Jin Hua Palace — since Princess Chunran’s marriage to Huang Chao, this palace had temporarily served as the bridegroom’s quarters.

In the Yeluan Pavilion, Hua Chunran and Huang Chao were engaged in a game of weiqi. Through a curtain of hanging pearls, one could see Yu Wuyuan in the adjoining room, reclining against the window seat, a scroll in hand, reading with focused attention.

“Has the Princess still not decided?” Huang Chao glanced at the board, then looked at Hua Chunran, who had been wavering indecisively. He asked with a slight smile, his golden irises sweeping across her flower-like face — calm and deep as a still pool.

“Ah, no matter where I place, it feels as though I’ve already lost.” Hua Chunran said, pinching the stone between her fingers.

“There is still one thread of hope remaining for the Princess in this game — only the Princess seems to have completely overlooked it.” Huang Chao picked up the teacup at his side and took a sip.

“Is there? Where?” Hua Chunran focused her eyes on the board and studied it for a long while, until her mind grew tired and she felt thoroughly disheartened. She was at a loss as to what to do — then suddenly she felt a cool breeze drift in from the window, carrying with it a faint, icy moisture. She could not help but look toward the window, and what she saw left her utterly astonished.

A figure flew in through the window, landing on the ground without the faintest sound — skin as pale as snow, hair as white as snow, a long robe of pale blue like clear water, features as exquisite as crystal, a bearing as cold and clear as ice. For a moment she thought it must be an immortal who had quietly slipped down from the heavens, which was why the arrival had been so utterly soundless.

Then, immediately after, another person flew in through the window. When this one landed, there was a faint sound — light as a leaf falling. This person was dressed in a neat and nimble short-sleeved blue outfit, long hair of a slightly pale yellow gathered high on the crown of the head and bound with a blue cord. On the back was slung a curved bow, and at the waist hung a bundle of fletched arrows. As for the face — Hua Chunran could not for a moment decide whether to call it beautiful or not. The brows were thick, the eyes large, the nose bridge straight, the lips slightly full with a well-defined line. Add to that skin tanned to a warm golden-wheat color, and by any measure it was a face of confident, imposing beauty full of character. But running from below the right eye, slashing straight down to the chin, was a deep and long scar from a blade — marring the beauty of the entire face, leaving one filled with regret.

While Hua Chunran was still startled by the arrival of the two, those two had already prostrated themselves on the ground. “We pay our respects to the Young Master!”

Huang Chao waved his hand, gesturing for the two of them to rise, then let his gaze fall on the young woman in blue. “Jiushuang, you are wounded?”

“Yes.” The young woman in blue was none other than Qiu Jiushuang, the General of the Hanfrost among Huang Guo’s four generals of Wind, Frost, Snow, and Rain. “Wounded at the shoulder — but it is nothing serious. The bone and sinew were not affected.”

“Good.” Huang Chao gave a slight nod. “Have Xuekong go to Lianguang Pavilion presently and retrieve some Zifu Powder.”

“Thank you, Young Master.” Qiu Jiushuang gave an unconcerned laugh. “There’s no need to waste the Zifu Powder — it is only a minor wound. Ever since the destruction of the Han family, their medicinal remedies have become all the more rare and precious. Better to save it for later.”

“Come and pay your respects to Princess Chunran.” Huang Chao instructed.

“Xuekong and Jiushuang pay their respects to the Princess!” Xiao Xuekong and Qiu Jiushuang bowed before Hua Chunran once more.

“Please, no need for such formality.” Hua Chunran rose slightly and raised her hand.

“Princess, these two are General Xiao Xuekong and General Qiu Jiushuang of my Huang Guo.” Huang Chao introduced them to Hua Chunran.

“Chunran has long admired the great names of both Generals. Seeing you in person today — your bearing is truly remarkable!” Hua Chunran smiled softly.

She moved closer to the two and looked at Xiao Xuekong’s refined features with a lingering surprise — that someone so beautiful was a military general. Then she studied Qiu Jiushuang more carefully. There was something expansive and magnanimous about her brows and eyes — even when she was not smiling, her face seemed to carry an open, bright expression. Hua Chunran thought privately: if these two were to swap their appearances, that would be rather more fitting. Only if General Qiu were to have that kind of face — her gaze slid toward Huang Chao, and she could not help pressing her lips together in a smile that carried a trace of mystery.

Qiu Jiushuang looked at this new princess consort and could not help laughing. “I have heard so much and now I see for myself — the Princess is truly of peerless beauty! The Young Master is a fortunate man! On behalf of the subjects of Huang Guo, Jiushuang and Xuekong offer heartfelt congratulations to both of you on your marriage — may you be harmonious as lute and harp, respectful as the most honored guests, as devoted as the offering of food lifted to the brow, and that one of… hmm… drawing the brows on… and also growing old together in white-haired happiness, producing hundreds of children and thousands of grandchildren for a thousand autumns and ten thousand generations!”

Having finished this long string of blessings all in one breath, she then pulled Xiao Xuekong beside her, and the two bowed again together. As their heads lowered, Xuekong gave Qiu Jiushuang a slight frown of a sideways glance. Qiu Jiushuang winked back at him.

“Where did you pick all of that up?” Huang Chao said with a mild, unconcerned smile. Among Huang Guo’s four generals of Wind, Snow, and Rain — all three were respectful and deferential toward him, never daring the slightest impropriety. Only this Jiushuang — perhaps by nature — was able to speak and laugh freely in front of him without standing on ceremony.

“Many thanks to both Generals.” Hua Chunran covered a smile with her sleeve, as if concealing a faint blush, then moved to Qiu Jiushuang’s side and took her hand, looking at the scar on her face with a feeling of involuntary pity. “After all, a woman’s skin is more delicate than a man’s. General Qiu has talent and martial skill that yields to none — but she should not forget she is still a woman. Since the Han family had medicinal remedies that heal wounds without leaving scars, why be so reluctant to use them?”

“The Princess speaks sensibly.” Xiao Xuekong, who had been completely still and quiet, suddenly let this single sentence slip — and immediately every gaze in the room converged on him. But he said nothing more, simply closed his lips and stared expressionlessly at the floor.

“Are you trying to call me a tomboy?!” Qiu Jiushuang shot a look at Xiao Xuekong and curled her lip. “You’re one to talk — you’re the one who acts like a woman!”

Xiao Xuekong heard this. The corner of his mouth gave a barely perceptible twitch and his brow creased slightly — but in the end he simply closed his lips and stood there, expressionless.

“Ha ha…” Hua Chunran could not help letting out a light laugh at this, raising her sleeve to half-cover her lips. “General Qiu’s personality would certainly appeal to Miss Feng!”

“Miss Feng? Which Miss Feng?” Qiu Jiushuang’s eyes immediately flew open upon hearing this, flashing bright as stars in an instant. “Is it the one who made this pretty-boy become a changed person — the Bai Fengxi? Where is she? I must meet her as well — to see for myself exactly what this ‘white-robed snow-moon, unrivaled in brilliance’ looks like! And I want to learn a couple of moves from her on how to handle this pretty-boy so he’ll do exactly what I say from now on!”

“Only the mouth resembles a woman’s!” Xiao Xuekong produced another unexpected remark, out of nowhere.

Qiu Jiushuang shot him a glare, then delivered a casual, airy counterattack: “Better than a certain someone who is neither female nor male — and doesn’t even seem quite human!”

“Are you done causing a scene?” Huang Chao said mildly.

Instantly everyone fell silent. Even Hua Chunran composed her expression and sat back in her chair.

“What happened this time?” Huang Chao asked, again in that mild, unhurried tone.

“In reply to the Young Master — we did find it. But the carriage was empty. And they seemed to have anticipated our move beforehand and ambushed us.” Qiu Jiushuang instantly became serious and composed, reporting without the slightest deviation.

“Empty?” At this, a gold flash crossed Huang Chao’s eyes. His expression sharpened. “How could he not come?”

“But indeed, there was no sign of the person.” Qiu Jiushuang’s expression was grave as well.

“Very well. Leave this matter for now — my purpose has been achieved regardless.” Huang Chao gave a wave of his hand to stop the matter there.

“Young Master, on our way here we received a confidential report: the Hua forces have attacked Feng Guo’s Li City. The thirty thousand vanguard has been completely annihilated.” Qiu Jiushuang glanced at Hua Chunran and continued her report.

“What? The entire force annihilated?” Hua Chunran’s expression changed at these words.

“The entire thirty thousand vanguard, completely annihilated?!” Huang Chao was equally shocked. “Do you know who is commanding the defense of Li City?”

“According to the report, it is Feng Guo’s Queen Xiyun herself holding the position!” Qiu Jiushuang answered with eyes gleaming — that particular gleam one gets upon hearing that a formidable opponent has appeared.

“Ten years of legendary reputation — and not without cause!” Huang Chao said with admiration.

“My lord…” Hua Chunran suddenly rose and looked at Huang Chao, as though she had something to say.

“Does the Princess have something on her mind?” Huang Chao turned to look at her.

Hua Chunran’s gaze moved toward Qiu Jiushuang and the others, as though she had some hesitation.

“Xuekong, Jiushuang — you may return to the kingdom and report back to my royal father.” Huang Chao rose and walked to where Qiu Jiushuang and Xiao Xuekong stood. He drew a letter from his sleeve. “Deliver this personal letter to my royal father on my behalf, convey my regards to him, and tell him I will return to the kingdom as soon as possible.” His gaze settled on Qiu Jiushuang with a look of distinct, hidden meaning.

Qiu Jiushuang took the letter, glanced at her master, and understood perfectly. She bowed in acknowledgment. “Yes!”

The Same Person, Yet Feelings Are Changed

After Xiao Xuekong and Qiu Jiushuang had departed, Huang Chao turned and walked back to his seat, looking at Hua Chunran. “What did the Princess wish to say?”

Hua Chunran’s gaze drifted toward the adjoining room, where Yu Wuyuan was still absorbed in his reading.

“The Princess may speak freely.” Huang Chao noticed her hesitation and watched her with some amusement. What did she want to say to him? She seemed so solemn about it.

Hua Chunran looked at Huang Chao and said nothing for a long moment. The face before her was nothing like that other face — that face was always warm and refined as jade, always composed and at ease, and when those ink-dark eyes settled on a person, they always carried a quiet, steady warmth and a faint, gentle smile that made one long to draw near. But this face — even in silence, it carried a noble pride that would not allow anyone to transgress, and even when he smiled it carried the dominance of a sovereign that kept people from daring to get too close. When his eyes focused on you with attention, their gaze was like a sharp blade, capable of piercing through your every thought. This man… the man before her… tears and coquetry from a woman would be useless on him. And so…

“My lord, we are husband and wife.” Hua Chunran said simply.

“Yes.” Huang Chao nodded.

“Since ancient times it has been said — husband and wife are one body.” Hua Chunran’s expression became serious and solemn. She met his gaze directly, without a trace of shyness or retreat. “Your parents and your homeland are my parents and my homeland. My parents and my homeland are also your parents and your homeland.”

Hearing this, a flash of surprise passed through Huang Chao’s eyes — and then he smiled, a smile that carried a touch of genuine appreciation. “The meaning behind the Princess’s words is that you wish for Chao to save the Hua King?”

“Yes!” Hua Chunran nodded.

“The Hua King has led one hundred thousand troops to attack Feng Guo — surely it is Feng Guo that should be seeking help. How can the Princess say this?” Huang Chao smiled faintly, his gaze dropping to the weiqi board and the unfinished game still spread upon it.

“My lord need not tease Chunran.” Hua Chunran’s gaze also fell on the game. “Chunran may have grown up sheltered within the palace walls, knowing little of the ways of the world — but after all, she is of a royal family, and from what she has heard and witnessed since childhood, she understands a little. From my lord’s expressions and the conversation with the two generals just now, Chunran already knows that this time Father is bound to suffer a crushing defeat — at the hands of the Wind Xiyun whom all of you so highly esteem.”

“Oh?” Huang Chao moved his gaze back to Hua Chunran’s face and looked at her with a seriousness and care that seemed almost as though he were seeing her for the first time. After a moment, he gave a nod and said, “The Hua King has several sons and daughters, and Chao has now met all of them. And yet it seems that among all the Hua King’s children — only the Princess is someone truly worth the name.”

“Worth the name?” Hua Chunran smiled — faintly self-mocking, carrying a thread of quiet self-pity. With this face and this mind — did even this supremely proud man not praise her? And yet why was it that that person still would not take her as someone worth the name — and instead…

“Since the Princess has spoken, Chao would not dare refuse.” Huang Chao’s gaze dropped back to the weiqi board. “The Princess need have no worry. Tomorrow Chao will personally set out and assist the Hua King in breaking through Feng Guo.” He picked up a stone and placed it on the board. Hua Chunran looked — and with that single stone, her entire position on the board was lost.

“Then Chunran thanks my lord!” Hua Chunran bowed gracefully.

“The Princess need not stand on ceremony.” Huang Chao gave a slight wave of his hand. “As the Princess herself just said — your parents and your homeland are my parents and my homeland. Chao is merely doing what he can for his own homeland.”

Looking at the expression with which Huang Chao regarded the board, Hua Chunran’s heart gave a sudden, cold lurch. Then, in a flash, she broke into a charming smile. “Then Chunran will take her leave first and prepare some travel provisions for my lord.”

“I trouble the Princess.” Huang Chao rose to his feet and watched Hua Chunran depart. A meaningful and inscrutable faint smile spread across his face.

“Princess Chunran is quite intelligent. If she could be wholly of one mind with you, she might not be an unsuitable match.” Yu Wuyuan in the adjoining room finally set down his book and came over.

“Mm.” Huang Chao looked at the game with interest. “Cautious and careful in placing each stone. Not missing a single point in laying out the overall scheme. Moving when the opponent moves. Holding the position firmly when cornered, and never risking a reckless gamble. She is a suitable candidate.”

“Are you going in person to observe the battle?” Yu Wuyuan glanced at the game.

“Observe?” Huang Chao smiled — the smile carrying the self-assurance and pride of one who already holds all the answers. “Would ‘participate’ not be a more fitting word?”

“I see. Do you want me to return to Huang Guo?” Yu Wuyuan’s gaze drifted through the window toward the garden. The flower most abundantly planted throughout Hua Wang Palace was the peony — strikingly gorgeous, as capable of toppling a city as any beauty — yet somehow not so quietly graceful and delicate as a single white lotus.

“No need. Why not come along with me and take a look — to see exactly how formidable Feng Guo’s Queen Feng Xiyun truly is.” Huang Chao smiled with easy confidence.

Meanwhile, in the Quyu Pavilion of Luohua Palace, Hua Chunran sealed the letter she had just hurriedly written. “Ling’er — send someone to deliver this letter to Lord Qian Qi’s residence with all speed, and go and invite the three royal princes. Ask them to go to… to… Jin Bo Palace.”

“Yes!” Ling’er accepted the order and departed.

Hua Chunran looked out the window. The flowers were still in glorious bloom, the sunlight still bright and warm — yet she felt that behind all that blazing brilliance, a curtain of black night was already poised, ready at any moment to submerge everything in darkness. Huang Chao’s smile made her heart go cold with a chill spreading through her. And those two — Xiao Xuekong and Qiu Jiushuang — they were Huang Guo’s generals. Why had they not entered through the palace gate openly and properly, but instead flew in through the window? What was the ambush they had spoken of all about?

“If those two were only here.” A murmured whisper, carrying faint wistfulness and a sense of loss.

The thirtieth day of the fourth month. The Hua King’s army of one hundred thousand arrived at Li City.

Seated high upon his battle chariot, gazing from a distance at the flags swaying atop the walls of Li City, listening to his subordinates report the complete annihilation of the thirty thousand vanguard — the Hua King ground his teeth together. He slammed his palm down, and two of the protective railings on the battle chariot snapped clean apart.

“Outrageous!” the Hua King exploded with fury. “Thirty thousand troops — annihilated by Feng Guo in a single day?! How did Ye Yan command his forces?!”

“Your Majesty, look at the banner on the city walls!” The military advisor beside him pointed toward the top of Li City from a distance. “That is Feng Guo’s White Phoenix Banner — it signifies that the one defending the city this time is Feng Guo’s new queen, Feng Xiyun! Princess Xiyun of Feng Guo has long been renowned. General Ye must have underestimated the enemy, leading to the complete annihilation. We must absolutely not advance rashly!”

“Report to Your Majesty — the deputy commander under General Ye has arrived and says he has military intelligence to report!” A soldier came forward with the report.

“Oh?” the Hua King’s eyes narrowed. “Bring him up.”

“Yes!”

Shortly after, the deputy commander was brought before him.

“I pay my respects to Your Majesty!” The deputy commander dropped to his knees.

“What have you to report?” The Hua King looked at the figure kneeling in a heap on the ground, trembling all over, and his brow furrowed, his eyes narrowing…

“Your Majesty, I am Kong Tao, Deputy Commander under General Ye. On this campaign with the vanguard, I should have achieved merit for Your Majesty — but General Ye arrived at Li City, saw that Feng Guo had only a few thousand troops in the field, and fell into underestimating the enemy. He launched a careless assault, and our forces were caught by the Feng army’s sorcerous formation, resulting in the complete annihilation of our thirty thousand vanguard. I survived with this one life precisely in order to report the full details of that sorcerous formation to Your Majesty, so as to assist Your Majesty in breaking the formation and defeating the enemy!” Kong Tao pressed his forehead to the ground as he reported, trembling throughout — yet at that last sentence, he felt a surge of righteous confidence and dared to straighten up a little.

“Is that so?” The Hua King looked at Kong Tao with an expressionless face. “Tell me the entire process of this campaign from beginning to end, in full detail.”

“Yes!”

And so Kong Tao launched into a vivid and embellished account of Ye Yan’s leadership, complete with exaggerations and added flourishes — including the ambush at Yi Mountain, and how the “sorcerous formation” had opened its great bloody maw and swallowed the Hua forces whole…

“Is that all?” The Hua King looked at Kong Tao coldly. “Nothing else?”

“Noth… nothing more.” The Hua King’s cold tone sent Kong Tao into a fit of shaking.

“Then you have fulfilled your duty.” The Hua King’s expression suddenly changed entirely. His hand swung down. “Drag him out and behead him — as a warning to the entire army. Any who dare to flee shall meet this same end!”

“Mercy, Your Majesty! Mercy, Your Majesty!” The dragged-away Kong Tao shrieked in pleading.

“Your Majesty…” The military advisor tried tentatively to speak, but was cut off by a wave of the Hua King’s hand.

“Feng Xiyun — it seems she actually does have some ability.” Looking at the Flying Cloud Banner fluttering in the wind, the Hua King said in a heavy voice. “Give the order to make camp.”

“Yes!”

“The Hua King has arrived. Will you try your Blood Phoenix Formation on him? Let us see if his one hundred thousand troops are worthy of breaking your formation.” On the city tower, Feng Xi looked at the Hua forces setting up camp ahead and asked the question of Fengxi beside him.

“I am not that arrogant.” Fengxi gave an unhurried smile, looking ahead at the gold army that seemed to blot out an entire corner of the sky. “A Blood Phoenix Formation composed of six thousand or ten thousand Fengyun Cavalry cannot annihilate one hundred thousand troops. Even without defeat, that would be a victory so costly it would be no better than defeat.”

“Feng Xiyun is indeed nothing like the reckless and willful Bai Fengxi!” Feng Xi smiled faintly.

Fengxi heard this. The corner of her mouth moved — but in the end she only smiled and said plainly: “Right now there is only Feng Xiyun.”

“Since you have no intention of fighting the Hua forces in a decisive battle here, why did you not withdraw earlier?” Feng Xi asked again.

“Because I still want to see something — to see how powerful it truly is.” Fengxi narrowed her eyes and looked ahead.

The second day of the fifth month. Inside the Hua King’s golden command tent.

“Yusheng — you are well-versed in the classics of military strategy. Do you know what formation it was that destroyed my thirty thousand troops?” The Hua King asked his military advisor, Liu Yusheng.

“In reply to Your Majesty — based on what Kong Tao described, I deduce that it is very likely the Blood Phoenix Formation, which made the Phoenix King invincible more than three hundred years ago.” Liu Yusheng said, deep in thought.

“The Blood Phoenix Formation?!” The Hua King rose from his seat and began pacing back and forth before the table. “To think that little girl Feng Xiyun actually knows how to deploy this formation!”

“This formation is extraordinarily complex, with variations that are beyond number. Once trapped within it, one is like prey caught by a blood-drinking phoenix — there is no release until one’s very last drop of blood is spent.” Liu Yusheng’s own expression changed as he said this — it was plain that even he greatly feared this formation. “Your Majesty, in those years the Phoenix King used this very formation to inflict a crushing defeat on Tao Wang, killing one hundred and ten thousand enemy troops. It was that single battle that firmly established Shi Di’s position as the paramount sovereign.”

“It is truly that formidable?” The Hua King, seeing Liu Yusheng’s expression one of complete gravity rather than empty alarm, could not help but feel half-persuaded and half-doubtful.

“Your Majesty, this is no idle talk on my part. The Yuyan Military Compendium once stated: ‘Upon encountering the Phoenix, flee.’ That is to say — when you encounter the Phoenix King or the Blood Phoenix Formation, you cannot defeat it, you cannot break it. The only way out is to run.” Liu Yusheng said with an utterly serious face. “Therefore, Your Majesty, we absolutely must not advance rashly this time.”

“Cannot defeat it, cannot break it?” The Hua King repeated the words. Then he fixed his gaze on Liu Yusheng. “Are you saying this King cannot overcome that little girl from the Feng family? Cannot break her half-baked Blood Phoenix Formation?”

Liu Yusheng, hearing the Hua King’s words, knew he had inadvertently provoked the royal temper, and immediately bowed. “Your Majesty’s martial prowess is unparalleled. The Feng King is naturally no match for you — she only managed to win a minor skirmish by relying on a famous formation from her ancestors.”

“Hmph!” The Hua King gave a grunt, then said: “Do you have any method to break this Blood Phoenix Formation?”

“In reply to Your Majesty — this formation was uniquely created by the Phoenix King and never passed down to posterity. Military texts contain no record of it. I am not familiar with its variations, and therefore…”

“Therefore you cannot break it, is that right?” The Hua King finished the sentence before he could, and swept a stern gaze over him. “Are you saying that this King’s campaign is to return without achieving anything?”

“No!” Liu Yusheng hurriedly lowered his head. “How could Your Majesty’s great enterprise be blocked by this mere Blood Phoenix Formation!”

“Hmph! The Blood Phoenix Formation!” The Hua King slammed the table. “I refuse to believe that ten thousand of my Gold-Robed Army cannot break it!”

“Does Your Majesty intend to…” Liu Yusheng probed carefully, terrified of unwittingly provoking the royal temper again.

“General Meng!” The Hua King summoned.

“Here!” A military officer lifted the tent flap and entered.

“I command you to lead five thousand elite troops and assault the city at the si hour!”

“Yes!” General Meng accepted the command and withdrew.

“Your Majesty, thirty thousand elite troops were still defeated by the Blood Phoenix Formation. Sending only five thousand…”

“Hmph! The Blood Phoenix Formation! I want to see for myself what this Blood Phoenix Formation looks like!”

The Hua King gave a cold scoff. His sweeping glance carried a dark, vicious ferocity that made Liu Yusheng’s heart quail. In that instant, he understood — those five thousand elite troops would serve as the sheep sent to scout the road.

“After resting only one day, the Hua King cannot help himself from moving.” On the city tower, Feng Xi watched the Hua forces ahead and shook his head. “Not a shred of patience.”

“He is planning to send over some small refreshments — regrettably, my phoenix has never eaten anything but a full-course meal of flesh and blood.” Fengxi watched the movements of the Hua forces ahead — it was no more than a few thousand of them.

“It seems your Blood Phoenix Formation has given him considerable pause.” Feng Xi smiled. “He means to use these few thousand soldiers to lure out your Blood Phoenix Formation — perhaps just to take a look first, or perhaps to seize an opportune moment and bring the full ten thousand in a sweeping charge against the phoenix.”

“His thinking is actually not bad.” Fengxi looked at the movements of the few thousand Hua troops in the distance. Their advance was not fast — as though afraid something might suddenly leap out of thin air before them, they moved with step-by-step caution. “General Lin.”

“Here.”

“I will leave this engagement to you.” Fengxi stepped slightly back and to the side, gesturing for him to come forward.

“Yes!” Lin Ji stepped up, then raised the command flag in his hand and gave a sweep.

In an instant, several hundred soldiers surged up from below the city tower and arranged themselves in orderly ranks before it.

Feng Xi’s gaze settled on these several hundred soldiers, studying them carefully — trying to see what extraordinary ability they possessed that led Fengxi to entrust this battle entirely to them. Finally, a flash of keen brilliance appeared in those deep, dark eyes — making those ink-dark irises shine bright as stars for an instant — before composure returned.

These soldiers were not of large, imposing build or commanding bearing. Some were even rather short in stature. But the one thing they all shared was a pair of extraordinarily bright, sharp eyes, and a pair of hands that were powerful and perfectly steady. Even with their ruler standing no more than a zhang away from them, their expressions remained calm and composed.

Fengxi’s gaze was not on those soldiers — it fell lightly on Feng Xi, carrying a faint, quiet sigh, and a trace of helplessness toward a fate long since glimpsed yet unable to be changed. That gaze was so passing and yet so profound… After a moment, she drew it gently back to look ahead. The Hua forces were drawing ever closer.

“Your Majesty, the Feng forces appear to have made no movements.”

On the tall and magnificent battle chariot drawn by eight fine horses, the Hua King stood without moving, gazing ahead with focused attention. The five thousand Hua troops had already come within forty zhang of the city — yet Li City’s gates remained firmly shut, and the Feng forces showed no sign of riding out to meet them in the field. Did this Feng Xiyun not intend to deploy her Blood Phoenix Formation? Was she looking down on this King?

“Wait and see.” The Hua King furrowed his brow.

The Hua forces continued to advance. Thirty-five zhang from the city now.

“Rain of Arrows — company!” Lin Ji called out in a sudden, heavy shout.

In an instant, those several hundred soldiers all took up their positions at the battlements. They drew their bows and nocked their arrows, taking aim. On the tower, apart from the snapping of flags in the wind, there was no other sound. Everyone wore an expression of grave attention — some watching the Hua forces, others watching the Arrow Rain company.

Lin Ji fixed his gaze unblinking on the Hua forces ahead. Closer… thirty zhang… twenty-seven… twenty-six… twenty-five zhang!

“Loose!”

With the single command, arrows poured from the city tower like rain. The Hua forces, caught without warning, let out a wave of agonized cries and a great swath of them fell.

“Loose!”

Giving the Hua forces no time to breathe, with the next command, the soldiers on the tower loosed another rain of arrows. Ahead, another wave of wretched screams rang out, and another swath fell.

“Loose!”

…

“Excellent!” Feng Xi, watching from the tower with a clear view, could not help blurting out his admiration. He turned to look at Fengxi, his eyes bright and clear. “Not a single arrow has missed. Archers capable of splitting a willow at a hundred paces!”

“Five years ago, I tested every soldier in the Fengyun Cavalry and the Palace Guard, then selected five hundred of them to form the Arrow Rain company — five hundred chosen from one hundred and fifty thousand. Add to that five years of training under Lin Ji, and they meet the standard I set at the time: of every hundred arrows, ninety-nine must find their mark.” Fengxi said calmly, her gaze expressionless as it fell ahead. With each successive command from Lin Ji, the few thousand Hua troops were already reduced to less than half.

“No wonder you disappeared for a time after razing Duanhun Gate that year.” Feng Xi also turned his gaze back to what lay ahead. “The refreshments the Hua King sent over became target practice for your archers.”

“Your Majesty, the Feng forces have not come out of the city to form battle lines — they are shooting arrows at our forces from within. Our troops have no shields or armor. Please Your Majesty give the order to withdraw, otherwise…” Liu Yusheng saw the reversal ahead and, in his anxiety, very nearly let the words “completely annihilated” slip out — but the Hua King’s cold and stern gaze made him swallow them back.

“Your Majesty!”

“Withdraw.” After a long, brooding silence, the Hua King finally forced these two words through his teeth. But his face had already gone iron-gray. His gaze locked on the top of Li City’s walls like ghost-fire. “Feng Xiyun!” he bit out through clenched teeth, with vicious hatred.

With the withdrawal order received, the Hua forces scrambled in retreat. Five thousand had gone out — fewer than a thousand came back. Even the commanding General Meng had taken an arrow in the left shoulder.

“I have failed my duty and shamed Your Majesty’s commission — I beg Your Majesty to mete out punishment!” General Meng dismounted and knelt before the Hua King’s chariot.

The Hua King stared at him fixedly for a long moment. The kneeling General Meng was breaking out in a dense sweat across his brow, the area around his shoulder blade soaked thoroughly in blood. Beside them, military advisor Liu Yusheng also bowed his head in tension, straining his ears and waiting anxiously for the Hua King’s next order.

“Go and have your wound treated.” After a long silence, the Hua King said coldly.

“This subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace!” General Meng hastily knocked his forehead to the ground and withdrew, already drenched in cold sweat from head to toe. This life had just been pulled back from the hands of the King of Hell.

“Your Majesty…” Liu Yusheng opened his mouth carefully.

“If you have something to say, say it!” The Hua King threw him an impatient glare.

“Your Majesty, a full-scale attack risks being caught in the Blood Phoenix Formation, and a small-scale attack is driven back by their arrows…”

“Hmph!” Before he could finish, the Hua King gave a cold scoff. His gaze looked as though it stood at the edge of a violent eruption — one touch would set it off.

“Your Majesty, I have one method that could take Li City in a single stroke.” Liu Yusheng quickly rushed out the words.

“If you had a method, why did you not say so sooner?!” The Hua King heard this and was not pleased but angered.

“No, no, no!” Liu Yusheng said hurriedly. “I only thought of it just now.”

“Speak quickly!”

“Yes!” Liu Yusheng lowered his head. “Your Majesty, we have something that fears neither the Blood Phoenix Formation nor their arrows!”

“You mean… the fire cannons!” The Hua King’s eyes suddenly lit up.

“Exactly!” Liu Yusheng nodded. “Whether the Feng forces deploy their Blood Phoenix Formation or hold within the city without coming out — we bombard them with fire cannons. No matter how formidable their formation, no matter how solid their city walls, they cannot withstand a single strike from our cannons!”

“Excellent!” The Hua King clapped his hands. At last, the brow that had been furrowed for days began to unfurl. “When can the five fire cannons made by Master Yushan arrive?”

“In reply to Your Majesty — they will arrive by the wei hour tomorrow!”

“Then give me the assault on the city at the shen hour tomorrow! Ha ha ha… I would like to see whether that girl from the Feng family can still avoid defeat at this King’s hands!” The Hua King laughed loudly.

“It seems the Hua King has been frightened back by your archers.” Feng Xi watched the retreating Hua forces and said with a touch of amusement.

Fengxi heard him but did not relax into a smile. Instead, her brow furrowed, and she looked at the configuration of the Hua forces ahead. She exhaled a faint sigh. “Tomorrow may not be so easy.”

The third day of the fifth month. Past the midpoint of the shen hour.

Boom, boom, boom, boom… boom, boom, boom, boom…

War drums thundered. Warhorses screamed. The Hua forces launched their full assault on the city.

At the front was a dense row of long shields. The soldiers carrying the shields were all hidden behind them. Behind them were three of the newest fire cannons sheltered under the shield cover, and behind that came the fully armed Gold-Robed Army in force.

“Just as I expected.” Fengxi looked at the configuration of the Hua forces.

“Who would have thought the Hua King possessed these latest instruments.” Feng Xi’s gaze settled on the three fire cannons. “I have heard that these fire cannons were designed by the old master Yushan. The fire projectiles used are made from a mineral clay unique to Yushan in Hua Guo — their destructive power is immense. When struck, not only is flesh and blood reduced to ash, but even a city wall built of great stone can be blasted apart.”

“It truly is good to have money!” Fengxi’s eyes fixed on the cannons before her, which looked rather strange and outlandish to her. “Not only do they wear the most dazzling gold robes, they use the finest blades and swords, and now these latest fire cannons as well. Hua Guo… money-dripping Hua Guo… it really is a pity we didn’t manage to get our hands on it!” At the end of that sentence, her gaze slid a glance at Feng Xi, carrying a faint mocking edge.

“That sentence actually sounds rather like something Bai Fengxi would say.” Feng Xi’s expression did not change, his eyes did not shift — he continued to look ahead and replied mildly.

Fengxi heard this, and the corner of her mouth moved — but in the end she said nothing further. She only furrowed her brow slightly, as though faintly displeased with her own state of mind just then. She gave her head a toss, shaking off the tangle of thoughts in her mind, and her gaze fell back on the Hua army formation.

Encircled and covered by layer upon layer of Hua forces was the Hua King’s battle chariot, towering two men high. At this moment, the Hua King stood tall upon it, and before the chariot were layers of shields guarding him, advancing slowly and carefully.

When the distance to the city was only about fifty zhang, the Hua King’s chariot halted. But the shield-bearers and fire cannons continued to advance. At forty zhang from the city, the Hua forces finally came to a stop.

“Your Majesty, shall we use the fire cannons to attack immediately, or…” Liu Yusheng stepped forward to ask.

“First use one cannon to attack! Hmph! This time, this King will let the Feng family girl taste the power of my fire cannons!” The Hua King waved his hand with confident self-assurance.

Liu Yusheng heard this and gestured toward the Hua forces ahead.

In an instant, the shield-bearers ahead parted slightly, revealing one fire cannon. It was trained on the top of Li City’s walls. The gunner loaded the fire projectile and swiftly ignited the fuse. A thunderous boom — and the fire projectile streaked straight toward Li City.

“It’s coming!”

From atop the city wall, Fengxi suddenly shot upward into the air — throwing herself in her physical body to meet the incoming fire projectile.

“Be careful, Your Majesty!”

“Come back, Your Majesty!”

Every person below called out to their queen with all their might, looking up with pounding hearts at the dangerous maneuver their sovereign was attempting.

“This woman…” Feng Xi also looked up at Fengxi, murmuring under his breath — as though sighing, as though annoyed.

Fengxi was suspended in mid-air. Her hand swept out and the white silk ribbon burst from her sleeve, flying straight toward the fire projectile in the air. But at the moment the ribbon was about to make contact, it transformed like a coiling dragon, encircling the projectile from a distance of one chi using pure force of energy. Then with another sweep of the ribbon, the fire projectile reversed direction and shot backward — yet midway through its path, a thunderous explosion rang out and it detonated in the air.

Every soldier of both the Feng and Hua armies stared with dropped jaws, unable to believe what they had just seen. A fire projectile of tremendous destructive power — simply caught by her ribbon and detonated in mid-air.

“That is…”

From a distance — having just arrived at the scene after riding day and night without rest — Huang Chao and Yu Wuyuan stared in shock at what lay ahead. That white silk ribbon… that white figure in the air… the two of them exchanged a glance. In both their hearts, a single name rose at the same moment: Fengxi! Even at this distance, even in this brief, fleeting glimpse, they were certain — that person, the one in the air just now, was Fengxi.

But why would she be in Li City? Why would she be aiding the Feng forces? Unless… in that instant, both of them felt a tremendous lurch in their hearts. Then the world suddenly went dark and still — there were no longer thousands of troops all around. Their gazes met. There was nothing in those gazes but shock. In that moment, both their minds went completely blank. They did not know what to do with themselves, nor where in the world they stood.

Fengxi floated lightly down from the air and landed on the city wall. Standing tall, she looked ahead at the Hua forces.

“An arrow!” Fengxi extended her hand. A soldier immediately stepped forward and handed her a bow and arrow.

Fengxi drew the bow and nocked the arrow, taking aim at her target. With a sharp whistle, the arrow was loosed. In the Hua army formation, the soldier who had been holding a fire projectile and was about to load the cannon — ready to deliver another show of force against the Feng forces — heard a sound near his ear, as though something was slicing through the wind. He raised his head in that instant, and before he could make out what it was, an arrow had already passed straight through his chest. The fire projectile in his hands dropped to the ground with a heavy thud, rolled a full turn, and then exploded with a thunderous boom — killing dozens of soldiers standing nearby in an instant.

“An arrow!” Fengxi extended her hand again. A soldier handed her another shaft.

She drew the bow taut, teeth clenched hard against her lip, eyes sharp as blades. With a piercing whistle, the arrow shot out like lightning — aimed directly at the Hua King standing on his magnificent battle chariot in the Hua army formation.

“Protect the King! Protect the King!”

Every person at the front of the formation watched that arrow come streaking through the air like lightning, as though it would pierce through every obstacle in its path. They cried out in a panic.

The shield-bearers at the front stacked themselves layer upon layer before the Hua King. The naked eye could not, in that instant, make out precisely how the arrow traveled — it was as though a single black bolt of lightning flashed before one’s eyes, and all the ear could hear was the piercing wail of air being torn apart. Then came four successive thuds — and finally a faint clatter, as though an arrow had fallen to the ground. When eyes opened to look — the arrow had passed through four layers of shields before finally spending its force and dropping.

“Whew!” Shaken to the core by that arrow, the Hua King — who had been holding his breath in rigid tension — finally exhaled. His legs went soft, and he slumped down to a seated position on the battle chariot.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!” Another wave of alarmed cries broke out at the front of the formation.

“Fire arrows!” Having missed her mark, Fengxi furrowed her brow and called out immediately. A soldier at once brought forward a fire arrow, its tip already aflame.

Fengxi touched the tip of her foot against the wall and looked down from above, taking in the positions of the three fire cannons in the Hua army formation. She took aim and loosed the arrow — a sharp whistle — direct hit on one cannon. With a thunderous boom, the cannon that had been loaded and ready to bombard Li City was destroyed in an instant.

“Again!” Fengxi nocked another fire arrow, her eyes blazing bright and ice-cold, her face grave and deadly.

With a whistle, the first arrow was loosed. Her gaze tracked the arrow as it flew. Her hand extended — “Again!” A soldier handed her another fire arrow. With a second whistle, the latter fire arrow pursued the first, both flying directly toward the fire cannons in the Hua formation. The Hua soldiers in formation, seeing those two unstoppable arrows coming, reflexively dove to the ground to avoid them. The two arrows passed over the soldiers and flew straight toward the mouths of the cannons.

With the fire arrows about to strike the cannons, suddenly a white figure flew through the air, landing lightly on top of a cannon. A hand extended — and the first arrow was plucked right from the air. Then, spinning in a single turn, the figure flew to another cannon, and in the same motion extended a hand — and lightly, cleanly, caught the second fire arrow as well.

This blink-of-an-eye sequence of movements was seen clearly by soldiers of both armies. The Feng forces let out a roar of dismayed surprise. The Hua forces erupted in joyful cheers. And Fengxi gave a start — that person was…

From a distance, two gazes met in the air. Separated by several dozen zhang of distance. Separated by the vast chasm of two armies locked in battle. Two gazes met — quietly, soundlessly — in the space above Li City.

At this moment: one stood upon a fire cannon, one stood perched atop the city wall. One had behind them the gold-gleaming Hua army blotting out the sky. One had behind them the White Phoenix and Flying Cloud banners streaming in the wind. One still wore white robes. One was clad in armor. One held fire arrows in hand. One held a longbow… They no longer looked as they had when they first met — yet the one thing that remained the same on both their faces was a disbelief they could not conceal, a sorrow for what this moment had become, and a faint regret at the unpredictability of life…

The shen hour had already passed. The sun was sinking in the west. In the warm reddish glow of the setting sun, the two of them seemed separated by vast and distant spans of time — they held each other’s gaze for a quiet moment, then both gave a faint, simultaneous smile — as though exchanging a greeting — even knowing the other could not possibly see it clearly across the distance.

“Lin Ji!” Fengxi’s feet touched the wall as she descended, and the name was on her lips before she had fully landed.

“Here!” Lin Ji stepped forward.

“Drive them back beyond forty-five zhang!” Fengxi ordered coldly.

“Yes!” Lin Ji bowed, then waved his hand. The Arrow Rain company immediately took up positions, fully engaged for battle.

“Xu Yuan!”

“Here!”

“The rest I leave to you.”

“Yes!”

The Hua and Feng forces clashed. The dense rain of arrows and fire arrows loosed by the Feng forces kept the Hua forces from daring to advance a single step further — only raising their shields and mounting a tight defense. Equally, the destructive power of the Hua cannons kept the Feng forces from daring the slightest carelessness — their arrows flying without pause, preventing the Hua forces from coming within a single step of the city gate.

That battle continued until both sides had exhausted their strength and finally stood down at the close of the you hour. Yet there had not been many casualties on either side — one side sheltered behind shields, the other having suppressed the formidable fire cannons of the opposing side. Neither had suffered losses, neither had gained advantage. It had been nothing more than a futile battle that exhausted the strength of both sides to no purpose.

“With you here to aid this King, I am certain to defeat Feng Guo’s Xiyun this time — and level Feng Guo entirely!” In the golden command tent, the Hua King had laid out a banquet to welcome Huang Chao and Yu Wuyuan, who had come from a great distance to lend their support. He seemed to have entirely forgotten about the arrow that had made his legs go soft, and spoke in booming, confident tones.

“The Princess has been very concerned for Your Majesty. Chao has come here merely to fulfill a measure of filial duty on the Princess’s behalf — to pay a visit to Your Majesty. As for assisting in the battle — Chao’s abilities are limited and it is hard to relieve Your Majesty’s concerns. But should Your Majesty have any command, Chao will do his utmost.” Huang Chao said this with all humility — and yet even these modest words, spoken by him, somehow carried an air of disdainful indifference.

“With these words and this heart from my son-in-law, it is more than enough!” The Hua King heard this and raised his golden cup high. “This King offers this simple wine to welcome you and Young Master Yu.”

“It is we who should toast Your Majesty — wishing Your Majesty a speedy defeat of the Feng forces and a triumphant return home!” Huang Chao raised his cup high. Yu Wuyuan, Liu Yusheng, and several Hua commanders all raised their cups in turn to offer their toast.

“Ha ha ha… excellent!” The Hua King laughed with open delight and drained his cup in one go.

After the banquet, Huang Chao and Yu Wuyuan returned to the quarters the Hua King had arranged for them.

They sat quietly together for a moment. Their gazes met. A trace of bitterness rose on both their faces simultaneously.

“How could it be her?” Huang Chao finally spoke.

Yu Wuyuan only smiled. His gaze settled in a daze on the wall of the tent — as though something there was worth studying, his eyes soft and unwilling to look away.

“Princess Xiyun of Feng Guo… Feng Guo’s queen as she is now… how could she be Bai Fengxi? How could Fengxi — that ‘white-robed and snow-bright, wild and unrestrained’ Fengxi — be the ruler of a kingdom?” Huang Chao still could not bring himself to believe it, his voice barely a murmur.

And yet the white figure in the air, the armor-clad queen atop the city wall — there was absolutely no mistaking it. Those clear, bright eyes one could never confuse even if one were a hundred years old and going blind. That clean, sharp face. The jade-white crescent moon at the brow… That truly was Bai Fengxi.

“That day on the lotus-gathering platform, her single performance of Shuilian Yin had already made me doubtful. Such exceptional skill at the qin — for it to belong to a wandering jianghu figure like Bai Fengxi was somewhat strange. But for the Princess Xiyun renowned through the ages for her talents — that would be entirely unremarkable.” Yu Wuyuan’s gaze moved back. He lowered his eyes, looking at his own clasped hands. The tips of his fingers, beyond his control, gave an imperceptible, slight tremble.

After a moment he continued: “When all is said and done, how many people in the world have actually seen Princess Xiyun? The only thing anyone knows is what the legends say — ‘overflowing talent, perpetually ill, founded the Fengyun Cavalry, recuperates year-round at Qianbi Mountain.’ No one has ever been able to say what she looks like or what kind of person she is. That Bai Fengxi is Princess Xiyun actually makes perfect sense. After all, as a person of the jianghu, the range of things Bai Fengxi knows and can do was always far too vast.”

“Bai Fengxi… Bai Fengxi…” Huang Chao repeated the name over and over — between hate and love, between one and the other — as though only by biting it with his teeth, chewing it to pieces, swallowing it down, and kneading it into his very blood would it do.

Fengxi… Yu Wuyuan gave a silent sigh in his heart. He could not help extending his palm, his gaze settling on its center.

“No wonder she said that night, ‘friends who remain friends for a lifetime are very rare.’ She was talking about today — she foresaw long ago that there would come a day when we would be on opposing sides.” Huang Chao closed his eyes.

“Bai Fengxi is Feng Guo’s Xiyun. Then Hei Feng Xi is certainly Feng Guo’s Lanxi. The reason you were bound to become enemies is that Bai Feng and Hei Xi have already been bound together for ten years — and from this point forward, Feng Xiyun and Feng Lanxi will continue to be bound together.” Yu Wuyuan looked at the lines of his palm and curved his lips in a smile — yet it was a smile so sorrowful and bitter. “No wonder he that day…”

“Hei Feng Xi… Lanxi…” Huang Chao suddenly opened his eyes wide. A flash of gold shot from his gaze. “No wonder he was willing to give up Hua Chunran — because there is still a Feng Xiyun who surpasses Hua Chunran.”

“You are contending for the realm. Then the two of them will be your greatest rivals.” Yu Wuyuan’s gaze still rested on his palm. The words he spoke were still that unhurried and gentle softness that did not stir a single speck of dust.

“The two of them… Lanxi?” Huang Chao clenched both fists tight.

“If the rumors from the jianghu are to be believed, the wealth of the Qi and Shang families in Hua Guo’s Qu City has all gone into his hands — and now add the Feng Guo queen…” Yu Wuyuan closed his palm and said mildly, “While you have obtained the Xuanzun Token and the Hua Guo princess. Viewed this way, your strength and his are still evenly matched.”

“No — I have lost him one move.” Huang Chao said. “The Hua Guo princess is only a princess. The Feng Guo queen is not only the ruler of a kingdom but also a peerless military talent on the battlefield. And furthermore…” He paused here, then said with no small measure of unwillingness: “He has also won her.”

Yu Wuyuan understood perfectly what that last phrase meant. He gave a faint smile and a slight nod. “That too.”

Huang Chao fixed his gaze on him. “Fengxi kept me at a thousand li’s distance. But you… if you had, from the very beginning…”

“If one day you were to meet on the battlefield, and she were to be defeated at your hands — would you kill her?” Yu Wuyuan cut him off without warning, asking suddenly. His gaze fixed on Huang Chao’s face without blinking.

“I… I…” The Huang Chao who was always so decisive and resolute — at this moment he hesitated. Kill her? Kill Fengxi? How could that be possible? But then… the queen of Feng Guo… a future opponent locked in a life-and-death contest on the battlefield… perhaps tomorrow a battle would already be joined…

“It is late. I am going to sleep.” Yu Wuyuan did not wait for his answer. He stood and walked toward the tent’s entrance. But at the moment of lifting the flap, he turned to look back one last time. “You cannot kill her. Because she is the one thing you have always wanted to hold onto… the one thing you might hold the entire realm in your hands and still never, never catch — a dream.”