“Liu Xi?”

After closing the door, Zhuge Yue asked Chu Qiao, “Do you know this person?”

Chu Qiao frowned slightly and said in a low voice, “I believe we’ve met once.”

“We’re leaving now.”

Zhuge Yue said decisively, walking to Chu Qiao’s side, lifting her by the waist, and turning to leave.

“Wait!” Chu Qiao hurriedly called out, “I only saw him from a distance once, didn’t even see his face clearly, never spoke to him, and it was many years ago.”

Zhuge Yue frowned tightly. Chu Qiao naturally knew what he was worried about and said, “The people outside just think we’re ordinary citizens with a serious illness. There won’t be any chance to meet guests. As long as I’m careful, nothing will happen.”

“He’s Liu Mingjun’s nephew?”

“Yes.”

Zhuge Yue pondered for a while before slowly saying, “The Liu family is considered a prominent household in Xian Yang. When I entered Xian Yang City that day, I wondered if he was in the welcoming party.”

Hearing this, Chu Qiao was immediately startled. Zhuge Yue said in a deep voice, “Let’s be careful. Tomorrow morning, I’ll go to the market to buy horses, and then we’ll drive to the Tang capital ourselves.”

Chu Qiao nodded. Her position now was rather awkward. Liu Xi was Liu Mingjun’s nephew, which meant he was also a member of the Da Tong Guild. As one of their own, if she were to be recognized by them now, they would naturally take good care of her and arrange for her to retreat to Yan Bei. But because Zhuge Yue was by her side, she couldn’t let Liu Xi know her identity. Moreover, Liu Mingjun was an elder of the old generation in Da Tong, with rigid thinking and a dismissive attitude toward Yan Bei. Now, with Zhuge Yue having no guards around him if Liu Xi harbored ill intentions…

“You rest first,” he placed Chu Qiao on the bed, “I’ll go ask the waiter to prepare some dishes. What would you like to eat?”

Chu Qiao shook her head and said, “Anything is fine.”

Zhuge Yue turned around, muttering as he walked, “Not much choice anyway in this broken place. What could they possibly have to eat?”

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly turned back and covered Chu Qiao with a blanket. Seeing Chu Qiao staring at him, he looked somewhat embarrassed, his brows tightly knitted. Then, without warning, he angrily said, “What are you looking at? Hurry up and get better. I don’t want to keep dragging you around hiding like homeless dogs. Hmph!”

Watching the man’s figure disappear at the door, Chu Qiao felt somewhat dazed, then the corner of her mouth tugged into a weak smile.

With the Zhuge family’s influence, there were probably contact points and affiliated personnel all over the Ximeng Continent. As one of the families controlling the empire’s lifelines, their power certainly wasn’t limited to what was visible in politics.

How many underground networks in this world were controlled by the Zhuge family? How many by the Wei faction? How many belonged to the Zhao family of Da Xia? To the Li family of Bian Tang? To the Nalan family of Huai Song? Who could clearly define these boundaries?

Chu Qiao knew that behind any powerful family was a century of family struggle. Even when Zhao Zhengde furiously eradicated the Muhe clan, could he be certain that the foundations built by the Muhe clan over a hundred years had completely vanished from Da Xia’s territory?

The Zhuge family’s power was no less than that of Yan Xun in the Yan Bei Plateau, and as a legitimate imperial family, they held a political status that Yan Bei could never reach.

Hidden behind those tens of thousands of family troops were family members strategically placed throughout the empire over the years, the numerous officials with the compound surname Zhuge scattered throughout the Personnel Ministry, the paths paved with money, the hearts bought with power, the forces bound by interests, and the groups controlled through leverage.

Yan Bei openly rebelled, so the entire Yan Bei faction stood in opposition to the empire. But one could imagine, if one day the Zhuge family were to rebel, if they were given time to plan if they were allowed to prepare and raise the flag of rebellion like Yan Bei, what kind of devastating disaster would the Zhao family face?

So, with the Zhuge family’s influence and Zhuge Yue’s position within the family, no matter where he went, as soon as he raised his arm and called out, he would instantly gather a large number of family members and trusted followers. As the saying goes, even a cunning rabbit has three burrows, let alone a family like the Zhuge clan. But Zhuge Yue had no such intention. All the way, he had carefully concealed his identity, personally taking care of her food and daily needs, but never notifying his family or waiting for his subordinates.

Perhaps he was afraid that those who came might not be his direct subordinates and might reveal Chu Qiao’s identity, which could then be exploited by the family’s opponents.

Chu Qiao gave a faint, cold smile, mocking her tai chi-like self-deception. She clearly understood the cause of everything that had happened but was unwilling to acknowledge and face it. So, she avoided it by closing her eyes, quietly waiting for time to pass.

Perhaps he just wanted to accompany her in a relatively peaceful environment. He wasn’t the young master of the Zhuge family, and she didn’t have to stand behind Yan Xun. Just ordinary people in the mortal world, without opposition, without hatred, without irreconcilable contradictions, and those unavoidable real-world responsibilities.

Such an opportunity, in their entire lives, might only come once.

Chu Qiao slowly closed her eyes, hoping to fall asleep quickly. Some thoughts were too dangerous to entertain. She understood everything but couldn’t respond.

They lived in this world, each with their path to walk. From the beginning, they had stood at two different starting points, and over eight years, they had each walked further and further apart. As a person, it was better to remain calm and rational.

Chu Qiao felt completely weak and soon drifted off to sleep, her eyelids feeling like they weighed a thousand pounds. Before falling asleep, she smiled self-mockingly. Why think so much? At the very least, for now, she still couldn’t distance herself from him.

When Zhuge Yue returned, Chu Qiao was already in a deep sleep. The air held her soft breathing and the faint fragrance of a young woman. Zhuge Yue carried a large tray filled with bowls and dishes, and a pot of wine.

After arranging the food, he sat at the table and poured himself a cup of wine.

Though the inn wasn’t large, the dishes it served were delicious. Even with the lids on, the rich aroma still wafted out and into the nose. The wine was mellow, clear, and bright, yet with a rich flavor. After one sip, his entire body warmed up.

The sunset was fiery red, casting its light inside, illuminating him and creating a long shadow on the ground.

He just sat there, slowly drinking wine. The sun gradually set, lanterns were lit in the streets, people came and went, and the atmosphere was lively. Then, after a while, the market finally dispersed, and the entire city quieted down. Under the pitch-black sky, everyone was immersed in dreams, except for him. He didn’t light a lamp, didn’t speak, just sat quietly in the darkness like a statue. Only his arm moving back and forth between the wine pot and cup revealed that he was a person.

Chu Qiao woke up in the middle of the night, her head throbbing as if it had been struck by a hundred hammers. In her drowsy state, she wanted some water but immediately noticed the figure in the darkness.

Her first reaction was to reach for the dagger on her calf. Even in such a weakened state, she sprang up like an agile leopard.

However, she quickly came to her senses. She lowered the dagger, staring at the man in the darkness, and asked in confusion, “Zhuge Yue?”

“Mm.”

The answer was a faint nasal sound. The man seemed to have drunk a lot of wine; the room was heavy with the smell of alcohol.

“Want some water?”

Chu Qiao nodded, but then realized he couldn’t see her nod in the darkness. Just as she was about to speak, a cup of water was already at her lips.

“Drink. It’s not poisoned.”

Taking it, she felt it was warm, almost hot. The cup was small, but Chu Qiao held it with both hands. After taking a sip, she licked her dry lips. Her voice was a bit hoarse from just waking up, and she softly asked, “Why don’t you light a lamp?”

The room was so quiet that one could hear the gurgling sound of the strong wine as it rolled past his Adam’s apple. After a long time, a faint voice finally slowly rose, “The darkness is fine.”

Chu Qiao asked earnestly, “Zhuge Yue, when will you ever call me Chu Qiao?”

The man coldly snorted, “In your dreams.”

“You’re too stubborn.” As soon as the words fell, Chu Qiao suddenly smiled self-mockingly and said, “Actually, I’m just like you. I’m also very stubborn. So once I’ve made up my mind about something, I won’t change it.”

Zhuge Yue didn’t speak. Chu Qiao seemed to be in a good mood tonight. Her voice was soft, carrying the weakness of severe illness, and she continued, “Actually, you’re not a bad person. Although you’re somewhat solitary, a bit cruel in your methods, a bit lacking in sympathy, and, well, a bit annoying when you have a dark expression on your face, that’s about it. But in this world, who isn’t cruel? Whose hands aren’t stained with blood? The world is just like this. If you don’t eat others, others will eat you. By now, I can’t even remember how many lives I’ve taken.”

“Zhuge Yue, do you remember clearly?”

As soon as the words fell, Chu Qiao answered her question, “You probably keep count. You’re a leader, and even on the battlefield, you’re a general who commands from behind the scenes. Those you’ve personally killed are probably just some servants who offended you. But I can’t keep track anymore. In the past half year, more people have died by my hand than people I’ve spoken to in my entire life. Each time my blade falls, it’s ahead. The blood from their throats is always scalding hot, splashing on my face like burning coals.”

“In the northwest, they gave me a nickname, called me the Blood Rakshasa. The Governor of Yao Province, someone named Qi-something, even had a stone statue of me made and placed at the city gate, ordering every person entering the city to spit on it, or they wouldn’t be allowed in. During my time on the run, besides the government’s pursuit teams, I also had to be careful to avoid the common people. After escaping from Zhen Huang, there was once when I was injured and was saved by an elderly couple. They were both over eighty, a very kind and gentle couple. They treated my wounds and even killed their only old hen to make soup for me, never questioning my background. They probably thought I had been robbed by bandits and kept encouraging me to report to the authorities.”

“But the next day, the old man went to town to buy medicine for me, and when he returned, his expression had completely changed. I didn’t know what had happened at the time. However, that night, they secretly rushed into my room with sickles, frantically slashing at the bed. I learned that their son had been conscripted by the Xia Emperor many years ago to join General Meng’s army against Yan Bei, and later died on the Yan Bei Plateau.”

Chu Qiao’s expression was cold, and she laughed coldly, “Then I killed them. They were too impulsive; I couldn’t escape. So I killed them.”

“False benevolence, false righteousness,” a cold voice suddenly sounded. Zhuge Yue still sat there, his mouth mocking as he said, “With your skills, subduing two elderly people would have been as easy as turning your palm. You were merely afraid they would report to the authorities, yet you want to find such a disgusting excuse for yourself.”

“I’m not making excuses,” Chu Qiao didn’t get angry, just quietly refuted, “I was seriously injured at the time, with an arrow piercing my thigh. I couldn’t move at all. I only had two choices then: kill them, or let them kill me.”

Zhuge Yue laughed lightly, dismissively, “Xing’er, how are your actions any different from mine?”

“Yes, that’s what I thought at first,” Chu Qiao said in a deep voice, “But later, I no longer believed so. When General Meng went to war in Yan Bei, it was an invasion, slaughter, and trampling without reason. Their son joined the army and invaded someone else’s homeland. Should the invaded not be allowed to resist and fight back? In that battle, countless people died in Yan Bei, whether they were poor commoners or the Yan Bei army. All forces suffered cruel purges. Yan Bei’s losses were far greater than those of Da Xia’s homeland. And I didn’t wrong them. I recuperated at their place and compensated them, but they intended to harm me just because of hatred that wasn’t mine to bear. Should I have just waited to die? I kill, but I don’t kill indiscriminately. I sympathize with civilians, but I’m not a saint.”

Chu Qiao’s voice gradually became more firm. She enunciated each word clearly, “The war between Yan Bei and Da Xia is inevitable and will be protracted. But all those who fall in this war will not have died in vain. They are fighting for justice and freedom. Sooner or later, a new nation will rise on the Red River land, a nation that will have freedom and equality, law and peace, never again to be like before, with arbitrary cruelty and no trace of humanity. For that day, everything I’ve done is worthwhile.”

“Haha!” Zhuge Yue suddenly burst into laughter, saying coldly, “Xing’er, I’ve always thought highly of you, but I didn’t expect you to say such absurd things. Freedom and equality? Law and peace? What, have you also become a disciple of Da Tong? Have you also begun to dream that ethereal Da Tong dreams?”

“No, I haven’t. I’m clear-headed. I know that as long as there are interests in this world, there will never be true equality. But we can make things better; we can take a step forward slowly,” Chu Qiao looked at Zhuge Yue and said in a deep voice, “At the very least, there won’t be what happened in the Zhuge mansion again—arbitrary killing, abuse, treating people like dogs!”

“Do you think Yan Xun can achieve these things?” Zhuge Yue slightly raised his eyebrows, smiling disdainfully, “Or do you think those old fellows of the Da Tong Guild will truly be as selfless as their slogan suggests? People who have tasted power will not easily let go of what they’ve already obtained. Even if one day Yan Xun overthrows Da Xia and ascends the throne, it will merely be the succession of one dynasty, certainly not the end of an era. Xing’er, if you can’t accept the fact of Yan Xun’s ambitious power struggle, you might as well say he’s avenging his family. That sounds a bit better. Don’t put such a grand, righteous hat on his head, making him sound like a saint or Buddha. It’s truly sickening.”

Chu Qiao’s expression changed slightly. After a long time, she still firmly said, “I believe in him.”

Zhuge Yue frowned, staring steadily at her.

“I believe he won’t disappoint me.” Chu Qiao smiled faintly, “I will be by his side, helping him, watching him accomplish this great undertaking with his own hands. Zhuge Yue, you just watch.”

At that moment, it was as if a lamp had lit up in the darkness, so dazzlingly bright in this dark place. Zhuge Yue suddenly felt that the woman before him was very fragile and foolish, but he no longer wanted to mock her stubbornness.

He just wanted to ask, “If one day he truly disappoints you, what will you do?”

But he didn’t voice it, feeling it would be a bit cruel. Yes, very cruel.

This girl is not even seventeen years old yet. What were his sisters at home doing now? What were those young ladies in Zhen Huang City doing now? Applying rouge and powder, enjoying tours and flower viewing, discussing young talents from various noble families, or perhaps, secretly in some luxurious private room, engaging in passionate affairs with men who couldn’t see the light of day…

And she, through years of bloodshed and carnage, all for this one belief. With no power, no influence, no family, and no relatives, this was probably her hope to live on.

Alright, Xing’er, I’ll just watch. I’ll just watch if that man can ultimately fulfill your wishes.

If such a day truly comes, I, Zhuge Yue, would be willing to spend all my wealth, light a million festive fireworks, to celebrate your wish coming true!

“Yan Bei,” Zhuge Yue tilted his head back and drank a cup of strong wine. The spicy wine rolled down his throat, painful like a knife cutting through. The man gazed westward, saying softly in his heart, “I’m watching you.”