The setting sun dyed the blood-stained wolf banner red. Smoke rose everywhere, shrouding everything above like a gray veil.

There were no longer any living people around General Ge. He gripped the flagpole tightly, half his body streaming with blood, yet he stood firm and unyielding. He could lose this battle, but he could not lose the soul of the wolf clan. Even so, he could still feel his life approaching its end. People raised on horseback did not surrender easily, even when facing those explosive wooden balls with unprecedented devastating killing power. Therefore, when that slender figure entered his field of vision, his veins bulged and his eyes flashed with sharp light, wanting to kill her. In the final moment before death, he seemed to suddenly understand this woman’s importance to Daqiu.

Mo Zi gazed at him indifferently, reading his intention through his angry trembling. “Even like this, you still want to kill?”

“You… deserve to die!” Nande’s boats were like rotten sand—when had they ever been as indestructible as today, allowing the enemy to kill their way ashore? It was her! It must be her!

“Victors become kings, losers become bandits.” The wolf banner burned to ashes and was replaced with the Yuan character crane banner. Mo Zi’s gaze moved to General Ge’s face. “Originally it was either your death or my destruction.”

She walked past sideways, heard the sound of a sword piercing flesh and bone. Looking back, the last wolf banner had fallen. General Ge’s eyes glared in anger, unwilling to close. Behind her, soldiers were clearing the field. In this battle, leaving no Daqiu prisoners alive was an absolute military order that could not be disobeyed.

“Second Young Master’s side seems to have won as well.” Zan Jin followed closely, the Emerald Heart sword emanating fierce intent.

Second Young Master—that was Jin Yin.

In today’s battle, Yuan Cheng and Jin Yin joined hands in a pincer attack from two sides. Taking advantage of Duan Geshou’s absence and depleted forces, they vowed to seize sovereignty over Yuling’s southern bank.

No war could leave one side completely unscathed. Among the corpses strewn everywhere were battle uniforms from both sides, quite a few of each. Mo Zi dared not sigh. Having chosen war, she must be resolute. Hearing Zan Jin mention Jin Yin, she looked forward. The sounds of killing had almost ceased. Faintly, waves of cheering crossed over the water fortress walls—banners raised high.

“For Yuan Cheng to let me come ashore, the overall situation must be settled.” So Jin Yin’s victory was expected and within anticipation.

Before long, over ten fine horses galloped in through the main gate. The lead horse stopped before her, neighing and tossing its head as one person nimbly dismounted. He wore full iron armor, sleeves bound with gold-embroidered plum blossom patterns, a coiling dragon belt, and purple cloud boots. His skin was tanned dark. Handsome and noble, yet no longer demonically beautiful—his jade face had become angular and defined. Only a pair of smiling phoenix eyes still belonged to the Jin Yin she knew.

“One tael of gold, one tael of silver, two taels are not much. A thousand mountains of gold, a thousand mountains of silver—ten thousand mountains are too few. I still remember the eldest young master loved gold. Now I ask, where are the jewels? Where are the peerless beauties?” Mo Zi’s smile was carved deep in her cheeks, joy in her heart. “Second Brother, should I lament your snow-white skin or congratulate you on finally becoming exceptionally heroic?” The military was fertile ground for cultivating men.

Jin Yin laughed heartily. “Third Sister rarely calls me Second Brother—lamenting is unnecessary, but I’ll accept the congratulations.” He removed his helmet. It turned out he still kept jewels in his braided hair, yet appeared even more distinguished than when formerly piled with treasures. “After more than half a year apart, though I’ve become an ugly man, Third Sister has grown beautifully transcendent.”

“That’s naturally my doing.” Yuan Cheng had followed closely behind Jin Yin in dismounting. “Moreover, since Mo Zi is my wife, you should call her elder sister-in-law. The address ‘Third Sister’ is inappropriate.”

“From our usual letter correspondence, I thought you were cultivating yourself and wouldn’t annoy me so much. Who knew you’re still the same old self-righteous fellow. Elder sister-in-law or Third Sister—I’ll call her whatever I want.” Though Jin Yin spoke thus, he always maintained a distance from Mo Zi, no longer handsy as before. “Also, the King of Daqiu has already learned of your marriage. I just received news that he reached an agreement with envoys secretly dispatched by Nande. He will send two hundred thousand elite troops marching south from here to cross the river and coordinate the suppression of the Righteous Yuan Army.”

“Not necessarily aimed at us as a couple. Rather, Empress Wu and her faction paid an enormous price—not only providing military provisions and grain, but after quelling the internal rebellion, they must also cede five provinces to Daqiu. They’d rather invite the wolf into the house than tolerate thorns in their eyes.” Yuan Cheng smiled lightly. “However, promises must be made within one’s means. Nande’s national treasury has long been empty—the silver was moved out with the Emperor leading the way. To produce millions of taels in military provisions, they’d have to take it from their own households. Who would willingly spit out meat already swallowed? Without military provisions arriving, how would Daqiu readily deploy troops?”

“Moreover, we’ve already taken this place. Crossing the river won’t be easy.” Now that she’d married, given Wu Yan’s personality, he’d likely developed thoughts of killing her, Mo Zi believed. Daqiu didn’t border Nande—Tower River was the necessary passage for a large army to enter Nande. “Also, if Daqiu helps Nande, what about Great Zhou? Will they fight or not?”

“The King of Daqiu’s move, in my view, has only one purpose—going after the military provisions. He’s been at war for a long time—national strength likely can’t sustain it. When he abandoned the city and withdrew to the shore in the twelfth month, I had my suspicions. Now it can be confirmed. Two hundred thousand is just a pretense. Even if troops are truly dispatched, they’ll mostly observe. He’ll swallow Nande sooner or later—why waste military manpower, material resources, and financial resources to rescue them? Better to sit on the mountain watching tigers fight. Whichever side wins, in the short term Nande’s vitality will be difficult to restore.” Yuan Cheng didn’t think Wu Yan was that foolish.

He continued, “Everyone thinks his sudden movement at Great Zhou’s northern border was an impulsive act over Mo Zi. I think otherwise. Although his country’s internal turmoil continues, within Great Zhou the common people still feel it’s a peaceful and prosperous era. When the common people’s mentality is harmonious, Great Zhou’s foundation is stable. With Wu Yan’s move, he’s telling Great Zhou’s people that war has already burned to their doorstep. Beating the grass to startle the snake—he’s not worried about Great Zhou preparing for war, but afraid people’s hearts won’t waver. Everyone knows Nande’s entire nation is corrupt, but Great Zhou’s problems are all beneath the surface. The rot runs deep to the bone. Once they begin war preparations, everything will surface, and there’s no way to cure it at the root. Falling from heights without warning, Great Zhou’s collapse would be even faster than Nande’s.”

“Does Wu Yan have such deep scheming?” Jin Yin didn’t quite believe it.

“A man who knew from childhood to hide his strength through feigning illness wouldn’t make such an obvious mistake. Deploying troops suddenly, withdrawing troops suddenly—if he truly couldn’t overcome the beauty barrier, when Mo Zi broke with him decisively back then, he wouldn’t have attacked Yuling. Since he gave her up once, what difficulty would there be in giving her up again?” Yuan Cheng looked toward Mo Zi. “What do you think?”

“He’s not the type to give up the realm for a woman.” When there was no conflict with the realm, he might be an infatuated romantic. But if forced to choose between the realm and a woman, he would definitely choose both. This answer actually meant choosing the realm. “Even if he chose again, he’d still invade Yuling.” She saw his “infatuation” very clearly. The promise he gave was to make her his empress. Empress represented Daqiu—with responsibilities and obligations to assist him. It wasn’t something one could refuse. In that position serving that role, sometimes it had nothing to do with one’s own wishes.

“Fine, even assuming you’re right, Wu Yan has most likely changed his mind. He can ignore Nande, but won’t allow Yuling to restore its nation. Like those Nande officials, how could meat swallowed into the belly be spit out? These two hundred thousand troops will definitely come to seize battle.” Jin Yin narrowed his eyes slightly. “Your main forces must hold the southern front. Now with these plus my side, we’ve only managed to gather one hundred twenty thousand men. In naval battles we might still have advantage, but in land battles it will be difficult to win with fewer against many.” Jin Yin knew clearly—Daqiu’s strongest force wasn’t warships but iron cavalry, killing like hemp, fast as lightning.

“Let’s not discuss this for now. The main camp hasn’t been cleaned up yet. Better to return to the boat first. It’s been some time since I played chess with you—how about a game?” Jin Yin was Yuan Cheng’s rare chess companion, though these words must rot in his belly this lifetime.

The chessboard was set up, attendants dismissed, Mo Zi alone observing the match.

“What can’t be said in front of your group of loyal and devoted commanders?” Jin Yin removed his battle armor and changed into a white jade fur brocade robe.

“The more people around, the harder to distinguish loyal hearts from treacherous hearts. In extraordinary times one can’t fuss over these things—as long as they follow orders, it’s enough.” Yuan Cheng smelled the tea’s fragrance. “I need to ask for silver.”

Mo Zi started, not understanding.

“Poor.” Jin Yin seemed to know this in his heart.

“War depends on two things. First, people. Second, money. Just the provisions for hundreds of thousands of men—how many taels of silver must that cost? You’re not unaware.” So this battle had to be fought. If they couldn’t break through this waterway between Yuling and Nande, the days ahead would be unfavorable for the Righteous Yuan Army.

“How much do you need?” Jin Yin asked casually.

“Whatever you have, give it all.” Self-sufficiency couldn’t keep up with military equipment expenditures and losses.

Mo Zi suddenly said, “These past days, you’ve always given me meat to eat while you eat vegetables yourself. Could it be you have no money?”

Yuan Cheng said nothing.

Jin Yin looked at the two of them being so affectionate with some envy. Of course he didn’t say so, only remarking, “Coincidentally, I robbed the Zuo family recently. I’ll split it with you half and half.”

“That Zuo You, the richest in Yuling?” Mo Zi asked.

“The richest in Yuling is me.” Jin Yin’s lips curved. He pulled a fan from his sleeve and snapped it open. “He’s third at most.”

“Who’s second?” she asked again.

Jin Yin pointed his fan across at his opponent. “Your husband.”

But Yuan Cheng tapped the chessboard. “Playing or not? Also, don’t casually spout nonsense about being richest. Just because others say Young Master Jin is wealthy enough to rival a nation, do you really think you’re that fat? This war—who knows when it will end? In the future, silver will be spent more and more, but income may become less and less.”

“So you’ve also set your sights on the Water Purification Pearls?” Jin Yin’s words were startling.

“Did you bring it?” Yuan Cheng opened his palm. “Give it to me.”

“Bought for over two hundred thousand—you want it for free?” As Jin Yin spoke, he glanced at Mo Zi.

Mo Zi’s eyes went round. “Yuan Cheng, you didn’t believe it originally.” That there was a secret in the Water Purification Pearls and such.

“Since they’re all in our hands, why not try?” He didn’t believe, but he would be curious.

“All in our hands?” Now it was Jin Yin’s turn to be shocked. “You have nine pearls already?”

Yuan Cheng nodded. “It wasn’t convenient to say in letters.”

Jin Yin said nothing more. From his chest he took out a brocade pouch and placed it in Yuan Cheng’s hand.

“Mo Zi, this item from your Min family ancestors—you should unravel the mystery. Is that acceptable?” Yuan Cheng in turn handed the brocade pouch to Mo Zi.

Mo Zi tilted the pouch’s opening toward her palm. A milky-white pearl slid out.

Ten Water Purification Pearls—truly complete at last.