Cold light pressed menacingly, fierce eyes flashing in the dark night as if choosing someone to devour. The atmosphere was tense, yet Jing Hengbo laughed softly.

“Today I’ve finally witnessed a thief crying ‘catch the thief,'” she said.

Lei Xi’s expression changed, then he shouted harshly: “No matter how silver your tongue, today you’ll answer for your crimes here!”

“Hey, I say,” Jing Hengbo lifted her chin, pointing at those black-clothed men with her fingertip, “shouldn’t we first intercept the prisoners, deal with these bold criminals who dare rescue prisoners, then clean house? You’re so eager to target me—are you trying to create chaos first so this group can escape in the confusion?”

Under the firelight, Lei Xi’s face turned somewhat green, then he said harshly: “You have a sharp tongue indeed, but you’re in league with these prison raiders. Taking you down first, then them—it’s all the same!”

“You can’t take us down.” Those black-clothed men laughed while waving the paper bags in their hands. “Push us too hard and we’ll tear this open—all the prisoners will die instantly. Is it better for one to die or all of them? You should know how to calculate this, right?” His expression suddenly changed, shouting sternly: “Back off! All of you back off! Otherwise I’ll kill all the prisoners in this tent, and you’ll face the death penalty too!”

The soldiers all changed color. Jiang Ya looked troubled, Lei Xi’s eyes flickered as he said softly: “We can’t let all these people die. If one Yélu family member leaves, we can still say the Yélu family was powerful and snatched people in the chaos—at most we’d face disciplinary action. If they all die, how can we bear such responsibility?”

Jiang Ya pondered, then with an iron-blue face waved his hand after a long moment. Those black-clothed men smiled triumphantly, seeing the soldiers slowly withdraw from the encirclement.

The encirclement withdrew from them but not from Jing Hengbo. The leader of those black-clothed men looked at her, laughing harshly: “Little brother, you’ve done great service. We should take you with us, but as you can see, the situation is unfavorable now. We can’t look after you either—take care of yourself!”

Saying this, he laughed loudly and leaped away, the other black-clothed men following closely. Lei Xi pointed at Jing Hengbo with a cold face: “Seize her!”

“Don’t leave!” This shout came simultaneously with Lei Xi’s, the voice even colder, from behind Jing Hengbo. Everyone turned to see a tall, thin white figure slowly emerging from the adjacent tent—it was Nan Jin.

Those black-clothed men paid no attention at all, but heard Nan Jin shout: “You still have people you haven’t taken!”

Those black-clothed men looked back in amazement. Nan Jin flicked her sleeve, and everyone immediately exclaimed in shock.

The tent behind Nan Jin opened, revealing a large pile of bodies stacked like human towers, layer upon layer. They appeared to be a group of richly dressed young men. The topmost person lay unconscious with a pale face. Nan Jin walked over, grabbed that person’s hair, and said to those black-clothed men: “Rescued the eldest but abandoned the seventh?”

The black-clothed men cried out: “Seventh Young Master!” The group’s faces changed dramatically, their rising forms involuntarily falling back down. The leading black-clothed man’s face streamed with sweat—tonight’s operation had been planned by Seventh Young Master Yélu Zhe, but he had suddenly disappeared before the action. With arrows already nocked and having to be released, fortunately there were others in the city to take charge, so they decided to continue with the original plan. Who knew everything went smoothly, they rescued the eldest son, only to see the seventh son trapped in the camp! Not only the seventh son, but also Lin Province noble offspring and several important figures from the capital were inside!

Rescuing one but losing more important ones—wouldn’t that make all efforts futile?

More importantly, this made tonight’s rescue plan meaningless. Even if they abandoned Seventh Young Master now and took the eldest son away, ignoring all those noble offspring, the Yélu family would certainly face blame from other allied families afterward.

Jing Hengbo also looked at that pile of hostages with some surprise. Had Nan Jin taken advantage of the chaos to capture this group of young masters? When had she become so clever and meddlesome? But capturing this group couldn’t have been easy.

Thinking of that snowball earlier, understanding dawned in her heart.

The situation suddenly changed. Most officers and soldiers were confused, not understanding why these people who were about to leave suddenly wouldn’t go. Even Jiang Ya looked around in bewilderment. Jing Hengbo suddenly laughed melodiously, staring at Lei Xi: “Deputy Captain Lei, why does your face look so terrible? Do you recognize these newly appeared hostages?”

Lei Xi’s face darkened as he said coldly: “You traitor, what right do you have to spout nonsense here?”

“I only asked if you recognize these hostages—where’s the nonsense?” Jing Hengbo said with a smile. “It seems you and those black-clothed brothers have equally terrible expressions.”

“Traitor!” Lei Xi’s eyebrows shot up. “At a time like this, you’re still sowing discord and slander—are you trying to create chaos to escape?”

“That seems to be your specialty,” Jing Hengbo replied with a laugh.

“Silence!” Lei Xi grew even more furious. “Someone—”

“Enough.” Jiang Ya suddenly frowned. “Investigating spies can wait. Resolving the immediate situation is urgent.”

Lei Xi paused, his half-drawn blade stopping. After a long moment, he took a deep breath.

“Take him away for questioning later.” Jiang Ya waved his hand without looking at Jing Hengbo. He had no mind for such disputes now, his attention focused entirely on that group of prison raiders.

Lei Xi pressed his hand on his blade, his flickering gaze fixed on Jing Hengbo, clearly meaning he’d make her bleed on the spot if she dared resist arrest. But Jing Hengbo surprised him by not resisting at all. She sighed and let those soldiers take her away. Lei Xi stared at her retreating figure with sinister eyes, then turned back.

Those black-clothed men in the field stood stunned for a long moment before finally making a decision—there were too many captured hostages to rescue, and trying would only trap themselves. Better to save who they could and get the eldest son out first.

The black-clothed men sneered: “Let’s go!”

Atop the pile of hostages, Yélu Zhe at the top raised his head, staring venomously at the departing black-clothed men—the family was always like this. Among Yélu family descendants, the eldest son’s life was always more important than theirs!

As Jing Hengbo was escorted past him, she saw the venomous expression on his face and her lips curved.

She suddenly felt a strange gaze beside her. Turning, she saw Nan Jin—this girl whose face was usually numb was staring at her with an unreadable expression. Jing Hengbo was somewhat surprised but didn’t think much of it. The soldiers behind her smiled very respectfully at Nan Jin but roughly shoved her: “What are you dawdling for? Move!”

Jing Hengbo smiled, unperturbed. These soldiers had been saved by Nan Jin earlier and seen her superior martial arts. Now seeing her capture so many hostages, the military always admired the strong, so naturally their attitude was different. As for herself, she looked completely useless and had suspected enemy connections—not giving her a surprise blade was already courtesy.

Nan Jin watched Jing Hengbo being escorted into a small tent nearby, then turned to glance at Yélu Zhe’s back.

Yélu Zhe’s back showed slight water vapor, clearly having been covered with ice and snow earlier. That ice and snow had formed strange shapes, but only she had seen them.

It was a command from the clan’s sole surviving elder, the Grand Clan Elder.

“Kill the woman with you.”

…

Jiang Ya looked up at the direction the black-clothed men had gone, ordering soldiers to pursue them, his expression very unpleasant.

But Lei Xi smiled beside him: “Captain needn’t be troubled. Now we have many more hostages—they look like Lin Province noble offspring too. We can use them to negotiate with Lin Province’s great families and exchange back the prisoners.”

“That’s the only option.” Jiang Ya said. “But how do you know these are all Lin Province noble offspring?”

Lei Xi’s expression sharpened, then he smiled: “Earlier that black-clothed man called out ‘Seventh Young Master’—presumably the Yélu family’s seventh son. Those who could be with the seventh son would naturally be Lin Province prominent family offspring.”

“You’re right.” Jiang Ya nodded with heavy concerns. “They certainly won’t give up easily. We must strengthen our defenses.”

“Captain can rest assured, I’ll arrange everything properly. You’ve been busy all night with important matters ahead—why not rest a while first?”

Jiang Ya lowered his sword, looking wearily at the sky: “Those prison raiders just left, they probably won’t return immediately. Everyone should rest while they can.”

But Lei Xi said that failing to catch the spy in time, allowing Yélu Min to be rescued, he wanted to atone for his failure and continue the night watch. Jiang Ya tried to dissuade him several times but couldn’t change his mind, so he agreed. He immediately ordered the soldiers who had fought hard on the outer perimeter to rest briefly while inner perimeter soldiers maintained heightened vigilance on night watch.

The people in the camp settled down quietly after some cleanup.

Lei Xi personally guarded the tent holding Yélu Zhe and others with trusted soldiers. Nan Jin also left her tent to rest. Passing the tent where Jing Hengbo was held, she suddenly stopped.

Outside the tent, dim firelight showed the slender shadow of the person inside. She seemed to be leaning against the tent with her head down—whether sleeping or contemplating was unclear.

Nan Jin stared at that silhouette for a long time, then suddenly asked: “Who were you really looking for at the market today?”

There was no movement in the tent. Nan Jin didn’t leave either. After a while, she heard Jing Hengbo’s weary voice: “My beloved.”

The wind suddenly stilled. The distant sounds of wild birds’ wingtips brushing treetops, dewdrops falling from leaf tips, night insects chirping in wild grass—all seemed audible in an instant.

The wind also seemed to suddenly tighten. Wild birds fell from treetops, dewdrops about to fall vanished instantly, night insects went silent, heaven and earth darkened.

Nan Jin stood motionless all along.

After a long time, she silently walked away.

…

Pre-dawn is always the darkest and best sleeping time. The soldiers who had fought fiercely all night snored so loudly it could be heard ten li away.

But those on night watch remained alert, vigilantly watching all external movements.

Lei Xi sat before the tent, listening intently, hearing distant bird calls—one long, two short, melodious sounds.

He glanced at the several trusted soldiers around him. The soldiers nodded at him. He looked around the camp, noting Nan Jin had left long ago to unknown whereabouts.

He quietly stood and entered the tent.

Inside the tent, that pile of hostages remained stacked, only Yélu Zhe at the top was awake, staring at him with sinister eyes and sneering softly: “Smart of you.”

Lei Xi’s face was cold. How could he willingly take such risks? But having his weakness seized, he’d agreed to help once. Who knew that after rescuing the eldest son, the seventh son would be captured? The parting glances of those black-clothed men made clear—he had to help once more, or they’d continue making trouble for him and expose his secrets.

Those Yélu family members had hinted before leaving that they wouldn’t go far and would wait nearby for support. He just needed to release this group.

But approaching closer, he discovered these people had no chains or bindings, no restraints at all—just rigid bodies, as if all frozen stiff. But in this weather, how could they be frozen?

“Can’t leave.” Yélu Zhe’s expression was gloomy. “They can’t move, and you can’t possibly take everyone out.”

Lei Xi also realized this, cold sweat streaming down his forehead as he helped the barely mobile Yélu Zhe down. The two stood in the tent, looking at each other.

In the darkness, their eyes were like wolves, each bloodthirsty.

Similar people—in that instant their gazes collided, they saw the same murderous intent.

Then both turned simultaneously, each drawing their blades!

“Swish swish”—continuous sounds!

In the dark tent, the sounds of blade tips entering flesh were endless, accompanied by the spurting sounds of blood. Rich, bloody odor filled the air.

The two men—one left, one right—each took responsibility for one side, drawing blades and killing, one strike per person, like slaughtering pigs.

In the flying blood, those rigid, immobile young masters stared in horror, never imagining that Yélu Zhe, who usually caroused with them like brothers, would suddenly strike to kill. Even less could they imagine that the spy planted in the military would be so ruthlessly vicious. Their throats were stiff, unable to cry out. Many died with eyes full of questions—why do this? Weren’t they afraid of future retribution from the great families?

Yélu Zhe and Lei Xi answered with ice-cold, blood-stained blade tips.

They had to do this.

If Lei Xi couldn’t save everyone, he’d certainly face blame, and his identity and secrets would be in danger of exposure.

Unable to save everyone, as long as even one remained, Yélu Zhe would bear responsibility.

So all these people had to die. Blaming their deaths on this military force would make Lin Province families and even capital nobles fight this army to the death. Not only would they escape responsibility, they could also take revenge.

Fresh blood splattered. Yélu Zhe moved quickly, slitting throats while also cutting deep into his own arm with the blade.

His “desperate escape” would gain the trust of those prominent families and nobles.

Having killed those piled on top, they overturned bodies and continued the slaughter—not one living witness could remain!

Lei Xi had just turned over a somewhat stiff body, but it was too rigid. Seeing it would make noise falling, he rushed to catch it. But one hand moved faster than his, gently catching the person’s body and laughing: “Take it easy.”

Lei Xi’s whole body went cold.

His eyes stared straight ahead.

That hand was snow-white and delicate, with slender fingertips like spring onions, jade tubes, beautiful bamboo shoots—exquisite and refined.

That voice was slightly lazy and hoarse, the laughter seemed to have hooks, soul-stealing.

But he felt his internal organs suddenly hooked and tightly squeezed, forcing out cold sweat.

He looked up somewhat dazedly to see the smiling Jing Hengbo before him.

This sight nearly made him faint. His first reaction was to glance outside—the distant tent holding Jing Hengbo still had lights on with guards posted, no one crying out about the detained person being absent.

The detained person had appeared here like a ghost.

“Tsk tsk, how cruel.” Jing Hengbo laughed softly. “I was just one step slow, and you’ve nearly finished killing them all.”

She had deliberately been one step slow. Only by letting these two act and having those young masters see them kill would she successfully drive wedges between the Yélu family and other families, make the Yélu family unable to survive in Yu Kingdom, create great chaos in Yu Kingdom so she could fish in troubled waters. Anyway, these family young masters were lawless bullies who oppressed common people—they’d done plenty of bad things.

Just that these two were more ruthless than she’d imagined. Being one step slow, at least three more people had died.

Lei Xi and Yélu Zhe looked at each other. Without a word, both sprang into action.

“Bang.” A muffled sound, and the next instant both tumbled to the ground. At the entrance stood the expressionless Nan Jin, appearing from nowhere.

Yélu Zhe and Lei Xi looked at each other again. This time both got up and rolled, pouncing toward Jing Hengbo with perfect coordination.

Jing Hengbo looked like the softer persimmon to squeeze.

“Bang”—the two collided. The person before them had vanished. Then their back collars were grabbed by a pair of ice-cold, soft hands, forcing their foreheads together in a hard collision.

“Smack.” Stars seemed to explode before their eyes. Both had blue-purple foreheads and nearly fainted from the collision.

The woman’s lazy laughter sounded behind their necks: “Hearts equally black, people equally ruthless—naturally foreheads equally hard too.”

In the laughter, Yélu Zhe stared wide-eyed at the lamp on the tent’s table suddenly moving by itself, falling into the palm of the person behind him.

Behind them, Jing Hengbo struck flint and lit the candle.

As light brightened, Lei Xi’s face went ashen—the army would be alerted.

Yélu Zhe’s expression changed. Suddenly seeming to think of something, he exclaimed: “You’re a wom—”

Behind him, Jing Hengbo chuckled, and Yélu Zhe immediately stopped speaking. Seeing rope from a tent corner automatically flying up and falling on himself, he finally confirmed the person behind him was indeed the Empress.

The Empress was famous throughout the world for her lightness skills and object manipulation. Of course many thought these were her martial arts. Great families like the Yélu clan naturally knew more about the Empress’s abilities than others. Yélu Zhe had heard of this but never imagined the Empress would disguise herself as a common soldier, following the escort convoy to Yu Kingdom. Only when he saw her ghostly teleportation and remote object control did realization flash—making him shout that phrase.

Thinking of the Empress reminded him of an incident from half a year ago and some rumors he’d heard. His heart stirred as he suddenly found a thread of hope for survival.

Lamplight had brightened, and numerous soldiers’ urgent footsteps approached.

Jing Hengbo’s ice-cold fingers traced his throat as she laughed: “Dear, should I give you a quick death? Otherwise, what do you think—will those Lin Province prominent families, or even Yu Kingdom’s royal family, dismember you? Ah, the Yélu family probably won’t spare you either—you’ve caused them such huge trouble.”

Cold fingers stimulated his throat skin, causing uncontrollable spasms. Yélu Zhe seemed to smell killing intent—coldly fierce, pressing close with bloody menace. He could even feel the Empress’s current mood wasn’t very good.

Thinking of the Empress’s recent reputation, his whole body trembled. Suddenly he said in a low voice: “Your Majesty… Your Majesty! Spare my life—I have important information you need, to trade with you!”

“Oh?” Jing Hengbo glanced at him sideways, her tone leisurely.

“I… I can tell you Yélu Qi’s whereabouts!”