In the Moonlight

The sheep pen was muddy, damp, and piled with dung, filthy and foul beyond description.

Before dawn, Tali once again brought food, mare's milk, felt blankets, and precious medicinal supplies to Li Xuanzhen and the others.

"The warhorses in the camp are in the northwest corner, heavily guarded. When you escape, head southeast. There are a few young mares that were sick—the guards there are few, and the horses have recovered, swift and fast."

Before leaving, Tali recalled something Yaoying had once said.

"Young master, Princess Wenzhao mentioned that the Northern Rong royal family is plagued by constant strife, with princes scheming against each other. Prince Aling is not of Northern Rong blood and is deeply estranged from the other princes. After you escape, try to head toward the territories of the other princes."

Li Xuanzhen nodded, committing it to memory. The group broke free from their leather bonds, gave all the medicinal supplies to Li Zhongqian, and bandaged his wounds.

Everyone rolled in the mud pits, coating themselves in sludge and dung to mask their scent—the Northern Rong camp kept hounds with keen senses.

Under a sky full of stars, the silent heavens stretched over a frozen, snow-covered land.

Li Xuanzhen leaned against the fence, patiently waiting for the right moment. He knew that the shift change of the night watch from deep night to early dawn was the most lax period—the best time to seize the chaos and escape.

In the middle of the night, Li Zhongqian regained consciousness. His phoenix eyes swept the surroundings as he struggled to sit up, tightening the bandages over his wounds.

"You can still move?" Li Xuanzhen asked coldly.

"Don’t worry, I won’t die," Li Zhongqian replied expressionlessly, tightening the gauze. His muscles trembled, yet his face remained numb, as if he felt no pain. In the darkness, his phoenix eyes held a fierce, almost beastly cold gleam. "Until I find Bright Moon Slave, this breath of mine won’t cease."

The brothers had nothing more to say to each other and closed their eyes to rest.

In the latter half of the night, Li Xuanzhen quietly gripped the short dagger Tali had given him, woke his guards, and instructed them to prepare. He planned to lure the Northern Rong sentries.

"Wait," Li Zhongqian suddenly opened his eyes. "Listen—there’s movement."

Li Xuanzhen tilted his head to listen, his eyes narrowing.

From afar came a slow, rustling sound like wind through a pine forest—easily mistaken for the wind if one didn’t listen carefully.

Li Xuanzhen said, "Light cavalry, about four to five hundred."

Li Zhongqian met his gaze. "The First Prince’s men."

The First Prince was taking advantage of Haidu Aling’s absence in Gaochang to capture his tribal camps one by one.

The alarm horn soon blared, brutally shattering the stillness. The entire camp erupted into chaos. Men jolted awake from their sleep and rushed out of their tents, while women and children huddled inside, trembling. The Northern Rong warriors at the camp’s outermost perimeter erected barricades to slow the advancing cavalry.

The enemy arrived swiftly. Hundreds of leather-armored cavalrymen charged into the camp with roars, cutting down anyone in their path. The camp’s defenders scrambled to respond, and the first men to rush out were impaled through by blades.

Amid the roars and clashes of battle, Li Xuanzhen and his guards hacked through the fence, avoiding the fighting Northern Rong soldiers, and made their way southeast. A few Northern Rong men charged at them with long blades, but Li Xuanzhen and his guards quickly dispatched them, found the mares Tali had mentioned, and mounted them.

The camp was already surrounded. Outside, archers let loose volleys of arrows, and flames roared fiercely.

Li Zhongqian, gripping a long blade he had just seized, endured the pain as he cut down a Northern Rong soldier. "If we charge out like this, we won’t make it."

Li Xuanzhen scanned the surroundings and made a swift decision. "Release all the prisoners."They turned back and released all the captives from the sheep pen. The prisoners, fleeing in panic, snatched up fallen weapons and followed them as they charged out of the camp.

The First Prince’s light cavalry, arrayed in orderly ranks, launched the first assault, scattering the camp guards. Two other forces emerged from the flanks, brandishing curved blades and hand axes. Howling as they advanced, they slaughtered with cold efficiency. Judging by their fur attire, they appeared to be irregulars recruited from various tribes.

Exchanging glances, Li Xuanzhen, Li Zhongqian, and a few others turned their horses and led the captives into the fray, seamlessly blending in among the irregulars.

Half an hour later, the camp’s final line of defense collapsed.

Too exhausted to fight on, Li Zhongqian withdrew from the battle alongside the other captives. Li Xuanzhen, still engaged in the thick of combat, suddenly spotted a familiar figure. His expression darkened as he sheathed his blade and took up the bow hanging from his saddle.

The Northern Rong used lightweight short bows with small arrowheads and slender shafts. Testing the bowstring, he knew such a weapon could not pierce armor at close range but was better suited for long-distance shots. Digging his heels into his horse’s flank, he galloped to a nearby hillock, aimed at the one-armed Han subordinate amid the chaos, and swiftly nocked an arrow. The bowstring hummed softly as the arrow sliced through the night sky, embedding itself deep in the snow until only the fletching remained visible.

The wound on his arm throbbed as if tearing open, but Li Xuanzhen paid it no mind. Gradually adjusting to the bow, he nocked three more arrows in quick succession. This time, the arrows flew with full force—two struck the Han subordinate’s shoulders. A piercing scream echoed as the man tumbled from his horse onto the snow, his features swiftly obliterated under a hail of trampling hooves.

“Haidu Aling must not learn that Li Zhongqian is among the Northern Rong.”

Her weakness could not fall into Haidu Aling’s hands.

Li Xuanzhen understood better than anyone what she would sacrifice for Li Zhongqian.

In a low voice, he ordered his guards, “Eliminate all who know of this today.”

The guards acknowledged in unison, their eyes scanning for anyone who might have learned their identities. They stealthily approached their targets and, seizing the moment of inattention, struck them down with their blades.

Dawn tinged the horizon with pale light as the battle concluded, leaving the camp in disarray. The First Prince’s forces began clearing the battlefield.

An officer-like figure assembled all the captives. Lacking identification papers, Li Xuanzhen and his companions would face scrutiny wherever they went, so they simply blended into the crowd. The officer, mistaking them for captured tribal warriors and noting their valor in the previous night’s fight, remarked that the First Prince was in dire need of men and directly recruited them into his service.

The troops did not linger long and promptly set out.

Confirming that Tali was still alive and had departed with the First Prince’s officers, Li Xuanzhen pressed on for hundreds of li, during which they assaulted two more camps.

On the sixth day, they arrived at a low-lying plain encircled by mountains on three sides and were brought before a man clad in a tiger-skin cloak with a golden belt at his waist. Hearing of Li Xuanzhen’s ferocity in battle and exceptional archery skills—said to hit a target at a hundred paces—the man laughed heartily and challenged him to a contest.

Undeterred, Li Xuanzhen, despite his injury, competed with the man in both foot and mounted archery. He won the foot contest but deliberately missed in the mounted round, conceding defeat, ultimately ending in a draw.

The surrounding Northern Rong erupted in cheers, and only then did Li Xuanzhen realize the man was the Northern Rong’s First Prince.

The First Prince, aggressively annexing Haidu Aling’s territories and aware that a major confrontation was inevitable upon Haidu Aling’s return, was desperate for talent. On the spot, he appointed Li Xuanzhen as an imperial guard officer.Li Xuanzhen concealed his identity, successfully gained his trust, and stayed by his side undercover. While gathering intelligence and allowing Li Zhongqian to recuperate from his injuries, he also sought an opportunity to escape.

During those days, the two gradually pieced together what had happened to Li Yaoying after she was taken away by Haidu Aling, and learned more about the Royal Court from other Han Chinese who had ended up in Northern Rong.

As Li Zhongqian’s injuries improved, he grew increasingly anxious, and Li Xuanzhen also became restless.

But they could not afford to act rashly.

The situation in Northern Rong was turbulent, shrouded in mystery and tension, with swords drawn and bows bent.

One day, The First Prince received a letter and was so overjoyed he danced with delight, saying, “Haidu Aling bribed Martial Assassins to kill several of my brothers—the evidence is solid. This time, he even targeted Jin Bo, who is our father Khan’s most beloved son. Let’s see how Haidu Aling wriggles out of this!”

Ecstatic, he continued sending troops to seize territories.

A few days later, news arrived from Yi Province: Haidu Aling had returned from Gaochang, confessed his crimes to Wahan Khan, and openly admitted to all his wrongdoings, begging only that Wahan Khan spare his subordinates.

The First Prince immediately led his men back to Yi Province, eager to compete with his other brothers for Haidu Aling’s territories.

On the way, a personal letter from Wahan Khan arrived at The First Prince’s tent. The Khan stated that he had already punished Haidu Aling, stripped him of his prince title, and ordered all his sons to remain in their territories without leaving.

The First Prince was furious: The Khan was indecisive! Haidu Aling had murdered his own brothers, yet the Khan was still letting him off the hook!

His advisors urged The First Prince to remain calm, but he slashed the dining table with his sword: “I cannot swallow this anger! Father Khan is old—his former courage has long been worn away by the Buddha Prince of the Royal Court. He is no longer the wise and mighty Khan who once led our people in conquests north and south! How could he show leniency to that ambitious wolf, Haidu Aling? A wolf never feels gratitude; it only submits to the strong! Father’s weakness will eventually get him killed by Haidu Aling! I must go to Yi Province, kill Haidu Aling with my own hands, and use his skull as a wine bowl!”

The advisors pleaded earnestly, urging The First Prince not to act impulsively.

Li Xuanzhen and Li Zhongqian watched coldly from the sidelines. Recalling Li Yaoying’s words, a plan formed in their minds: With Northern Rong in chaos, they were temporarily unable to leave and uncertain how long they would be trapped. Since they could not escape, and Haidu Aling and the princes were riddled with conflicts, why not add fuel to the fire and plunge Northern Rong into even greater turmoil?

Better yet, they could kill with a borrowed knife and force Wahan Khan to execute Haidu Aling.

Northern Rong stood between the Central Plains and the Western Regions, and Haidu Aling was determined to possess Li Yaoying. They had to eliminate this cunning man.

Once Northern Rong was too preoccupied with its own chaos to spare attention elsewhere, they could slip away to the Royal Court.

After discussing it, the two made up their minds.

Li Xuanzhen and his companions deliberately spread rumors in the camp: Why did the Khan spare Haidu Aling? And why did he forbid The First Prince from returning to Yi Province? Could it be that the Khan had some unavoidable hardship?

As people pondered this, cold sweat broke out, and they began to speculate: It was impossible for Wahan Khan to forgive Haidu Aling so easily. The reason he hadn’t killed Haidu Aling was likely that he was already under Haidu Aling’s control!

That was why Wahan Khan forbade his other sons from returning to Yi Province—the letter had been forced out of him by Haidu Aling.

The more the advisors thought about it, the more convinced they became that Wahan Khan must have been placed under house arrest by Haidu Aling. They began to worry: If the chief official helped Haidu Aling take control of Yi Province, would Haidu Aling’s next move be to target The First Prince and the others?The First Prince had been searching for an excuse to return to Yi Province. Upon hearing the rumors, he flew into a rage: "Haidu Aling, with his wolfish ambition, assassinated Jin Bo and secretly harmed my brothers. Now he oversteps his authority by confining the Khan and plots against him! As a son, I must go to Yi Province to rescue my father!"

Thus, the First Prince feigned compliance with Wahan Khan’s orders while secretly advancing his own plans. He marched through the night, persuading other princes and nobles to aid his cause, and charged straight toward Yi Province.

By the time they reached the outskirts of Yi Province, night had fallen, and columns of cooking smoke rose straight into the sky from the city.

An advisor, noticing the main tent appeared peaceful and fearing Wahan Khan’s wrath, urged the First Prince to think twice.

"It seems the Khan is not confined by Haidu Aling. Your Highness must proceed with caution."

The First Prince sneered, "I have endured this for years—I can endure no more! Since I have brought my troops to Yi Province, I will see this through. Whether my father is confined or not, I will kill Haidu Aling!"

The advisor sighed helplessly. The First Prince had previously seized Haidu Aling’s territories and slaughtered his followers. If Haidu Aling lived, he would surely seek revenge. Now, the First Prince was in a predicament with no way out.

Letting Haidu Aling live would spell endless trouble.

The First Prince grinned viciously, "I will avenge my brothers! Who dares stop me?"

At that moment, Wahan Khan learned his eldest son had defied orders and come to Yi Province. Enraged, he sent a minister to reprimand him.

Torches blazed as the two sides faced off. Suddenly, Li Xuanzhen, who had infiltrated the prince’s ranks under orders, sprang forward and cut down the minister with a single stroke.

The crowd stood frozen in shock.

The First Prince drew his blade, slew several others, and roared, "You lapdogs of the adjudicator, colluding with Haidu Aling—did you think I wouldn’t notice? It is because of traitors like you that my father has become as timid and soft-hearted as a woman! Today, I will slay Haidu Aling myself! Those who stand in my way will die!"

With the minister already dead in a pool of blood, the prince’s followers hesitated no longer. They surged forward, escorting the First Prince toward the heavily guarded main tent.

Internal strife plagued the Northern Rong royal court. Dissatisfied with Wahan Khan’s refusal to execute Haidu Aling, the nobles had been swayed by the First Prince, who had bribed Yi Province’s garrison commander—a longtime rival of Haidu Aling. The city’s defenses quickly crumbled, and the First Prince advanced almost unopposed.

Li Xuanzhen stayed close to the prince, cutting through the fray while searching for Haidu Aling.

"Fool!"

A thunderous roar of authority cut through the chaos, reaching every ear on the battlefield.

In the flickering torchlight, Wahan Khan, clad in battle armor and astride a majestic steed, arrived at the front lines surrounded by his guards. Though aged, his presence was as unyielding as towering mountains, his gaze burning with fury as he glared at his son. "Surrender now!"

The old Khan, a veteran of countless campaigns, exuded an awe-inspiring authority. His tiger-like eyes swept across the field, and the fighting soldiers trembled, their resolve wavering.

A few foot soldiers, terrified, tumbled from their horses.The First Prince couldn't help but feel a surge of fear, but unwilling to show weakness before his subordinates, he bit his tongue until it bled to steady his nerves. Gripping the reins tightly, he shouted, "Father Khan, Haidu Aling's blade is already at our throats, yet you still refuse to kill him! Must you wait until our heads roll before you deal with Haidu Aling? Who are your true sons?!"

Wahan Khan roared in fury, "I am aware of Haidu Aling's crimes and will deal with him accordingly. But you—abandoning your territory and storming the main tent—do you admit your guilt?"

"I am guilty of nothing!" The First Prince's face twisted into a snarl, his voice hoarse with desperation. "Tonight, I will settle this with Haidu Aling! Since we're doomed to die by his hand sooner or later, let's end it here and now!"

A vein bulged on Wahan Khan's forehead. "Fool—"

Before his furious curse could fully escape, a sharp whistle cut through the boundless silence of the night. An arrow shot forth like a meteor, piercing the Khan's gleaming breastplate.

Wahan Khan's burly frame swayed, then toppled backward.

With a dull thud, the old Khan—whom the Northern Rong revered as their alpha wolf—collapsed into the snow.

The sudden upheaval left everyone stunned into silence.

For a moment, the camp fell still, save for the howling wind and the restless neighing of horses.

The First Prince, who had been consumed by rage moments before, now trembled in terror, his face ashen.

Amid the chaos, Li Zhongqian, who had fired the covert arrow from among the soldiers, swiftly concealed his short bow. Urging his horse forward, he joined his ambushed personal guards in shouting, "Haidu Aling has assassinated the Khan and seeks to rebel!""

"Haidu Aling has rebelled!"

Hearing this, the bewildered First Prince snapped back to his senses and instinctively echoed the cry: "Haidu Aling has rebelled and assassinated the Khan! Seize him at once!"

Trembling as he shouted to clear himself of blame, he spurred his horse toward the fallen Wahan Khan.

In the confusion, Li Zhongqian caught up with him, quietly drawing a short blade. He charged forward, nearly reaching the fallen Khan—but the Khan's guards had regained their composure. They hastily lifted the old Khan and carried him away.

Other loyal guards quickly formed a defensive line, their long blades bristling like a forest, creating an impenetrable barrier.

Li Zhongqian's pupils contracted in frustration.

What a pity. If he could have killed Wahan Khan in the chaos, the Northern Rong would surely have splintered.

Reining in his horse, he glanced at the panicked First Prince and considered cutting him down—but the Prince's guards had already closed in.

Without hesitation, Li Zhongqian wheeled his horse around, rejoining Li Xuanzhen and the other bodyguards. They followed the First Prince's trusted aides, continuing their search for Haidu Aling.

The sounds of clashing weapons and agonized screams merged into a cacophony.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed through the darkness—a deafening surge like crashing waves, shaking the very earth.

Everyone turned to look. In the pitch-black night to the south, shadowy figures emerged, growing longer, taller, and closer with each passing moment, sweeping forward like an unstoppable tide.

Accompanying the dark flood was the glint of countless blades.

Then, a chilling chorus of bowstrings twanged in unison. A hail of arrows rained down, weaving a net of steel that engulfed the battling crowd.

Screams erupted everywhere.

The iron-tipped arrows could pierce thick wooden planks—there was nowhere to hide. The soldiers, already demoralized by the old Khan's fall, could only duck and cover their heads, their howls of terror rising one after another.The First Prince and the old Khan's guards were terrified, shouting warnings simultaneously: "Enemy attack! There's an enemy attack!"

Those shifting shadows, rising and falling like tides, were a hidden cavalry! The cavalry was charging over!

This iron cavalry was commanded by Northern Rong nobles. They had quietly surrounded the royal court while the First Prince and Wahan Khan were confronting each other, silently closing in—they must have rebelled!

The personal guards fled in panic.

The First Prince was utterly disheartened and terrified.

No wonder the situation in Yi Province was strange.

No wonder he had been able to charge into the royal court unimpeded.

No wonder the nobles and officials had secretly supported his actions.

He was just bait—the nobles had rebelled!

The First Prince sat dazed on his horse, completely dispirited.

The cavalry charged forward, blades glinting.

"Father Khan!" The First Prince snapped back to reality, gripping his curved sword tightly, eyes red with fury. He led his guards to Wahan Khan's side. "Protect my father Khan and get him away! I'll cover the retreat!"

Amid the heavy encirclement, the loyal guards quickly gathered, shielding the old Khan at the center. There was no time to question the First Prince now; everyone drew their swords, fighting and retreating step by step.

Li Zhongqian and Li Xuanzhen were among them.

Glancing at the dark mass of the cavalry formation, their hearts grew heavy: the more chaotic the Northern Rong situation, the better for them, but the current turn of events was beyond their expectations, and they might not escape unscathed.

The cavalry attacked ruthlessly, and the personal guards fell one after another.

The First Prince, filled with regret, fought with exceptional bravery.

The two brothers fought while secretly planning their escape, drenched in blood.

Just as the First Prince fell into complete despair, drums suddenly sounded from the western hill.

"Protect the Great Khan!"

A roar infused with immense Internal Force echoed over the battlefield, followed by the thunderous sound of hooves like a sudden downpour. From the hill, another troop of cavalry clad in black armor charged down, swift and powerful as a thunderbolt.

The leading general was tall and robust, his light armor outlining his strong, well-defined muscles. In the firelight, his hawk-like sharp eyes gleamed with a golden light in the darkness, exuding an aura of fierce lethality.

"Men, follow me to protect the Great Khan!"

He roared and led the cavalry in a charge.

This seemingly heaven-sent force plunged into the chaotic battlefield, fighting fiercely and tearing a small gap through the heavy cavalry's encirclement.

The First Prince stared in shock for a long moment, then gave Haidu Aling a deep look before leading Wahan Khan to escape through the gap.

Li Xuanzhen recognized Haidu Aling, his blood boiling with rage. He tried to charge forward, but a group of iron cavalry attacked. Blocking with his sword, he retreated alongside Li Zhongqian, whose eyes were also red with fury but unable to advance.

The two cavalry forces clashed, turning the ground into a river of blood.

A personal guard urged Li Xuanzhen and Li Zhongqian, "Young masters, the First Prince must have realized we are spies. Retreat quickly, or it will be too late!"

Li Zhongqian gritted his teeth and turned his horse around.

They had already thrown Northern Rong into chaos and had to seize the chance to escape and find Li Yaoying as soon as possible.

Her safety was paramount. Haidu Aling could be dealt with later; he couldn't risk everything for a minor gain.

Li Xuanzhen spurred his horse to follow Li Zhongqian, leading the guards out of the royal court.

Behind them, under the brilliant starlight, the battle raged on.

...

Haidu Aling led the cavalry to cover Wahan Khan's retreat.

A trusted aide rode up to him and whispered, "Prince, why don't we take advantage of the chaos to rebel? The Great Khan is severely injured. If anything happens to him, the First Prince and the others won't spare you!"After their plot to assassinate the princes failed, they returned to Yi Province from Gaochang. By then, Wahan Khan had already taken control of all the subordinates loyal to Haidu Aling.

Haidu Aling secretly met with the judicial officer and realized he was in a desperate situation with no way out. After careful consideration, he decided to take a desperate risk and go to the main tent to confess all his crimes.

He gambled correctly—Wahan Khan did not kill him.

The princes were furious. The First Prince led his troops to the yurt court to demand an explanation, while the other princes were also on their way there.

Upon receiving the news, Haidu Aling, fearing that Wahan Khan might succumb to the pressure and go back on his word to kill him, withdrew outside the city to observe the situation. When the nobles launched a rebellion, he weighed his options and led his men to escort Wahan Khan to safety.

His trusted aide anxiously asked, "Prince, the other princes despise you to the bone. Why don't you take this opportunity to rebel?"

Haidu Aling stabbed a cavalryman through with his saber, casually wiping the thick blood splattered on his face, and shook his head.

"Do you think rebelling would save my life? My territories and subordinates are all under the Great Khan's control. If he dies, I'll have nothing. None of the nobles look up to me. As long as the Great Khan lives, I can atone for my crimes with merit today and regain his trust in the future."

Under the starlight, a thick scent of blood filled the air.

Haidu Aling raised his long saber.

Since the year before last, everything had gone wrong for him. His conflicts with the other princes had deepened, and this time he had suffered a major setback, seeing years of effort go to waste. He would have to start over from scratch.

He couldn't just admit defeat. He was still young, energetic, and strong. Given time, he could make a comeback.

He would lead his troops to conquer the most fertile lands and take back the most beautiful woman from the Royal Court.

But before that, he had to survive.

Haidu Aling let out a roar and continued his slaughter.

...

That night, Northern Rong was thrown into chaos.

The nobles launched a rebellion, and Haidu Aling escorted Wahan Khan and The First Prince out of Yi Province.

Amid the chaos, Wahan Khan ordered the relocation of the court to the Orda, summoning tribal cavalry from all regions to rally there in his defense. He also commanded all areas to block information, paying special attention to the movements of the Royal Court, and ordered border guards to patrol day and night, shooting down any messenger eagles flying toward the Royal Court.

Li Xuanzhen and Li Zhongqian took advantage of the chaos to leave, galloping dozens of miles through the night, only to find a pursuing force hot on their heels.

The severely wounded Wahan Khan, while retreating to the Orda, questioned The First Prince, suspecting that there were traitors in his army, and soon dispatched several pursuit teams.

As Li Xuanzhen and his group evaded their pursuers, he remarked with admiration, "Wahan Khan truly lives up to his reputation as the Great Khan of Northern Rong... He is not to be underestimated."

Although Wahan Khan had been caught off guard by the conflicts among his sons, nearly killed by Li Zhongqian's hidden arrow, and had his yurt court raided by rebellious nobles, he was, after all, the Great Khan of Northern Rong. Once he regained his senses, he quickly took control of the situation, fled to the Orda, sealed the borders, and intimidated the restless tribes with swift and decisive actions that sent chills down the spine.

One could still glimpse the vigor of his prime years.

Li Xuanzhen sighed, "I was still too careless."

He had thought that after Wahan Khan was severely wounded, the princes would immediately fall into internal strife, Northern Rong would splinter, and they could escape amid the chaos.

He hadn't expected Wahan Khan to pull through. Although rebellions broke out in various regions, the Khan clearly had a well-laid plan and could stabilize the situation.

They were still trapped in Northern Rong.

A guard commented, "Wahan Khan has been confronting the Buddha Prince of the Royal Court for years but has never been able to capture it. Morale has been low, and the nobles have complained for years that their Great Khan is no longer capable. But now it seems the Khan's precious saber has not yet dulled with age."

Li Xuanzhen glanced at Li Zhongqian and remained silent.

If Wahan Khan was this formidable, what kind of person was the Buddha Prince of the Royal Court, whom Wahan Khan regarded as his nemesis?He did not wish to discuss this matter with Li Zhongqian.

...

Recalling up to this point, Li Xuanzhen let out a long sigh.

After all, they were unfamiliar with the terrain. Though they had left Yi Province at the fastest speed possible, they lost their way in the vast snowy plains and were caught up by the pursuers. After several fierce battles, both old and new wounds covered their bodies, and they nearly died under the arrows of the Northern Rong.

Haidu Aling's subordinates wanted to capture them alive.

Wahan Khan, unaware of their identities, regarded them as spies and ordered the pursuers to kill them on sight. The pursuers showed no mercy, and this time, every arrow was tipped with poison.

One by one, the personal guards died. Li Zhongqian was struck by a poisoned arrow, which aggravated his old injuries and threw him into a state of delirium.

Li Xuanzhen, just as he had claimed, was incredibly resilient, narrowly escaping death several times.

He had no time to feel relieved, for he soon found himself in an awkward predicament: while fleeing, they had to avoid the pursuers and stray from the main roads, losing their sense of direction. Unwittingly, they moved farther away from the Royal Court and closer to the Orda.

When they were cornered by the pursuers with no way out, Li Xuanzhen decisively dragged Li Zhongqian and infiltrated the Northern Rong's camp.

The most dangerous place was the safest.

Indeed, his luck held. After hiding in a stable for half a month, starving and dizzy, he spotted a familiar face—Tali, who had evacuated to the Orda with the Eldest Princess.

Tali brought him food every few days.

One day, a patrol of soldiers discovered his hiding place and rushed to report it. Not daring to delay, he entrusted Li Zhongqian to Tali's care and drew the soldiers away, diving headlong into the Eldest Princess's tent.

The Eldest Princess was still searching for the "Central Plains personal guard" who had escaped from her grasp. Li Xuanzhen had voluntarily fled into her territory.

If the Eldest Princess dared to hand him over to Wahan Khan, he would drag her down with him, claiming they had colluded to disrupt the Northern Rong.

Given her sensitive position, the Eldest Princess dared not take the risk.

Weighing the lesser of two evils, falling into the Eldest Princess's hands at least ensured his survival.

The dungeon echoed with the sound of sobbing.

The dim, yellowish glow of the torchlight enveloped Li Xuanzhen and Zhu Lvyun, two long-separated acquaintances.

One wore a calm expression, while the other was drenched in tears.

Li Xuanzhen steadied himself, lifted his gaze, and looked at Zhu Lvyun: "Yunniang... when you were at the Royal Court, did you happen to see Qiniang?"

Zhu Lvyun froze, tears clinging to her cheeks.

Li Xuanzhen watched her, a trace of anxiety hidden between his brows.

Zhu Lvyun parted her lips, "You came to the Northern Rong to find me... I happened to be at the Royal Court then..."

Li Xuanzhen shook his head, cutting her off: "Yunniang, I did not come to the Northern Rong for you."

A thunderbolt seemed to strike beside her ears. Zhu Lvyun felt as if a heavy hammer had slammed into her chest, leaving her breathless.