The yaksha mask was fierce and menacing, with round, glaring eyes that appeared even more terrifying in the dim light like a vengeful ghost crawling up from the underworld to claim souls.

Being startled awake at midnight to find such a figure standing at the window would have frightened the life out of anyone faint of heart.

Yao Ying remained relatively composed, only dropping a clay bowl without screaming.

The moment she saw the Yaksha mask, she guessed the person at the window was likely Su Dangu.

This wasn’t the first time.

…

On their journey to Gaochang, whenever they stayed at inns, Su Dangu’s room was always near Yao Ying’s.

He would stay behind closed doors, making no sound at all. She could barely sense his presence until one time when she accidentally knocked over the room’s brazier while getting up at night, causing a loud crash. Soon after, Xie Qing came running, and they cleaned up the mess together. When she opened the door to air out the room, she caught a glimpse of a tall figure flashing past in the corner of the corridor.

Yao Ying maintained her composure.

For the rest of the journey, she carefully observed Su Dangu.

Sometimes they had to camp in the wilderness. She would sleep fully clothed by the fire, while Su Dangu kept his distance from the group. When she hazily woke up, she would find him still awake in the distance, keeping watch.

On several nights, Yao Ying woke up from the cold, not wanting to disturb Xie Qing, hugging herself and shivering, listening to the howling wind. Thinking of how far she was from the Central Plains and wondering how her brother was doing, she couldn’t help feeling melancholic. Her gaze would fall on Su Dangu’s solitary figure sitting apart from the group, and her heart would gradually calm.

Under the vast starry sky, surrounded by desolate wilderness, magnificent snow-capped peaks, and deep valleys, in the boundless world, this man sat alone like a towering mountain.

He shouldered all their hardships. With him present, their entire group would safely return to the royal court.

This feeling of absolute security and stability – Yao Ying had experienced it with one other person.

When that snow-white banner with gold patterns flew in the wind, when Dharmārāga rode his white horse, leading ten thousand troops across the endless desert and gobi.

That’s why Yao Ying wasn’t afraid of Su Dangu.

Though Dharmārāga was aloof, he remained gentle.

Su Dangu appeared fierce and intimidating, yet his every move revealed a kind of profound compassion, though this compassion was too sharp, its cold edge concealing the mercy beneath.

…

Today at the inn, Su Dangu was staying next door to Yao Ying.

Yao Ying had just had a nightmare, possibly crying out, and Su Dangu, hearing the noise and thinking something had happened, came to check on her.

This meant he had been awake all night.

Yao Ying had guessed the shadow was Su Dangu and quickly calmed down, but she hadn’t expected him to return. She got up wanting to surprise him, only to be caught in the act herself, and smiled sheepishly.

Su Dangu watched her silently, not explain.

Undeterred by his cold, indifferent gaze, Yao Ying leaned half her body forward, her black hair cascading down, eyes curved in a smile, bright as stars, and asked softly, “General Su, did the Master ask you to escort us to Gaochang because of me?”

Su Dangu remained motionless.

Yao Ying gazed directly into his jade-colored eyes and continued, “Originally, General Ashina was supposed to accompany me to Gaochang, but unfortunately he was injured. Was the Master worried that Haidu Aling might suddenly appear?”

Since Bisuo couldn’t turn Haidu Aling’s schemes against him and was injured, Dharmārāga having Su Dangu, who had failed in his previous mission, replace Bisuo must have been to guard against Haidu Aling. Haidu Aling’s martial arts were superior; none of these guards would be his match.

Yao Ying considered a possibility: The main reason Dharmārāga’s eagle had been following them wasn’t for message delivery as Yuanjue had said, but to search for Haidu Aling’s white falcon.

Dharmārāga had already announced to the world that Haidu Aling wouldn’t dare harm her now, but they couldn’t reveal their identities on this journey. If Haidu Aling learned of their itinerary, would he take the opportunity to seize her?

With the Northern Rong prince Jin Bo suddenly appearing in Gaochang, Haidu Aling might be nearby.

That’s why Su Dangu couldn’t let his guard down.

Yao Ying stared unblinkingly at Su Dangu and pressed, “General Su, has Haidu Aling followed us? Are you keeping it from me because you’re afraid of frightening me?”

Su Dangu’s deep jade eyes finally showed some reaction, flashing a hint of surprise.

Yao Ying sighed and said, “General, you can just tell me the truth. With you here, I’m not afraid.”

She leaned against the window, thick black hair flowing over her shoulders, her dark tresses making her skin appear even more snow-white, her eyes clear and bright.

The prince, who had been noisy all day, had finally retired. The inn was as quiet as still water. Their rooms were in the innermost part, and the guards outside were all asleep. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

After a long silence, Su Dangu’s hoarse voice spoke: “Jin Bo has come to Gaochang, so Haidu Aling might appear too, but I haven’t detected any trace of him yet.”

Yao Ying smiled, “General, you must be tired from this journey.”

As she had thought, he had been protecting her in secret all along.

Su Dangu shifted his gaze and said, “Princess, please rest.”

Before Yao Ying could respond, his hand, covered in a black leather glove, gently closed the window.

All she could see now was the dusty window frame.

Yao Ying shook her head with a smile and pulled the window open again.

“General Su,” she called softly, “I’d like to ask you something.”

Su Dangu looked down at her.

Yao Ying asked with a smile, “General Su has been to Gaochang before and must be familiar with all the marketplaces. Tomorrow I’ll take Old Qi and the others to sell our goods. Does the General know which marketplace has the most fair merchants?”

Su Dangu replied without hesitation, his voice flat, “Gaochang has only one marketplace where foreign merchants gather. Tomorrow Yuanjue will guide the Princess.”

Yao Ying nodded, her gaze lingering on the terrifying mask on his face.

Judging from his response, he seemed to have truly been to Gaochang before…

Su Dangu closed the window again.

Yao Ying’s mouth twitched slightly.

A rustling sound came from the front door as Xie Qing entered, looking alert. Seeing Yao Ying standing by the window, she frowned. Yao Ying had forbidden her from keeping watch tonight, worried about her exhaustion from days of travel. She had been sleeping next door and, hearing voices, came to check on Yao Ying, fearing something had happened.

“Ah Qing, I’m fine, just got up for some water.”

After sending Xie Qing away, Yao Ying yawned and lay down to continue sleeping.

She had no more nightmares that night, even knowing Haidu Aling might be nearby.

The next day, Yao Ying rose early and, accompanied by the guards and Yuanjue went to browse Gaochang’s busiest marketplace.

Prince Jin Bo was still sleeping. Yuanjue left some men to investigate his purpose in Gaochang, while others spread out to gather information.

Passing by Su Dangu’s room, Yao Ying listened carefully for a moment but heard no sound. She thought: With his face covered in scars, he must wear a mask to hide them. Too conspicuous, making it inconvenient to move about during the day, and besides, who knows how late he had kept watch last night – he must be resting now.

She instructed the guards staying at the inn not to disturb Su Dangu, and they agreed.

Hearing Yao Ying’s instructions to the guards, Yuanjue’s eyes flickered twice.

Yao Ying glanced at him, and he immediately looked away, acting as if nothing had happened.

The group left through the side door of the inn, with Qi Nian and others following at a distance with large carts.

Gaochang’s only marketplace was a long street just wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side. Though much smaller than the royal court’s marketplace, it was densely populated and very lively, with shops packed tightly together, crowds of people, and a cacophony of merchant calls in various languages reaching to the sky.

Along the way, Yuanjue introduced each shop’s wares to Yao Ying. She listened attentively, occasionally pointing at unfamiliar curiosities to inquire about them, and Yuanjue patiently explained.

They stopped at a small shop selling flatbread by the road, waiting for the next batch to come out of the oven.

Suddenly, Yao Ying asked unexpectedly, “Is the Regent also a lay disciple like you?”

Yuanjue froze for a moment.

Yao Ying smiled at him, “The Regent never dines with others, and you always deliver his meals. I’ve noticed he seems to be fasting.”

She had been observing for many days.

Yuanjue’s expression stiffened. After collecting himself, he smiled and answered, “The guards around the King are either warrior monks or lay disciples, and the same goes for the Regent.”

Yao Ying pressed further, “So is the Regent a warrior monk or a lay disciple?”

Yuanjue replied, “A lay disciple.”

Yao Ying continued questioning, “The Regent’s martial arts are exceptional – who did he learn from? General Ashina says they’re martial brothers, do they share the same master? Why do the Regent’s techniques look nothing like General Ashina’s? Didn’t they learn the same martial arts? When did the Regent start learning martial arts?”

Sweat appeared on Yuanjue’s forehead as he explained, “The Regent’s master was a distinguished person who reportedly once served as the head of the palace guards. None of us have met him. Although General Ashina and the Regent are martial brothers, they learned different techniques, hence the distinct styles. General Ashina began training in martial arts from childhood, as did the Regent…”

The flatbread came out of the oven, filling the air with sesame fragrance. The hook-nosed, deep-eyed baker called out loudly.

Yuanjue stopped explaining to Yao Ying and rushed forward with other foreigners, as if afraid of missing out on the bread.

Yao Ying watched his retreating figure thoughtfully.

Qi Nian drove the cart to the market office to pay taxes before entering the marketplace to trade with merchants.

Yao Ying didn’t concern herself with the selling of goods. She took the guards to tour around, deliberately lingering at shops selling silk fabrics and jewelry, inquiring about what patterns were currently popular among Gaochang noble ladies, what makeup styles were fashionable in the palace, and whether Yuchi Damo and the Turkic princess were living harmoniously.

Before sunset, she and Yuanjue’s group returned to the inn first.

The guards informed her that although Prince Jin Bo was overbearing, he hadn’t made a grand entrance into the palace. Instead, like them, he was concealing his identity. He hadn’t left the inn all day, only calling for singing girls to drink and make merry with.

“That’s strange – why wouldn’t someone of his privileged upbringing stay at the palace?”

Gaochang was now a vassal state to the Northern Rong. If Jin Bo revealed his identity, Yuchi Damo would have to show him respect, and besides, he and the Turkic princess in the palace were cousins.

Yuanjue whispered, “The young prince must have some ulterior motive!”

Yao Ying’s mind stirred, and she knocked on Su Dangu’s door.

“General Su, it’s me.”

Footsteps quickly sounded from within, and Su Dangu opened the door. His gaze fell on Yao Ying’s face, and he froze.

Yao Ying stood before him dressed as a foreign woman in pale blue robes and pomegranate red skirts, her braided hair adorned with pearls and jewels hanging over her shoulders. She held a mask in her hand, covering her small face.

It was an old man’s mask with kind eyes, half blue and half red, like two faces in one.

Su Dangu remained speechless for a long while.

Yao Ying removed the mask, dimples appearing as she smiled, and ducked under his arm directly into the room. In a lowered voice, she asked, “General Su, could you deliver a message to the Master for me?”

Su Dangu didn’t drive her out, but asked flatly, “What message?”

Yao Ying’s voice dropped even lower: “Jin Bo has come to Gaochang, and so has Haidu Aling. The Northern Rong must be on the verge of chaos. They share our purpose – they’re here for Yuchi Damo.”

Su Dangu’s figure tensed, and after a moment, he said, “We’ll go to the palace temple to meet Yuchi Damo tonight.”

Yao Ying nodded, looked up, and stared at the mask on Su Dangu’s face.

His reaction was so quick, his decision so decisive… After Dharmārāga’s death, why had he disappeared without any reason?