◎Liu Xiniang will always be a blade◎

From the very beginning, it was all lies.

So he was always on edge, always knowing they would have no ending.

Because she never liked Jiang Shaoyan—she only liked the deception he created, the illusory dream he gave her.

She never knew his baseness, his malice. If she had known, how could she have liked him?

Luo Wanqing listened quietly. In the past, perhaps she would have felt emotionally shaken, but at this moment, she only felt weary.

The person before her seemed to have no connection with her anymore. The only remaining connection was the word “enemy.”

But thinking that everything should have closure, she still spoke: “When you folded the first grasshopper, I knew something was wrong.”

Li Guiyu was stunned. Luo Wanqing said calmly, “But I didn’t mind, because I cared about you. I wouldn’t like someone because of gratitude. The person I like is someone I spend time with, get to know, feel pity for, and am moved by. With or without this grasshopper, to me, Jiang Shaoyan was Jiang Shaoyan.”

So later, when he only gave her wood carvings and she asked no questions, it wasn’t because she preferred wood carvings or grasshoppers, but because she favored this person.

However, after all these years, he has only now finally understood this point.

He stared blankly at the person before him, hearing Luo Wanqing nod and say: “In the past, when we loved each other, I failed to notice the resentment in your heart. That was my fault, and I apologize to you today. On the day we left the Mandarin Duck Life-Death Formation, you were willing to treat me as an opponent and give your all—for that, I thank you. But after this,” Luo Wanqing raised her eyes, “there will be no more entanglement between me and Third Prince; only two matters remain unfinished. My family’s revenge and Cui Heng’s revenge—I will come to claim both. Please wait with sword in hand, Third Prince. In years to come, I will surely come to take your position among the Eight Grandmasters.”

Having said this, Luo Wanqing turned and walked back.

Li Guiyu finally reacted, hurrying forward: “Miss!”

As soon as he spoke, a dagger was thrown back, embedding itself fiercely in the tree trunk behind Li Guiyu, three inches deep into the wood.

Luo Wanqing didn’t stop, saying coldly, “Today I have urgent matters, so I’m letting you return. If you come forward again, I’ll meet you with my life—kill without mercy!”

“Miss, wait…”

“Your Highness!” Elder Zhang, Zitang, Qingzhu and others all rushed forward, grabbing Li Guiyu who still wanted to advance, saying urgently: “The Supervision Department’s people are still over there. Your Highness, going forward, might be a trap. You mustn’t act rashly!”

It wasn’t a trap.

Li Guiyu listened to their words, staring blankly at the woman’s retreating figure in the forest.

He knew this wasn’t a trap.

But what could he do if he caught up? What should he do?

But if he did nothing…

His heart trembled as he remembered her earlier words: “To me, Jiang Shaoyan was Jiang Shaoyan.”

She knew…

She had always known.

But what she cared about was never that grasshopper, never who saved her, but Jiang Shaoyan himself.

Yet he hadn’t understood.

He felt no one in this world cared about him—his mother didn’t care, his father, the emperor, didn’t care, people under heaven didn’t care. The only one who cared about him, Jiang Fengwan, had already passed away.

So he wanted power, a high position, and revenge. After all, he was already alone.

But at this moment, he finally discovered he wasn’t.

He never was.

What Luo Wanqing saw was him, not another person.

Suffocation surged to his heart as he opened his lips.

But what could he say? What could he do?

She had already left.

From the moment he chose to contact Zheng Biyue, frame the Luo family, and drive her father to death, she had left forever.

He wanted to stubbornly keep her by any means necessary, but she was never someone he could keep.

He could only watch her walk away, unable to even call out her name.

Meanwhile, Luo Wanqing walked through the forest.

Her feet crushed dead leaves, hearing the sound of leaves breaking—crisp echoes in the forest, empty and desolate, making one’s heart feel vacant and bewildered.

She gripped the grasshopper in her hand, head down, saying nothing.

After a long time, tears began to fall.

There was no one in the forest. Alone, she walked while crying. As she cried, she couldn’t help but sob aloud.

But she still had to keep walking forward, still had to move ahead.

Holding his grasshopper that came six years too late, she cried alone as she passed through the long forest, through the night, through the grass, through the vast mist.

When she had cried until no more tears came, she finally reached the end of the road.

She raised her head to see dawn breaking through sunlight, mist tinged with morning light.

She had finally reached the front of Liufeng Island. Looking at the boats moored not far away, she remembered when they came to the island—how she wrote characters on his hand, his gentle pat in response.

Such a small detail, yet she suddenly felt her heart was empty.

She closed her eyes, paused for a moment, then finally took out the flute he had given her and played at dawn the tune she had performed for him on his birthday with the pipa.

She had never casually played this flute.

The only time she was willful was after getting drunk.

Now she could finally do it.

She finally played his gifted flute once.

But this time, the old friend could not return.

When Luo Wanqing played the flute, the sound traveled over mountains and ridges, reaching Xie Heng’s ears in his prison cell.

He was using blood to draw a map on cloth strips. Hearing the sound, he couldn’t help but raise his head toward the direction of Liufeng Island.

Three days ago, he had been brought out from the underwater secret passage by Xie Minran, where they encountered Ji Ruifang’s people. Ji Ruifang escaped with Xie Minran in another direction while having people capture him and bring him into Xueling Mountain, then to Ji Rui Palace.

He was injured, and fighting them would be pointless. Moreover, Xueling Mountain’s terrain was complex. Since he was here, he wanted to take the opportunity to scout the routes clearly, so he let them bring him back to the palace.

His eyes were covered the entire way. He relied on counting to record time and his senses to record the route, roughly drawing out in his mind the path map after entry and locations where the mechanisms paused.

He had been memorizing for so long that his consciousness was somewhat dazed. He dared not think of anything else, only repeatedly tracing the map routes. Now in the prison cell, he finally had a chance to quickly draw out the routes. He was just worrying about how to have Lianqing deliver it when he unexpectedly heard Luo Wanqing’s flute sound.

Lianqing’s sensitivity to direction was far inferior to Zhusi’s. After entering Xueling Mountain, it had lost its way completely, just hiding and following him.

But Lianqing was small and ordinary-looking, not very noticeable, which gave it this opportunity to appear at the window now.

Xie Heng raised his hand and called softly: “Lianqing.”

The bird the size of a fuzzy ball leaped down, quickly reaching Xie Heng’s side. Xie Heng took out a piece of dried meat from his clothes, fed it to Lianqing, then tied the cloth strip to its foot, saying softly: “Follow the direction of your mistress’s flute sound—that way is Liufeng Island. Fly in that direction. When you’re hungry, eat leaves for yourself. When you get home, there will be dried meat to eat. Be careful,” Xie Heng gently touched its head, “don’t let them discover you.”

Lianqing chirped twice. Xie Heng lifted his hand to send it to the window, and Lianqing quickly flew in the direction of the flute sound.

After sending Lianqing away, Xie Heng closed his eyes to meditate. Before long, sounds of jingling came from outside as a woman dressed in Kunlun-area clothing brought people into the prison.

She wore a green tube top, red printed lantern pants, draped scarves and arm bracelets, with bells hanging from her bare feet.

She wore a veil over her face and had a flying celestial hairstyle. Though her appearance couldn’t be seen, from her exposed eyes, she appeared to be a stunning beauty.

Xie Heng heard the sound but didn’t move, then heard a woman’s ventriloquist voice around him: “Xie Heng, you’re just as pretentious as your uncle. At death’s door, you still have the mood to meditate?”

“I won’t die.” Xie Heng spoke calmly. “Palace Master Ji still needs to trade me for something.”

“Do you think that thing is very important to me?” Ji Ruifang’s tone was mocking. “I’m not like those court officials of yours.”

“I heard you’ve been trying to steal my uncle’s remains all these years.”

As soon as Xie Heng spoke, Ji Ruifang’s expression changed.

Xie Heng opened his eyes and looked up: “Want to trade something for a person? Or do you want to keep it as a memento?”

Ji Ruifang didn’t speak. After a moment, she slowly smiled and suddenly struck forward. Xie Heng’s expression didn’t change as Ji Ruifang grabbed his throat and slammed him hard against the wall, pressing him there: “Do you think just because I can’t kill you, you can easily escape this ordeal?”

Xie Heng breathed lightly, looking at Ji Ruifang coldly: “As you wish.”

“I heard you quit mandala back then.” Ji Ruifang smiled.

Hearing this, Xie Heng looked up coldly. Ji Ruifang took out a pill with her other hand: “Specially prepared for you. How about quitting again?”

“Prepared for me?” Xie Heng keenly detected the anomaly in her words, saying coldly, “Palace Master Ji was prepared long ago?”

“I’ve been waiting for you for years,” Ji Ruifang unconsciously tightened her grip, moving close to Xie Heng. “Xie Lingshu, everything has a price. Since you broke your promise…”

Hearing this, Xie Heng seemed to finally understand something, his pupils contracting slightly.

Seeing he understood, Ji Ruifang forced the pill into Xie Heng’s mouth: “I will never forgive you!”

Luo Wanqing returned to her room when dawn had fully broken.

It was still the bed where she and Cui Heng had slept. She collapsed on it and slept dreamlessly until afternoon.

Only when someone knocked on the door did she open her eyes.

“Inspector Liu, Inspector Liu, are you awake?”

Zhuque’s voice came from outside. Luo Wanqing lay on the bed without responding.

Zhuque heard breathing sounds from inside and quickly said, “Inspector Liu, I know you’re there. Don’t ignore me. Lord Cui wants you to come over later. Everyone’s waiting for you in the Council Pavilion!”

Luo Wanqing said nothing. Zhuque hesitated: “Um, you must come. Everyone’s waiting for you!”

With that, Luo Wanqing heard Zhuque’s departing footsteps.

She lay on the bed for a while. On the bedside was the grasshopper she had placed there last night. The water stains on it had dried, but blood traces remained, making it look somewhat aged.

Luo Wanqing quietly looked at the grasshopper for a long time before getting up from bed.

Walking to the window, the autumn rain that had fallen for three consecutive days had finally stopped.

The sky was clear and bright, blue as if newly washed.

Just like her mood that had been suppressed for several days, after a good cry, it had finally returned to calm.

She stood by the window, whistling to call Lianqing for a while.

The day Cui Heng fell into the water, Lianqing followed him down. Now, no one knew where it had gone.

It seemed to have disappeared along with Cui Heng.

Or perhaps Cui Heng had taken it away.

Luo Wanqing’s heart felt numb and bewildered. She stood by the window, quietly looking at the sky and mountains for a while, then turned to find a wooden box and carefully placed the grasshopper inside.

Then she went to eat something, found hot water for a good hot bath, and began taking inventory of the things Cui Heng had left for her.

Most of what he left was still in the Eastern Capital. Here she only had the Qianji hairpin, jade bracelet, marriage token, silver anklet, and lip rouge he had given her.

Looking at these small gifts from him, she couldn’t help but smile.

She thought for a moment, then looked up at the mirror and solemnly put on each item he had given her. Finally, she used the Qianji hairpin to arrange a married woman’s hairstyle.

She quietly looked at herself in the mirror, dressed as a married woman, yet softly called another person’s name.

Cui Heng.

Farewell.

While Luo Wanqing was doing her hair, everyone gradually arrived at the Council Pavilion, all waiting in place.

After waiting a long time, Xuanshan, disguised as Xie Heng, finally spoke: “Should we start first?”

“How can we start without Liu Xiniang?” Cui Heng said helplessly. “It’s just going to be the same circular arguments. Can your Xuanwu or Zhuque Division people enter the mountains? You wouldn’t dare either.”

Each division had its specialties—they indeed didn’t dare.

“But I don’t think she can come.” Zhuque grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds from the side, cracking them as she sat down. “Crying like that yesterday—if I were her, I’d need ten days to half a month to recover.”

“You’re young and don’t understand.” Cui Heng waved dismissively. “Wait a bit more.”

“We’ve already delayed three days,” Xuanshan glanced at Cui Heng, frowning. “We can’t keep waiting for her to drag this out. If she was coming, she’d be here early…”

Before he finished speaking, the sound of silver bells came from outside.

The sound was crisp and pleasant, jingling with footsteps.

Everyone looked over to see a woman in black robes approaching with a sword.

She had arranged her hair in a neat and tidy married woman’s style, wore light makeup, and her temperament was cool yet somewhat gentle, like the sea—embracing and serene.

She was already beautiful, and now, with the married woman’s hairstyle that signified a certain status, entering against the light, she possessed an even more heart-stirring, clear, and gentle quality.

Everyone was stunned. Then Zhuque happily stood up: “Inspector Liu, you’re here?!”

“This subordinate is late,” she followed proper etiquette like the most dutiful subordinate, turning to bow to Xuanshan disguised as Xie Heng. “Please punish me, Young Master.”

Hearing this, Xuanshan looked at her coolly and responded: “Given the special circumstances, punishment is waived today. Let’s discuss business first.”

“Thank you, Young Master.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing stood up and took her place to one side.

After she was positioned, Cui Heng cleared his throat to awaken everyone’s attention. All focused and reacted, then heard Cui Heng stand and say: “Let me first explain the current situation to everyone.”

He said “everyone,” but Luo Wanqing knew this was only directed at her.

Everyone present here was clear about what had happened over the past days. Only she had been immersed in Cui Heng’s death.

She looked up at Cui Heng to see him pull out a sand table model of Liufeng Island, introducing: “Behind Liufeng Island is Xueling Mountain. The Xueling Mountain range terrain is extremely complex—it would take at least ten-plus days to walk through and exit. So the fastest route to enter Ji Rui Palace has always been through the sky ladder from Liufeng Island near Xueling Mountain. But on the day we seized the item, Ji Ruifang came down to snatch Xie Minran and destroyed the sky ladder when escaping. Although we later sent masters of light skills to climb the cliff face, after going up…”

Cui Heng’s voice grew heavy: “Only corpses were thrown down. The one person who came back alive said that up there isn’t Ji Rui Palace either.”

“We can’t possibly attack upward from the cliff face.” Luo Wanqing understood, speaking calmly.

Cui Heng nodded in confirmation: “Yes, so these days we also sent two groups of Baihu Division people into Xueling Mountain, but…”

Cui Heng pressed his lips: “None returned.”

With that, Cui Heng looked up at Luo Wanqing: “Currently, only you from the Baihu Division are here. I want you to assess clearly—do you have confidence leading people from other divisions into the mountains? If not, we’ll wait for the Baihu Division people from the Eastern Capital.”

But this wait would make Xie Heng’s life and death even more uncertain.

However, Cui Heng didn’t rashly voice this.

Luo Wanqing quietly looked at the sand table, only asking: “Why must we enter Xueling Mountain?”

With that, she looked up at Cui Heng: “What do you want?”

Hearing this, Cui Heng paused.

He wasn’t certain whether Xie Heng was in Xueling Mountain or not, but entering Xueling Mountain was necessary.

He thought for a moment and explained: “Two reasons.”

With that, he gestured to Zhuque: “Zhuque, bring the item up.”

Hearing this, Zhuque immediately went to get it. He went into the inner room and brought out the iron box they had seized, placing it on the table.

When Luo Wanqing’s gaze touched the iron box, her heart couldn’t help but tighten slightly.

That was the iron box Cui Heng had exchanged his life for.

She suppressed her emotions and carefully examined the iron box.

This iron box had three gears with heavenly stems and earthly branches carved on them, obviously used as encryption locks.

Below the gears was a keyhole, obviously for inserting a key.

“This iron box is the Xuantian Box used by the Cui family to hide their most important items.” Cui Heng introduced: “This box is made from a mysterious iron obtained by chance from the East Sea. Once closed, it cannot be opened without the key and the correct password. We don’t know what the password is yet, but we can confirm that the key is the Yin Master Token that was once in Luo Qushu’s hands.”

Cui Heng said, looking up at Luo Wanqing, “The Yin Master Token is now in Ji Ruifang’s hands.”

“The second reason.”

Luo Wanqing listened calmly.

Cui Heng continued: “Besides this, we searched the entire island but found no trace of Xiang Sizi. Then we found clues left by Qinglu at the mountain entrance to Xueling Mountain, so we suspect Xiang Sizi entered Xueling Mountain, possibly even captured by Ji Ruifang. The password might be in Xiang Sizi’s hands—we need to find him.”

Hearing Cui Heng’s explanation, Luo Wanqing understood the necessity of entering Ji Rui Palace.

However, for her, all these reasons were secondary. She was most concerned about another matter—

“Is Xie Minran alive?”

Everyone looked over upon hearing this. Cui Heng thought for a moment, hesitating: “Should be alive. Since Ji Ruifang rescued him, she probably wouldn’t let him die so easily, right?”

“What about the five hundred people?” Luo Wanqing stared at Cui Heng. “Did you capture them?”

Cui Heng paused, instinctively looking toward Xie Heng, and saw Xie Heng also staring at him.

After hesitating for a moment, Cui Heng said slowly: “Wang Yunzhi warned them. When our people arrived, they had already fled into Xueling Mountain. We only caught a small portion.”

“How many did you catch?”

Luo Wanqing asked calmly. Xuanshan answered: “Twenty-three.”

Twenty-three—not even a fraction of five hundred.

Seeing Xie Heng and Luo Wanqing’s silence, Zhuque quickly stood up to explain: “Well, at that time you all were either dying or busy, exploding ladders and grabbing people, plus there were many of Xie Minran’s own guards below, and people were tipping them off… We were lucky to catch anyone at all. Don’t set your expectations too high!”

“Were they organized when entering Xueling Valley, or did they run in chaotically?”

Luo Wanqing ignored Zhuque’s words, only pursuing this question.

Zhuque was stunned, then answered offhandedly: “Of course they ran! When we came, they just scattered and ran in. They came to Liufeng Island for refuge—who would manage them?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing had her answer.

She kept her head down as if pondering something, saying nothing.

After thinking for a long time, Luo Wanqing looked up at Xuanshan standing beside her: “Young Master, may I ask how many people you brought this time?”

“Five hundred,” Xuanshan answered honestly. “Half the Inspectors from Jiangnan Circuit were transferred here, with the other half continuing to remain to ensure local Supervision Department operations.”

Luo Wanqing nodded, looked at the Xueling Mountain terrain, and after thinking for a long time, said slowly: “Given Xueling Mountain’s land area, even Xie Minran couldn’t possibly set up sufficiently sophisticated mechanisms and formations everywhere. Most should be simple traps or manually controlled mechanisms. I know the Baihu Division Inspectors who came this time. With their abilities, simple mechanisms couldn’t possibly kill them.”

“What do you mean?”

Cui Heng was curious. Luo Wanqing drew her conclusion: “There are people in the forest, many people.”

“You’re so certain?”

Zhuque couldn’t help but speak: “You haven’t even seen it. How do you know?”

“If they were ordinary, crude mechanisms, these five hundred people charging in would have used their lives to destroy most of the mechanisms, so our people wouldn’t have died. But our people did die, meaning these five hundred people didn’t trigger the mechanisms, so there must be people in the forest guiding them. Plus, simple mechanisms can’t kill those Inspectors, so the mechanisms in the forest must require human operation. Given Xueling Mountain’s breadth, covering the Xueling Mountain entrance would require at least several hundred mechanisms. One mechanism per operator means Xueling Mountain currently has at least several hundred people in ambush.”

Several hundred people, and operating mechanisms…

Everyone thought about it, then Zhuque said, “Then I’ll still wait for the Baihu Division people. When Aunt Baili comes…”

“Aunt Baili can’t do it either.”

Xuanshan said gravely. Everyone fell silent.

Cui Heng pondered, gritted his teeth, and said directly: “Then now write to His Majesty to deploy troops for a frontal assault. Xueling Mountain must be entered.”

“I can try.”

Luo Wanqing suddenly spoke. Everyone looked over.

Luo Wanqing pondered, saying calmly: “Ji Ruifang won’t kill me, so I have a chance.”

“Why?” Zhuque didn’t understand.

Cui Heng immediately reacted: “Xie Minran is injured with imbalanced yin-yang qi in his body. To save him, they must find another woman who practices the Yin Moon Scripture to absorb her power. You said before that you practice the Yin Moon Scripture. Ji Ruifang won’t let you die—she needs to keep you for Xie Minran.”

“Correct.” Luo Wanqing looked up. “So I’m the person with the highest chance of entering Xueling Mountain and surviving. I can go in and try.”

Everyone present fell silent, all knowing that Luo Wanqing’s “try” was risking her life.

But after Luo Wanqing finished speaking, she said, “However, I also have a question.”

Everyone looked over. Luo Wanqing looked up, calmly gazing at “Xie Heng” and asking: “Those five hundred people—how does Young Master plan to handle them?”

This question was directed at Xuanshan. He remained silent. Luo Wanqing thought for a moment, then knelt on one knee, saying respectfully: “Before Cui Heng departed, he had already decided to kill these five hundred soldiers. These five hundred people distributed enemy army uniforms to civilians, causing tens of thousands of common people to die at Heyu Pass. Though not the masterminds, they cannot escape responsibility.”

“This case can’t be tried now…”

Xuanshan immediately spoke, but Luo Wanqing said: “This subordinate knows, so I ask Young Master,” Luo Wanqing looked up at “Xie Heng,” “if this subordinate successfully enters Xueling Mountain and helps Young Master obtain the Yin Master Token, may this subordinate kill these five hundred people?”

“No, no,” Zhuque immediately jumped up upon hearing this, saying urgently, “Inspector Liu, calm down. These five hundred people who entered Liufeng Island are no different from those who have taken refuge in Buddhism. If you pursue this debt into the past and kill so many people at once, what will the world think of Young Master?”

Hearing Zhuque’s question, Luo Wanqing only looked at “Xie Heng.”

What would the world think?

She knew better than anyone.

In her previous life, Xie Heng’s reputation for being “bloodthirsty” that truly made the world fearful and shocked began with this case.

Even when she heard about it in Lingnan back then, she thought he was cruel and tyrannical.

It was probably because of this case that the entire court felt endangered, finally believing this blade had completely lost control.

Even after the new emperor ascended the throne, everyone feared and hated him.

No matter how just the Supervision Department was, it couldn’t overcome the infamy of a massacre.

But if they let it go…

How could they let it go?

They participated in framing the Cui family case. They drove the Cui family to desperation.

The battle results at Heyu Pass made the court completely abandon the ten border cities. No one knew what happened then.

If those at Heyu Pass weren’t enemy troops, then did the ten border cities fall at that time? Did the Cui family commit treason and surrender?

Without them, without this network of evildoers from top to bottom, how could the Cui family have reached such a state? How could common people have died unjustly?

And how could Cui Heng live on this night, unable even to possess his real name?

“Please make your decision, Young Master.” Luo Wanqing looked at “Xie Heng,” waiting for “Xie Heng’s” decision.

Xuanshan remained silent. After a long time, Cui Heng said softly, “Chief Xie, that was Cui Heng’s intention.”

Hearing this, Xuanshan paused. He hesitated for a moment, then said slowly: “Since it was his intention…”

“I disagree!”

Zhuque suddenly spoke up, interrupting everyone present. He looked at them angrily, as if holding something back, gritting his teeth: “Young Master doesn’t think for himself—won’t you help him think?! What’s so important about these five hundred people? Small fry! Killing them won’t bring those tens of thousands back to life! But if you do this, how will others view Young Master in the future?! He already has enough infamy…”

“But what about Cui Heng?”

Luo Wanqing suddenly spoke up, looking at Zhuque: “People indeed won’t come back to life, but justice remains. Have you thought about Cui Heng?”

That was his final wish, part of the justice he sought.

Preserve Xie Heng’s reputation.

Fulfill Cui Heng’s heart’s desire.

Choose one of the two, no matter whether right or wrong.

Hearing this, Zhuque breathed rapidly. He seemed to want to say something, but ultimately only clenched his fists without speaking.

Cui Heng thought for a moment, then smiled and turned to look at “Xie Heng”: “How about this—if Chief Xie finds it difficult to decide, why don’t we take a vote? Those who agree not to pursue these five hundred people, raise your hands.”

Hearing this, Zhuque immediately raised his hand, saying urgently: “I don’t care. Young Master has been cursed enough by people. I don’t want to hear others curse him again.”

Cui Heng glanced at him, then said: “Those who disagree need not raise their hands. However,” Cui Heng thought for a moment and turned to look at Xuanshan, his tone seeming to remind someone, “Young Master, you should think this through carefully. If you kill these five hundred people, those in the court will certainly make a big issue of it, painting you as a tyrant. Even those in the court who originally thought the Supervision Department had disciplined people will think you’ve lost control and become bloodthirsty. Your future crimes will be even greater. Have you thought this through?”

Xuanshan remained silent. Cui Heng glanced at Luo Wanqing kneeling beside him.

After a moment, Xuanshan said softly: “Acceptable.”

“Good.”

Cui Heng nodded and turned to look at Luo Wanqing: “Then it’s settled.”

Hearing this, Zhuque could no longer restrain himself. He turned and strode outside angrily: “I won’t discuss this matter anymore. You all discuss it yourselves!”

With that, Zhuque slammed the door shut with a bang.”

Cui Heng glanced at Xuanshan beside him, then turned to look at Luo Wanqing. After thinking, he said: “Well then, Inspector Liu, for safety’s sake, starting today, you’ll scout ten li forward each day, and we’ll follow immediately. After our people advance, you’ll continue forward. This way we can ensure your safety. How about it?”

“Good.”

Luo Wanqing responded.

Xuanshan looked at her and only said, “Stand up.”

“Yes.”

Luo Wanqing respectfully stood up. Then Cui Heng bid farewell to Xie Heng and led Luo Wanqing out.

Outside the door, Cui Heng began asking: “What preparations do you need? When do you plan to depart?”

“Prepare new protective gear and supplies. Give me a horse and Zhusi.”

Luo Wanqing said calmly, “I can depart immediately.”

“Good.”

Cui Heng nodded, then led Luo Wanqing to find Xing Ling for new supplies.

Xing Ling was cataloging supplies brought to Liufeng Island. Seeing her come over, she gave her new protective gear, had craftsmen adjust the precision of the Qianji hairpin, and Luo Wanqing sharpened her sword, finally checking all weapons and medicines once over.

After everything was ready, Xing Ling brought over a horse loaded with daily supplies, saying with some concern: “Should I go in with you?”

“You’re not good at this. Follow behind with people. I’ll call you if needed.”

Luo Wanqing checked the items on the horse and the horse itself, then turned to lead the horse outside: “I’m going.”

“Xiniang!”

Xing Ling called out to Luo Wanqing. When Luo Wanqing turned back to look at her, she saw Xing Ling pat the signal flare at her waist: “I’ll be at most ten li from you, ready at any time. With Cui Heng gone,” Xing Ling pressed her lips together, finally saying, “You still have us.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but smile.

After thinking, she only said: “It’s a pity Fang Zhi, Fang Yuan, and Fang Shun aren’t here—you’re stealing all the spotlight alone.”

Xing Ling was stunned, then saw Luo Wanqing mount her horse, raise her whip, and gallop out, waving and calling: “See you another day!”

Xing Ling stood in place with her hand on her sword, watching her ride away. After a long time, her eyes showed some warmth.

Luo Wanqing rode rapidly out of Liufeng Island and straight into Xueling Mountain. Just entering the mountains, she heard an eagle’s cry in the distance.

Luo Wanqing looked up to see Zhusi circling in the distance.

Zhusi was currently staying with Cui Heng. Seeing Zhusi, she couldn’t help but whistle toward it.

She didn’t have much expectation—just a casual call.

However, upon hearing her whistle, Zhusi immediately dove down without hesitation.

Luo Wanqing smiled and shouted: “Zhusi, let’s go! We’re going to avenge Cui Heng!”

With that, she led Zhusi as they charged into the mountains on horseback.

Entering the mountains, watching the scenery rapidly passing before her, the fire pressing on her heart finally fully ignited.

At this moment, she finally realized—

Someone like her—

Someone who could crawl from Yangzhou prison all the way here for personal hatred was born to be a blade.

Cui Heng always hoped she could be less obsessive, more composed, and able to let go.

He was someone who, like the sword intention he displayed, was as powerful and embracing as the deep sea, so he always hoped to guide her onto this path.

However, she was never his.

What she cared about, she would always care about. Those she was attached to, she would always be attached to.

Her hatred wouldn’t naturally dissipate—it could only end under her blade.

Cui Heng couldn’t change her.

The only difference their meeting made was that from then on, she could see the present.

She was still that Luo Wanqing who held a blade and moved forward seeking justice, but her world was no longer just herself.

Someone lived here now—someone who cherished gentle moonlight and loved everything in this world.

She would see every wild grass grow for him, every flower bloom, seek worldly justice, and await a flourishing age of clarity.

And beyond this, Liu Xiniang retained her blade.

Luo Wanqing pondered as she vigilantly entered the forest.

The climate in Xueling Mountain was cold. Just entering the forest, she felt cold air rushing toward her.

Following Cui Heng and Li Guiyu through the dense forest on this journey, she had learned considerable knowledge about mechanisms and formations. As she rode rapidly, she observed her surroundings.

Mechanism arrangements mostly reverse the surrounding formations. Excellent mechanisms and formation arrangers would try to restore and conceal them, but ultimately, it was difficult to completely restore them.

Less than half an hour into the forest, Luo Wanqing saw the first anomaly.

A green plant was more vibrant in color compared to its surroundings. Luo Wanqing immediately became alert, pulling the reins and about to dismount to investigate, when she felt a swift wind behind her.

She instantly became alert, all her strength exploding forth as she grabbed the horse’s head and yanked it sideways. A huge scythe blade swung past just above her head with inertia!

The moment the blade light flashed past Luo Wanqing’s cheek, arrows followed immediately!

Luo Wanqing kicked the horse away with one foot while rolling several times on the ground, then, listening to the direction of the arrows, unhesitatingly rushed toward a tree in the opposite direction!

Most formations emphasized yin-yang and the five elements. If arrows came from the yang position, one should hide in the yin position. Luo Wanqing calculated the position and leaped up the tree, immediately pulling someone down from above.

At this moment, the huge scythe blade immediately swung back. The person cried out in alarm. Luo Wanqing grabbed him and kicked him onto the scythe’s back, using the force to leap far away while holding his throat threateningly: “Where is the position to stop the mechanism?”

“That tree!”

The other person cried out. Luo Wanqing dragged him as she leaped toward the tree, kicked the tree with one foot, then flipped to avoid the scythe’s final attack, seeing the scythe swing back into midair and hide among the trees.

Luo Wanqing pressed down on the man’s throat, saying coldly: “You operate the mechanism?”

“Inspector Liu, spare my life! Inspector Liu, forgive me!”

The man spoke with a standard northwestern accent, immediately recognizing her.

Luo Wanqing paused, then understood: “You’re one of those five hundred soldiers from the northwest.”

Seeing Luo Wanqing discover his identity, the other person’s body began trembling as he incoherently begged for mercy: “Sir, I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

“What are you afraid of?”

Luo Wanqing softened her tone, slowly releasing her grip and rubbing her wrist, saying gently: “I have no grievances with you. Why are you so afraid of me?”

The man remained silent, then realized he had revealed too much. He quickly said: “I’m… I’m sorry. It’s just that I operated the mechanism to attack you just now, so I’m a bit nervous.”

“Oh.” Luo Wanqing nodded, then asked curiously: “Why are you here? And why did you attack me?”

“Well… didn’t the Supervision Department attack Liufeng Island?” The man smiled bitterly. “We got a warning that you were going to kill us all, so everyone ran into the mountains. We’re all scared.”

“Who told you this?”

Luo Wanqing seemed to be chatting casually with him, but her hand was always on the hidden weapons around her, ready to strike at any moment.

But the other person didn’t notice. He smiled somewhat guiltily: “It was Miss Wang’s people. The Wang family has high position and great power. We can’t afford to offend the young miss. When she told us to run, we had to run, right?”

“Then why are you here operating mechanisms?”

“We… when we ran in, we met people from Ji Rui Palace,” the other person hesitated. “They said… If we charged around chaotically, we’d destroy the forest mechanisms, telling us not to use our lives to pave the way for you all. So they took us for two days, taught us to use these mechanisms, and had us stay in the forest to prevent the Supervision Department people from entering.”

“You learned quite quickly.”

Luo Wanqing seemed to praise him. The other person smiled awkwardly. The two stood in place, actually quite harmoniously.

Luo Wanqing thought for a moment, then said: “You should know safe routes, right?”

The other person quickly shook his head, only saying: “Each of us only knows our safe area. Outside our position, no one can guarantee anyone’s safety. But I know a route that can go inward,” the other person immediately offered like presenting a treasure, “I can guide you there, Inspector.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing thought and nodded, cupping her hands: “Thank you.”

The other person nodded sheepishly. Luo Wanqing led her horse and followed him inward, asking as they walked: “What’s your name?”

“Ah Long.”

“All five hundred of you entered the forest and were arranged to operate these mechanisms?”

“About three hundred stayed,” the other person pondered, “some others entered Ji Rui Palace. I didn’t have such good luck—I’m guarding the entrance.”

“I see…” Luo Wanqing spoke leisurely, asking him about Xueling Mountain’s situation while slowly walking inward.

“The deeper you go into Xueling Mountain, the colder it gets. When you see snow, that’s when you’ve truly entered the mountains.” Ah Long explained with a smile. “This place is especially large. Fortunately, there are few routes in, or we couldn’t block everyone.”

The two walked together. Just before dawn, Ah Long said somewhat tiredly: “Inspector Liu, walking all this way is tiring. Why don’t you rest first? I’ll get you a steamed bun.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t refuse. Watching Ah Long start a fire, Ah Long rubbed his hands: “Inspector Liu, I’ll go get firewood.”

Luo Wanqing nodded and sat by the fire, methodically tearing the drugged steamed bun into her mouth.

The sleeping drug had a lighter taste than poison and was harder to detect. If she weren’t experienced in medicine, the drug in this steamed bun would indeed be difficult to smell.

She used a false name on Liufeng Island. For Ah Long to recognize her immediately upon seeing her, he didn’t know her from Liufeng Island—someone had informed him.

Taking the initiative to guide her while drugging her meant setting a trap for her. Someone must be waiting for her now.

Though she roughly guessed the reason, she still wanted to confirm what Ah Long was after.

She ate two pieces of steamed buns, pretended to faint, and collapsed to one side with her eyes closed.

After a while, she heard rustling in the forest. Ah Long carefully returned and pushed her: “Inspector Liu? What’s wrong, Inspector Liu?”

Luo Wanqing pretended to be unconscious. Ah Long’s face showed a cold expression. He stood up and kicked Luo Wanqing, then turned and said: “Sir, she’s fainted.”

As his words fell, over ten people gradually emerged from the forest. The leader was a veiled woman who walked to Luo Wanqing and raised her hand: “Tie her up and send her to the palace. We’ve finally waited for her after so many days. Quickly!”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing understood—it was indeed Ji Ruifang.

But she hadn’t expected Ji Ruifang to be so proactive, even notifying everyone to ambush her here.

Perhaps Ji Ruifang had spent great effort killing the previous two groups of Baihu Division people precisely to force her to come out.

Ji Ruifang being so anxious meant Xie Minran must be seriously injured.

But she couldn’t let Ji Ruifang capture her so easily. She had to map out the entire mountain range first.

Thinking this, the moment the other person touched her, she suddenly opened her eyes, her claw-like hand grabbed the person’s throat like an eagle, and with a “crack,” she twisted and threw them aside!

Seeing her suddenly awaken, everyone was shocked and scattered in all directions. But Luo Wanqing moved extremely fast. She first leaped to a distance, slashing across another person’s throat, then pursued and finished off all those trying to escape one by one.

In just a moment, she had slit the throats of over ten people, leaving only the last woman. The woman completely ignored Luo Wanqing and fled desperately with a soldier. The soldier followed her closely. Luo Wanqing pursued like a ghost. The woman panicked and threw the soldier aside.

Luo Wanqing’s blade cut down the soldier while simultaneously striking down hard!

The blade wind rushed toward the woman’s back, cutting a bloody gash. The woman didn’t dare stop and disappeared into the forest with her injury.

Luo Wanqing watched the retreating figure, knowing she was going to inform Ji Ruifang. Ji Ruifang would soon bring people to pursue.

Thinking this, Luo Wanqing knew she couldn’t stay here long. She quickly returned to investigate and destroy all mechanisms, rapidly drew a map on the spot, briefly explained the situation, and then hesitated slightly.

If Ji Ruifang was determined to capture her and wouldn’t kill her, she would have countless opportunities to survive. Going directly into the mountains wouldn’t be too dangerous for her.

Moreover, Xueling Mountain was vast. As long as she moved faster than Ji Ruifang could receive information, compared to the regular ten-li daily advance, she would be safer.

Most importantly…

According to Ah Long, those operating mechanisms in the forest were all those soldiers.

Three hundred of the five hundred were in the forest. If she advanced according to plan, there would be many places she couldn’t reach, pointlessly letting them escape.

Should she enter the mountains alone to kill, or wait for comrades to advance together?

After brief consideration, Luo Wanqing reached her conclusion and added at the end of her message to Cui Heng: “Entering mountains alone. Where I pass is safe. No need to search for me.”

After writing the letter, she tied it to Zhusi’s foot and released it.

Then she sat in place, searched through the corpses, took everything useful, and charged back into the mountain forest on horseback.

This time, she didn’t know the direction herself—wherever she went was fine.

Reaching a place, she would fight fiercely, kill people, destroy mechanisms, scavenge supplies from corpses, and leave.

She drank rainwater, ate wild fruits, and insects. Occasionally, she could hunt game, which was fortunate enough.

At night, she would find a safe place to meditate, repeatedly widening meridians and consolidating according to methods she had practiced with Cui Heng.

She seemed to return to those days when she traveled alone from Yangzhou through mountains and ridges to reach the Eastern Capital.

But compared to then, her heart was more settled, her blade more steady.

Then she knew she was going to the Eastern Capital, but didn’t know which direction to head.

Now she had no fixed direction, killing everyone she met in Xueling Mountain, fighting bloody battles all the way, yet knowing exactly where she was going.

She advanced rapidly, always leaving before Ji Ruifang’s people arrived.

Occasionally surrounded, she could still force her way through.

Her martial skills weren’t top-tier, but her breakthrough ability was extremely strong. Once she broke through, her concealment and counterattacks were first-rate.

In single combat, no one could match her, and she was difficult to capture.

Ji Ruifang was led around until her head ached. She simply mobilized all of Ji Rui Palace’s people to search the mountains.

More and more people hunted her, and safe areas became fewer and fewer. Luo Wanqing calculated the number of northwestern accents she encountered while continuing to wander randomly.

Pursuers could arrive at any time. Her sleep rarely exceeded two hours, but the alertness of constantly facing death kept her extremely awake.

She continued forward. In less than seven days, she saw vast white snow.

The core area of Xueling Mountain had snow. Seeing the white snow, she knew she wasn’t far from Ji Rui Palace.

Her position was unpredictable. Not just Ji Ruifang—even Cui Heng and the others didn’t know where she was.

Cui Heng paced anxiously in his room, hitting his head and cursing: “Xie Lingshu’s letter came back, but Liu Xiniang is lost again. Can’t they both appear in my sight at the same time?!”

Just as he finished speaking, Zhuque rushed back urgently: “Brother Junye, Zhusi is back!”

Hearing this, Cui Heng quickly opened the window to let Zhusi in.

These days, Zhusi was their only hope for finding Liu Xiniang.

Last time it delivered a letter and never returned.

Just when Lianqing’s letter arrived.

Now that Zhusi was back, everyone was overjoyed. Cui Heng said urgently: “Quick, quick, quick, let me see where Liu Xiniang has gotten to!”

With that, Xuanshan removed Luo Wanqing’s latest map from Zhusi’s foot.

The moment they saw the map, everyone was stunned.

The map wasn’t a straight line, but a tangled mess of dots.

Luo Wanqing’s route was chaotic beyond measure. What could be seen were dots—dots, dots, dots everywhere.

Yet these dots occupied most of the map.

“Impossible.”

Zhuque looked at the map in shock: “Even Aunt Baili couldn’t do this. In such a short time, with so many mechanisms and so many people, how did she… how did she cover so many places?!”

Xuanshan and Cui Heng were also speechless.

After a long time, Xuanshan only said: “The day she entered the Supervision Department, Young Master said… she was a good blade.”

Looking at it now, she was indeed a good blade.

Seven days alone, covering hundreds of li, killing hundreds of people.

This blade, with its edge fully revealed—who wouldn’t be chilled by it?

The shock lasted only a moment. Cui Heng immediately reacted, quickly taking up a brush to connect the outermost dots into a line, immediately ordering: “Advance! Everyone move forward.”

After thinking, he immediately took out a paper and a brush.

Xie Heng was unreachable, so he could only write to Luo Wanqing first: “Chief Xie disappeared in Xueling Mountain forest, imprisoned in Ji Rui Palace. Route transmitted back. Enter Ji Rui Palace on the first day of the tenth month for general assault.”

After writing, he tied Xie Heng’s map copy to the note and had Zhusi deliver it to Luo Wanqing.

Then he turned to instruct Zhuque: “Go up the cliff and leave a message for the Ji Rui Palace people. We’re willing to negotiate with them. Let them name their conditions.”

After doing this, Cui Heng sighed and slumped in his chair.

“You choose your path, you fight for your own life.”

Cui Heng stared blankly into the distance, murmuring: “Xie Lingshu, whether you can get through this depends on whether you fight for yourself.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Luo Wanqing: Bear Grylls of “The Vast Waves,” wilderness survival champion