Longtou Pass.

The Shanhai Army’s assault was, without exception, repelled again by the defending Ning Army. When the next assault would come — perhaps even the Shanhai Army themselves didn’t know.

It had to be said: Mu Fengliu was an absolute master at manipulating people’s hearts. But he was absolutely not a man who understood the art of commanding troops.

The man who truly understood how to lead troops in the Shanhai Army was Hu Buyu — but at this point, he had been placed under a form of house arrest, stripped of all authority.

Atop Longtou Pass, Elder Zhang Zhenren and Zao Yunian had finally reached an agreement.

The two of them decided: the moment the Qingzhou rebels were close enough, they would take Zhuang Wudi and leave — regardless of what Zhuang Wudi’s attitude was, they were leaving.

What had stirred Zao Yunian was Elder Zhang Zhenren’s words: you think you are right — but have you considered whether it is you who are right, or Prince Ning?

“Zhenren.”

Zao Yunian looked at Elder Zhang Zhenren and asked in all seriousness: “Is there any Daoist secret art that could… control Zhuang Wudi?”

Elder Zhang Zhenren’s eyes narrowed at those words. “Have you been reading too many stories about spirits and ghosts?”

Zao Yunian said: “Is it not possible?”

Elder Zhang Zhenren said: “When you say ‘secret art’ — what do you mean exactly?”

Zao Yunian said: “Like — in stories, there’s something called feeding someone a worm-hex. It makes a person do whatever they’re told.”

Elder Zhang Zhenren sighed. “That doesn’t sound like a wholesome kind of story.”

Zao Yunian said: “As long as it works, I don’t mind. I’ve also heard that all arts under heaven originate from the Dao Sect — so surely even if others know it, the Presiding Zhenren of Dragon Tiger Mountain’s Daoist order must know it too, yes?”

Elder Zhang Zhenren asked with a smile: “This worm-hex you mention — be more specific.”

Zao Yunian said: “Meaning — I’ve heard that you give someone something to eat or drink, and then they react a certain way.”

Elder Zhang Zhenren said: “A worm-hex of that description — I only know one kind.”

Zao Yunian’s eyes lit up. Clearly delighted, he had been talking nonsense and had not expected the old Zhenren to actually know one.

In that moment, Zao Yunian felt he had to admire this — so it truly was the case that all arts under heaven originated from the Dao Sect.

He asked eagerly: “Which kind does Zhenren know?”

Elder Zhang Zhenren said: “By your description — you give someone something to eat or drink and they react accordingly — the only thing I can think of is: feed someone dung, and they will certainly vomit.”

Zao Yunian: “…”

Elder Zhang Zhenren said: “Let us think of a practical method.”

Zao Yunian sighed. “The practical method — I’ll leave that to Zhenren.”

Elder Zhang Zhenren said: “The most practical method, naturally, is to knock him unconscious. Don’t hold back too much when you strike — the only measure to keep in mind is: don’t kill him.”

Zao Yunian: “…”

He thought: if Zhuang Wudi knew right now that the two of them were scheming like this behind his back, what on earth would he think?

Elder Zhang Zhenren said: “Come to think of it — when you brought up that thing about feeding someone something to cause a reaction, I somehow forgot about it just now. You can feed someone medicine.”

Zao Yunian said: “What kind of medicine?”

Elder Zhang Zhenren said: “You idiot child… a sleeping draught, obviously. Does your Tingwei Army not have something like that?”

Zao Yunian immediately said: “We don’t. Why would our Tingwei Army necessarily have something like that?”

Elder Zhang Zhenren said: “Hmm… I suppose I’ve been assuming too much. I thought your Tingwei Army would have every kind of drug there is.”

The way he said it — he sounded genuinely disappointed.

Zao Yunian said: “Why do I have the vague feeling, old Zhenren, that when it comes to the subject of medicine, you weren’t only thinking about this — you had something else you wanted to ask about — some other kind of medicine our Tingwei Army might or might not have…”

“Nonsense!”

Elder Zhang Zhenren said with severity: “No guessing at random!”

Zao Yunian sighed. “I shouldn’t guess at random — but if I guessed right, what would I do then…”

Just as they were speaking, Zhuang Wudi came over from a distance, carrying three gourds of wine. For the first time, there was a relaxed smile on his face.

Once again the Shanhai Army’s assault had been driven back, and as the commanding general of Longtou Pass, he only ever allowed himself this brief lightness in the moments after repelling an enemy.

“Getting a bit weary.”

Zhuang Wudi said: “Zhenren, and Brother Zao — keep me company for a drink. I can’t fall asleep without wine. There’s always a string pulled taut in my head, too much on my mind to sleep. Drink a few cups with me — if I can fall asleep, the two of you stand watch for me. If the enemy comes again, wake me up.”

Elder Zhang Zhenren and Zao Yunian exchanged a glance. In both their eyes was the same quiet ache for Zhuang Wudi.

From the start of the war to now, the amount of sleep Zhuang Wudi had gotten was pitifully small. The slightest sound would jolt him awake. Looking at him now, he appeared to have aged ten years compared to when he arrived at Longtou Pass — worn thin with exhaustion, every line of his face carrying its weight.

“All right!”

Zao Yunian accepted the gourds. “Then we’ll drink with the General. Get some proper rest — you’ve needed it for a long time.”

Zhuang Wudi sat down and drew a long breath. “How could I dare rest too freely… so many people’s lives resting on my shoulders.”

He leaned back, worn down to the very limits of exhaustion.

Zao Yunian took it upon himself to open all three wine gourds and hand one to Elder Zhang Zhenren and one to Zhuang Wudi. The three of them raised their gourds and bumped them together.

“Drink!”

All three tipped their heads back and took a long pull.

Zhuang Wudi swallowed his mouthful and drew another long breath. He lowered his gourd and looked at it with a slight smile.

“Haven’t had a drop of wine in over two months. I almost feel like the taste is off.”

Zao Yunian said: “The taste does seem a bit off.”

Zhuang Wudi asked: “Really? Let me try again.”

He tipped his head back and took another long pull, smacking his lips, and smiled. “Must be my mouth acting up. I’ve barely slept in so long — I’ve probably got inflammation, bitter taste in my mouth and all.”

Elder Zhang Zhenren also took another sip and smacked his lips. “It does have a faint bitter edge.”

Zao Yunian also tasted it again, then nodded. “There is something bitter.”

Zhuang Wudi frowned. “Could it be that this wine has gone off?”

Zao Yunian said: “Wine going off doesn’t happen so easily… This bitter, this bitter…”

At this, he was already sensing something was wrong. He looked at Zhuang Wudi. “This bitter…”

Zhuang Wudi smiled. “That’s right. It’s bitter because I put something in it.”

Elder Zhang Zhenren began to sway. His eyelids seemed to become impossibly heavy. His eyes were almost unable to stay open.

Zhuang Wudi smiled and said: “If I’ve guessed correctly, you two just now were huddled here scheming some way to knock me out and drag me away. So I had to strike first.”

Elder Zhang Zhenren said: “You… how could you be so shameless…”

Zhuang Wudi said: “Because I’ve been with Prince Ning longer than either of you. Spend enough time with him and you develop a sense for it — whenever someone’s about to pull something underhanded, you can see it a mile away.”

Zao Yunian was already drifting and about to topple over. He looked at Zhuang Wudi’s gourd, and Zhuang Wudi immediately caught on. He smiled.

“Of course I wouldn’t put anything in the one I was drinking from.”

Zao Yunian: “Just now… when I opened your gourd… I… put some in.”

Zhuang Wudi: “…!”

Elder Zhang Zhenren looked at Zao Yunian and, summoning the last of his strength, raised a thumb — meaning: well played.

Perhaps because Zhuang Wudi had dosed his medicine earlier, giving the powder time to fully dissolve into the wine, his effects came on quickly. Zao Yunian had dosed his later, so the medicine took longer to kick in. But what must come, eventually comes.

One by one, the three of them went down. They collapsed there on the city wall and slept soundly.

The soldiers who saw this could only marvel that the generals were truly exhausted. They fetched blankets to cover the three of them, then moved away at a distance, careful not to disturb their rest.

The three of them did sleep a proper sleep. The first to wake was, of all people, the old man Elder Zhang Zhenren.

He rubbed his head and sat up, eyes still a bit blurred. As the memories returned, a hot wave of shame washed over the old patriarch.

A lifetime of wisdom, to be outmaneuvered like this by a young man who looked every bit the honest and guileless sort…

If his disciples ever heard of this, those little devils would probably laugh themselves sick.

So Elder Zhang Zhenren resolved: this matter must absolutely not get out.

He glanced at Zhuang Wudi, still asleep. A realization struck him at once — Zhuang Wudi hadn’t woken yet. The opportunity was right there.

So Elder Zhang Zhenren went and shook Zao Yunian, still sleeping. Zao Yunian stirred in a daze, the first thing he did was rub his head — getting knocked out by medicine meant a ferocious headache on waking.

He opened his eyes, still disoriented.

Elder Zhang Zhenren said: “Quickly, while he’s still asleep, have your men carry him out of here.”

Zao Yunian: “Hmm?”

He was still foggy-headed. After a moment, he caught the old patriarch’s meaning and nodded quickly. “All right, I’ll have men take General Zhuang away right now.”

The words were barely out of his mouth when Zhuang Wudi woke up.

The man rubbed his head and sat up. And so all three of them looked at each other in a profoundly awkward silence for quite some time.

Zhuang Wudi was the first to break it with an awkward smile. “Did you sleep well…”

Zao Yunian said: “Would never have guessed — someone with your straight brows and honest eyes could be like this.”

Zhuang Wudi: “Blame Prince Ning.”

Zao Yunian: “You can’t just blame him like that… even though you’re right to blame him.”

Elder Zhang Zhenren saw that Zhuang Wudi was awake. He had been ready to strike — his hand went up and made a motion, but could not come down.

Zhuang Wudi sighed. “There’s barely any strength in my limbs. If you chop me now, old Zhenren, your hand hurts and my neck hurts — doesn’t matter…”

Elder Zhang Zhenren let out a long sigh. “A pity — my life’s great reputation. If either of you ever let a single word of this get out, I’ll have no choice but to silence you both.”

Zao Yunian sighed: “It’s hardly anything to be proud of. I certainly won’t be saying anything.”

But Zhuang Wudi had suddenly started laughing. “But if we don’t say anything… where’s the fun in that…”

He laughed out loud as he got to his feet, and tried to walk — and sat straight back down on the ground, the impact jolting right up through his tailbone.

Zao Yunian asked: “Where did you get that medicine? It’s ferociously strong.”

Zhuang Wudi looked at him, then smiled in some embarrassment. “Stole it from your tent…”

Elder Zhang Zhenren looked at Zao Yunian: “Who was it that just told me your Tingwei Army doesn’t have anything like that?!”

Zao Yunian smiled awkwardly. “I was worried the old patriarch might get the wrong idea about our Tingwei Army…”

Elder Zhang Zhenren exhaled heavily.

Zao Yunian said: “More to the point — I just now noticed that, on the subject of medicine, old Zhenren, your eyes had that subtle look in them… like you wanted to ask whether we had a different kind of medicine entirely… something that might make an old gentleman feel more vigorous than usual…”

Zhuang Wudi’s face changed color drastically. “What are you two planning to do to me?!”

At which point, both Zao Yunian and Elder Zhang Zhenren were completely baffled.