Like a lost soul wandering the desert who suddenly discovers in despair a wild flower touched with sweet morning dew, the moment Huo Liuxing touched her lips, he almost immediately fell into a situation from which he couldn’t extricate himself.

The cold energy flowing and surging through his body was driven away to the distant skies by this gentle peck. The imagined frozen wasteland seemed to become a blurred backdrop, while all around him a raging fire ignited instead, scorching his self-control that teetered on the brink of collapse.

After several days of traveling without rest, unable to sleep at night, forcing himself to hold on until tonight while his leg ailment flared up—at the moment when his willpower was weakest, he was completely defeated by the phrase “let me warm you,” unconsciously giving free rein to the impulse that had wandered to the edge of reason.

The accident in the carriage had been unavoidable due to the difference between men and women. At that time, he had mostly felt embarrassed rather than stirred emotionally. But Huo Liuxing clearly knew that this kiss was somehow different.

On this clear night after rain, the pale moon shrouded the mountain wilderness in clouds, and also shrouded everything in his memory about Shen Lingzhen along this journey.

When they first met as newlyweds, she had been obedient and compliant. Clearly unable to endure bitterness, yet to match the meaning of weathering storms together symbolized by the bitter wine of the wedding ceremony, she insisted on telling him she “wasn’t afraid of bitterness.” Clearly shy and fearful, yet to fulfill the responsibilities that should be performed as a wife, she suppressed her anxiety and was willing to consummate the marriage with him.

At first, he had sneered at her “false” innocence, thinking how could the Shen family and Zhao family possibly raise a child with such character.

Until that night of danger at the teahouse, when she, a weak woman, risked her life for him and jumped without hesitation into the bottomless river.

He began to find her position unfathomable, from being certain she was an enemy sent by Bianjing to suspecting he had wronged her.

He wavered this way until he heard her speak of her savior’s deeds, and only then understood the reasons behind all her previous actions. Seeing her eyes turn red with anxiety under his deliberately distant verbal probing, saying she absolutely wasn’t afraid of being implicated by his crime of deceiving the emperor, he gradually abandoned his doubts about her and set aside his prejudices.

Afterward, to hide the truth of the switched identity, he pretended deep affection to flirt with her, but received in exchange her wholehearted sincere declaration and promise to repay kindness without fail.

For the first time, he felt guilty toward her and was moved by a trace of compassion. Next came simultaneously feeling disgusted with her because of that honey trap scheme while also sympathizing with her for innocently becoming a sacrificial piece in politicians’ games, ultimately deciding to seek a balance point between filial duty and her that wouldn’t disrupt the overall situation.

Until that point, everything still seemed to be within his control.

Even when he began to treat her with genuine sincerity, he believed it was more out of a husband’s responsibility toward his wife, out of the kindness that a man with some conscience remaining should show to a girl devoted to him—to repay her dedication rather than to demand anything from her.

But tonight, in this shabby thatched cottage, on this creaking bed, the moment he cupped her face, he clearly recognized that he had developed thoughts of demanding from her.

Or perhaps even earlier, when she said she would betray him yet he still worried endlessly about her, repeatedly and tirelessly scheming to win her back—he had already developed greed for her beyond his plans.

Exactly when had it started, through what opportunity, had the development of events irreversibly deviated from the predetermined track?

Perhaps it was that day by the nameless stream when she told him that in front of her, he could just be himself. Or perhaps it was just now when she confessed that even if he wasn’t her savior, she had never had any thought of betraying him.

In front of her, whether actively or passively, he had peeled off his masks layer by layer, becoming increasingly ugly, increasingly unbearable, yet she had never truly fled. Even when afraid, even when angry, in the end she would still hold him tighter, like she had just done.

So this seemingly unexpected outcome had actually been destined from the very beginning.

He had lived in bloodshed and hatred for twenty-seven years. During these twenty-seven years, everyone had taught him about the evil in this world, taught him to recognize the filthy reality. Only she, time and again, proved to him that there was still much gratuitous goodness here.

In her, he saw for the first time another possibility for life—in that possibility, he didn’t have to walk alone on that sunless path.

How could he cautiously stay awake and keep his distance from such a girl, even with an insurmountable chasm of blood feuds between them?

In this series of schemes, the one who ended up trapped was himself.

Huo Liuxing took a deep breath, looking at Shen Lingzhen before him who sat frozen with her mouth open in shock after his brief kiss, tremblingly closed his eyes, and kissed her again.

This time, he almost savagely bit at her, as if angry at himself for losing all sense of propriety.

Shen Lingzhen felt pain from being ground by his dry, rough lips. Coming to her senses, she desperately pushed at him: “I won’t… mm… won’t warm you anymore…”

Huo Liuxing seemed not to want to hear these words. He pushed into her mouth and bit down on her tongue, not giving her a chance to speak again.

In her urgency, Shen Lingzhen kicked out hard with one foot, striking Huo Liuxing’s ailing leg and causing a wave of weakness.

Only then did he retreat and release her.

She scrambled down from the bed in a flash, covering her recovered mouth, looking at him both angry and frightened: “Why does the young master want to bite off my tongue!”

Outside, Jingmo, who had just returned with food, stumbled and nearly tripped over the threshold. Jianjia, equally shocked, barely managed to steady him.

Huo Liuxing endured the pain from her kick, looking at her with a hissing breath. Before he could think of an answer, he heard her continue earth-shatteringly: “I’m not a demon spirit who has cultivated for a thousand years, and my tongue isn’t an elixir pill that can replenish and strengthen your vital energy!”

“…”

Huo Liuxing coughed, asking skeptically: “You thought I was trying to bite off your tongue just now?”

She hugged herself with both arms, warily asking: “Then what else was the young master doing, biting me over and over?”

“I was…” He laughed in exasperation. “What I was doing—you don’t understand?”

Shen Lingzhen shook her head with lingering fear.

Huo Liuxing recalled the steps he had just taken, reflecting on whether his first time had truly been too fierce, creating such misunderstanding and psychological trauma for her.

“I…” Another wave of cold spread from his knees to his chest. He sighed. “Didn’t you feel your body warming up?”

Shen Lingzhen started, touching her involuntarily flushed cheeks, saying with diminished confidence: “It seems a little.”

“Then that’s right. I wasn’t trying to bite off your tongue—doing this simply warms us up.”

Shen Lingzhen let out a low “Ah,” saying awkwardly: “Then I wrongly accused the young master. But this method is just too… too…” The more she spoke, the redder her face became, unable to stammer out a description.

Huo Liuxing waved his hand with an expression of “forget it, forget it”: “You should go out first.”

Shen Lingzhen turned to leave in embarrassment, but halfway out, he called her back: “Shen Lingzhen, you once said that if I wanted your affection, you would also be willing to work hard to develop feelings for me in return. Does that still count?”

She turned back around, wanting to say that was a promise made to her savior back then, and of course no longer counted for him, this imposter. But seeing his expression urgently seeking an answer while suffering from illness, she inexplicably felt a trace of hesitation.

Just at this moment, Jingmo knocked on the door, saying: “Young master, there’s news from East Valley Camp. The master hopes you’ll go over quickly.”

Huo Liuxing’s chest full of restlessness felt like it had been instantly doused with cold water. He lowered his eyes and said to Shen Lingzhen, who still stood hesitating: “It’s nothing. These matters—we’ll talk about them later.”

——

Jingmo paid some silver to the “belatedly arriving” hunter and arranged the carriage.

After hastily eating their meal, the party of four set out again overnight on the road to East Valley Camp.

Due to exhaustion from consecutive days, Huo Liuxing closed his eyes to rest after entering the carriage. Shen Lingzhen sat beside him, her mind wandering the entire way because of their earlier intimacy, until drowsiness overtook her and she fell into deep sleep.

Two hours later, she woke on his shoulder and looked up to meet his grave and thoughtful gaze.

The carriage had already stopped. He seemed to have been about to wake her.

Shen Lingzhen quickly sat up: “Is my head heavy? Did I press down on you?”

“No. We’ve already arrived at East Valley Camp. It’s the Hour of the Tiger now. I’ll have Jingmo arrange lodging for you and Jianjia to rest. Go get some proper sleep.”

“What about you?”

“I’m going to find Father first.”

“Don’t I need to go with you?”

Since their wedding, she had never met Huo Liuxing’s father. Previously there had been no opportunity, but now that they were here, it wouldn’t do to continue being so discourteous.

Huo Liuxing shook his head: “No rush. Tomorrow.” After thinking, he added: “My father has campaigned on battlefields for many years and developed an iron-blooded air. He’s naturally cold by nature, so he may not be very warm toward you. If you feel he’s distant with you, don’t overthink what you might have done wrong. Understand?”

Shen Lingzhen detected something unusual in Huo Liuxing’s current attitude but couldn’t say what it was. She simply nodded to show understanding: “I’ll remember. Then I’ll go to my lodging first.”

She stepped down from the carriage first. By the light of clusters of torches burning with red flames along the path, she could see that this so-called East Valley Camp was actually a range of mountains. Among the mountains, tower buildings and houses were built at varying heights, standing half-concealed and half-visible among the lush greenery.

They were currently positioned halfway up the mountain. Going higher, the scenery became one of curling clouds and mist.

Shen Lingzhen followed Jingmo into a three-sided courtyard. Before even stepping through the gate, she felt a murderous aura coming at her face, oppressively making one feel a head shorter.

There should be no courtyards specifically allocated for female family members here. Even the place arranged for her lodging was guarded by armored soldiers wielding weapons—a sentry post every five steps, and people holding torches patrolling back and forth every ten steps.

Shen Lingzhen had never seen such a scene. Forget looking around—she didn’t even dare breathe heavily.

Only after entering the bedroom, when there was no one around, did she quietly exclaim to Jianjia: “This place is so frightening…”

Jianjia comforted her: “The Dingbian Army keeps stricter guard the farther north you go. Previously, White Leopard City was still close to Qingzhou, so it didn’t need such an array. But East Valley Camp controls the northern route into the western border leading to Sichuan, so naturally it must be defended as solidly as gold.”

Shen Lingzhen nodded. Seeing that this place was at least cleaner and more comfortable than the broken thatched cottage, with safety guaranteed, she wasn’t so picky. Under Jianjia’s service, she hurried to undress and wash up, hoping to sleep a bit more before dawn.

But unexpectedly, just as she lay down, she heard rustling voices from the back window—apparently two soldiers patrolling nearby were talking.

Jianjia was about to go tell them not to disturb Shen Lingzhen’s rest when she heard one of them speak: “Did you hear? The spy they just captured has already confessed, saying he was acting under orders from the Xue family of Bianjing.”

Then another person replied: “Tsk, this is the serious crime of collaborating with the enemy and betraying the nation. Another family is about to fall apart with everyone scattering…”

Jianjia’s steps faltered. Shen Lingzhen also suddenly opened her eyes, turning her head to meet Jianjia’s shocked gaze.

She couldn’t guarantee how many Xue families there were in Bianjing. But besides her childhood companion, her maternal cousin Xue Jie’s family, what other Xue family would warrant the phrase “fall apart with everyone scattering”?

Shen Lingzhen’s breathing tightened. She immediately climbed up from the bed.

——

On the other side, after Shen Lingzhen left, Huo Liuxing took the carriage up another section of road and entered a three-sided courtyard with a construction similar to the one below.

In the main bedroom of the courtyard, lights blazed brightly. Someone wearing an inner robe was bent over a desk writing.

It was Huo Liuxing’s father, Huo Qi.

Having applied the medicinal herbs, Huo Liuxing’s leg ailment had temporarily eased and he could walk normally. He strode inside and nodded: “Father.”

Huo Qi raised his head, looked at him, pressed his chest, and coughed twice before speaking: “Sit.”

Huo Liuxing sat down opposite him. Seeing the darkness on his face, he frowned: “You’re seriously injured. You should go rest. Why stay up with the lamp waiting for me?”

Huo Qi waved his hand to indicate it was fine: “Just two broken ribs, nothing serious.”

Huo Liuxing’s frown deepened: “The previous dozen or so riots were all successfully suppressed. How did you get ambushed this time?”

Huo Qi set down his brush. His wrinkle-covered face showed weariness as he shook his head helplessly: “When fighting the enemy, I saw a middle-aged man among the refugees who looked very much like a child from the Huo family army long ago.”

“Middle-aged man? Child?” Huo Liuxing was confused by this reversed designation.

Huo Qi seemed to fall into some recollection. After a while he answered: “Oh, he was an orphan I picked up from the border back then, the same age as your elder brother. They had deep feelings and were close as blood brothers, so I also called him ‘child.’ If he were still alive now, he would be middle-aged. But twenty-seven years ago, he already died in battle along with your elder brother. How could there be a today? I saw wrong. For a moment I remembered your elder brother and was distracted, giving the enemy an opening.”

Hearing this old story, Huo Liuxing didn’t speak for a moment.

Huo Qi seemed to see through him and smiled: “What, finding this difficult?”

He shook his head.

Huo Qi sighed: “Liuxing, about some matters, I’ve already expressed my position. Now I’ll say it to you again clearly. Back then, Grand Princess Zhengguo used the pretext of ‘persuading surrender’ to lure my Huo family army into a trap and completely exterminated your elder brother. Now her daughter has married into the Huo family. As long as I live, I will never accept this daughter-in-law.”

“You don’t need to hide it from me. You brought that child from the Shen family to East Valley Camp—what this means, I as your father understand perfectly clearly. Previously in your message to me, you said she posed no threat to you and instead helped you everywhere. Whether this is true or false, I won’t listen to your one-sided words. I must personally verify it before it counts. If she is truly pure and kind, although I cannot accept her, I won’t harm her either. But if she wavers even the slightest bit or shows any disloyalty toward you or toward the Huo family, Liuxing, you should know in your heart how I must handle someone who knows too many secrets.”

“How do you want to verify?” Seeing him remain silent without answering, Huo Liuxing stood up, swept aside his robe hem, bent his knees and knelt: “Father, I know that pleading for her right now is an unfilial act, but I guarantee to you that I’ve already formulated a thorough plan to return to the Bianjing court. She’s just a sheltered young woman—she truly can’t ruin the overall situation. These days she’s followed me through hardship and suffering, which has truly not been easy. Even if you intend to verify, could you delay it for a while?”

“Liuxing,” Huo Qi also stood, walked before him, and helped him up. “You still don’t know who the spy in the Dingbian Army has implicated.”

Huo Liuxing furrowed his brow.

“The Xue family. That person implicated the Xue family.” Huo Qi gazed at him. “Whether this is a true confession or false confession, I must use this matter to first test that Shen family child’s attitude.”