As Chu Zhao’s group set off in the morning light, a team of postal soldiers arrived in Yunzhong Commandery, also bathed in the morning glow.

Compared to when they had parted from Chu Zhao, they appeared rougher. Even the usually arrogant A-Jiu looked unwell. Though he still ran at the front, he couldn’t hide his exhaustion.

“When it comes to traveling, we postal soldiers are still inferior to real soldiers,” Zhang Gu said hoarsely, pointing at Deputy General Zhong ahead.

Deputy General Zhong traveled almost without stopping day or night, changing horses but not men, so he had reached Yunzhong Commandery in only half the usual time.

This had nearly worn out the postal soldiers.

“So don’t think you’re truly not afraid of hardship. Once or twice is manageable, but over the long term, it’s truly a difficult job,” Zhang Gu said.

Perhaps because the mission was finally about to be completed, Zhang Gu felt emotional and continued to lecture A-Jiu.

“After this assignment is done, be good and apologize to your relative, and go back to the Imperial Guard.”

He looked at A-Jiu. Anyone could see that this young man was different from them.

Indeed, he was different.

This young fellow had only arrived at their postal soldier camp a month ago. It was said that his family had connections and had originally arranged for him to be in the Imperial Guard, but because of his defiance, he had angered his relative and was punished by being sent to the postal soldier camp to suffer.

When he first arrived at the camp, they disliked this kind of privileged soldier and deliberately created obstacles for him. They poured water on his bedding and spilled his food. This fellow was indeed defiant and refused to swallow his anger. He fought with them back and forth for half a month, until they grew tired of the conflict.

However, there was one thing that earned their respect: this young man would fight back if you hit him, and if you poured water on him, he would pour water on you too. He was fierce and aggressive, but he never abused his position. He neither reported them to their superiors nor complained to his family—his family background must be extraordinary. Once, they saw Captain Zhu, who always held his nose high, make a gesture of respect toward A-Jiu.

“A-Jiu, your family background is unusual,” they had directly asked at that time. “We bullied you before, why didn’t you retaliate?”

The young man had laughed heartily upon hearing this. “My family has such great power, wouldn’t it be a waste to use it against you few? Impressive family connections are meant to be used against formidable opponents.”

This was a principle they had never heard before, and Zhang Gu was stunned.

But after that, their relationship improved. They ate, lived, and trained together. Apart from his generous spending, young A-Jiu seemed no different from them.

Especially after this mission, they had truly become brothers in arms. As true brothers, they naturally looked out for each other’s best interests.

Hearing Zhang Gu speak this way, A-Jiu smiled and said, “Brother Zhang, are you all tired of me? It’s because of me that you got this difficult assignment.”

This task indeed shouldn’t have been assigned to their small team. It should have been A-Jiu’s relative wanting him to suffer a bit as punishment. Zhang Gu spat and said, “For you it’s a difficult task, but for us, what’s the big deal—”

A-Jiu reached out and tightened Zhang Gu’s loose scarf, saying with a hint of mockery, “—Brother Zhang, your snot is dripping out.”

The other postal soldiers burst into laughter. Zhang Gu wiped his nose angrily while saying, “This is an exception. It’s not like we always travel with border garrison troops.”

Another postal soldier curiously asked, “A-Jiu, what mistake did you make anyway?”

A-Jiu smiled, “The mistake I made is small in some ways, but big in others.”

“What was it?” “Did you kill someone?” “Did you set a fire?” “Did you force yourself on a village girl?”

The postal soldiers asked in a clamor.

A-Jiu looked arrogant, “The rest aside, would someone like me need to force myself on a village girl? The village girls are all clinging to me of their own accord, alright?”

Zhang Gu made a sound, “Like Miss Chu?”

A-Jiu’s face immediately stiffened. The postal soldiers all laughed, thinking that this Miss Chu was indeed interesting. Until now, they were all still confused, not knowing what had happened, or rather, what was true and what was false.

“So what was the real reason?” Zhang Gu asked.

A-Jiu smiled faintly. This time he didn’t evade the question and said, “Because I wouldn’t listen.”

Wouldn’t listen? The postal soldiers looked at each other. What kind of mistake was that?

“Not listening, that’s a very big mistake,” A-Jiu said, placing his hands behind his neck. “Let’s not talk about my affairs. Look, you just mentioned Miss Chu, and that Deputy General Zhong has keen ears. He’s looking over here.”

The postal soldiers quickly looked over and indeed saw Deputy General Zhong approaching them from the front.

“Gentlemen, we’ve reached Yunzhong Commandery,” he said. “I’ll be returning to Da Qing Mountain now.”

Chu Li was a General, ordered to guard Da Qing Mountain. He typically resided in the city there, only coming to the commandery city when summoned.

The postal soldiers hurriedly bowed, watching as a frightening smile appeared on Deputy General Zhong’s scarred face.

Deputy General Zhong said with a smile, “Thank you all for the matter concerning my young lady. I will tell the General, and when the time comes, I hope you won’t refuse a small token of our appreciation.”

Zhang Gu hastily said repeatedly that they wouldn’t dare accept: “We didn’t take good care of Miss Chu, we don’t deserve it, we don’t deserve it. Let’s just pretend this matter never happened.”

Deputy General Zhong nodded with satisfaction, the smile on his face becoming more kindly: “When your duties are finished, if you have time, come and visit us at Da Qing Mountain.”

No need for that. Zhang Gu shook his head but then quickly nodded, exchanging a few more pleasantries until Deputy General Zhong finally left, though not before giving A-Jiu a few more glances.

A-Jiu paid no attention. When he saw the deputy general looking at him, he stared back unflinchingly.

This kid… the scar on Deputy General Zhong’s face twitched, but he said nothing and left with his men.

Watching the troops gallop away, Zhang Gu let out a sigh of relief. This matter was finally over.

“I’ll go report in,” he told the postal soldiers. “You all can look around. A-Jiu, it’s your first time in Yunzhong Commandery, take the opportunity to broaden your horizons.”

The postal soldiers laughed and pulled A-Jiu along, “That’s right, the commandery city is quite lively.”

A-Jiu waved his hand: “Sightseeing isn’t urgent, we can do that tomorrow. Let me sleep for a while first.”

The postal soldiers laughed, “So A-Jiu, you do get tired sometimes!” “So you were just pretending to be strong.”

Despite the joking, Zhang Gu immediately arranged for a familiar postal soldier named Old Hei to take A-Jiu to rest. A-Jiu was again generous, giving the postal soldier a bag of money, requesting the best food and the best bed.

“You kids are much more likable than old Zhang,” Old Hei laughed heartily, taking the money and enthusiastically leading A-Jiu away.

……

……

Shortly after, in a barracks room with a table full of wine and food, postal soldier Old Hei lay slumped in a drunken sleep, still clutching a wine pot.

His clothes had been removed. A-Jiu stood nearby, efficiently changing into them, then dragged the man to the bed and covered him with a blanket. He felt for the token at his waist, wrapped his hat and scarf around himself, walked out, and closed the door from the inside. Looking around, though this place was unfamiliar and he had never been here before, the map was imprinted in his mind, transforming into clear lines before his eyes, showing paths in all directions.

He lowered his head and walked away quickly.

Soon he disappeared among the constant flow of people and horses in the military camp.

……

……

At dusk, layers of mountains donned shadows, appearing taller in the fading light, silently watching a troop of soldiers galloping at the foot of the mountains. As they passed through the rugged mountain paths, an endless plain came into view. On the plain stood a massive city—this was Da Qing Mountain Pass, the last city of the Great Xia to the west.

Luo City.

Named for the place where the sun sets.

Located on the border, close to the fierce Western Liang, it was full of dangers but also commercial opportunities. Chu Li had been stationed there for over a decade, his might striking fear into Western Liang. He had eliminated bandits and robbers, turning this city into a place where no one would pick up lost items on the road and doors remained unlocked at night. Merchants from various places flowed in, making it prosperous and bustling.

In the night, Luo City resembled a river of stars.

In the brightly lit study at the center of this river of stars, in the General’s mansion, Chu Li, his eyes sharp and bright, gazed at a sand table.

The enormous sand table occupied more than half the study, with lifelike cities and mountains on its surface.

Chu Li reached out to place a small flag on one of the mountain passages, a gentle smile appearing on his face.

He said, “This route is now also clear for the people and merchants to travel unimpeded.”