Chapter 123: “With me here, no one can harm…”

Chapter 123 "With Me Here, No One Can Harm..."

Luoyang lay within Henan Prefecture. The Huoqiu Army marched westward along the Luo River from Henan, launching a direct assault on Fengxiang Prefecture. As Fengxiang prepared for battle, any attempt to summon reinforcements would need to draw from the prefectures between them—Jingzhao and Hezhong.

This was Guanzhong, the imperial heartland, where troops stood at strict readiness. With the Northern Zhou Empress Dowager’s birthday upon them, the military was barred from unauthorized mobilization. Not even officers of the Northern Zhou army could likely move freely now—let alone the Southern Zhou Marriage Alliance Delegation.

Yet this was still Guanzhong.

In Guanzhong, people obeyed not only Emperor Xuanming but also the region's most powerful family—the Zhangs.

"Bang—"

On a frigid night, warhorses neighed as the gates of Hezhong were pounded open. Torches flickered like keening spirits, casting eerie shadows. The gatekeeper, his face numb in the biting wind, shivered at the sight of figures cloaked in rain hats beyond: "...Are you men or ghosts?"

The figure outside lifted his face beneath the lantern light, his stubble prickly, his expression worn by travel, yet his gaze remained cold and unyielding.

He held out a command token. The "Zhang" emblem embossed upon it made the guard exhale in relief: "Men, then."

Ah Zeng wiped his face.

"I must see the Prefect, Zhao Mingxiang," he said. "Tell him a hometown brother comes calling for a favor."

The guard stiffened.

Lin Ye had given Ah Zeng the token, which Zhang Bing had furnished to the Marriage Alliance Delegation for emergencies. Zhang Bing had likely never expected war to erupt so suddenly. And Zhao Mingxiang, whom Ah Zeng sought, was a military advisor in Hezhong’s army. They had enlisted together, fought side by side. Before Ah Zeng had "died in battle" at Fengxiang, Zhao had been one of his closest comrades.

Torchlight danced like keening spirits. The Luo River near Fengxiang ran red with war’s flames, unsettling nearby cities. Yet Emperor Xuanming had already issued orders...

"Hu—"

At the servant’s report, Zhao Mingxiang started in alarm and came running out, shoes forgotten. Frost clung to the courtyard’s silence, stars sparse above. The black-clad youth led inside shrugged off his travel-worn cloak and rain hat, freezing the courtyard into silence.

Zhao stared at his friend returned from the grave, standing thunderstruck before finally stepping forward: "Brother Yang... are you man or ghost...?"

The escorting guard muttered under his breath: A staff officer of his rank, asking the same question as common guards.

Ah Zeng had no time for sentiment.

He strode toward Zhao: "I have an urgent matter that requires your aid..."

A quarter-hour later, the strategy room was ice-cold. Zhao refused outright: "His Majesty has decreed clearly—Northern Zhou shall take no part in the conflict between Southern Zhou and Huoqiu. We stand in the capital’s strategic domain—we dare not presume to act."

Ah Zeng: "His Majesty colludes with the Huoqiu Army! Your emperor moves against Southern Zhou. This is an unjust war!"

Zhao: "We both serve the Northern Zhou court. That you live gladdens me. But Brother Yang, perhaps you’ve been deceived by that Southern Zhou boy. His Majesty is heaven-mandated. His decrees must be obeyed..."

Ah Zeng’s face twitched violently.

He longed to shout of the massacre nineteen years ago in Fengxiang, to demand why the Jade Dragon Lord had fled her homeland thirty years past, to reveal how last year the entire army had been sold out by Emperor Xuanming—and how he alone had escaped death. He wanted to expose every conspiracy, to accuse Xuanming of being unworthy of the throne. Though words did not come easily to him, with so much proof, surely he could argue his case.

But there was no time.

Troops needed rallying. The Luo River battle demanded reinforcement. Each moment lost meant more lives extinguished.

Ah Zeng stepped forward, his eyes webbed with red.

Zhao flinched before his fury, retreating a step. Ah Zeng growled, "Even with the Zhang clan’s token, even with our bond, even if I could explain everything later—you refuse to lend me soldiers?"

Zhao fell silent, then spoke with finality: "Brother Yang, my stance stands firm. Your survival gladdens me. But whatever befell you, I do not wish to know. You seek justice—I bear responsibility for those under my command. I'll not see Hezhong drown in this war… Never."

Ah Zeng readjusted his straw cloak and bamboo hat, then turned and walked away.

Once outside the mansion, stars fell like pouring rain across the night sky.

One of the stealth guards following him spoke anxiously: "My lord, this will not work. The capital’s surroundings are already under Emperor Xuanming’s control—we won’t be able to secure reinforcements."

Ah Zeng’s gaze turned grim. "If Hezhong Prefecture refuses to send troops, we’ll go to Jingzhao. We’ll visit them one by one. I was careless to think that past favors could influence the war. But how can a mantis hope to stop a chariot? How can I possibly compare to the Emperor? They fear his retribution, but I need to win this war.

"If appeals to sentiment fail, then force must decide—'To crush the rebellion, capture its leader first.' Let us seize the commander of the Hezhong Army and force him to deploy his forces."

The guards nodded.

Another asked, "Which general of the Hezhong Army might be vulnerable to coercion?"

"Follow me," said Ah Zeng, leading the climb over the wall.

With his stealth guards, under the watchful eyes of Zhao Mingxiang’s spies, he pretended to leave the city but instead circled back to take a hostage, returning to the city walls and slipping once more into Hezhong Prefecture. Moving through alleyways with his men toward the general’s residence, Ah Zeng laid out a plan for the arrest, determined to compel the army into action.

He was not without grief.

Once the famed Coldlight General of Northern Zhou, he knew every military outpost from years of service. He had once dreamed of winning great victories for Northern Zhou, yet now he used that very experience against its own soldiers.

But he had no choice.

When an emperor has abandoned restraint, even if a subject throws himself against a boulder, he cannot allow the ruler to drag the entire nation toward a reckless, disastrous fate.

--

"Boom—" A low rumble of thunder rolled across the heavens.

As Zhang Bing stepped out of the mansion, he glanced up at the sky but saw no sign of storm clouds. The sound seemed almost imaginary.

Behind him, an old official from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau let fall the Five Emperors coins in his hand, muttering, "This omen again..."

Minister Zhang, head of the Zhang household, was close friends with the official, who often visited to cast divinations. Today, after receiving word from Luoyang and Fengxiang, Zhang Bing rushed to prepare while hurrying out.

The Empress Dowager's birthday celebration had brought half the imperial court to Luoyang to offer their respects.

When war broke out along the Luoshui River, the ministers panicked, only to be summoned and detained within the palace. Minister Zhang pleaded illness to avoid attending, forcing Zhang Bing to go in his place.

Zhang Bing quickly grasped the emperor's intent: the emperor intended to let the conflict unfold while securing control over Luoyang’s officials and garrisons.

Emperor Xuanming was resolved to ignite war with Huoqiu. For him, all caught in the path of battle were expendable pawns, sacrificed for the sake of imperial glory. If the Marriage Alliance succeeded, he would ally with Southern Zhou against Huoqiu; should Huoqiu prevail, he would turn his armies on Southern Zhou.

Yet now, it seemed likely the emperor’s true aim was Southern Zhou itself.

He wanted the blood of the Southern Zhou prince. He had lured the Marriage Alliance into Northern Zhou to fight, planning to unleash war before the new Southern Zhou emperor could ascend the throne.

The southeast wind rose, the Luoshui froze, and flames would sweep along the river to Fengxiang, consuming it. Then, descending south through Dasanguan Pass—"Crash!"—a torch hurled into the snowstorm, fire devouring bows and blades, until all of Southern Zhou burned.

And what of Fengxiang in Northern Zhou…?

Zhang Bing’s expression turned icy as he recalled the letter just received from Fengxiang moments ago.

The handwriting was unfamiliar, scrawled in haste. Yet he knew exactly who had sent it: Princess Ye Liushu had mediated the alliance. One collaboration led naturally to another. The General of the Shining Night wished to keep Southern Zhou from war, and Zhang Bing refused to let Emperor Xuanming drag them into ruin.

For 120 years, the struggle between the emperor and the noble houses had been evenly matched.

Now, the contest began anew.

The cold fire of night flickered, raising gooseflesh. Cloaked in heavy robes, Zhang Bing moved through the halls, preparing to enter the palace under imperial decree while whispering orders: "Take my token and rally our forces. Several family heads have not yet entered the palace—ride swiftly and mobilize our men. Our agents in the army may act tonight."

The subordinate panicked, wondering, *What is the young master planning?* Had he discussed it with the clan head?

But as he lifted his gaze, he saw the young man’s refined and gentle features under the cold night sky—and suddenly his heart skipped a beat. The clan head was *conveniently* feigning illness.

Not falling ill earlier or later, but precisely now—wasn’t this a sign that the clan head had handed over decision-making power to the young master? If the young master succeeded, the Zhang clan would rise even further; if he failed, the clan head would disavow him publicly and uphold justice...

In the struggle between noble families and the sovereign, each clan kept its own *quietly understood* ledger.

Zhang Bing fixed his eyes on the subordinate, who clasped his hands solemnly and said, “This servant will go mobilize our people at once.”

As the subordinate hurried off, Zhang Bing pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. As he passed the screen wall, he spotted the old astrologer his father had summoned, sitting gloomily behind a desk in the corridor corner, clutching his Five Emperor Coins with a troubled expression.

Their eyes met briefly.

The old astrologer, himself from a noble clan, naturally understood what act of rebellion Zhang Bing was about to commit tonight—he simply chose to feign ignorance. Instead, he offered a warning: “This venture bodes ill... I have divined that both stars of Beiluo Shimen *grow dim*, and deep into the night, stars will *come raining down*—a dire omen.”

Zhang Bing gave a thin smile.

He recalled how, when he had gone to Fengxiang before, his father had asked this same astrologer for a reading—and back then, too, he’d predicted *falling stars*.

Tonight’s mission was grave, yet just before leaving the estate, Zhang Bing felt a flicker of mockery. He remarked lightly, “Last time, you foretold *‘stars like falling sand, golden steeds in the sky.’* I was all fired up to see it—but nothing happened. Since your last reading missed the mark, this one likely will too.”

The old astrologer turned red.

Muttering, he replied, “That was different. Last time, the fixed stars *bled red*, and a rogue star challenged the sovereign—clearly a sign of the kingdom’s doom. By all logic, the Southern Zhou emperor should have perished, the throne changed hands, and ‘falling stars’ should have followed. Later events proved my reading not entirely wrong—only, somehow, though the Southern Zhou’s fixed stars did turn crimson, the omen of a rogue star usurping the ruler—undoubtedly a sign of dynastic collapse—abruptly stopped.”

He stole a glance at Young Master Zhang.

The old astrologer knew little of Southern Zhou affairs, only that a new emperor had emerged, though he had not yet ascended the throne. Southern Zhou was in chaos, and Northern Zhou remained largely unaware. Emperor Xuanming, preoccupied with more pressing matters, naturally paid no attention to Southern Zhou’s succession. For the old astrologer—

“Back then, deep in the night, the Morning Star *flared* in the east. Later we learned it was the *comeback* of Southern Zhou’s ‘General of the Shining Night,’ which halted the falling stars. That was an exception—the ‘return from the dead’ of the General was something we hadn’t foreseen. But such things happen only once. This time, the omen of falling stars is even stronger than before. You’d best think twice, Young Master Zhang.”

Zhang Bing’s brow twitched slightly.

He had already stepped beyond the estate gates, but half-turned back: “So according to you, this time we truly will witness *‘stars like falling sand, golden steeds in the sky’*?”

The old astrologer nodded.

Zhang Bing smiled. “A nation’s rise, the dance of ruler and ruled, the people’s fortunes, the eternal rivers and mountains—all seem visible in divination, yet all escape the reach of your Five Emperor Coins. If we cling to life in fear, locking our gates, then the tides of history will leave the Zhang clan behind.”

He clasped his hands. “You may stay and enjoy tea in the estate. I must enter the palace first.”

Before the old astrologer could respond, the young master of the Zhang clan—Zhang Bing, Zhang Nanzhu—had already turned and strode away, resolute. Withered branches rustled under layers of old snow, and a single drop fell from the eaves with a soft *plink*, catching the frost-like sharpness in the young man’s eyes.

--

That icy glint vanished as quickly as it came, replaced by the *clatter* of carriage wheels outside the estate gates.

Fate turned on a dime. The Luoyang palace *thrummed with activity yet felt hollow*.

Emperor Xuanming had summoned officials to the palace under the pretense of celebrating the Empress Dowager’s birthday, only to detain them there. Yet her birthday was still five days away—why hold a feast so early? Worse, palace guards stood every ten paces, their armor *glinting like ice*, and officials were checked for identity tokens whenever they moved… The whole setup *reeked of trouble*.

And Emperor Xuanming *was nowhere to be seen*.

Whispers filled the banquet hall.

Officials debated the Huoqiu Army’s deployment, Northern Zhou’s role, and how they should petition the emperor. If something happened to the Southern Zhou marriage envoy on Northern Zhou soil, wouldn’t that mean tearing up the alliance outright?

“Is His Majesty preparing for war? That… isn’t wise. How can our great nation go back on its word?”

“I’ve long suspected something was off. North and South Zhou share the same roots—I don’t oppose peace talks. But what *the hell* are those Huoqiu people? *Wolves at heart, blood on their teeth!* A hundred and twenty years ago, how did they violate our Great Zhou lands? And now His Majesty has invited them into our territory…” “Esteemed ministers, as high-ranking officials, it is our duty to advise the emperor. When he arrives, let us present a *petition together*.”

As the group of old ministers stroked their beards and discussed uneasily, a pale-faced official staggered back to his seat. All eyes turned to him as he took a sip of wine to steady himself, then whispered in a hushed tone, "I—I just went to relieve myself and seemed to catch sight of wanderers moving like shadows within the palace grounds. The Emperor's quarters were lit..."

Wanderers?!

The ministers couldn't help but think of "Qin Yueye," and their faces fell.

Even now, they remained displeased that their Emperor had worked so hand-in-glove with such notorious wanderers.

They grew restless: "This is unacceptable—we must see His Majesty! Why is 'Qin Yueye' in the palace? What are they planning..."

Amid the clamor of the ministers, Song Wanfeng had just stepped out of the Emperor's quarters when he ran into Chun Jun, who was approaching from outside.

"Qin Yueye" had crucial tasks that night, and both had their own objectives, following the Emperor’s command. They exchanged a brief glance before brushing past each other without further words.

At the moment they passed, Song Wanfeng suddenly remarked, "Earlier, while speaking with His Majesty, he let slip that Chun Jun had not been patrolling the Luoyang palace these past days. How odd. You told me you came to Luoyang early to meet the Emperor. If you weren’t in Luoyang, then where were you, Chun Jun?"

Chun Jun halted mid-step and raised her eyes.

Song Wanfeng smiled, eagerly awaiting an answer.

--

---

In the flickering lamplight of the Emperor's quarters, Emperor Xuanming was weary to the bone after receiving Song Wanfeng and the other wanderers.

Yet his eyes showed no trace of weariness.

If anything, he was exhilarated—his plans were nearing fruition.

Stationed in the Luoyang palace, he had pulled every string, deploying soldiers and wanderers, concealing and revealing, luring and enticing. When the Huoqiu Army marched west to attack Fengxiang, his presence was meant to bait General of the Shining Night into an assassination attempt.

Because the Southern Zhou Marriage Alliance Mission, deep in Northern Zhou territory, had no backup.

The mission had no troops to rely on!

To turn the tide, Emperor Xuanming himself was the ideal hostage.

If Lin Ye was truly as formidable a Junior General as rumored, he wouldn’t pass up this opportunity. And Emperor Xuanming had long desired to meet this Lin Ye—whether as the Southern Zhou young master or General Zhaoye, he wanted to face him personally.

If only his illness could be cured, if only he could obtain Lin Ye's heart's blood...

Emperor Xuanming's eyes gleamed unnaturally from feverish anticipation. Just as his blood burned with fervor, a sharp *clack* shattered his thoughts.

Jolted from his thoughts, he glanced at the beautiful woman seated across the desk, playing chess with him—Princess Ye, Ye Liushu.

Ye Liushu realized her move had disturbed the Emperor. Yet, unlike usual, she did not rise to apologize. Instead, she remained seated, as if lost in thought.

The Emperor's eyes glinted as he chuckled. "The war troubles you, Princess. No matter—Zhang Bing should be arriving soon. Go and welcome him."

Ye Liushu's lashes trembled.

The Emperor's tone carried implication. "You and Zhang Bing have grown close. Some time ago, he traveled to Fengxiang on personal business. I’ve heard rumors that he met privately with a woman there... You’ve served by my side long enough—it’s time you married. Since the Southern Zhou young master was denied the chance to wed you, I suppose the Zhang family wouldn’t disgrace you, Princess."

Ye Liushu's face drained of color, her body stiffening in place. Her hand, resting on the chessboard, trembled. She could almost picture the scene once she stepped outside—the eunuchs she would meet, the wine cup she would be handed, how she’d carry herself toward Zhang Bing.

After a long silence, she lowered her eyes and asked softly, "Your Majesty... is there no other way?"

Emperor Xuanming narrowed his gaze.

Playing dumb, he replied, "Is there no other way to what?" Ye Liushu was radiant, both refined and captivating—one of the most useful pawns he had ever selected. Yet now, this pawn sat boldly across from him and dared to venture softly, "Extracting the young master's heart's blood, having 'Qin Yueye' cooperate with the imperial guards to kill General of the Shining Night, then using Fengxiang as 'bait' to let the Huoqiu Army's iron heels crush the city a second time... And after all that, sweeping south to obliterate Southern Zhou. Your Majesty... is there no other way?"

Emperor Xuanming laughed: "It seems the princess has grown compassionate. Do I not cherish all my subjects? But if we do not reclaim Southern Zhou, there will never be a better opportunity. Without unifying the two nations, how can we stand united against external threats? Great achievements demand sacrifice. The princess must not be overly swayed by 'feminine mercy.'"

Ye Liushu remained silent for a long time.

What was "feminine mercy"? Heaven gave birth to all things, yet they belittle and abandon themselves, grow arrogant and complacent, and enslave others.

Her chess piece landed on the board: "I was saved by Your Majesty, raised from the refugees, and honored as a princess. My life has already been raised to unimaginable heights, and I should repay Your Majesty's grace with unwavering loyalty. So all these years, whatever Your Majesty commanded, I obeyed. My life was saved by Your Majesty—I need not trouble myself with morals. I need only follow Your Majesty's orders."

Emperor Xuanming detected an underlying tone.

Emperor Xuanming warned: "Ye Liushu, stop talking."

Ye Liushu continued: "Your Majesty told me to deceive, and I deceived. You told me to play any role, and I did. All these years, I have helped Your Majesty remove ministers who fell from your favor... Now, you order me to welcome Mr. Zhang—what is it you need me to do this time?"

She leaned forward: "Poison him? Seduce him? Or sow discord?"

Emperor Xuanming's gaze turned cold.

He studied Ye Liushu's face and realized that this adopted daughter of his had always restrained her brilliance. But now, as she stared at him with blazing eyes, she resembled a blooming peony—only its leaves dripped with poison. When had she been tainted by poison? He hadn't even noticed.

Something was slipping out of his control.

Emperor Xuanming thought.

He softened his tone: "If you are unwilling, then forget it. Nan Zhu enjoys my complete trust. I—"

Ye Liushu said, "Does Your Majesty know why I am unwilling?"

Emperor Xuanming inwardly scoffed: This childish infatuation...

Ye Liushu: "Does Your Majesty think I have feelings for Mr. Zhang?"

Emperor Xuanming grew impatient: "If not personal feelings, then what? Some noble principle?"

"Am I unworthy of grand righteousness, then?" Ye Liushu whispered. "Your Majesty, you never considered the real reason for my reluctance. You only know I rose from the refugees. You only know I surpassed my peers to earn your favor. You never understood—never once—"

She trembled.

She lifted her face.

A thunderbolt tore through the clear night, though the evening had been cloudless.

A scattering of stars dotted the sky, and the Milky Way curved across the heavens. Slowly, Ye Liushu rose to her feet, then knelt, meeting his gaze with unsettling serenity:

"Nineteen years ago, I hailed from Fengxiang City."

Emperor Xuanming's expression abruptly changed. He staggered to his feet, overturning furniture. Black and white chess pieces scattered like rain, skittering across the icy tiles. The emperor shouted, "Guards—!"

"Bang—!"

The wind crashed the palace doors shut. Outside, a court eunuch's voice rose in panic: "Your Majesty, disaster! Zhang Bing has troops encircling the palace—!"

The chamber stood frozen in silence, curtains fluttering. The emperor, his face drained of color, locked eyes with Ye Liushu, who knelt on the ground.

She was a flower long withered, reforged in the bloody foundation he provided—now her thorns pointed at her creator.

Beyond the palace gates, the clash of steel signaled the slaughter. Zhang Bing stepped down from his carriage, eyeing the swaying palace lanterns.

--

The wolves and vipers.

You're not the only one.

--

"Crash—"

By the banks of the Luo River, the battle was almost a rout.

The Marriage Alliance Mission, bolstered by a small contingent of Fengxiang troops and hastily assembled wanderers, stood little chance against the full might of the Huoqiu Army. They retreated step by step but fought tooth and nail to resist.

The Luo River meandered into the great river, its surface just beginning to freeze in the early winter. Under the silver moonlight, dark figures clashed amid flickering flames, transforming the scene into a living hell.

Wei Changyin mounted his horse on a raised ridge, scanning the battlefield. His own forces, the troops lent by Emperor Xuanming, and tens of thousands of soldiers—this battle had begun abruptly, catching the enemy off guard. Now, victory seemed assured.

Wei Changyin’s generals grew complacent. "They have few soldiers left, and the Northern Zhou emperor won’t lend them reinforcements. Even if they try to summon troops from Southern Zhou, the news is blocked by the Dasan Pass—who knows when they’ll even learn of Northern Zhou’s situation? Everything is in place. The war is as good as won."

Beside Wei Changyin, Bai Li stood with his arms crossed, robes billowing, watching coldly as the battle unfolded below.

Listening to his allies’ chatter, Bai Li’s thoughts drifted to Yu Long.

Song Wanfeng had said that once this battle was over, he would use Lin Ye’s blood to awaken Yu Long. By then, the tide would be unstoppable, everything unfolding exactly as they desired—no one could stop them.

Song Wanfeng had also mentioned that Yu Long’s hesitation came from his unwillingness to drag Snow Girl into this conflict.

Bai Li didn’t understand—in fact, the more he heard, the more it annoyed him. Now, humoring the soldiers’ confidence, he mused: If all went according to plan, “Qin Yueye” would already be by Emperor Xuanming’s side. Once the battle here was won, the Assassins' Guild, under Song Wanfeng’s orders, would assassinate the emperor.

Emperor Xuanming believed the Assassins' Guild was loyal, but from the very beginning, Yu Long had never been Northern Zhou’s ally—he was the White King’s man, his father’s agent…

A doubt nagged at Bai Li: Was Senior Sister Yu Long truly on their side?

He didn’t dwell on it. Wei Changyin’s voice cut through his thoughts: "The battle’s not yet secured. Stay vigilant."

Bai Li was puzzled.

The generals, too, were baffled. They gestured at the dark tide of battle below, at the Troopers overwhelming the Southern Zhou forces, at their own bloodthirsty troops surging forward. "General, you’re too cautious. The situation is clearly under control—"

Wei Changyin remained silent.

A deep weariness settled over him.

Lately, pressured relentlessly by Emperor Xuanming to advance, he had repeatedly warned that the timing was poor—yet here they were, committed to the fight. This wasn’t the ideal moment, but he was trapped, with no one around to share the burden.

The generals continued their chatter: "Could the General be worried about that runaway Princess Fulan? The Magic Flute is formidable, but she’s still young. She can’t sway the battle."

They remained optimistic: "Besides, we’ve captured a young lord from the Southern Zhou’s Lu family. We can use him as leverage against Southern Zhou. He’s the Grand Chancellor’s only son, after all..."

Wei Changyin’s sharp rebuke silenced them: "General of the Shining Night still hasn’t appeared!"

The men flinched at his outburst. Even Bai Li turned to look at Wei Changyin, who was clearly agitated.

Wei Changyin’s eyes were stern. "Snow Girl is also missing. Do you—"

"Crack—" A thunderous crack of splitting ice rang out as fissures spiderwebbed across the river. The men on the ridge turned pale—

The thin ice of the Luo River fractured, and frozen waterfalls cascaded from the heights. Unnoticed, the Troopers had been herded onto the vast expanse of the river, while their enemies retreated strategically. Water crashed down in a relentless flood.

Beneath the collapsing ice, unprepared soldiers were swept away instantly. Dazed Troopers struggled to their feet, only to be drenched anew by the cascading water.

Wei Changyin watched the tide of battle shift.

Behind him, the generals turned pale. Following the direction of the waterfall’s roar in the darkness, they spotted a shimmering white glow in the air—clearly, the enemy had shattered the ice upstream, using the unleashed currents against them…

The generals speculated, "Could they have diverted the river to flood the Luo and inundate this land?"

Wei Changyin's mind raced as well, but then he heard Bai Li murmur softly, "Blood..."

Wei Changyin: "What?"

Bai Li stood at the cliff's edge, sniffing the air carried by the wind. He narrowed his eyes, his acute senses mapping every inch of the surroundings, his keen internal energy detecting the subtlest clues. Guided by his formidable power, he found what he sought: "That's... blood..."

Blood in the ice, the Luo tainted with blood. The raging waters of the Luo shattered the ice, drowning the Troopers, who were disoriented and carried off by the current...

Wei Changyin stiffened: "Lin Ye has appeared! Bai Li—"

Before he could finish his order, Bai Li launched like a white arrow, leaping from the mountain into the depths of the night.

--

The waters roared, the waterfall's ice shattered, and the Huoqiu Army swiftly regrouped. Many soldiers climbed the mountain to cut off the enemy.

The enemy was indeed on the mountaintop—Li Weiyan and Lin Ye, accompanied by a few guards, were making preparations near the waterfall.

The cliffs were dotted with waterfalls of varying sizes, all now burst through their icy constraints, their waters mingling with streaks of blood as they cascaded downward. In the dim light of night, it was hard to tell which stream held the threat. Though the Huoqiu Army was vast in number, climbing the cliffs, they couldn't pinpoint their targets immediately.

In this race against time, the Marriage Alliance Mission seized their opportunity.

At the edge of one cliff, two youths stood before a waterfall, whispering as they held out their wrists. Suddenly, enemies emerged from the darkness, steel flashing toward them. The guards clashed with the assailants, while a chilling gleam shot from the bushes, aiming straight for the two.

A lazy voice drawled, "Found you."

Li Weiyan, who lacked martial arts, jolted in alarm, feeling the silent, suffocating bloodlust behind him. He tried to move, but his body refused to obey. Lin Ye grabbed his wrist and yanked him backward, twisting his sword to block the enemy's strike, though the force of the impact sent him stumbling back several steps.

Lin Ye laughed wryly, "So fast."

Supporting his forehead, he offered a weary smile to Bai Li, who emerged from the darkness. Bai Li returned the smile—then lunged forward, palm striking out—

Normally, Bai Li avoided fighting weaker opponents, but in this critical moment, he recognized Lin Ye as a grave threat. Wei Changyin feared Lin Ye deeply; now that Bai Li had found him, he would help Wei Changyin eliminate this foe.

But his palm strike found empty air.

"Clang—"

A glint of icy steel shot toward his palm, its immense internal energy coiled within, its power immeasurable. Bai Li flipped backward, retreating as he saw a slender girl materialize before Lin Ye and Li Weiyan.

Tiny sparks dotted the sky, sparse yet luminous. The Milky Way seemed to fracture, its song-like radiance spilling onto the mortal realm. The shimmering celestial light illuminated the churning waterfalls and rivers, as well as the youths—and the girl standing protectively before them.

Her rarely drawn blade, "Snow Inquiry," gleamed in the interplay of moonlight and waterfall, unsheathed at last.

The night wind was biting, her cheeks pale, strands of hair brushing against her face and forehead. Xue Li fixed her gaze on Bai Li and said softly, "As long as I'm here, no one can harm A Ye."