But when she turned around, chaotic thoughts overwhelmed her mind. Before she could figure out what to do, what to say, or what she might face, Ying Bai beside her suddenly winked at her.

This unexpected wink immediately interrupted her remaining train of thought.

She opened her mouth, standing there dumbfounded with her mind completely blank.

It was like having your pants off only to suddenly wake up.

“I asked you to help me bite this, but why did you bite my pastry?” Ying Bai smiled and flicked his fingers, revealing half a cork between them from a wine flask. “I accidentally pushed the cork too far in just now, and it needs to be bitten to come out. My teeth have never been good after drinking too much, and I couldn’t bear to damage the wine flask and spill my good wine. Seeing how you bit through that crispy bone with such a crunch, I thought your teeth must be excellent, so I took the liberty… you don’t mind, do you?”

His smile was clear as wind and bright as moon, his eyes curved charmingly, as open and honest as the breeze passing by at this moment.

Jing Hengbo stared straight at him, and after a long while nodded slightly, “Oh.”

Right, perhaps so. Ying Bai was carefree and unrestrained – doing such a thing was indeed quite possible for him.

She shouldn’t mind, should she.

“Let’s eat, let’s eat.” Even someone as cold as Yin Wuxin couldn’t stand this strange atmosphere and actively took charge, “This sauced rice cake is quite good, try some.”

Jing Hengbo buried her head in her breakfast, suddenly finding no taste in her mouth.

Ying Bai also just casually picked at a few bites before going aside to drink wine. After a while, Pei Shu returned. Judging by his appearance, he definitely hadn’t succeeded in pursuing Feifei. As soon as he entered, he reeked heavily of perfume, his face pale green and lips white as he leaned against the door frame appearing to retch. While feeling nauseous, he said weakly, “I won’t eat anymore, you surely didn’t leave anything for me anyway…” But when he looked up and saw the table was still full, he couldn’t help but be stunned.

Looking again at everyone’s rather strange expressions, he became even more bewildered. After thinking for a moment, he angrily said, “Don’t tell me you all find me disgusting…” Before he could finish speaking, urgent horn sounds suddenly rang out from afar, spreading throughout the entire palace in moments.

Everyone was somewhat surprised, their attention diverted. Yin Wuxin’s expression changed as she said, “Urgent command from the Zhanyu guards! This is an order transmitted throughout the entire palace, usually only issued when major enemies appear. Once the urgent command is given, except for essential guards, all other palace guards must immediately depart to accept deployment.” She walked to the door to look around, saying in surprise, “They’re heading outside the palace! Important enemies have been discovered outside the palace! Strange, what kind of people would require Zhan Xin to deploy his most elite Feather Guards for pursuit and extermination?”

Listening to this, Jing Hengbo’s heart stirred – enemies that Zhan Xin would prepare for with full force and surround with all his might? Could it be…

…

Outside Tianlin City was a stretch of wilderness that had once been struck by heavenly fire, causing all the grass that grew afterward to be withered yellow, known as the Yellow Leaf Plain.

Now the grass on Yellow Leaf Plain had turned bright red.

Fresh blood that had just flowed from human bodies was vividly colored, spreading across a large patch of grassland like brilliant brocade. The gray soil beneath the grass was also covered with dark red spots and stains.

Corpses lay scattered silently at their feet, and someone quietly sheathed their sword.

With a ringing sound.

Yelu Qi stood in the morning sunlight, blood staining his sleeves and hair tips. Beside him, Yelu Xun felt around and silently used a handkerchief to wipe away a trace of blood from his chin.

This was already the eighteenth wave of assassins. Ever since entering Zhanyu territory, Yelu Qi’s path had become particularly difficult. Assassins came one after another – some wanting to steal the Imperial Diagram silk scroll, some considering him valuable goods, but most were troops sent by Zhan Xin. Zhan Xin bore a grudge against Yelu Qi due to Zhan Jue’s death back then, having had a falling out in the Imperial Song. Now that he had come alone to Zhanyu, Zhan Xin naturally wouldn’t let this opportunity pass.

After days of continuous fighting, both showed signs of fatigue in their brows, but neither complained of being tired, nor did anyone ask if the other was tired.

Ever since the shocking change in their youth, their parents’ deaths, Xun Ru’s blindness, and his being forced to make wedding clothes for others, their days had never known leisure or ease. Weariness was a necessary burden in life; pity was an unnecessary burden. She and he had long tempered their hearts in wind-blade and frost-sword until they were hard as iron.

Even when he was covered in wounds in his youth, in such pain he couldn’t sleep and cried in the middle of the night, it only earned him a basin of cold water poured over his head, with her sternly scolding him that if he couldn’t sleep he should go practice martial arts – only by mastering martial skills could he beat back those who beat him.

She would never tell him that afterward, she would listen through the window as he struggled to practice sword work while soaking wet, also slowly pouring a basin of even icier water over her own head, accompanying him in experiencing that moment of heart-piercing pain.

Even when she became blind and was taken as a hostage, falling from an envied legitimate daughter into an abyss, mocked and bullied by companions who had previously been jealous of her, he wouldn’t go out to defend her. He would only silently bandage her wounds, tell her about various ways to get back at people, and repeatedly trace with ink brush various martial arts techniques she could practice, so she could read them with her fingers. Then he would find ways to retaliate himself.

He would never tell her that he secretly followed her throughout her process of revenge and debt collection. He wouldn’t tell her that the most vicious and malicious cousin who had wanted to sell her into a brothel was ultimately sent into a brothel by him.

They had walked this path covered in scars, enduring humanity’s greatest pain, so they no longer feared the taste of suffering.

“This can’t continue,” Yelu Xun Ru slowly wiped the blood traces from him, thoughtfulness in her eyes. “Your people – why haven’t they come yet?”

“There may have been some complications.” Yelu Qi smiled. “Starting last month, information has been coming slowly.”

“No one in Dahuang should know about your forces there,” Yelu Xun Ru frowned. “Where did the information leak?”

“No one knows, but we can’t rule out someone having suspicions.” Yelu Qi spoke meaningfully, then suddenly raised his eyebrows. “Here they come again.”

In the distance on the grass tips, a patch of regular undulation appeared – a large group of people was rapidly approaching.

Yelu Qi’s brows slightly darkened – judging by that formation, it could truly be called an army. After successive defeats, Zhan Xin had become truly enraged. He was determined to keep him here at any cost.

He originally didn’t need to fall into such an encirclement. Before leaving the Imperial Song, he had already sent signals to his underground forces. Even after changing routes, he had continuously left markers, but something had gone wrong somewhere – until today, he still hadn’t been able to make contact.

Even worse, today’s arrivals were all masters, and on the grass tips, the dark blue glint of heavy weapons could be faintly seen.

Today was destined to be a death trap surrounded on all sides.

Yelu Xun Ru’s expression remained calm as she stood in the wind listening carefully, softly asking, “Are there many people?”

“Not too bad.” Yelu Qi’s tone was calm. “About the same as before… let’s go.”

Before his words finished, he took Yelu Xun Ru’s hand and soared into the sky.

The encirclement wasn’t complete yet – if they wanted to break through, they had to seize this moment!

His figure flashed like a great black bird, already flying over the withered grass tips. Before he landed, sword light flashed and someone screamed, blood spraying as they toppled backward.

The thunderous sound of weapons hitting the ground shook everything. He seemed to bounce off the earth, streaking through like lightning. Wherever he passed, a trail of blood flowers burst forth, flipping and flying around him like bloody butterfly wings.

Xun Ru followed closely beside him, years of practiced coordination allowing her to keep pace with his steps. All blind people have keen hearing – she held a handful of poison needles, and each time the needles flew, it was to places Yelu Qi couldn’t reach or where he showed openings.

He opened the way with his sword, she protected with needles. Behind them trailed a bloody path.

But the crowd surged like a tide. The gap just forced open was instantly filled, a mass of black heads like a thick wall, using lives and fresh blood to block his path.

She finally heard his labored breathing and knew he was tired.

After days of continuous battle, exhausted and trapped among ten thousand troops, even a god would find it difficult to escape at this moment.

Her expression remained calm, though her fingers were already so sore and weak she could barely lift them, yet her poison needle shots remained steady and accurate. Listening to wind to determine position, never missing a shot.

Even if death came the next moment, she would never give up.

There were too many people, too many. Zhan Xin had given a death order – he would rather use dead soldiers’ corpses to block the way than let this murderer of his son remain at Yellow Leaf Plain.

He didn’t dare go to the Imperial Song to trouble Gong Yin Hui, so if he wanted revenge, he could only seize this moment when Yelu Qi was alone on his own territory.

Corpses accumulated layer upon layer at their feet, also hindering their forward steps. Yelu Xun Ru sensed countless people’s presence pressing in on the narrow space. The sound of swords and blades was so dense she couldn’t calculate how many swords Yelu Qi would swing and parry in a single moment, nor did she know how much strength he would have left after such high-intensity vibration and exertion.

Suddenly fierce wind sounds came from afar, still shrieking and wailing despite the distance. The people blocking ahead let out terrified cries.

“They’re firing heavy crossbows!”

“They don’t care about us!”

“They’ll shoot us first!”

“They’re using our lives as padding—”

Countless people pushed and trampled, trying to escape, but were driven forward by the enforcement teams at the rear.

She smiled coldly. Zhan Xin was so ruthless and cruel that to keep them here, he didn’t hesitate to use human waves as barriers, then fire heavy crossbows from behind the human sea.

He would rather let so many of his own guards die with them.

The wind sound was like a pestle, crushing everything it passed. Grass fragments flew up everywhere like falling rain. Someone’s sword, carried by the wind, suddenly accelerated and aimed straight for her heart.

She made no sound, not planning to let out any cry of alarm or scream. If she didn’t distract Yelu Qi, perhaps he could still escape.

But he suddenly turned around. The instant he turned, a spear pierced his shoulder, but he paid no attention, striking with his sword to deflect the blade that was about to pierce her heart.

Then he staggered and supported himself on his sword against the ground.

All around them were corpses piled high as walls. Leaping up would face overwhelming crossbow arrows, and he was already exhausted.

At this moment the wind sound had arrived.

Heavy crossbow bolts – one arrow could pierce through dozens of bodies, instantly pulverizing ten people’s internal organs.

In the final moment he only turned back to embrace her.

In the final moment she only raised her hands to embrace him.

In that instant she thought: Finally it ends, I truly wish you could live on, tell him I love him…

In that instant he thought: Finally it ends, such a pity I couldn’t let you live on, to tell her…

The heavy arrow was about to arrive.

Suddenly there was a strange sound in the distance.

Though that sound was clearly far away, he suddenly awakened, miraculously generating infinite strength. With a wave of his hand, the corpses before him flew up and stacked heavily.

Blood and flesh flew everywhere like scattered flowers.

A dark blue arrowhead as thick as a fist spun out from the last corpse, its remaining force still unspent, flashing like a ghostly eye as it finally approached him.

He only had time to hold his sister tight and press close to the ground, preparing to have a layer of skin scraped off his back by the heavy arrow.

But suddenly a black shadow flashed by. A person leaped like a fish in mid-air and actually caught the arrow’s tail with both hands.

The heavy arrow’s tremendous impact force tried to break free from those hands, pushing forward inch by inch. That person held on desperately, palms scraped bloody by the friction, finally stopping the arrow’s momentum.

With a bang he landed, immediately threw the arrow aside, rolled and half-knelt, touching one knee to the ground.

“Greetings, sir! Please forgive your subordinates for arriving late to the rescue!”

Yelu Qi slowly raised his head. Blood marked his brow, a spear pierced his shoulder, adding three parts more killing intent to his appearance.

That person kept his head down, not daring to lift it slightly.

Yelu Qi paid him no attention, rising to help Yelu Xun Ru up. The siblings maintained their usual composure, as if they hadn’t just experienced a moment of life and death.

Ahead, many black-clothed figures appeared, attacking those who had just besieged him, gradually shifting the battlefield. From their clothing and bearing, he knew his people had finally arrived.

“Xianyu Qing, why have you only arrived now?”

The kneeling man Xianyu Qing trembled slightly and hastily said, “Your subordinates pursued to Xiang Kingdom but then mysteriously lost sir’s trail. After searching extensively, we finally discovered sir’s whereabouts…”

Yelu Qi frowned slightly but didn’t pursue the matter further. The black-clothed figures continuously closed ranks, protecting him in the center. With these masters joining, breaking through was no longer difficult. Half an hour later, Yelu Qi and Yelu Xun Ru were resting and bandaging wounds at the foot of a mountain five li from Yellow Leaf Plain.

Yelu Qi had already questioned his subordinates again but still hadn’t obtained any useful information. The markers he used to contact his subordinates were unique signs that only members of his organization could understand, yet now it seemed they had been deciphered.

This was a very deadly matter, meaning his organization was now in danger and could be picked off one by one at any time.

But according to Xianyu Qing’s report, no abnormalities had occurred at any of the branch locations.

Yelu Qi looked at this loyal subordinate of his. This was a companion he had taken in during his youth. For many years, while he served as that empty-title State Preceptor in the Imperial Song, half his energy was spent dealing with his family and Gong Yin, while the other half was spent managing his own distant, hidden forces, preparing for the day when he would break with his family and leave the Imperial Song, so that Xun Ru would have a place to depend on.

Over the years, most organizational matters had been entrusted to Xianyu Qing. Could it be that now, even this life-and-death friend could no longer be trusted?

Xianyu Qing kept his head respectfully lowered throughout, showing no signs of abnormality.

Yelu Qi smiled slightly, turned his gaze away, and said to Yelu Xun Ru, “Zhan Xin has gone too far. Rather than let him cling like a persistent ghost, it’s better to resolve this matter now.”

“Good idea.” Yelu Xun Ru agreed. “Put yourself in a desperate situation and then fight for survival. Besides, Zhan Xin definitely won’t give up now and will search for you everywhere. You might as well hide in his own lair – as they say, the most dangerous place is the safest. He’ll never think of that.”

Yelu Qi smiled as he skipped stones across the water, thinking about that sentence he hadn’t finished in that moment.

Tell her…

Tell her what?

Thoughts at the moment of life and death are the most genuine, yet aside from that moment, he didn’t really care whether she knew or not.

The stone skipped across the water’s surface, spinning as it flew, stirring up smooth ripples that spread and lived and died endlessly.

Like those emotions that had been disturbed and could never be restored to order.

He suddenly heard Xun Ru beside him also say leisurely, “In that moment earlier, I regretted that you couldn’t live on. If we both died, who would tell him that I miss him…”

Yelu Qi paused, turned his head and smiled.

“Sister.”

“You’re free now. If you truly miss that person, I’ll take you to find him. I don’t believe that my sister Xun Ru, who can kill people, scheme wickedly, and endure the Yelu family’s black hearts, can’t handle one man.”

“A man…” she laughed. “The first time I saw him, I almost thought he was a woman.”

He smiled, thinking his sister’s taste was sometimes quite peculiar.

In Xun Ru’s youth, she once ran away from home and met a man, from then on her heart was deeply planted with love’s roots. For so many years her initial feelings remained unchanged. But all these years, she never spoke of who he was. That person had always remained mysterious in the clouds and mist, existing only in her confused gaze.

Perhaps because her emotions were stirred after the life-and-death ordeal, she suddenly had the interest to talk about him.

“No need to take me to find him. He and I have no fate in this life.” She said, “He is a heavenly person, a man beyond the world. He can never come close to you and me with our bodies full of dust and blood.”

He only smiled slightly.

“If he disdains you, I’ll beat him into the dust, wouldn’t we all be dirty together?”

Yelu Xun Ru laughed heartily.

“Worthy of being my brother, you should have this kind of domineering spirit!” She suddenly stood up, facing north, and fiercely waved her fist.

“Old fool, wait for me! One day I will stand before you!”

“If you dare not want me, I’ll sleep with all your precious disciples and show affection in front of you every day, and anger you to death!”

Yelu Qi nodded approvingly, gazing at the slightly rippling river water.

In the river water, a gorgeously blooming face seemed to vaguely appear, with a faint smile.

He reached out with his finger to gently stir, and the river water rippled. That face scattered and gathered again, its appearance unchanged, like those feelings lingering in his heart that couldn’t be dispelled.

Jing Hengbo.

I have long stood before you.

But when will you be able to see me?

…

Yelu Qi’s figure disappeared from the riverside. He went to find trouble with Zhan Xin, to prevent Zhan Xin from having the energy to find trouble with him.

After settling Yelu Xun Ru, Xianyu Qing looked around to ensure no one was present, then walked alone to a small grove by the river.

Someone was waiting for him in the woods, wearing a hooded cloak that concealed their figure and appearance.

Xianyu Qing stood behind this person with a complex expression.

It was because of the person before him that he had lost his master’s trail during his pursuit. Only when this person contacted him did he learn that all the markers his master had left along the way had been erased by this person.

Not only that, this person also knew some secrets about his master’s power base. When this person spoke in calm tones about their stronghold locations, personnel distribution, code words and signals, and branch forces, he was thunderstruck.

His master’s forces had always remained half-hidden among the complex array of major powers in the region. Over the years, his master’s influence had developed mysteriously and steadily, making the local major powers dare not underestimate it. It could be said that mystery was the most important protective coloring for his master’s forces. Now this layer of mystery had been stripped away like outer clothing, which was equivalent to removing the pillar upon which the entire organization depended for survival, facing nothing but the disaster of destruction.

It was obvious the other party harbored ill intentions. When any faction grasped such crucial secrets of an organization, the next step would be either massacre or annexation.

At the time, he thought he was doomed to die. While waiting for death, he wondered how to relay this warning to his master. But then the other party made a request he never expected…

“You’ve met with Yelu Qi?” the cloaked person asked.

“Yes.” He answered bitterly.

“He didn’t suspect anything?”

“He shouldn’t… have, I suppose.” His voice grew even more bitter.

That person laughed heartily, his voice clear and bright with a faint air of unrestrained wildness.

“Looking so miserable – you think you’ve betrayed him, don’t you? Actually, you haven’t betrayed him at all.” The person’s cloak shook as if he raised his hand to drink, and a faint wine fragrance drifted out. “Look, your organization still exists, the people are still there, the power is still there, and your master was rescued too. Although we’ve discovered all the information about your organization, we have no intention of harming you. We only need you to cooperate with us at certain moments.”

“As long as it doesn’t harm my master…” he said.

“Naturally it won’t.” That person laughed again, taking another drink, looking quite pleased with himself. “Go on then. Do well as your Secret Alliance Grand Administrator. Keep Yelu Qi trusting you. Remember, don’t panic, don’t feel guilty, insist that you’re not betraying him – only then will that fox Yelu Qi not suspect you.”

Xianyu Qing lowered his head, and after a long while, nodded slightly.

“Yes.”

For the organization’s survival, for his master’s future, any kind of compromise was acceptable.

“Hahaha, I’m really looking forward to this…” The cloaked person took another drink and said gleefully, “Always troubling this one and bothering that one for her sake – I have quite an opinion about her. When this matter comes out, it’ll definitely scramble her brains completely, hahahaha…”

…

Jing Hengbo looked somewhat restless.

While borrowing Yin Wuxin’s makeup box to disguise herself so that Zhan Xin, who had seen her before, wouldn’t recognize her, she kept glancing toward the door and occasionally feeling around in her bosom, taking out the fireworks Qi Sha had given her and putting them back again.

Somehow, seeing Zhan Xin’s formation, she thought of Yelu Qi. Zhan Xin was clearly thinking of dealing with the few people here, yet still had to deploy people outside – it must be because the opponent gave him even more pressing reasons to kill. Who else could it be besides Yelu Qi?

She wanted to notify Qi Sha to go support Yelu Qi, but how could Qi Sha find where Yelu Qi was in such a short time? Seeing the fireworks, he would surely rush to the royal palace first, then return from the palace to rescue people – how could there be enough time for that?

Or should she go herself?

This thought had just flashed through her mind when she heard Ying Bai’s voice.

“Zhan Xin’s expedition this time will yield no results.”

“How do you know?” Jing Hengbo raised her eyebrows. “Are you certain?”

“I can read faces.” Ying Bai’s tone was casual as he took a drink.

Jing Hengbo looked up at his features. The light was somewhat blurry, and she could only see his deep, smiling eyes. From their first meeting until now, the lighting had always been unclear. Even though it was daytime now, Yin Wuxin’s room appeared relatively dim. She only sensed his composed expression, as if nothing weighed on his mind.

Somehow, seeing his demeanor, she felt inexplicably reassured. Ying Bai seemed to possess a calming power that could stabilize the atmosphere with even his breathing.

She felt at ease, but Ying Bai started questioning her.

“Seeing you restless and anxious,” he said, “is there someone you’re concerned about?”

His tone remained casual, but she suddenly felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She turned to look around – there was no wind.

Did Yelu Qi count as someone she was concerned about?

He did, she supposed.

After protecting each other all the way from the Imperial Song, they had shared life and death together. It was only proper to have some concern for him.

Jing Hengbo considered herself someone who kept clear accounts. When Yelu Qi opposed her, her attitude and counterattacks were equally uncompromising. When Yelu Qi truly had done her favors, she didn’t mind returning them slightly.

“I wouldn’t say restless and anxious,” she shrugged, “but I am indeed somewhat worried about someone’s safety.”

Ying Bai took another drink, drinking rather quickly.

“I hope he’ll be alright.” She murmured.

Ying Bai raised his wine flask and pointed it toward her. “With you remembering him, he’ll be fine.”

Jing Hengbo felt the hair on her neck seem to stand up again. She looked around – still no wind. Ying Bai had already walked away with his wine flask tucked away.

Then Pei Shu became the victim.

Ying Bai first said he smelled bad and wouldn’t let him stay in the room, driving him out.

During mealtime, Ying Bai let Feifei eat all the food Yin Wuxin had specially saved for Pei Shu.

Pei Shu flipped the table, but the soup splashed onto his own chest. When Yin Wuxin found him clothes to change into, the curtain suddenly collapsed halfway, exposing Pei Shu’s still-recovering gray chest to Yin Wuxin’s eyes again.

Pei Shu flew into a rage wanting to fight Ying Bai to the death, but was held back by Yin Wuxin, whose eyes were brimming with tears. She rummaged through boxes and cabinets looking for medicine to help expel his poison, and had to exhaust her energy to detoxify him. Pei Shu had no choice but to first comfort the deeply worried beauty, becoming frazzled and frustrated, the veins on his forehead pulsing.

It was a day of chaos. Jing Hengbo sat with her legs crossed watching the show, eating sunflower seeds while talking to Feifei: “Jade White and Golden Pivot sound so nice together, but when they meet they’re natural enemies. Tsk tsk. Why do I get the feeling of happy adversaries?”

Feifei blinked her large eyes slowly, unclear whether she agreed or disagreed.

Jing Hengbo glanced at the little monster, thinking when had this guy become so obsequious? Wasn’t it the type that barely listened to even her words? Yet it did whatever Ying Bai said – had it developed inter-species romance too?

Poor Er Gouzi, abandoned.

Zhan Xin seemed to be away, but surveillance of this courtyard remained tight. In any case, the group had no plans to go out – they had to wait for Zhan Xin to appear in person before having a chance to seize his blueprints.

The group was preparing to discuss their next action plan when they suddenly heard faint commotion outside. The sound wasn’t loud, unlike the disturbance of Zhan Xin’s return. Then they heard someone shout: “Fire at Cuihua Palace!”

Yin Wuxin said in a low voice: “Cuihua Palace is the bedchamber of Zhan Xin’s favored consort Lady Yang. Why would there be a fire for no reason?”

Fortunately the fire seemed small. The group didn’t see any great blaze illuminating the sky or rising smoke. That area was chaotic for a while, then quickly returned to calm.

It looked like a random incident in the palace, but Jing Hengbo felt something was wrong. Anything happening at this time seemed strange.

When evening was approaching, commotion came from the palace again. This time the direction seemed to come from the palace gates. Ying Bai stood at the window, listened for a while, then said: “Judging by this commotion, the expedition force might have returned.”

Jing Hengbo’s heart stirred – the expedition force returning was the most chaotic time. If she wanted to know how things went and whether Yelu Qi had been captured, now was the perfect time to observe.

She looked at the two men beside her. Pei Shu wore a cold expression, and Ying Bai lazily drank wine – neither were easy to talk to. They wouldn’t agree to let her risk going to investigate.

If they weren’t easy to talk to, then she wouldn’t talk. This lady would do whatever she wanted.

Her figure flashed and she vanished from the spot.

“Hey hey hey! Jing Hengbo, where are you running off to!” Pei Shu leaped up in one bound, reaching out to grab her but catching only air.

A wine flask blocked his hand.

“No need to chase.” Ying Bai’s tone was indifferent.

“How will we know where she suddenly ran off to if we don’t chase? This woman never listens!” Pei Shu’s eyebrows shot up, his expression exactly like a husband complaining about his wife.

Ying Bai’s wine flask unceremoniously pushed his face aside.

“She’s going to see someone she cares about. Why meddle unnecessarily?”

“Ying Bai,” Pei Shu stopped his movements and brought his face closer, carefully studying his expression, saying in a strange tone, “Why does what you said sound so sour? Don’t tell me you’ve also taken a fancy to Jing Hengbo? Hey hey hey, first come first served, if you dare poach my territory, watch out or this master won’t be polite…”

“Bang.” Ying Bai’s wine flask smashed flat against his face…

Pei Shu retreated quickly, covering his streaming nosebleed, shouting angrily: “You’re all bullying me because my poison injury hasn’t healed. When this master recovers, each of you will get what’s coming…”

Ying Bai calmly retrieved his wine flask, unhurried, and straightened his sleeves.

“Before you can pry loose that one brick,” he said quietly, “the city wall has already been built for three thousand li, with bricks three zhang thick. If you can dig a hole after prying for a lifetime, I’ll take your surname.”

He carried his wine flask up to the roof to look at the scenery, though whether he was looking at scenery or people was unclear.

Yin Wuxin came up to stop Pei Shu’s bleeding. Pei Shu scratched his head in bewilderment.

“What city wall? What bricks? What hole? I don’t understand. Has this guy gone mad?”

…

Jing Hengbo’s figure flashed and she was already atop the palace towers.

No one pursued from behind – presumably both Pei Shu and Jade White knew her abilities. She had no other skills, but her escape skills were unmatched in the world.

The high palace roof provided a complete view of the entire royal palace. She could see lights streaming like ribbons, winding toward the palace center. That should be Zhan Xin’s bedchamber.

The palace’s night lights were bright as day. Looking from afar, those returning guards seemed rather dispirited, many wounded and walking unsteadily.

Jing Hengbo felt slightly relieved – it seemed Zhan Xin’s expedition and siege hadn’t gone well.

Though she couldn’t confirm he had been besieging Yelu Qi, it was good news regardless.

She was about to descend from the roof when suddenly that group of people stirred. She vaguely saw a figure like a great bird swoop out from behind an artificial mountain with a flash of cold light, heading straight for the center of the crowd.

The center of the crowd – that was where Zhan Xin was.

The crowd cried out in alarm. She could vaguely see Zhan Xin retreating urgently. The sword light aimed straight at his face. He instinctively raised his hand to block, but halfway through the motion suddenly dropped it and rolled on the ground regardless of dignity. The assassin’s reaction seemed even faster than his – flowing sword light whooshed downward following the momentum, enveloping his entire body.

Countless guards rushed forward, tumbling into a pile on the ground. Sword energy and blood light rose together. That person’s long sword crashed down like thunder. She could vaguely hear countless screams. Zhan Xin rolled out from the human pyramid, clutching his lower abdomen, apparently still injured.

Emergency whistles sounded everywhere. More people surged forward like a tide. Death warriors threw themselves in front of Zhan Xin to desperately block. The assassin could no longer give Zhan Xin another sword strike, and the assassin didn’t seem to intend to take his life anyway. He pulled himself up and gracefully leaped away.

In the lamplight his figure was tall and slender. His rising posture was like a calligraphy master’s stroke penetrating paper and bone. Jing Hengbo’s eyes lit up when she saw that figure, and she immediately waved her hand, striking two stones together in the air.

The sound of the two stones striking wasn’t loud, but the assassin suddenly looked up, apparently having heard. Jing Hengbo waved from afar, indicating this direction. Then her figure flashed as she left the rooftop, afraid that if the assassin came directly over, he would bring pursuers with him.

The assassin seemed very experienced and didn’t come directly. Jing Hengbo heard voices heading west, presumably he had been led away. After a while, a figure swept overhead.

“Shh! Shh!” She waved.

The figure quietly swept over. In the darkness the silhouette was familiar, and a faint, mysterious fragrance wafted toward her. She felt genuinely pleased.

But he didn’t stop at an appropriate distance in front of her. He slid right up to her. She had just looked up with a smile to greet him when he already opened his arms and embraced her.

Jing Hengbo immediately forgot what she was going to say.

Her mouth opened, and the sound that was about to emerge sprayed onto his hair.

What was wrong with Yelu Qi? Such a carefree and composed person who never liked excessive force or any urgent postures. He was always smiling and casual – doing bad things without any guilt, doing good things without considering it meritorious. When getting along with her, he was especially careful and self-respecting. Though he hinted and joked, he never forced anything. This was his true personality and pride. But today…

His breath brushed against the back of her neck, warm. The arms holding her waist were solid, warm and strong, even using somewhat excessive force. The posture didn’t seem lewd but showed cherishing, his body leaning slightly forward against her shoulder, his fingertips tracing a perfect circle as if wanting to encircle her, or as if he had once nearly thought he would never touch her again, and now having her again, couldn’t help but embrace her to prove he hadn’t actually lost her.

Somehow, Jing Hengbo could clearly sense that this moment contained no ambiguity, only joy.

What had happened?

She raised her hand – not intending to return the embrace, just planning to pat this fellow’s shoulder and ask if anything had happened during their separation these past few days. He had the smell of blood on him, having presumably experienced much fighting.

But her hand didn’t get to touch any part of Yelu Qi.

A stone flew over, striking her hand, then grazing Yelu Qi’s shoulder and whistling straight toward Yelu Qi’s brow. Yelu Qi tilted his head to dodge and naturally released her.

Jing Hengbo rubbed her waist – Yelu Qi had really used quite a bit of force.

Turning around, she saw Ying Bai had already come out of the house, followed by Pei Shu. Pei Shu glared at her with a hostile expression, saying unkindly: “What were you just doing?”

“Not happy, having a hug!” Jing Hengbo’s answer was even more domineering than his. Pei Shu was immediately choked speechless, staring at her, probably thinking how could this woman be so shameless?

But Jing Hengbo instinctively glanced at Ying Bai. Ying Bai was drinking wine, his raised wine flask blocking his face.

But that stone… seemed to have been shot by him.

Seeming to sense her probing gaze, he lowered his wine flask and said: “Guards might come by at any time. Don’t linger here – let’s go back inside to talk.”

Jing Hengbo made an “oh” sound. Ying Bai had already turned to go inside. Yelu Qi kept squinting as he watched his retreating figure, then suddenly said: “Ying Bai?”

“Yes,” Jing Hengbo said, “he was stripped of his Grand Commander position and came to find Pei Shu. Don’t you know him?”

“Ying Bai is obsessed with wine, women, wealth and gambling. He never attends court and doesn’t associate with any ministers. Most court officials only know his name but have never seen him.” Yelu Qi said, “When we were both in the Imperial Song, we had different positions and rarely met. I’ve only seen him from afar twice.”

There was a thoughtful expression in his eyes. Jing Hengbo turned to look at his eyes and smiled: “What? Is something wrong?”

Yelu Qi watched Ying Bai’s retreating figure, then suddenly smiled and said: “What could be wrong? I did receive news that after Ying Bai left the capital he indeed headed in this direction, met seven or eight female confidantes in Xiang Kingdom, and immediately rode fast to the Zhanyu division upon hearing news of Pei Shu. Judging by the timeline and route, it’s definitely him.”

Jing Hengbo let out a long breath.

Suddenly there was the sound of many footsteps outside. It seemed a large group of eunuchs had entered Yin Wuxin’s courtyard and quickly left again. When Jing Hengbo returned to Yin Wuxin’s courtyard, she found Yin Wuxin looking very unhappy.

“Zhan Xin can’t wait anymore,” Yin Wuxin said as soon as she saw her. “He suddenly had someone notify me that he’s coming to see me immediately.”

Jing Hengbo immediately turned to look at Yelu Qi. That Zhan Xin couldn’t wait the three days before coming to hear Yin Wuxin’s reply must be the consequence of his assassination attempt.

Yelu Qi smiled mysteriously.

“My sword earlier injured his family line.” He whispered in her ear, “I never intended to kill him – keeping him alive is still useful. I just wanted to create some trouble for him. What Zhan Xin values most is his offspring. If he has problems in this area, it will certainly occupy much of his energy, and he won’t be able to cause me trouble anymore.”

“When men become vicious they’re even more poisonous than women.” Jing Hengbo curled her lip.

The two whispered intimately, their quiet conversation making them appear quite close. Yin Wuxin’s eyes flickered as if she felt slightly relieved. Ying Bai leaned against the wall drinking steadily, as if his thoughts were only on wine and he was too lazy to look at that pair of man and woman. Pei Shu’s expression was so gloomy it seemed water would drip from it. He suddenly laughed coldly and moved closer to Ying Bai: “Tell me, how many bricks have been removed from that three-thousand-li-long, three-zhang-thick solid city wall?”

Ying Bai put down his wine flask and glanced at him indifferently. Under the starlight his gaze was ice-cold. Pei Shu sensed hostility and warily retreated a step, narrowing his eyes.

For an instant killing intent clashed with a sound like ringing metal.

Then Ying Bai’s expression returned to that lazy demeanor, and he put away his wine flask.

“What use is removing however many?” he said. “Soon they’ll fall on your foot.”