This version of Situ Haonan seemed like an entirely different person—even General Dugu could hardly believe it.

Even though General Dugu had desperately hoped Situ Haonan might turn against Jun Beiyue, having him persuaded this easily left even General Dugu unable to trust what was happening in front of him!

“Haonan, what you mean is…” General Dugu asked, testing the waters.

“What I mean… what I mean…” Situ Haonan murmured to himself, a look of helplessness crossing his pale face. What did he mean!

In truth, he himself had no idea what to do.

What he wanted most right now was to abandon everything and rush straight back to Nangong City, to see his grandfather one last time.

He had lived in Nangong City since he was a small child—the eldest grandson on his mother’s side, showered with nearly unconditional love from his grandfather, watched by countless eyes within Nangong City.

But his grandfather had doted on him, favored him above all else—whatever he said was law. Within Nangong City, almost no one dared say a single word against him.

If not for his grandfather, he had no idea what he might have become.

Ever since he was born, his father had never liked him—it was his grandfather who had protected him, who had taken him back to Nangong City.

The memory that stayed with him most vividly was from when he was three years old—his grandfather, hiding it from everyone in Nangong City, had come alone, in secret, all the way to Situ City to take him away!

Grandfather and grandson had traveled the entire way from Situ City to Nangong City together, with his grandfather—one grown man—handling every single need along the way, feeding him, tending him, all of it.

When they finally arrived at Nangong City, the moment he stepped through the gate, he had seen the hostile stares of several uncles, aunts, even cousins!

In that moment, at only three years old, he had felt utterly hopeless!

Hopeless enough to believe he would never have a home again for the rest of his life. But his grandfather was there—his grandfather had lifted him onto his own shoulders and declared to everyone present that whoever mistreated this grandson would answer to the family rules!

In that moment, he had thought—so this is what it feels like to have a father. His grandfather was like a father to him, someone who could protect him unconditionally.

His grandfather had told him his fate was ill-starred, that his birth chart clashed with his parents’, that they had no bond between them—but it didn’t matter, because with his grandfather around, he would always be a child who was loved, a child someone would go to bat for!

For a full fifteen years, he had lived under his grandfather’s care—from age three to age eighteen.

That old man had taught him martial arts, taught him how to conduct himself, and watched him grow up day by day.

“Haonan, you must make something of yourself. One day, when you defeat your father, Situ City will be yours.”

“Haonan, when you go back, you’d better come visit often. Don’t you dare forget your roots.”

“Haonan, whenever you come, bring my great-grandson’s future wife along so I can take a look at her. These old eyes of mine may be clouded, but I still judge people better than you do.”

He remembered—remembered one time, the only time in this entire life, the very last time.

He’d been only six years old, at that age caught between understanding and not understanding things. His grandfather had leaned in and whispered to him in secret, “Haonan, why don’t you… why don’t you call me Grandpa, just once?”

“Haonan, if only you were my grandson by blood. Wouldn’t that be wonderful.”

“What I mean… what I mean…”

Situ Haonan was still murmuring to himself, and without realizing it, tears began streaming down his face. Days had passed since he’d received the news, and only today had the tears finally come.

It seemed that only today did the truth finally sink in—his “grandfather,” the one grandfather who had belonged to him alone, was gone forever, gone without so much as a clear explanation.

Watching Situ Haonan’s strange behavior, General Dugu found himself instinctively on guard. What on earth was wrong with this man?

What could possibly have happened that was worth a grown man shedding tears over?

Even if his own parents had died, even if his family had been destroyed—a grown man wasn’t supposed to cry, was he?

General Dugu said nothing, standing timidly off to the side. Then suddenly Situ Haonan’s voice turned harsh. “There’s only one way. Capture Han Ziqing.”

At those words, General Dugu couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath of cold air!

He had, of course, thought of this option himself—but he never in a thousand years expected it to come out of Situ Haonan’s own mouth!

What on earth was going on?

“You… you… Situ Haonan, are you playing with me?” General Dugu asked, testing him.

Situ Haonan wiped away his tears and immediately pulled out the two sealed letters. General Dugu skimmed them briefly and froze on the spot!

A few days earlier, when Situ Haonan had received his sealed letter, it had only said that Han Ziqing had taken Mobei and pushed into Xiliang, and that on a chosen day they could coordinate—striking from inside and out.

There had been no mention of anything about Nangong City!

He had never imagined Nangong City would intervene in matters of the state and the war, and even less had he imagined that this woman, Han Ziqing, actually had the ability to kill the Lord of Nangong City.

General Dugu shook his head over and over, unable to believe it, unable to accept it.

“That’s impossible… this… this… Situ Haonan, could this be a false report? Or could this be some scheme of your mother’s?” General Dugu asked hurriedly.

Situ Haonan let out a cold snort and tossed Han Ziqing’s own letter over to him as well. “How is it impossible!”

General Dugu hurriedly read it again. Inside Ziqing’s letter, she too had addressed the matter of Nangong City—but only in a few brief lines, carrying just one meaning: between her and the Lord of Nangong City, it was either him or her. There had been no turning back.

General Dugu was about to speak when Situ Haonan suddenly shouted furiously, “How was there no turning back? Why didn’t she tell me! My grandfather listened to me more than anyone! Why didn’t she say anything!”

How could Situ Haonan possibly have known that the Lord of Nangong City had once helped Madam Situ track down Yelu Qianqian?

How could he possibly have known that the Lord of Nangong City had locked horns with Han Ziqing, and would absolutely never have let her go?

General Dugu, on the other hand, reading the contents of the letter, felt a flash of coldness pass through his eyes. As far as he was concerned, the Lord of Nangong City had brought this entirely upon himself.

That old man—he’d known perfectly well his own grandson was fighting for his life against Xiliang, and yet not only had he failed to help his own grandson, he had actually joined forces with Xiliang and the Xiongnu, even striking from the Mobei region all the way to Akbachu!

If that wasn’t deserving of death, then what was?

Situ Haonan kept saying now that his grandfather listened to him more than anyone—but back then, how many times had he personally written letters begging for help, and did the Lord of Nangong City ever once respond?

Of course, General Dugu wouldn’t say any of this aloud, because deep down, he desperately wanted Situ Haonan and Han Ziqing to have a falling-out, so that Xijing could reap the benefits as the third party.

“Tell me, why didn’t she tell me, why didn’t she tell me, why did she have to kill my grandfather! She must have used gunpowder, she must have!” Situ Haonan muttered to himself.

Hearing the words “gunpowder,” General Dugu—who had once witnessed the power of that weapon firsthand at Mingsha Mountain—suddenly understood!

And finally believed that Han Ziqing truly did have the ability to kill the Lord of Nangong City!

So it had been gunpowder!

Without gunpowder, aside from Jun Beiyue, probably no one in the world could have withstood an assassination attempt by the Lord of Nangong City—and once gunpowder entered the picture, how could it not cost a life?

Only then did General Dugu finally understand the true meaning behind the words in Ziqing’s heart: “You die or I die, there’s no turning back.”