"This room will do," said Chu Dingjiang.
The waiter entered to light the lamp, still hoping to rent out the opposite room. "There's only one bed in here. Given your height, it might be a bit cramped for two."
"We'll manage for tonight and figure it out tomorrow," Chu Dingjiang replied.
Having seen all sorts of guests, the waiter stopped persuading them when he noticed their resolve.
Chu Dingjiang tossed him a pouch of coins. "Bring two buckets of hot water."
The waiter weighed the pouch in his hand and immediately beamed with delight. "Right away, sir! Please wait a moment."
An Jiu set aside her bow and arrows and sat against the wall.
During missions, she never slept in beds—she wouldn't even sit if she could stand. Sitting or lying down dulled her reflexes.
Chu Dingjiang cracked the window open slightly and leaned against the wall, arms crossed, gazing outside. From here, the pier was clearly visible. Before entering, he had already scanned the room with his mental strength and confirmed it was unoccupied.
"You think there's something off about the pier too?" An Jiu asked.
Chu Dingjiang reached out to close the window and returned to sit across from her. "No. Piers are hubs for information—you can learn a lot here." He paused. "You said something feels off. What is it?"
An Jiu shook her head. "I don’t know. I just have this strange feeling."
Chu Dingjiang carefully reviewed everything they had encountered. Aside from the many people who had eyed them on the road, nothing stood out. Though their weapons were wrapped in leather, they still drew attention—it wasn’t unusual for people to stare.
An Jiu closed her eyes, focusing her mental strength to scan the pier.
The waiter returned with two buckets of hot water. Chu Dingjiang casually asked, "When does the pier usually quiet down?"
Having just been generously tipped, the waiter answered with extra patience. "It varies. Sometimes they stop for a day or two, other times they work nonstop for days. Yesterday afternoon, I saw several large cargo ships dock—they might not stop tonight. Some guests will likely check out tomorrow. If you plan to stay, I can reserve a better room for you."
"Hmm." Chu Dingjiang neither confirmed nor denied their stay. "You may leave."
The waiter bowed slightly. "Of course. Just pull the red cord by the bed if you need anything."
By now, An Jiu had thoroughly scanned the entire pier. The same unease lingered—everything seemed normal, yet something still felt inexplicably strange.
...
Late at night.
In a manor on the outskirts of Jiangning, a fresh mound of earth marked a new grave at the foot of a mountain. A woman in plain robes, her hair dark as ink, stood before it with her hands tucked in her sleeves. Around her, dozens of men in black close-fitting outfits stood like tombstones.
A breeze rustled through the grass.
A woman in a blue dress approached, unchallenged by the guards.
"Master," she stopped ten paces away.
Yelü Huangwu turned slightly, her voice hoarse. "Ningzi."
She raised a hand, signaling the others to withdraw.
Ning Yanli gazed at the fresh grave. Once the others had left, she stepped closer to Yelü Huangwu and stood silently for a moment before speaking. "My condolences."
"Ha." Yelü Huangwu let out a soft laugh. "You overestimate my nobility. Besides, luxuries like 'joy and sorrow' are beyond my reach."Ning Yanli slightly raised her head, her beautiful profile coming into view. "Back then, you asked me to use Medicine on him. Do you regret it now? Huang Wu, there will never be anyone in this world who loves you like he does. Even if you hadn't erased his memories and consciousness, he would have willingly given his life for you."
Yelü Huangwu's hands, hidden in her wide sleeves, clenched tightly, her crimson nails digging into her palms until blood seeped out. Yet her expression remained unchanged, even raising an eyebrow with a faint smile. "And what about you?"
Ning Yanli grasped her wrist through the fabric of her robe, her expression calm. "What would it cost you to admit defeat just once? I wouldn't mock you. You know I can detect even the faintest scent of blood."
She withdrew Yelü Huangwu's hand and wrapped the wound with a cloth strip. "If not for your intervention, Ning Yanli wouldn't exist in this world. My life belongs to you. But Cui Yichen is different—he owes you nothing."
Yelü Huangwu watched her bandaging motions, the mask on her face slowly crumbling. A mist gathered in her eyes, forming teardrops on her lashes.
"Do you know?" Yelü Huangwu said hoarsely, "I used the mind control technique on him, yet he defied the command and turned to shield me from an arrow."
It turned out Cui Yichen had never been ensnared by her mind control technique. He obeyed her commands because he chose to.
For a Madman to go to such lengths—even Yelü Huangwu, with all her deep-seated suspicions, could no longer doubt his sincerity.
"I still haven't changed, have I?" Yelü Huangwu covered her face, tears instantly soaking the cloth on her hands. "I only ever trust the dead."
That year, Cui Yichen had worn a moon-white robe, his handsome face radiant, walking toward her like an immortal descending to the mortal realm. He tied his white horse to the red willow tree outside the tavern. When the wind blew, dappled light flickered across his face, and his eyes, when they smiled at her, were clear and transparent.
The Liao Kingdom had never seen anyone like him.
It had been a beautiful, pure beginning. When they first met, neither had revealed their identities, casting aside all worldly concerns as they talked freely about everything under the sun. And for a moment, even she had been moved. (To be continued...)
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