Dai Jing looked at her with a complex expression, and the grip of his hands on her shoulders gradually eased.

He knew that even if he talked until his lips were raw, Shen Ruoxi would not change her mind. She had come here with the single-minded intention of dying.

Dai Jing stood up. His tall frame was shadowed by a desolate air. He looked at her for a long moment, then closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they held a look of absolute resolve.

As he walked out of the cell, an aide came forward to meet him. Seeing the unusual expression on Dai Jing’s face, the aide cautiously opened his mouth. “Mr. Dai, what should be done with her?”

Dai Jing drew a slow breath, as though hesitating for even one more second might cause him to change his mind. “Handle it as it should be handled.”

The aide glanced into the cell. In the dim lamplight, the woman inside was thin and curled into a small huddle, seemingly oblivious to everything in the world around her.

He had seen many people like her. They appeared frail, yet possessed a fortitude far stronger than most. They would not easily yield. Their endings were almost always brutal.

“Understood,” the aide said. “Mr. Dai, will you be staying, or…?”

Dai Jing said nothing. He simply raised his foot and walked straight out the door.

The cold wind outside hit him full in the face, seeming to wake him entirely. He stood there, and then his eyes fell on a box of cigarettes left on a table.

They were the cheapest kind — nearly without any filtration at all.

Dai Jing would occasionally drink a little red wine, but he never touched cigarettes. Yet now, looking at this pack, he walked over to it and pulled one out. A guard standing nearby was startled, then quickly extended a lighter.

Once the cigarette was lit, Dai Jing was instantly seized by a harsh cough that shook him violently.

“Mr. Dai,” the guard asked carefully. “Are you all right?”

Dai Jing shook his head and took another drag.

When he was halfway through the cigarette, a cry of pain suddenly rang out from inside — a cry that felt like something seizing his heart and squeezing it hard. The cigarette slipped from his fingers.

“Mr. Dai, are you all right?” The guard swallowed hard, for he could see that the rims of Dai Jing’s eyes had suddenly reddened. “These are cheap cigarettes — they are not suited for you. If you want a cigarette, I can ask the warden to go and buy a better pack.”

Dai Jing waved a hand. “That won’t be necessary. You may go.”

“Yes, sir.” The guard gave a low reply and withdrew.

After some time had passed, the aide came back out from inside. Though he tried hard to conceal it, the bloodstains on his person could not escape Dai Jing’s eyes.

“Mr. Dai, she did not break.” The aide ventured carefully, “Shall we continue?”

Dai Jing averted his gaze from the aide. After a pause, he said, “Tomorrow.”

The aide was taken aback. In such matters, it was standard practice to strike while the iron was hot, leaving the prisoner no chance to recover or resist. But Dai Jing had said tomorrow — so he could only obey the order.

“Mr. Dai, the snow is very heavy. Shall we head back?”

Dai Jing drew a quiet breath, said nothing, and simply lifted his feet and walked toward the exit.

“Mr. Dai, something is wrong, something is wrong.” A guard came sprinting in from outside. “Someone has broken in.”

“Who would dare break into the intelligence bureau’s cells?” Dai Jing’s brow sharpened.

Since he had taken charge of the intelligence bureau, no one had ever been so bold. Breaking into the intelligence bureau’s prison was nothing short of suicidal.

“It is — it is Xie Yan.” The guard had barely finished speaking when several cries of pain rang out from outside.

This prison was solid as iron, and every guard was a formidable fighter. The fact that someone had broken through its many layers of defense meant the intruder was anything but ordinary.

“Xie Yan?” Dai Jing frowned. “I have no quarrel with him. What is his purpose?”

“No particular purpose. I only want one person.” The words landed before Dai Jing had finished speaking — someone had answered his question from outside. He looked up to see a figure emerge from the snow. Even with snow blanketing his form, the lone and proud bearing beneath it could not be buried.

Dai Jing had not had much interaction with Xie Yan; their camps were different, and their respective domains did not overlap. He did not understand why Xie Yan had come — let alone why he had forced his way in, clearly aware that there was no other way inside.

One of Dai Jing’s aides made a swift leap to intercept Xie Yan, but before he could get close, a shadow suddenly appeared between them.

This figure moved with a speed that even Dai Jing had not detected — neither where he had been standing before, nor how he had struck.

Dai Jing’s aide was no weak fighter, yet before this person he amounted to nothing at all.

“Mr. Xie,” Dai Jing said in a measured voice. “What is the meaning of this? You have brought men and broken into the intelligence bureau’s prison without authorization. That is a capital offense.”

Xie Yan replied with a face cold as stone: “I want one person from you. Give her to me, and I will leave.”

“Does Mr. Xie think this is a marketplace, where one can come and go at will?” The moment Dai Jing’s words fell, a group of armed men came surging out of the darkness from all directions, forming a tight formation.

Xie Yan appeared entirely unmoved — for at his back, an equally armed group had taken up their own positions, radiating a lethal air.

“Dai Jing, I have no wish to come to blows with you. But if you insist on not handing the person over, then I have no choice but to take offense.”

Dai Jing said, “We both serve the government. What you are doing now is one faction turning on another. You broke into this prison on your own initiative — did Director Shi sanction this? Did he give his permission?”

“This is my personal matter. I require no one’s permission.”

“Xie Yan.” Dai Jing’s eyes narrowed. “Think carefully about the consequences of what you are doing. This is an open act of defiance against the government.”

“Defiance against the government?” Xie Yan let out a cold laugh. “Dai Jing, don’t think I don’t know — you have long since sworn allegiance to Shi Guang’s camp. What you call ‘the government’ is nothing more than Shi Guang’s power and influence. You and I are not on the same side whatsoever. What consequences do I have to weigh?”

“No matter whose camp I belong to, right now I represent the government.”

“I have no interest in trading words with you. I want Shen Ruoxi. Hand her over, and this matter ends here.”

“Shen Ruoxi is a high-priority prisoner of our intelligence bureau. She will not be handed over to you under any circumstances.”

Xie Yan curved the corner of his mouth upward. “In that case, I will simply have to take her by force.”

He raised his right hand and snapped his fingers lightly. “Mu Bai…”

~

Shen Ruoxi came to from unconsciousness just as a commotion broke out somewhere outside — it sounded as though people were fighting.

But these things were of no further relevance to her. Even if an all-out battle raged out there, it had nothing to do with her.

Shen Ruoxi drew a quiet breath. Even that simple motion sent waves of pain through every part of her body, and she could not hold back a soft groan.

She was merely sitting still, yet the pain was already unbearable. That pain had been enough to claw her back from unconsciousness.

She had long heard of the intelligence bureau’s interrogation methods. Having experienced them firsthand, she now knew she was not made of iron either. If another round came, she would not be able to endure it.

Just as Shen Ruoxi was suppressing the pain through sheer will, she suddenly heard footsteps — approaching with tremendous force and speed. Before she had even registered what was happening, they were already at her door.

Her eyes were somewhat swollen. When she lifted her gaze, she saw someone standing at the cell door. The figure drew back a foot and sent a kick flying at the lock, smashing it off. In three swift strides, he was at her side.

She stared at him in astonishment. His name hovered right on the tip of her tongue, but she was in too much pain to force it out.

Without a word, Xie Yan crouched down and scooped her up into his arms.

“Ah!” Shen Ruoxi cried out in agony.

Xie Yan glanced down at her. Her thin, already frail body was covered from head to toe in wounds — her clothing was soaked through with blood.

His heart contracted with a sharp, sudden pain. He gently eased the force of his hold.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m taking you out of here.”

Shen Ruoxi was carried in his arms all the way out without obstruction. Only when they passed through the outer doors did she see Dai Jing standing there — and beside Dai Jing, a figure with a blade pressed to his throat.

Seeing Dai Jing subdued, none of the surrounding men dared make a reckless move. They could only watch helplessly as Xie Yan carried Shen Ruoxi away.

Mu Bai.

The moment Shen Ruoxi saw Mu Bai, her emotions became complicated. Xie Yan had brought Mu Bai here to rescue her — which meant he had come with every intention of succeeding, no matter what.

His determination to save her was something no one could have stopped.

Mu Bai — a true instrument of destruction, feared by ten thousand.

“Mr. Dai.” The aide called out in alarm.

Dai Jing watched Xie Yan carry Shen Ruoxi out of the prison, and a burst of killing intent surged into his eyes.

Only once Xie Yan was completely clear of the area did Mu Bai pocket the dagger he’d been holding. He backed away several paces, and then his figure vanished into the darkness.

“Mr. Dai, are you all right?”

“Give chase. By whatever means necessary, bring her back.” Dai Jing thrust out his hand. “Bring me my sniper rifle.”

“Yes, sir.”

The aide nearly forgot — Dai Jing’s greatest skill was not hand-to-hand combat. His reputation was that of the God of the Gun. His marksmanship could split a willow at a hundred paces, and his sniper rifle skills in particular had reached an almost supernatural level of mastery.

Xie Yan carried Shen Ruoxi out of the prison. Outside, two groups of men were still engaged in combat. Mu Bai’s figure flickered, and he charged toward them.

“Don’t be afraid.” Xie Yan bowed his head and kissed her on the forehead. “I’m taking you out. No matter what happens, I will not let anything happen to you. Shen Ruoxi — your life is not yours to control, but I can.”

Shen Ruoxi looked at him and summoned every ounce of strength she had just to form a thin smile. “For my sake, you’ve openly defied the intelligence bureau. Was it worth it?”

“Judging by your ability to ask such pointless questions, you can’t be that seriously hurt.”

“Hiss—” Shen Ruoxi let out a sudden sharp cry of pain.

Xie Yan immediately froze. “What is it? Did I hit somewhere? Bear with it — I’m taking you to the hospital right now.”

Shen Ruoxi said, “Xie Yan, put me down first.”

“No.” Xie Yan refused flat out.

“You’re a fool.” Shen Ruoxi said, “If you take me back now, Dai Jing will let you go out of respect for Director Shi. I am someone who is nearly dead — I am not worth you taking on this charge for me.”

“Shen Ruoxi, you talk too much.”

“I’m speaking the truth.” Shen Ruoxi looked at him. “Don’t shoulder this crime for the sake of someone who is nearly dead.”

“I will not let you die. Your poison — I will cure it.” Xie Yan’s gaze was unwavering. “Every poison in this world that can be administered has a cure. Whatever it takes, I will find the antidote for you. Your family — I will protect them. No matter where they have been hidden, I will search to the ends of the earth to find them. Shen Ruoxi — everything you are worried about, I will take care of it. Everything you are held back by, I will resolve it. All I want is for you to go on living. Do you hear me?”

Shen Ruoxi’s eyes grew hot. A surge of warmth welled up inside her, as though it could withstand all the cold of that bitter night. She smiled and looked at him, wanting to call him a fool — but the moment her lips moved, a flicker of red light entered the corner of her eye.

In a fraction of a second, Shen Ruoxi used every last ounce of strength she had to shove him away with all her might, and she tumbled from his arms to the ground.

Xie Yan had no time to react. He only heard the sharp crack of a bullet cutting through the air, and by then he was already falling into the snow.

Not far from him, Shen Ruoxi lay sprawled on the ground. A vast expanse of deep crimson spread from beneath her, flooding outward in an instant, staining the white snow a brilliant red.

“Shen Ruoxi!” Xie Yan scrambled toward her on all fours. He hauled her up from the ground and called her name over and over, his voice breaking apart at the edges. “Shen Ruoxi, Shen Ruoxi.”

He lowered his gaze. Her chest was a field of red. Blood poured from the wound like a spring.

Xie Yan pressed his hand over it desperately, but the blood continued to spill through the gaps between his fingers, until the whole of his hand was stained crimson.

Mu Bai, who had been entangled with a group of men at that moment, heard the gunshot and immediately identified where it had come from with sharp precision. He flashed across the ground in a series of swift movements and vanished.

Dai Jing’s shot had been extremely precise. Even he himself did not know, in that moment, whether he had meant to shoot Xie Yan or Shen Ruoxi.

Shen Ruoxi was his prisoner. If she escaped like this, it was his dereliction of duty. But Xie Yan — he could not say why, but he felt jealousy toward Xie Yan. That jealousy had been what finally made him point the gun at him.

And yet he had been wrong. Even with the barrel aimed at Xie Yan, the one who fell was still Shen Ruoxi. In the span of that final, desperate moment, she had stepped in front of the bullet to shield him.

She was already gravely wounded, and this bullet had struck a vital point. When Dai Jing thought of this, the hand holding the gun suddenly went slack, and the weapon slipped from his grasp. At the same moment, a shadow flashed before him. Under a surge of searing pain, the tendons in both his hands were severed completely.

Mu Bai gave the man writhing in agony on the ground a single cold glance, then turned and left.

Dai Jing could not die. If Dai Jing died, that crime would fall upon Xie Yan’s shoulders. But he could not be allowed to walk away without consequence either. With his hands destroyed, his dreams of ever holding a gun again were finished.

~

“Shen Ruoxi, Shen Ruoxi.” Xie Yan knelt in the snow, holding Shen Ruoxi, his calls growing more ragged and desperate with each one. “Shen Ruoxi, do you hear me?”

Shen Ruoxi slowly opened her eyes. Her consciousness had been drifting away, but his voice had dragged her back by force.

“Xie Yan…” Shen Ruoxi’s voice was barely audible. Xie Yan could only hear it by pressing his ear close to her lips. “Promise me one thing…”

Xie Yan’s eyes had gone scarlet. He spoke through gritted teeth: “Tell me.”

The snow continued to fall without pause, blanketing the two of them in an instant. The blood, as soon as it flowed out, was covered over by snow. All around them remained a vast and deceptive white.

When Old Liu came running over, Xie Yan’s head was buried in the crook of Shen Ruoxi’s neck, his whole body completely still — as though he had already turned into a snow sculpture, drained of all life.

Old Liu forced down the heartache in his chest and said gently, “Mr. Xie, Miss Shen is already gone. Don’t let her go on lying out here in this frozen cold.”

Already gone…

Those words jolted Xie Yan as if from a dream. He looked at the person in his arms — silent, still, no longer breathing — and all at once let out a sound like a wounded beast howling into the void.

Beneath the vast sweep of white snow and sky, there had once been a beautiful woman. Two people, looking at each other across an unbridgeable distance.

~~~

Summer. Wildflowers blanketed the hillsides in every direction.

A young girl came running over with a bouquet of wildflowers, her laughter bright and carefree. On the slope, a man sat with his back to the wind.

“Brother, these are for you.” The girl held out the flowers.

The man took them from her and smiled, ruffling her hair affectionately.

“Brother, are you thinking of older sister?” The girl tilted her face up, guileless and curious. “Older sister said that if she ever disappeared one day, we should come here to look for her. But I’ve looked for so long and I can’t find her anywhere.”

“Brother, even though Xin Guo has snow, home is still the most beautiful place of all. Look at these flowers covering the whole mountain — they never stop blooming.”

The man followed the direction of the girl’s pointing hand and looked out into the distance.

Here, flowers bloomed through every season without cease — this was the place where she had grown up, the land of her earliest years. And her one and only wish had always been to come home.

“Little Bei, sing me a song.”

The girl called Little Bei sat down beside him, and began humming with great delight.

It was a song of longing for home — a song she had composed in front of him, though after finishing it, she never had the chance to sing it aloud.

Now, hearing it from her younger sister’s lips, his thoughts seemed to drift back to that warm place.

Shen Ruoxi — do you see this? The promise I made you, I have fulfilled.

He had brought her family back to Li Guo and let them reclaim their freedom and their peace.

They had returned to their home. But then — where was his home?

Shen Ruoxi, I have drifted through this life without ever finding where I belong. Will you tell me — where is my home?