The Funiu Mountains stretched eight hundred li, with ranges rising and falling, higher in the west and lower in the east, vast forests stretching endlessly, filled with cliffs and precipices.
The mountains were both high and steep. As Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu returned to Nanyang, they took a detour and climbed the Funiu Mountains. While Lu Yun managed well enough, Luo Lingyu complained bitterly at the mere mention of mountain climbing. In the past, she had climbed mountains for social occasions, but now she was climbing to prevent Lu Yun’s misfortune, so she had no choice but to grit her teeth and persist.
Fortunately, after teasing her about being unable to walk, Lu Yun still carried her on his back.
This mountain had many peaks, impossible to traverse them all. When Lu Er Lang spoke of his dream where Lu Yun died in the mountain’s snowy mist, Funiu Mountain was the first place that came to Luo Lingyu’s mind. However, the Funiu Mountains were vast, and they didn’t know which peak it might be.
While climbing with Lu Yun, Luo Lingyu complained: “Why didn’t you let Second Cousin come to Nanyang? Since he had the dream, wouldn’t it be better for him to find that mountain than for us to guess blindly?”
Lu Yun laughed lightly: “Even if my second brother came, he might not recognize it.”
He understood his second brother very well. Though his brother appeared composed, as if harboring great wisdom, he was quite confused inside. Though he could speak coherently about his dreams, if Lu Er Lang were asked to analyze them, he couldn’t do it. For instance, Lu Yun still didn’t believe that if he could predict the future, why did Lu Er Lang always dream about him and Cousin Luo…
Hearing his words, Luo Lingyu, lying on his back, guessed wildly: “It must be because Second Cousin was moved by the love between us. Brother Xuezhen, could it be that in Second Cousin’s dream, you loved me deeply? Because you loved me so much, you moved your cousin, making him help fulfill your wishes in reality.”
Speaking of this, Luo Lingyu felt somewhat smug.
But Lu Yun said: “Little Sister Yu’er is still so thick-skinned.”
Luo Lingyu grew annoyed and pinched his handsome face: “Then you say why he always dreams about us two?!”
Lu Yun uncomfortably dodged – in all his years, no young lady had dared touch his face. Luo Lingyu’s teasing made his face hot, his eyes slightly moist, and his breathing somewhat irregular. Lu Yun forced himself to stay calm, not letting her small actions provoke him into following her lead: “I guess it’s because in his dreams he only understands romance and love talk.”
Luo Lingyu burst out laughing at his words, hugging his neck tighter and nuzzling: “You’re so mean with your words. You even mock your brother, when Second Cousin cares for you so much.”
The attendants behind them led the horses and carried the luggage. Though it was already entering autumn and winter, everyone was covered in sweat from walking so much, silently complaining in their hearts. Meanwhile, Young Lady Luo lay on Lu San Lang’s back, her dimpled cheeks smiling, her face against the young lord’s neck, her chest pressed softly against him. Beautiful face, good figure, close physical contact.
A tingling sensation ran down his spine. As they climbed, blood rushed in reverse. Amid their normal mountain climbing, while others were covered in sweat, the young lord became aroused from her nuzzling.
Lu Yun: “…”
He was mortified.
He wasn’t a lustful person. He had never been so lacking in self-control before.
He turned his face slightly, absent-mindedly saying: “Stop teasing.”
Wanting to escape Luo Lingyu’s influence on him, Lu Yun casually diverted his attention, sweeping his gaze across the mountain scenery. When his eyes swept to the cliff’s edge, his expression changed subtly. He gestured for Luo Lingyu to get down, and asked the attendants behind for the topographical map. At this time, official topographical maps were not allowed to be drawn; this map was drawn by Lu San Lang himself. As he compared the map with the mountain before him, waves of thought stirred in his eyes.
Luo Lingyu stood beside him, seeing his expression, she knew he must have discovered something. She paced by the roadside, following Lu Yun’s gaze toward the cliff’s edge. She saw vast seas of clouds, mist, and cranes flying; further away, on the great plains below, cities stood in abundance.
These cities… Luo Lingyu’s gaze fixed.
Lu Yun spoke softly beside her: “You see it too?”
Luo Lingyu hesitated: “Mm… Brother Xuezhen, what we’re seeing from here, could it be Nanyang Prefecture?”
The Funiu Mountains were naturally connected to Nanyang, but the mountain range was so long, eight hundred li in length, that seeing Nanyang wasn’t easy. However, at this moment, as Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun stood at the cliff’s edge in the middle section of the mountain, they could see the cities below. Though unclear from such a distance, generally… it should be Nanyang.
Lu Yun had already checked the topographical map, and now explained: “This mountain is called ‘Crown Prince’s Watching Mountain’. When ancient Liu Xiu raised his army, it was said he climbed this mountain to view Nanyang. This peak does indeed provide a direct view of Nanyang…” He mused thoughtfully, murmuring: “Ah yes, I remember Liu Xiu training his army here, how could I have forgotten about his mountain viewing?”
Stationing troops here, ambushing here, training armies here, sheltering forces here… princes and nobles reburied here.
All in Nanyang.
Lu Yun immediately crouched down, taking a nearby branch to draw the terrain. Crown Prince’s Watching Mountain, Nine Li Mountain, Deer Cry Mountain, Swallow Tail Mountain, Official Mountain… The Funiu Mountains were too long, impossible to traverse all eight hundred li. In the past few days, the places Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu had walked were all locations that were historically suitable for military use. This mountain’s terrain was excellent; not only did ancient people use it, but when Lu Yun and General Wei Cong previously ambushed the northern enemy forces, they also relied on the Funiu Mountains’ terrain.
Now with continuous warfare, after the battles, the main battlefield had shifted, allowing Lu Yun to climb the mountain. He thought if he were to die, it would be at a place of military significance. But now at Crown Prince’s Watching Mountain, Lu Yun realized this location better suited his personality – from here one could view Nanyang, almost able to see all situations. Moreover, this mountain wasn’t famous.
For someone as proud and aloof as him, wasn’t this exactly the kind of overall control he most enjoyed?
If he were truly to die, the possibility of it being at Crown Prince’s Watching Mountain suddenly became very high…
Luo Lingyu stood beside him, watching him crouch on the ground writing and drawing, his face deep in thought. She only looked a few times at first, then found his writing too messy to understand. But it didn’t matter, she thought Lu San Lang must have realized something. As her robes fluttered in the wind, the young lady stood beside him, not disturbing Lu San Lang. When she lowered her eyes to look at her lover, her eyes rippled with admiration—
Brother Xuezhen must have seen things she hadn’t noticed.
Such a talented and perceptive young lord, and incomparably handsome too, of course she adored him.
As Luo Lingyu patiently stood beside Lu Yun waiting for him to think things through, suddenly her body swayed, and she stumbled back two steps. Lu Yun immediately stood up, steadying her and pulling her into his embrace. The attendants around them also felt the tremors and stood alert. As the ground rumbled loudly, everyone looked down the mountain toward where Lu Yun had earlier identified as “Nanyang,” seeing warfare erupting violently, with people as dense as ants and locusts outside the city – a battle was taking place.
Lu Yun’s expression changed: “The northern army is attacking Nanyang today?!”
This mountain’s position was indeed excellent, allowing them to see even from such a distance.
Luo Lingyu immediately asked: “…What should we do?! Should we return to Nanyang right away to help?” But Lu Yun’s troops had all been sent to support Ruyang, when she and Lu Yun returned to Nanyang, they were almost alone.
Lu Yun: “Yes.”
His expression hesitated slightly as he looked at Luo Lingyu, thinking of her delicate nature, and how difficult the descent would be… but when he looked over, Luo Lingyu, who had just been crying about sore feet and weak legs demanding he carry her, quickly rolled up her sleeves and trouser legs, lifted her skirts, and ran down the mountain path even faster than his reaction.
Luo Lingyu anxiously looked back: “Brother Xuezhen, what are you dazing about? Hurry up, hurry!”
Though inappropriate at the moment, Lu Yun couldn’t help but cover the upward curve of his lips: “…”
His Yu’er mei mei was really… quite good at running.
…
But this brief moment of lightness also ended here.
The two hurriedly descended the mountain with their attendants. Lu Yun, having already grasped the mountain’s terrain and layout, didn’t waste any more time and rode directly back to Nanyang. His heart burned with anxiety, fearing Nanyang city would be breached. Upon entering Nanyang’s main city, Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu separated. Luo Lingyu hurriedly returned to the Luo family to see if anything had happened to them if the elders and sisters were well, and to learn about Nanyang’s current situation from them.
From that day on, Luo Lingyu didn’t see Lu Yun for half a month.
As a military advisor in the southern army stationed in Nanyang, though Lu Yun had sent troops to aid Ruyang, he couldn’t forget about Nanyang’s situation. Returning to the military camp, Lu Yun immediately went to see General Wei. General Wei was so busy his lips were blistered, sitting astride in the military camp cursing loudly with full vigor. When Lu Yun entered the tent, he saw Wei Cong’s arm in a sling, wrapped in bandages.
Wei Cong followed Lu Yun’s subtle gaze to look at his arm, snorting: “It’s just a broken arm, not severed. You noble young lords are such fussy people, looking at this small injury as if you’re about to cry?”
Lu Yun ignored General Wei’s mockery.
He only saw the arm injury and thought that if Wei Cong hadn’t been so tough and sturdy, he might have lost his life in that battle of simultaneous arrow fire. Though that arrow formation wasn’t necessarily fatal, it wouldn’t have ended well.
Lu San Lang paused, then bowed deeply with flourishing sleeves to General Wei: “Yun was absent from Nanyang for several days on personal matters, thank you for your hard work, General.”
General Wei became very uncomfortable and flushed red: “…”
Lu San Lang stood tall and graceful, his bearing elegant, his sleeves flying like ripples, truly beautiful and refined. For such a jade-like young lord who normally didn’t get along with him to solemnly bow to him, a general of humble origins… General Wei felt awkward and slapped the table, speaking gruffly: “Stop being so fussy! I don’t go for you nobles’ habit of bowing at every turn. I’m a general, and since I’m stationed in Nanyang, I should naturally be responsible here. You pretty boy, you couldn’t have helped much anyway.”
Lu Yun raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
But Wei Cong felt certain that Lu Yun must have had some cutting remark – he was well acquainted with this young lord’s haughty way of speaking. Wei Cong spoke roughly: “…But since you’re back, tell me about the situation in Ruyang. Is the northern army so strong, strong enough to be invincible?”
Having personally been to the front lines, Wei Cong understood better than anyone the northern army’s strength and his own troops’ weakness.
Lu Yun spoke calmly: “We can’t win with military power alone. Moreover, the Jianye court isn’t united with us in purpose – General, you must have also received the court’s message ordering us to withdraw troops. We cannot retreat, and since we’re not following the court’s orders, the court will no longer provide troops and supplies. My trip to Ruyang and Yingchuan made me realize that all the generals are fighting separately, and the court-assigned soldiers don’t know each other well. But to defeat the northern army, neither Nanyang nor Ruyang alone can make a difference. We must unite our forces.”
“When I returned with Lingyu, we didn’t take the official road, but came through the Funiu Mountains.”
Wei Cong interrupted: “You climbed the Funiu Mountains to survey the terrain?”
He was quite sensitive about matters of war and thought for a moment: “…From what you’re saying, you want to use the terrain to unite the forces. Hmm, interesting, continue, Military Advisor Lu.”
At this time, with Nanyang’s military affairs handed over to other subordinate generals, confined to the tent, since Lu Yun’s return, the General had been discussing with him all afternoon. Lu Yun thought that with the court not united in purpose, though troops and supplies hadn’t been cut off yet, they would gradually be cut off. When that happened, they would have to rely on the enemy army for provisions, so the war must have more victories than defeats.
Unable to count on the court, Lu Yun was reassured that Lu Er Lang knew the direction of his dreams – he would convince his faction, the Lu family camp, to stand on Lu San Lang’s side; Prince Chen alone couldn’t shake the entire court to make it fully support the northern war. But with Prince Chen and the Lu family working together, they should at least be able to stabilize the situation. Even if they couldn’t get the court to send troops and money, they could delay the court’s interference in military affairs.
General Wei: “How do you know Prince Chen will help us? Troublesome, have to write letters again.”
One letter meant waiting over ten days for a response, and by the time news arrived, the court’s imperial edict might have already come. If it was an imperial edict directly dismissing him as general, what then?
Lu Yun: “No need to write letters, he understands. Since he let me come to Nanyang, he should trust me; he just needs to handle the rear matters well, not letting rear matters hinder me.”
Wei Cong didn’t respond, because he knew Lu San Lang indeed had a very good personal relationship with his lord, Prince Chen. Now he only thought, so they could understand each other without letters… the relationship between Prince Chen and Lu San Lang was better than he had thought. Wei Cong didn’t have much time to ponder this matter, as Lu San Lang had already started discussing the unification of forces.
Lu San Lang’s expression paused, and when Wei Cong looked over, he heard him speak in a subtle tone: “The other generals are proud of their abilities and don’t trust me, so they might not listen to me. But now, the general who sent troops to support Ruyang is Prince Hengyang.”
Wei Cong recalled what he had heard in Jianye: “That’s bad! You have a poor relationship with Prince Hengyang.”
Lu Yun nodded slightly: “…but Prince Hengyang knows my abilities and will listen to me. Though we’re political enemies, we can cooperate. Ruyang, Nanyang, Yingchuan – at least these three prefectures can unite forces using the Funiu Mountains’ terrain. If these three prefectures successfully unite their forces and surround the northern army, when other prefectures are suffering under enemy siege, they will seek our help.”
His hand traced across the map, his expression cold and clear: “…Thus, the entire northern region can unite to encircle and annihilate the enemy.”
Ruyang, Yingchuan, and Nanyang utilizing the Funiu Mountains’ terrain, would attack from three directions, forming an encirclement to force the northern army into a terrain depression. This was the first step.
General Wei still had doubts: “How to communicate with Prince Hengyang?”
Lu Yun raised his face, his eyes clear and dark: “Light the beacon fires.”
Wei Cong: “Beacon signals are too limited, not convenient.”
Wei Cong was already considering arranging messenger troops to ride back and forth at full speed but then heard Lu Yun say: “When Prince Hengyang studied in Jianye in his youth, he, Prince Chen, and I studied at the same academy. In our youth, we had some mischievous methods. Now that we’re grown, we don’t speak much of our student days, but he will understand the beacon signals I send.”
“Even if complex.”
Wei Cong was stunned, then greatly pleased, patting Lu Yun’s arm: “…Military Advisor Lu, excellent! With the battle against the northern army under your planning, how could our southern army not be victorious?”
…
Beacons were lit, horns blown, flags raised.
Flag bearers planted flags, beacon fires were lit. Every few li there was a tower, gradually transmitting the signals.
In Ruyang City, the battle was deadlocked. Prince Hengyang Liu Mu was there, cooperating with Ruyang’s soldiers to counterattack the city, trying to reclaim the city fallen to enemy hands. The messenger troops saw the flag and beacon signals but were stunned, unable to understand the complex signals. With no choice, the messenger troops reluctantly went to find Ruyang’s general, who looked at the signals… and also couldn’t understand them.
Ruyang’s side: “…Where did the initial beacon signals come from? Are we sure they’re from our side? We’ve never seen signals like these.”
Young Prince Hengyang Liu Mu listened quietly beside them when suddenly his eyelid twitched: “Let me take a look.”
He suddenly thought of Lu San Lang, Lu Yun. Complex things, things others couldn’t understand… might be from Lu Yun’s hand.
Ruyang’s forces indeed brought the confused and anxious messenger to Liu Mu. At this time, their troops were below the city walls, with burning oil above the walls, countless soldiers charging forward, and countless ladders burning against the walls. Waves of soldiers fell, and more waves rushed up. Cavalry, infantry, arrow formations, and troops moved swiftly.
Half the sky was a grey mass.
With the sound of artillery fire reaching the heavens around him, Liu Mu stood before the army, majestic with hands behind his back, his figure tall and unhurried. When he gestured for the messenger to demonstrate those complex signals, his expression became slightly dazed. Like a kaleidoscope, when those complex signals were revealed, when those signals they had played with in childhood and youth – abandoned because they were too complex to teach others – when they saw the light of day again when he saw them once more—
The carefree days of youth in Jianye came rushing back.
Back then, riding through Jianye city, in fine clothes on spirited horses, with an arrogant air.
Back then, not know his elder brother wanted to kill him.
He was still the next imperial candidate chosen by the late emperor’s secret edict.
But now, now…
The messenger anxiously asked: “General, can you not understand them either?”
Liu Mu said: “I understand them.”
The messenger, originally disappointed, was now stunned: “…Ah?!”
Seeing Prince Hengyang’s eyes downcast, his eyelashes hiding his expression, Liu Mu quickly turned and strode off to find Ruyang’s general.
…
Unite forces.
Three prefectures united forces to jointly annihilate the northern army.
…
In Nanyang City, Luo Lingyu hadn’t seen Lu Yun for half a month. She had tried to visit the military camp several times, but the troops moved quickly back and forth, and since General Wei had handed over strategic planning to Lu Yun, Lu Yun rarely appeared in the camp. Each time standing outside the military camp, and saw wounded soldiers being carried back, Luo Lingyu’s eyes would darken.
And back in the noble ladies’ social circles, what the young ladies commonly complained about was just: “When will this war end? My brother was conscripted and taken away, haven’t seen him for so long.”
“Yes, my father has gone too. What’s wrong with Lu San Lang, not sparing any men, we’re nobility you know. When have nobles ever personally gone to the battlefield.”
“Nanyang has lost communication with the outside. The rouge and powder I want to buy, haven’t been able to buy them for so long…”
The ladies chittered and chattered, still speaking only of women’s matters. Luo Lingyu sat among them, her expression growing increasingly faint. When they complained about the lack of communication, Luo Lingyu’s eyes moved, and she stood up with a smile: “Unable to communicate with the outside world, can’t even see the men of your households, how pitiful. If I had a way to let you see your brothers and fathers, would you be willing?”
The ladies perked up: “Really? My mother was crying last night, afraid my brother wouldn’t return. Sister Luo, what way do you have to let us see them?”
Luo Lingyu smiled mysteriously.
The next day, the ladies were led by Luo Lingyu to the military camp entrance. When their faces changed dramatically and they wanted to flee in panic, Luo Lingyu firmly grabbed one lady’s arm, speaking quickly: “The casualties in the army are severe, there aren’t enough medical staff. Sisters, you’re all well-read, if you can’t do anything else, at least you can assist the army doctors, and bandage the wounded soldiers, surely you can do such things?”
Her eyes fixed on the ladies, tempting them: “This way when the men of your households return, won’t you be the first to see them?”
The one whose arm she held covered her nose with her sleeve, speaking with disgust: “I don’t want to! Why don’t you find common women to do this? How can you make us do such things?”
Luo Lingyu: “Common women put on battle robes and armor, becoming militia to protect the city. Aren’t they working harder than you? Sisters, shouldn’t we do something for Nanyang?”
The ladies were stunned by her words: “…You say common women have all joined the army?”
They hadn’t.
This was just Luo Lingyu’s plan, not yet put into action. It was only because noble ladies were arrogant, and there were many wounded in the army, that she first tried to persuade these noble ladies.
Luo Lingyu spoke decisively: “Nanyang’s situation is not good, our forces are extremely weak. If we sisters don’t save ourselves, if the city falls, are we to flee to Jianye? Jianye isn’t our home territory.”
The ladies: “…Don’t grab us, let us think about it.”
“Hmph, you’re just trying to help Lu San Lang.”
In this era, being pursued by a young lord was something greatly envied.
In the eyes of Nanyang’s noble ladies, Luo Lingyu’s first fiancé was the Fan family’s fourth son, and now it was the Lu family’s third son… Miss Luo’s luck made people jealous.
Luo Lingyu didn’t care what they thought, just smiled and persuaded them. She was eloquent, with endless reasoning. When the ladies were unwilling, she simply visited their homes one by one, speaking with their elders. The noble ladies, with bitter faces, afraid of Luo Lingyu, had no choice but to glumly follow her to help.
…
Not only did she ask noble ladies to help treat the wounded, Luo Lingyu also wrote detailed articles explaining that while the men fought on the battlefield, common women could be utilized, disguised as female soldiers. With Nanyang’s forces so few, why not mobilize the entire prefecture’s strength to resist the enemy?
General Wei was overjoyed.
Lu San Lang was a savior.
Unexpectedly, Miss Luo was too.
This long-lasting war made General Wei see hope.
…
The famous scholars of the world continued their verbal and written attacks against the northern army.
After the flames of war blazed higher, support and criticism from all sides multiplied many times over.
The Jianye court could no longer stop the northern warfare, and whenever they tried to exchange troops or recall forces, Prince Chen would maneuver in court, preventing the orders from being implemented. The northern envoy delegation received news from their army’s front lines, their faces ugly with worry, still anxious even after burning the letter:
Lu San Lang!
Again, it was Lu San Lang!
Lu San Lang’s strategies on the northern battlefield were a great threat to the northern army!
The southern country’s old emperor was truly useless, issuing ten orders a day, half of which could be rejected by the nobility. When trying to send them north, Prince Chen Liu Shu in the Sima mansion would find all sorts of excuses to prevent the imperial edicts from being issued.
The northern envoy delegation was panicked, having an ominous feeling that the situation was reversing and the enemy had seen through their thoughts. They couldn’t wait any longer – their hidden piece planted in the southern country, which they had been reluctant to use before, but this time… since the southern court couldn’t influence Lu San Lang, they would have to use this hidden piece.
…
After days of rushing about, as the weather turned cool, Lu Xian caught a cold and had been having headaches all day.
Lu Er Lang had discussed political matters with Prince Chen during the day, and feeling uneasy, went to the temple to pray. He had become a regular visitor to Jianye’s temples, and during his visit, accidentally encountered Princess Ningping Liu Tang, who was being arranged to marry him. Liu Tang was also leading the Luo family’s little sister Luo Yunwan, both going to offer incense and worship Buddha.
By evening, when driving back to the mansion, Lu Er Lang was escorting Luo Yunwan home.
His eyelid kept twitching, his heart weary, and beside him, Luo Yunwan was quiet and didn’t disturb him. So when he got in the carriage and his head was aching, Lu Xian simply closed his eyes to rest. Young Lady Luo Yunwan had originally wanted to talk with her second cousin, to ask about the situation in Nanyang. She had heard the situation there was unstable, and she worried about her sister and future brother-in-law. But since her second cousin closed his eyes to sleep as soon as he got in the carriage, the young lady could only puff up her cheeks and obediently stay quiet.
After playing with her fingers for a while, suddenly the window was pushed open, and raindrops from outside the carriage curtain sprayed onto her face.
Luo Yunwan curiously leaned over, her small face pressed against the window. As she carefully tried to close the window to prevent the rain from reaching her second cousin, she suddenly saw a young lord standing expressionlessly under the wall, illuminated by the hanging lantern outside the carriage. Luo Yunwan was stunned, and as the fine rain fell diagonally, she rubbed her eyes.
The young lord looked up toward her.
Silent, neither speaking.
Luo Yunwan hesitantly called out in her heart: Brother Zihan.
But she only leaned against the window, not opening her mouth, because she knew that during her and Lu Si Lang Lu Chang’s previous mishap, those commoners behind it were Chen Xiu. The Lu and Chen families had fallen into conflict because of this, and though Luo Yunwan was young, she was quite perceptive. She understood afterward that Brother Zihan was also on Miss Chen’s side.
Deliberately coming to trouble her… yet also saving her… perhaps he wasn’t a good person.
The young lord leaning against the wall stood quietly, rain falling steadily, his shoulders half wet. The young lady sat in the carriage, her snow-white little face passing by, he just watched, not calling out in greeting.
And from another direction at the end of the alley, the northern envoy delegation’s carriage passed by.
Someone in the carriage pulled back the curtain, saw that young lord and their eyes suddenly flashed.
…
After many dreams, some patterns could be understood.
For example, if reality’s major direction had already changed from the dream, the dream would not continue.
Thus, having not dreamed for several consecutive days, Lu Er Lang Lu Xian held onto a glimmer of hope, thinking it was because reality had already changed, the major direction had changed, and Lu San Lang would not die. That was why he kept not having dreams.
However, this prayer was shattered when he fell into another dream. It turned out that not having dreams wasn’t because reality had changed, but because the crucial moment hadn’t arrived.
When his carriage passed through the street, as he slept in the carriage, when the carriage passed by the young lord Zihan standing straight against the wall corner, that crucial moment finally arrived.
…
In the dream, it was still that great snow, that death after the great battle.
Lu Yun still died, but the timeline had retreated one step.
Like a wandering soul on the outside, Lu Er Lang stumbled through the mountains searching for his brother. He saw thousands of troops fall, saw lines of bloodstains, saw corpses strewn about… his heart screamed: No!
He finally found Lu San Lang.
Lu San Lang Lu Yun, snow-white faced, standing in the snow, spiritually exhausted, the soldiers around him dead, yet the enemy before him was not the pursuing troops.
But rather a young lord slowly raising his weapon, his features as cold and sharp as ice and snow.
…
If he had opened his eyes, if he had looked outside the window like Luo Yunwan, he would have recognized that the young lord who finally came to kill Lu Yun in his dream was now in Jianye, standing silently under the wall, watching the carriage move away, passing by him.