Love Beyond the Grave

After Jingzhou and Qizhou were secured, the territories under Great Liang's control formed a pincer movement around Youzhou. In Duan Xu's command tent, the generals gathered around the geographical map as Duan Xu traced a path with his finger. "Qing Sheng, the Yu Yan Harbor in Qizhou has favorable sailing conditions these days. Take the Accomplishing Victory Army and set sail from here, launching a naval assault on Fengzhou to the north. In half a month, push toward the area between Ji County and Nanyi City to pressure the northeastern part of Youzhou."

Xia Qingsheng accepted the order.

As Duan Xu turned, he met Shi Biao's excited gaze. Rubbing his hands eagerly, Shi Biao said, "Marshal Duan, another batch of Feather Formation Vehicles has arrived—enough to equip an additional fifty thousand troops beyond the Returning Crane Army. At this point, shouldn’t we unveil our trump card?"

Bandits were generally short-tempered, and Shi Biao was no exception. When Duan Xu had persuaded him to surrender, he had casually laid out his plans to campaign against Danzhi and even showed him a model of the Feather Formation Vehicle. At that moment, Shi Biao, holed up in his mountain lair, realized that being a bandit king was no true heroism—real heroes followed Duan Xu to fight the Huqi People.

Later, he obediently accepted the amnesty and joined the Returning Crane Army. There, he witnessed the first batch of Feather Formation Vehicles designed by Duan Xu and began secretly training selected soldiers in chariot warfare under Duan Xu's command. The more he saw, the more he marveled at how someone so young could devise such tactics—genius! His admiration knew no bounds. He’d call Duan Xu "Marshal" or even "Grandpa Duan" without hesitation.

At the time, Duan Xu had merely smiled at Shi Biao’s effusive praise, saying that he’d had guidance from a master and couldn’t take all the credit. In ancient battlefields millennia ago, large-scale warfare often involved chariots, and powerful states were often called "a thousand-chariot kingdom." But over centuries, cavalry and infantry grew dominant, and chariot warfare faded into obscurity. Duan Xu had simply adapted the ancient Eight Formations, combining them with the tactics of Danzhi’s cavalry to create the Feather Formation Vehicle.

What he didn’t tell Shi Biao was that while poring over ancient texts, he’d found many chariot designs described vaguely, nearly lost to time. Back then, He Simu had draped herself over his shoulders as he studied those texts. Hearing him lament the loss of such valuable knowledge, she’d teased— Serve me well, and none of this will be lost.

This centuries-old master loved wandering battlefields—she had seen those things with her own eyes.

Duan Xu grinned and said to Shi Biao, "It’s time to give them a shock."

In the tenth month of Yuanshou’s sixth year, Duan Xu divided his forces into three routes, led by Xia Qingsheng, Wu Shengliu, and himself, launching a three-pronged assault on Youzhou. Thus began the most famous campaign in Great Liang’s history—the Battle of Youzhou.

The Returning Crane Army, under Duan Xu’s personal command, unveiled an unusual chariot called the Feather Formation. Lightweight with a flat carriage, it was designed for narrow, treacherous terrain. The carriage had openings on all sides, allowing soldiers inside to defend themselves with sharp wooden spikes. On open ground, the chariots could link together, forming a square formation—up to thirty chariots interlocked, like a moving fortress.

The Huqi People had once suffered heavy losses against the fortifications of the previous dynasty. Now, Duan Xu had turned field battles into siege warfare. The sprawling, city-like Feather Formation Vehicles stunned Danzhi’s defenders the moment they appeared on the battlefield. After extensive training, the Returning Crane Army wielded them with precision. Every soldier aboard was a powerhouse capable of drawing a four- jun bow, raining arrows from the chariots. No matter how formidable Danzhi’s cavalry was, they found no opening to strike.The biggest issue with the Feather Formation Vehicles was their speed. While Danzhi couldn't breach their defenses, Duan Xu swiftly deployed cavalry to pursue them during retreats. The light cavalry led by Ding Jin were fast and agile, personally trained by Duan Xu in mounted archery. They would chase the enemy while waiting for the Feather Formation Vehicles to catch up.

Thus, the supposedly impregnable stronghold of Ji Wang, attacked by the Returning Crane Army, fell within just five days. Danzhi forces retreated in disarray, relentlessly pursued by the Returning Crane Army.

Of course, Duan Xu hadn't forgotten his signature underhanded tactics. Many magnetite stones had been mined from Sky Luo, which he equipped on some Feather Formation Vehicles. The soldiers on these vehicles wore rattan armor and carried wooden staffs. When Danzhi soldiers encountered these magnetic vehicles, their metal armor and horseshoes would be irresistibly drawn to the magnets, leaving them stumbling and struggling to move as if bewitched. Drawing from the Scripture of Azure Words, Duan Xu spun these occurrences as divine miracles, waging psychological warfare against the Danzhi forces.

The battles on the southern and eastern fronts progressed smoothly, but Wu Shengliu encountered fierce resistance on the western front, making slow progress. Duan Xu ordered the Returning Crane Army to continue advancing while he personally led Chen Ying and a contingent of light cavalry to the western front to assist Wu Shengliu in breaking the Danzhi army's resistance.

Duan Xu's exploits spread like wildfire among mortals, eventually reaching He Simu's ears.

In Jade Zhou City, He Simu pored over battle reports by lamplight while Jiang Ai assisted with reviewing memorials. Bai Sanxing, bored out of his mind, propped his chin on his hand before suddenly standing up and declaring, "This is too dull. I'm leaving."

Jiang Ai glanced at him with a smile and said, "No way. I haven't rested yet, and you think you can?"

"I've got nothing to do here!"

"Then I'll share some of these memorials with you. See what your old subordinates are up to."

"These long-winded reports are so tedious. Deadly boring."

"Haha, when you were the master of Ki-Demon Hall, didn't you read submissions from below?"

Bai Sanxing's expression darkened, and he gritted his teeth without responding. Jiang Ai nodded knowingly. "Yan Ke handled them for you, didn't he? Serves you right for being betrayed without even realizing it."

As she spoke, she pushed a stack of memorials toward Bai Sanxing and said cheerfully, "Read them carefully and give me your thoughts afterward."

Bai Sanxing's eyes turned venomous, but when Jiang Ai raised her hand and jingled the bell on her wrist, he reluctantly picked up the memorials and began reading resentfully, his gaze sharp enough to bore holes through the paper.

He Simu observed the two Evil Ghosts thoughtfully. She had heard Bai Sanxing was a hot-tempered individual, yet around Jiang Ai, he seemed unable to vent his frustration. If anyone other than Jiang Ai had controlled him, Bai Sanxing would likely have preferred annihilation over submission.

Jiang Ai picked up the next memorial and, after reading for a while, remarked with admiration, "I never realized Yan Zhang was such a formidable fighter."

"She was originally the daughter of a military family. After her father was convicted of a crime, she became a courtesan. Betrayed by her lover, her life was filled with suffering, and her deep resentment translated into immense magical power," He Simu explained.

"You personally promoted her, and she's fiercely loyal to you. The new master of Greedy Ghost Hall, along with Tui-Demon Hall and Piao-Demon Hall, all pledged their allegiance immediately to oppose Yan Ke."He Simu flipped through the battle reports and said, "Yan Ke has his faction, and naturally, I have mine. I'm not as isolated as he thinks. Even if these Hall Masters aren't used against him now, they'll be needed later."

After a pause, she raised her eyes to look at Jiang Ai and continued, "Soon, Bai Sanxing can make his appearance. Right now, Yan Ke still believes I know nothing about Bai Sanxing and thinks this will cause discord between you and me. Has he been trying to win you over lately?"

"I've been refusing visitors, and he's also wary of being caught by you. He's only sent messengers a few times. The Hall Masters Yan Ke leads now are remnants from the previous dynasty, many of whom received Bai Sanxing's favor in the past. If Bai Sanxing appears and accuses Yan Ke of betrayal, those Hall Masters will surely waver." Jiang Ai glanced at Bai Sanxing, whose face was clouded with gloom, and smiled at He Simu. "Simu, when you originally said you planned to end this rebellion in six months, I thought you were boasting. But looking at how things are going, it might really be possible. Are you trying to finish early so you can see your little friend sooner?"

He Simu chuckled softly at this.

Jiang Ai then said, "I've heard he's become quite famous in the mortal realm lately, winning battles brilliantly. Why not have him come to the Ghost Realm to help you fight? That way, you won't have to be separated anymore."

He Simu waved her hand dismissively and said lightly, "He has his battles to fight, and I have mine. Aunt Jiang Ai, don't always steer the conversation toward him."

"What, missing him?"

He Simu looked at Jiang Ai, meeting her teasing, amused eyes. She glanced at her, then at the frowning Bai Sanxing beside her. After a moment of silence, she leisurely closed the battle reports and smiled. "Well, the remaining reports will be your responsibility, Aunt Jiang Ai."

Jiang Ai was taken aback, but before she could react, a wisp of blue smoke drifted by—the Ghost King had vanished.

The Ghost King had abruptly abandoned her duties to go see her beloved.

Occasionally, He Simu would look back on this moment and wonder if some premonition had driven her to seek out Duan Xu. Mortals might feel chest tightness, palpitations, or twitching eyelids—sensations she would never experience.

Her only premonition was that, at that moment, she missed him terribly.

Perhaps, in some unfathomable way, she sensed that if she didn’t go to him now, it would be like loosening her grip in the vast abyss of time—she might never see him again.

The moment He Simu’s feet touched the ground, a blood-soaked soldier passed through her spectral form. In the crowded, chaotic unfamiliar bedroom, she briefly wondered if she had come to the wrong place—until she caught sight of Duan Xu lying on the bed through the gaps in the crowd.

For a long time afterward, she would replay this scene in her mind.

In the flickering candlelight, Duan Xu’s upper body was bare, his hair disheveled and matted with blood and sweat against his cheeks. His left chest was wrapped in thick bandages, now completely soaked through with dark stains. His face was as pale as paper, his lips tinged with dried blood, his eyes shut peacefully.

He Simu was intimately familiar with battlefields, with death, and most of all—with those hovering on its edge.

"Doctor! Fetch the doctor! General Duan’s been hit by an arrow! The bleeding won’t stop!"

"It’s been two hours already... Will it be too late—"

"Don’t talk nonsense!""The blood is black—the arrow was poisoned!"

People came and went, passing through He Simu's spectral form. She stood frozen in place for what felt like an eternity, as though she had forgotten how to control her own body. When she finally willed herself to move forward, she saw the physician turning Duan Xu over. His left hand hung limply off the side of the bed, swaying weakly.

The flickering candlelight cast shifting shadows, and his pale fingertips swayed between light and darkness, the movement gradually slowing until it ceased altogether. Dark liquid dripped from his fingers, falling drop by drop onto the floor.

He Simu halted mid-step. Softly, almost helplessly, she called out, "Duan Xu."

"Duan Fox, Duan Shunxi, Duan Xu!"

She began walking forward, her voice growing louder with each step, calling his name—a sound only he could hear. No matter what happened before, calling his name like this had always roused him. She crouched beside his bed, reaching out to touch his face, but her fingers passed straight through his cheek.

Her hand trembled, and a sudden terror seized her—the fear that she couldn’t hold onto him. She had always thought of Duan Xu as a steady-burning flame. Pressing against his chest, she could hear the crackling of embers, bright and fearless, burning without end.

But in the blink of an eye, it seemed the flame had weakened, its sound fading to a whisper.

He seemed... on the verge of extinguishing.

When Duan Xu led his troops back to the Returning Crane Army from the western front, they were ambushed by Danzhi forces. Shi Biao failed to provide timely reinforcements. Duan Xu’s five thousand cavalry were trapped for three days before Zhao Xing of Qizhou arrived with reinforcements. During the breakout, Duan Xu was struck through the chest by a Divine Mechanism Crossbow bolt from Danzhi, sustaining grave injuries. He remained unconscious.

The arrow was laced with deadly poison. His blood would not stop flowing. The odds were grim.