Jia Yang used that opening to position himself beside Hua Zhi. The two stood back to back as the men in black closed in around them.

Hua Zhi said quietly, “End this quickly.”

Jia Yang answered in a low, firm voice. His body already bore several wounds — and the eldest young lady’s injuries would be no lighter than his. They could not sustain a prolonged fight. In truth, the fact that it had come to this at all was already beyond his expectations. He had heard from others that the eldest young lady knew some self-defense and had a rather ruthless hand — but he had never imagined it would be this ruthless.

She might not be more skilled than the opponents themselves — but that absolute, all-in ferocity of hers, the way she threw herself in without a shred of self-preservation, allowed her to surpass what she was truly capable of.

The men in black moved. Hua Zhi and Jia Yang each charged forward to meet them. No longer fighting with enemies on both sides, Hua Zhi struck even more viciously — as if she had no regard for her own life, willing to take a blade herself as long as she could take the enemy’s life in return. It was a brutal trade of one for one, and after Jia Yang finished off his fourth opponent, he came over to help her finish the last.

The man who had been occupied by Dong Zi and Liu Cheng made a break for it when he saw what had happened, but the whip came to life again — he had not made it more than a few steps before he was reeled back in. Jia Yang kept him alive, and to prevent him from taking his own life, not only had him bound but also dislocated his jaw.

Hua Zhi’s entire body felt weightless and adrift — she could barely tell where her own limbs were. But everyone inside the gate was watching.

She drove the dagger into the ground, leaning on it for support, and forced herself upright. From sheer exhaustion, her hands and feet were trembling — yet she moved toward the gate as though nothing were the matter.

But exhaustion is exhaustion. It does not produce strength simply because she willed it. She had gone only a few steps when her legs gave way and she dropped to one knee. She caught herself on the dagger and did not fall flat — but it only prevented her from collapsing face-first.

A rush of chaotic footsteps came toward her from inside. Hua Zhi smiled bitterly. She had wanted to appear more at ease, had even planned what to say to show that this had not cost her very much — but even if she said it now, no one would believe her.

“A’Zhi…”

Hua Zhi mustered what she had left and got back to her feet. Looking at her father’s reddened eyes, she managed a smile. “Just a little drained.”

Hua Pingyu turned his back to her and crouched down partway. “Come — let your father carry you on his back.”

Hua Zhi stood there, motionless with surprise. This father of hers had always cared deeply for his children — but he had never once held even his legitimate son Bailin in his arms. The custom here was to dote on grandchildren, not children, and the men of the Hua Family had always observed this impeccably.

And now, her father was saying he would carry her on his back.

Hua Pingyang stepped forward and helped settle her onto her elder brother’s back, saying as he did, “Don’t worry — your elder brother has built up a fair amount of strength this past year. He won’t drop you.”

Even as he said it, he kept one hand braced nearby, terrified of jolting this niece who was covered in blood.

Hua Pingyu had indeed grown considerably stronger over the past year, but at his core he was still a man of letters. Yet in this moment he seemed to have found some untapped reserve — without the slightest sway, he carried her straight into the main hall and lowered her into a wide-backed chair.

Hua Yizheng had already had someone bring out medicine. But with the medicine in hand, everyone simply looked at one another.

There were no other women in the house…

Hua Pingyang suddenly clapped his hands together and strode out. “I’ll go fetch Neighbor Chen’s wife.”

The surrounding commotion had woken the neighbors long before. Asking them to fight for their lives was one thing — helping apply medicine was something they were more than willing to do. Just as Hua Yizheng was steadying himself and preparing to speak with his granddaughter, Hua Pingyang came running back with both the Chen husband and wife in tow.

Hua Yizheng held himself back, rose, and cupped his hands toward them. “We are sorry to trouble you, Neighbor Chen’s wife.”

“No trouble at all, no trouble.” Neighbor Chen’s wife gazed at Hua Zhi with a mix of awe and reverence. She lived right next door and had watched through the gap in her door — she had seen this young woman’s bearing out there. All those men brought down by her — now that was genuine skill.

Just as they were about to help her to an inner room, Hua Yizheng said, “We can do it right here. The rest of you — step outside.”

Everyone else withdrew to the courtyard. The door closed, and Hua Pingyu stood guard outside it himself.

Hua Yizheng walked to the courtyard gate and looked out at the scattered figures on the ground — whether alive or dead was unclear. His gaze settled on Jia Yang.

Without Jia Yang, A’Zhi alone could never have held off so many.

“You have our gratitude for tonight. Come inside and rest.”

Jia Yang declined respectfully. “I am undeserving of your thanks. I will keep watch out here.”

Hua Yizheng did not press him. He turned and noted Dong Zi and Liu Cheng being tended to by the servants — and committed both men firmly to memory. In those circumstances, they had still dared to charge out, and had fought the enemy without regard for their own lives. That was the finest one could ask for.

After turning the matter over carefully in his mind, Hua Yizheng called Chen Shan over. “Go to the garrison commander’s residence and report this.”

Chen Shan startled. “You mean — now?”

“Now.”

“Yes.” Chen Shan turned to go, but heard a voice call out for him to wait.

The door to the main hall opened. Hua Zhi stepped out, still wearing her torn clothes, the wounds dressed in inner lining visible through the tears.

“Not the garrison commander’s residence. Go to the front line and find Yanxi.”

“A’Zhi, my intention was to have Chen Shan file a report at the garrison — this cannot be put off.” As he spoke, Hua Yizheng came to her side and steadied her by the arm. Hua Pingyu had already personally brought a chair over and was more or less insisting she sit down.

Hua Zhi accepted this awkward show of care. She glanced at the Chen couple.

Hua Pingyang understood at once, and with all due courtesy began ushering them out. Even at the gate, Neighbor Chen’s wife kept glancing back at Hua Zhi — she had never seen anyone so pale before, and never seen someone endure so many injuries and still carry on as though nothing had happened. No wonder this woman dared to travel alone all the way from the capital to Yinshan Pass.

Hua Zhi was about to speak when she looked up to find every face turned toward her with concern — even her two younger half-brothers had red eyes, and Hua Baili looked as though he were on the verge of tears. She could not help but smile. Who would not want their sacrifices to be remembered?

“Just now it was only exhaustion. I have recovered somewhat now.”

Everyone nodded, as though they believed her.

“Baili, take a large bowl and bring me some warm water — add a little salt.”

Hua Baili turned without a word and went straight to the kitchen. A servant, afraid he might get it wrong, hurried after him.

Hua Zhi picked up where she had left off. “Sending people to the front line to bring Yanxi back would be more useful than filing a report at the garrison.”

Hua Yizheng looked at her, waiting for her reasoning.

Hua Zhi continued. “It is too much of a coincidence. The patrols at Yinshan Pass are ordinarily very rigorous — under normal circumstances, a commotion this large would have drawn them here long ago. I have every reason to suspect the night raid and this assassination attempt are connected. If that is so, the enemy attack may be nothing more than a diversion. I even suspect they may have intended to achieve three aims in one stroke. I cannot be certain whether our Hua Family is their ultimate objective or merely one piece of a larger scheme — so I believe it would be unwise to go to the garrison commander right now. If we are only one piece of it, our adversaries were counting on us to do exactly that. And if we are the ultimate target…”

The corners of Hua Zhi’s lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes sharp as blades. “Then we need Yanxi back even more. I cannot withstand another wave of this.”