At the mountain path, the wind howled fiercely.
Yaoying gazed at Bi Suo, her dark eyes like lakes embedded between the snowfields of the Tianshan Mountains—clear and pure, reflecting his handsome face filled with astonishment.
His mind in turmoil, he remained silent for a long moment before speaking: "The Regent is on the mountain. I saw the marks he left. He is now suffering from cultivation backlash and cannot be too close to crowds."
Yuanjue shuddered.
It was precisely because they had discovered the marks left by Su Dan Gu and knew he was on the mountain that they suspected him of being the killer.
Yaoying’s expression remained unchanged. "This is the only main road into the city, with merchant caravans and travelers passing through every day. The Regent being on the mountain does not prove he is the murderer."
Bi Suo’s emerald eyes fixed on Yaoying, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips. "Princess, what if I’m not mistaken and the Regent has truly gone mad and killed someone?"
Yaoying tightened her grip on the reins, her gaze sweeping over Bi Suo and Yuanjue’s faces. Softly, she said, "Anyone may suspect the Regent, but you and Yuanjue are his most trusted companions. You shouldn’t doubt him without a second thought."
Yuanjue froze for a moment, then lowered his head, his fists clenched so tightly they creaked, his face shifting through shades of green, white, and red.
Bi Suo remained silent for a long while, his emerald eyes like a sky heavy with gloom, exuding a chilling aura.
He glanced at Xie Qing and the others watching from the foot of the mountain, then turned his horse and continued upward.
"If the Princess truly trusts the Regent, then follow me."
Yuanjue looked up, his eyes wide with surprise.
Yaoying showed no trace of fear and followed.
Yuanjue frowned deeply, glanced at Yaoying, urged his horse to catch up with Bi Suo, and whispered in Brahmi. Bi Suo replied sharply, and Yuanjue hesitated, looking back at Yaoying. Bi Suo let out a low growl, and Yuanjue sighed, turning his face away.
The three of them pressed on against the biting north wind, struggling along the winding mountain path.
The world was a vast expanse of white, with layers of ice and snow piled high, and jagged black rocks exposed here and there.
The path twisted and turned, gradually obscuring the view of the foot of the mountain. Suddenly, Bi Suo, who was leading the way, turned around, his long sword unsheathed. The gleaming blade cut through the wind and snow, pointing directly at Yaoying’s pale face.
"General!"
Yuanjue shouted, drawing his own sword to block the strike.
Bi Suo pushed Yuanjue aside with a single palm, his blade steady at Yaoying’s throat.
Yuanjue’s expression shifted from shock and alarm to thinly veiled anger. "General, Princess Wenzhao is an honored guest of the King. If you harm her, how will you explain it to him?"
Bi Suo asked coldly, "If Princess Wenzhao poses a threat to the Royal Court, will you still protect her?"
Yuanjue gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his eyes burning red. "I swore an oath to the King to protect the Princess! No matter what reason you have, General, my vow will not change! I ask you to withdraw your blade!"
Bi Suo’s lips curved slightly, and he pressed his wrist downward, the tip of his blade lifting Yaoying’s wind-blocking hood.
The cold steel slipped into her collar, pressing against her skin like a snake slithering beneath her clothes. Yaoying shuddered, unable to suppress a tremble.
"Does the General intend to kill me?"
She asked calmly.
Bi Suo urged his horse closer, his usually smiling emerald eyes now gleaming with murderous intent.
"Princess, you are meticulous and observant—nothing escapes your notice. The Regent’s cultivation backlash is a secret of the Royal Court, known only to me, Yuanjue, and a few guards. He left marks because something must have happened, which is why I ordered everyone to wait at the foot of the mountain... Since you’ve figured it out and spoken of it, don’t blame me for showing no mercy."She would eventually guess Su Dan Gu's true identity.
Bi Suo's gaze was icy.
"For the Regent's safety, I have no choice. I'll tell your guards that you accidentally fell off a cliff."
Yaoying looked at Bi Suo without speaking, her dark eyes calm.
Yuanjue, standing nearby, was so anxious he scratched his head and ears: "General, you can't do this! You also swore an oath to the King! Have you forgotten the vow you made?"
Bi Suo ignored him, raised his long blade, and swung it down fiercely, his face momentarily contorted with ferocity.
Yaoying remained motionless.
The cold wind howled. Bi Suo looked into Yaoying's pitch-black bright eyes, meeting her gaze. Just as the blade was about to strike her neck, he suddenly gritted his teeth, withdrew his momentum abruptly, and the blade tip brushed past her temple, stopping hard in mid-air.
Yuanjue's eyes widened into circles, his own blade already drawn as he prepared to intervene. Seeing this, he sighed in relief and sheathed his weapon.
Bi Suo returned his blade to its sheath, his hands still trembling. He raised his eyes to stare at Yaoying, the murderous intent completely gone from his green eyes.
"The Princess is extremely observant. When I swung my blade, you showed no surprise at all."
"The Princess clearly knew I might silence you, so why did you still take the risk to warn me not to suspect the Regent?"
Yaoying met his gaze calmly: "Because I feared something might happen to the Regent, so I came."
They looked deeply troubled, clearly already suspecting Su Dan Gu. In such circumstances, when they found Su Dan Gu, they were likely to clash with him.
Bi Suo found it hard to believe: "Is it really that simple?"
"That's all there is to it." Yaoying nodded softly, then after a pause added, "Moreover, I knew you wouldn't kill me."
Bi Suo's lips curved upward: "How did the Princess know I wouldn't resort to murder?"
Yaoying smiled: "The General is the most trusted comrade and brother of both the Buddha Prince and the Regent, and you are my friend."
Bi Suo's gaze lingered on her face for a long time before he turned away to look at the hazy falling snow.
"The Princess guessed correctly. The moment I saw the corpses, I suspected the Regent."
His tone carried a trace of melancholy.
"Once, there was a Royal Court guard who practiced the same cultivation method as the Regent. Later, he couldn't control his power, gradually lost his compassion, became a vicious and cruel evildoer who killed indiscriminately, committing many atrocities. Therefore, Yuanjue and I once made a vow to someone: if the Regent were also to suffer cultivation backlash, go mad and harm others, we must personally kill him to prevent him from falling into demonic ways."
A pained expression flashed across Yuanjue's face.
Bi Suo turned back to look at Yaoying: "Can the Princess guess who forced us to make that vow?"
Yaoying's eyes flickered several times, her mind suddenly becoming crystal clear: "That person was the Regent?"
Bi Suo nodded, "Correct."
Yaoying's thoughts raced, her gaze suddenly turning sharp: "So, General, you didn't come here to kill the Regent?"
A cold light flashed in Bi Suo's eyes as he narrowed them.
Yuanjue looked confused, glancing at Yaoying, then at Bi Suo.
What did the Princess mean by that?
Yaoying continued: "Since the Regent made you and Yuanjue swear such an oath, it shows he deeply understands the dangers of the cultivation method and has long been prepared to die if backlash occurs... The General fears the Regent has truly suffered cultivation backlash, discovered he killed the merchant caravan civilians, and hid in the mountains to end his own life? The General came to stop the Regent!"
The mountain wind roared angrily amidst the swirling snow.Ashina Bisha jolted all over, his gaze fixed on Yaoying. A few sparks of light ignited in his emerald eyes, his face flashing with disbelief, astonishment, admiration, and a faint trace of melancholy.
This Han princess reacted so swiftly. While Yuanjue was still lost in confusion, she had already guessed his thoughts, articulating exactly what was in his heart.
The corners of his lips lifted with a hint of roguishness. "To be honest with you, Princess, even if I witnessed the Regent going on a murderous rampage with my own eyes, I would not raise my blade against him."
Yuanjue's lips trembled slightly as he objected, "General, you swore an oath to the Regent!"
Bisha shot him a glance and snorted lightly. "Let me ask you this—if we truly find the Regent, could you bring yourself to strike him down?"
Yuanjue stiffened, clenching his fists as he roared, "I swore an oath to the Regent! I must uphold my vow!"
Bisha raised his long blade and struck him hard with the flat side. "Stop shouting. I know you're loyal. If you can roar like that when we meet the Regent and then strike without hesitation, I'll be your son from then on!"
Yuanjue fell silent.
Yaoying let out a soft sigh of relief, her expression easing.
Bisha glanced at her, lost in thought for a moment before his expression turned solemn and earnest. He pressed his right fist to his left chest, leaned forward, and bowed to her. "Thank you, Princess."
Yaoying looked at him in confusion.
Bisha smiled, revealing his snow-white teeth. "The Princess is right. I should not have doubted the Regent just because of those corpses."
He had betrayed the trust the Regent had placed in him.
From the very day the Regent began training in martial arts, Bisha had regarded him as a potential madman. At the slightest disturbance from the Regent's side, he grew tense and anxious, rushing to clean up the aftermath.
He had never trusted the Regent from the start.
Yuanjue was the same.
Princess Wenzhao, who had known the Regent for only a short time, understood him better than they, his close guards, did.
Bisha smiled self-deprecatingly, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
How laughable that he had been mistaken all these years, thinking he was the Regent's only friend.
Had the Regent been disappointed every time he faced the cautious, fearful gazes of Bisha and Yuanjue?
Bisha let out a long sigh, snapping back to reality as he looked at Yaoying. "Princess, this matter is of grave importance. Not a whisper of it must reach outsiders. I implore you to keep it secret."
Yaoying replied seriously, "Rest assured, General. The Buddha Prince and the Regent saved my life. I will not breathe a word of this."
This was precisely why she had not allowed Xie Qing to follow.
Bisha studied Yaoying intently, a new worry surfacing in his heart.
Had Princess Wenzhao already figured it out?
If she had, what should he do? Imprison the Princess?
The thought of Su Dan Gu possibly enduring the backlash of his affliction made Bisha restless with anxiety. Suppressing his concerns for the moment, he instructed Yuanjue, "Escort the Princess down the mountain first. I will search for the Regent. Wait for my signal."
Yuanjue acknowledged the order.
Yaoying turned her horse around.
Just then, a series of sharp, clear cries echoed from the clouds above. A massive falcon swooped down, its wings brushing past Bisha and striking his shoulder forcefully before spreading its wings and soaring toward the snow-capped mountains.
Bisha's expression shifted abruptly. "Something has happened to the Regent!"
Yaoying immediately turned to Yuanjue. "I can descend the mountain on my own. Do not worry about me. Follow the falcon and find the Regent."Yuanjue glanced at Bi Suo, who frowned deeply and looked down the mountain. They were already near the midslope, and he was uneasy about Yaoying descending alone.
"Princess, stay with us," he said decisively. "We may need your help when we meet the Regent."
He cupped his hands toward Yaoying.
"The mountain path is treacherous. Please stay close to me."
Yaoying nodded, tightened her cloak, and followed Bi Suo.
The three of them rode after the falcon, climbing steep slopes as the terrain grew higher. The wind and snow intensified, making riding impossible, so they dismounted and continued on foot.
Bi Suo grew increasingly anxious, frequently glancing at the falcon soaring overhead as he strode forward urgently. After a long stretch, he suddenly remembered Yaoying and turned to look back.
Not far behind, Yaoying trudged unsteadily along the rugged path, her figure wrapped tightly in her cloak. She stumbled frequently, looking as though the mountain wind might sweep her away at any moment. Yet she remained silent, keeping close behind him and Yuanjue.
That morning, the Royal Court guards had gathered around the fire, eating soup and flatbread, and spoke of Princess Wenzhao. They all agreed that despite her delicate appearance, she was resilient and uncomplaining, enduring the hardships of the journey to Gaochang just as they did.
Bi Suo watched her for a moment before turning away.
Suddenly, Yuanjue raised his voice and pointed toward a pile of jagged rocks covered in fresh snow. "General, look!"
Bi Suo followed his gaze, strode forward, and picked up an arrow. His brow furrowed as he scanned the area, brushing away the thin layer of snow atop the rocks.
Beneath the snow lay more scattered arrows.
Bi Suo’s frown deepened. He leaped over the rocky pile and descended the slope, arriving at the edge of a cliff.
The ground was a mess of chaotic marks, with hoofprints everywhere.
"These are iron arrows! Someone was ambushed here... The merchant caravan at the foot of the mountain might have been killed by these very people!" Yuanjue broke out in a cold sweat.
Bi Suo’s expression darkened.
The Regent was strict in rewards and punishments and had made many enemies among the nobility. Assassination attempts were frequent. Though the Regent possessed exceptional martial skills and could usually escape, this time he happened to be struggling to suppress his cultivation method...
Bi Suo tossed the iron arrow aside and quickened his pace, following the low-flying falcon.
Yaoying trailed behind him, climbing a steep and narrow section of the path. The fierce wind whipped around her, and she dared not look down at the valley below. Keeping her eyes fixed on Bi Suo was the only way to stay close.
The falcon flew lower and lower, leading them up and down the slopes before finally circling a small, flat patch of snow at a high elevation.
A cluster of bizarre rocks blocked their view ahead.
Bi Suo craned his neck, then grasped Yaoying’s arm and guided her swiftly over the snowdrift.
Yuanjue followed close behind.
Once Yaoying steadied herself, Bi Suo released her and stepped around the rocks. A look of wild joy immediately spread across his face.
Behind the jagged stones sat a broad-shouldered figure cross-legged in the snow, his face covered with gruesome scars. His black robes were torn and tattered—it was Su Dan Gu, who had left alone the previous night.
Yuanjue beamed with relief and stepped forward.
Bi Suo stopped him, his voice cold. "Wait. Do you want to get hurt again?"
Yuanjue stiffened, collected himself, and cautiously scanned the surroundings. Only then did he notice that Su Dan Gu’s eyes were closed, an intense aura swirling around him. Beneath his torn sleeves, his lean arms were visible, with True Qi faintly coursing under his skin.
A hidden killing intent lingered in the air.Yuanjue stood frozen in lingering fear, his gaze falling upon Su Dangu's chest. His face paled: "The Regent is injured!"
A shocking expanse of blood stained Su Dangu's chest, the snow before him soaked crimson, vivid and bright.
Yuanjue gritted his teeth. "No—the Regent is wounded. I must go to him!"
Bi Suo shook his head at him, then turned to Yaoying, retrieving a medicine bottle and handing it to her. "Princess, you have no martial skills and won't resist with Internal Force, so you shouldn't be harmed by the shockwaves. You can approach the Regent. He's injured—please deliver this medicine to him."
He added cautiously, "Be careful. Don't get too close. If the Regent moves suddenly, stop immediately. If you're afraid, call out, and I'll rescue you."
Yaoying hummed in acknowledgment, accepted the bottle, and took a step forward.
Yuanjue held his breath, watching her intently.
Yaoying continued forward, step by step, drawing nearer to Su Dangu.
Su Dangu remained motionless.
As she closed the distance, Yaoying paused a few paces away, observing him for any reaction. Seeing none, she cautiously advanced her long boots and stood before him.
"General Su?"
She called softly.
In the distance, Yuanjue and Bi Suo stared unblinkingly at Su Dangu, not daring to make a sound.
Up close, Yaoying finally saw the wound on Su Dangu's chest clearly. Where his robes were torn, a thin layer of frozen ice had formed over the injury.
The wound appeared deep—it would be troublesome if left untreated.
Frowning slightly, Yaoying mustered her courage and took another step forward. She bent down, her long boots crunching softly in the snow.
A cold gaze fell upon her face.
Emerald eyes snapped open soundlessly, a faint, icy blue flame flickering in their depths.
Yaoying stiffened, meeting Su Dangu's detached, emotionless stare. She extended the medicine bottle in her hands.
"General Su, you're injured."
Su Dangu watched Yaoying, his jade-green eyes reflecting her wind-chapped, flushed cheeks. Suddenly, he surged forward, his palm pressing against her neck, pulling her into his embrace.
Caught off guard, Yaoying was dragged against him. Before she could react, Su Dangu wrapped his arms around her and rolled with her several times across the snow.
After a dizzying spin, Yaoying heard the sharp whistle of iron arrows scraping past jagged rocks.
Clutching Su Dangu's robes tightly, she peered from his embrace toward where she had stood moments before.
Several iron arrows quivered in the snow, their shafts humming with residual force.
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