Chapter 1: February 10th, Guiwei Year, Jianye Prefecture Awakening…

Chapter 1: On the tenth day of the second lunar month in the year of Guiwei, at the southern side of Jueyuan Temple in Jianye Prefecture...

On the tenth day of the second lunar month in the year of Guiwei, by the Mengbi Bridge south of Jueyuan Temple in Jianye Prefecture, I encountered Lin Ye.

—From "Xue Li's Journal (Supplemented)" (The handwriting is blurred and indistinct, suspected to have been soaked in water)

--

When the news of the death of General of the Shining Night arrived, the envoy from Northern Zhou was in the Southern Zhou palace, negotiating peace with Southern Zhou's Grand Chancellor Lu and his officials.

Over a century ago, the two nations were united, divided by a great river, and had been in constant conflict ever since. The people of both sides were weary of war, and now was the time to discuss "unification."

Northern Zhou, possessing the Central Plains within the mountain passes, had originally been stronger than Southern Zhou. However, Southern Zhou's bustling trade and recent emergence of a formidable figure, the "General of the Shining Night," had turned the tide. The general's prowess on the battlefield forced the Northern Zhou envoy to come to Jianye, the capital of Southern Zhou, to negotiate peace.

The Northern Zhou envoy spoke condescendingly: "If you are willing to submit your entire nation to Northern Zhou, our emperor will confer upon your ruler the title of a minor southern king."

Southern Zhou's Grand Chancellor responded indifferently: "If the Northern Zhou emperor were to submit to Southern Zhou, our generous emperor might cede thirty percent of the tax revenues from north of the great river."

The Northern Zhou envoy bristled: "Thirty percent? Northern Zhou is wealthy..."

Southern Zhou's Grand Chancellor interrupted: "Who in the world is unaware of the wealth of our Jiangdong region? Great Zhou has been in a stalemate for years, and now you suddenly seek peace talks. Is it possible that your granaries are depleted, and you seek to rely on Southern Zhou's resources?"

At this remark, the Southern Zhou officials scoffed, and the Northern Zhou envoy slammed the table.

As the argument raged on, someone came to report, and the palace doors slowly creaked open, revealing a sliver of light.

Light entered the dim hall, dust floating in the air, neither rising nor falling. Those seated on both sides felt an inexplicable irritation. A eunuch hastily entered the room, and servants from both sides leaned in to whisper: "A significant victory (or a significant loss). General of the Shining Night has perished at Dasan Pass, and Southern Zhou has retreated ten miles..."

The Northern Zhou envoy was momentarily stunned, then elated, and immediately proposed a demand they had long considered: "My sympathies, everyone. Our emperor, remembering that our two nations were once one a hundred years ago, does not wish to cause you undue hardship. Let us proceed as we had previously agreed—the Southern Zhou emperor has a younger brother. If this young prince could be sent to Northern Zhou for a marital alliance, it would mark the beginning of goodwill between our nations."

Southern Zhou's Grand Chancellor was taken aback. He did not speak, but a royal relative behind him stood up abruptly, trembling with anger: "The young prince, though born into nobility, has been frail since childhood, secluded for years to recover from illness. Even the abbot of the temple said that only by avoiding the world could the prince live in peace. Moreover, when has a royal prince ever been dispatched for a marriage alliance? You demean our nation..."

--

When the news of the death of General of the Shining Night arrived, Xue Li, under pursuit, had fled all the way to Jianye, the capital of Southern Zhou.

"Qin Yueye" was a notorious assassination organization in Northern Zhou, even protected by the Northern Zhou court. Given their influence, when the news spread that the leader of "Qin Yueye" had been killed and Xue Li was suspected of being the murderer, the entire organization swiftly turned against her, forcing her to flee.

Xue Li was the leader's disciple, and after a conflict with her, the leader had been brutally killed. If she wasn't the murderer, who else could have done it?

Moreover, after simply saying, "I didn't kill him," Xue Li provided no evidence and showed no concern for their casualties.

From north to south, a traitor branded by "Qin Yueye" had no chance of escape.

The streets and markets of Jianye were crowded, goods piled high, and the noise was deafening. Amid such chaos, if Xue Li failed to escape, it would solely be due to her own inadequacy.

At noon, in the backyard of a brothel that saw few customers during the day, a woman was reviewing messages delivered by carrier pigeons, calmly arranging the organization's affairs:

"Cooperate with the court envoy from Northern Zhou, assist them in pressuring the Southern Zhou monarch and officials, and ensure the success of this mission."

"General of the Shining Night is dead? Hmm, this is favorable news for us. With the general gone, Southern Zhou is weakened."

"The traitor has fled to Jianye, and you still haven't killed her? Hmph, don't worry, I will assist you in eliminating her..."

Thus, while this place appeared to be a brothel, it was clearly a covert intelligence hub for "Qin Yueye" hidden within the city. The woman leaning against the backyard pillar, reviewing incoming intelligence, was clearly the person in charge of this "Qin Yueye" intelligence outpost.

As she frowned while reading the last piece of intelligence about the "traitor who killed the leader," she suddenly heard a faint rustling of wind and the clinking of bamboo curtains.

Not hearing the footsteps of a skilled fighter, she assumed it was a civilian who had wandered into the brothel by mistake. Without looking up, she said, "We don't receive guests during the day..."

Before she could finish, she froze, sensing an unfamiliar presence silently approaching. Years of life-and-death experience made her spin and leap backward, but a gust of wind hit her face, slamming her into a pillar and sending her tumbling to the ground.

She groaned, seeing the garden filled with flying petals and falling leaves, rustling and shaking.

A slender leaf, like the shadow of a cold snake, brushed against her neck.

She knew there was someone in the tower who could kill with flying flowers and plucked leaves.

She dared not breathe, fearing the formidable martial artist might kill her. After a moment, she heard a faint voice of a girl:

"You said, 'I will cooperate with you to kill.' Kill who? Me?"

Knowing she couldn't escape, the hostage stiffly raised her head.

It was February, petals fluttered everywhere, and the spring scenery was veiled in mist.

The newcomer had the appearance of a girl, wearing a wide-brimmed veil hat that concealed her face. Only the fingers holding a leaf against her neck were as thin as bamboo shoots, lacking any murderous intent but still terrifying.

Through the veil, Xue Li knew the other couldn't see her face clearly. She stepped forward, compelling the hostage to retreat step by step.

Xue Li spoke leisurely: "I'll give you a chance to live. Recall all the assassins of 'Qin Yueye' here. Do whatever you want, only stop chasing me. I'll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn down. If you can't do it, I'll find someone else."

The hostage was drenched in sweat, knowing Xue Li were a ruthless killer, a top "monster" in the tower. She couldn't defeat her; noncompliance might cost her life today.

The woman gritted her teeth: "Even if I pretend I didn't see you, as long as you leave Jianye, 'Qin Yueye's' pursuit won't stop."

Xue Li, veiled in white, her voice as faint as mist, said, "Your concern for me is neither touching nor necessary."

—Who cares about you?!

The hostage almost laughed coldly but held back, playing along with Xue Li. She believed Xue Li would eventually be caught sooner or later—

"Qin Yueye's" pursuit was relentless; escape was impossible.

Even if Xue Li were the master's disciple.

But the hostage didn't understand why Xue Li had killed her master. Didn't the master treat Xue Li well?

Forget it, a monster's thoughts are beyond ordinary comprehension.

--

When the news of General of the Shining Night's death arrived, Xue Li was busy threatening someone to let her go, while an ornate carriage slowly entered Jianye.

The carriage cleared inspection and entered the south gate of the city. The atmosphere inside was bustling with activity.

Three people sat in the carriage: a middle-aged guard, sword in hand, resting with closed eyes; a young guard peeling oranges and fanning the young master seated in the middle.

The young master at the center of attention was all smiles, giving orders:

"Liang Chen, give me that lychee water."

"Liang Chen, the wind from the window just now made me dizzy. Quick, see if I'm dying."

"Wow, this pastry is too sweet, I won't eat it. Give it to Ah Zeng."

"Ah Zeng, why have you been so quiet all the way? Are you dissatisfied with me?"

The middle-aged guard named "Ah Zeng" took a deep breath, veins popping on his forehead. The young master was extremely mischievous, ordering people around, making him glare in anger—

The young master, with a gentle smile, looked at him.

In the flickering light, the young master had a jade crown and snow-white skin, his white robe like a pile of snow. He sat in the ancient carriage, a figure as pure and clear as snow, his dark eyes flowing with a gentle, pitying gaze. He was so delicate, shining brightly in the carriage, yet pale as if he might melt away at any moment.

Noticing Ah Zeng glaring at him, he immediately clutched his chest and slumped against the carriage wall, frowning: "Oh, my chest hurts, I must have been frightened by the bad servant. Liang Chen, am I..."

Ah Zeng rolled his eyes in exasperation.

The young guard named Liang Chen chuckled, "Young master, stop teasing Ah Zeng. We’ve got bigger things to worry about. Once we enter Jianye, we're going for a marriage alliance."

The young master asked curiously, "What’s so bad about a marriage alliance?"

He said wistfully, "I heard Northern Zhou is sending a princess—someone my age, gentle, virtuous, and apparently unfazed by my ‘delicate constitution.’"

Ah Zeng stared at him with a strange look, "You’re off in la-la land again."

The young master shamelessly spread his hands, "Can’t a guy dream a little?"

Liang Chen rested his chin on his hand, pondering, "But young master, it’s embarrassing for a man to be part of a marriage alliance. Plus, we’re the losing side—Northern Zhou’s going to give us hell. They’ve had their eye on you for this, and I bet they’re up to something. I’m really worried for you."

The young master’s face fell.

As the carriage passed Jueyuan Temple, it suddenly stopped for a moment at a turn, and the dust raised from the window swirled in the air. Dust swirled around the young master, who sat with his eyes downcast, his robe sleeves brushing the ground, as still and cold as a mountain stream.

But in just a blink, the young master looked up at the two, winked lightly, and immediately appeared lively again, "Hey, why the staring? Blown away by my charm, huh? I knew I was irresistible."

"Alright, it's normal for Northern Zhou to want me for a marriage alliance. First, it’s a slap in the face for us; second, I’m the famous ‘sick beauty’—who wouldn’t be curious? Third..."

Before he could finish, a loud *bang* echoed outside the carriage.

Before the guard Liang Chen in the carriage could react, Ah Zeng's hand was already on the sword at his waist. Before Ah Zeng could draw his sword, a figure flashed into the carriage.

Ah Zeng’s hair stood on end—how could anyone be faster than him?!

The intruder was a girl in a bamboo hat, her white robes flowing.

The guards were too slow—she grabbed a fruit knife from the table and pressed it to the young master’s neck.

Through the veil, her smiling black eyes met the young master's ambiguous gaze.

Xue Li: "Turn this carriage around, or you’re dead."

The young master tilted his head down but met her gaze. Beside him, Ah Zeng couldn't help but want to draw his sword, but the young master's sleeve slightly brushed, pressing down on his scabbard.

The young master thought for a moment, then smiled, "Well, death’s not really my style."

The rustling veil fluttered like snow, and the young master's black eyes gazed at the girl whose face was unclear for a moment, then he curiously smiled and asked, "I’m Lin Ye. What should I call you, miss?"

Xue Li ignored him, her focus elsewhere.

The carriage jolted, and she leaned against the carriage wall, one hand threatening the young master, while her eyes glanced at the commotion on the street outside. She was busy escaping pursuit and leaving the city, she didn't care about extra matters, nor would she engage in small talk or make friends.

In this life, she walks alone, through countless mountains, with no one by her side.