Three commanders accompanied Li Shuang southward.
All were borrowed from the General’s mansion, and without exception, each of these deputy commanders had a jianghu background. The most capable among them was Fu Changqing, who had once been the Master of the Green Forest Sect.
Years ago, when Fu Changqing was being hunted by his enemies, Great General Li Lan saved him. At that time, Li Lan was leading troops to the frontier. To repay this life-saving debt, Fu Changqing joined the military under the Great General’s banner. Over the years, he followed the Great General in campaigns north and south, becoming one of Great Jin’s renowned commanders.
When Li Shuang asked Li Lan for assistance, before he could speak, Fu Changqing volunteered to follow her.
His former Green Forest Sect had been near the southwest, making him most familiar with that region’s situation.
When they reached within tens of li of South Changshan, Li Shuang ordered the army to stop and make camp. Coming to this southwestern region, the military tents were set up much differently than in the Northern Frontier, mainly using gauze curtains to guard against snakes, insects, and rodents.
As soon as they stopped, Li Shuang had people burn pest-repelling incense throughout the camp. When Fu Changqing came to find her, she was lighting incense in her tent. “General,” Fu Changqing said worriedly, “Such large-scale incense burning for pest control can be spotted from South Changshan—it seems unwise.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Li Shuang said, setting down the incense. “What’s frightening about the Wu Ling Gate isn’t their people, but these insects. It doesn’t matter if they discover us—I don’t plan to fight them.”
Fu Changqing was startled by her words: “No plans to fight?” He glanced outside. “Then these fifty thousand soldiers?”
Li Shuang waved her hand to reassure him, then summoned the other two deputy commanders. She spread a map on the table and asked Fu Changqing: “Commander Fu, you know this area—which mountain has the Wu Ling Gate occupied all these years?”
“I’ve never gotten close to Wu Ling Gate—they’re truly mysterious. Few who enter their territory survive. From the news received in recent years, people who entered here, here, and this area never returned.”
Li Shuang used a thin rod to circle that region: “All within South Changshan?”
“Yes.”
Li Shuang contemplated for a moment: “Wu Ling Gate is a jianghu sect that controls Gu insects. I’ve seen their methods—unlike normal combat, our soldiers won’t fare well in close combat.”
Fu Changqing nodded: “Wu Ling Gate probably doesn’t have many people. If we take time to teach the soldiers how to avoid and repel insects, we could force our way in…”
“We don’t have that much time, Commander Fu.” Li Shuang pointed at the map. “Fifty thousand troops, divided into three routes. Left Commander, take twenty thousand along the eastern route. Commander Qian, take twenty thousand along the western route. Surround South Changshan, cut down every tree you see, isolating South Changshan from its surroundings. Commander Fu, kept ten thousand troops to guard the camp. I will negotiate with the Wu Ling Gate Master first. If negotiations fail…” Li Shuang pointed to South Changshan on the map. “Burn the mountain.”
The killing intent in Li Shuang’s words startled the three commanders.
Fu Changqing finally understood—that Li Shuang’s purpose in bringing fifty thousand soldiers wasn’t to force their way into South Changshan but to add weight to her negotiations.
Wu Ling Gate had been rooted in South Changshan for years; for them, this was their homeland. Li Shuang dared to gamble whether they would hand over the person she wanted, but Wu Ling Gate’s people might not have the courage to gamble with Li Shuang.
Moreover, by avoiding direct contact with Wu Ling Gate’s people, the soldiers’ safety could be maximally guaranteed.
This move was excellent—worthy of the Great General’s daughter.
As Fu Changqing finished this thought, Li Shuang had already given her orders: “Time waits for no one. Starting today, clear the forest through the night. Do the three commanders have any objections?”
“We accept the command!” The three answered in unison before turning to leave the tent.
Li Shuang gazed into the distance, where South Changshan’s main peak stood majestically in the warm southern breeze.
This journey from the Northern Frontier had crossed frost and wind, passed through spring breezes, arriving in this nearly midsummer south. Li Shuang had traversed the entire Great Jin, yet still couldn’t find peace. She couldn’t stop thinking: was that person still there? Still suffering? Or… had he been tamed by Wu Yin, or even killed?
If he were dead, what would become of her willful thousand-li journey? To whom could she speak of her tumultuous feelings?
The warm breeze entered the tent as if coming from the mountain peak, brushing her cheeks like a hand. Li Shuang suddenly felt an inexplicable flutter in her heart, coming and leaving hastily, as if she had experienced an illusion in that moment.
In two days, a circle had been cleared of trees at the foot of South Changshan. A messenger was sent to Wu Yin, requesting to meet at noon the next day at the mountain’s base.
What Li Shuang hadn’t expected was that when the messenger returned… Wu Yin had come with him.
Wearing silk robes, holding a jade fan, his hair still loosely bound, Wu Yin walked casually into the military camp alongside the wooden-faced messenger, wearing an expression of perfect harmlessness.
Receiving the news, Li Shuang went out to meet them. Upon seeing Li Shuang, Wu Yin’s eyes brightened, showing delight as if meeting an old friend. He closed his fan and waved at her: “Oh, General Li, it’s been quite a while.” His manner showed no trace of someone who had harmed others.
The nearby soldiers, unaware of the situation, curiously looked him over.
Li Shuang knew this man was dangerous—his body was full of Gu arts that could strike someone at any moment. She coldly stared at him, then glanced at the messenger beside him: “Withdraw your Gu, and we can talk properly.”
Wu Yin smiled lightly: “Of course, I didn’t come to harm anyone.” As he spoke, his palm turned and pressed against the messenger’s ear. Soon, a black insect crawled out of the messenger’s ear. The messenger’s eyes immediately closed, and he collapsed to the ground with a “thud.”
The surrounding soldiers drew in sharp breaths of fear. Wu Yin collected his Gu, smiling at Li Shuang with a somewhat conciliatory expression.
Li Shuang watched him coldly, gesturing toward the tent: “Please, inside.”
The two entered the tent. Li Shuang sat in the main seat, suppressing her urgent desire to ask about the mysterious man’s condition, and said to Wu Yin: “The Wu Ling Gate Master arrives so promptly, not allowing Li Shuang time to prepare a proper welcome.”
“Aren’t those trenches General Li dug at the foot of South Changshan already a grand welcome?”
Li Shuang calmly drank some tea: “The fire hasn’t been set yet—what kind of welcome is that?”
Wu Yin laughed: “General Li is indeed decisive in the killing. I thought you were sending fifty thousand men to their deaths, but it turns out you plan to destroy my South Changshan.”
“Gate Master exaggerates. Li Shuang only came to find someone.” Li Shuang set down her teacup, her eyes containing the cold edge of a Northern Frontier winter blade. “If the person is there, South Changshan remains. If the person is gone… this mountain of dead wood would be an eyesore anyway.”