The heavily armored Jin infantry moved with swift steps, kicking up yellow sand and dust that flew amidst the splashing firelight.

Yun Poxing gripped the reins tightly as his startled warhorse spun in place. His gaze was wild with alarm—everywhere he looked were Western Liang soldiers with disheveled, terrified expressions, and Jin troops howling like hungry wolves.

The Jin army, just as they had drilled on the opposite shore today, advanced and retreated in orderly formation, using coordinated battle formations and close combat techniques to slaughter his Western Liang soldiers, giving them no chance to catch their breath.

It was over! All over!

The Western Liang army he had brought forth with his entire nation’s strength—if they all died by his hand, even ten thousand deaths could not atone for his guilt!

The towering flames reflected Yun Poxing’s ashen face. He had no time to consider whether there were ambush troops at Chuanling Mountain. Drawing his precious sword, he shouted hoarsely at the top of his lungs: “Withdraw! Withdraw immediately!”

Through the firelight, Yun Poxing saw Bai Qingyan sitting steadily on horseback outside the Western Liang camp. Their gazes met—the woman’s aura carried a sharp and restrained killing intent, heavy and murderous.

Yun Poxing trembled all over through gritted teeth, screaming with heart-rending fury: “Bai Qingyan! You promised me three years! Why attack now?!”

But the only answer to Yun Poxing was… the high, piercing sound of war horns tearing through the clouds.

A general protecting Yun Poxing’s front saw arrows flying toward Yun Poxing’s direction and quickly spurred his horse to leap forward… blocking the arrows for Yun Poxing, but both man and horse tumbled to the ground. That general, in complete disarray, looked toward Yun Poxing and roared: “Commander! Retreat quickly!”

Once Bai Qingyan’s battle formation was deployed, any skilled warrior… would know the Western Liang army was defeated without even a shred of chance for recovery!

Yun Poxing glanced at his subordinate, his eyes bloodshot red. Unable to care about anything else, he whipped his horse… and charged toward the outside of the Western Liang camp.

On the sixteenth day of the second month in the sixteenth year of Xuanjia, Great Jin’s elite soldiers crossed the Jing River in a night assault on the Western Liang camp, then intercepted and slaughtered the Western Liang forces at Linggu Pass who intended to launch a night attack on the Great Jin camp.

This battle was the final engagement of the Nan Jiang battlefield, ending with the devastating defeat of the Nanyan-Western Liang allied forces.

That night, the Great Jin camp north of the Jing River had fewer than five thousand men. South of the Jing River, the Western Liang camp was ablaze with towering flames, and the fierce Western Liang soldiers were slaughtered without leaving a single piece of armor!

At Linggu Pass, General Cheng Yuanzhi and Zhang Duanrui led ten thousand Jin troops who had prepared well in advance, nearly annihilating the Western Liang army there—the sounds of wailing shook the heavens.

When Xiao Rongyan’s guard caught up with Xiao Rongyan’s party after traveling day and night without rest, it was already the morning of the sixteenth day of the second month.

He leaped down from his horse and rushed quickly into the grand and impressive main gate of the mansion.

Xiao Rongyan was practicing swordplay by the lakeside, his sword energy causing bamboo leaves to fall wherever it reached.

Wang Jiuzhou, standing to one side holding tea and a towel, saw the guard running over and smiled at Xiao Rongyan: “Master, Yue Shi has returned.”

Xiao Rongyan sheathed his sword with momentum. Already covered in a thin layer of sweat, he tossed the long sword in his hand to Wang Jiuzhou, took the towel to wipe his face, then turned to look at Yue Shi who had run up to him.

“Master, the letter was delivered! After Miss Bai read it, she asked me to tell Master that Bai Qingyan expresses her gratitude,” Yue Shi relayed.

Xiao Rongyan placed the towel back on the black lacquered tray in Wang Jiuzhou’s hands and picked up the teacup, asking: “Nothing else?”

Yue Shi shook his head, then suddenly remembered the white horse and said: “Miss Bai didn’t say anything else, but… when this subordinate went, I discovered that Miss Bai had given that white horse to the fourth miss of the Bai family. When I arrived, I happened to encounter Fourth Miss returning from riding, and it seemed she said that Fourth Miss had already gotten the horse to recognize her as master!”

Xiao Rongyan paused in his tea-drinking motion. After a long moment, he looked up at Yue Shi: “Understood!”

Xiao Rongyan unconsciously thought of his imperial brother, from childhood to adulthood… whenever there was something good, his brother would always keep it for him.

Never mind, he would find another precious steed to send her later!

“Have those sent out to scouts finish their business today. We’ll continue our journey early tomorrow morning…” Xiao Rongyan said.

“Yes!” Wang Jiuzhou responded respectfully.

Just as noon arrived, Bai Qingjue, who had always dutifully maintained his guard duties beside Xiao Rongyan, was removing the sword from his waist to go for lunch when he suddenly heard the distinctive bone whistle sound used for commanding the Bai family army.

Bai Qingjue’s hand gripping the sword tightened. He rehung the sword at his waist, avoided people’s notice, and climbed over the courtyard wall from a concealed location following the sound.

Xiao Ruojiang was waiting under the willow tree behind this mansion. Upon seeing someone climb over the wall, he immediately hid behind the willow tree. Before he could peek out to see who it was, he felt a cold threat approaching. Before Xiao Ruojiang could draw his sword… a cold gleam was already pressed against his neck.

Such a fast sword!

Bai Qingjue, trained by Gu Yijian, had truly surpassed his master…

“Don’t move!” Bai Qingjue looked at Xiao Ruojiang’s back, his voice deep and heavy.

“Seventh Young Master… It’s me!” Xiao Ruojiang’s throat constricted.

Hearing Xiao Ruojiang’s voice, Bai Qingjue finally sheathed his sword, quite surprised: “You… how did you come here?!”

Xiao Ruojiang and Xiao Ruohai were Elder Sister’s milk brothers. They had once trained in the Bai family army, but later something happened… Uncle had Xiao Ruojiang and Xiao Ruohai return home to recover from injuries. After that, these two never reported back to the Bai family army.

Xiao Ruojiang turned around. Seeing Bai Qingjue in his straight robe with an upright, pine-like bearing, his eyes immediately reddened. He lifted his clothing and knelt: “Seventh Young Master…”

Bai Qingjue sheathed his sword and helped Xiao Ruojiang up: “Why did you come?!”

“It was Miss Bai who sent me to find the Seventh Young Master!” Xiao Ruojiang’s throat constricted with emotion. “Miss Bai accompanied His Highness the Crown Prince on this expedition to Nan Jiang precisely to find you and Ninth Young Master. Mr. Xiao, who saved you once, helped our Bai family in the capital. When Fourth Madam heard the records written on bamboo strips describing how Seventeenth Young Master died so miserably… she nearly crashed into the coffin, but it was this Mr. Xiao’s guard who saved Fourth Madam.”

Bai Qingjue’s lips parted slightly. He hadn’t expected… this Mr. Xiao had not only saved him but also saved his mother.

“Mr. Xiao guessed your identity and had his guard deliver a letter to Miss Bai. Miss Bai was worried that Seventh Young Master had no one by his side, so she sent me with the Dong family’s death warriors to support Seventh Young Master!” Xiao Ruojiang said, taking out a jade pendant from his chest and handing it to Bai Qingjue. “Miss Bai asked me to give this to you—this is the jade pendant that can command the Dong family’s death warriors!”

Bai Qingjue received the jade pendant and gripped it tightly in his hand, looking up to ask: “Why the Dong family’s death warriors?!”

Xiao Ruojiang told Bai Qingjue everything about the arrangements Bai Qingyan had made for Bai Jinxiu and Bai Jintong, as well as all the personnel deployments, including all the hardships Bai Qingyan had endured along the way and how difficult it had been to protect the Bai family in the treacherous capital.

The more Bai Qingjue listened, the redder his eyes became. He gripped the jade pendant tightly in his hand and asked again: “Who else is by Elder Sister’s side besides Xiao Si? Xiao Ruohai?!”

Xiao Ruojiang shook his head: “My brother went to pursue Miss Shen Qingzhu, to find you and Ninth Young Master.”

Bai Qingjue bit his teeth tightly and said: “Elder Sister cannot be without someone by her side! I have no immediate danger besides this, Mr. Xiao. Leave two people with me to reassure Elder Sister—take the rest back. Protecting Elder Sister’s safety is what matters most!”