After bidding farewell to Xiao Qianqing, I packed the essentials and headed toward Tianshan. Leaving the capital, passing through Yinshan, and entering the frontier through Yumen Pass, I traveled along the narrow ancient Silk Road.

From the moment I left the capital, snow began to fall – first as sporadic flakes that came and went, then like goose feathers, and by sunset on the fourth day, the snow had gone mad, howling as it swept across the earth, picking up accumulated snow from the ground and hurling it sideways across the vast desert.

The horse struggled through the blizzard. Fine salt-like snow infiltrated through my collar and the hem of my robe. The edge of my hood beat against my forehead like a knife, and five steps ahead of the horse was nothing but whiteness.

I trudged through this heavy snow for half an hour, finally reaching a relay station before dark. When I spotted the stone house through the storm, I breathed a sigh of relief. After tying my horse in the stable, I entered the small house where travelers rested. The charcoal-heated room was packed with people seeking shelter from the storm. I walked in and found an inconspicuous corner to sit.

This place, situated at the frontier, was active with jianghu warriors, and there were all sorts of people present. After giving me a few glances, the travelers resumed their conversations. Near the far fire pit, people wearing felt hats and riding boots, with high bridges and deep-set eyes, appeared to be merchants from the Western Regions. Those closer to me were dressed like people from the Central Plains, discussing intermittently the most attention-grabbing event in the martial arts world – the conflict between the Central Plains martial artists and the Tianshan Sect.

A swordsman by the fire stirred the charcoal and asked, “In your opinion, between the Central Plains martial artists and Tianshan Sect, who has better odds of winning?”

The skinny elder beside him with a pipe took a puff and said slowly, “Who knows?”

Across from him, a fair-skinned young swordsman chimed in, “Hasn’t Master Bai from Fenglai Pavilion already arrived in the Western Regions with his forces? Making Tianshan Sect surrender shouldn’t be difficult.”

The bearded man next to the young swordsman gave a slight cold laugh. “Bai Chifan? He’s not some divine general. Shaolin, Wudang, and the Seven Sword Sects, plus half of Fenglai Pavilion’s forces, came to the Western Regions in full force, only to be trapped below Bogda Peak for over three months. Besides losing manpower, they haven’t even caught a hair of the Tianshan Monster. Now that Bai Chifan has arrived, you think the Tianshan Monster will just surrender?”

The young swordsman’s face reddened slightly. “Hero Fu, I didn’t say Master Bai was a divine general, nor did I say the Tianshan Monster would surrender immediately upon his arrival. I just meant our chances would be better with Master Bai here.” He turned to the skinny elder for support, “Elder Ji, what do you think?”

The skinny elder took another puff from his pipe and spoke slowly: “The Tianshan Sect Leader, the Tianshan Monster, has held Tianshan for over twenty years. No one has been able to gauge the depth of her martial arts in all this time. Anyone who has crossed hands with her either died or was injured. Though the Central Plains martial artists are numerous with many elites among them, Tianshan’s terrain is complex, with cliffs and passes that are easy to defend but hard to attack. Add to that the bitter cold that Central Plains people aren’t accustomed to – in my humble opinion, the outcome is hard to predict.” He suddenly looked at the young swordsman, “Young Master Wen, you have friends or relatives in Fenglai Pavilion, don’t you?”

The young warrior nodded. “I have a good friend there. According to him, their Pavilion Master is most amiable and leads by example in all matters, worthy of being a role model. He’s deeply respected throughout Fenglai Pavilion. Several months ago, I had the fortune to witness Master Bai’s bearing – his manner and demeanor were unmatched in elegance, truly admirable, and enviable for people like us.”

A pale-faced man who had been silent by the fire suddenly lifted his head and sneered, “Unmatched elegance? You haven’t seen that Bai’s vicious and despicable face when he’s slaughtering innocents, have you!”

The young swordsman frowned in displeasure. “Elder Mu, how can you speak so insultingly? Could it be you’re bitter that Master Bai has achieved such fame at a young age?”

“What do you mean by that?” The pale-faced man suddenly sat up straight, raising his voice. “Are you suggesting that I, Mu, am jealous of that Bai?”

Seeing his anger, the young swordsman felt he couldn’t back down and gave a light snort. “What it means, Elder Mu knows best in his heart.”

The pale-faced man slapped the edge of the fire basin, laughing in extreme anger. “Even if I were to be jealous of a dog or a pig, I wouldn’t be jealous of that sick man! Young Master Wen, your admired Master Bai is a sickly ghost confined to his bed. This time coming to the Western Regions, forget about killing the Tianshan Monster – he’ll probably die from illness first!”

The young swordsman grew angry too. “Elder Mu, your words are too harsh! Has Master Bai ever offended you? Even if Master Bai’s health has never been good, it’s not as bad as you say!”

The pale-faced man gave a cold snort. “Offended? That Bai has never offended me, he just…” He suddenly stopped, and changed course with a cold laugh, “You don’t know, do you? Your Master Bai has been hiding in a carriage since Fenglai Pavilion’s forces left Jinling, not daring to show his face. I say he’s terminally ill…”

With a “bang,” a bullet grazed the pale-faced man’s forehead, leaving a bloody streak at his hairline before embedding itself in the wall behind him.

I blew away the gunsmoke and stood up with a smile. “Fellow martial artist, that young hero is right – it’s best not to be too harsh with your words.”

Seeing my gun, the young swordsman’s eyes suddenly lit up. “A gun! You must be Miss Ling, Master Bai’s disciple. Truly living up to your reputation!”

I maintained my cold expression and addressed the pale-faced man: “I don’t care what grudge you have with our Pavilion Master. Jianghu people don’t make their mark by running their mouths. Rather than cursing behind others’ backs to vent your anger, why not draw your sword and fight openly? Even if you die in defeat, others would at least praise your courage.”

The pale-faced man stared at me blankly. I put away my gun and sat back down. Except for the young swordsman’s admiring and yearning gaze, the others around the fire turned their eyes to me, silent and thoughtful.

I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes to rest, hearing them gradually resume talking after a moment of silence. They repeatedly discussed what losses Shaolin, Wudang, and the Seven Sword Sects had suffered at the front, but never mentioned Fenglai Pavilion again.

As the atmosphere grew lively, the young swordsman forgot his earlier displeasure and eagerly joined the discussion. Only the pale-faced man remained silent – I never heard him speak another word.

The night passed quickly. By dawn, the fierce wind had finally calmed, though goose-feather snow still fell steadily from the sky. At least now travel was possible.

Most people at the relay station stayed in the small house for safety, waiting for the snow to stop. I ate my dried provisions, filled my flask with hot spirits, and hurriedly set out again.

Last night at the relay station, I asked the station official and checked the map, learning that this place was already near Hami.

According to the message Hong Qing sent yesterday by Falcon, their group had just reached Hami. With last night’s heavy snow, they probably hadn’t traveled further. If I rode hard today, I could likely catch up to them.

Having made up my mind, I no longer spared the horse’s strength and galloped wildly ahead.

By noon, after passing a Kazakh nomad camp, I suddenly saw fresh blood trails and scattered weapons in the snow. Further ahead lay several fallen men in white clothes, and the sounds of battle gradually became clear from behind a hill ahead. I quickly spurred my horse forward.

As I approached the hill, I heard that familiar voice: “Qian, leave one alive.”

In the clearing behind the hill, Xiao Huan sat in a wooden wheelchair wrapped in a white fox fur coat, with Shi Yan standing behind him holding an umbrella. Around them, Fenglai Pavilion disciples were engaged in combat with the white-clothed men. They turned their attention to me as I suddenly burst onto the scene.

Xiao Huan and Shi Yan were momentarily stunned. In that instant, a white-clothed man near the wheelchair seized the opening and hurled his sword fiercely at Xiao Huan.

The distance was too close, and the white-clothed man’s attack too sudden. Though Shi Yan deflected the sword with a palm strike, the blade tip still grazed Xiao Huan’s cheek, leaving a thin bloody line.

A bullet roared from my gun barrel. The white-clothed man’s right shoulder was hit, and his white clothes instantly stained red as he collapsed to the ground.

I rode through the battlefield, jumped off my horse in front of the wheelchair, and gripped Xiao Huan’s chin, turning his face to look: “How is it? Will it leave a scar?”

Under the paper umbrella, he furrowed his brows in apparent disbelief, his deep black pupils seeming covered by a layer of mist: “Cang Cang?”

Seeing that the wound on his cheek wasn’t deep and likely wouldn’t leave a scar, I wiped away the blood with my fingertip before releasing him. I used my gun to force back several white-clothed men. “What’s wrong? Are you not happy to see your disciple coming to assist?”

He gave a soft “mm” from behind me. Silent snow fell on the blood-soaked battlefield, and from the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the corner of his wheelchair – it was somewhat jarring.

Though the white-clothed men were numerous, few were skilled fighters. While Fenglai Pavilion was outnumbered, they were all elite members, and quickly turned the tide of battle.

Seeing Su Qian, Hong Qing, and the others moving freely through enemy ranks, I stood beside Xiao Huan and asked him, “Master, how is your health?”

He responded with a “Fine.”

Knowing he would say that, I smiled slightly. “It’s good I arrived. It would have been too negligent of me not to be by Master’s side for such an important matter.”

He looked up at me with a smile, though his deep eyes seemed somewhat unfocused: “It’s nothing. You had matters to attend to in the capital, so I didn’t have anyone notify you.”

I nodded, finding it strange that Xiao Huan didn’t know Hong Qing had informed me of their movements. Did this mean Hong Qing had secretly sent me messages without Xiao Huan’s knowledge?

But although Xiao Huan gave his subordinates complete trust, with his meticulous attention to detail, it seemed impossible that Hong Qing’s messenger could have gone back and forth multiple times without him noticing.

As I was pondering this, Su Qian and the others had already driven back the white-clothed men. Su Qian walked over and kicked the shoulder of the white-clothed man I had shot earlier: “Stop playing dead, get up.”

The white-clothed man not only didn’t get up, he didn’t move at all.

This fellow had been trembling and convulsing when I first shot him but had suddenly gone still.

I crouched down and pulled up the white-clothed man. As his face emerged from the snow, his veins were bulging, and his skin was an eerie blue-green color. I couldn’t help but cry out softly.

Xiao Huan leaned forward slightly, supporting himself on the wheelchair’s armrest with one hand while grabbing my hand with the other: “Don’t touch his skin.” Then he asked, “What color is his face?”

Still somewhat dazed, I quickly answered: “Blue, no, blue with some green, like the color of peacock feathers.”

Xiao Huan frowned slightly: “Peacock Powder?”

“The others we captured earlier died the same way. They must have taken poison when they saw the situation was hopeless,” Hong Qing came over to report.

“Such resolution, choosing death over capture?” Xiao Huan’s frown deepened as he coughed lightly. “These aren’t Tianshan Sect people. Be more vigilant on the road ahead.”

Hong Qing bowed to accept the order, and everyone went to regroup and prepare to continue their journey.

I looked down at Xiao Huan’s hand still gripping my wrist – his wrist bones and knuckles protruded slightly, long and thin, as if carved from ice and snow with no other color, just like his complexion now, pure and clean as snow yet carrying an air of desolation.

Seeming to notice me looking at his hand, Xiao Huan released it somewhat distractedly, giving a faint smile. “My apologies, I forgot.”

I stood up with a smile. “Master is too polite.”

He smiled and coughed lightly several times without speaking further.

Shi Yan, still holding the umbrella, interjected flatly, “The snow is heavy, Young Master should get in the carriage.” His tone still carried thick hostility toward me.

It was this Shi Yan who, while everyone else had switched to calling Xiao Huan “Pavilion Master,” absolutely refused to change his form of address. Unable to call him “Your Majesty” or “Crown Prince,” he’d finally compromised with this title.

The carriage waiting by the roadside was not only covered in fur from windows to roof but was also spacious and tall.

Seeing this carriage, I finally understood why Fenglai Pavilion, usually known for swift movement, was traveling so slowly this time – with such a luxurious and large carriage, this speed was already remarkable.

The wheelchair stopped at the wooden steps. Shi Yan put away the umbrella as Xiao Huan gripped his arm, slowly standing, climbing the steps, then holding the carriage door to enter.

I watched from the side, finally asking Su Qian, “Master can still walk, so why use a wheelchair?”

Su Qian glanced at me but said nothing.

After I mounted my horse, I faintly heard muffled coughing from inside the carriage.

Except for Xiao Huan in the carriage, everyone else followed on horseback.

Shi Yan and Hong Qing at the front deliberately slowed their pace, but after a short while, the carriage’s fur curtain lifted slightly, and Xiao Huan quietly issued two words: “Full speed.”

Shi Yan and Hong Qing exchanged glances, then had no choice but to squeeze their horses’ flanks and ride at full speed.

At this rapid pace, we reached a small Uyghur town before complete darkness.

Exhausted from travel, everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon arrival and quickly went to the relay station to rest and eat.

After tying up my horse, I saw Shi Yan standing alone outside the station, looking worriedly at the carriage stopped at the entrance.

The driver was already gone, and the horses had been unharnessed for rest, but Xiao Huan hadn’t left the carriage.

I walked over and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Shi Yan answered concisely: “No movement.” Then, as if finally making up his mind, he walked toward the carriage door. “I’ll check.”

I quickly stopped him. “Let me.”

I hurried over and jumped into the carriage, lifting the fur curtain. As expected, the first thing I noticed was a strong smell of medicinal herbs. I took a deep breath and surveyed the interior.

Though there was no daylight in the compartment, several fixed oil lamps on the walls illuminated it.

Xiao Huan was slumped over the wooden table, eyes tightly closed, his head resting on an unfolded map. One hand hung below the table while the other held a handkerchief pressed to his lips.

He had fallen unconscious. I took a breath, bent down to first lift his head against my chest, then moved the wooden table aside and pulled over a fox fur to lay out, carefully placing him on it.

Just as I laid him flat, as if his blood flow suddenly improved after being curled up for so long, his body jerked violently, and muffled coughing escaped his lips. He frowned and curled up slightly, pressing the handkerchief tightly to his mouth.

Dark red spots seeped through the handkerchief as his body shook violently with coughs. I quickly lifted his shoulders to help him sit up straighter.

After sitting up, he moved the handkerchief away and coughed softly a few times, then took a deep breath and opened his eyes with effort to look at me: “Qian’er?”

Still holding him carefully, I answered, “Master, it’s me.”

He coughed several more times and managed a smile: “Cang Cang.”

I took a cushion and placed it behind his back for support, carefully releasing his shoulders while supporting his body, helping him regulate his breathing by rubbing his chest. Only when I saw his flushed cheeks return to their usual paleness did I breathe easier? “Didn’t Doctor Li come along?”

He lifted the corner of his mouth in a smile, and after a moment spoke: “Doctor Li would never have allowed me to come. When I insisted, he… left.”

Wasn’t it because you drove him mad with worry? Looking at him, I couldn’t help but sigh softly: “Must you drive everyone away?”

He paused, then smiled: “Doctor Li said the same thing before he left.”

I fell silent, holding his body and reaching up to brush away the loose hair from his forehead.

Wiping the light sweat from his brow, my fingers traced his pale cheeks as I curved my lips in a teasing manner: “Master, with such natural beauty, why must you insist on being alone?”

He smiled tightly, looking somewhat helpless: “What nonsense are you talking now.”

I smiled without responding. He closed his eyes briefly, asking between light coughs: “Where are we?”

I answered, “Shanshan.”

He nodded, coughing lightly several times: “Very close to Tianshan.” Then he asked, “Is everyone settled in?”

Among all these people, isn’t he the one who needs the most care? I sighed: “They’re settled, don’t worry about it.”

He managed a smile, frowning as if pondering something, his voice gradually growing softer: “They won’t let us continue peacefully. I just hope nothing happens tonight.”

Hearing this, I suddenly remembered what he’d said during the day and asked: “About that white-clothed man who took his own life – you said he wasn’t from Tianshan Sect, then which sect was he from?”

There was no answer. The arm I’d been supporting against Xiao Huan’s back suddenly grew heavy as his body leaned forward slightly, then trembled.

“Master?” I called softly, my other hand steadying his shoulder, trying to help him sit up when something warm and wet dropped onto the back of my hand.

His thin lips were tightly closed, but dark red blood seeped from between his colorless lips, falling onto my fingers and continuing to flow.

It felt as if a heavy hammer was pounding inside my head, unable to think of anything else, I held his shoulders tightly, my voice hoarse: “Brother Xiao…”

The mist in his deep eyes grew heavier. He coughed once and pressed his lips together, but blood still seeped from the corners of his mouth, trailing over his snow-white jaw in a heartbreaking display.

After closing his eyes and resting against the quilts for quite a while, he finally opened them and smiled at me: “It’s nothing… just from the rough journey. After some rest… it will be much better.”

As soon as he spoke, his barely settled breathing became irregular again, and he coughed several times in succession.

I raised my sleeve to wipe the blood from the corners of his mouth, my eyes stinging as I forced myself not to tremble: “Do you have medicine?”

He pointed to a wooden box at the back of the carriage. I hurried over and found many porcelain bottles left by Li Mingshang.

Taking out the pills, I found a leather flask of hot water in the carriage, poured it into a copper bowl, dissolved the pills in the water, and brought it to him.

He looked hesitantly at the medicine in the bowl: “I can take the pills directly.”

With his stomach so weak now, how could taking pills be as effective as drinking the medicine? I knew he was afraid of the bitterness, so I simply took a mouthful of medicine myself, kissed his lips, and used my tongue to gradually push the medicine through.

I continued this way with the remaining medicine, and after who knows how long, the entire bowl was finally consumed.

I put the medicine bowl on a small table nearby: “Doctor Li’s prescriptions are getting more and more bitter. He must be taking the opportunity to teach you a lesson?”

Looking down and coughing lightly, his cheeks still slightly flushed, he didn’t speak.

I smiled, raising my hand to stroke his cheek: “I was just helping Master take his medicine, this method works quite well.”

He nodded with a light smile but still didn’t speak.

Looking at his face, I burst out laughing: “I suddenly think that time at Shanhaiguan, when Ku Mo’er flirted with you, maybe it wasn’t all an act. With your cheeks so red and shy like this, you’re more captivating than any maiden.”

He finally looked up at me, still coughing: “Don’t be improper.”

Since he’d said we should strictly maintain a master-disciple relationship, he’d been very polite with me, keeping some distance. He’d never spoken words of reproach like this before.

I laughed heartily: “This disciple is just naturally unruly, I hope Master can forgive me.”

He was indeed weak in spirit, and after taking the medicine, he continued to cough lightly. Before long, he closed his eyes while leaning against the cushions.

I quietly went outside, where Shi Yan and Su Qian were waiting. Seeing me, Su Qian asked, “How is the Pavilion Master?”

I shook my head: “He coughed up some blood, took medicine, and is resting now.”

Su Qian’s eyes darkened: “It’s been like this for days. Doctor Li was right, the Pavilion Master shouldn’t have come.”

I looked up at them and said: “Su Qian, Commander Shi, I have a plan, and I hope you can help me.”

Su Qian remained silent, but Shi Yan suddenly looked at me: “The two palace guard divisions serve the head of the Xiao family. As long as the Lady remains the matriarch of the Xiao family, we are at your command.”

This taciturn commander of the palace guards, who had little interaction with me even in the palace and spoke to me even less now in the jianghu, surprised me with his support at this moment.

Smiling at him, I nodded solemnly: “Thank you, Commander Shi.”