Commander Qiu led a thousand guards galloping forward. He was no fool—coming from a military family, he naturally understood the art of warfare. Before entering the valley, he had specifically climbed the cliff himself to survey it. The cliff top was completely bare and empty, which immediately set his mind at ease. As they continued their journey, he waved his hand and commanded: “Clear the way!”
The thousand guards received their orders and charged forward. Commander Qiu sneered coldly at the Tiansheng delegation that had stopped moving and retreated far behind them, thinking that once he got through, he would have to properly mock that pretty boy.
Suddenly, he heard several cries of “Aiya!” accompanied by the sound of breaking dead branches. The squad of guards running at the very front suddenly disappeared.
Everyone froze, then discovered that what appeared to be flat ground covered with wild grass ahead had actually been dug into a large pit long ago, with only a shallow layer of dead branches and broken grass spread over it. The guards galloping forward instantly fell into the pit, while the guards behind couldn’t stop their momentum and crashed in one after another. The pit immediately became a chaos of “aiya” and “aya” shouts.
This trap wasn’t particularly remarkable—it was a common military tactic. However, using it here had a somewhat unorthodox brilliance. Normally in this type of mountain terrain, ambushes would be set on the cliff top to attack with rolling stones, but the enemy had taken an entirely different approach. There was nothing on the cliff top; the problem lay underground. People who had already inspected the cliff top and lost their vigilance easily fell for it.
At this moment, the pit contained a dozen riders with their horses. The pit wasn’t deep, nor did it have sharpened stakes or hidden spikes to injure people. The guards who had fallen in were all struggling to climb out, some even trying to lead their mounts out. Commander Qiu’s face turned iron-blue as he shouted: “Quickly pull them out! Archers, prepare!”
His words had barely finished when someone on the mountain cliff also called out coldly and sharply: “Fire!”
This command was crisp and decisive. Before the final syllable finished vibrating in the air, a whistling sound arose from all directions. Within the whistling, vines at a hidden spot halfway up the cliff were suddenly pulled aside, revealing a cave. Several men stood at the cave entrance, drawing their bows and shooting downward. The long arrows on their bows ignited with roaring flames—they were fire arrows! In an instant, flashing firelight descended like a shower of deep red shooting stars falling from the sky, swooshing straight toward the large pit where the guards and horses were trapped!
This was even more unexpected. As the fire arrows rained down, the pit instantly became filled with people and horses on fire. The people naturally screamed “Aow!” and frantically ran about in all directions. The guards scattered on all sides, but the horses were even more frightened, neighing wildly and rearing up on their hooves. With a leap, they jumped out of the not-so-deep trap, crashing into the guard formation behind them while still aflame. All animals fear fire, and the thousand-plus guards’ horses immediately panicked, becoming agitated and jumping about chaotically. The narrow valley entrance was now completely congested, with everyone squeezed together. As the horses scattered sparks everywhere, all the horses fell into a frenzied state, desperately leaping in all directions. Some threw off their masters, some trampled each other, some turned and ran wildly. The guards shouted continuously but couldn’t control them. If they weren’t careful, they’d be knocked down and trampled half to death. In moments, human shouts, horse neighs, screams, and cries for help merged into chaos. The valley entrance instantly became a pot of boiling, blood-colored porridge.
Commander Qiu was so anxious his eyes blazed with fury. He jumped onto a boulder and issued orders repeatedly trying to reorganize his troops. However, at this moment everyone was preoccupied with saving themselves—who could still hear his commands? Even shouting until his throat was hoarse only resulted in his voice being drowned in the boiling clamor.
Compared to his explosive rage, the enemy appeared calm, composed, and well-trained. This group of mountain bandits seemed more like a regular army than the actual regular army. Following another cold shout from halfway up the cliff: “Shoot!” A rain of arrows descended again. This time they weren’t fire arrows but short crossbow bolts—five arrows per bow. The powerful short crossbow bolts shot forth like a violent wind. Following the commands from the person on the cliff—”Left front! Right rear! West direction!”—they continuously and unhesitatingly shot into the thousand guards. The commander’s eyesight was extremely precise and his commands extremely effective. The directions he ordered were either the most chaotic areas where guards clustered, where horses had just charged, or where guards who had nearly settled down were preparing to retreat. Blocking left and intercepting right, using just the rain of arrows under his command, he shot dead more than half of the scattered guards and gradually forced the remaining guards and horses to squeeze together.
Commander Qiu now realized something was wrong. Obviously, the enemy was a formidable opponent. This was to force the remaining guards into one place, then shoot them all dead at once. If a thousand elite guards were completely annihilated at the hands of mountain bandits, he would face a terrible fate!
At this moment, he finally felt a wave of regret—he had originally known that Mount Teng had mountain bandits, and knew that the bandits here were particularly fierce and ferocious with considerable forces. They were said to be deserters from Tiansheng’s army who had scattered during wartime long ago, reportedly specializing in robbing Xi Liao government convoys passing through. Relying on his elite thousand guards and believing that soldiers from the Imperial Guards with their hundred-forged strength couldn’t possibly be defeated by a group of deserters who had degenerated into mountain bandits, he had wanted to teach these people a lesson and demonstrate Xi Liao’s military might before the Tiansheng delegation. If he could let the Tiansheng delegation flee in panic after being robbed by mountain bandits, then rescue them himself, that would be even better. Then that pretty boy with his undeserved reputation would have nothing to be proud of! He hadn’t expected that the pretty boy somehow could foresee danger and stop his horse from advancing, forcing him to suffer this disaster!
Thinking of the deeply scheming Regent, thinking of his instructions before departure, Commander Qiu shivered violently and finally realized that some people and matters truly weren’t as simple as he had thought. Having lived long at the emperor’s feet and enjoyed endless favor because of his good martial skills, now it seemed he might truly lose everything because of these mere mountain bandits.
With this thought, his heart turned vicious and he became desperate. With a great shout, he charged straight toward the mountain cliff, actually attempting to attack upward and assault the enemy commander who issued orders with such authority.
Suddenly, he heard an extremely brief command: “Kill the horses!”
This command was also issued with absolute authority. The moment it fell, sharp arrows whistled through the air, but they came from behind. That direction included even him within range. Commander Qiu was greatly alarmed and, no longer caring about his dignity, performed a donkey roll to narrowly avoid them. He felt the wind swoosh past right above his head, shooting straight toward his guards. He stared wide-eyed at those arrows, suddenly feeling his scalp turn cold. He touched it and several bloodied strands of hair drifted gently to the ground.
The guards who had been forced by the panicked horses and the arrow rain from above to crowd together at the valley entrance discovered that arrow rain was also attacking from behind. Greatly alarmed, they all thought they would surely die and stood frozen with their eyes closed, not daring to move. They only felt wind whistling by their sides, cold air penetrating their bodies, followed by a chorus of horses’ anguished neighs. When they opened their eyes again, they discovered all the horses had been shot dead.
With the panicked horses all shot dead, the originally congested and chaotic valley entrance immediately became somewhat more spacious. The Xi Liao guards stood there in a daze when suddenly they heard another unquestionable low command: “Up the cliff!”
The guards froze there. Some quick-witted ones instantly understood—the enemy’s arrows shot down from the cliff, and the cliff face itself was a blind spot. As long as they pressed themselves against the cliff, no one could shoot them. They immediately cursed themselves for being too stupid not to think of it, while rapidly stepping over the horse corpses and scrambling up the cliff, each displaying the best lightness skills of their entire lives.
Once the guards pressed themselves against the cliff, the shooting from halfway up the cliff also stopped. The enemy seemed to have discovered the new opponent wasn’t easy to deal with and decisively issued a sharp whistle, apparently signaling retreat.
Before the whistle finished, the sound of galloping hooves approached. A rider came galloping forth. The rider wore simple clothing, and their eyes were misty like autumn waters—it was Feng Zhiwei who had arrived.
She seemed very concerned about Xi Liao’s casualties and had actually ridden ahead alone. Seeing the chaotic situation at the valley entrance, she reined in her horse and stood there. Her gaze, half-smiling and half-mocking, swept toward Commander Qiu. Commander Qiu immediately felt shame and rage unto death.
He looked at Feng Zhiwei’s back, his gaze sweeping toward the rear. Just now it had been Feng Zhiwei who ordered her people to break the siege for him. The archery skills of her subordinates also made Commander Qiu’s heart tremble—with people and horses all mixed together, they had wanted to shoot only horses and indeed shot only horses, without injuring a single person.
Watching Feng Zhiwei actually riding alone toward the valley entrance, he opened his mouth, wanting to tell her the enemy might have expert fighters and to be careful. But looking at Feng Zhiwei’s leisurely back, a wave of hatred suddenly surged in his heart—this Wei Zhi was so despicable! He clearly could have warned him but didn’t, coldly watching him make a fool of himself. Only when he had suffered a disastrous defeat and couldn’t account for it did he come to play the good person. If that’s how it is, let him court danger himself!
At this moment, he also couldn’t remember that if Feng Zhiwei hadn’t just ordered the shooting of horses and given guidance in time, his thousand guards would likely have been completely annihilated here, and he too would have faced severe punishment.
Those with base and petty hearts always remember grudges, never kindness.
Feng Zhiwei urged her horse forward and smiled at the Xi Liao guards who had survived the disaster: “Brothers, you’ve been through a fright—”
Before she could finish her sentence, vines on the cliff face beside her suddenly parted and a figure lunged out. With a whoosh of wind, the guards only saw a flash before their eyes and vaguely heard Lord Wei cry “Ah!” When they opened their eyes again, the figure was gone.
Everyone looked up together and saw a person on the mountain cliff above flash by like a shooting star, disappearing from view, apparently holding someone in their grasp. At the same time, a cloth strip was thrown down from the mountain with writing on it: “Bring a thousand taels of gold and three carts of weapons to exchange for the person!”
Everyone erupted in chaos.
“The Tiansheng envoy has been captured by mountain bandits!”
The capture of the Tiansheng envoy Lord Wei by mountain bandits caused both the Xi Liao and Tiansheng delegations to fall into shocked disarray. They gathered together like headless flies to discuss rescue plans. The disheveled Commander Qiu rallied his spirits, declaring that only he could rescue Lord Wei, and arrogantly pulled a group of Xi Liao officials to discuss “battle plans for the rescue.” When the two Tiansheng deputy envoys wanted to listen and suggested they should first send the ransom according to the bandits’ demands to preserve the hostage’s safety, Commander Qiu rudely pushed them out using “military secrets should not be leaked to other nations” as his excuse. The two deputy envoys looked at each other, both feeling annoyed while also puzzled—where was Lord Gu, who was usually inseparable from Lord Wei? With Lord Gu present, how could Lord Wei have been captured?
Lord Gu also seemed somewhat anxious—just somewhat. When news came of Feng Zhiwei’s capture, he said “Ah” in his characteristically flat tone. If people didn’t know this was always how he spoke, they would surely suspect from his tone that he wasn’t surprised at all. After saying “Ah,” Young Master Gu grabbed his little maid, hoisted her onto his shoulder, and said: “I’ll go rescue her.” Then he disappeared. Everyone gazed at his departing figure with mouths agape, thinking: Lord Gu, do you even know where to go rescue her?
While various people bustled about with their own thoughts, Feng Zhiwei was tucked under someone’s arm. That person had used a piece of clothing to cover her eyes, but she didn’t mind. She faced the wind intoxicatedly, and amid the whistling wind, leisurely thought: Although Xi Liao is hot and humid, the mountain top is quite comfortable. This season is also quite nice. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone hiking in the mountains—now I can finally enjoy it.
Her posture was too leisurely and her expression too content. The person carrying her across the mountains looked down at her, feeling quite frustrated.
They traveled farther and farther. The mountain path was winding. This person seemed unwilling to let Feng Zhiwei learn the route or to have anyone catch up, so he wandered randomly through the great mountain for quite a while. Finally, following a deep and winding path around several bends, the view suddenly opened up. In the broad mountain hollow stood a crude but solid stronghold gate tower. Watchtowers, lookout platforms, and arrow towers were all present. Judging from the layer upon layer of buildings behind the gate tower that, though rough, showed considerable organization, it actually had quite a scale.
On the flat ground before the mountain hollow, a group of young men were practicing martial arts, all bare-chested above the waist. In the early autumn wind, they spiritedly punched and kicked with continuous “Hah!” shouts. Seeing that person carrying Feng Zhiwei over, no one casually stopped their practice. However, the man leading the group of young men in their training stopped, lowered his hands, and smiled: “The Stronghold Chief has returned? What kind of person would require you to personally take action?”
The person carrying Feng Zhiwei nodded casually without speaking. Feng Zhiwei curiously tilted her head from under his arm as they passed through the crowd, using an expert’s eye to evaluate the group of young men practicing martial arts, continuously commenting: “…Mm, very systematic… Mm, the lower body foundation work is quite solid… Eh, why do you pay special attention to the lower body… Oh, this training method is good for becoming cavalry, but for mountain bandits… *cough cough*…”
“Shut up!” A cold shout came from above. The Stronghold Chief finally couldn’t bear it anymore. The young men who had been concentrating on their practice had never seen such a carefree and casual captive. They all forgot the rules and turned to look, laughing softly, but when the Stronghold Chief glared at them, they quickly turned back to continue practicing.
The Stronghold Chief looked down at Feng Zhiwei, feeling somewhat irritated. Today he had originally only heard that a group of government soldiers would be passing through and casually decided to rob them. He hadn’t expected that the government soldiers were as usual very easy to rob, but the people who came to rescue afterward were somewhat unexpected. With great difficulty, a fool who would ride alone into danger appeared, and he had thought capturing him would allow them to make a good haul. He hadn’t expected the fool didn’t seem to be foolish at all. His instinct was somewhat uneasy, fearing that instead of obtaining gold and weapons, he might lose his hard-won foundation here.
While he worried, Feng Zhiwei was also pondering. The style of these people’s martial arts training really did resemble Tiansheng military methods, but there were some differences. Could it be…
She was carried by the Stronghold Chief all the way into the stronghold. Along the way, countless people greeted the Stronghold Chief, and he only nodded casually, seemingly quite prestigious.
Once inside the stronghold, that person tossed Feng Zhiwei aside, throwing her to a man who rushed over, saying: “Handle him like the previous captives, watch him closely!” After thinking for a moment, he added: “Unlimited white rice!”
Having tossed the person away, he left. The follow-up matters would naturally be handled by his subordinates and never required his concern. As he walked, he took a betel nut handed to him and chewed it absentmindedly. After a few steps, he suddenly felt something wasn’t right. The expressions on people’s faces around him were quite strange. When he was preoccupied, he would always chew betel nut—there didn’t seem to be anything strange about that. Immediately alert, he was about to turn back to look at the hostage when he suddenly discovered someone walking leisurely beside him, asking seriously and politely: “Is this betel nut? It’s my first time seeing it. I’ve heard that chewing too much betel nut will blacken the teeth. How do you maintain such white teeth? Could you teach me?”
The Stronghold Chief glanced at this person and suddenly tossed the betel nut in his hand. The betel nut traced a brown arc through the air, landing somewhere with a “thunk.” At the same time, the people around who had been frozen also moved. They each drew their blades, and with flashing movements had already surrounded the speaking Feng Zhiwei.
Feng Zhiwei looked around at all sides and smiled: “Is this how you all treat visitors from afar?”
The Stronghold Chief turned back. Only now did Feng Zhiwei clearly see him. He was actually also a youth, seventeen or eighteen years old, with a handsome face still bearing some youthful inexperience. His pair of eyebrows were extremely elegant, like a calligraphy master’s inspired brushstroke, full of unrestrained spirit.
It was hard to imagine that someone so young could have established a stronghold of this scale and authority, leading a band of fierce men to plunder government troops. Listening to his voice, it became clear that he was indeed the one who had given commands from the mountain cliff earlier, forcing Commander Qiu into a humiliating retreat. Feng Zhiwei’s gaze toward this young Stronghold Chief already carried a hint of admiration.
She appreciated him, but he wasn’t buying it. This youth was clearly the type of heaven-sent genius who, accustomed to respect, had developed a proud nature and looked down on everyone. He looked coldly at Feng Zhiwei and said: “You have some skills, but I tell you, my Tianfeng Stronghold has always been a place you can enter but cannot leave.”
“Tianfeng Stronghold?” Feng Zhiwei repeated this somewhat feminine stronghold name, a strange light floating in her eyes. She smiled: “As long as I can enter, that’s enough. As for whether I can leave or not… we’ll see about that.”
The young Stronghold Chief snorted coldly and was about to speak when he suddenly realized: “You deliberately wanted me to capture you?”
“The child is teachable indeed.” Feng Zhiwei nodded with satisfaction and raised her foot to walk toward the main hall ahead. “Come, let’s take a look at Tianfeng Stronghold.”
Just like that, within the encircling ring of fierce glares, she spoke to herself and walked toward someone else’s stronghold, her attitude like a superior inspecting a subordinate’s territory. The young Stronghold Chief stared wide-eyed, stunned by this casual yet domineering “hostage.” After being dazed for a moment, he finally reacted. His face turned iron-blue as he coldly shouted “Stop!” He flashed forward, his arm extending like lightning already reaching for Feng Zhiwei’s shoulder!
As he grabbed, a whooshing palm wind accompanied the motion, clearly showing he had truly become angry. Yet Feng Zhiwei didn’t even turn her head. She sank her shoulder and stepped aside. Her right hand traced a semicircle in mid-air and with a “smack” collided with the opponent’s eagle claw. After the muffled sound, Feng Zhiwei’s shoulder swayed slightly while the youth staggered back a step. After retreating one step, he forced himself to stand firm. A red flush surged across his face, then receded, replaced by a flash of pallor.
He stared fixedly at Feng Zhiwei’s back, which still hadn’t turned around. His face looked terrible. The people around exchanged glances, not understanding what had happened to their usually invincible Stronghold Chief today. It seemed he had suffered a loss? Also, why didn’t he continue fighting?
Feng Zhiwei had already turned back. She assessed him with a glance and said warmly: “It’s good for young people to have spirit, but don’t be too impulsive or stubborn. Look at you—you should have retreated three steps but stubbornly refused to retreat. Now you’ve injured yourself internally, haven’t you?”
Though she was only eighteen or nineteen years old herself, she lectured people in an old-fashioned manner. The youth was both angry and amused. Just as he opened his mouth to refute, Feng Zhiwei’s finger suddenly flicked, and a dark gleam flashed toward his mouth. Caught off guard, the youth wanted to close his mouth but it was too late. He felt a bitter taste in his mouth as the pill had already gone down his throat, instantly dissolving. Greatly alarmed, he was about to induce vomiting when he suddenly felt his breath stir, and a warm current rose within his body, traveling through all his meridians. Wherever the warm current passed, his internal organs, which had been in turmoil from stubbornly refusing to retreat and feeling nauseous, now felt much more comfortable.
He froze, only now realizing the other party had given him excellent medicine. Not only did it cure the internal injury from just now, it also somewhat enhanced his internal energy. He should be grateful, but looking at the current awkward confrontation, he really didn’t know what to say. He had always been clever and adaptable, yet now he was being kneaded back and forth by a youth of the same age, standing there not knowing what kind of medicine the other party was selling in his gourd.
Feng Zhiwei had already turned in a circle at ease, looking at the people around her, and smiled: “Your subordinates all have extremely solid martial arts foundations, but they lack variation and systematic methods. Though now they’re sufficient for self-protection, if a first-rate expert came, I’m afraid they would be easily annihilated.”
She pointed at the group of young men practicing martial arts outside: “Those youths are of mixed ability—why practice martial arts together? Some have already mastered the moves, while others still can’t keep up. Those who have mastered them are wasting time, and those who can’t keep up are practicing futilely. Why not teach according to individual ability and divide them into classes?”
She pointed at the stronghold: “This mountain hollow, though hidden, is definitely not a place to settle down permanently. Though the area above is a sheer cliff, it’s not impossible to climb. Once someone discovers the terrain and descends from the cliff face with archers suppressing from all sides, wouldn’t you be trapped in the middle taking a beating?”
She gestured and spoke, listing several points in succession, from the entire stronghold’s layout, personnel arrangements, and martial arts training, to even picking apart their sentry and patrol arrangements in an instant. Everyone listened quietly. Some seemed to understand but not fully, while light flashed in others’ eyes as they gradually lowered their weapons.
The young Stronghold Chief also listened with extraordinary light in his eyes, but his proud nature still made him unable to help refuting: “What do you know? This is how we arranged it according to—”
“Jun’er, silence!”
A stern shout suddenly rang out. The people around all turned and bowed, booming in unison: “Old Stronghold Chief!”
Feng Zhiwei turned around and saw a yellow-faced old man standing before the main hall, supported by two men. He was seriously examining her. Then she heard the youth protest: “Father, you—”
“You be quiet.” The old man decisively waved his hand, then turned toward Feng Zhiwei, his expression already changed to one of kindness: “This is my worthless son, Shao Jun. I’ve let our guest see a joke.”
Feng Zhiwei smiled and stood with hands behind her back, unconcernedly saying: “No harm, no harm.”
Her presumptuous attitude made the youth called Shao Jun so angry that smoke seemed to pour from his seven orifices, veins bulging on his neck, but constrained by his father’s authority, he dared not interrupt again.
“This old one is Qi Wei. We didn’t know a guest was coming from afar and failed to welcome you properly.” The old man’s way of looking at people was very special—somewhat cold, somewhat sorrowful, somewhat vigilant. He gazed deeply at Feng Zhiwei, gesturing with his hand: “Please, come have tea in the hall.”
“Please.” Feng Zhiwei wasn’t polite either. Without even glancing at Qi Shao Jun, she walked alongside the old man into the main hall. Qi Shao Jun stood rooted to the spot for a long while, stamped his foot, and followed.
“I must also thank you for showing mercy to my son earlier and for the gift of medicine.” After they were seated as host and guest, the old man spoke his thanks.
Feng Zhiwei smiled, her eyes rippling with moisture: “It was appropriate.”
The old man didn’t ask why she said it was appropriate. He simply held his tea bowl in thought, as if there was something he wanted to ask but couldn’t. Feng Zhiwei observed him, discovering he actually shouldn’t be very old—at most in his forties. His features were very similar to Qi Shao Jun’s, but he seemed to have some old ailment. His face had a golden pallor and his expression was haggard, making him appear much older.
After thinking for a moment, she took a bottle from her bosom and handed it over, saying sincerely: “It seems Uncle Qi has some chronic heat ailment? I have some medicine here that might be worth trying.”
The old man looked at her with some surprise, thanked her, and put the bottle away without immediately taking it.
Suddenly there was a sound of stomping footsteps. Qi Shao Jun burst in, pointing at Feng Zhiwei and shouting loudly: “Father, don’t take this person’s things! He’s acting so strangely—he definitely has no good intentions. Perhaps he’s a spy for the government troops!”
“You, get out!” The old man glared, and scolded the boy out again.
Feng Zhiwei smiled faintly, thinking this child, though proud, was clearly very filial. Otherwise, with his sickly father who could be pushed over with one shove, how could he maintain such absolute authority over him?
“From your accent and manner, you don’t seem to be from our Xi Liao?” The old man hesitated for a long time before finally beginning his first question.
Feng Zhiwei smiled lightly as she sipped her tea, her answer both casual and shocking.
“Our Xi Liao? General Qi, you’re truly joking. You’re a former Tiansheng general—how have you become a Xi Liao person?”
“Clang!”
The teacup fell to the ground and shattered into powder. Qi Wei suddenly stood up. Qi Shao Jun instantly stuck his head in to look, then was pulled back out.
Feng Zhiwei remained seated high in her chair, not moving, not even changing her tea-drinking motion.
“You… you…” Qi Wei’s voice had become hoarse. He said the word “you” more than a dozen times but couldn’t squeeze out a complete sentence. His face flushed red, his chest heaved, his breathing became unstable, and he had to support himself on the table.
“Help the Old Stronghold Chief sit properly and smooth out his breathing,” Feng Zhiwei instructed the two manservants calmly. The two manservants looked at each other, wanting not to listen, but felt that within this person’s leisurely attitude was an authority that could not be defied. They stepped forward and supported Qi Wei.
Qi Wei pushed away the servants, staring at Feng Zhiwei, struggling to say hoarsely: “You must give an explanation today, or my Tianfeng Stronghold, even if we exhaust all our forces, will not let you come and go as you please!”
“Right!” Qi Shao Jun stuck his head in again, shouting loudly: “Kill this arrogant wretch!” He was pulled away again.
Feng Zhiwei put down her tea bowl, gazed at Qi Wei, and smiled faintly: “Tianfeng Stronghold, Tianfeng Stronghold… Could it be the ‘Tian’ of Tiansheng, the ‘Feng’ of Fire Phoenix?”
With this sentence, Qi Wei’s body swayed again. But Feng Zhiwei had already sighed softly, stood up, and gazed around at the surroundings, saying leisurely: “To think that here, I would meet the only male general in the Fire Phoenix Army of those years, one of Commander Qiu’s right and left arms, General Qi. The General went missing during the Battle of Mount Teng that year. Commander Qiu searched for you in many ways but found no results. Later, news came that Lieutenant Qi and a small detachment under his command had fought to the death at the southern foot of Mount Teng, their corpses burned to ashes afterward. Commander Qiu later sent people to infiltrate Mount Teng and saw only scorched earth… I never imagined the General was still alive!”
The “Commander Qiu” she casually mentioned struck Qi Wei like a thunderbolt. His eyes widened. In an instant, those years of cannon fire, gunpowder, and battlefield life came flying from the depths of time—those days of blood-stained yellow sand and white bones composing poetry, the fire-red phoenix banner flying amid arrow rain and explosives, and beneath the banner, the young female general with black hair streaming in the wind—all instantly returned, yet felt like another lifetime.
He stared at the youth before him in shock. Earlier, he had suspected this might be the rumored young Tiansheng envoy and important minister Wei Zhi. Now the person looked similar, but the words spoken made his heart pound with every syllable.
Feng Zhiwei had already fallen silent, slowly drinking tea. Qi Wei seemed to understand. He waved away everyone around him. Even Qi Shao Jun was driven far away. Only then did he gesture to Feng Zhiwei: “Behind this hall is a viewing platform where you can see the spectacular gorge scenery ahead. I wonder if you would be interested in going to have a look?”
Feng Zhiwei looked at him with satisfaction and nodded. This glance made Qi Wei’s heart tremble again—that calm gaze with its own determined strength… how much like that person!
He suddenly felt a hidden pain in his lungs.
The two walked to the viewing platform behind the hall. It was a broad wooden platform built very high. Standing within it, one was washed and cleansed by the sky’s winds, feeling free and expansive.
Feng Zhiwei leaned against the platform railing. Facing Qi Wei’s excited and expectant gaze, she slowly took out a piece of fabric from her bosom.
The fabric was old, showing some dark traces that looked like bloodstains. Though the fibers had become sparse due to age, one could still sense the heavy, noble quality of its original material.
Qi Wei looked at that carefully folded small bundle and suddenly began trembling all over.
Feng Zhiwei held the bundle of fabric with both hands and reached it toward him.
Qi Wei suddenly stepped back.
Feng Zhiwei paused.
Qi Wei had already knelt down. He first kowtowed once, then raised his hands high to receive that small bundle.
Feng Zhiwei smiled as she watched him—watched him with trembling fingers slowly unfold the folded fabric. When the fabric was completely open, he suddenly shook all over and froze in place.
He remained frozen, like an ice sculpture, seeming to forget all movement.
All around was silent as death. Only the mountain wind howled emptily. Feng Zhiwei smiled faintly, but her eyes held crystal points of light.
A long time later, he slowly prostrated himself, lying over that banner that had long been soaked by time and war into a blood color, and didn’t move.
His shoulders trembled slightly. After a while, faint water marks slowly spread from beneath him. On the deep red fabric surface, a dark red mark continuously and slowly expanded.
Men do not shed tears lightly, only because they have not reached the point of heartbreak.
A lone army stranded in a foreign country for nearly twenty years, a wandering traveler in another land who had a home but could not return—on this day twenty years later, he finally saw again the banner that had recorded all his glory and pride. In that instant, twenty years of surging time flowed past like water. In a trance, the bright youth was still yesterday, but looking back, old friends were gone and his temples were already frosted.
Only leaving a thread of moonlight cut to pieces by fate, unable to cross the mountain passes.
A long time later, Qi Wei finally collected his tears. He carefully refolded the banner, returned it with both hands, and said hoarsely: “Thank you… I never imagined that after being separated for twenty years, I would have the chance to see it again in this lifetime… This old one can die without regret…”
“General’s spirit has become dejected!” Feng Zhiwei interrupted him. “I had thought that seeing this banner, the General would surely dance with joy!”
Qi Wei stared at her blankly, showing a bitter smile. After a long while, he murmured: “What more can I do? The realm is at peace, the four seas are tranquil, the Fire Phoenix banner is sealed in its box, and the Fire Phoenix Army has already faded away… What more can be done?”
Feng Zhiwei smiled without speaking. Qi Wei said softly: “Commander Qiu… is she still well now? Though she has lost her military authority, I imagine the Tiansheng Emperor, mindful of her merits, must treat her very well?”
“She’s dead.” Feng Zhiwei’s answer was most direct and most cruel, even carrying a touch of indifference.
Qi Wei suddenly shook, staggered backward, looked up directly at Feng Zhiwei, and cried out in shock: “You’re lying! That’s impossible—”
“When the Fire Phoenix Army was disbanded that year, the female commander returned to the capital.” Feng Zhiwei stood with hands behind her back, gazing calmly at this vast mountain and sea. “At first, the Emperor treated her well, but later news spread that the palace wanted to make the female commander a consort. She was unwilling and for this fled to the ends of the earth. Several years later she returned. Her husband had died. Bringing a pair of children, she had no choice but to seek shelter with her brother and sister-in-law, living under someone else’s roof at the Qiu Governor’s Manor. Because of bearing children out of wedlock, she endured countless cold glances. With great difficulty, she raised the pair of children to adulthood, but became embroiled in a major case involving the former Dacheng crown prince. The Emperor suspected her of harboring Dacheng imperial orphans. A cup of poisoned wine was bestowed to kill the Dacheng crown prince. The female commander, to prove her loyalty… struck her head against a pillar and died.”
A bloody, stormy ending—in her mouth it was understated, and precisely because it was understated, one could feel even more keenly that bone-chilling cold and desolation. Qi Wei listened in a daze, trembling all over, his face ghastly pale and inhuman. After a long while, he said hoarsely: “Impossible… impossible… What great merit she rendered to Tiansheng… The Emperor… the Emperor cannot be so cold-hearted!”
Though he said it was impossible, he had already seen from Feng Zhiwei’s eyes that this most terrible statement was fact. Someone like Feng Zhiwei would absolutely never joke about such matters.
Covered in cold sweat, he stood frozen there. His body, leaning against the platform railing, softly slid down to the ground. He didn’t get up, just let himself collapse into the dust.
He had originally thought that disbanding the Fire Phoenix was also good for her. As a woman, she should return to family life, to being a wife and educating children—that was her lifelong destiny. He had originally thought that all these years she must have married and borne children in the Imperial Capital, living a happy and prosperous life. All these years, every time her birthday came, he would climb high and offer distant blessings, wishing her peace, fulfillment, and a life without worry. At those times, in Xi Liao’s hot and humid wind, he would miss Tiansheng Imperial Capital’s dry snow, miss that woman with black hair and bright eyes in the snow. Because of that long and satisfying longing, a faint yet desolate smile would emerge.
He had always thought that though mountains and seas were far and they could never meet in this lifetime, as long as she lived well somewhere in this world, he would have no regrets.
He had always thought that with his illness, he probably wouldn’t live long. When he was about to die, he would desperately find a way to return to the Imperial Capital once, not to disturb her, disguised as a beggar, secretly watching her from some corner. Seeing that she was truly well, then dying near her, dying on Tiansheng’s soil—he could close his eyes with a smile.
He imagined the Imperial Capital with heavy snow falling, her stopping for him, this beggar, at an alley corner, crouching down beside him, giving him the last, most perfect compassion of his life. And for that imagination, a smile would bloom.
Yet.
The dream shattered so cruelly.
While he still lingered on with his failing breath, planning that dream, wanting to die beside her, that person had already turned from rosy beauty to withered bones, scattered into these four seas’ howling winds, vanished without trace.
He collapsed on the ground, only feeling his heart completely hollow, like old window paper that, blown by fate’s fierce wind, tore countless holes that could never be repaired.
In that vast emptiness, he heard Feng Zhiwei’s voice, half-real and half-illusory, ringing beside his ear.
“When the birds are gone, the good bow is put away. When the cunning hare dies, the hunting dog is cooked. However vast heaven and earth may be, emperors are equally cold-hearted. She died in Tiansheng’s imperial palace, in Ning’an Palace. When she died, heavy snow was falling. After death, a thin coffin—this is the Tiansheng imperial dynasty. This is the final fate of the female commander with her illustrious merits…
My General Qi… the most trusted senior commander of those years. When you were ignorant and unaware, no one blamed you for remaining silent and still. But now that you know, then… what should you do?”
Qi Wei slowly raised his head. In an instant, his still-handsome face became lined with deep furrows, as if he had aged ten years.
After a long while, he said in a low voice: “These years, I haven’t forgotten our homeland or the Fire Phoenix for even a day. I’ve gathered all the old troops scattered in Xi Liao under my command, first developing them under me, then sending them to various mountain strongholds to make their living. Xi Liao has been in national turmoil these years with no time to attend to us, so our forces have all developed quite well. My son Shao Jun is now the Green Forest Alliance Leader of all Xi Liao’s western territories…”
Feng Zhiwei smiled softly.
She turned around, leaned against the platform, tilted her head back slightly, and listened to the sound of birds swiftly crossing through these vast mountains and boundless sea of clouds. In the sky, white clouds were like cotton, resembling light feathers carelessly shed by flying phoenixes.
Vaguely, she seemed to see the smiling faces of those who had passed, smiling as they gazed down from the clouds, their eyes vast and expectant.
She closed her eyes. The moist wind was like an icy kiss, touching her cheek. In that icy ocean kiss, she released her thoughts far away, reaching across these four vast seas, yet sank certain faint pains deep in her heart.
She heard Qi Wei behind her ask: “When I reorganize the old troops… under what name should it be?”
The corners of her lips curved upward—not a smile, just a cold arc.
She said:
“Fire Phoenix.”