Moonlight hung from the treetops, its radiance like water. Jiang Ci sat by the well, gazing up at the bright moon overhead, and let out a contented sigh.
Wei Zhao had ordered Zong Sheng to retire for the night, relieving him of guard duty, before entering the courtyard. Jiang Ci turned and waved to him. Wei Zhao sat down beside her, a flicker of surprise crossing his brow. Jiang Ci smiled and said, “It’s cool here, isn’t it? The stone by the well is perfect for beating the heat.”
Wei Zhao listened carefully, confirming that no one was outside the courtyard. He took Jiang Ci’s right hand, using his Yuan Power to examine her body, and asked, “Are you feeling better today? Is it still painful?”
“Much better. It seems Physician Cui’s medicine is quite effective,” Jiang Ci replied, looking at him tenderly.
“Even so, you shouldn’t sit in such a cool place. You already have cold energy built up in your body,” Wei Zhao said, pulling her up forcefully. “Get some rest early. We need to leave for Huiyan Pass tomorrow morning.”
“Is the battle about to begin?” Jiang Ci asked anxiously.
Wei Zhao wanted to embrace her but restrained himself, only looking down at her intently. “This battle will be extremely dangerous. You should stay here.”
Jiang Ci didn’t answer, shaking her head instead. Knowing her temperament, Wei Zhao didn’t press further. He took her hand and walked to the courtyard gate, still reluctant to part. Finally, he gently embraced her, inhaling the fresh scent of her hair, unable to speak.
Jiang Ci leaned against his chest and said softly, “Third Young Master, I’ve washed all your clothes and put them in your room. Once we reach Huiyan Pass tomorrow, you’ll be busy with the battle, and the medical tent will be hectic. I won’t be able to wash your clothes every day anymore.”
Wei Zhao’s breathing grew heavy. Jiang Ci inhaled his faint, elegant fragrance and murmured, “You must take your revenge, but you promised to spend a lifetime with me. I won’t allow you to break your word.”
Wei Zhao remained silent, lowering his head to see endless tenderness and immense affection in her eyes and brow. Like the moon above, she illuminated the dark path ahead. He couldn’t help but hold her tighter.
She looked up at him with a smile. As he gazed at her, he thought of how he had always entered the wolf’s den alone, facing frost-cold blades in solitude. But now, his heart carried a pair of concerned eyes. Was this fortune or misfortune?
At midnight, Pei Yan and Wei Zhao led the ten thousand Changfeng Cavalry guarding Hexi Prefecture to depart. Outside the city, they joined Tong Min and twenty thousand Changfeng Cavalry who had rushed over from Bizi Mountain. With rolling wheels and a mighty force, they arrived at Huiyan Pass before dawn.
Ning Jian Yu and He Zhen Wen came out of the camp to welcome them. Cui Liang led his men to hide twenty “Four-Direction Chariots” in the forest. Once everything was settled, they entered the central military tent.
Pei Yan was speaking with Wei Zhao and others when Cui Liang entered. Pei Yan said, “Zi Ming, come quickly and meet Alliance Master Liu.”
The Martial Arts Alliance Leader and Cangshan Sect Master, Liu Feng, stood up and cupped his hands towards Cui Liang, saying, “Strategist Cui.”
Liu Feng had become the Martial Arts Alliance Leader with Pei Yan’s support, but he was constrained by the Council Hall. Eight or nine out of ten matters couldn’t be decided, and he gradually lost the authority to command the various heroes. Just as he was feeling frustrated, a secret letter from Pei Yan arrived, followed by the Crown Prince’s edict. Liu Feng was secretly delighted, knowing this was a great opportunity for the Cangshan Sect to rise to prominence. He thus cooperated with Pei Yan’s instructions and issued an “Alliance Master’s Order,” calling upon the martial arts world to join in saving the country and fighting the enemy on the battlefield.
After receiving the “Alliance Master’s Order,” most people in the martial arts world knew the dangers of the battlefield and were reluctant to come to the military. However, the Crown Prince’s edict was posted all over the country, and Liu Feng made a grand gesture, using the eight words “Loyalty to the Country, Saving the Common People” to put pressure on the heroes. The various sects had no choice but to send their top experts, led by Liu Feng, to join the Changfeng Cavalry.
Cui Liang personally took Liu Feng to see the “Four-Direction Chariots.” Pei Yan then discussed details with Wei Zhao, Ning Jian Yu, and others. Ning Jian Yu and He Zhen Wen went to arrange everything.
On the twentieth day of the sixth month, Pei Yan used the power of the “Four-Direction Chariots” to send several hundred martial arts experts up to the walls of Huiyan Pass. Yi Han led the Huan Kingdom’s “First Rank Hall” death squads to resist fiercely but still allowed some people to reach the gate.
Teng Rui, quick-witted, ordered the Huan death squads to carry newly allocated “Black Oil” and charge toward the hundreds of Hua Dynasty martial arts experts. The martial arts experts didn’t take these ordinary Huan soldiers seriously and killed them one by one. However, before dying, the Huan soldiers poured all the “Black Oil” onto the martial arts experts. Teng Rui then ordered fire arrows to be shot. The hundreds of Hua Dynasty martial arts experts trying to open the gate suffered heavy casualties, with only over a hundred experts fighting desperately to retreat to the top of the wall and escape back to the camp.
Yu Wen Jing Lun commanded skillfully, repelling the Changfeng Cavalry’s wave-like attacks on the pass, finally holding Huiyan Pass steadily.
Pei Yan’s general attack before the arrival of Huan reinforcements failed.
In this battle, the Huan Kingdom’s “First Rank Hall” experts were almost completely wiped out, and the Hua Dynasty’s martial arts forces also suffered heavy losses. Combined with the previous fall of half the northern territory and multiple battlefield defeats, the Hua Dynasty’s situation of martial arts forces secretly controlling military and political affairs came to an end.
With iron hooves thundering, the Huan “Yiping Army” and “Ningping Army,” after repeatedly repelling ambushes, finally arrived at Huiyan Pass at dusk on this day.
Yu Wen Jing Lun was discussing the “Four-Direction Chariots” used by the Changfeng Cavalry in the earlier attack with Yi Han when he heard the report. He went to welcome the two royal uncles into the tent. After exchanging pleasantries, the King of Yiping took a sip of tea and smiled, saying, “Jing Lun, it’s not that your uncle is criticizing you, but our Huan army excels in cavalry. How can you and Pei Yan waste time in this small pass?! Tomorrow we’ll attack. I don’t believe we can’t defeat his Changfeng Cavalry!”
Yu Wen Jing Lun’s expression was solemn as he said, “My two royal uncles have come from afar to assist your nephew, and I am truly grateful. We do need to attack, but not now. At present, there is a most urgent matter to attend to.”
“What matter?” The King of Ningping saw how serious he was and exchanged glances with the King of Yiping.
Teng Rui entered the tent, and Yu Wen Jing Lun said no more, only giving Yi Han a meaningful look. Yi Han understood and quietly returned to the central military tent after everyone had left.
Yu Wen Jing Lun remained silent for a long time before smiling and saying, “Mr. Yi, in today’s battle on the wall, I saw that your son-in-law was quite valiant and skilled in martial arts. I would like to take him as my guard.”
Yi Han was delighted and quickly knelt on one knee to thank Yu Wen Jing Lun on Ming Fei’s behalf for this great honor.
Yu Wen Jing Lun stepped forward to help him up. Yi Han had an inkling and said, “Your Highness, if you have any instructions, Yi Han will risk his life to accomplish them.”
Yu Wen Jing Lun nodded and said in a low voice, “I would like to ask you to help me with another matter, but it must be kept secret from Mr. Teng.”
After this attack on the pass, the war became unexpectedly quiet. The Huan army still guarded the pass without venturing out, and Pei Yan also sensed something unusual. Unable to guess Yu Wen Jing Lun’s intentions, he could only issue orders for all officers and soldiers to sharpen their weapons and rest, preparing for more intense battles.
Cangshan Sect Master Liu Feng, relying on his superior martial arts skills, escaped back to the military camp with over a hundred experts, all wounded. Thinking of the heavy casualties among his disciples, they were all grief-stricken. Pei Yan visited several times to console them, and their mood gradually improved.
Learning that Teng Rui had also used “Black Oil,” Cui Liang felt quite troubled. On this day, at the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), he was still sitting under the lamp, thinking hard. Jiang Ci rushed in, saying, “Brother Cui, come quickly and take a look.”
The two hurried to the medical tent, where Military Doctor Ling was treating the wounds of an injured Cangshan disciple. However, this person had been hit and twisted by a First Rank Hall expert’s teeth-breaking knife, and the wound had already rotted into a bloody hole. He was screaming in agony, and if Liu Feng hadn’t sealed his acupoints, he would have ruptured his heart vessels seeking a quick death.
Cui Liang looked and shook his head, his face showing a trace of pity.
Military Doctor Ling also knew it was futile and said dejectedly, “The weather is too hot.”
Liu Feng heard this and became despondent. This disciple was one of his favorites. He had hoped to establish great merit in the attack on the past, thereby forcing Pei Yan to fulfill his promises and appoint more Cangshan disciples to positions in the military, even promoting his people to be the Governor of Cang Prefecture. Unexpectedly, the attack on the pass failed, and he lost so many disciples’ lives. Although Pei Yan still promised many benefits to the Cangshan Sect, it was still a loss that outweighed the gains. Seeing his disciple still screaming in agony, he sighed deeply, stepped forward, and cut off the disciple’s heart meridian. The disciple convulsed a few times before finally stopping his cries.
Although Jiang Ci had become accustomed to the bloodshed and cruelty of the battlefield over the past few months, she still felt a heaviness in her heart. Seeing Cui Liang walk out of the medical tent with a sorrowful expression, she silently followed behind.
On a summer night during the hottest part of the year, the air was stuffy and sultry. Cui Liang sat down on a rock with a heavy expression, slightly loosening his collar.
Since Jiang Ci had known Cui Liang, she had never seen him like this. She thought for a moment, then ran to the mountain path at the edge of the camp to break off a few large cattail leaves. She ran back to sit beside Cui Liang, gently fanning him with the leaves.
Cui Liang turned to look at Jiang Ci and patted her head. Jiang Ci tried to comfort him, saying, “Brother Cui, the battlefield is ever-changing, sometimes beyond human control. Besides, your opponent is your uncle.”
“It’s precisely because he’s my uncle that I feel even more heartbroken,” Cui Liang said, feeling the cool breeze from Jiang Ci’s fan. He sighed, “On his deathbed, my master repeatedly instructed me to find my uncle. Alas, he couldn’t have foreseen that now, I would be facing my uncle on the battlefield, both of us with blood-stained hands.”
Jiang Ci thought for a moment and said, “Brother Cui, I don’t understand all this talk about the country and great righteousness. I only know that without you, many more common people in our Hua Dynasty would die.”
Cui Liang suddenly felt weary in body and mind. He slowly closed his eyes and said, “Xiao Ci.”
“Mm?”
“What kind of life do you most want to live?”
Jiang Ci continued fanning the large cattail leaf and said softly, “I only want to be with the person I love most, living in a small mountain village with beautiful scenery. There should be mountains and waters, a few acres of good fields, a few wooden houses, and preferably a tea garden and an orchard. We’d pick tea in spring, harvest grain in summer, pick fruits in autumn, and in winter, we’d warm ourselves by the fire and go hunting in the mountains.”
Cui Liang couldn’t help but smile, “You have quite a beautiful vision.”
Jiang Ci felt a bit deflated, “I don’t know when we’ll be able to live such a life.” But she quickly cheered up again and asked with a smile, “What about you, Brother Cui? What kind of life do you want to live?”
“Me?” Cui Liang squinted his eyes and said, “I just want to travel the world, drifting on rivers and lakes. If I have money, I’ll leisurely enjoy myself. If I run out of money, I’ll help people as a doctor, be a wandering physician, and make a few coins here and there.”
Jiang Ci laughed, “If you were a wandering physician swindling money, there would be no good doctors left in the world.”
“I’m not a divine doctor. In this world, there are many diseases that Brother Cui can’t cure, just like earlier—”
Jiang Ci quickly changed the subject, “Brother Cui, I’m much better now. It only hurts a bit around the hour of Xu (7-9 PM).”
Cui Liang placed three fingers on her right wrist to check her pulse, then nodded, “It is much better. You can stop taking medicine in half a month. Just remember not to eat too many cold-natured foods in the future, especially things like hairy crabs—you can’t touch those at all.”
Jiang Ci remembered how she had exaggerated her condition to trick Wei Zhao into making a promise, and her cheeks flushed slightly. She couldn’t help but laugh.
Cui Liang gazed at her coquettish appearance and said softly, “Xiao Ci.”
“Mm.”
“Are you truly willing? Have you made up your mind?”
Jiang Ci felt a bit flustered, not knowing how to answer for a moment. Cui Liang sighed lightly and said, “Xiao Ci, Sect Master Xiao is not a good match for you. The road ahead is difficult.”
Jiang Ci hadn’t expected him to have guessed. She lowered her head and after a while said, “I know.”
“You should still leave.”
“No.” Jiang Ci shook her head, her lips slightly pursed. After a moment, she said, “Brother Cui, this is the path I’ve chosen for myself. I don’t regret it.”
Cui Liang was speechless for a moment. Jiang Ci looked towards the military camp and said softly, “Besides if I leave, what will he do?”
“He has his things to do, but those things have nothing to do with you.”
“His matters are my matters,” Jiang Ci said with a hint of stubbornness in her voice. “Brother Cui, the people of Yue Luo are too pitiful. Why do people from both Hua and Huan bully them? Why can’t they live peaceful lives? They’ve never thought of bullying others.”
Cui Liang sighed, “If the emperors and ministers of these two countries thought like you, there would be no more conflicts in the world.” Knowing that further persuasion was useless, he stood up. “Let’s go back. Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet, so you should rest early too.”
Cui Liang parted ways with Jiang Ci in front of the medical tent and headed towards the main command tent, but Pei Yan wasn’t there. The Changfeng Guard informed him that Pei Yan had gone to see Marquis Xuanyuan He Zhenwen, as the Marquis had been ambushed. The attackers had killed several people, and Pei Yan went to console Marquis Xuanyuan.
Cui Liang had no choice but to return to his tent. Just as he reached the entrance, he saw Jiang Ci coming towards him again. He couldn’t help but smile and say, “Didn’t I tell you to rest earlier?”
Jiang Ci handed a palm leaf fan to Cui Liang, “I just made this. Elder Brother Cui, please use it to cool yourself. It’s too hot at night.”
Cui Liang accepted it with a smile, “Do you have one for yourself?”
“I do,” Jiang Ci smiled. “Elder Brother Cui, rest early. I’m leaving now.”
Just as she turned around, a flash of lightning seemed to streak before her eyes. A sword blade tore through the night wind, thrusting directly towards Cui Liang from in front of her. The force pushed Jiang Ci back several steps.
With a “ding” sound, the long sword struck Cui Liang’s chest but failed to penetrate. The blade suddenly bent, and Cui Liang spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, stumbling back several steps before collapsing to the ground.
The black-clad, masked person let out a soft “eh” sound, seemingly puzzled as to why they couldn’t penetrate Cui Liang’s body with their martial prowess. They swung their sword, and the sword energy tore open Cui Liang’s clothes at the chest. Suddenly realizing, they laughed coldly, “So you’re wearing a ‘Golden Thread Armor’!”
Without further words, they thrust their sword towards Cui Liang’s throat. Although Cui Liang’s Golden Thread Armor had blocked the sword to his chest, the assailant’s fierce internal energy had still injured his lungs. His whole body was weak, and he was about to die under the sword.
As soon as the black-clad, masked person spoke, Jiang Ci recognized him as Yi Han. Her heart sank as she realized the danger, and she threw herself forward. The moment Yi Han’s sword thrust out, she fell on top of Cui Liang.
Yi Han hesitated slightly, remembering his daughter Yan Shuangqiao and her earnest request before she left for the capital. He found himself unable to deliver this sword strike.
However, he quickly regained his composure. He reached out and grabbed Jiang Ci, tossing her aside, then once again thrust his sword toward Cui Liang’s throat.