When Zhao Chun returned to his tent, he saw his guards’ bodies lying in disarray under the flickering lights. His heart tightened and he was about to call out when a steel wire suddenly constricted his throat. The person behind him kicked his knees, forcing him to kneel. His hands were bound behind his back while the wire remained tight around his neck, making it difficult to breathe or make a sound.

The assailant walked to stand before him, shocking him into widening his eyes.

Duan Xu’s face was pale, his steps somewhat unsteady, as if the ambush had cost him considerable effort. He crouched before Zhao Chun, grasping his shoulders, smiling with childlike innocence: “General Zhao, it’s been a long time. You’ve truly become more formidable, leaving me utterly speechless and trailing far behind.”

Zhao Chun recalled Duan Xu’s nickname “Smiling Yama,” and couldn’t help but feel a chill. How did Duan Xu suddenly appear at the front lines of the border?

“In just one short month, Qingzhou was lost, half of Fengzhou was gone. If not for the Da Liang soldiers’ staunch defense, you couldn’t have protected Qizhou and Youzhou! What is Youzhou? It’s the throat! What is Qizhou? It’s the granary! What’s in your head? Do you think the northern battlefield is child’s play? Do you think you can take five provinces in a year and a half like I did? You’re the commander of an army, with countless lives depending on you. The soldiers from the North Shore fought so many battles with me—they know better than you how foolish your orders are. Did you listen to them? You wanted to establish your authority, but you’re sending them to their deaths!”

“The Guihe Army lost thirty percent, the Tabai Army lost thirty percent, the Chengjie Army lost twenty percent. My little brother…” Duan Xu’s eyes reddened, his fingers digging deeply into Zhao Chun’s shoulders. He continued word by word: “My little brother wasn’t even fourteen years old this year. He was by my side for six years, and I never had the heart to send him to the most dangerous places to risk his life! Yet… he died because of your stupidity! A thousand arrows pierced his heart! Without him, you would have lost Youzhou! If you knew you were so useless, you should have died smashing your head on the imperial palace floor rather than accepting the appointment!”

The Youzhou garrison, following Zhao Chun’s orders to actively attack, had fallen into an ambush by the Danzhi army. Chen Ying led a cavalry unit to attack from behind, with a thousand men killing ten times their number of enemies, allowing the Da Liang army to break through and return to the city. But the thousand men he led, including himself, all perished, with none returning.

Duan Xu grabbed Zhao Chun’s collar, watching his face gradually turn purple from lack of air, and said with a smile: “You think you’re the Emperor’s man, and no matter how recklessly you act, the Emperor won’t kill you or even blame you? Unfortunately, the Emperor won’t kill you, but I dare to.”

Zhao Chun’s eyes widened as he whimpered indistinctly, shaking his head as if trying to call out. But Duan Xu grabbed both ends of the steel wire around his neck and mercilessly tightened it.

His neck twisted, and he fell to the ground.

“General Zhao! General Zhao!”

Someone outside called Zhao Chun’s name, lifting the tent flap to enter. Duan Xu calmly raised his eyes and met the gaze of the armored Ding Jin. Ding Jin glanced at Zhao Chun lying on the ground, then looked at Duan Xu, his pupils contracting. Outside, it seemed some officers wanted to follow in, but Ding Jin barked: “No entry! Go call Colonel Shi. Where are General Chang and General Sun who came with General Zhao?”

“In the west camp.”

“Keep a close eye on them and report every hour.”

“Yes, sir.”

The officers outside left with their orders. Ding Jin walked to Duan Xu, kneeling on one knee and bowing, calling out: “General Duan!”

Duan Xu patted Ding Jin’s shoulder. Ding Jin raised his head—this usually cold and harsh-spoken man’s eyes were already red. Duan Xu smiled gently and extended his hand: “Help me stand up.”

Ding Jin paused briefly, only then noticing Duan Xu’s weakness, making him even more astonished at the bodies lying dead by his hand. He helped Duan Xu stand and guided him to sit on a nearby chair. Just as Duan Xu sat down, Shi Biao walked in with an unhappy expression, lifting the tent flap and muttering: “Looking for me…”

When he saw Duan Xu, his eyes widened. Ding Jin leaped forward to cover his mouth, saying: “Don’t make a sound.”

Shi Biao pushed Ding Jin’s hand away and rushed forward, exclaiming: “General Duan! General Duan, you’ve finally come! That damned Zhao Chun never fought the Danzhi people at all, he’s more stupid than a donkey! When our brothers said a few words, he accused us of disobeying orders. We’ve suffered terribly! Even… even Chen Ying…”

Duan Xu’s expression darkened.

Shi Biao noticed Duan Xu’s pale face and became even more resentful: “General Duan, what happened to you? Did that old emperor harm you? We… we should destroy Danzhi and not return! Rebel against him!”

“Shi Biao!” Duan Xu and Ding Jin shouted simultaneously.

Silenced by their shouts, Shi Biao stopped his passionate speech, finally noticing Zhao Chun lying dead on the ground. His tiger-like eyes widened, looking as if he wanted to kick Zhao Chun a couple of times. Standing up, he said: “General Duan, tell us what to do. We’ll listen to you!”

Duan Xu glanced at the body on the ground and said: “Zhao Chun, due to continuous failures in the North Shore campaign, has committed suicide out of guilt. Those people he brought…”

He looked at Ding Jin and said: “Died at the front lines.”

Ding Jin bowed and accepted the order: “Yes, sir.”

“Handle Zhao Chun’s and the guards’ bodies, then call over the officers you trust.” Duan Xu said to Ding Jin, then turned to Shi Biao: “Open the map. Let’s analyze the situation and discuss our response strategy.”

Ding Jin and Shi Biao each carried out their orders. Inside the tent, candlelight flickered, illuminating Duan Xu’s tired expression. His hand remained tightly clenched in a fist, never loosening.

Shi Biao spread out the map. Duan Xu leaned on the table to stand, slowly walking over. Shi Biao informed him of the front line situation one by one. Originally, Duan Xu had anticipated Danzhi would only pretend to seek peace. Before leaving the front lines, he had made arrangements, instructing garrison troops to hold their positions firmly if Danzhi counterattacked, to first wear down the enemy.

But Zhao Chun’s arrival completely disrupted Duan Xu’s arrangements. Eager to achieve merit, he ordered troops to attack actively, using their weaknesses against the enemy’s strengths. After several battles, the front lines were full of breaches with heavy losses.

Fortunately, Youzhou still stood.

That was saved by Chen Ying at the cost of his life.

Duan Xu closed his eyes. He clenched his fist tightly, the pain from his fingernails digging into his flesh causing him to open his eyes and reorganize the battle situation. As he was discussing with Shi Biao, Ding Jin entered with others.

“General Duan, this time… besides our soldiers, I’ve brought someone else.” Ding Jin turned and stepped aside, and Duan Xu saw the person behind him.

In the flickering candlelight, the person was tall, with a frightening scar slashed across his entire face, but only sorrow in his eyes.

Duan Xu was silent for a moment, then called out: “Ling Qiu.”

Han Ling Qiu stepped forward. His throat tightened as he said softly: “I heard about Youzhou being in danger and rushed over, but I was still one step too late… I couldn’t save Chen Ying.”

The boy had called him Brother Han for four months and was half his disciple, but died before his eyes.

Just one step—if he had arrived half an hour earlier, he could have saved him.

He took a blood-stained token from his bosom and handed it to Duan Xu, saying: “Chen Ying gave this to me before he died. He said… he didn’t break his promise, he protected your wish.”

Duan Xu looked at the blood-stained Tabai Army token, hazily recalling when he was still the Tabai Army general and Chen Ying had said his future wish was to protect him and He Simu. He had thought it was just childish talk.

But Chen Ying had taken it seriously.

Even after death, his obsession couldn’t dissolve, turning into a wandering soul, appearing in the ghost register.

Duan Xu gripped the token, his body swaying before he bent over and spat out a mouthful of blood. Amidst the surrounding exclamations, Han Ling Qiu supported him. Duan Xu held Han Ling Qiu’s hand and raised his eyes to look at him: “This token, you keep it.”

Han Ling Qiu paused in surprise.

“The Tabai Army general died in battle and entrusted the token to Chen Ying, who now entrusts it to you. You were once the Tabai Army general, and now, you still are.”

Han Ling Qiu, red-eyed, said softly: “You know I…”

“I trust you,” Duan Xu said.

Han Ling Qiu was silent for a moment, took the Tabai Army token from Duan Xu’s hand, and bowed: “Yes, General Duan.”

Duan Xu patted his shoulder, then wiped the blood from his mouth and pointed at the map: “Look at the map.”

“Now Qingzhou is lost, and half of Fengzhou is gone. Although Youzhou still stands, the previous battle caused heavy losses, and the enemy’s attack was fierce. Have Meng Wan send ten thousand Su Ying troops to support, passing through Qizhou, and ask Zhao Xing for half a year’s worth of provisions. On the Fengzhou and Qingzhou fronts, feign defeat and retreat, luring the Danzhi army to the eastern valley of Mount Hewu. Wu Sheng Liu will lead people to encircle from behind, aiming for complete annihilation. If successful, take advantage of Fengzhou’s weakened forces to reclaim lost territory.”

The candlelight cast warm hues on Duan Xu’s pale face as he pointed at the map, giving instructions one by one, ordering Ding Jin and Shi Biao to notify garrisons in various places.

“Don’t spread the news of Zhao Chun’s death yet. Wait until Wu Sheng Liu’s encirclement succeeds before announcing it. Adapt to circumstances in the coming days. Ding Jin, you’ll coordinate overall command, but orders will come through Shi Biao’s mouth. The situation in Nandu has been complex lately. Ding Jin, you have family in Nandu, so be cautious. The North Shore soldiers all know each other well. With my arrangements in place, they’ll naturally follow your lead.”

Hearing this, Shi Biao was somewhat surprised and asked: “General Duan, aren’t you staying?”

Duan Xu lowered his tired eyes, rubbing his temples: “I have no official appointment. Coming to the front lines privately is already a capital offense. You absolutely cannot reveal my presence here today. I must return to Nandu and request the Emperor to reappoint me as general.”

Shi Biao was extremely angry, seemingly about to repeat his treasonous words, when Duan Xu said: “I don’t want to engage in internal killing with the court, and many soldiers’ hometowns are on the South Shore.”

After a pause, he smiled bitterly: “My family is also still on the South Shore.”

When Duan Xu returned to Nandu, it was snowing. The accumulated snow had just reached ankle depth, and the sky was dim. Upon entering Nandu, he first sent his prepared memorial requesting to rejoin the battle to the Court of State Ceremonial to submit to the Emperor, before returning to the Duan mansion.

Before returning to Nandu, he had heard rumors that “Duan Xu” had contracted leprosy and refused visitors, so he wrapped himself thoroughly when returning. When he entered the family gate, the steward almost didn’t recognize him. Upon seeing him remove his face covering and hood, the steward was nearly moved to tears, running back to inform Duan Chengzhang that the young master had returned.

When Duan Xu walked into the courtyard, he saw Duan Chengzhang standing under the eaves, leaning on a cane, his face ashen as he looked at him, tapping the ground with his cane: “So you know how to come back.”

Duan Xu’s face was so white it almost merged with the snowy landscape. He sighed, rubbing his temples, and said: “Father, I’m very tired. Can we talk about this later?”

“Kneel!” Duan Chengzhang shouted angrily.

Duan Xu raised his eyes to look at Duan Chengzhang, who jabbed the ground with his cane, saying furiously: “Unfilial son! Do you want to anger me to death? Kneel!”

Duan Xu was silent for a moment, then lifted his robe, stepped back, and knelt in the snow facing Duan Chengzhang.

Duan Chengzhang said solemnly: “Where have you been all this time?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t say,” Duan Xu answered decisively.

“Why didn’t Fang Jian Ya die back then?”

Duan Xu looked at Duan Chengzhang. He seemed to have no strength left to pretend, simply saying calmly: “You tried to kill him twice, and I saved him both times. I brought him into Nandu, I had him follow Lord Pei, and I acted with him to make him report on me when he went to the border as a general. For ten years, we’ve been working together. He knows everything I’ve done, and Luo Xian is also one of us. How about that, Father? Is there anything else you want to know?”

Duan Chengzhang was so angry he walked into the snow and struck Duan Xu’s back with his cane, but was stopped by Madam Duan, who said: “Chengzhang! After all, we wronged him first!”

Duan Xu didn’t avoid the blows, silently enduring them, thinking that his mother had actually emerged from the Buddhist hall, showing how truly chaotic the household must have been.

Duan Chengzhang was pulled back under the eaves by Madam Duan, who wanted to go pull Duan Xu up but was stopped by Duan Chengzhang’s shout. Duan Chengzhang pointed his cane at him, saying: “So you’ve been pretending to be obedient all along, deceiving us? Why would you do this? In ten years, you never revealed a single word. Are you still my son?”

Duan Xu looked up at Duan Chengzhang, smiling lightly: “If you had known, it would have hurt our relationship.”

“Nonsense! Now that I know, doesn’t it hurt our relationship?” Duan Chengzhang shouted angrily.

Duan Xu was silent for a moment, the smile in his eyes gradually cooling.

“If you had known from the start, it wouldn’t just hurt our relationship; you would have stopped me. Now that you know… it only hurts our relationship.”