At sunset, the marketplace had already closed, and the long street gradually grew quiet.

Inside the inn, however, the atmosphere was lively with music and song. Prince Jin Bo had commandeered the main hall, drinking fine wine while watching foreign dancing girls perform.

In the dead of winter, when the water froze instantly, the dancing girls wore thin, translucent silk that revealed glimpses of snow-white skin as they twirled and swayed to the music, their long skirts flying up in a dazzling display.

With the night curfew in effect in Gaochang’s royal city, the merchants couldn’t leave the inn. They sat far back in the corners watching the dancers’ graceful movements, occasionally bursting into applause. The more enterprising ones approached Jin Bo to flatter him, competing to curry his favor with extreme adulation.

Jin Bo was drunk, his square face flushed red as he basked in the attention. Rather than drive the merchants away, he generously invited them to drink with him.

The noise in the hall reached a crescendo.

Yao Ying, dressed as a man in a half-sleeved brocade robe with braided hair and leather boots, stood in a corner watching the hall below. She said to Xie Qing and the others beside her, “Keep a close eye on the young prince. If anything happens, protect his life – whatever you do, don’t let him die.”

They acknowledged, and Xie Qing asked, “Who would want to kill the young prince? Yuchi Damo?”

Yao Ying shook her head. “The Northern Rong people.”

…

Previously, Yao Ying’s several warnings had caused Khan Wakhan to grow suspicious of Haidu Aling, and the other princes also began to be wary of him, causing internal conflicts within the Northern Rong royal family to erupt prematurely.

Jin Bo was Khan Wakhan’s most doted-upon son, but unfortunately also the most impulsive, reckless, and incompetent. He had always resented how Haidu Aling had stolen his thunder during the Sacred Festival when he was fifteen, repeatedly opposing Haidu Aling and often speaking against him before Khan Wakhan.

Now that Haidu Aling’s self-inflicted injury ploy had been exposed, the Northern Rong royal family was surely in turmoil, with dangerous undercurrents.

Jin Bo had harbored hatred for Haidu Aling for years and wanted him dead. Yet instead of staying at the royal camp with his brothers to attack their weakened enemy, he had concealed his identity and traveled north to Gaochang. His purpose wasn’t hard to guess—he wanted to borrow troops from Yuchi Damo and Princess Yina to kill Haidu Aling.

In his youth, Khan Wakhan had been ambitious, leading his tribe to sweep across the grasslands and rapidly rise to power. As he aged, he became more cautious and conservative, especially after his major defeat at Dharmārāga’s hands, which left him with psychological scars that made him hesitant and indecisive. Even knowing Haidu Aling was a potential threat, he couldn’t bring himself to decide to kill his adopted son, whom he regarded as his own, in just a few months.

First, Khan Wakhan prided himself on being a descendant of the divine wolf, and in his arrogance believed it was natural for tribal warriors to challenge their leaders—survival of the fittest, might make right. As a leader, he couldn’t kill a subordinate based on mere suspicion.

Second, although Haidu Aling wasn’t his biological son, he had achieved many military victories in recent years’ campaigns, showing ambition and exceptional bravery, earning greater prestige than the other princes. Aling still showed him utmost respect and hadn’t displayed any signs of disloyalty. If he pushed too hard, Aling could rally substantial support with one call, making the outcome uncertain. Better to remain passive for now and wait for a better opportunity.

Third, once the Northern Rong royal family fell into internal strife, it would surely fragment. The tribes forced into submission would certainly take the opportunity to rebel. When that happened, smoke signals would rise in all directions as the princes killed each other, and the lands conquered through years of Northern Rong warriors’ bloodshed would have to be surrendered.

A father knows his sons best—Khan Wakhan knew his sons were neither a match for Haidu Aling nor capable of leading the tribes to expand their territory.

He wanted to protect his sons, but he was the Khan of the Northern Rong. If forced to choose between his tribe’s glory, stability, and prosperity or his sons’ lives, he would choose the former.

So despite his suspicions of Haidu Aling, Khan Wakhan ultimately couldn’t bring himself to kill him.

His sons were different—they had long despised Haidu Aling and would gladly eat him alive. With Khan Wakhan delaying action, they could no longer contain themselves.

Jin Bo had come to Gaochang to borrow troops.

Yao Ying reached this conclusion firstly based on her understanding of the Northern Rong royal family, and secondly because she knew the reason Haidu Aling would eventually kill Khan Wakhan and his sons was that the other princes had set a trap to harm him. The Northern Rong’s elite cavalry were loyal to the Khan and generally wouldn’t participate in conflicts between princes, so the princes had to seek outside help. Princess Yina had always been close to Jin Bo.

Before she could explain anything to Su Dangu, he immediately grasped her meaning and decided to meet Yuchi Damo ahead of schedule.

While Jin Bo concealed his identity, he allowed his guards to act imperiously. His arrogant and overbearing behavior throughout the journey was quite conspicuous. His movements had likely already been discovered by Haidu Aling, who was ruthless yet cunning. This upheaval in the Northern Rong royal family was probably like an arrow already nocked, with various forces deeply involved, just waiting to be released.

They needed to sound out Yuchi Damo before Jin Bo entered the palace, and they had to protect Jin Bo’s life, preventing him from dying at Haidu Aling’s hands.

…

Yao Ying watched Jin Bo in the hall below, surrounded by companions, and silently shook her head.

No wonder Haidu Aling could win against greater numbers and eliminate all opponents in one strike. Jin Bo and his brothers had already attempted to kill him once, and though they knew he was biding his time and pretending to indulge in wine and women, they still acted so carelessly, as if afraid no one would know they had come to Gaochang.

The other princes must have gone separately to seek help elsewhere. If they were as indiscreet as Jin Bo, Haidu Aling had probably already seen through their plans.

Ultimately, they were arrogant, looking down on Haidu Aling, believing that as an orphan without parents, he wasn’t worthy of inheriting the Khan’s position and couldn’t be compared to them.

Little did they know that while the Northern Rong people were utterly loyal to Khan Wakhan, this didn’t mean they would be equally devoted to his sons.

The pipa music drifted melodiously from below. Yao Ying withdrew her gaze and turned to return to her room.

Xie Qing followed behind her, saying softly, “I’ll accompany the Princess to the royal temple.”

Yao Ying shook her head. “With the city under curfew, more people would make it less safe. Yuanjue knows the city roads well; he can escort me. I’ll be fine. Stay here and keep watch over things.”

Their secret meeting with Yuchi Damo needed to avoid attention—the fewer people, the better.

Xie Qing frowned, but seeing Yao Ying’s determination, agreed solemnly.

When the appointed time came, Yao Ying prepared her belongings, donned a face covering that left only her eyes visible, and followed Yuanjue out through a second-floor window.

Yao Ying couldn’t perform martial arts. When climbing down the earthen platform, her feet slipped. Yuanjue was startled and reached out to grab her, but before he could, a shadow flashed like silver moonlight, long arms extended to catch Yao Ying, holding her as they quickly leaped down the steep platform.

It was Su Dangu.

The wind whistled in her ears as Yao Ying leaned against Su Dangu’s solid chest, studying his clearly defined jaw below his mask in the cool moonlight.

She had noticed these past days that when she first accidentally got close to him, he showed slight stiffness—not embarrassment, just pure unfamiliarity as if he had never touched a woman before. Later, when she nearly fell during their journey and he reached out to catch her, his movements became more natural.

Perhaps in his eyes, she was no different from the other guards.

There was a faint medicinal smell about him.

Yao Ying couldn’t help but sniff, unable to identify the medicine.

While she was lost in thought, her feet had already landed steadily in the snow with a soft crunch. Su Dangu set her down and turned to get the horses, his movements swift and decisive.

Feeling guilty about her wandering thoughts, Yao Ying swayed and nearly fell face-first into the snow.

Su Dangu turned to look at her, his jade eyes like clear pools in the night, his gaze falling on her face with seemingly physical weight.

Yao Ying felt increasingly guilty, her heart suddenly racing, her cheeks growing warm.

Yuanjue stood by the courtyard wall, looking between Su Dangu and Yao Ying, his expression bewildered.

Yao Ying’s scalp tingled under Su Dangu’s gaze. She quickly steadied herself, affecting an air of casual indifference, walked to the horse in a few steps, and mounted it. Her movements were too hasty, and she suddenly felt dizzy, quickly tightening her grip on the reins.

After a few breaths, she felt Su Dangu’s gaze move away from her.

The three first rode their horses out of the long street in the darkness, then proceeded on foot. Unfamiliar with the route, Yao Ying followed closely behind Yuanjue, winding through many turns as the terrain seemed to descend. After half an hour, they finally arrived at a narrow alley. Yuanjue knocked on the door, someone answered, and they exchanged passwords in Sanskrit. The door opened from the inside.

Yuanjue led Yao Ying inside. When she looked back, she found Su Dangu had vanished.

He always appeared and disappeared like a ghost.

She suppressed her questions and entered the temple with Yuanjue.

The royal temple was spacious, with stone floors and brilliant lanterns casting ethereal shadows. In the darkness, the murals on the walls appeared fierce and grotesque.

Yao Ying noticed the temple’s layout was similar to those in the Central Plains.

Following their guide through long corridors and several empty courtyards, they arrived at a quiet meditation room. The guide bowed with a welcoming gesture and said softly to Yuanjue, “The King says the Buddha’s son’s guests are his guests. Please wait a moment; the King will be here shortly.”

As Yuanjue and Yao Ying stepped forward onto the stone steps, Yuanjue’s ears suddenly twitched, and he abruptly stopped, grabbing Yao Ying’s arm.

Just then, a sudden sharp scream pierced the air like cold water hitting hot oil, instantly shattering the water-like stillness of the night.

The air froze for a moment.

Then the entire temple awakened—birds startled into flight, beating their wings toward the sky, shouts arose, and footsteps came from all directions as guards and warrior monks rushed out of their rooms toward the source of the sound. Spots of torchlight merged into several dragon-like streams, quickly surrounding the courtyard.

Yuanjue grew furious, grabbing the guide by the throat: “Was this an ambush?”

The guide came to his senses and hurriedly denied it: “The King has always respected the Buddha’s son. He was overjoyed when the Buddha’s son’s envoys came—how could he do such a despicable thing? The temple is under strict guard tonight; I don’t know what happened either!”

Yuanjue didn’t believe him and quickly retreated from the courtyard with the guide as hostage.

As they rapidly withdrew, faint footsteps sounded ahead as a figure flew toward them. The sound suggested a skilled fighter. As the figure drew closer, Yuanjue broke into a cold sweat and moved to shield Yao Ying. Just as he was about to use the guide as a hostage, the person landed in the corridor, moonlight falling on his face to reveal the Yaksha mask.

Yuanjue sighed in relief, his spirit settling, and called out several phrases in Sanskrit.

Su Dangu replied briefly and directly took hold of Yao Ying.

Understanding the urgency, Yao Ying followed him without a word.

Yuanjue acknowledged and asked, holding the guide: “General, what should we do with him?”

The guide trembled, begging: “I swear by the Buddha! Our King did not set a trap! You are the Buddha’s son’s envoys—how would our King dare harm you? Please spare me, good sirs! The Buddha’s son is compassionate; if you wrongly kill an innocent person, the Buddha’s son will surely blame you when he learns of it!”

Footsteps approached from behind, with people shouting “There are people over there!” as they gave chase, blades glinting.

Su Dangu lifted Yao Ying and said, “Bring him along.”

Yuanjue nodded, grabbed the guide, and leaped onto a courtyard wall, their figures disappearing into the night.

Meanwhile, Su Dangu carried Yao Ying across a series of rooftops, skillfully evading their pursuers before landing in a secluded narrow alley. The sounds of fighting could no longer be heard. A horse was tied near a well; he helped Yao Ying mount, and they rode together through the deep alleys before stopping at a street corner.

Not far away, there was an uproar of voices and towering flames.

Yao Ying followed Su Dangu’s gaze, her hands and feet turning cold: it was coming from the direction of their inn!