Dense smoke rolled across the Grand Canal as it descended into a sea of flames. The screams of the Wuto soldiers, their panicked cries, and Maka’s commands all merged, eventually falling silent beneath the crackling sound of burning wood from the ships.

The east wind came late but arrived with tremendous force. As if aware of its tardiness, it refused to cease. Thousands of Wuto warships, linked together by iron hooks, were engulfed by the rapidly spreading flames before they could escape. A few quick-witted Wuto soldiers positioned slightly further away managed to sever the iron hooks with tremendous effort. However, the thick smoke made it impossible to discern directions, and with hidden reefs everywhere, ships capsized upon collision.

At this moment, the small boats of the Jiyang City army proved advantageous. Being agile and familiar with the waterways, even without clear visibility, the Jiyang natives, all knowing the water routes intimately, escaped with ease. Even when caught in the flames, the Jiyang soldiers, being skilled swimmers, dove underwater early and swam to shore, most emerging unscathed.

The Wuto soldiers weren’t as fortunate. After this fire attack, few managed to escape. Even those who did were demoralized and scattered, likely to disperse before any real battle could begin.

Underwater, He Yan and Xiao Jue swam toward the shore.

The moment the fire was lit, Xiao Jue grabbed her and jumped into the water. The spring river water still carried a chill. Though He Yan knew how to swim, when the water covered her eyes and nose, her entire body involuntarily stiffened.

She seemed to return to that moment at the He family residence when He Wanru’s people tried to drown her in the pond. Just like then, the sky above the water grew increasingly distant, leaving her trapped beneath the surface, unable to glimpse the light.

At first, she managed to maintain her composure, but after swimming for a while, she found it increasingly difficult to continue. While physical discomfort could be quickly overcome, the fear in her heart and the shadow left by past trauma couldn’t be easily forgotten.

She gradually fell behind Xiao Jue.

Xiao Jue, swimming ahead, seemed to notice. Seeing He Yan falling behind, his expression showed rare pain, and he couldn’t help but pause briefly.

He Yan had never mentioned to Xiao Jue whether she could swim, but she clearly could, otherwise she wouldn’t have made it this far after jumping from the ship. But now it appeared she feared water.

This was certainly possible. Like those who had been burned by fire and later avoided it, or skilled riders who refused to mount again after falling from a horse and getting injured. He Yan could swim but feared water, likely similar to such cases.

Just as he thought this, he saw He Yan’s eyes close, her expression becoming alarming.

Xiao Jue frowned slightly – she wasn’t breathing. At this rate, she would suffocate.

He turned back to He Yan’s side and pressed her shoulder, trying to wake her, but she had already lost most sensation and showed no response to his touch.

Her expression was pained, perhaps recalling some unpleasant memory. Even underwater, her tension was visible. Xiao Jue looked up – they were still some distance from shore, and she would die at this rate.

The young woman’s face was close, her long hair floating freely underwater, the grime washed from her face, making her features appear as delicate as crystal, as if about to dissolve beneath the water. Xiao Jue made a decisive choice, took a deep breath, held her shoulders, and pressed his lips to hers.

Breath continuously passed from his lips, immediately lessening her sense of suffocation. He Yan felt someone supporting her, and hazily opened her eyes, seemingly seeing the young man’s handsome face before her.

Is this a dream? He Yan wondered. In this life-or-death moment, how was she having such a romantic dream? The subject of this dream was certainly handsome, though it was rather unfortunate the setting was underwater.

She couldn’t remember anything more.

The coolness gradually spread across her face as He Yan coughed up water and suddenly sat up. Beside her was Mu Yi, who sighed in relief seeing her awake and said, “Miss He, you’ve finally awakened.”

They were on the shore, with dense smoke and flames still rolling across the distant canal’s surface. She remembered jumping into the water with Xiao Jue, and looking around now, saw no sign of him. She asked, “Where is the Governor? How did I get here?”

“I had just reached shore when I saw the Governor carrying you out. Miss He, you appeared to have fainted. The Governor asked me to look after you before leaving,” Mu Yi scratched his head. “Many Wuto soldiers have come ashore, and the Jiyang City forces are outnumbered. Miss He, please rest here while I go help.”

“No need,” He Yan tore a strip of cloth from her undergarment and tied up her long hair that had come loose in the water. Standing up, she said, “I’ll go with you.”

At Huluzui, fierce fighting was also underway.

Earlier, Liu Buwang had trapped a group of Wuto soldiers with his formation. After breaking free, they engaged in intense combat with Liu Buwang, but their morale was damaged. Acting rashly in pursuit of glory, by the time they reached Huluzui, they were impetuous and failed to notice the hidden danger. Cui Yuezhi’s concealed archers launched their arrows, catching the Wuto soldiers completely off guard. Now the remaining Wuto forces were engaged in chaotic combat with the five thousand Jiyang City troops Cui Yuezhi had arranged.

“I wonder how things are going on the river,” Cui Yuezhi was thinking when suddenly someone arrived, calling out loudly, “Commander Cui, the east wind has risen! Governor Xiao has launched a fire attack on the Wuto ships. The Wuto forces are in complete disarray and falling apart!”

“Is it true?” Cui Yuezhi was overjoyed. “Heaven favors our Jiyang!”

The nearby Wuto soldiers who heard this immediately became anxious. While ordering their troops not to believe the enemy’s attempts to disturb their morale, they couldn’t help but worry. They had been arranged to go ashore first, with the following troops meant to arrive shortly after, but they had encountered that white-robed swordsman upon landing and spent considerable time just breaking free from his formation. It had been so long – the following troops should have arrived by now, so why was there still no sign of them?

One success leads to confidence but repeated setbacks lead to defeat. Cui Yuezhi’s forces fought with increasing vigor while the Wuto soldiers retreated step by step.

“Men!” Cui Yuezhi shouted, “Follow me into battle!”

On the canal bank, Wuto soldiers who had escaped the sea of flames engaged in fierce combat with the Jiyang City forces.

When He Yan arrived, the sound of clashing swords filled the air. Though Cui Yuezhi wasn’t present, the few dozen people who had helped He Yan launch the fireships naturally rallied around her leadership.

“The Wuto forces no longer have their numerical advantage, at least not significantly,” He Yan said. That fire had claimed most of the Wuto soldiers, and though the survivors still outnumbered the Jiyang forces, the difference was no longer overwhelming.

“Moreover, their morale must be scattered now. We can take this opportunity to capture them all,” He Yan gripped her whip tightly. “Go!”

By the ships, she spotted Xiao Jue surrounded by Wuto soldiers. These were Maka’s trusted men – it seemed Maka hadn’t escaped from the fire. These remaining loyalists, knowing death awaited them upon return, focused their attention on Xiao Jue, determined to take someone down with them. If they could kill Xiao Jue, perhaps it might redeem their failure.

The Wuto soldiers pressed in densely, taking turns to strike at Xiao Jue. He Yan charged toward the crowd with her whip, felling one person with each strike, kicking aside those in front to reach Xiao Jue’s side.

Xiao Jue showed slight surprise, asking, “Why are you here?”

“Of course, I had to come,” He Yan replied. “We agreed to face things together. Besides, I’m counting on making merit this time so the Governor can recommend me to the court for an official position.”

Xiao Jue snorted, “Dream on.”

He Yan held her whip horizontally before her, “If even our dreams aren’t beautiful, isn’t that quite a loss?” Then she plunged into the crowd.

These Wuto soldiers were extremely cunning and fierce, desperately attacking only Xiao Jue and He Yan, as if possessed and determined to fight to the death. The remaining Jiyang City troops were entangled with other Wuto soldiers and couldn’t approach to help.

He Yan felt slightly frustrated – the Jiyang City forces were too few. And these Wuto soldiers were no longer fighting a battle; they were simply focused on killing her and Xiao Jue.

“We must eliminate their leaders first,” she thought to herself.

As she pondered this, she noticed the Wuto soldiers suddenly intensifying their attacks. Logically, since they were intent on killing, they shouldn’t ignore her after suffering such losses at her hands, yet their assault was focused solely on Xiao Jue.

What were they planning? He Yan became alert. Instinctively backing away, she tried to warn Xiao Jue, but as she turned, a thunderous “boom” rang out.

The small Jiyang City boat by the shore exploded with Xiao Jue and the Wuto soldiers on it, just like the fire ships in the river center earlier. He Yan was thrown onto the shore by the blast. She immediately scrambled up, looking toward the distance, her mind buzzing as she cried out, “Xiao Jue!”

Ship fragments scattered everywhere, the water surface churning violently from the explosion. Someone grabbed her hand to pull her back – it was Mu Yi, who said, “That was a fire weapon! I’d heard before that some Wuto craftsmen could make them, though they’re extremely rare. Unexpectedly, they brought one today… They must have been targeting Governor Xiao!”

He Yan had heard of these weapons too. They were difficult to make and expensive – even making ten didn’t guarantee they’d work. The Fuyue army had abandoned the idea due to limited military funds. The Wuto forces couldn’t have many either, otherwise they would have used dozens from the start. They must have seen Maka was gone and decided to take Xiao Jue down with them in mutual destruction.

“Damn it.” She bit her lip and turned to run toward where the boat had exploded.

“Miss He!” Mu Yi grabbed her, urgently saying, “There are still weapon fragments around that might explode again. It’s too dangerous to go now.”

He Yan shook off his hand. Mu Yi tried to persuade her further but stopped short when he saw her expression, releasing his grip.

He Yan turned and ran toward the water.

More Wuto soldiers appeared, blocking her path. She simply cracked her whip, letting out a cold laugh, then leaped up, seizing two long sabers from the Wuto soldiers. With both blades in hand, she struck without hesitation, her enemies falling with each slash.

She was restraining herself, unable to use her sword for fear of exposing her identity, but at least she could use these blades. Yet what use was this? If only she had been earlier… just a bit earlier… He Yan’s heart suddenly filled with anguish.

Nothing was visible on the water’s surface except floating ship debris, with no sign of Xiao Jue. That person… the one who had pulled her from despair, who remembered her birthday, made her longevity noodles, showed her fireflies, who teased yet indulged her in spring – how could he vanish here?

She needed to reach that spot quickly, to find Xiao Jue. Lin Shuanghe was still in Jiyang; if they found him quickly enough, there might still be hope. There weren’t many people in this world who treated her well, and the one who treated her best absolutely couldn’t die.

The Wuto soldiers were too much in the way. He Yan’s expression turned cold and fierce, her sabers dancing in dazzling patterns. Her steps never ceased as she desperately charged toward the explosion site.

Watching the young woman’s figure, Mu Yi felt that nothing in heaven or earth could impede her advance. Her movements were as swift as an eagle, as sharp as a blade – he had never known a woman could fight like this.

Wuto soldiers rushed at her only to be cut down one after another. She pressed forward relentlessly, leaving a trail of Wuto corpses behind until she finally reached the water.

“Xiao Jue!” she called out.

No response.

“Xiao Jue!”

He Yan bent down, trying to find something in the water, but when she lifted her hand, only water slipped through her fingers, leaving nothing behind.

Empty.

She felt lost, too lost to distinguish the overwhelming sorrow in her heart. This feeling was like the day she suddenly went blind, like the day He Wanru’s people held her underwater – the feeling of losing something incredibly important.

“Xiao Jue…” she murmured.

Just then, a voice came from behind: “What are you shouting for?”

She whirled around to see a young man in black armor striding toward her, his autumn-water-cool eyes carrying a hint of mockery.

The shore and shallow water were littered with the Wuto soldiers she had just killed in her fury. The corpses lay scattered, each showing signs of masterful yet brutal blade work – all killed with a single strike.

The young man raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on the blood-dripping sabers in her hands. After a moment, he looked at her with a half-smile, “So fierce?”

The next instant, she suddenly rushed forward, throwing herself into his arms, tightly wrapping her arms around his waist, and burying her face in his chest.

The Jiyang City soldiers on the shore froze in astonishment.

Xiao Jue’s body stiffened, his eyes showing annoyance: “You…”

But he fell silent, feeling how violently the body in his arms was trembling. Her inner clothes were soaked from the water, and his heavy armor felt especially cold against her, making her seem particularly fragile.

Xiao Jue resisted, then resisted again, but finally couldn’t help himself and forcibly pulled her face from his chest.

“What are you doing? I’m not dead yet,” he scoffed.

He Yan stared at him blankly. This person was standing perfectly fine before her, alive and vivid, right before her eyes.

Suddenly, tears began to fall.