Thirteen days earlier, Chu Li had set out from the capital, leading thirty thousand Black Guards and fifty thousand Southern Border troops, all elite cavalry. These men had followed Chu Li through life and death for many years—each was a veteran of countless battles with rich experience. Under guides’ leadership, the Chu army deliberately chose remote paths, avoiding the rolling allied forces of Xiongnu, Xichuan, and Northern Qin on the main roads. They wrapped their horses’ hooves in hide, imposed silence orders on soldiers, widely deployed scouts, and advanced secretly with utmost caution.
After receiving Qing Xia’s message, Chu Li had rushed back to the capital without stopping. However, upon arrival, he discovered he’d been deceived. The man erupted in thunderous fury and led his army back toward the desert. The journey to the capital had taken nearly twenty days, meaning Qing Xia must have been defending Loulan for twenty days already. With less than ten thousand men against over three hundred thousand allied troops from various nations, how could there be any chance of victory? On the day of departure, Southern Chu’s officials knelt on the imperial road in desperate remonstrance, while several grand elders of the Council of Elders wept bitterly, nearly dying by crashing their heads before Chu Li.
Southern Chu’s borders were sealed—not a single message would be allowed to leak out. Grand Marshal Ming Yuan personally supervised, coordinating domestic intelligence sources. Chu Li also traveled in secret, revealing no trace of his whereabouts. However, though he could avoid large forces, it was impossible to evade all scattered soldiers, scouts, deserters, and villagers. Moreover, after entering the desert, they needed to pass through small villages and towns—complete concealment was impossible. Time ticked away—with each passing hour, the crisis of Loulan’s fall grew greater. Chu Li’s expression was grim, his brows furrowed almost into a knot. Finally, the cold man gave his order: Kill all encountered, raze all cities, leave not one alive!
This was the most massive slaughter in history. All Chu troops had killed until numb. While resolutely executing the Chu Emperor’s commands, they also forged their hearts into steel and iron, their methods more ruthless than the Xiongnu who had invaded the Central Plains. Countless villages became scorched earth, countless Xiongnu civilians lost their lives. Wherever Chu Li’s army passed, everything was razed to the ground and completely drowned in blood. In the dark flames of war, except for newborn infants, none could escape this terrible slaughter. At dawn the next day, only intermittent infant cries echoed forlornly in ruins rolling with black smoke, growing weaker until they disappeared.
War’s iron hooves trampled mercilessly over those innocent people in just such a manner.
However, after crossing Longya Desert, news came that Loulan City was tottering. The first scouts hidden in the desert reported that allied forces from all sides were continuously attacking Loulan in wheel tactics. Grand Marshal Xia’s Southeastern army was overwhelmed—the city’s fall and everyone’s death seemed imminent.
The brilliant sovereign could no longer suppress his heart’s fury. This desert expedition had actually fallen into the treacherous scheme of Yan Hui and Guli A’shu. Not only had he failed to find the Southern Border’s Grand Elder, but suffered heavy losses, while Qing Xia had fallen into mortal danger to rescue him. If something truly happened to her, how could he face himself?
In his rage, the man simply stopped hiding his tracks, leading eighty thousand troops in a killing charge toward the various forces entrenched in the desert. Those armies left by various powers along the road to receive their retreating forces suddenly encountered this furious lion—how could they organize effective resistance? In two or three moves, Chu Li wiped them out completely. Villages, tribes, armies—none could escape. The desperate man abandoned all restraint in reckless slaughter, disregarding consequences in cruel massacre. Wherever his cavalry passed left flowing blood, and by the time they neared Loulan, over a million corpses had piled up behind them.
This was an inhuman slaughter. Even when the Xiongnu had broken through Yinshan and surged into the Central Plains, they hadn’t caused such carnage. Above the corpse-strewn scorched earth hung black dragon banners and Chu Li’s bloody personal inscriptions: “Discourtesy unreturned is improper—please accept this gift.”
Chu Li finally stopped concealing himself. He proudly flew Southern Chu’s banner, proclaiming his purpose to the world. Six years ago at White Deer Plains, he had ignored national opposition and stubbornly rescued that woman he yearned for. Today, he came howling just as recklessly, using a million souls as his advancing dirge!
Compared to her life, what meaning did those trivial reputations hold for him? Even if abandoned by all under heaven and cursed by myriad beings—what of it? If she were truly harmed by the Xiongnu, he would slaughter all life on this land to accompany her in death.
As the sun set, the battle grew increasingly fierce. The Chu Emperor’s sudden arrival greatly boosted morale among the remaining Southeastern Chu forces in the city. The Chu army attacked from within and without with tremendous force. The allied forces, already weary from prolonged battle, plus Qi An’s sudden death throwing Eastern Qi into disarray while Xiongnu and Xichuan fought independently, were quickly pierced through by Chu forces like a sharp blade.
Sky darkened then gradually brightened. The long, dark night finally passed slowly. The first brilliant rays of sunlight dispersed morning mist as allied forces finally retreated like a tide, fleeing westward in panic, abandoning armor and weapons in complete disarray.
Black battle flags fluttered and swayed. All Southern Chu soldiers laughed heartily, their excited cheers breaking through the clouds, gradually forming an unstoppable torrent across the heavens—roaring and soaring, filled with high joy.
The black-armored man hurried up the city wall under numerous Black Guards’ protection. Cold armor clothed his body, sword-like brows knitted tightly, eyes flashing with dark luster, nose bridge prominent, lips pressed tight. His armor still carried the scent of blood, sharp sword still dripping steadily, armguards torn with wounds faintly bleeding. His entire being radiated low, oppressive colors full of man-devouring sharpness. Yet at his waist hung an emerald jade pendant, crystal clear like glass. Below hung two green-white rope knots, one appearing somewhat dirty. Through light and shadow, the woven characters for “peace” were faintly visible.
His steps suddenly stopped the moment he stepped onto the city wall. The man’s sword brows locked tight, dark eyes like the deep ocean fixed on that thin, slight figure leaning against the flagpole ahead. Behind her, the black dragon banner flew and fluttered in the morning wind, giant dragon coiling as if about to emerge, making her face appear pale as paper.
Thousands of words surged to his lips, yet suddenly he didn’t know what to say. All along the journey, he had rehearsed words ten thousand times, but abruptly lost courage to speak them. He didn’t know what was wrong with him—he could face thousands of troops, could kill with laughter without frowning, yet facing her, he was always hesitant, unable to speak, like a shy young man. He could only stand stubbornly, stubbornly frown, stubbornly gaze at her. It seemed that just being able to look at her was enough—through all hardships, dangers, and near-death experiences, one glance was sufficient.
“Master Liang still found you after all. How wonderful.”
The gentle voice slowly sounded, carrying slight satisfaction. Hearing this, Chu Li’s long-suppressed anger immediately erupted. He stepped forward twice, saying gravely, “You dared deceive me?”
Still the same—stubborn and obstinate like a child. Yet at this moment, backlit by vast golden morning sun, covered in enemy blood on this desolate, magnificent desert, he no longer seemed as detestable as once imagined. Instead, from sweetness arose a trace of tender amusement. Qing Xia slowly curved her lips in a gentle smile that slid into her eyes—those brilliant eyes like sparse stars at sky’s edge, full of soft, warm light.
How wonderful. A string in her heart suddenly snapped. A month’s persistence and vigilance suddenly relaxed. Thick powerlessness and fatigue surged over her mind like howling tides. How wonderful. She smiled gently, her entire being relaxing like lying in warm seawater. No more bloody battlefields, no more endless slaughter, no more sky-filling blood. Those rumbling war drums, galloping hooves, piercing screams—all seemed like a great dream departing with morning wind. Her constantly taut nerves suddenly lost faith to remain tense. Her knees went soft as she collapsed with a smile!
Chu Li was immediately alarmed, leaping forward to catch her falling body in his arms, holding her tight.
“What’s wrong?” Chu Li shouted in panic, his expression terrified. This Southern Chu Great Emperor who feared neither heaven nor earth was momentarily like a lost child, crying helplessly, “Where are you hurt? Where do you feel unwell? Military doctor! Where’s the military doctor?”
From the camp behind, several military doctors came running and tumbling up the city wall. Just as they were about to treat Qing Xia, the thin, blood-covered Southeastern Grand Marshal suddenly opened her eyes, slightly confused, looking around before settling on Chu Li’s face. She frowned slightly, then relaxed, lips curving in a gentle smile as she said weakly, “You came.”
The Southern Chu Great Emperor finally stopped being willful. Seeing her wounds large and small, feeling her skeletal thinness, his heart was nearly thrown into boiling water as he said with self-reproach and regret, “I came, I came. I’m sorry—I came too late.”
Qing Xia smiled weakly, her pale face full of ease and relaxation. Chu Li continued gravely, “It’s my fault. I should have known you would come. I was careless and nearly got you killed.”