoughts from before. Later I carefully reflected.” Shaoshang assumed a serious expression. “I made up my mind—if I married Yuan Shen, I definitely wouldn’t visit you in the future. Best not to even meet again.”

Huo Buyi grew even more displeased, snorting coldly.

Shaoshang obediently moved closer, hugging his arm, her voice soft as silk: “If I saw you, even with a husband and children, perhaps… perhaps old feelings would rekindle. Alas, to avoid having a wandering heart, better not to see you…” The last half sentence she spoke with such stirring emotion, murmuring softly.

Huo Buyi’s brows and eyes relaxed. No longer caring that someone else was present, he grabbed the girl’s small hand and kissed it in his palm, saying gently: “You needn’t worry about Luo Jitong. I have a way to track them down—you don’t need to cry about being a jinx with a bitter fate.” Speaking the latter part, his handsome eyes glared in pretense, but he couldn’t help laughing aloud.

Cheng Shaoshang shook off goosebumps all over, feeling he couldn’t eat anything anymore.

…

Leaving the wounded soldiers and the eyelid-battling Cheng Shaoshang behind, Huo and Cheng traveled light with simple cavalry, leading their forces out of camp.

Huo Buyi told Shaoshang that in the densely populated Central Plains, unlike sparsely inhabited places like the Mobei and Northwest, after large armies left the passes, they encountered either endless grasslands or sky-obscuring deserts. With no civilians to inquire of and no road markers to identify, scouts thus developed a powerful ability—to trace the enemy’s general direction from sparse clues alone.

Blood-stained gravel, dewdrops on grass, shadows cast by sunlight slanting down beneath cliff pines—all were excellent tracking traces. At this moment, the sun had only risen shortly before. Less than a night had passed since yesterday afternoon’s great battle. Several experienced scouts quickly detected the Luo family forces’ direction.

After half a day’s ride, everyone finally discovered a spacious civilian estate dwelling in a hidden mountain hollow, seemingly a gathering place for some populous large family. Shaoshang’s spirits lifted. Huo Buyi said softly: “Seems Luo Jitong had more than one hideout.”

“What about the family who lived here before?” Shaoshang wondered. “Perhaps they sold the property and left.”

Huo Buyi’s expression was calm: “…Let them leave to leak her whereabouts? Unlikely.”

Shaoshang’s heart sank.

Sure enough, scouts exploring around the mountain hollow returned to report discovering several burial pits concealed for several days. Upon excavation, they appeared to be the civilians who previously lived here.

“This is my fault. Someone as vicious-hearted as Luo Jitong should indeed have been eliminated early.” Huo Buyi sighed lightly. He had underestimated the woman. Truth be told, he still hadn’t been able to turn ruthless and heartless.

At this moment, the Liang Qiu brothers and others who’d gone to scout returned. Liang Qiu Fei was unusually silent. Liang Qiu Qi wore a puzzled expression, clasping his fists: “Reporting to Young Master, people are indeed here… but, but they’re all dead!”

Huo Buyi instantly went on alert, immediately spurring his horse into the mountain hollow. Shaoshang quickly followed.

The mountain hollow faced away from the sun. Shadows cast by mountain rocks like grotesquely shaped monsters fell on rooftops and ground, reflecting the blood-red stains and severed limbs covering the ground, making it even more gruesomely terrifying. The deeper they went, the more dismembered corpses there were. Shaoshang recognized them as the Luo family forces who’d battled fiercely with her yesterday. Even several highly skilled martial artists hadn’t escaped. One had been vertically impaled on a spear, everything below the waist missing, eyes wide with fury, expression showing extreme terror before death.

“How could… this happen? Luo, Luo Jitong too…?” Shaoshang’s voice trembled.

She wasn’t some sheltered maiden who’d never seen major scenes, but such horrifically gruesome death was still unprecedented in her life. Whether at the Hua County hunting lodge or yesterday’s fierce battle, everyone focused on annihilating enemies, cutting wherever they could. But before her eyes—severed limbs, scattered brains—she’d yet to see even a few intact bodies. This wasn’t just slaughter, but torture-killing!

Entering the main room in the center, the floor seemed soaked through with fresh blood. A chilling cold creeping from hell’s depths mixed with the stench of rotting wounds assaulted the nose. Huo Buyi had wanted Shaoshang to avoid this, but Shaoshang insisted on entering. Her eyes determined, she said: “I’m not who I used to be. I’m not afraid of nightmares. Even if I have nightmares, I still have you.”

Huo Buyi nodded gently, gripping her hand tightly as they walked inside.

The outer room was full of Luo Jitong’s trusted subordinates’ corpses. The four martial maids either hung or lay across the passage into the inner room. Finally, Luo Jitong’s corpse came into view—her head drooped low, all four limbs severed, both ears and lips cut off, nailed to the wall with a long spear.

“Was this before death… or after death…” Shaoshang forced herself to remain calm, barely able to stand steady.

Huo Buyi walked forward a few steps to examine, then turned back: “First all four limbs were severed, letting her struggle for a moment, then she was nailed alive to the wall.” He stepped back several paces and looked around again. “Given this situation, it happened no more than two hours ago—should have occurred around midnight last night.”

Having said this, he pulled Shaoshang out, stepping from the blood-drenched dwelling. Even though the outside still carried a bloody smell, Shaoshang felt as if she’d escaped from death.

“What, what exactly happened here?” Shaoshang sat on a large rock outside the mountain hollow, gasping.

Huo Buyi rubbed her back to soothe her breathing: “…This wasn’t an ordinary ambush.”

“Did you see all these mutilated corpses? Actually, this wasn’t deliberate torture either, but rather well-trained death warriors. To ensure certain victory without fail, they often work in groups of several people, using rope hooks and sickle-shaped blades to surround and attack one person. In a flash, they can restrain the enemy’s four limbs, then those cutting heads cut heads, those severing hands and feet sever hands and feet—therefore, you’ll notice the more skilled someone was in martial arts, the more severely mutilated their corpse.”

“How do you know?” Shaoshang looked at him blankly.

“This isn’t a Central Plains style, but rather the death warrior methods of the Shu region’s Gongsun clan.” Huo Buyi slowly rolled up his sleeve. On his fair arm with firm muscles and slender bones, several extremely long scars wound like centipedes. “When I executed Gongsun Xian, I experienced this firsthand.”

“You you…” Shaoshang’s heart twisted in pain as she rushed over to stroke his arm. Months later, the scars were still so shockingly vivid. One could imagine how severe the injuries were at the time. Her voice trembling, she asked: “Are there others elsewhere?”

Huo Buyi smiled reassuringly: “One more on my leg, nothing else. Don’t worry—they’re all flesh wounds, didn’t damage internal organs.” Actually, this technique wasn’t impossible to counter—it was just a matter of overwhelming force through numbers. If your forces outnumbered theirs, if your strength exceeded theirs, when several rope hooks came slashing together, you could grab them back and pull all the enemies at once to break through.

“When were you planning to tell me about these things?” When Shaoshang’s fingers touched those slightly raised dark red marks, she wished she could take his place.

Huo Buyi didn’t speak. In his heart, he thought: if they were fated and became husband and wife in the future, she would naturally know about the injuries he’d suffered for her. If they had no fate, then there was no need to let her know.

Seeing his expression, Shaoshang suddenly understood his meaning. Tears falling, she said: “You… you this person…”

Six years ago, he used every scheme on her—coaxing, feigning weakness, deceiving, intimidating, using every means possible. But six years later, he’d rather silently endure, not revealing half a grievance.

Huo Buyi rubbed her hair, pulling her into his embrace, smiling as he explained: “If you want to feel sorry for me, there will be plenty of time in the future. What’s important now is—why did Gongsun clan death warriors appear here?”

Shaoshang raised her head, tears still hanging from her lashes, exclaiming in alarm: “They came to hunt you down?!”

“Then they should have come after you. Why kill Luo Jitong?” Huo Buyi shook his head. “Even with Luo Jitong dead, would I miss a single meal?”

Shaoshang burst into laughter through her tears, punching him once: “Annoying! Don’t make me laugh.” Then she wondered again: “But we haven’t heard of any feud between the Luo family and the Gongsun clan.”

“There isn’t one.” Huo Buyi’s expression grew grave. “If it were just someone with high martial skills, that would be one thing. But with Luo Jitong’s meager abilities, why brutally kill her to create such a scene?”

“What should we do now? Should we return to Lady Qu’s place?” Shaoshang was completely at a loss.

Huo Buyi said slowly: “No. We’re going to Yao County.”