The early morning of early winter, with a cold, desolate wind.

Having been busy all through the night, the military camp had only just quieted down for a short while.

Upon seeing Feng Jiu’er, Jian Yi, and Xiao Yingtao approaching, one of the Tianji Hall brothers immediately rode his horse forward to meet them.

“Miss Jiu’er.” Seeing Feng Jiu’er, the brother’s face broke into a warm and delighted smile. “Miss Jiu’er, I never expected you to come.”

“How are the brothers faring?” Feng Jiu’er looked at the man before her and asked softly.

“Very well. Once Yamucho City’s letter of surrender was issued yesterday, there were no more attacks on either side.” The brother replied with a smile.

“The other side sent physicians and medicine over to assist us. For now, there have been no casualties among the brothers.”

Upon hearing such good news, Feng Jiu’er let out a long, heavy breath of relief.

“Excellent!” She gave a small nod and gently patted the brother on the shoulder.

The brother nodded in return, his smile widening once more.

“It is all thanks to Miss Jiu’er’s resourcefulness that this battle could end within just a few hours.”

“Miss Jiu’er, I heard that Yamucho City has surrendered in its entirety. So, does that mean we have reclaimed this city?”

To reclaim a city so easily was truly beyond anyone’s expectations.

Even Feng Jiu’er herself felt that this time, Heaven had truly shown her exceptional favor.

Had Nanmen Yan not been so ruthless, things would not have unfolded so smoothly. She acknowledged to herself that she had relied on a measure of opportunism.

“For now, one could say so. But there is still a great deal of work ahead. Everyone has worked hard.” Feng Jiu’er gave a nod and replied softly.

“To follow and serve alongside Miss Jiu’er, we do not find it hard at all.” The brother’s smile grew even broader.

“Miss Jiu’er, from now on, will the brothers be settling down here in Yamucho City?”

With the capital no longer a place they could return to, everyone needed somewhere to call home.

“Yes.” Feng Jiu’er looked at the brother and nodded. “This land was won together by everyone. Whether we can hold it depends on everyone’s efforts as well.”

“Yes, Miss Jiu’er.” The brother was overjoyed and nodded vigorously.

“Where are General Qiao and the others?” Feng Jiu’er glanced over the camp and asked.

“Miss Jiu’er, I will take you there.” The brother waved his hand and turned to walk ahead.

“General Qiao, General Xing, and Young Master Keyan are resting in the tent in the middle — though they have only been inside for a little over an hour.”

“Are they… injured?” Xiao Yingtao could no longer hold back and finally asked.

“Yes.” The brother nodded.

“Injured? Who?” Xiao Yingtao tensed up at once and spurred her horse forward, drawing alongside the brother.

“General Xing injured his left arm while protecting a brother. The physician bandaged it last night.” The brother replied.

“Unfortunately, General Xing treated it as nothing and continued to join in tending to the injured brothers.”

The brother let out a quiet sigh, and his voice carried on.

“By the time all the injured brothers had been settled, the wound on General Xing’s arm had torn open again.”

“When I noticed blood on the bandage and suggested that a physician go take a look at General Xing, he refused.”

“That man!” Xiao Yingtao muttered through gritted teeth.

“Since he only just went to rest, let him sleep a little while longer.” Seeing Xiao Yingtao’s expression, Feng Jiu’er was in fairly good spirits.

She knew that one day, Xing Zizhou would finally see the clouds part and the moon emerge. From the looks of things, that day was not far off.

“I wonder how badly that man is injured.” Xiao Yingtao slowed her pace and walked side by side with Feng Jiu’er.

“Don’t worry.” Feng Jiu’er turned her head and glanced at the person beside her. “If the bleeding had been unstoppable, the blood would have all drained out by now.”

“Since it hasn’t, once he wakes, I’ll take a look at him.”

As her words fell, Feng Jiu’er saw the brother who was walking ahead turn to look back at her.

“Are the brothers’ injuries serious?”

The brother nodded, his tone lowering somewhat.

“To be honest with you, Miss Jiu’er, a few of the brothers are in critical condition. There are still physicians attending to them, but I do not know the specifics.”

“Take me to see them.” Feng Jiu’er’s expression immediately became more solemn.

“Of course.” The brother nodded and urged his horse forward to lead the way.

Feng Jiu’er, Jian Yi, and Xiao Yingtao each rode their own horses and followed along.

“If you’re truly worried, go have a look at him. Just keep the commotion to a minimum.” Feng Jiu’er glanced at Xiao Yingtao and said.

If this little girl woke Xing Zizhou, he would certainly be willing. It was just that Xing Zizhou could not possibly have a tent all to himself. If others were woken in the process, Xiao Yingtao would likely feel embarrassed.

“I’m not going.” Xiao Yingtao shook her head. “He’s just a little injured, isn’t he? The brothers have their wounds too.”

“Come on, Jiu’er — let’s go see the brothers together.”

Dropping those words, Xiao Yingtao looked ahead at the road as though nothing was the matter.

Feng Jiu’er cast a glance at this person who said one thing but meant another, and said nothing more.

As they passed by one of the tents, Feng Jiu’er clearly sensed several familiar presences within.

“Miss Jiu’er.” The brother looked back at those behind him and lowered his voice as much as possible.

“This is where General Xing, General Qiao, and Young Master Keyan are resting.”

“Understood.” Feng Jiu’er nodded and once again turned to glance at Xiao Yingtao.

Xiao Yingtao was looking at the tent and seemed not to notice Feng Jiu’er’s gaze at all.

Suddenly, a somewhat hoarse voice drifted out from inside the tent.

“Xiao Yingtao, run! Xiao Yingtao…”

“Xiao Yingtao, what happened to you? Are you hurt? Don’t be afraid… I’m here…”

“That… it seems General Xing has talked in his sleep more than once.” The brother let drop a single remark and quickly moved ahead, making way.

Xiao Yingtao, atop her horse, arrived just outside the tent — and stopped.

Feng Jiu’er and Jian Yi did not disturb her. They rode past Xiao Yingtao and continued forward with the brother.

“Xiao Yingtao, it’s all right! Don’t cry… I won’t let anyone bully you again… ever.” Xing Zizhou’s voice continued to drift out from within the tent.

“Xiao Yingtao, are you all right? In a couple of days I’ll come find you. Just wait two more days…”

Without knowing when, Xiao Yingtao dismounted her horse, exchanged a quiet greeting with a brother who came over, then lifted the curtain and stepped inside.

The tent was not small. Qiao Mu was sleeping in the innermost position, while Tuoba Keyan and Xing Zizhou slept on the left and right toward the outer side.

Seeing the figure with his back turned to her, Xiao Yingtao crept carefully forward.

“Xiao Yingtao.” Suddenly, the man with his back to her turned over sharply.

Xiao Yingtao had barely settled herself when a hand closed around hers.

She froze for a moment, shifted her gaze to the large hand gripping hers, and looked at the man before her.

Watching his eyes remain tightly shut and his breathing gradually ease, Xiao Yingtao let out a quiet sigh.

For just a moment there, she had thought she had woken him.

Had this man not cried out in his sleep every now and then, Qiao Mu and Tuoba Keyan would certainly have known she had come in.

She glanced back, then turned around and reached out with her other hand, gripping Xing Zizhou’s palm, trying to pull free the hand he had caught.

Yet when she closed her hand around the back of his, her brow furrowed deeply.