Murong Duan looked up at the gray line rolling across the horizon ahead – the dust cloud raised by pursuing cavalry hooves, overwhelming like a gray dragon about to engulf everything in an instant.

His heart was ice cold, yet his chest burned with fierce fire. That fire made all his muscles and bones contract, his skull pounding.

After painstaking efforts to forge Abyss Iron weapons, thinking he finally had sufficient confidence, yet all along the way there had been interceptions, robberies, pursuing troops, and Eunuch Chang’s sudden appearance forcing him to surrender everything. When he tried to kill Eunuch Chang to retrieve his possessions, his father king had actually been waiting behind like a mantis stalking a cicada.

He was stupid, forgetting his father king’s nature. For such momentous affairs, even Eunuch Chang wouldn’t be trusted.

Wave after wave of blows had refined him like being fried repeatedly in oil. The moment he saw his father king, he lost his final courage to resist, prostrating in the dust covered in cold sweat, still struggling to defend himself once more, refusing to admit that moment’s intent to kill.

What should have been desperate struggling before death, unexpectedly his father king seemed to believe him, showing no angry rebuke or arrest. Instead, he even encouraged him a few words, ordered him to guard the rear, then left with the people and weapons.

Murong Duan was grateful to keep his life and joyfully stayed behind at the time. Only now, seeing that earth-rolling giant dragon ahead, did he realize punishment had already begun.

Before the pursuing troops, his father king had thrown him out as a shield to buy time.

But he had no choice but to serve as this shield – this was the last thread of survival he could struggle for.

Murong Duan fiercely wiped the blood from kowtowing on his forehead, swearing that if he could survive, he would kill both that bastard who robbed forty percent and the person who exposed Cangshen Tower’s secrets!

One of his guards approached: “Your Highness, you should go! Find a way to return to Liaodong first – where there’s life, there’s hope!” He began removing his own clothes to give him.

“No… how can I let you die for me!”

“Your Highness, if you live, our families will have someone to care for them! We entrust future matters to you!”

Murong Duan’s eyes filled with tears: “Good brother! As long as I have breath left, I’ll never shortchange your family!”

He quickly removed his clothes and exchanged with the guard, but hid the Abyss Iron short sword in his robe front. He even reminded the guard not to forget to imitate his posture and voice.

Then he jumped into the nearby forest, found a tree hollow, drove out the small beast inside, and crouched in the stinking tree hole.

Hoofbeats charged like wind. The fake prince led the remaining followers, blocking the necessary path.

Dust clouds broke open as a black horse with white clothes and silver armor charged out from wind and smoke. The fake prince, following the principle of capturing the leader first, shouted and charged forward.

A pale, slender hand reached down from horseback, lifting up that fake prince in one grasp. Xiao Xueya briefly examined the man, looked at his dust-stained forehead, then at those destroyed carts, and casually threw him backward: “The items were intercepted. Don’t waste time here!”

Behind him, soldiers’ spear tips rose in unison. The thrown man, before falling, was instantly pierced into a porcupine on the spear points.

Murong Duan watched from afar in the forest, feeling as if countless transparent holes had been poked through his entire body.

He shuddered, not expecting Dengzhou troops to be so formidable. His elite subordinates couldn’t last one round in their hands, unable to delay their advance even a moment.

He quickly dragged over some withered shrubs to block the tree hole entrance.

Xiao Xueya’s deputy approached asking: “General, how do you know the items changed hands again?”

“If they had the items, they’d only want to flee quickly and would never stay to resist a large army. These were obviously left to delay time. Those Abyss Iron weapons were intercepted by someone of higher position,” Xiao Xueya said lightly. “They all have dust on their foreheads – traces left from repeated kowtowing. They encountered someone more powerful and had to offer their painstakingly forged treasures with both hands, not even daring to disobey orders to guard the rear… If the one forging weapons here was really Liaodong’s Second Prince, then the person who could subdue him to this extent… I’d guess Prince Da’an has come.”

From just a forehead mark he deduced so much. His deputy was more shocked by the final speculation: “How could that be!”

“Pursue and we’ll know.”

“General…”

“Hmm?”

“If it’s really Prince Da’an, this matter becomes complex… Prince Da’an is currently Da Qian’s super-grade prince with precious status. Even the court must respectfully honor him. Moreover, he controls all of Liaodong – pulling one hair moves the whole body. If we pursue like this, setting aside whether we have authority to deal with him, even catching him privately transporting Abyss Iron, what then? Could we actually arrest and imprison the Liaodong Prince? The realm would immediately be in chaos! How could we bear such responsibility!”

“How to deal with the Liaodong Prince who crossed borders illegally is the court’s business. Not letting one blade or sword flow into Liaodong is our business. Just do our duty well.”

“Must we meet the Liaodong Prince with weapons drawn?”

“Why not?” Wind pulled Xiao Xueya’s cloak straight, his voice equally straight and without warmth. “I’m a general. A general’s duty is guarding the land under his feet, not allowing my soil or possessions to be plundered, nor letting any ambitious person touch my soil or possessions. Extend the left foot and I’ll chop the left foot, extend the right foot and I’ll chop the right foot. Chop until he hurts and fears, chop until even seeing my mountains and rivers in their most glorious state, he won’t dare crane his neck for a look!”

…

After walking in the mountain cliffs for a while and turning around a cliff face, Tie Ci indeed saw soldiers slowly climbing down and lit torches.

That bastard had used cart tracks to lure her to the cliff edge, then pulled her down. With Abyss Iron swords inserted in the cliff wall, he’d retreated while collecting them before her eyes. Thus, he retrieved the swords and trapped the person. The Dengzhou troops were also delayed trying to rescue her, allowing him to leisurely leave with the swords.

Brilliant.

This cliff-hiding sword technique, moving up and down freely.

Also truly ruthless.

That decisive pull dragging her down.

Tie Ci took out her fire starter and whoosh – ignited a large patch of dry grass. The fire blazed up, finally visible to those above. Dan Shuang, climbing fastest, waved.

Tie Ci shouted: “Just you come down! Tell all soldiers to retreat, cross this mountain, and continue pursuing westward!”

She wouldn’t let herself become a burden – the Dengzhou troops should do what they needed to do.

Just now that fellow’s cliff traversal was indeed much faster than the Dengzhou troops crossing mountains. These slow Dengzhou soldiers would likely struggle to catch up.

With her sprained ankle and no Abyss Iron swords to insert in walls like mud, she couldn’t cross that ninety-degree cliff wall. She could only walk from the cliff bottom, seeing if she could find a way out.

Tie Ci broke off a tree branch and walked forward along the only path. Dan Shuang quickly caught up from behind, supporting her.

Tie Ci was quite disheveled but smiled cheerfully, constantly looking at the sky, ground, flying birds, insects, and Dan Shuang’s… skeleton.

After walking a good while with the sun rising higher, the path gradually narrowed. Gradually hearing ocean sounds, ahead between two mountain walls waves crashed against shores – they’d reached the seaside.

Tie Ci climbed onto rocks and discovered Haiwei Port wasn’t far ahead.

Calculating the route, she’d accidentally taken the shortest path.

Many ships entered and left the port daily. Tie Ci calculated the time – if the other party hadn’t left Haiwei yet, they were likely among those ships now.

She decided to swim closer and try.

She began removing clothes, revealing tight-fitting short garments underneath with a slippery texture – equipment from her master.

Since childhood she’d bound her chest. Beyond the binding, her body had another layer of false skin that wouldn’t expose her even when undressed. Her master often complained about TV dramas where female cross-dressing treated audiences like fools, as if tying up hair made everyone automatically blind to prominent breasts, slim waists, round hips, and affected postures. True male disguise required inside-out transformation – first, genuinely believing oneself to be male, thinking “I’m the coolest, I’m the most handsome”; second, adjusting language, posture, body shape, and gait completely. It was practically an advanced science requiring years to master its essence.

Tie Ci was excellent at this study, involuntarily whistling whenever she saw beautifully figured women.

Her master had also trained her swimming very well. In her master’s words, palace intrigue dramas had water-pushing scenes one hundred percent of the time, with eighty percent of those pushed into water getting body-snatched. Using classic web novel summaries: “When she opened her eyes, she was no longer her former self” and such. If she didn’t want this happening someday, practicing swimming was essential medicine for palace intrigue counterattacks. Whoever wants to push me into water, I’ll beat them in the water.

Dan Shuang was somewhat worried since Tie Ci’s injuries hadn’t healed. But she could never interfere with Tie Ci’s decisions, only frowning as she followed Tie Ci sliding into the seawater.

Fortunately, Tie Ci moved more smoothly in seawater. The water’s flow let her swim far without effort. She planned to circle those ships – whoever’s ship sat deepest would be most suspicious.

Approaching the port area with large stretches of beach and rocks, Tie Ci moved between rocks when she suddenly saw a long line.

Someone was fishing from shore.

Tie Ci raised her hand and through swaying water waves vaguely saw a man lying on shoreline rocks sunbathing, dressed very lightly. Under sunlight he bared flexible waist, long legs, and eight beautiful abdominal muscles. Yet his skin wasn’t the dark red common to seaside people, but glowed luminously like jade.

He lazily lay on rocks with his fishing rod casually inserted at his waist, elbow over eyes blocking sun, seemingly asleep.

Tie Ci saw nothing on the fishing line – the bait seemed already stolen by fish.

Sea fishing was quite normal at this time, but the hour seemed too early. Tie Ci became suspicious and while swimming past, casually inserted the other’s hook into a large fish’s mouth.

The rod quickly sprang up with a snap, breaking that fellow’s belt. He shot up with a whoosh, and before his pants fell, Tie Ci gracefully swam past.

Regardless whether this person was truly fishing, she needed to give him something to do.

But swimming not far, she suddenly felt tightness at her waist. The next moment tremendous force struck, and with a splash she burst from the water. A delighted laugh sounded in her ear: “Hey, a mermaid!”

Who?

This lone one?

Tie Ci wiped water from her face and looked down. Her waist belt was caught by a fish hook. Above the hook was a bent but unbroken fishing rod gripped by that sea-fishing man, who looked up at her with great satisfaction, examining his morning “catch.”

Now Tie Ci finally saw this person clearly – tall with a somewhat familiar build, wearing a mask on his face. The mask was a large white board reading “Old Wang Fishing” on the left and “Willing Fish Take the Hook” on the right.

Tie Ci: “…”

That bastard fishing for people still held the rod, asking her: “Frying, stir-frying, boiling, steaming, deep-frying – which do you prefer? Choose yourself?”

Tie Ci chuckled, grabbed the hook, and crushed it into waste iron. Using this moment’s falling momentum, she yanked downward.

“I prefer boiled Old Wang!”

She used full strength. The other party stood on slippery rocks, so with a splash, he was instantly pulled into the water.

Once he hit water, Tie Ci pounced over. The fishing line in her hand looped around him. Dan Shuang on the opposite side grabbed the rod, and they quickly made a circle, instantly binding that fellow tightly.

Tie Ci pulled him toward shore, planning to stuff him in a rock crevice for proper seawater baptism, keeping just his head above water.

But before swimming far, suddenly whooshing sounds ahead as countless fire lights like meteors crossed the sky, shooting into a medium-sized ship just setting sail. Immediately red fire soared, giant sails like fire curtains illuminating half the sky.

Tie Ci was stunned.

Who was so fierce?

With countless merchant and civilian ships in port, weren’t they afraid of harming innocents?

The port already had many ships. That attacked ship sailed in panic, its bow tilting to crash into another large ship. With a tremendous crash, the sea surface churned with surging waves reaching even here. Tie Ci, dragging that man, surged forward and nearly hit rocks, quickly releasing her grip.

But the other party suddenly shot up at this moment, legs scissoring around her legs, waist springing like a white shark leaping on water, instantly dragging her to the bottom!

In this instant transformation of heaven and earth with seawater pouring in, Tie Ci still praised inwardly “Good waist strength!”

That person dragged her underwater, legs kicking to push her into clustered seaweed ahead – apparently returning tooth for tooth: you bind me to rocks, I stuff you in seaweed.

Being trapped there would prevent escape for quite a while. Tie Ci suddenly rolled over, actually rolling underwater with the other’s large body. The other was carried in a 180-degree turn, and they faced each other directly. In the chaos, that person even pointed at her waist making appreciative gestures.

Mutual waist appreciation while still fighting – Tie Ci rolled her eyes and pounced again. Dan Shuang’s swimming wasn’t as good as theirs, so she clung dumbfounded to rock bases watching two water sprites tumbling like a washing machine.

Suddenly water waves above shook. Both simultaneously kicked hard at each other. Underwater made no sound, only visible water flow fluctuations. The entire sea seemed to churn with broken seaweed, crushed coral, large fish fleeing in panic, and small fish and shrimp suffering. The churning seawater obscured everything.

Dan Shuang couldn’t join the battle group. Just as she anxiously considered risking a plunge, she saw two figures shoot sword-like from seawater front and back. This time they seemed competing in swimming ability, desperately racing toward the port. Dan Shuang looked back and saw that fire-struck large ship slowly sinking. That water area was busy – beside the tilted ship, people lowered small boats to board while local troops already disembarked from shore in pursuit.

Tie Ci sensed something extremely urgent happening there, possibly already intercepting weapon-transport ships. Immediately unable to bother with fighting this opponent, she whooshed toward that direction. Inadvertently turning her head, she discovered a head bobbing nearby at speed no slower than hers, also heading that direction.

He was also joining that excitement? So deliberately sea-fishing nearby? Who was he?

Tie Ci vaguely recalled the black-clothed man who’d attacked her and Dan Ye when emerging from underground to Fengbo Mountain, and earlier the black-clothed man who’d lured her down cliffs with carts, plus the boat owner who’d demanded wine and extorted money at sea. Though their voices differed somewhat before and after, their builds were similar.

But she wasn’t certain if this was the same person since this one was undressed. During their water race she still found time to appreciate his physique – jade-smooth and lustrous skin with stone-like texture, tight muscles, flowing lines. Everywhere conveyed contained strength yet never knotted. Breaking through seawater like a sharp knife cutting blue satin with a hiss, driving straight down.

She couldn’t help whistling again.

That person turned to look at her. The “Old Wang Fishing” mask miraculously hadn’t fallen off, with amused light in the eye holes.

After whistling, Tie Ci suddenly dove to the bottom – this final stretch she’d sprint to beat this bastard!

Single-mindedly swimming forward, when seeing ships she surfaced with a splash and whooshed onto a fishing boat desperately turning, startling everyone aboard.

Tie Ci leaped again to another ship, using vessels as stepping stones, continuously bounding across the sea surface approaching that burning ship.

Ship-to-ship distances weren’t small. Like meteors hurling or projectiles firing, she rose and fell between blue sea and high sails. Her leaping form was gilded with morning’s glazed sunlight as everyone on all ships looked up at her in dazzled fascination.

Xiao Xueya stood on shore preparing to board pursuit ships when suddenly seeing a figure shoot dragon-like from seabed, moving freely across various ships with lightness skills both impressive and wonderful. He unconsciously followed with his gaze, nearly forgetting his location while watching.

He’d vaguely heard the Crown Princess had decent martial arts, thinking at the time it was merely flattery from yielding guards. What absolute skills could a woman practicing in deep palaces achieve?

This useless father-daughter pair – why such attachment to power, forcibly occupying high positions and placing themselves in danger? Better to abdicate early, restore court clarity, and let court ministers busy with scheming, taking sides, and analyzing situations finally spare energy for properly planning people’s welfare, military supplies, and national territory.

Watching now, setting aside other matters, the words “useless waste” could no longer be spoken.

His deputy said: “General, the Crown Princess now appears quite extraordinary.”

Xiao Xueya said lightly: “Merely brute force and martial arts.”

“Does the General still maintain original views?”

“Imperial power games don’t rely on force. As long as the Iron and Xiao clans’ power struggle continues unabated, Da Qian cannot rest easy for a day. Opening territories and eliminating strong enemies remain bubbles.” Xiao Xueya said coldly: “Then court ministers and generals will all be criminals.”

“Your subordinate feels the General somewhat demands the impossible.” The deputy, following him for years, dared speak truthfully with a smile: “Imperial power struggles involve enormous stakes. If the Iron royal family yields the throne, how could they survive?”

“I would naturally protect their wellbeing.”

In the air, Tie Ci continued jumping grids joyfully, thinking this time she’d definitely beaten that bastard!

Turning sharply, she saw a figure arrowing across the water surface like riding waves. Currently at high tide, tide waters rushed from far seas – initially just a white line gradually piling higher like a rolling snowball with flying snow spray, becoming a giant wall thundering forward. He stood at the snowy white peak of that seawater wall, feet on a thin board, surrounded by snow waves like a broad cloak with blue base and white edges. The next instant his cloak and black hair rose together as he slid down from wave crests, carrying that moment’s far sea wind and sky’s lightning.

At that moment, Tie Ci was leaping over a large ship’s raised sail, with azure sky above and snow-white sail behind. Opposite her, the man remained at the wave crest. Both at their highest points, they met again, gazes intersecting—

The other party’s lips suddenly curved upward, seeming to say something, but unfortunately the tide’s roar was like thousands of troops clashing, completely inaudible.

Nothing more than mockery. No matter how high she bounced, she wasn’t as fast as him.

Tie Ci’s gaze swept across the board beneath the other’s feet. Her finger flicked, something pierced through sea waves, a bright flash, vaguely a metallic ring, falling onto the other’s collarbone.

It stopped steadily.

Tie Ci smiled and also said something.

The next instant she fell toward the next ship, while the other also slid below the wave crest.

Sliding far below the wave crest, the man finally picked up that object from his collarbone – a copper coin.

He watched Tie Ci’s rising and falling figure.

He understood the earlier lip reading.

“Well done! Reward!”

…

While running, Tie Ci thought of the surfboard riding her master had mentioned – now she’d finally seen it.

Currently Da Qian wasn’t without similar surfing sports. Jiangzhou’s Tang River had annual tide festivals with competitive boat racing and tide riding – tide riding was like surfing, rising and falling on waves between tides, holding red flags that stayed dry.

There were also water treading on wood, water puppet shows, and other water entertainment, but those were in the south where people played in water from childhood. Even then, one had to pick from a hundred to find such talent. Seeing it now in the north was rare, and the board beneath the other’s feet was very ingeniously designed – not something ordinary people could make or control.

Looking up, she saw the shore already surrounded by Regional Military Commission troops, with part clearly Haiwei Guard navy also under soldier watch. Many small boats were lowered at shore, and Xiao Xueya was boarding one of them. Someone beside him seemed to be dissuading him, but Xiao Xueya ignored them and boarded. Just standing on deck, he swayed slightly but immediately steadied himself.

Tie Ci frowned, not expecting Xiao Xueya to be a landlubber. But it wasn’t strange – he’d been stationed in deserts for years, where would he see water? Such a person insisting on going southeast to reorganize the navy was truly going against himself.

She turned and saw people lowering lifeboats beneath the burning ship ahead, several people hastily helping a middle-aged man into a boat.

Tie Ci’s eyes contracted.

She’d seen portraits of the three feudal lords and neighboring rulers. This was Prince Da’an of Liaodong!

Though Zhou Wenchang gritted his teeth and remained silent, not yet confirming who in Hai You or the court had instructed him, Li Yao had already confessed his collusion was with Liaodong’s Second Prince Murong Duan. Tie Ci had expected to see Murong Duan, not Prince Da’an.

Rumors said Prince Da’an most favored his second son – had he come personally to receive him?

Were royal families this sentimental?

Tie Ci finally understood why Xiao Xueya disregarded affecting innocent merchant ships and moved to kill – seeing Prince Da’an, he immediately burned with fighting spirit.

But Tie Ci couldn’t act as she pleased. While diving toward that ship, she rapidly considered the most prudent and profit-maximizing approach.

Next time surfacing, she was only five zhang from that ship.

She raised her hand and the jade brush coiled at her waist shot out like a white snake extending across the sea surface. The brush tip whooshed, ejecting an extremely fine triangular spike that pierced sea wind, shooting toward the lifeboat hull.

She didn’t shoot people – she wanted to capture Prince Da’an alive!

But simultaneously, a tremendous crash shook the air. Behind her, seawater and air seemed to vibrate. Tie Ci looked back to see a snow-white arrow skimming low across the water surface. Where it passed, seawater was lifted by fierce wind, standing like blue water walls. Sunlight concentrated on the arrow tip seemed to ignite that cold steel, exploding in dazzling starbursts!

Tie Ci plunged into water as she felt fierce wind overhead. Through hazy water surface, she saw that arrow about to reach Prince Da’an’s back!

Her mind instantly flashed through countless stability plans for after Prince Da’an’s violent death.

The next moment, bang – that lifeboat suddenly overturned, all aboard falling into water. With a thud, that white arrow embedded in the boat bottom, immediately splitting it into pieces!

Tie Ci surfaced to see a water line racing forward from where the boat overturned – that speed was amazing.

Tie Ci pursued without hesitation. Underwater she saw the large ship capsizing, countless Abyss Iron blades and swords slowly tumbling from cracked bottom holds. Many blades left their sheaths before sinking, sharp edges cutting passing sea life. Blood streams spread through seawater, quickly turning this patch of sea into a blood sea. Tie Ci’s vision became entirely red.

Swimming now, she couldn’t see direction clearly and risked meeting the same fate as fish if she hit Abyss Iron blades. Helplessly surfacing again, she kicked onto the nearby sunken ship’s hull, reaching the deck in several bounds.

Then she saw a small boat far ahead with someone helping another person aboard. Sunlight made faces unclear, but it seemed like that fellow who’d fought with her.

The sunken ship was originally Liaodong’s vessel receiving Prince Da’an, with all kinds of weapons aboard. Tie Ci casually took a bow, drew the string to full moon.

Few knew the Crown Princess’s martial arts level, but everyone knew her archery. Her twelve-year-old feat in the imperial city, nearly shooting off a suitor’s reproductive capability with one arrow, was familiar even to old women in the remotest regions.

Now her arrow created thunder sounds. Though the most ordinary arrow, far inferior to Xiao Xueya’s snow bow and silver arrow, it still shot across the sea, stirring zhang-high waves as if to shatter the sun itself.

This time, the arrow tip aimed at that sea-fishing fellow.

The instant her arrow left the string, she saw that fellow put his fist behind him and punch hard – crack.

The moment the boat bottom split, her arrow whistled arrival, making it look like she’d shot the boat apart.

But he’d already used the sinking moment to grab Prince Da’an’s hair, taking him sideways and rolling back into water.

The arrow tip had already grazed his head, but he then raised his shoulder, offering it to the arrow tip, scraping out blood spray that splattered Prince Da’an’s head.

Then Prince Da’an was pressed underwater by him. A water line raced forward briefly before both surfaced again dripping wet, that sea-fishing fellow still gripping Prince Da’an’s hair, whether intentionally or not.

Watching this, Tie Ci’s mouth twitched.

This didn’t look like rescue – more like taking the opportunity to vent anger.

Flesh-wounding strategy, gratitude-earning scheme.

He could have dodged but deliberately used her arrow to destroy the boat and get injured, performing a “risking death to save the master” drama.

She’d inadvertently become the villain in his grand performance.

Perhaps not just herself – Murong Duan, Li Yao, Xiao Xueya… all supporting actors in his play.

What a piece of work.

Even rescuing people so impurely.

More importantly, he not only “merited saving the prince” but might even have obtained some Abyss Iron weapons.

In this turmoil, he was the biggest winner.

Tie Ci slowly lowered her bow and arrow.

The range was too far, with sea swells, and his scheme accomplished – he wouldn’t give her another shot.

She looked sideways at the chaotic port. Ships would need time to disperse. Xiao Xueya was commanding military vessels into water, but obviously too late to catch up.

Looking up again, the sun was a perfect orb ahead, seawater sparkling. The other party was just a silhouette in the glittering waves. Hazily turning back, Tie Ci couldn’t see his expression clearly but saw him use the broken arrow shaft as a hairpin, winding his hair around it twice before distantly raising his hand to touch his lips and flick outward.

Again, a blown kiss gesture.

Tie Ci: “…”

After a long moment, she slowly, expressionlessly, raised her middle finger.

The other party had excellent vision and saw it from afar. While continuing to swim hard, he raised the arrow shaft on his head. Under sunlight and shadow, that straight, long object right in the middle also looked like a giant raised middle finger.

Tie Ci: “…!!!”

…

Military boats below were shooting arrows that all fell far behind that person. Distant ship shadows were visible – that fellow obviously had vessels for pickup.

While retracting her finger and cracking her knuckles, Tie Ci wondered when Da Qian had produced such a formidable bastard?

All the world’s bastards – how could they not enter this lone one’s service?

Decided – definitely castrate him and send him back to Ruixiang Palace to be sisters with Little Bug.

Footsteps sounded behind as Xiao Xueya also boarded the sunken ship. Tie Ci didn’t turn around.

Xiao Xueya stood beside her, watching distant ship shadows together, saying in a low voice: “I’ve ordered Haiwei Guard naval defenders to pursue and blockade, while my soldiers dive to retrieve swords.”

Properly speaking, with Tie Ci here, she should give orders. But Xiao Xueya didn’t even ask her opinion, his tone stiff as a command. But Tie Ci knew this fellow was used to arbitrary decisions, with no consciousness of respecting her as Crown Princess. His coming to say something was probably his greatest respect for her.

Tie Ci laughed and turned around: “Haiwei Guard people can still be used?”

Xiao Xueya looked grim and said nothing. The ship slowly tilted, but Tie Ci stood like a pine while Xiao Xueya beside her also stood straight. His clenched fists by the railing trembled slightly, struggling not to touch the rail.

Tie Ci looked him up and down: “Seasick?”

Xiao Xueya coldly turned away.

Tie Ci suddenly pointed at the sun: “Look!”

Xiao Xueya turned his head and was hit by brilliant sunlight. His head spun, legs weakened, and he tilted his head to vomit all over Tie Ci’s shoulder.

Tie Ci: “…”

Miscalculation.

She’d only wanted to teach this show-off a lesson, not expecting to involve herself.

After vomiting, Xiao Xueya suddenly looked up, meeting Tie Ci’s expression. Uncomfortably turning away and stepping back, momentarily not knowing what to say, shallow red gradually spreading across his pale complexion.

Tie Ci had worn swimming clothes earlier, grabbing a sailor’s garment after boarding. Now vomited on, she was about to remove the sailor’s clothes when she suddenly stopped and looked at Xiao Xueya.

Xiao Xueya hadn’t reacted yet, standing straight and still.

Tie Ci raised an eyebrow.

Xiao Xueya’s gaze swept across her snow-white neck, suddenly realizing. He retreated a large step, the light red on his cheek deepening as he said stiffly: “I’ll go deploy salvage matters!” and turned to leave.

Walking quickly to the ship’s side, he paused again. After a long moment, with his back to her, he said quietly: “Sorry.”

Tie Ci casually threw away the garment, saying lightly: “Such small matters needn’t concern you.”

The implication: that’s not what he should apologize for.

Xiao Xueya said nothing and went down step by step. Tie Ci didn’t argue with him either. Leaving the sunken ship, Dan Shuang approached with her own clothes.

When Tie Ci stepped onto shore, her legs felt weak. Long pursuit, swimming, and fighting had exhausted her strength.

But when she raised her head, she saw mountain-high piles of salvaged Abyss Iron weapons at the seaside. Xiao Xueya’s intercepted weapon carts sat to one side with dark masses of soldiers busily counting. Li Yao and Zhou Wenchang were confined in prison carts, Haiwei Guard and checkpoint officials watched from afar. Nearby, Xiao Xueya, Shen Mi, along with Regional Military Commission and local Haiwei Guard officials, all bowed down together.

Tie Ci slowly steadied herself and lifted her face.

Morning sunlight warmly touched her nose tip as she smiled slightly.

…

While Tie Ci’s situation settled, someone was still fleeing elsewhere.

A modest-sized ship approached, lowering ropes to successively receive Prince Da’an, Eunuch Chang, the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander still cloaked and masked, and two remaining guards.

Last to board was the rescuer. Though Prince Da’an was quite disheveled, his expression remained calm. He wouldn’t immediately enter the cabin, standing by the ship’s rail and staring intently at that person.

The man raised his hand to remove his “Old Wang Fishing” mask. While removing it, his little finger pressed slightly, hooking off another cicada-wing-thin mask beneath, throwing both away. The revealed face was clear-featured and handsome as spring blossoms.

Prince Da’an was very surprised: “…Eighteen?”

Murong Yi smiled slightly: “Father King.”

“How are you here?” Prince Da’an looked around suspiciously, his feet imperceptibly shifting toward the cabin wall.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander and Eunuch Chang also imperceptibly moved before him.

But Murong Yi seemed not to notice, still looking at Prince Da’an with filial devotion: “Father King, I was sent to the capital for marriage alliance. Arriving at the capital, I heard the Crown Princess had left the palace for experience and wouldn’t return for a year or two. Finding the capital boring, I secretly ran back. Today I was originally beachcombing for interesting things to take back, but unexpectedly saw Hai You troops and Eunuch Chang on deck, so I knew Father King was here…”

Hearing “marriage alliance,” Prince Da’an also felt uncomfortable but said nothing. Thinking this route was indeed the shortest from capital to Liaodong somewhat resolved his doubts. Looking back at the few people on board – he knew this son had no opportunity to develop power – he felt somewhat reassured.

He looked at Murong Yi with fresh eyes. He’d always known this son was quite clever, but with many sons, intelligent ones weren’t few. This child had cross-dressed since childhood, spoiled by his mother’s influence. Liaodong’s foundation wasn’t suitable for such people, so naturally he’d paid little attention. But today being rescued, seeing this child’s composed neither humble nor arrogant manner, excellent timing in rescue, and according to Eunuch Chang, he’d sent people aboard first, warning them to ram nearby civilian ships if attacked – such wisdom and ability showed he’d been too neglectful of this son.

Prince Da’an was already in poor spirits. After this arduous journey with prestigious weapons gained then lost, suffering his most beloved son’s betrayal and nearly perishing here himself, anyone would be unhappy. Even Murong Yi’s excellent performance couldn’t console him. He said coolly: “Then you may withdraw.”

Eunuch Chang, head bowed, sighed inwardly hearing this. But Murong Yi seemed completely unaware of his father’s coldness and wariness, suddenly extending both hands and producing a thin sword like magic.

The sword had lost its sheath, gleaming like a pool of blue water in his snow-white palms. Prince Da’an startled backward, instinctively reaching for the blade at his back.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander had already blocked before him, black blade horizontal.

Prince Da’an looked approvingly at the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander.

But contrary to his thoughts, Murong Yi only held the sword respectfully high overhead: “Father King, when diving, among the falling swords, I saw this sword’s unusual brilliance. Where it passed, water grass turned to powder. I specially brought it to present to Father King, to comfort Father King’s loss of swords.”

The Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander examined the sword carefully and exclaimed: “Good sword!”

Indeed a good sword. Prince Da’an also saw this sword surpassed ordinary Abyss Iron weapons. Taking the sword, he discovered the blade was flexible, able to wrap around the waist – actually a rare waist sword.

After obtaining Abyss Iron weapons, he’d selected good ones to wear, but with numerous weapons and urgent time, he hadn’t carefully chosen. His sword was also lost during sea escape. Getting this sword now felt very comforting, his expression softening considerably.

He also thought Murong Yi had good eye – among countless falling swords in the sea, he could select the best one in such circumstances.

Eunuch Chang observed Murong Yi, wondering if he’d show dissatisfaction – his father king cared more about good swords than him.

But Murong Yi remained so calm, showing no emotion. Eunuch Chang quietly lowered his eyes.

Prince Da’an gripped the sword, feeling its penetrating cold, his heart much calmer. Looking at Murong Yi again, he hesitated: “Come in together.”

This attitude was closer by a degree, but Murong Yi said: “Father King, those chasing us earlier seemed to be Xiao Xueya. I don’t know why this person suddenly appeared here, but he’s famously fierce, stubborn, and ruthless. If he dares attempt to kill Father King, he’ll pursue relentlessly. I should take another small boat to help draw away pursuers.”

Finishing, he bowed and went below decks without reluctance. Soon a backup boat launched from below, carrying him and two guards away.

Prince Da’an was again surprised. His gaze touched Murong Yi’s still-unbandaged shoulder wound, his heart stirring: “Be careful.”

“Thank you, Father King. I understand.”

The small boat rowed away. Prince Da’an gripped the ship’s rail, silent a moment before saying: “If you truly don’t wish to become that Crown Princess’s husband, I’ll find a way to request the court withdraw the engagement.”

Eunuch Chang looked at him in surprise.

Murong Yi turned back, face blooming with smiles.

“Thank you, Father King!”