“Then let’s turn back.” Qiao Mu looked away, somewhat helplessly.

“Turn back?” Xiao Yingtao’s eyes went wide as she gripped Qiao Mu’s arm. “How could we turn back now?”

“Never mind how much hardship it took us to get here — if we leave now, what happens to Jiu’er?”

“Qiao Mu, the harder things get, the less we should abandon Jiu’er and turn back, shouldn’t we?”

“This is what Jiu’er wanted.” Qiao Mu let out a soft sigh.

If it were only herself, she wouldn’t turn back even at the cost of her own life — but there were so many other brothers besides her to consider.

Xiao Yingtao frowned, staring at Qiao Mu. “What Jiu’er wanted?”

Qiao Mu looked around at everyone, then nodded. “Yes. Jiu’er said that if we couldn’t break through, we must turn back — the brothers’ lives matter most.”

“That was in the letter she left for me and Zhao Yusheng. With Jiu’er away, our orders — mine and Zhao Yusheng’s — carry the weight of military command. Anyone who defies them will be punished by military law!”

“Even if it means being punished by military law, I won’t agree to turning back!” one of the brothers shouted.

“Neither do I!” another brother called out in agreement.

“I don’t agree!”

“I don’t agree!”

Everyone cried out in unison, without any prior arrangement.

Watching them, Qiao Mu was deeply moved as well, but how could she treat the lives of so many brothers lightly?

In the end, Qiao Mu’s gaze settled on Zhao Yusheng.

Zhao Yusheng glanced at her, then, compass in hand, turned to look at the sky again.

“There’s still a little time left. Let me think of something.”

“Xing Zizhou, go inform Feng Yinan. You take charge of the brothers on the forward ships, and he’ll handle the ones at the rear — find out as quickly as possible who’s willing to keep going.”

“I still haven’t found a way past the formation ahead. If this battle fails, everyone here is likely to meet their end in the Black Lake.”

“Tell them that turning back is the wisest choice — and besides, it was Jiu’er’s own arrangement, so they shouldn’t feel any guilt over it.”

“Zhao Yusheng.” Qiao Mu glared at him, brow furrowing slightly.

“Split the brothers who want to go back from those who want to push forward, and put them on separate ships.” Zhao Yusheng paid no heed to Qiao Mu’s words.

“Two hours from now, Xing Zizhou and Xiao Yingtao will lead everyone back, while Jian Yi and I take the rest and press onward.”

Zhao Yusheng gazed at the sky for a long while, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.

“Qiao Mu, whether you go or stay, that’s for you to decide.”

“I won’t turn back.” Xiao Yingtao shouted at Zhao Yusheng.

“I want to go find Jiu’er, I won’t go back!”

Just as she rushed forward, Xing Zizhou caught her hand.

Xiao Yingtao was forced to stop, looking up to meet Xing Zizhou’s eyes.

“Xing Zizhou, I love you, but I can’t abandon Jiu’er. You take the brothers and go back first — once we return victorious, I promise I’ll marry you.”

Xing Zizhou pulled her toward him and gathered her into his arms.

“If you’re not leaving, then neither am I. Whether you head back to Bei Mu or go on to the Feng Clan, I will follow you.”

Held in Xing Zizhou’s arms, Xiao Yingtao’s breathing gradually settled.

Xing Zizhou pressed a kiss to the top of her head before letting her go.

“I’ll go see to things now. Stay with Qiao Mu, and don’t wander off.”

“Alright.” Xiao Yingtao looked at Xing Zizhou and nodded.

Xing Zizhou gave her a reassuring look, then turned and walked toward the captain.

“General Xing, I’m not leaving — there’s no need to ask.” the captain said.

“Good.” Xing Zizhou nodded, his face grave as he looked around at everyone. “You all heard what General Qiao and the young master just said.”

“None of us knows what will happen two hours from now.”

“Think carefully of your families. Don’t let a moment’s bravado bring you regret for the rest of your life — I believe that even the brothers who choose to turn back are heroes all the same.”

“There’s no need to give me your answer right away. Just give it to your captain half an hour from now.”

Having said all that needed saying, Xing Zizhou walked off toward the other side.

Qiao Mu looked at the brothers gathered together, then at Xiao Yingtao standing beside her, and found she couldn’t say a word.

“Qiao Mu.” Xiao Yingtao called softly. “I know you’ll never choose to go back either, will you?”

“But this is Jiu’er’s order — what do we do?”

“This is Zhao Yusheng’s arrangement — go ask him what to do.” Qiao Mu turned to look at Zhao Yusheng, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.

“Zhao Yusheng, what exactly is this formation? Tell us everything you know — let’s see what we can do to help.”

“Alright, just give me a moment.” Zhao Yusheng replied evenly, without turning around.

Qiao Mu and Xiao Yingtao came over and stood to either side of Zhao Yusheng.

Standing not far off, Jian Yi gazed toward the direction Feng Jiu’er might appear from, not having said a single word the entire time.

The ships continued forward, their speed unaffected by the darkening sky.

In less than two hours, Xing Zizhou returned to Xiao Yingtao’s side and looked at Zhao Yusheng.

“I asked — every single brother is willing to keep going forward. Not one of them wants to turn back.”

“Zhao Yusheng, what’s the situation now? If there’s anything the brothers need to do, just say so — everyone’s waiting on your orders.”

“Unfasten all the chains.” Zhao Yusheng said, his brow furrowing slightly.

“Wasn’t it you who said we should chain all the ships together in the first place?” Xiao Yingtao asked, frowning.

“Are you worried that if one ship gets into trouble, it’ll drag the others down with it?” Xing Zizhou asked, still holding Xiao Yingtao’s hand, his gaze fixed on Zhao Yusheng.

“Yes.” Zhao Yusheng nodded. “Find three hundred brothers who are strong swimmers and have the best internal energy, and bring them aboard this ship.”

“The rest of the ships should prepare to halt half an hour from now.”

“Zhao Yusheng, are you planning to take three hundred of us ahead first to break the formation?” Qiao Mu asked, frowning.

“Yes.” Zhao Yusheng nodded again. “If there’s a way through at all, three hundred strong men will be enough.”

Zhao Yusheng unfastened the command token at his waist and turned his head to look at Qiao Mu.

Qiao Mu likewise unfastened the command token at her own waist.

Zhao Yusheng and Qiao Mu exchanged a glance, then turned to face everyone on the ship.

“Xing Zizhou, Xiao Yingtao, hear the order!” Zhao Yusheng called out, holding up the command token.

Qiao Mu held up her own token, standing shoulder to shoulder with Zhao Yusheng.

Feng Jiu’er had once said that whenever she wasn’t present, everyone must obey the orders of Zhao Yusheng and Qiao Mu.

Now, with both generals holding up their tokens, it was as though Feng Jiu’er herself stood among them.

Xiao Yingtao was deeply anxious, but Xing Zizhou still led her by the hand before Qiao Mu and Zhao Yusheng, and they knelt down.

“Xing Zizhou, Xiao Yingtao — Qiao Mu and I now command you, in Jiu’er’s stead, to take the rest of the brothers and halt the voyage half an hour from now.”

“I won’t—” Xiao Yingtao raised her head.

But before she could finish what she meant to say, Xing Zizhou covered her lips with his hand.

Military law dictated that anyone who disobeyed a superior’s order, regardless of the reason, would first receive twenty strokes of the cane.

How could Xing Zizhou bear to let Xiao Yingtao suffer such punishment? All he could do in that moment was stop her from speaking any further.