Lu Qianqiao lay flat on the stone bed, eyes tightly closed, breathing slowly.

War Ghost A silently walked to his side, raised his hand to test his breath under his nose, then pried open his eyelids to take a look, before turning back and saying in a low voice: “No immediate danger to his life.”

War Ghost B nodded: “Take him away. Following Madam’s wishes, send him to Jiaoping Pass.”

“He’s in the final stage of awakening. The slightest mishap could cost him his life. Why must Madam be so urgent?”

“How can our clan live in disgrace underground? Even if we die, we should die on the battlefield! Madam bears to send her own son to the battlefield not only to preserve his honor alone, but also that of our entire War Ghost clan. At times like this, feminine compassion is unnecessary.”

War Ghost A bent down to lift the unconscious Lu Qianqiao, shouldering him, when he suddenly remembered something and said: “His wife.”

“I’ll watch over her. Until the dust settles, I won’t let her leave the Imperial Tomb.”

Before he finished speaking, the door was kicked open with great force. Si Lan rushed in with panic written all over his face. Seeing Lu Qianqiao hoisted on a War Ghost’s shoulder, he immediately moved to charge forward.

War Ghost B raised his hand to block: “Little demon, no need to seek death.”

But unexpectedly, Si Lan rushed to their side and dropped to his knees with a thud, saying solemnly: “I once swore that no matter where the General goes, I will follow him to the death! Please let me follow him this time as well!”

War Ghost A was astonished: “Could you be one of his former subordinates? But you don’t seem to be human.”

“Ten years ago, I was saved by the General. Since then, I vowed never to abandon him.”

War Ghost B nodded approvingly: “Good, knowing gratitude and repaying kindness—you’re a true man. Young Master’s trip to Jiaoping Pass indeed poses mortal danger. Follow along the way and take care of him—perhaps you can help him survive this ordeal.”

“Thank you for your blessing!”

…Unexpectedly, what the General had predicted came true. When he lost his five senses and entered the most dangerous awakening period, the War Ghost clan would send people to take him away. Li Chaoyang would not tolerate her son remaining in the gloomy underground palace, barely surviving. Every War Ghost throughout history had passed through their transformation ordeal this way—in the slaughter and bloodshed of the battlefield, they would either awaken or die.

War Ghosts were a clan that valued honor and dignity. Nothing was more shameful than dying ignominiously. Li Chaoyang’s son especially could not bring such disgrace.

“Little demon, where is Young Master’s wife?”

This casual question made Si Lan clench his fists. He replied without hesitation: “I don’t know. After the General lost his five senses, she ran away on her own.”

War Ghost B smiled: “Ran away? What a heartless girl… Never mind, you go ahead first. I’ll search around the Imperial Tomb area.”

This War Ghost was quite suspicious indeed.

Si Lan silently followed behind Lu Qianqiao, slowly walking out of the underground palace.

If Xin Mei were found by him… No, it shouldn’t be so easy to find her. That room was very well hidden, and surrounded by traps… But what if he really found her? How would he explain this to the General?

Cold sweat broke out densely on Si Lan’s back. Thinking of Xin Mei’s maddening personality, while wanting to cough up blood, he became even more worried.

Little girl, you must take care of yourself!

Completely unaware, Xin Mei was obediently following his words, sitting in the secret chamber competing with Official Zhao for sweet melons.

“Miss, suppose—I’m just saying suppose! Someone took the General away, and you two are about to face a life-and-death separation. What would you do?”

Official Zhao held a melon in one hand and wielded a brush with the other, scribbling on paper as he filled in the plot for his newest, most classic theatrical piece.

Xin Mei answered without thinking: “Nothing special—just go bring him back!”

Official Zhao was so shocked his brush trembled: “Uh… you won’t cry? Won’t make a scene? Won’t be heartbroken and despairing? Such a bland reaction will hurt the General’s fragile heart!”

Xin Mei frowned: “Official Zhao, you’re never right about anything!”

“Nonsense! The General is still an innocent young man—how can he compare to a worldly, experienced, mature, and dashing good man like me?! Say it again—the General has been taken away and faces a tragic death. What should your reaction be?”

“Go bring him back. I won’t let him die. No one can make him die.”

…What a domineering response!

Official Zhao wept with emotion, like a deity touched by divine inspiration, and began writing frantically: “What exactly did you just say? Say it again! I want to plagiarize it for my new play!”

“Is it the theatrical piece about me and Lu Qianqiao?”

“Yes, yes! Look, Miss—in the end, I have the General die at the hands of his furious mother, and you, just pregnant with the General’s child, miscarry from extreme anguish. Then you two, one dead and one mad, entwined forever until the ends of the earth…”

…

With no one around, could she give this crow-mouthed old fool who also stole her melons a good beating?

She raised her hand to grab the few trembling whiskers by Official Zhao’s mouth when suddenly they heard steady footsteps in the corridor. Both froze.

The footsteps stopped in front of the door. “Clank, clank”—two very polite light knocks.

“Miss Xin, please open the door.”

An unfamiliar, cold male voice.

Official Zhao shrank into a ball in fright, shaking his head vigorously: Don’t open the door, don’t pay attention to him!

“I know you’re inside, along with a rat spirit.”

Xin Mei thought for a moment, then stood up and opened the door. Standing before the door was a War Ghost in white clothes, with a face like cold jade and dark red eyes, like… uh, like lychees.

He clasped his hands together, bowed, and said coolly: “I am Li Min. By Madam’s orders, during Young Master’s awakening period, I am responsible for watching over Miss Xin at the Imperial Tomb.”

Xin Mei was stunned for a long time before finally speaking: “Um… who is your Madam? Who is Young Master?”

“Young Master is your husband, General Lu Qianqiao. Madam is Young Master’s mother, Lady Li Chaoyang.”

She thought about it: “I’m not a child. I don’t need watching over.”

Li Min’s expression didn’t change: “Young Master has now gone to Jiaoping Pass for the honor of the War Ghost clan, to suppress peasant rebellions. Whether his awakening succeeds or fails will be decided in these coming days. Please, Miss Xin, quietly wait at the Imperial Tomb.”

Xin Mei was shocked: “He can’t even move, and you’re sending him to suppress peasant rebellions?”

“The War Ghost clan’s destiny is to die on the battlefield. Everyone goes through this. Miss Xin need not be surprised. Now then, please come with me.”

He stepped aside, making an irrefutable “please” gesture.

Xin Mei had no choice but to leave the room. Official Zhao had somehow been scared into revealing his true form, becoming a fat white mouse trembling in her sleeve, muttering: “Miss! I think this War Ghost is no good person. He shares the same surname as the General’s mother… Ah! Could he be an illegitimate son? You must be careful! He’s definitely jealous of his elder brother every day, and now he’s surely taking you to be buried alive!”

“I see!” Xin Mei was stunned. “Then what do we do? Should we escape? Official Zhao, you lead the charge!”

“Well, well… actually I’m just guessing…”

“No, look—he also has red eyes. He must have some blood relation to Lu Qianqiao. You’re a mouse now, easy to run. You go first!” She made as if to throw him out.

“Nooo!”

Official Zhao was thrown high up, hit the wall with a “thud,” and ran away dizzy and tearful.

Li Min pressed his hand to the throbbing veins on his forehead, turned back and tried to maintain a calm voice: “Miss Xin, red eyes are a characteristic of the War Ghost clan. Please don’t make wild speculations.”

“I understand, I understand.” She nodded repeatedly. People definitely didn’t want others to know about this kind of private matter.

…Why did he feel so irritated?! Li Min looked down at his own hands, thinking about Young Master choosing her as his wife—what tremendous willpower that must have required, what arduous trials he must have endured!

He instantly gained a new level of respect for Lu Qianqiao.

“So… how do you plan to bury me alive?” Xin Mei asked cautiously from behind. “Kill me first then throw me in the tomb? Or throw me in the tomb and wait for me to slowly die?”

“…Please don’t think so much…”

Li Min muttered weakly. Just as he was about to continue speaking, he suddenly felt the ground give way beneath his feet. Being a War Ghost with such keen awareness, he immediately pushed off the wall and leaped up like a great bird. Unexpectedly, a bronze plate fell from above, striking him hard on the head and knocking him into the pit. The ground went “click, click” several times as layers of bronze plates sealed tightly shut, then all was quiet again.

“Miss! Over here!” Official Zhao waved at her from around the corner. “Hurry! This kind of trap can only hold him for a short time!”

Xin Mei took off running. Turning the corner, she discovered Tao Guoguo, Yinglian, and the others were all there. Several bricks on the wall were uneven, clearly having just triggered the mechanism.

“I told him the location, and I set the trap. Now I don’t owe you anything.” Yinglian said with a stern face, touching the ground lightly with her toe to float gracefully upward. “Hurry up and go!”

Xin Mei was moved to tears: “Sister Hong Lian, you’re such a good person! When Lu Qianqiao gets better, I’ll definitely tell him about you and Si Lan! Don’t worry!”

Yinglian covered her ears, wanting to scream in agony. Here it comes again! Why did she save her?!

The exit of the secret passage was still in the apricot grove. The moon was now at its zenith—a golden full moon hanging at the peak of the sky. In the grove, hundreds of ghosts were celebrating wildly with ghostly winds gusting and wailing sounds echoing.

Official Zhao sighed: “By the next full moon, who knows if the General will still be alive…”

Yinglian immediately flew into a rage and stepped on his tail: “Shut your crow mouth! Brother Lu will definitely survive!”

She glanced sideways at Xin Mei: “Why aren’t you leaving yet? If you’re caught, you’ll be buried alive!”

Xin Mei nodded: “Mm, I’m going—to Jiaoping Pass to bring back Lu Qianqiao. Wait for me, I’ll definitely bring him back.”

“Bring back what?!” Official Zhao wailed. “Stop creating more complications! That’s a battlefield! Are you going to seek death? You should find a place to hide properly! Wait for the General to find you after he awakens! That’s how your relationship should normally develop!”

She just smiled, took out Qiuyue’s talisman from her bosom, and was about to summon it when suddenly there came an earth-shaking sound of collapse from behind. Li Min, who had been buried in the trap, emerged carrying a long blade, covered in dust and dirt, having broken through a hole to jump out.

The little demons vanished instantly. Li Min walked over with a cold smile: “Miss Xin, where do you think you’re going?”

Xin Mei grabbed a bun from her bosom: “Take this hidden weapon!”

The bun grazed past his cheek. He glanced at it disdainfully and said nothing.

“Take this hidden weapon!”

This time it was a duck-fat pancake.

“Take this hidden weapon!”

A wooden comb.

Li Min’s veins bulged all over his head: “Stop fooling around!”

“Take this hidden weapon!”

This time it was overwhelming white powder. Li Min didn’t notice in time and inhaled a mouthful of the choking powder, instantly causing tears and snot to flow.

Xin Mei mounted Qiuyue’s back and turned back with a smile: “Idiot! Don’t you know that all’s fair in war?”

Qiuyue spread its wings and instantly flew up into the clouds, disappearing from sight.