The wilderness was like snow, the mountain passes like iron. The north wind carried large goose feather-like snowflakes, sprinkling them before everyone’s eyes. The eight-year-old child wore an iron-gray cloak, the huge hood covering her clear, clean eyes. Her snow-white little hand gripped an ice-cold dagger as she stood among thousands of soldiers, head held high, without a trace of fear or weakness.
That night, the heavens seemed to have gone mad, bringing the heaviest snowfall True Imperial City had seen in ten years. The howling north wind tore at people’s frozen blue faces, but those pairs of eyes could not return to their normal curvature.
Zhuge Yue smiled coldly and turned his head, speaking slowly in a low voice: “Would you kill me?”
The snow and wind blew between the two of them. Suddenly, an owl screeched fiercely overhead, like the unwilling howls of wronged souls in the thick night. Chu Qiao’s gaze instantly turned cold. That dilapidated woodshed, the child’s pure smile, a piece of fragrant braised pork exploded in her heart like a bomb. She slowly lowered her head, looking coldly into the young man’s eyes, and said in a deep voice: “You’re welcome to try.”
“Is that so?” The corner of Zhuge Yue’s mouth lifted, his eyes slightly narrowed as he smiled lightly: “Good.”
With that, the young man’s body instantly seemed to lose control, suddenly dropping his head and thrusting forward toward the sharp blade like one committing suicide.
“Young Master!” “Master!” “Ah!”
All the panicked voices sounded simultaneously. Time seemed to freeze in that second. The great chaotic noise gathered into one, forming a turbulent river that roared violently. Chu Qiao was greatly shocked—who would have thought this young man’s character would be so resolute and violent, preferring suicide to yield to her threat? In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through her mind, with no time to ponder their meaning. Almost simultaneously, the child skillfully withdrew her knife, but the sharp blade still left a long bloody mark on the young man’s neck, extending to his ear.
Just as Chu Qiao withdrew her knife, Zhuge Yue’s body suddenly moved like an agile loach. Taking advantage of the child’s momentary distraction, he straightened up, stepped forward, darted away, and recovered from the knife’s trajectory!
All these movements happened in a flash. Before the echoes of those surprised cries had faded, the young man who had been held hostage had already broken free. Although his method was extreme, at this moment, he stood proudly facing the child. Drawing the long sword from his waist, he pointed it at the frowning girl from a distance and said coldly: “You cannot kill me.”
Blood flowed down from his neck. Though the cut was not deep, a large amount of blood gushed out, flowing down his pale skin and seeping into his heavy fur coat. Seeing this, Zhu Cheng immediately ran forward, crying out in terror: “Fourth Young Master, you’re injured! Quick! Return to the mansion, return to the mansion!”
Zhuge Yue stared coldly at Chu Qiao as if he hadn’t heard Zhu Cheng’s words. He reached into his robe and took out a pure white handkerchief. The blood from his neck dripped onto the pristine cloth, spots of crimson, one drop, two drops, like winter plum blossoms blooming in the snow.
“Quick! Medicine! Young master, please sit down and let your servant bandage the wound!”
The pale-faced young man stood in the vast snow-covered ground. Between his eyes, an unfathomable sharpness slowly passed. He raised his right hand horizontally, the veins at his wrist visible as he gripped tightly. After a long moment, he suddenly resolutely released his hand. The wrinkled handkerchief flew away with the howling north wind, turning over twice in the night before being covered by the flying snow, gradually disappearing without a trace.
Who would remember that the pure white handkerchief had once wiped away someone’s tears? In the young man’s mysterious, inexpressible heart, there had once been someone he wanted to protect. But the great wind howled, and everything eventually scattered. When the play ends, whoever was most deeply immersed in the role is utterly defeated.
“Seize her!” Zhuge Yue turned away indifferently, his voice cold, devoid of any emotion.
The Zhuge family guards surrounded her. Chu Qiao stood in the center of the crowd, drawing her long sword. The blade gleamed brightly, reflecting the child’s cold-as-iron gaze. In those eyes, there was calmness, hatred, cautious assessment of the situation, and the determination of one who has burned their bridges—but not a single trace of weakness or regret.
She always knew how to survive, always knew what blood hatred she carried, always knew what debts of gratitude she owed. So, Zhuge Yue, when you cut off Xiao Jiu’s arm when you beat Linxi to death, we were destined to become enemies. If I cannot kill you, then I can only be killed by you—there is no other way.
“Attack!” A low shout suddenly rang out among the crowd. None of the Zhuge family servants dared to underestimate this seemingly small and frail child anymore. A group of agile men attacked simultaneously. Blades slashed downward, cold light flashed, and the sound of combat instantly filled the air. The child moved nimbly, like a wildcat. Left leg in a bow stance, right leg side-kicking, spinning in a flying turn, her long sword stained with blood. Her right hand grabbed a large man’s throat with a fierce claw grip. Exerting force through her fingers, dislocating tendons and bones, there was a crisp crack. The man’s eyeballs instantly bulged out as he fell limply.
The crowd was greatly alarmed, but not one person retreated. A thick-backed broadsword suddenly chopped down. Chu Qiao raised an eyebrow and lifted her arm to block, but being small and weak, despite her tricky angle, she was still forced to step back twice. Blood seeped through the clothing at her shoulder, clearly injured in the first exchange.
Seeing this, the Zhuge family guards immediately rejoiced. Although this child was full of cunning strategies, quick-witted, and ruthless, she was still not even eight years old. How could her strength compete with these burly men?
Realizing this, everyone rushed forward together. Zhuge Yue stood outside the battlefield, his gaze cold, his lips blue-white. Zhu Cheng anxiously pressed gauze to his wound as vast snow flew around them, a scene of desolation.
“Hya!”
Just then, a clear, vigorous shout suddenly rang out. The chaotic sound of hoofbeats abruptly came from the north.
Everyone turned their heads to see over a hundred fierce riders approaching rapidly from the distant north. Horses trampled the white snow, swift as meteors. The leading young man, dressed in white fur with black hair, held a crossbow, shooting like a meteor, swiftly downing several Zhuge family guards.
“Little girl!” The warhorse galloped forward, instantly charging into the crowd. The young man on horseback swooped down and grabbed Chu Qiao by the waist, placing her on the horse’s back. His eyes bright, he laughed heartily: “I’ve saved you again. How will you repay me?”
With a “swoosh,” Chu Qiao cut down a spear and turned back to glare angrily at Yan Xun: “Have you gone mad? Coming back at this time—do you not want to live?”
“What would you do if I didn’t come back?” Feeling his good intentions were unappreciated, Yan Xun pouted: “Hold tight!” With that, he fiercely whipped the horse’s flank. The warhorse neighed loudly, suddenly leaping over everyone’s heads as if soaring through clouds and mist!
“Yan Xun!” Zhuge Yue raged, lifting his robe, shouting furiously: “You dare interfere in my affairs!”
The Yan Bei warhorses were considered the finest in the world. Who could stop them on the plains? Yan Xun held Chu Qiao, looking back from far away, laughing loudly, saying clearly: “Fourth Young Master Zhuge, I pay my respects. Yan Xun returns north today. No need to see me off. The mountains remain unchanging, the waters flow forever—we shall meet again another day!”
With that, he led the Yan Bei warriors away like a gust of wind.
“Ah! Young Master!” Zhu Cheng cried out in alarm as the severely injured Zhuge Yue snorted angrily, tore off the gauze from his neck, and with furrowed brows, climbed onto horseback. Angrily cracking his whip, he pursued them closely.
“Quick! Quick, follow the Young Master!”
The night wind was like iron, whipping up large patches of snow from the ground.