Jin’an and Li Shuang locked eyes as soldiers surrounded them. Unlike the others, Li Shuang crouched down to meet Jin’an’s gaze, addressing him at eye level.
“Yes,” Jin’an replied firmly, causing a stir among the nearby soldiers. Qin Lan narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
No one in the Changfeng Camp knew better than Qin Lan how closely the guards monitored Jin’an. Since Li Shuang had ordered Jin’an to stay in the guards’ camp, Qin Lan had repeatedly instructed them to watch the child’s every move. Yet somehow, Jin’an had still managed to pass information to the mysterious man in black armor.
“Is that man your relative?” Luo Teng blurted out impatiently from behind. His question triggered a flurry of inquiries from other soldiers:
“Who is he exactly? Where did he come from? What are his intentions?”
“Why did he want you to relay information about our camp?”
“How did he manage to kill the Western Rong general? And for what purpose?”
Amidst the barrage of questions, Jin’an kept his eyes fixed on Li Shuang. As the northern wind tousled her hastily tied hair, the small boy raised his tiny hand with surprising naturalness, gently tucking the stray strands behind her ear.
“He won’t harm you,” Jin’an stated with a maturity beyond his years, ignoring all other questions. “He only wants to protect you.”
Li Shuang gazed into Jin’an’s young yet earnest eyes, momentarily lost in thought. For an instant, she saw Jin’an’s eyes overlap with the blood-red eyes of the man in black armor. Their eyes… they were so similar.
As the north wind subsided, silence fell over the city wall. Everyone’s gaze darted between Li Shuang and Jin’an until Luo Teng’s boisterous voice broke the quiet: “Heavens above! This child is becoming too clever! It’s one thing to flirt with our general himself, but now he’s helping others do it too!”
Li Shuang coughed, snapping out of her reverie at Luo Teng’s crude outburst. Her mind raced, and suddenly a theory formed: “That man in black armor… could he be your father?”
It seemed the most logical explanation. It would account for the similarities in appearance and demeanor between the child and the shadowy figure, as well as their shared attachment to her. But why were they so drawn to her?
Unless…
Could she be his… mother?
Li Shuang was startled by her thought, but it didn’t seem entirely implausible. She might have lost some memories while in the northern frontier. Perhaps she had given birth to a child there, then returned to Da Jin with amnesia. Those around her might have avoided mentioning it to spare her pain, leaving her unaware until now. And upon learning of her arrival in the north, the man she had left behind had crossed the vast desert with their child to find her!
The theory seemed reasonable, like something straight out of a popular novel!
Li Shuang stared at Jin’an, momentarily lost in her speculation. However, Jin’an appeared puzzled by her sudden question. “Father?” he shook his head. “No, I don’t have a father.”
This statement carried significant implications. Li Shuang recalled Jin’an mentioning he didn’t know his origins, so his claim of not having a father likely meant he didn’t know who his father was.
“What is your relationship with the man in black?” Li Shuang probed.
Jin’an reminded her, “You said you’d only ask one question today.”
Li Shuang paused, realizing the child had taken her casual remark to heart. “Then I’ll ask you another question tomorrow, and you must answer honestly.”
“All right,” Jin’an agreed, seeming pleased. “You can come ask me every day.”
He relished the idea of seeing her daily, so close that he could touch her. Suddenly, Jin’an no longer wished to grow up, knowing that as an adult, Li Shuang would be far more guarded around him, preventing him from gently stroking her hair or sleeping in her arms.
With her questions answered for now, Li Shuang stood and instructed her guard, Ji Ran, to take Jin’an to rest. Despite Jin’an’s unusual capabilities, the city wall remained dangerous with the Western Rong army still present, so Li Shuang habitually sent him down from the ramparts. She turned her attention back to military matters, discussing the current situation with her officers. Seeing her engrossed in work, Jin’an obediently followed Ji Ran down from the wall.
As they walked, Jin’an suddenly spoke up: “Tell me…”
Ji Ran glanced at him, surprised. Jin’an was typically silent, rarely initiating conversation in the guards’ camp. The guards, whose status exceeded that of ordinary officers, generally didn’t bother interacting with the child. Thus, whether training or returning to camp, Jin’an usually remained as quiet as a mute… except when he saw the general.
Then, the little boy’s eyes would light up as if they could speak, practically wagging an imaginary tail in excitement.
Now, faced with Jin’an’s rare attempt at conversation, Ji Ran gave him his full attention. “Yes? What is it?”
Jin’an stopped walking, looked up solemnly, and asked with utmost seriousness: “If a woman is angry with me, how can I make her happy again?”
Ji Ran nearly choked on his breath. Was this an appropriate question for a child to ask?
At twenty-five, Ji Ran was the eldest son in his family. He had joined the army at fifteen and spent a decade in service, first under General Li, engaging in battles across the land, and then under Li Shuang. He had thought following a female leader might allow him more peaceful duties, perhaps even a chance to return to the capital and find a wife. Instead, Li Shuang was posted to the northern frontier, and he found himself in battle year after year.
Now, at an age when many had children of their own, he hadn’t even held a young lady’s hand. After so many years, he had grown accustomed to a life without romance. How could he have anticipated that a child’s question would leave him so flustered?
If he admitted ignorance, wouldn’t it make him seem inexperienced?
Ji Ran steeled his expression and answered in his most masculine voice, “Give her a gift.”
“What kind of gift?” Jin’an pressed.
Damn it, how would he know?
“Something she wants,” Ji Ran replied vaguely.
Jin’an nodded thoughtfully, then looked up at him with sincere gratitude. “Thank you.”
As he watched Jin’an return to his tent, Ji Ran turned away and quietly wiped his brow.
As dusk fell, Li Shuang received a reply from the capital in her command tent. Upon learning of the situation at the northern border, the Emperor ordered Li Shuang to abandon Luchen and retreat fifty miles to Liangzhou City. There, she was to join forces with the armies from Yuzhou and Jizhou to repel the Western Rong invasion.
The current Emperor, having seen combat in his youth, was well-versed in military strategy. His decision aligned with Qin Lan’s earlier plan. However, circumstances had changed. With the Western Rong losing two of their generals, their morale was likely in disarray. Their ability to capture the city was now uncertain.
The morning’s military intelligence had been sent to the capital by swift horsemen. Upon receiving this new information, the Emperor might issue different orders. Li Shuang decided to hold Luchen for a few more days and observe the situation.
Just then, a scout rushed in to report that the Western Rong army had lit large bonfires and was beating drums and blowing horns, seemingly in preparation to select a new leader.
“Such a commotion?” Luo Teng scoffed. “Are they boasting about having so many men that they can replace fallen leaders without fear of death?”
“No,” Li Shuang furrowed her brow. “Something’s amiss.”
Another officer agreed, “Indeed. Having just lost two great generals, they should be more cautious in selecting a new one. This display suggests they have other plans.”
“They’re trying to send a message,” Qin Lan deduced. “Not to us, but to the man in black armor. They’re baiting him by announcing they’ve chosen a new leader.”
A hush fell over the tent as his words sank in.
“Will he take the bait?” Luo Teng asked.
No one answered. No one knew.
Li Shuang’s duty was to defend the city. Even with the combined forces of Luchen’s defenders and the Changfeng Camp, they were outnumbered by the Western Rong army. They couldn’t risk opening the gates for an offensive. Their only option was to hold the city.
She could only hope the man in black armor was clever enough to see through this obvious trap. Otherwise, venturing alone into the enemy camp, no matter how skilled he was, would likely spell his doom.
But wait…
Li Shuang stood up abruptly, drawing the attention of all her officers. She cleared her throat. “I need to step out for a moment.”
She left the main tent and headed towards the guards’ camp. Now that she knew Jin’an had a connection to the man in black armor, she could warn Jin’an and perhaps even secretly observe him to find the mysterious warrior.
When Li Shuang reached the guards’ camp, Ji Ran was on duty. He saluted her, and she nodded in acknowledgment. “Where’s Jin’an?” she asked.
“General, he’s been in the camp all afternoon and hasn’t left,” Ji Ran reported.
Li Shuang nodded and lifted the tent flap to enter. However, the interior was empty. The child who had supposedly been there all afternoon was nowhere to be seen.
She turned back to Ji Ran, raising an eyebrow.
Ji Ran’s back stiffened. “General, I have failed in my duty!” he admitted immediately, taking responsibility as befitted her guard.
Just as Li Shuang was about to speak, a scout’s urgent shout came from outside: “General! The Western Rong camp is on fire!”
Startled, Li Shuang rushed out of the tent and quickly ascended the city wall. In the distance, she saw a blood-red sky as flames engulfed the center of the Western Rong camp…