Tremendous joy instantly rose in his heart. The original shock and worry vanished in an instant when he saw Qing Xia’s smile. Chu Li suddenly burst into hearty laughter, his rich voice echoing across the wilderness, intertwining with the earth-shaking roars of the fierce beasts.

In just a few leaps, he had already charged to the center of the beast horde. Qing Xia jumped onto the back of a masterless warhorse, her hooked chain dancing through the air, striking fiercely as giant waves surged and fresh blood flowed freely.

A massive fierce beast was instantly cleaved in two by Chu Li, blood trickling down his blade in thin streams. Without obstruction, Chu Li charged forward with even more shocking momentum.

“Chu Li! Let’s attack together!” Qing Xia shouted loudly and rushed forward.

The snow-white carved birds immediately fell into chaos, a flock fluttering out and flying between the various beast groups. The beast herds immediately stopped their attacks, turning their bodies and charging toward the center. However, the surroundings were already densely packed with wild beasts, and this sudden squeeze made the fierce beasts even more chaotic. The carved birds flew frantically in all directions through the air, crying out shrilly.

Qing Xia frowned, immediately throwing her flying blade, instantly striking down the carved birds. The wild beasts lost their commands and could only stupidly gallop around aimlessly, like scattered sand.

“Swish!” A battle blade round as the full moon instantly shot out. The wild beasts surrounding the center crashed down with a thunderous sound. Chu Li sat on his warhorse wielding his battle blade, charging ferociously as if entering an uninhabited realm. Suddenly, a miserable long cry rang out instantly, and a colorfully-robed old man in feathered garments suddenly jumped out from among the beast herd. He had an immortal bearing and refined features, quite haughty in appearance, with undisguised cold excitement in his expression. However, looking at Chu Li’s cold eyes, he smiled ingratiatingly and said: “I truly never expected Nanchu would have someone of your caliber. I wonder what your honored name might be – please enlighten me.”

Chu Li smiled coldly and said in a deep voice: “I never like to waste words with those who are enemies rather than friends. Moreover, aside from being a beast speaker, you have no real strength to speak of. Today you’ve created so much trouble for me – shouldn’t we properly consider how to settle accounts?”

Without the feathered old man’s control, those wild beasts scattered and fled in all directions. They came quickly and left just as fast, soon disappearing without a trace.

The old man’s face turned cold, a blade-like cold gleam flashing in his eyes. Suddenly a colorful thread appeared from nowhere in his hand, his palm flipping rapidly as power burst forth, and lightning of unparalleled might struck down from above.

With a thunderous crash, Qing Xia’s hooked chain suddenly hooked the old man’s chin, striking with tremendous force.

Chu Li also raised his battle blade and slashed down at the old man.

Just as they were about to kill the mastermind behind the scenes, at that moment, the distant earth suddenly rumbled thunderously as countless troops came galloping in a dark mass. Chu Li raised an eyebrow – he hadn’t expected Qin Zhiyan to abandon attacking the northern camp’s center and rush here to oppose him.

A sharp “swish” sound broke through the air, striking Qing Xia’s hooked chain and Chu Li’s battle blade with a “ding,” resolving the old man’s crisis with lightning speed.

In an instant, large numbers of soldiers reached them. Qing Xia and Chu Li focused their gaze and saw a lightly-armored general standing proudly on his warhorse, followed by masses of iron-blooded guards. On the raised banners, an ink-black dragon coiled menacingly, as if wanting to break free.

Qing Xia’s eyes widened, speechless and dumbstruck. Finally, regardless of everything, she shouted loudly: “Qin Zhiyan!”

Qin Zhiyan was startled, his face immediately growing even paler. Looking at the woman on horseback standing beside Chu Li, covered in blood and gore so that her original appearance could not be discerned, after a long while he said incredulously: “Yima’er?”

Chu Li raised an eyebrow, his face darkening as he looked coldly at Qin Zhiyan. After a long time, he said in a deep voice: “You two know each other?”

Thunder crashed across the sky, and the long-suppressed heavy rain poured down torrentially!

“Qin Zhiyan…” Qing Xia frowned, looking at the lightly-armored general sitting high on his warhorse with banners flying and strong troops behind him. Suddenly she felt a piercing pain in her heart. She had raced hundreds of li in urgent haste, but after breaking through layers of encirclement, she hadn’t expected to face such a sight. Looking at Qin Zhiyan’s face that was somewhat pale but cold and resilient, Qing Xia was momentarily dazed. This was the war god of Great Qin with illustrious military achievements, this was the third prince of Qin with stunning talent, this was Prince Xuan of the Qin clan who laughed proudly at the world and killed with a smile!

All the causes and consequences rapidly connected in her mind. The original surprise and fury gradually receded, leaving only a trace of indifference, a trace of understanding, and perhaps also a hint of heartache.

Perhaps she had always known but was unwilling to face and acknowledge it. He was the pillar of Great Qin – how could he be that man in blue robes, distant as mountains, from the imperial tomb? Having left the imperial tomb and come to this brilliant chaotic world, they were no longer who they had been that day.

Just as she had once been called Yima’er but now could only stand beside Chu Li as his Zhuang Qing Xia.

Fate was often this cruel.

“Yima’er,” Qin Zhiyan smiled bitterly with a pale face. Under his cold armor was a body standing straight as steel. He smiled lightly and said softly: “I never expected to see you again here. Your injuries – have they healed completely?”

Just one sentence brought back memories of those days in the imperial tomb when they had faced life and death together. Qing Xia’s expression moved slightly. She took a deep breath and finally said: “They’ve completely healed. But what about you – don’t you fear the cold? It’s so cold now, why trouble yourself to lead troops to Nanchu?”

As soon as these words fell, both Qin Zhiyan and Chu Li’s expressions changed. To Qin Zhiyan’s ears, these words naturally carried faint mockery and reproach, but to Chu Li’s ears, they were full of deep concern.

During those days in the imperial tomb, he had only encountered Qing Xia’s gentle strength, her loyal kindness and simplicity – he had never seen such sharp wit from her. Conversely, Chu Li had always bantered and argued with Qing Xia – when had he ever seen such gentle care and concern from her? Both men simultaneously felt that Qing Xia seemed somehow changed, then with telepathic understanding, they both turned their heads and stared at each other with hawk-like intensity.

“Emperor Chu.”

“Prince Xuan.”

“Long have I admired your reputation.”

Identical words rang out on this bloody, slaughter-field-like arid ground. The two men sat high on their warhorses, one facing south, one facing north, representing the most powerful opposing forces in the north and south of the current world.

Qing Xia stood between them, covered in blood, her eyes like snow, black hair flying, her gaze fierce and penetrating. The weather in Nanjiang was peculiar – just days ago there had been frost and snow, but at this moment torrential rain poured down. A gust of wind swept past, raising slanting raindrops that whipped all three of their robes into fluttering flight.

Chu Li raised an eyebrow wickedly, his sword-like brows reaching his temples, his gaze like iron. He said in a deep voice: “To be able to command the Bailang tribesmen to serve you, control the fierce beasts of Nanjiang for a long journey, hunt in the Western Black, and annihilate the Ludan people of Nanjiang in one stroke. Moving the pieces forward, then abandoning them – Prince Xuan truly has excellent methods.”

Qin Zhiyan’s narrow eyes slightly narrowed, the corners of his mouth pulling into a faint smile. His voice was mellow, like March lake water, calm and waveless: “The feeling is mutual. Your Majesty borrowed another’s blade to kill, adapting to circumstances as they arose. I planned for three months, yet ended up making wedding clothes for others, helping you consolidate all power in your hands just after ascending the throne. Compared to Your Majesty, I dare not accept such praise.”

Chu Li laughed freely and said loudly: “Prince Xuan need not be so modest. In the Nanjiang campaign, you used the war to consolidate Great Qin’s military power. Great Qin didn’t lose a single soldier, yet through elimination and strikes, consumed the military forces of three nations – Nanchu, Eastern Qi, and Xichuan. When calculating this transaction, it was still more profitable for you, Prince.”

Qin Zhiyan’s brow relaxed as he smiled faintly: “A win-win situation benefiting both families. What Nanchu consumed was merely the rebellious forces of the Eight Great Families. Otherwise, how could Your Majesty have knowingly allowed Nanjiang to go unmanaged? After great chaos must come great order – Nanchu’s revival is surely at hand.”

Chu Li smiled and cupped his hands: “I accept your auspicious words.”

Qin Zhiyan returned the courtesy: “Think nothing of it.”

Though Chu Li was covered in blood, it still didn’t diminish his heroic bearing. He sheathed his battle blade, holding it in one hand, then turned to look at Qing Xia and said in a deep voice: “Qing Xia, return to camp with me.”

Qing Xia was startled and turned to look at Qin Zhiyan, wondering if he had gone to such great trouble to rush here only to let Chu Li leave safely like this.

Though Qing Xia had extraordinary skills and a clear mind, she was still somewhat lacking in understanding the various nations’ situations and power calculations. Even if Qin Zhiyan had come today with complete confidence, he would not attempt to kill Chu Li. Currently, the four nations checked each other, and pulling one string would move the entire body. Before Qin Zhiyan had completely grasped Great Qin’s political power, once the balance of power was broken, it would result in complete chaos. What he needed to do now was control Great Qin’s military power and maintain good relations with the other four nations, winning the best allies.

Chu Li was not a monarch willing to be controlled by others. He was ambitious and harbored world-conquering aspirations, but he was still a ruler who could distinguish priorities and understand reason. Sometimes, having a clever, cautious, and ambitious ally was far better than having a foolish, easily bullied, cowardly, and tyrannical partner. Because no matter what antagonistic position the two might be in, as long as you could offer terms beneficial to both parties, he would absolutely accomplish what you wanted done. This wouldn’t involve narrow-minded preferences and obsessions that ignored the bigger picture, nor would he be misled or delayed by treacherous villains or difficult circumstances.

The Qin-Chu border was adjacent with frequent trade exchanges. Qin Zhiyan was busy dealing with court power struggles and internal chaos, while Chu Li was busy with post-war national recovery. In the short term, neither country would engage in warfare. Therefore, from any angle, allying with Chu Li was the wisest choice.

But now, hearing Chu Li’s words, Qin Zhiyan suddenly felt an impulse to disregard the bigger picture and kill Chu Li right here on the Western Black Wasteland.