Young General Qi bore heavy responsibilities. Having just finished an anti-piracy battle, he had countless tasks to handle, so naturally couldn’t stand here chatting with Lu Zigan. But after confirming Lu Zigan’s identity, at least they could escape being monitored, and he even arranged a tent for him and the doctor to rest.

Lu Zigan brought food for the doctor. After the two hastily ate in the wounded camp and rested briefly, the doctor was called again to check on the wounded. Fortunately, he didn’t need to care for every soldier, only treat critically wounded whom the camp physicians couldn’t handle. Lu Zigan no longer obstructed him and even helped, since having watched medical dramas made him more suitable as an assistant than other ancient people, even without firsthand experience.

“What made you see reason?” The doctor grinned, obviously happy Lu Zigan had changed his mind, though he still sheepishly explained, “Though we’re in history, fate is in our own hands. Since we’ve already come here, what if these people historically weren’t meant to die?”

“No one said we can’t change anything. For me, I’ve returned to the past, but the people I’m meeting now are all alive. Perhaps this is Heaven’s arrangement.”

Lu Zigan’s hand tightened while bandaging, and hearing the wounded soldier under his care grunt in protest, the doctor quickly took over to rebandage him. Lu Zigan stood aside, bitterly wiping his face.

It wasn’t Heaven’s arrangement—he had wanted to come to this era, just… the timing was still off by a bit…

“By the way, why didn’t we see the boss this time?” The doctor suddenly remembered the focus of their time travel. “The boss usually runs antique shops in cities… that’s why our previous travels were so safe. This time was too dangerous.”

“…Maybe there’s a problem with the compass,” Lu Zigan answered somewhat uncertainly.

The doctor easily believed this and refocused on treating the wounded. Though he was an excellent surgeon, he couldn’t save everyone from death’s grasp. Combined with ancient emergency facilities’ crudeness, some critically wounded still sadly passed away. The doctor wasn’t too upset, just felt some regret, having done his utmost. Surgeons were accustomed to life and death, but not numb from seeing it frequently—rather, knowing the family members each life left behind made them fight harder.

Lu Zigan said nothing more, having no standing to obstruct anyway. If he hadn’t tampered with the compass, they wouldn’t have encountered this situation at all.

After settling the critically wounded, other injured soldiers continued queuing for the doctor’s examination. Everything seemed normal until the doctor looked up to find the black-armored woman sitting before him. Thinking of how the famous Young General Qi was submissive before her, the doctor couldn’t help cowering, asking carefully, “Madam, are you also injured?”

They were in the wounded camp, but Wang Ying paid no attention to gazes focused on her, generously extending her right hand, “Check my pulse.”

The doctor looked at the slender, beautiful hand offered to him, wanting to explain the difference between traditional and Western medicine. Though he’d studied some traditional Chinese medicine, he couldn’t read pulses at all!

Wang Ying didn’t rush him. Since her husband served locally in Shandong, family members could accompany the troops. But she normally didn’t live in the military camp, instead residing in nearby towns. If not for her husband’s “please review the troops, Madam” performance yesterday, she wouldn’t have stayed here. But last night’s pirate incursion was suspicious, and she couldn’t risk leaving now, so she remained.

The doctor studied Wang Ying’s complexion, suddenly inspired to ask about her physical condition. After pondering a long while, he said uncertainly, “Madam’s condition resembles a pregnancy pulse. Unfortunately, I studied surgery and really can’t read pulses well.”

A camp physician immediately volunteered. Though his medical skills weren’t high, he could distinguish pregnancy pulses. Instantly everyone in the wounded camp grew tense. Though Young General Qi and his wife were deeply in love, their lack of children was obvious to all. The goateed camp physician examined repeatedly before finally announcing with a smile that the young madam showed pregnancy pulse signs, over two months along.

No matter how strong-willed and unlike ordinary women Wang Ying was, she couldn’t help blushing and smiling with lowered head.

Immediately people rushed to report the good news to Young General Qi, but before they could leave the wounded camp, urgent horn blasts sounded over the military camp again.

Wang Ying’s expression changed at the unusual horn sounds. Before she could speak, someone burst into the tent, urgently reporting, “Young Madam! Pirates have landed at three places: Muping County, Penglai County, and Wendeng County! The Young General and the Assistant Prefect have separately led troops to engage. Please return to Dengzhou City for safety!”

“No need to waste troops unnecessarily,” Wang Ying said calmly. “I’m staying here. Would Yuanjing be so useless that pirates could destroy our base?”

Everyone in the wounded camp responded with approval. Many soldiers considering themselves lightly wounded stood up if they could move, donning armor and preparing for battle, morale soaring.

This was a hard fight, with beacon fires continuously rising in the distance.

Pirate landings followed patterns. They came by sea, their ships dependent on wind power. Certain seasons brought certain winds. When and where pirates would land along the coast—the Qi Family Army had thoroughly understood these patterns.

When north winds prevailed, they invaded Guangdong in the south. With east winds, they harassed Fujian in the west. Northeast or due east winds meant attacks on Zhejiang and Jiangsu. Only when southeast winds dominated did they strike directly at Shandong’s Dengzhou and Laizhou. Now it was clearly after the Double Ninth Festival—southeast winds had long stopped, yet pirates kept landing. This incursion was obviously unusual.

The doctor had no more rest time. Wounded were continuously transported from the front lines. Some couldn’t wait for treatment, dying en route. The doctor had never experienced such a difficult rescue process, eventually becoming numb.

Lu Zigan stayed by his side constantly, not wanting them separated when the compass needle reset. Being less busy, he had leisure to notice that most wounded the doctor saved still died one by one from returning to battle or worsening infected wounds.

So fate remained fate? Even with their small changes, would history ruthlessly correct itself?

Lu Zigan couldn’t help overthinking, but still thought of something that chilled him.

So when he entered the main command tent, he wasn’t surprised to see Wang Ying, already armored, solemnly polishing her war spear while seated.

“The Records of Wu and Yue: External Biography of Goujian’s Attack on Wu states: ‘The King of Yue donned Tangyi armor, wore the Buguang sword, grasped the Qulu spear, and led three hundred death warriors in formation below the pass,'” Lu Zigan said slowly. “The mighty Qulu spear, Ganjiang’s heroic halberd. Qulu was an ancient master craftsman of bows and spears. To be mentioned alongside Ganjiang shows his reputation. Young Madam’s Qulu spear was bought by your husband at Mute House years ago. I wondered then what kind of woman would favor such a weapon.”

Wang Ying said nothing, but after polishing the sharp war spear, began arranging the red tassel with almost solemn reverence.

The tassel on war spears actually served practical combat needs, not decoration. When spears pierced or withdrew from enemy flesh, blood would spray out. To prevent being splattered during battle, making the shaft slippery, tassels were essential. The tassel’s length and amount needed adjustment. Red color came from being soaked in blood countless times—any color would eventually become dark red.

“Yuanjing once told me this was an invincible war spear that could pierce anything blocking its path, whether enemies or fate,” Wang Ying said after retying the red tassel, looking up to meet the gaze of Lu Zigan, who had intruded into the command tent. “I love it. Since Yuanjing gave it to me, I’ve felt nothing in this world could stop me from doing what I want.”

Lu Zigan was speechless. So Young General Qi feared his wife because of this Qulu spear? The real culprit was himself… Why had his previous life sold this troublesome Qulu spear?

“Living in this world creates unavoidable conflicts,” Wang Ying slowly repeated her earlier words. “Though I possess the world’s sharpest spear, I know someday there will be a shield I can never pierce.”

She raised her chin resolutely, standing without hesitation as her iron armor clinked with her movements.

“Yuanjing trains troops. He knows that bowing to court officials and colluding with them will leave historical stains on his reputation, yet he does so. I know that as a wife, I should be gentle and respectful, yet I remain as I am.”

“I know this mission might cost my child’s life. I should heed Yuanjing’s words and retreat to Dengzhou, yet I remain as I am.”

“So don’t try persuading me. As a sharp spear, my life’s fate is only to keep moving forward!”

The armored woman gripped her war spear, walking forward with determined gaze and fierce killing intent.

“If Yuanjing dies, I won’t live alone.”

Lu Zigan felt somewhat melancholy. As Wang Ying was about to leave the command tent, he couldn’t help asking, “Going to battle… aren’t you afraid of death?”

Wang Ying didn’t turn back, but her voice carried a faint smile on the evening breeze.

“Whether we go to battle or not, don’t people all die the same way?”

Lu Zigan didn’t know if Wang Ying returned triumphant, because he soon discovered the compass needle was nearly reset. He rushed back to the wounded camp, grabbed the doctor to a secluded spot, and after familiar dizziness, they successfully returned to Mute House.

The shop still carried the greasy aroma of steamed buns. They seemed to have been gone only an instant, but had actually spent several days in a Ming Dynasty military camp.

Both were exhausted physically and mentally, each finding chairs to collapse into without speaking.

“By the way, that Young Madam Qi didn’t get into trouble, did she?” The doctor rubbed his eyes, found his glasses to put on, suddenly remembering he’d vaguely heard someone mention Young Madam Qi personally leading troops as they were leaving.

“She was fine… Historically, she and General Qi both lived long lives.”

“Oh, that’s good. They’re such an enviable couple. Their child must be amazing too.”

“No… actually, Young Madam Qi never bore children her entire life… this pregnancy definitely miscarried…”

“What? Really?”

“And because she bore no children, Qi Yuanjing took concubines ten years later. The divine couple became estranged, and Young Madam Qi angrily divorced him… preferring to shatter like jade rather than remain whole like clay…”

Mute House fell silent again. Both thought of that fierce woman in black armor wielding a war spear. Though she’d been dead for centuries in history, she seemed to have lived before their eyes just moments ago—within arm’s reach.

Lu Zigan pressed the longevity lock at his neck through his clothes, studying the compass in his hands with hesitant expression…

Mute House: The antiques in Mute House each have their own stories, carrying many years with no one to listen. Because… they cannot speak…