Gu Yanxi’s ruthlessness provoked the men in black. Everyone abandoned their previous targets and surged toward him, surrounding him completely.

The guards rushed over, but a single light glance from Gu Yanxi stopped them in their tracks. The two exchanged a look, one positioning himself at the front and the other moving to the rear, both with bows in hand, ready to catch anyone who tried to flee.

They all knew how furious their leader was this time.

Gu Yanxi cracked his whip, and the men in black instinctively stepped back — only to realize they were never the target at all. The whip curled around a dagger and snapped it back into his hand. It was the very same dagger Hua Zhi had been using.

He tossed the long whip aside. With the dagger now in hand, Gu Yanxi fell into the stance A’Zhi always favored — left leg stepping back, body leaning slightly forward, dagger held horizontally across his chest. Then he moved. His speed was so astonishing it seemed as though several copies of him had appeared all at once across the field.

The men in black dared not underestimate him. In perfect unison they struck — but it was already too late. Gu Yanxi had slipped out of the encirclement at some point and appeared behind one of them. The dagger drew a line across a throat, and with a thud, another body dropped. The men turned to retaliate, but he was already gone — another of their number had fallen behind them. This went on, again and again.

It was a one-sided slaughter, and it was a side of their leader the guards had never witnessed before. They had never known that when he fought at full force, he was this terrifyingly powerful.

The ease with which he cut them down planted fear in the hearts of the men in black. They exchanged glances, and the remaining seven scattered in every direction. The two guards drew their bows, but before they could loose their arrows, their leader had taken up the long whip again — at no one knew what moment — and swept it in a wide arc, sending every last one of them crashing to the ground, unable to rise.

Gu Yanxi looked down at the heap of them as though regarding a pile of ruined meat, then slowly closed his eyes. At last he let the murderous aura dissipate, turned around, and walked to A’Zhi’s side. Carefully, he lifted her into his arms and carried her inside.

Only then, held in that familiar embrace, did Hua Zhi allow herself to sink into darkness.

Without a word needing to be said, the two guards went to clean up the aftermath.

Inside the room, the quick-witted servants had already prepared the best room. Gu Yanxi lay her down on the bed and took the dampened cloth to wipe the blood from her face and hands, giving instructions as he did so: “Send someone to the inn to bring over my and A’Zhi’s luggage. There are medicines inside that can be used.”

“I’ll go.” Hua Pingyang scrubbed his face vigorously, pushed past the others, and ran out the door.

Hua Pingyu was helped inside, pale even to the lips from the pain, his voice trembling as he looked at his daughter lying on the bed barely clinging to life. “How is Zhi’er?”

“Her life is not in danger.” He had used every one of his life-preserving medicines on her. No matter how severe the injuries, they could not take A’Zhi’s life — yet the suffering could not be lessened by even a fraction. Gu Yanxi was filled with regret. He should have kept Shao Yao by her side. Even if it meant less time alone with A’Zhi, it would have meant one more measure of protection for her.

Hua Yizheng lowered himself into a chair, holding the armrest for support, and glanced back at the room. “We don’t need this many people in here.”

Though no one was eager to leave, everyone understood that staying was useless and would only disturb the eldest young lady. All but the members of the main branch and the elder generation withdrew, though none went far — they remained just outside, keeping watch.

No one spoke. The occasional sound of water was Gu Yanxi wringing the cloth. The Hua family watched in silence as he tended carefully to their daughter, and in that moment, not a single one of them found anything amiss about it.

They had seen it clearly in that moment. Zhi’er had thrown herself to the door and refused to yield with her life, and it had been for this man’s arrival. She had been so certain that once he came, they would all be saved. She had trusted him — completely, without reservation.

Hua Yizheng’s mind was still filled with the image of Zhi’er’s fierce, unyielding expression. His granddaughter had always only ever liked to tinker with food. In all these years he had never once seen her rebuke a servant. Even when she dealt with Bailin, she had never once raised her voice. In deportment and propriety, she was the very model of a young lady from a distinguished family.

And yet this person who seemed to carry not the slightest trace of aggression had taken up a blade, and with sheer ferocity alone held back those who sought to harm them. He did not know where she had found the strength, or where she had found the courage. She had endured on that savage spirit alone.

The price had been a body covered in wounds, and she had come near to losing her life.

For the past half year he had found himself unable to stop thinking that the Hua family had done good across generations, and so a Hua Zhi had come to shelter them — yet Zhi’er had perhaps owed the Hua family a debt from a former life, and was being burdened by them in this one.

Hua Pingyang’s return broke the silence. He carried every bundle on his back and set them before Gu Yanxi, letting him choose. Gu Yanxi selected one, opened it, and drew out several boxes and vials.

“The physician is here!”

Wu Rong arrived alongside the physician.

“Your High— Brother.” Wu Rong caught himself just in time, nodded to the Hua family members who had risen to their feet, and walked over to stand beside Gu Yanxi. He looked at Hua Zhi, her clothing soaked through with red. The Shizi certainly had a precise eye for people — though, a young woman like this truly was rare. Under those circumstances, he simply could not imagine how a girl had managed to do what she did.

Gu Yanxi placed A’Zhi’s hand on the edge of the bed. The physician at the frontier had none of the usual inhibitions of city doctors, and under the watchful eyes of everyone present, he took her wrist without hesitation. After a moment he said, “Her blood and vital energy are greatly depleted, yet there is a vigorous life force within her. May this old physician venture to ask — what medicine was she given?”

Gu Yanxi gave a slight nod.

“Might this old physician be permitted to examine it?”

“There is none left.” The Elder had only ever produced two pills. One had been given to Shao Yao, and Shao Yao had hung it around Gu Yanxi’s neck. The medicine could only be used once in a lifetime. It was not so miraculous as to revive the dead or mend shattered bones — its purpose was to rouse the life force already within a person. No matter the state of the body, once that life force was stirred, the chance of recovery increased greatly.

Naturally, it was not omnipotent. The cinnabar poison the Emperor had been afflicted with before, for instance, it could never have cured.

The physician was visibly disappointed, though he understood this was no ordinary medicine. After taking her pulse a second time, he bent his head and wrote out a prescription, which he handed to Wu Rong. “This young lady has sustained serious injuries on multiple occasions at such a young age. She appears to be without trouble now, but she will suffer for it in her later years. Fortunately, her daily care and nourishment have been conscientious — if circumstances permit, that kind of care should be continued.”

Multiple occasions? Hua Yizheng’s pupils contracted sharply. Had there not been only once before? Could it mean that in this past half year she had…

Gu Yanxi rose and leaned forward with an air that made him seem more the master of this household than the Hua family themselves. “There are several other injured people in the house. I ask that the physician see to them as well.”

The physician took up his bag and went.

Wu Rong stepped forward. “Brother, these people…”

“We’ll speak of it tomorrow.” Gu Yanxi settled back into his seat. “Dispatch a unit of elite soldiers to stand guard here in case they regroup and return.”

“Already done — the net is spread and waiting for them to walk right into it.”

Gu Yanxi looked toward Hua Yizheng. “Elder, would you not rest as well? Whatever needs discussing can wait until morning.”

It was plainly a dismissal. He was the guest here, and yet. Hua Yizheng nodded and began to rise — and before he was fully on his feet, his vision went black. He fell heavily back into the chair.

“Father!”

Hua Yizheng waved the concern away, enduring the wave of dizziness until he could lift his head again. “It’s nothing. Everyone disperse. Yanxi — Zhi’er needs her wounds dressed. Let me call someone to come help.”

Gu Yanxi rose and gave a slight bow, raising no objection.

Hua Yizheng held his gaze for a long moment, then turned to Wu Rong. “General Wu, tomorrow, I’m afraid my entire family will need to ask for leave.”

“That goes without saying. Please, Old Sir, get some rest.”