Chu Qiao was jolted awake by a cacophony of noise. The hoofbeats came so swiftly, like thunderclaps amid wind and fire, already roaring beside her ears by the time she registered them.
Having consumed no food for three days and endured bitter cold in the snow, she was now at the end of her tether. In haste, she grabbed her blade and rushed out of the tent, her steps unsteady, her body burning with fever. Before her eyes swarmed blurry torches, their dazzling glow nearly setting half the sky ablaze. The thunderous hoofbeats rolled across the land like distant rumbles, and her ears rang with chaos. It seemed someone was charging straight toward her.
She heard shouts directed at her and turned to see He Xiao’s bloodshot eyes. His lips moved as he fought fiercely, drenched in blood—whether wounded or not, she couldn’t tell. Her mind buzzed, thoughts scattering like mist. She strained to catch his words, but they remained indistinct.
This was Zhao Yang’s fourth raid on their camp that day. Daxia was gradually losing patience with them. The air filled with the clamor of battle, and the soldiers guarding her fell one by one. More enemies surged forward, each defender fighting alone as their lines were utterly torn apart. Daxia’s army advanced like a tidal wave. A sharp arrow shot through the air—a guard threw himself in its path, the arrowhead piercing his forehead and jutting grotesquely from the back of his skull, its tip aimed straight at Chu Qiao’s nose. Dark blood dripped, drop by drop.
“Protect the commander!”
Someone shouted those words, but the distant soldiers could no longer break through. Corpses lay everywhere, her vision dyed crimson. A biting wind howled, and snow still swirled through the air. Chu Qiao thought, There’s no way out now. Let it be. She nodded faintly, her voice hoarse as she whispered, “Let it be. Just let it be.”
A row of powerful crossbows was raised, their dense volleys cutting through the icy wind with a piercing whistle. Chu Qiao lifted her head, watching the deadly arrows descend from above, her consciousness wavering in a daze.
She thought, Perhaps I’m about to die. Time seemed to freeze abruptly. In her haze, she recalled her entire life: selected from an orphanage as a child, over a decade of grueling training, then admission to military academy, followed by joining the Military Intelligence Department—assassinations, undercover missions, and finally sacrificing for her nation. Arriving in this tumultuous era, she had lived through another death-like cycle of ten years. Suddenly, she felt utterly exhausted, weary to the bone. As the wind blew toward her, she vaguely wished to abandon all perseverance and struggle. All these years, no matter how dire the circumstances, she had never given up hope of survival. But now, she suddenly no longer wanted to keep fighting. She thought, I’m too tired. Let it be. Resting this way might be for the best.
“Commander!”
He Xiao’s eyes nearly burst with fury. He watched Chu Qiao standing motionless, her head tilted upward, staring blankly at the rain of arrows without evading, like a pillar of ice.
His heart felt as if it were being torn apart. He swung his blade wildly, its gleaming edge carving a white arc through the air. Two heads flew simultaneously, blood splattering all over him. Yet, the tide of enemies surged again—he couldn’t escape, couldn’t break free, forced to watch helplessly as the arrows closed in on her figure.The Yanbei Army atop Dragon's Roar Pass all witnessed this scene with wide eyes. A young soldier, his face deathly pale, suddenly collapsed to his knees as his legs gave way. Gazing at the pale-faced woman engulfed in raging flames, he wept bitterly, "Lady Chu!"
He too was a soldier from Shangshen—his parents and sisters had all been rescued by Chu Qiao from the slave camps, freed from bondage, and granted land. But he was a timid man. When the Xiuli Army fought outside, he dared not make a sound. When the Daxia Army repeatedly raided their camp, he dared not make a sound. When blizzards ravaged their barracks, he dared not make a sound. When civilians wept beneath the city walls, he dared not make a sound. Only at this moment did his mother's words echo in his heart once more—the white-haired old woman prostrating herself on the land she owned for the first time in her life, weeping uncontrollably as she told him: "We must remember this kindness for a thousand years. Lady Chu is our benefactor."
A chorus of mournful cries erupted along the battlements. The tall grasses on the plains rustled, snowflakes swirled, and everything was veiled in a vast, desolate whiteness.
Over the past half-month, all of Yanbei had borne witness to the loyalty and courage of an army. And in this moment, heaven and earth together bore witness to the bitterness and sorrow of one woman.
Arrows soared high, rising, rising, reaching their zenith before arcing downward in a semicircle, carrying ferocious momentum.
Every eye was wide open. Chu Qiao's robes billowed in the fierce wind. She narrowed her eyes slightly, her disheveled hair stirred by the sharp air, her scalp stinging with pain. Her mind went blank, vaguely recalling a pair of eyes—someone looking at her, slowly saying: "Live on, live on."
She smiled faintly, her expression as delicate as mist.
"I can't hold on any longer. I'll come find you, alright?"
Suddenly, a sharp whistling sound pierced the air. From the snow-capped peaks west of Dragon's Roar Pass, dark shadows leaped down like agile monkeys. Grasping long ropes, they descended from the sky. Hundreds of curved blades flew out, striking the volley of powerful crossbows with miraculous precision.
Instantly, chaos erupted across the field. The dark figures swiftly slid down the snowy peaks, all clad in dark green leather armor. Their movements were agile and fierce, leaping and dodging like savage beasts of the jungle. In the firelight, crimson tattoos were visible on their faces, their eyes wolf-like, ferocious and brave as they charged toward the stunned Daxia Army.
Before the Daxia soldiers could react, clamor arose from the southwest. Snow and dust churned in the wind as the thunderous hooves of thousands of horses pounded the ground like war drums. Elite cavalry surged into the camp, their sabers slashing with deadly precision—a classic army charge, filled with murderous intent. They arrived swiftly, clad in silver armor and wielding dark blades—all Biantang soldiers.
Amid the silver-armored charge, the young emperor abruptly pulled her into a tight embrace. His grip was so fierce it seemed he might crush her. His armor was cold as blades, his breath heavy, forming clouds of white vapor. The sounds of battle faded into the distance, the surroundings so quiet a pin drop could be heard. Countless bright torches illuminated them like the warm noon sun in June.
The fierce wind receded, rumbling across the earth. Li Ce's voice was low and calm, yet a trace of unease seeped through as he whispered, over and over, "It's alright now, it's alright, it's alright..."Chu Qiao did not want to cry. Her heart was filled with vast, desolate bewilderment, as if nothing was real. Yet her tears fell drop by drop, tracing the patterns on Li Ce's armor before rolling downward. She closed her eyes, as if witnessing thousands of mountains shattering and collapsing, stars falling to dust, raging flames descending from the sky, and blazing fires igniting across the sea, boiling and surging into an unfathomable abyss.
She wanted to speak, had so much to say, but when she opened her mouth, only muffled, wordless sounds emerged.
"Li Ce, do you know? Mr. Wu is dead, Miss Yu is dead, so many people are dead. Yan Xun has killed countless people. Tell me, will he kill me too?"
"Li Ce, Zhuge Yue is also dead. It was my fault. Do you know? I caused his death."
"Li Ce, you were right. Yanbei is truly cold. Hearts have frozen to death here, even vows have turned to ice."
The world suddenly felt so empty. Chu Qiao slowly drifted into sleep, nestled in Li Ce's embrace, exhaustion etched across her face. Li Ce looked down, thinking how pale and fragile she appeared. He realized he had truly gone mad—the memory of the powerful crossbows filling the sky when he arrived still terrified him to the point of insanity. Had he been even a moment later, just a moment later!
The fierce wind whipped around them. He removed his heavy fur cloak and wrapped Chu Qiao in his arms. She was so thin, curled into a small bundle like a young child.
He lifted his head, gazing at the swirling snow, the murderous Daxia army across from them, and the towering Dragon's Roar Pass. An uncontrollable rage surged within him.
"Yan Xun, how could you be so heartless?"
"How could you be so heartless?"
"Your Majesty, Daxia has sent an envoy demanding to know why Great Tang is interfering in Daxia's internal affairs. How should we respond?"
A guard dismounted and rushed forward. Li Ce, holding Chu Qiao, replied coldly, "Tell Zhao Yang that I, Li Ce, have taken her. If he wants her back, I await him in Tang Capital."
"Your Majesty, we've brought him."
Tie You approached, followed by a middle-aged man with facial tattoos—the leader of the group that had just leaped from the snowy peak and saved Chu Qiao in time.
Li Ce's expression softened slightly as he nodded. "We owe you our thanks."
The tattooed man bowed his head. "We were few in number. Had it not been for the Tang Emperor's intervention, Commander Chu would have been in grave danger."
"Nevertheless, you acted swiftly and saved her. This debt of gratitude I shall remember. If opportunity arises in the future, I will repay it."
"You honor us too much. I was merely following orders.Li Ce's eyebrows lifted slightly as he tentatively asked, "Your master."..?"
"My master has already intercepted the Yanbei army and arranged support at all exit points. Please depart quickly, Tang Emperor. We will cover your retreat."
Li Ce nodded slowly, his gaze profound. "Great kindness needs no empty thanks. Take care."
With that, he swiftly led the Biantang army and Xiuli Army forces away. The defenders at Dragon's Roar Pass, now numbering less than sixty thousand, watched as Li Ce departed with nearly two hundred thousand troops. For a moment, they hesitated about whether to pursue. After weighing the situation, the garrison commander finally gritted his teeth and said, "Quickly, go seek instructions from His Majesty."
The soldiers breathed a sigh of relief. Excellent—by the time the instructions returned, these terrifying figures would likely be long gone.In less than half an hour, the procession arrived at Shichuan Pass, where a group of about two thousand people was quietly waiting. After Li Ce's men exchanged a few words with them, the group left a carriage behind and departed.
Tie You returned and reported, "It's the same group. They said they've prepared horses and provisions for us twenty li ahead and left a carriage, saying that since Yanbei is cold, Your Majesty can travel by carriage."
Lifting the carriage curtain, they saw a spacious interior with soft quilts and brocade fabrics. Beneath the high bed was an iron plate, under which two braziers were placed, making the carriage as warm as spring. A small stove was also inside, with a medicinal pot on top emitting white steam. When opened, it revealed a steaming bowl of ginseng chicken soup.
"Your Majesty, who exactly is this King of Qinghai? With such a grand display this time, does he really just want to curry favor with our Biantang?"
Li Ce quietly gazed at the pot of chicken soup and remained silent for a long time. Chu Qiao lay in the carriage, her small face pale and pitiful. Seeming to feel the warmth, she slowly let out a breath and then curled up quietly on the bed, as still as a sleeping rabbit.
"Tie You, if it were you, who would do these things for you?"
Tie You was taken aback, thought for a long time, and then said slowly, "Probably only my old mother. Even my wife wouldn't do it."
Li Ce's lips curved into a faint smile. "Yes, such people are rare indeed."
"Your Majesty, do you know who it is?"
"I do," Li Ce nodded, turning to look at the distant mountains hidden in the vast falling snow, his voice carrying a faint, elusive tone. "If I only had doubts before, now I am certain."
Fate is treacherous, and suspicions abound. Everyone is a puppet entangled in strings, walking along their predetermined paths. Since he couldn't break free, why should he prematurely unveil the prologue of the final outcome?
Li Ce smiled gently, his lips carrying a trace of weathered calm and tranquility.
Zhuge Yue, I am not your equal.
Before dawn broke, the heavy snow finally stopped. The sun had yet to appear, and the earth remained immersed in a bleak darkness.
On the high mountain peak, a man in a simple blue robe stood. A snow grouse flapped its wings as it flew from afar. He stretched out his arm, and the most ferocious bird of the Qinghai plains landed obediently on his arm. Its body was pure white, with only three red feathers on its tail, bright as fresh blood.
Unfolding the letter, the messy, unimproved handwriting of someone who had narrowly escaped death came into view: "The Tang Emperor has led his troops back to Tangshui Pass. He is safe, do not worry."
The man's expression remained calm, his eyes as cold and detached as ever. He naturally understood his subordinate's teasing. Who was safe? And who was not to worry?
Picking up his brush, he wrote in reply: "No need to withdraw. Stay there and die."
When the young general received the letter, he smiled happily, revealing a set of white teeth. Waving his hand, he said to his complaining soldiers, "Withdraw, withdraw. We're going home."
"Seventh General, missing your wife, aren't you?"
A man in his forties laughed heartily. He had taken an arrow to the shoulder and had just been bandaged, but he acted as if nothing had happened. The tattoo on his face quivered like a winding snake.
"Get lost! You old bachelor, I wish you a lifetime free from the pain of longing."
"Damn, these Yanbei brutes are too fierce!"A soldier in his thirties strode in, baring half his shoulder despite the bitter cold, a white bandage wrapped around his chest—clearly another recent casualty.
"I didn't even steal their wives, damn it! Why are they all fighting me like their lives depend on it?"
The Seventh General chuckled. "You didn't steal their wives, but our master did. Let's go. We're not here for a real battle. Tell Qi Lang to arrange the retreat route. Everyone, get to your positions—we're making a run for it."
The general whom the Seventh General called "Old Bachelor" grumbled as he stood up, shuffling outward while muttering, "I think our master made a bad move in this battle. He didn't even get a glimpse of his bride before someone else snatched her away. It's not like we're definitely no match for them. This deal is a total loss."
The tent gradually emptied. The Seventh General remained standing where he was, momentarily stunned by the man's words. After a long silence, he murmured softly, "The young master can't afford to take that risk!"
Indeed, if the battle dragged on and things took a turn for the worse over there, what would victory even mean?
The Seventh General recalled the person he'd seen on the battlefield earlier. His young eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a trace of hidden resentment. This score would be settled sooner or later.
Three days later, at dawn, Li Ce boarded a ship at Tangshui Pass with Chu Qiao. The sun rose from below the horizon, casting a brilliant golden glow across the land. The sky stretched high and clear, without a single cloud. Tangshui Pass, located in the southwest, enjoyed a mild climate. The river flowed gently, its waters a serene shade of emerald.
As the fleet set sail, a thunderous roar echoed from the horizon. Thousands of ships weighed anchor and began moving, waves converging from all directions like an avalanche of snow. The sky took on the hue of polished blue glaze, while masts pierced heavenward, one after another, hoisting billowing white sails.
"Set sail—"
Tie You's voice rang out, long and tinged with delight.
Li Ce stood at the stern, dressed in elegant pine-green robes, his features bewitching and unrestrained. He tilted his head slightly, gazing at the towering Cuiwei Mountain, where a lone figure was faintly visible at the summit.
Amid the ebb and flow of humanity and the changing seasons, the wind sweeping down from the mountain carried a faint, dusky fragrance, stirring a subtle, tingling ache deep in his bones. All his thoughts grew clearer than ever before.
Li Ce suddenly broke into a smile—cunning as a fox, revealing a row of white teeth. Then, to the horror of his subordinates, he blew a passionate kiss toward the mountain peak.
Ten thousand men collectively facepalmed. Tie You asked gloomily, "Your Majesty, did you spot a village girl gathering firewood on the mountain?"
Li Ce turned around, feigning surprise. "Oh! How did you know?"
Everyone sighed in resignation: Your Majesty, who doesn't know?
The great river stretched like a chain, the ships winding forward as the morning sun rose. Everything felt perfectly complete.
At the mountain peak, a man stood silently. He had clearly seen Li Ce's provocative gesture and frowned slightly, yet he did not turn to leave.
The ships gradually faded into the distance, but he remained there for a long, long time. His heart was as calm as the mountain breeze—devoid of sorrow, devoid of weariness. The rustling wind swept over his back, his shadow cast on the ground with a faint, clear radiance. The forest carried the scent of dust and moisture, brushing against his face with an unusual gentleness.In his daze, he recalled her gaze—like wandering through the desolate wild grass of memory and suddenly glimpsing a towering tree, her expression gentle, yet lost and devoid of its usual cool clarity.
He never needed her to know. If possible, he would willingly lie flat and become a road, sending her off to a place of peace and tranquility.
It was September 29, 1978, the season when chrysanthemums bloomed abundantly in Tang Capital. A solemn wind whistled through the city, scattering golden hues across the ground under the bright blue sky.
The ship sailed southward, slowly heading toward that realm of extravagant sweetness.
————Break————
Update tomorrow at 3:00 sharp.
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