The army had already left Hebei Camp, and An Jiu knew there was no time to waste, so she immediately set about gathering her forces.
To the rest of the troops, it was announced as a series of field training exercises lasting half a month.
Most of those An Jiu selected were former members of the Crane Control Army or individuals with clear backgrounds, while the rest remained behind to continue training.
Crane Control Army assassins excelled at covert attacks and were accustomed to operating alone, so An Jiu had previously focused on training them to work together. In any case, everyone knew she enjoyed putting them through rigorous drills, so no one found it unusual.
An Jiu first sent a letter ahead, then led over two hundred men under the cover of night to station at Hebei Camp.
On the third day after their arrival, the Song army launched its first direct assault on the Liao in ten years!
The Liao were still unstable from internal strife, and their most skilled battlefield commander, the Northern Court Grand Prince, had been imprisoned. Caught off guard, their border defenses were easily breached, and the Song army swiftly captured a city.
This initial victory greatly boosted the morale of the Song troops.
No matter how encouraging the higher-ups sounded, all the soldiers had been uneasy at first—after all, they were charging straight into the wolf’s den. But the smooth success of the first battle made them believe that the Liao were indeed as preoccupied as Ling Jiangjun had claimed.
In truth, this was all part of Ling Ziyue’s plan.
The following battles were not as easy, but the Song army moved with such speed that they seized another city within days!
The Song soldiers, fighting fiercely, gradually grew bolder. Though each subsequent battle was harder, none of them retreated.
An Jiu, stationed at the rear, listened as reports of victories kept coming in, yet her unease only deepened.
Nearly a month had passed, and there was still no word from Chu Dingjiang.
The rumble of thunder lasted all night, dark clouds pressing down on the city, making it hard to even breathe.
At dawn, silver serpents of lightning slithered through the clouds, followed by a deafening thunderclap that shook the heavens and earth.
Across the wilderness, hundreds of black-clad riders galloped forward.
Rain began to fall, fat droplets pattering against the grass. In moments, the downpour intensified.
A scout hidden in the grass caught sight of the cavalry and quietly retreated, retrieving his horse from the woods before racing back to Hebei Camp.
“Report—”
An Jiu had been scratching Da Jiu’s back when the urgent call snapped her to attention.
The messenger rushed in, wind and rain clinging to him, and dropped to one knee, bowing his head. “Master, as expected, a hundred-man cavalry is charging this way. Every one of them is a martial arts master.”
“Inform the camp’s commanding general,” An Jiu ordered.
“Yes!”
As the man departed, An Jiu glanced at the armor hanging on the rack, then swiftly donned it.
The armor was heavy, but for a body tempered twice over, it was barely noticeable.
She assembled her soldiers, though she suspected the enemy might not strike tonight.
This cavalry belonged to Misty Villa. Their goal was to launch a surprise attack from the rear, sowing chaos among the Song ranks and buying time for the Liao army. Naturally, the bigger the disturbance, the better—arson was likely part of the plan. But the weather tonight was ill-suited for fire.
An Jiu’s greatest concern was whether Misty Villa still possessed any remaining explosive crossbows. Even one could cause devastating damage.
With that in mind, she personally sought out the camp’s commanding general, bringing Lou Xiaowu along. After some discussion, they decided to set up an ambush in advance.They might have explosive crossbows. Over the past few years, Lou Xiaowu had also crafted numerous powerful explosive weapons. The moment she heard about setting up an ambush, she eagerly volunteered and enthusiastically led a team overnight to "lay the trap."
The heavy rain stopped by the early hours of the morning.
After completing the ambush setup, Lou Xiaowu went to An Jiu’s tent. She patted her chest confidently, "I guarantee not even a mosquito will get through."
An Jiu kept her eyes closed, resting, and merely hummed in acknowledgment.
"Shi Si, the way you are now reminds me of the first time I met you," Lou Xiaowu said, hugging her knees as she sat across from her.
An Jiu opened her eyes, waiting for her to continue.
Lou Xiaowu first encountered An Jiu during the ancient temple trials. Back then, she thought An Jiu was icy and aloof, something she secretly admired. Later, after the Lou family was destroyed and the Mei family suffered heavy losses, they spent more and more time together. Lou Xiaowu could clearly sense the changes in An Jiu.
And this change was largely because of one person.
"With Mr. Chu gone, you seem to have turned as cold as before," Lou Xiaowu muttered gloomily.
She never had many friends to begin with. Ling Ziyue often scorned her for lingering around the military camp, and everyone kept her at arm's length. Now, even An Jiu had become like this, making her feel even more isolated.
"I’m worried about him. I’m not in the mood for jokes," An Jiu replied.
Lou Xiaowu knew that any words now would only be hollow comfort.
An Jiu’s ears twitched slightly. Seeing Lou Xiaowu about to speak again, she immediately raised a finger to silence her.
Outside the camp, several martial arts masters were lurking. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they quietly retreated.
"They were scouting," An Jiu said.
"Scary, how bold!" Lou Xiaowu exclaimed.
An Jiu asked, "They won’t trigger the ambush, will they?"
"Hard to say. I buried a lot of Thunderclap bombs around. As long as they don’t step on the Celestial Silk connected to the bombs, nothing will explode." Lou Xiaowu paused. "Most of the traps are set near the fences. They should be fine as long as they don’t try to sneak in."
As they spoke, the sound of a horn suddenly pierced the dark night.
An Jiu grabbed her bow and arrows and rushed out of the tent. She heard soldiers shouting while running, "Liao cavalry! Liao cavalry are attacking!"
Over two hundred men from Hexi County had already gathered in front of An Jiu’s tent.
The ground beneath them trembled faintly—clearly, the enemy numbers were substantial!
This wasn’t the cavalry unit they had scouted earlier.
Amid the urgent blare of horns, the cavalry charged forward with ghostly speed, clad entirely in black armor, revealing only their cold, ruthless eyes.
"Fire!" At the command of the Song general, the archers, already poised for battle, unleashed a volley.
A rain of arrows, thick as locusts, swept across the sky. The front lines of the Liao ghost cavalry were thrown into chaos, horses and men tumbling. But the cavalry quickly dispersed, skillfully dodging the arrows and the fallen comrades ahead.
The relentless arrow storm felled Liao riders here and there, yet it did nothing to slow their advance!
As they drew closer to the fences and the main gate, Lou Xiaowu clenched her fists nervously.
Boom!
A deafening explosion, like thunder, erupted. In an instant, mud and flesh sprayed from one corner of the gate, raining down in a bloody shower. Yet, the cavalry behind charged straight through the crimson downpour.
The camp descended into chaos!The Song army was already terrified of the Liao's ghost cavalry, and now, witnessing their sword-like momentum as they charged straight into their own camp, their hearts were thrown into chaos. Some even began fleeing in all directions.
The deafening roar of explosions continued without end.
Yet the Liao cavalry showed no fear at all.
Lou Xiaowu held her breath as she watched, murmuring in a daze, "Are they not afraid of death...?"
Who isn't afraid of death? But people are easily swayed by the atmosphere. Under the unstoppable, death-defying momentum of the Liao ghost cavalry, all their fighting spirit was ignited—how could they be afraid!
"Protect the commander," An Jiu ordered.
The assassins by her side immediately obeyed, moving toward the defending general's position.
Though the Liao ghost cavalry was fierce, their numbers were too few to overturn the entire Hebei camp, especially after the recent rain. If they weren't setting fires to sow chaos, their goal must be to kill the defending general.
An Jiu followed in that direction.
Behind the ghost cavalry, an even sharper unit of riders charged forth. Wherever they passed, none could stand in their way, as if a blade had cleaved through layers of obstacles, heading straight for the commander's tent.
At the forefront of the charge, a black-armored cavalryman suddenly raised his arm! A blue light erupted, spreading like a massive umbrella that instantly enveloped the area.
The commander's tent collapsed with a thunderous crash, engulfed in raging flames. Fortunately, the general stationed there had long since left the tent.
An Jiu drew her Dragon Subduing Bow. The Crane Cry pierced the sky, and the leading Liao ghost cavalryman stiffened before toppling straight off his horse.
Then, from behind him emerged a slender rider.
Her phoenix-like eyes reflected the flames, brimming with fearless courage.
An Jiu frowned slightly. As she raised her bow again, she saw the rider pull a large Explosive Crossbow from her back, aiming it at An Jiu and the commander.
"Sister," the rider faltered upon seeing An Jiu.
"Mei Ru Yan!" An Jiu was somewhat surprised. This Mei Ru Yan, who only knew how to chase profit and climb social ladders, was actually leading a cavalry raid herself!
Had she been raiding a Liao camp today, An Jiu might have cheered. But this woman of the Great Song was leading Liao cavalry to attack a Song camp!
Lou Xiaowu was even more shocked than An Jiu. "Mei Ru Yan, you woman without home or country!"
Mei Ru Yan sneered, pulling the trigger without hesitation.
An Jiu flashed forward, shielding Lou Xiaowu.
A blinding light left everyone's vision white, causing momentary blindness.
By then, the Song soldiers nearby had regrouped. The constant reports of victories from the frontlines greatly bolstered the morale of the rear troops. After the initial panic, under the defending general's command, they began to fight back in an orderly manner.
An Jiu's subordinates stayed close to the general, ensuring the ghost cavalry and Misty Villa assassins had no opening.
An Jiu grabbed Lou Xiaowu. "Tell me, where are those threads?"
The Liao cavalry had only opened a breach, but the Song army quickly sealed it. Many Liao riders were still trying to break through near the barricades.
Lou Xiaowu pointed to the eastern barricade. "Starting from the first post, there's a thread every four logs."
At such a distance, even An Jiu's sharp eyes couldn't spot the hair-thin Celestial Silk, but she could see the barricade! She drew her Dragon Subduing Bow, channeling all her strength into the arrow.
The arrow tore through the night with a howl, embedding itself into a barricade log with a resounding thud! Instantly, the entire log shattered, scattering splinters everywhere.
Boom!The first Thunderclap bomb exploded with such force that it destroyed an entire row of fences, followed by continuous blasts that instantly engulfed the nearby Liao cavalry. This saved An Jiu quite a bit of trouble.
Her heart leaped with joy, but when she turned around, she saw Lou Xiaowu chasing Mei Ru Yan toward the provisions.
In this weather, setting fire to the granary with ordinary flames would be impossible, but using an Explosive Crossbow—as evidenced by the earlier blaze in the commander’s tent—was a different story!
Lou Xiaowu’s Martial Arts might be on par with Mei Ru Yan’s, but she lacked Mei Ru Yan’s cunning. An Jiu quickly led her team in pursuit.
Neither Lou Xiaowu nor the provisions could be allowed to come to harm!
Seeing that she couldn’t catch up to Mei Ru Yan’s horse, Lou Xiaowu simply pulled out a small Thunderclap bomb, channeled her Inner Force into it, and hurled it with all her might.
A deafening explosion followed. Mei Ru Yan was caught in the shockwave, feeling a tearing pain in her chest. Unable to endure the jolting ride any longer, she swayed and tumbled from her horse.
Lou Xiaowu was also affected, but she ignored it. Seizing the opportunity as Mei Ru Yan fell, she lunged forward to snatch the Explosive Crossbow.
By the time An Jiu arrived, the two were already locked in a fierce struggle. She raised her bow but realized she couldn’t get a clear shot.
The Liao forces attacking the Hebei camp consisted of two units—one was the Ghost Cavalry, numbering around three to four hundred riders, while the other was a group of two hundred disguised assassins from Misty Villa. The Misty Villa operatives deliberately posed as cavalry and made no effort to conceal their movements, all to divert the scouts’ attention.
The first wave of Liao cavalry that breached the camp had already suffered heavy losses, and those outside were torn apart by the triggered Thunderclap bombs. Yet these men showed no signs of retreat—clearly, they were death warriors.
Other Ghost Cavalry units were already charging toward them from all sides, trampling any Song soldiers in their path.
An Jiu spotted one rider holding an Explosive Crossbow and immediately loosed an arrow.
Until now, no one had ever dodged An Jiu’s arrows—but this man suddenly vanished from his saddle, and her shot missed entirely!
An Jiu snorted and fired a second and third arrow in quick succession.
Though the man was fast, he never escaped the range of her Mental strength. With her heightened sensitivity, she could not only pinpoint his location but also instinctively sense his movements without needing to calculate or observe.
Thud! The armored rider crashed to the ground.
A single arrow through the throat—instant death.
An Jiu retrieved the Explosive Crossbow, only to freeze in shock—there were no bolts inside!
She turned and saw Mei Ru Yan choking Lou Xiaowu with a death grip. Lou Xiaowu’s face was deathly pale, her lips tinged blue—not from suffocation, but poison!
An Jiu fired another arrow, deliberately avoiding a fatal shot this time.
She rushed over, pulling out an Antitoxin pill, but as she moved to administer it, she caught the flicker of amusement in Mei Ru Yan’s eyes. She spun around and stomped hard on her chest.
“Antidote!”
“Hah, sister, you’re not as stupid as I thought.” Mei Ru Yan laughed wildly. “This poison was specially formulated by Miracle Doctor Mo to counteract the Antitoxin pill. Taking it won’t neutralize the toxin—it’ll only accelerate it.”
“Antidote!” An Jiu pressed down harder, grateful she hadn’t impulsively killed Mei Ru Yan earlier.“The antidote will be yours.” Mei Ru Yan, whose internal organs had been injured by the Thunderclap bomb earlier, was now being heavily pressed down by An Jiu’s foot, causing her to spit out a mouthful of blood. “But before that, I want to tell you some news, sister—Chu Dingjiang…”
An Jiu, about to strike a fatal blow, abruptly stopped upon hearing that name.
“He single-handedly killed two hundred elite warriors.” Mei Ru Yan laughed heartily. “But he perished with them!”
An Jiu’s mind reeled in shock. “Lies! Hand over the antidote!”
Mei Ru Yan’s laughter was too grating. An Jiu kicked her hard in the face, then drew her dagger and sliced open Mei Ru Yan’s armor, searching for the antidote.
“Mei Ru Yan, you wretched woman.” Lou Xiaowu struggled to her feet, snatched the Explosive Crossbow from Mei Ru Yan’s hands, and dismantled it swiftly. “Traitor! You don’t deserve to be a Song citizen!”
“Pah! As if I care!” The gap in strength between Mei Ru Yan and An Jiu was vast. Under An Jiu’s restraint, Mei Ru Yan couldn’t move at all and could only glare venomously at Lou Xiaowu. “When I was forcibly sold to a brothel, who cared that I was a Song citizen? When I was locked up and beaten in that brothel, who cared that I was a Song citizen? What has the Great Song ever given me?!”
Mei Ru Yan had no home, no country. All her love and happiness were tied to one person—she would never regret it, even in death!
“A Jiu! That man has an Explosive Crossbow!” Lou Xiaowu cried out in alarm.
“There are no arrows!” An Jiu had been tricked once before and wouldn’t fall for it again.
“There are! Believe me!” Black blood trickled from Lou Xiaowu’s nose, her body already weak to the point of collapse, yet she clung desperately to An Jiu’s leg. “We can’t let him destroy the provisions!”
Lou Xiaowu was an expert in such matters—if she said it was true, it likely was.
An Jiu knocked Mei Ru Yan unconscious with a swift strike. “Find the antidote first!”
The enemy had already raised his arm, aiming at the provisions.
Without hesitation, An Jiu unleashed two bursts of Mental strength—Startling String. The man’s Mental strength was struck, rendering him temporarily immobile. Other Song soldiers swarmed in and hacked him to death.
Limbless corpses lay everywhere. The hundreds of cavalry who had charged in had wreaked havoc in the camp before being swiftly cut down. Some were still struggling in their death throes ahead, but the fighting here had come to an end.
An Jiu’s Mental strength was rapidly depleting. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her, and her internal organs could barely endure it. The injuries from her previous battle with Xiao Che flared up again, leaving her feeling hollowed out, as if she could collapse into sleep at any moment. But she still wanted to question Mei Ru Yan about Chu Dingjiang’s fate.
Mei Ru Yan was Yelü Quancang’s woman—her words held some credibility.
Just as she turned, she saw a barely alive ghost rider suddenly raise his arm. Strapped to it was a large Explosive Crossbow. If it truly carried an arrow, the entire granary could be obliterated in an instant, and even the nearby armory would be caught in the blast.
An Jiu was about to draw her bow when she saw Lou Xiaowu stagger up and stab the dismantled arrow from the Explosive Crossbow into the weapon’s chamber.
Chu Dingjiang had said that defending the camp was secondary—staying alive was paramount. In his heart, nothing in this world was worth her life. She had to survive at all costs and never risk herself.
But An Jiu had no time to think of another way. Instinctively, she mustered all her remaining strength and dashed forward like a flash of light, grabbing Lou Xiaowu and pulling her aside.
A blinding explosion erupted, engulfing both their figures in an instant.
The ground shook violently beneath everyone’s feet. No one within a ten-zhang radius escaped unscathed—flesh and blood sprayed everywhere, raining down like a storm.The world before her eyes turned pure white.
An Jiu felt that everything had come to an end, but she still regretted not seeing Chu Dingjiang one last time.
The Song army pressed forward with unstoppable momentum.
In just two months, victory reports poured in continuously.
Yet in the Bianjing court, another round of debates erupted over the issue of military provisions. According to regulations, the authority to deploy troops lay with the Privy Council. Ling Ziyue's sudden attack on the Liao Kingdom without authorization was a capital offense!
The Emperor was furious—not at Ling Ziyue's unauthorized campaign, but at the court officials who feared the Liao Kingdom might recover and retaliate.
"You! You! And you!" The Emperor pointed at the ministers opposing further warfare. "If you can guarantee to reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun for me, I'll immediately order Ling Ziyue back to the capital for trial!"
The hall fell into dead silence.
The Emperor sneered. "If you can't, then keep your mouths shut! Since I dared to appoint Ling Ziyue as the commander of three routes, I dare to tolerate his defiance of imperial orders on the battlefield!"
The Emperor wished he could lead the campaign himself. He had endured enough humiliation as a prince. Now that the opportunity had arisen, he would not let it slip away. If Ling Ziyue truly usurped the throne, then it would be his own misfortune—simply outmatched!
Still, it was time to elevate someone who could counterbalance Ling Ziyue. His gaze swept over the courtiers and paused on Hua Rongtian.
"I've heard the garrison troops of Hexi County performed exceptionally in defending the Hebei camp. The two hundred soldiers they led suffered heavy casualties—truly admirable." The Emperor looked at Hua Rongtian. "The magistrate of Hexi County, Wu Lingyuan, is your disciple, is he not?"
Hua Rongtian stepped forward and bowed. "Your Majesty is correct."
"Excellent," the Emperor praised.
A simple commendation, but everyone knew the Hua Clan was about to rise again.
...
Three months into the war, the Liao Kingdom sent envoys to Bianjing to negotiate peace.
In truth, the Liao Kingdom was not powerless to resist. The Song army had long been weak and could not transform into an elite force overnight. However, the Liao Emperor was gravely ill, the State Preceptor's fate remained unknown, the Northern Court King was imprisoned, and without anyone to restrain the tribal leaders, each grew increasingly ambitious. The entire Liao government teetered on the brink of collapse.
And the root of it all was Yelü Quancang's unconscious state.
At the border between Liao and Song, Mo Sigui lay sprawled in the tall grass, lazily fanning himself.
Beside him lay a man on the verge of death.
All sunlight seemed drawn to this man's face. Even in such a wretched state, his beauty remained undiminished.
Seeing that face again, Mo Sigui felt as though lifetimes had passed.
Years ago, a man named Gu Jinghong had begged him to extract heart blood. Now, years later, a man who looked identical to Gu Jinghong lay before him, his blood taken.
"Miracle Doctor," Yelü Jinglie said, "did Jinghong suffer as I do now?"
Whether it was the kindness of impending death or Mo Sigui's concealment of the poison in the heart blood, the usually cruel and volatile Yelü Jinglie spoke to him with unusual gentleness.
Yelü Quancang's life was nearly spent, yet Mo Sigui found no joy in it. His fanning hand paused at the question. "Him? He suffered far more than you. His death was even worse—his face ruined beyond recognition, slain by his enemy's sword."
Gu Jinghong had known full well that after extracting his heart blood, he stood no chance against Yelü Quancang and Yelü Huangwu. Yet he went to assassinate them anyway. His goal wasn't to kill anyone—it was to make them witness with their own eyes how the medicine man they had painstakingly nurtured for over twenty years had already been destroyed!He was destroying himself, but in doing so, he shattered their hopes.
Yelü Jinglie had sought some comfort in his final moments, never expecting this man to rub salt in his wounds. Perhaps this was retribution. He curled his lips slightly, "I know the woman you've always loved—Lou Mingyue, isn't it?"
Mo Sigui's expression darkened.
"To love one drink for a lifetime—reckless yet sincere." Yelü Jinglie laughed. Those light, floating words pierced Mo Sigui to the core. "You should have realized long ago that in this life, you would never love another woman besides her. That way, even if separated by life and death, you wouldn't be drowning in regret now."
Was it just for speaking the truth that he had to be stabbed in the heart like this? Mo Sigui angrily retorted, "You Yelü family members are all so vindictive, no wonder none of you come to a good end!"
"Lou Mingyue was one of us too," Yelü Jinglie laughed, coughing up blood.
Mo Sigui turned a blind eye.
"In this lifetime, I've never sincerely thanked anyone, but now I want to say thank you to you. Dying here is much more dignified than I imagined," he said.
Mo Sigui snorted, "Don't you dare make any promises about the next life. I'll be very busy in my next life—there's already a line of people waiting to repay me stretching to the heavens. You won't get a turn."
Yelü Jinglie scoffed, "You think too much. Up... until now, you're the only one qualified to hear... hear a word of thanks from me. I only wish... to turn into a wisp of wind after death, with no next life at all."
Facing the light, his beautiful phoenix eyes held a triumphant smile as they gradually lost focus. Yet under the sunlight, those eyes remained dazzling.
"Someone as wicked as you would only become a sinister wind," Mo Sigui said, touching the ashes hidden in his robe. "So many people have promised me their next lives. I never believed it before, but if bonds in this life truly lead to meetings in the next... I'll reserve that promise for you alone."
Back then, he hadn't sought revenge for Elder Qi because he knew what Elder Qi most wanted was for him to achieve greatness in The Way of Medicine, not waste time on other matters.
But Mingyue, what is it you want me to do?
It turns out that when there's nothing else left to do, the hatred in one's heart becomes unbearable if left unavenged. Yet even after revenge, he found no real satisfaction.
Yelü Jinglie had taken the Poison Pill when his rebellion failed. This poison not only destroyed the original Medicine's effects but also lingered in his blood.
However, Yelü Jinglie only knew half the truth—this poison takes years to fully settle in the heart.
Meaning Yelü Jinglie's heartblood wouldn't have been enough to kill Yelü Quancang. Mo Sigui reached out to close his eyes and whispered, "But don't worry. I came specifically to make up for that."
This time, he had over a dozen physicians watching as he drew blood. Though the chance to administer poison was slim, when it came to such things, nothing was impossible if he willed it.
When he arrived in Liao, Mo Sigui pretended to know nothing, insisting that Yelü Jinglie had forced Lou Mingyue to her death. He would help treat the illness, but afterward, Yelü Jinglie must be handed over to him.
As expected, they thought he had mistaken the mastermind.
Mo Sigui succeeded because Yelü Quancang had already fallen unconscious before taking the Medicine. A man who had schemed brilliantly all his life, turning clouds and rain with a flip of his hand, yet in the end, even his life and death were left to the mercy of the fools around him.
No matter how one struggles, they can never outwit fate.
The ending cannot be chosen, but the process lies in each person's hands. In the end, he still regretted. Even if his enemies died ten thousand times over, it wouldn't dispel the slightest pain in his heart.
"Elder, you told me never to betray the word 'love.' I thought it would be simple."
Among all the people he knew, perhaps only An Jiu lived up to that word—yet that person probably didn't even know what love was.
Mo Sigui lay back down again, flicking open his folding fan to cover his face.
November.
Bianjing was already blanketed in silver.
A woman in dark blue ceremonial robes emerged from the palace holding an umbrella. As the only female general of the Great Song, even with just a fifth-rank official position, she remained the most dazzling of all.The current emperor was a man of great vision. He wanted to cultivate someone capable of rivaling Ling Ziyue, but Hua Rongtian was, after all, a civil official. The military side also needed someone controllable, yet there were many reservations about potential candidates—until Mei Shisi distinguished herself in the battle at the Hebei camp.
Recalling Mei Shisi, who was recuperating from injuries, the emperor immediately recognized her as Chu Dingjiang’s wife upon meeting her. Her martial arts were formidable, no less than any man’s, and she had lost all memory of her past in that explosion.
Through secret investigations, he confirmed that Chu Dingjiang had perished under the siege of hundreds of elite warriors from the Liao Kingdom. While the emperor lamented this loss, he also secretly rejoiced. Only with the death of a terrifying strategist like Chu Dingjiang would he dare to employ Mei Shisi with peace of mind. A woman, alone and powerless, could be easily controlled—even if she later held significant military power, there would be countless reasons to strip her of it.
Thus, the emperor went out of his way to promote her, transferring her back to the capital to hold a key position in the Military Command. He planned to send her out for further experience once her injuries healed...
Many in the court couldn’t fathom the emperor’s intentions, assuming that with such striking beauty, she would eventually become one of the palace’s honored consorts.
But An Jiu herself knew well—though the road ahead was perilous, it was boundless.
Yet she felt she had lost the most important thing in her life.
According to Lou Xiaowu, at the time, she saw a ghost rider preparing to fire an explosive crossbow. Unable to stop it in time, she picked up scattered explosive arrows from the ground and jammed them into the crossbow’s chamber, blocking the bolt and causing two arrows to collide, resulting in an immediate explosion.
An Jiu saved Lou Xiaowu with an almost supernatural speed but was severely injured by the blast, losing all memory of her past upon waking.
During her months of recovery, fragments of memory occasionally surfaced. The most vivid was a woman with phoenix eyes laughing wildly amidst the flames of battle, seemingly saying something. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall what that woman had said.
An Jiu surmised this must have been a deeply impactful event before the explosion.
Snow fell thick and heavy.
An Jiu stood alone for a long time until a carriage stopped before her.
Hua Rongjian leaned out from the carriage, “A Jiu, want to grab a meal?”
An Jiu stared at his features, lost in thought.
“Hey!” Hua Rongjian leaned halfway out and flicked her forehead with his finger.
The gesture felt so familiar, stirring something in her memory! An Jiu’s head buzzed violently. Her body swayed, and she fell straight backward into the snow, her umbrella blown far away by the wind.
She lay there, eyes wide open, staring at the swirling snowflakes, motionless, desperately trying to grasp the fleeting memory in her mind.
“Hey! Hey! A Jiu! Shi Si!” Hua Rongjian rushed out of the carriage, shouting anxiously.
An Jiu snapped back to reality and snapped, “Stop shouting! I’m thinking!”
Hua Rongjian exhaled in relief, plopping down beside her. His breath formed little mist flowers in the cold air. “Is this how you think? Scared the hell out of me.”
An Jiu got up, tucking her hands into her sleeves, and walked straight ahead.
Hua Rongjian ordered the coachman to fetch the umbrella and held it over her head.
After walking a while, An Jiu said, “You go back first. I want to walk alone.”
Hua Rongjian sighed and shoved the umbrella into her hands. “Come back early. You’re a big shot now—lots of people have their eyes on you.”
“Hmm,” she replied absentmindedly before turning away.
The streets were a vast expanse of white. As evening approached, few pedestrians remained.Hua Rongjian watched her walking alone on Imperial Street, the smile on his face gradually fading. "A Jiu, it seems even though you no longer remember him, no one can ever take his place."
The street was lined with houses, and the wind was slight. Goose-feather snowflakes drifted down leisurely, as if without a care in the world.
The sky was growing dim, and red lanterns hung at the shop entrances, casting a warm orange glow over the world.
She was a female general, a Transformation Realm Master, the strongest woman in the Great Song Dynasty. Yet, no one in the world probably knew that her eyes were now filled with confusion, and she stood alone and helpless.
Looking ahead, Imperial Street stretched endlessly. How long would it take for one person to reach its end?
An Jiu wandered aimlessly until she reached the intersection of Panlou Street, where she suddenly sensed a familiar trace of mental strength faintly emerging.
Following that subtle pull, she slowly traced its source.
Turning into an alley beside the Jubaozhai, she walked several circles before finally spotting a small wonton stall.
The stall owner was a tall man—so tall that even bending to check the wontons in the pot seemed like an effort. He wore a deep blue robe, his beard and hair neatly trimmed, his chiseled features handsome and striking. He didn’t look like someone who would set up a stall in the snow for a few coins.
Steam rose and brushed against his face. As if sensing someone approaching, he naturally lifted his head and gave her a warm smile, asking in a deep, resonant voice, "Would you like some wontons, miss?"
Staring at this face that seemed both familiar and unfamiliar, An Jiu felt an inexplicable tightness in her throat, as if something ached there. She slowly walked over and sat down at the table.
Without a word, he ladled out a bowl of steaming wontons and placed it before her. As he turned to leave, An Jiu suddenly grabbed the hem of his robe.
"Uncle, I—"
The man stiffened, then turned back. His deep black eyes shimmered like stars, gazing at her with emotion.
An Jiu’s eyes reddened. "You really remind me of my mother."
This damn kid!
Chu Dingjiang considered himself a patient man with remarkable self-control, but at this moment, he couldn’t help wanting to grab her by the collar and toss her out of the alley. Ever since she had found her purpose in life, he had schemed tirelessly for her—arranging for Ling Ziyue to become the commander of the three armies, altering the court’s power dynamics, orchestrating her heroic rescue of the Hebei camp to earn military merit, and even mobilizing long-hidden forces to assist her. Finally, he had gone to great lengths to fake his own death so the emperor could trust and employ her without reservation.
If all went well, she would now be walking the bright path he had paved for her! As for him, it didn’t matter if he had to live in obscurity for the rest of his life.
Even if he had used Mo Sigui’s medicine to counteract the forced growth of internal energy and eliminate those fake masters, he had still barely escaped with his life.
And what did she do? Just because the reinforcements were a little late, she threw herself into danger without a second thought.
Chu Dingjiang, severely injured and committed to making his "death" convincing, had endured over a month without sending her any news. The entire time, he had worried endlessly that her desperation might drive her to some reckless act. And when he finally inquired about her? Turns out he had been overthinking it—someone had been so badly injured that she had forgotten everything, tossing it all to the back of her mind!
After all his painstaking calculations and risking his life, this damn kid was now sitting here eating wontons and calling him "mother"? Just who had he been working so hard for?!
But...
Chu Dingjiang looked at her reddened eyes and nose, and all his tangled emotions dissolved into a sigh. He reached out and ruffled her hair.Though she couldn’t remember who he was, the instinct to cling to him remained. She had etched their bond into her very bones—what more could she ask for?
The steam from the soup made An Jiu’s nose sting. The warmth was too familiar, too nostalgic, and she couldn’t help but grasp at a sliver of hope as she asked, “Uncle, do you have a long-lost daughter?”
Chu Dingjiang, who had just managed to steady himself, felt as if he’d been struck by a sudden blow.
He tossed the rag onto the table and sat down across from her with an imposing air. The warm glow of the firelight flickered over their faces as he fixed her with an intense gaze. “This uncle doesn’t have a long-lost daughter. He lost the woman who was supposed to bear him one.”
Snow fell silently around the shed, and steam curled lazily from the bowl.
An Jiu’s cheeks burned. She lowered her head and stirred the wontons for a moment before murmuring, “Should I be angry? But I’m actually… really happy you teased me like that…”
Then she lifted her head and looked at Chu Dingjiang in confusion.
Their eyes met. A heartbeat later, Chu Dingjiang suddenly leaned in and kissed her.
In that instant, the narrow alley became their own little world, and time itself seemed to slow beneath the falling snow.
(To be continued…)
PS: "A lifetime of love, a single gourd to drink—wild yet true." This line is adapted from a lyric by Huang Wenze. Considering he’s a modern figure, proper attribution is due.
The full verse is as follows:
Brush the long sword, entrust it to white clouds,
A lifetime, one love, a single gourd to drink.
Dance beneath the autumn moon, sway with the river wind,
Wild yet true, free yet sincere.
Swing the sword to ask the way—the road is rugged,
Lean on the clouds to send feelings—emotions ebb and flow.
Looking back on a lifetime—chaos in the end,
Lift wine, lie drunk, forget all worries.
The autumn moon at equinox stirs longing,
The river wind sings, dancing in ripples.
Once, heroic spirit pierced the heavens,
Once, carefree, I wandered at ease.
Extra: Her Image
The crystal palace lamps of Guanghua Palace swayed in the night wind, casting long, faint shadows in the snow.
Inside the warm chamber, the young Emperor, resplendent in his robes, reclined on a daybed as a eunuch served him sobering soup.
“Is the Vice Commander in such a hurry to leave?” The Emperor set down his teacup and regarded An Jiu with a calm gaze.
Earlier, at the grand banquet’s end, he had noticed her hurried steps toward the exit. The Emperor had long since confirmed that the Mei clan had relocated beyond the frontier—there was no family left for her in Bianjing.
An Jiu kept her eyes downcast. “This subject is unaccustomed to such occasions.”
“In truth, I once met your husband, the Commander, in earlier years.” The Emperor’s gaze remained fixed on her, unwavering.
An Jiu was no good at lying, but she could conceal all emotion effortlessly. She saw no point in wasting time with roundabout talk. “Since Your Majesty dares to employ this subject, it’s clear you’re a ruler of bold vision. If you had such courage when the Song was in turmoil, why grow timid now that peace has settled? Rest assured—not everyone covets the seat beneath your backside.”
“Outrageous!” The eunuch at the Emperor’s side shrilled in rebuke.
The Emperor, however, laughed. “You’re right. But I must understand—why would a woman like you willingly serve as my puppet?”
“I was once a puppet too. I just didn’t like staying in the dark. I wanted to bask in the sun.” An Jiu lifted her eyes and met the Emperor’s gaze head-on.
The weight of that stare was like a blade’s edge, tightening every muscle in his body.
If she wished to kill him now, it would be effortless.
The Emperor suddenly relaxed. “You may go.”
An Jiu bowed and withdrew from the warm chamber.In a short span of time, the emperor had repeatedly tested An Jiu on multiple occasions. Perhaps just as An Jiu had said—when the nation was in turmoil, one could risk everything to fight, but once stability was achieved, the constant fear of others usurping the throne would arise. No emperor would ever want to loosen their grip on the world's most supreme position.
An Jiu's figure vanished into the snow, and in the blink of an eye, she arrived outside the palace gates, leaving her pursuers far behind as she headed straight for Jubao Zhai.
Inside the hall, a hotpot had already been set up, steam rising in thick clouds. Sheng Changying and Mei Yanran were still bustling about.
Mo Sigui reclined in a round-backed chair, looking half-dead. Xiao Yue lay curled at his feet, while Da Jiu squatted beside the table, staring obsessively at the meat on the plate. Lou Xiaowu was shaking a rattle drum to amuse the chubby-cheeked child in Zhu Pianxian's arms.
Chu Dingjiang was the first to spot An Jiu and came over to take her hand.
"Master, you're back!" Sui Yunzhu led Hu Niu forward to greet her.
Mo Sigui lifted his eyelids slightly and let out a couple of grunts.
"A Jiu!" Lou Xiaowu shoved the rattle drum into Zhu Pianxian's hands and darted over to cling to An Jiu's arm. "Why did you take so long? Did the emperor assign you to the border?"
"Not yet," An Jiu replied.
Lou Xiaowu puffed out her cheeks and timidly glanced at Chu Dingjiang. "Brother-in-law said the emperor would definitely send you to the border..."
Chu Dingjiang, who usually wasn't inclined to engage with others, felt rather pleased at being called "brother-in-law." "Wait patiently. It could be as short as three to five months or as long as a year."
"A whole year!" Lou Xiaowu exclaimed. "Then I shouldn't count on you."
Lou Xiaowu's injuries would take about a year to fully heal, and until then, she couldn't do without Mo Sigui. If An Jiu were stationed at the border, Mo Sigui would surely follow... which meant she could see Ling Ziyue sooner.
And by then, Chu Dingjiang wouldn't have to hide as deliberately as he did now.
"What's the rush? Don't worry. I bet General Ling will give in to you sooner or later!" Zhu Pianxian laughed.
"How can I not rush? I'm in a hurry!" Lou Xiaowu showed no trace of shyness, instead sighing deeply. "He's already this old—every year apart is one less year together!"
Mo Sigui stirred, slowly sitting up. He rubbed his slightly disheveled hair, yawned, and staggered out.
"Miracle Doctor, where are you going?" Sui Yunzhu asked.
"Sleepy. Going to sleep," Mo Sigui replied.
"Eat first, then sleep," Sui Yunzhu urged.
Mo Sigui didn't answer, swaying as he walked away.
"I'll check on him," An Jiu said, following him.
Ever since Lou Mingyue's death, his insomnia had inexplicably cured itself. Whether it was due to a shift in his mental state or an overuse of sleep-inducing Medicated Smoke, he now slept at least seven or eight hours a day. Unless he was tinkering with Medicine, he seemed capable of falling asleep anytime, anywhere. He had also grown increasingly reclusive, especially avoiding lively gatherings.
The courtyard was brightly lit, and the crisp air in the snow-covered ground sharpened the mind. Mo Sigui quickened his pace.
Because the more awake he was, the more it hurt.
An Jiu silently followed him to his room, which was piled high with medicinal herbs, before finally speaking. "Mo Sigui."
"Why'd you follow me?" Mo Sigui waved a hand. "Go eat."
"Move to the valley," An Jiu said.
Mo Sigui had brought Lou Mingyue's ashes back and buried them in a serene, picturesque valley. An Jiu had purchased the valley to ensure outsiders wouldn't disturb its tranquility.An Jiu had initially thought of keeping him here to spare him from loneliness, but the livelier the occasion, the more his solitude stood out. Mo Sigui was once such a carefree person, yet now even a playful remark from Lou Xiaowu could stir his sorrow. An Jiu finally realized that keeping him here was an act of cruelty.
Mo Sigui raised his peach-blossom eyes and snapped irritably, "My legs are my own, mind your own damn business! Scram, don’t disturb my sleep."
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
An Jiu stood there for a moment but ultimately didn’t force him.
Returning to the hall, the warm steam rising from the dishes couldn’t dispel the heavy atmosphere.
"Did I say something to upset him?" Lou Xiaowu asked.
"He’s just being a jerk. Ignore him," An Jiu said, sitting down at the table. "Let’s eat. I’m starving."
Everyone took their seats. Zhu Pianxian sat beside An Jiu and, seeing the tense mood while An Jiu mindlessly shoveled food into her mouth while others hesitated to pick up their chopsticks, couldn’t hold back her frustration. She rapped her chopsticks on the table edge. "Stop eating for a second!"
An Jiu paused, cheeks bulging, and turned to frown at her.
"I’m breaking my back to earn money, and you’re squandering it like there’s no tomorrow! Out with it—where did 150,000 taels of gold go?" Zhu Pianxian demanded, heartbroken.
She had prided herself on being an exceptional earner, only to find her two bosses spent far faster than she could make.
An Jiu mumbled through her food, "I only spent 50,000 taels to buy Mo Sigui a few mountains. My husband took 100,000 taels last time to buy information."
Just like that, she threw Chu Dingjiang under the bus…
Ahem. Chu Dingjiang cleared his throat. "The person who took the money draft won’t live past this year. That sum is under a dead man’s name. If anyone tries to cash it, hand them straight to the authorities. We’ll just redo the accounts."
"You really are a sly old fox," Zhu Pianxian nodded approvingly. "At least you’ve got some conscience left. This is hard-earned money!"
Chu Dingjiang said, "From now on, don’t say the word ‘old’ in front of me."
The room erupted in laughter.
The atmosphere finally lightened a little, but in a corner of the courtyard, it remained frozen, as if encased in eternal ice. Mo Sigui had already drifted into sleep, her face as vivid as yesterday.
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