Just as Zhuge Yue led his entourage away, another convoy of carriages slowly approached. A capable old steward jumped down from the carriage, while Merchant Mu stood by his side, bowing and scraping so deeply it seemed his head might touch the ground. He hastily said, "You've arrived. I've prepared everyone as requested, awaiting your selection."
The old steward, over sixty years old, wore a clean blue cloth robe with a white satin belt tied around his waist. His hair was meticulously combed, giving him an air of efficiency. With a stern expression, he remained silent as he walked up to the slaves, his eyes sweeping over their tattered clothing one by one. After a moment, he extended a finger and pointed at the people in the cages.
"This one, this one, this one, and this one..."
Merchant Mu hurriedly followed alongside, jotting down notes in a small booklet. In no time, the old man had selected twenty-five slaves before turning around and saying, "That's all."
"Ah?" Merchant Mu was taken aback. "That's all? Wouldn't you like to see more, sir? I have many strong and sturdy ones in the sheds out back—I just didn't bring them out because there wasn't enough space. Perhaps you'd like to take a look behind?"
"I said that's all, so that's all. No need for further chatter."
The old man frowned, his voice low and authoritative. Merchant Mu, startled, quickly nodded and said, "Yes, yes, I spoke out of turn."
Just as the old man was about to leave, a clear and bright voice suddenly called out, "Sir, please wait!"
The old man paused and turned around to see a handsome young man with a scholarly air forcing his way to the front of the slaves. His face was flushed, but his lips were pale. Nervously licking his lips, he spoke up, "Sir, I have studied the Eight Histories extensively and am well-versed in the Six Arts. Since childhood, I have practiced literature, including the Tao, Seven Summaries, Great Books, Sheng Yu, the Scripture of Orchid, Moral Texts, Gui Cang's Simplicities, and Yuan Zongheng Yu. I am also knowledgeable in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, tea ceremony, and incense art. Could you possibly purchase me?"
The old man slowly furrowed his brow, his voice deep and measured as he replied, "I am here to buy slaves for manual labor, not a tutor."
"I can do manual labor too," Liang Shaoqing immediately interjected, racking his brains to think of what constituted "manual labor." He hurriedly added, "I can grind ink, cut paper, sun-dry books, organize manuscripts, and oh—I can also tend the fire, fetch water, chop firewood, and..."
"Do you truly understand the Scripture of Orchid?"
A deep, mellow voice sounded, not particularly loud but carrying a serene and tranquil quality. A somewhat pale hand lifted the blue cloth curtain of the carriage, revealing a man with striking brows and calm eyes that resembled the spring lakes of March. His face was slightly pale, and though the weather wasn't cold, he wore a silver satin cloak with the hood half-drawn. Dressed in a blue robe, he exuded an undeniable elegance and grace.
The street was bustling with pedestrians, a mix of all sorts, carriages rumbling by. The sharp neighing of horses disturbed the slumbering girl, and the unconscious young woman slowly opened her eyes. What met her gaze was a pair of gentle, watery eyes. Chu Qiao lay in the dry grass, weakly watching the man not far away. She neither spoke nor moved, simply gazing quietly, her eyes distant, as if washing away the long weariness and hardship in an instant.
"I have some understanding of it. The Scripture of Orchid is profound and vast. To claim full comprehension with my limited knowledge would be an insult to your esteemed ears."The young man in the blue robe nodded. Though still young—only about twenty-five or twenty-six—his demeanor was remarkably restrained and composed. He nodded and said, "Uncle Qing, buy him."
"Sir!" Liang Shaoqing suddenly called out loudly. "I have a younger brother who is ill. We absolutely cannot be separated. Could you buy him as well?"
Following Liang Shaoqing's pointing finger, the blue-robed man immediately saw Chu Qiao lying weakly on the ground. The girl dressed in men's clothing had a calm expression; though her face was as pale as paper, she showed no signs of distress or disarray. She gazed quietly at the man, neither humble nor arrogant, without joy or sorrow. The man nodded and said, "Alright."
Liang Shaoqing immediately clapped his hands happily, strode over to Chu Qiao, and picked her up horizontally, exclaiming, "We're saved! We're saved!"
Chu Qiao struggled to breathe; the exhaustion after the arrowhead's removal had left her extremely weak. Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's as she whispered, "Thank you."
Liang Shaoqing shook his head joyfully, then suddenly seemed to remember something and leaned in to ask, "By the way, what's your name? How should I address you later?"
Chu Qiao replied, "Since you said I'm your younger brother, I'll take your surname. My original surname is Qiao, so you can call me Xiao Qiao."
"Good. My surname is Liang, given name Shaoqing, courtesy name Zhangyu."
Chu Qiao nodded: "Bookworm."
Liang Shaoqing was taken aback, then frowned angrily and said, "Hey! You should call me big brother!"
But Chu Qiao could no longer hear him. Her head tilted to the side as she fell unconscious. At that moment, the old man called Uncle Qing approached, glanced at Chu Qiao, and immediately said, "Quick, get on the carriage. We have a physician traveling with us."
The carriage rumbled away, carrying the awestruck gazes of ordinary people and the faintly drifting dust, disappearing into the morning's thin mist.
Boss Mu resentfully rubbed his hands together. Even after the people had vanished from sight, he still harbored some indignant frustration. A servant came up to him and, oblivious to his mood, smiled and said, "Boss, we've made a fortune!"
"Fortune my ass!"
Boss Mu flew into a rage, panting angrily as he cursed, "And they call themselves wealthy families? Stingy as mice, haggling over just a few people for so long. Damn it!"
The servant was puzzled and asked, "They didn't seem like that from their manner. Boss, who are they?"
"How the hell should I know?" Boss Mu threw the account book in his hand aside and said angrily, "Liu Laosan introduced them yesterday. Probably even he doesn't know. These days, noble families are struggling but still put on airs. Damn it!"
"Pack up!" Boss Mu yelled gloomily. "Bad luck today. What we earned this morning is all lost now. Damn it, what terrible luck!"
The streets were bustling, with the aromas of various snacks drifting through Xianyang City. Crowds jostled back and forth, stopping at places that caught their interest. Many merchants from out of town looked around curiously, occasionally buying small trinkets that pleased them. The vendors at the slave stalls had excellent business today, having made a big sale early in the morning and grinning from ear to ear.Suddenly, the peddler's eyes lit up, and his spirits lifted instantly. The lavishly dressed young master who had just passed by was now galloping back on his horse, his expression grave—clearly, something had happened. As a commoner with few hobbies in life, he particularly enjoyed watching a spectacle when he had nothing better to do. Since he had no fortune to provoke such a formidable figure, he happily craned his neck to get a better look.
By the time Zhuge Yue and his men hurriedly arrived at Boss Mu's slave stall, Boss Mu and his subordinates had already packed up and were preparing to leave. Yue Qi stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Hold on."
Boss Mu, with a lifetime of experience in judging people, had a sharp eye. He could tell at a glance who had money and who didn't. Especially since this man had just bought over a dozen young slave girls from someone else without even haggling over the price, he wasn't about to let this fool who had come knocking on his door slip away. He quickly scurried forward, bowing and scraping, and said with a smile, "Esteemed young master, how may I be of service to you?"
Zhuge Yue said nothing, his face cold as ice, and strode directly toward the line of slaves tied up with ropes behind Boss Mu.
Boss Mu was taken aback and hurriedly stepped forward, exclaiming, "Ah, young master, you—"
With a swift motion, Yue Qi's sword sheath was pressed against Boss Mu's neck. The man's expression was unfriendly as he slowly and firmly said, "Stay where you are. Did I permit you to approach?"
Boss Mu nervously rubbed his hands together, cautiously trying to appease them. Years of experience told him that these people were definitely not ones he could afford to provoke.
After a while, the blue-robed man turned around and came up to Boss Mu, asking in a low voice, "Are all your slaves here?"
"Yes, all of them are here. I'm about to close up shop, and I've just brought out the ones from the two shacks in the back. Esteemed young master, is there anyone who catches your eye?"
Zhuge Yue slowly furrowed his brows, his lips cold and silent. After a long pause, he finally asked, word by word, "Are you certain that everyone is here?"
Though it was just a short sentence, it made Boss Mu break out in a cold sweat. He nervously turned around and counted again, then said, "I report to you, esteemed young master, they're all here. I wouldn't dare deceive you even if I had the audacity of the heavens."
Zhu Cheng, having now pieced together the sequence of events, cautiously approached Zhuge Yue and said, "Young master, could it be that you were mistaken? With Xing'er's abilities, how could they possibly capture her?"
Zhuge Yue remained silent, standing still in quiet contemplation. The morning sun broke through the mist, casting a golden brilliance, its spring-like warmth spreading over the flowers, trees, and plants of Xianyang City. The small city was surrounded by water, with a tributary of the Chishui River flowing through it. Travelers could be seen leisurely rowing small boats on the river, creating a scene as serene as a light ink-wash painting.
Zhuge Yue took a step forward, preparing to leave, his eyes cold and devoid of their earlier brilliance. But just as he was about to depart, a dark-faced man ran out from the dilapidated shack in the back. In his haste, he didn't notice the visitors outside and shouted excitedly, "Boss! That kid has a fine sword on him. I think it could be worth a lot of money."
Instantly, all eyes turned toward him, including Zhuge Yue's.
His gaze sharpened, and his sword-like eyebrows shot up. Zhuge Yue strode forward, snatched the sword, and with a swift motion, drew it from its sheath!In an instant, a dazzling brilliance erupted, leaving everyone astonished and gaping at the peerlessly sharp, exquisite sword.
The blade was ancient and green, faintly marked with blood-like patterns, and inscribed with two characters in ancient seal script: Moon Breaker!
Zhuge Yue’s face instantly turned as cold as ice. He strode forward, holding the sword level, and said in a deep voice, "Where did you get this sword?"
"I-It... I found it, my lord."
With a sharp hiss, the longsword sang like a dragon’s roar. A sudden gust of wind billowed through Zhuge Yue’s deep blue sleeves as the man’s blade tilted diagonally toward the wooden shop owner’s throat. His tone was low and deliberate as he slowly said, "Will you speak the truth or not?"
"Spare me! Young Master, spare me! Th-This sword belonged to a slave."
"Where is the slave now?"
The wooden shop owner was terrified out of his wits, answering every question without hesitation. "He was just bought by someone."
"Bought?" Zhuge Yue snorted coldly. "It seems you won’t confess until faced with dire consequences!"
"Young Master! Every word I speak is true, without a single falsehood! If you don’t believe me, you can ask the surrounding shopkeepers. Someone just came and bought a group of slaves, and that person was among them."
With a thud, the wooden shop owner knelt on the ground, trembling with fear, and stammered loudly.
Zhuge Yue’s gaze swept over the faces of the onlookers before he said in a low voice, "Who bought them? How long ago did they leave?"
"They just left, not even the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. As for who the buyer was, I don’t know, I truly don’t know!"
A gentle breeze suddenly swept from the end of the long street, swirling and stirring up dust along the way. Zhuge Yue’s robes fluttered, his ink-black hair like the night, his lips appearing even more crimson. Standing at the center of the crowd, his eyes held a rare trace of confusion. Gazing at the bustling flow of people, his expression was a mix of emotions—belated resentment, regret over his carelessness, bewildered helplessness, but most of all, a deep disappointment.
"Was she injured? How severe?"
The wooden shop owner was shrewd; if he didn’t realize by now that the young master was of extraordinary status, he would have wasted his life. He hurriedly replied, "The injuries were severe—a knife wound on the left rib and an arrow wound on the shoulder. I found her last night near the City God Temple outside the city and had a physician treat her overnight to save her life. Young Master, I was foolish and blind, never imagining that young master was your friend. I sold him off as a slave—I deserve death, I deserve death!"
"Young master?" Zhuge Yue frowned slightly, then understood. He looked down at the wooden shop owner and said word by word in a deep voice, "You truly deserve to die."
Zhuge Yue’s voice was low, carrying immense killing intent and a thick aura of bloodshed. The wooden shop owner was struck speechless with fear. The man continued, "In this world, I am her only master. How dare you trade her like merchandise? You deserve to die. Truly, you deserve to die."
"Young Master, I... I..."
"Yue Qi, handle this. I don’t want to see him here, cluttering my sight, on my return journey."
Yue Qi stepped forward and said solemnly, "Yes."
Ignoring the wooden shop owner’s desperate pleas, Zhuge Yue spurred his horse and swiftly disappeared into the bustling street.The sound of horse hooves rumbled as piercing screams rose from the bustling streets, reminiscent of a pig being slaughtered. In these times, the lives of commoners were as cheap as weeds, and no one would shed a tear for a slave trader like Boss Mu, whose hands were stained with countless evils.
"Zhu Cheng, go to the Water Transport Office and inform them that we will not take the water route but switch to the land route instead."
Zhu Cheng was taken aback. Though he had mentally prepared himself, he couldn't help but advise, "Young Master, the master instructed us to arrive at Tang Capital ahead of schedule. The land route will take longer. Moreover, all the major aristocratic families and feudal lords entering the pass are taking the water route. If we alone go against the grain, I fear it will stir up rumors."
Zhuge Yue did not respond, merely turning his head to cast a cold gaze at him, his meaning unmistakably clear.
Zhu Cheng felt a chill run down his spine under that stare. How could he not understand Zhuge Yue's intentions? With the water route sealed off for the grand event in Tang Capital, only the invited clans dared to travel by it, while ordinary travelers and minor families would inevitably take the land route. Those who purchased servants from such lowly slave traders like Boss Mu were certainly not from prominent aristocratic families. The young master's insistence on taking the land route made his purpose obvious. But even if he found her, given their current statuses, what significance would it hold? After all, the young master was no longer the thirteen-year-old boy from nine years ago, and she was no longer the helpless young slave girl she once was.
Young Master, even if you find her, what can you do? She is a tiger—even if temporarily injured and trapped, she cannot be tamed.
Zhu Cheng shook his head with a sigh and turned to head toward the River Transport Office. The morning sun blazed like fire, casting a radiant glow on Zhuge Yue's deep blue robe, making him appear dazzlingly handsome and exceptionally graceful.
In the distance, willow branches swayed like fresh sprouts, and a large elm tree stood thick and tall, likely thirty or forty years old, adorned with red ribbons and colorful paper cuttings—a testament to the superstitions of rural folk. They believed that deities resided within elm trees, and the older and sturdier the tree, the more divine it became. Over time, people facing hardships would come here to pay their respects. Wealthy families offered snacks and food, while those without means tied a red string, praying for their wishes to be fulfilled and their loved ones kept safe.
A long wind swept through, rustling Zhuge Yue's pristine robes. He reached down, untied the jade pendant from his waist, and casually tossed it toward the elm tree. With a soft clink, the priceless pendant caught on a high branch, swaying and shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight.
"Giddy up!"
Zhuge Yue turned, spurred his horse, and rode off with his subordinates in a thunderous departure.
Cicadas shrilled in the summer heat, and the warm wind carried the swaying shadow of the jade pendant among the branches.
**
When she awoke, it was already dusk, and the river surface glimmered with golden light as the red sun dipped in the west.
Liang Shaoqing was overjoyed to see her awake and hurriedly picked up the medicinal broth nearby, carefully feeding it to her.
The medicine was bitterly harsh, and having to drink it spoonful by spoonful felt like a form of torture. Chu Qiao frowned, took the bowl, and downed it in one gulp. She then quickly took a sip of strong tea to wash away the overwhelming bitterness.
After changing into clean clothes and having her wounds re-dressed and bandaged, she felt half-recovered from her severe illness. Sitting up, she glanced around the room she and Liang Shaoqing were in and asked with a furrowed brow, "Where is this place, and where are we headed?""We've been bought." Liang Shaoqing mysteriously stated the fact that everyone already knew, his expression making one want to punch his face flat. "We're on a boat now."
Chu Qiao had excellent temper. Suppressing her urge to beat him up, she calmly said, "Bookworm, can't you tell me something I don't already know?"
"Oh," Liang Shaoqing nodded and began sharing his pitifully limited information.
The family that bought them was named Zhan, coming from the Shuixiu Province at the border of Daxia and Biantang, heading towards the capital of Bian Tang. The master was a young man in his twenties - the man they had seen at the market - named Zhan Ziyu. Additionally, this family had five young ladies, all sisters of Zhan Ziyu. The eldest, second, and third sisters were already married, and their husbands were also on the boat, giving quite the impression of live-in sons-in-law. There were three large ships in total, with over a hundred servants and more than a hundred guards and strong laborers. Besides the three sons-in-law, there was only the previously mentioned steward Qing Shu, who could be considered the chief steward.
Just one trip with so many people - this Zhan family appeared to be quite influential in their region. Yet Chu Qiao racked her brains for a long time but couldn't recall any prominent Zhan clan within Daxia's territories.
Since this group was heading to Tang Capital, she wasn't in a hurry to leave anymore. This way she could properly recover from her injuries, avoid pursuit from Daxia, and it was conveniently along her route - killing three birds with one stone.
Thinking this, Chu Qiao looked up and asked, "You said they're going to Tang Capital - do you know what they're going there for?"
"The Crown Prince of Bian Tang is getting married. All the nobility of Bian Tang, along with representatives from Daxia and Huai Song, are being sent to Tang Capital to attend the Crown Prince's wedding ceremony."
"Wedding?" Chu Qiao was stunned, immediately sitting up straight and asking loudly, "Who's marrying him?"
Just as Liang Shaoqing was about to answer, the boat suddenly rocked violently. The boatmen on both shores shouted loudly as the large ship slowly began to move.
"Finally moving," Liang Shaoqing said. "I heard there was some noble from Daxia who refused to board, so Young Master Zhan didn't dare go first. We waited a full day - seems that person still had matters to attend to, so our ship took the lead."
"You said the Crown Prince of Bian Tang is taking a crown princess - who is he marrying? Is it a princess from Daxia?"
"Originally she was to be the crown princess," Liang Shaoqing explained. "But because of the internal turmoil in Daxia, the original crown princess became a secondary consort. Still, since this is the Crown Prince's first marriage, they're making it particularly grand. Moreover, the one he's marrying is Daxia's Ninth Princess, making it even more magnificent."
Chu Qiao lowered her head and remained silent for a long time. Liang Shaoqing, surprised, called out, "Xiao Qiao? Xiao Qiao? What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"Nothing," Chu Qiao shook her head, slowly leaning back against the bed and saying quietly, "I'm tired and want to rest for a while."
"Then rest. I'll go take a look outside."
The cabin door opened as Liang Shaoqing slipped out. Chu Qiao leaned against the headboard, her brows deeply furrowed, murmuring softly, "Daxia has finally formed a marriage alliance with Bian Tang. Yan Xun, what should we do?"The sky was a brilliant, cloudless blue. Liang Shaoqing stood on the deck, observing the massive ship—over thirty feet wide with upturned bow and stern, four masts (two forward, two aft), and four decks in total: two above and two below the main deck. As the lowest-ranking servants, Chu Qiao and Liang Shaoqing should have been quartered in the lowest level among the others. However, seeing Chu Qiao’s severe injuries, Uncle Qing had actually allocated them a small cabin on the second deck above the main deck.
At this moment, loud chants suddenly sounded from the bow of the ship. The boatmen shouted vigorously, swinging their arms as they unfurled the sails. The large vessel caught the wind and swiftly set sail. Green mountains and lush trees lined both banks, the river surface shimmered silver-white, with white fish leaping and birds circling overhead. In an instant, the pent-up frustration in his chest vanished, and all the turbid impurities seemed to escape his body. Liang Shaoqing stood on the deck, slowly raising his head. The simple scholar smiled faintly—finally, he was heading to Tang Capital!
Just then, far on the shore, a group of people stood quietly watching the departing ship.
Zhu Cheng cautiously approached and said, "Young Master, everything has been arranged. The ship sent by Bian Tang to welcome you has been withdrawn. With the clearance documents secured, we can enter Bian Tang through Baizhi Pass."
"Mm," Zhuge Yue nodded, his eyes gazing aimlessly at the pristine river surface as he said slowly, "No rush. Let’s stay in Xianyang City for two days first."
Zhu Cheng sighed silently. The young master was still uneasy, afraid that the locals might have bought the girl. He nodded and replied, "As you command, Master."
A gentle breeze blew across the river, passing countless mountains and verdant cliffs. Zhuge Yue stood on the shore, watching the distant ship, then turned and rode off toward Xianyang City.
Fate often works in such coincidences. Zhuge Yue had no idea that the person he was desperately searching for was quietly lying on the ship originally prepared for him. Just as he naturally assumed that families with the means to attend Li Ce’s wedding would not be so impoverished as to purchase servants from such places. Yet, some things happened just like that—the twists of fate were both incredibly precise and absurdly disconnected. At the very moment the man rode away, the young girl lifted the curtain of the only small window and leaned out to look, only to see the swirling dust kicked up by horse hooves in the thick river mist.
That day was the ninth of June. News of Crown Prince Li Ce of Bian Tang’s wedding had spread throughout the Ximeng Continent seven days prior. Various factions were secretly speculating, weighing the political benefits this marriage alliance might bring.
Except for the Yanbei regime, which had completely broken ties with the Great Xia Dynasty, forces from across the continent swiftly converged on the capital of Bian Tang. Major families, tribes, and regional lords dispatched high-ranking envoys, not only to foster goodwill with Bian Tang but also to gauge the stance of this most stable regime on the continent regarding the internal strife in Great Xia. Thus, the Zhenhuang Night Banquet, which had ended unhappily due to the turmoil, was now reenacted on the streets of Tang Capital. The ancient and mysterious land of Bian Tang bustled with crowds, vibrant and lively.However, on that very same day, Yanbei finally received news of the widespread manhunt for Chu Qiao across Daxia. The newly crowned ruler of Yanbei, Crown Prince Yan Xun, flew into a rage and ordered a full-scale invasion of Daxia. Under the command of military strategist Wu Daoya, his subordinates Wei Jing, Xi Rui, Bian Cang, Lü Fang, and Du Ci launched a massive incursion into the northwestern territory of the Batuha Family. In every battle, no prisoners were taken, slaughtering until the old Batuha chief lamented incessantly. In just three days, they had lost one-third of their territory, while the remaining two-thirds teetered precariously amidst internal unrest among the populace. Pleas for help, like snowflakes, rushed toward the imperial capital of Zhenhuang and the secondary capital of Yundu, the letters stained with the Batuha Family’s anxieties and the blood shed by the messengers delivering them.
In an instant, the entire Great Xia Dynasty was thrown into turmoil. All factions feared they would be the first to fall under the iron hooves of Yanbei. The lion of Yanbei had issued a warning: if Chu Qiao lost so much as a single hair on anyone’s territory, the local leader and his entire family would pay with their lives. They had best pray that this woman, hunted across thousands of miles, did not suffer so much as a cold, fever, or runny nose. Otherwise, if news of Chu Qiao’s misfortune spread today, Yanbei’s army would be at their gates by tomorrow, showing no mercy or leniency!
These words were no empty threat. Assassination squads of the Great Alliance Society, hidden throughout Daxia, sprang into action, beheading the governors, feudal lords, and inspectors who had participated in the large-scale hunts and pursuits. Within two days, the death toll of high-ranking officials reported to the empire had reached over thirty.
Suddenly, scouts and pursuers dispatched by various regions withdrew one after another. The formidable strength of Yanbei struck fear into everyone’s hearts. Yan Xun might not yet possess the power to confront the entirety of Daxia, but he certainly had the ability to annihilate a province, a fiefdom, or a prefecture—and even the stealth to eliminate them personally. Who could guarantee that, in times of crisis, the empire would not stand idly by as they once had? Who could assure them that the blind fortune-teller at their doorstep, the pancake vendor at the street corner, the newly hired laborer in their household, or the concubine recently brought into their mansion were not assassins sent by the Great Alliance Society to claim their heads?
It was better to avoid trouble than to invite it. While achieving merit and glory was desirable, preserving one’s own life was far more important.
Chu Qiao, of course, had no idea that the situation behind her had shifted so dramatically the moment the ship set sail. She lay quietly in the cabin, waiting for her injuries to heal, agonizing over the political disadvantages the Tang-Xia marriage alliance might bring to Yanbei. She hoped to quickly return to Yanbei via the southern waterways upon arriving in Tang Capital, so she could discuss the matter with Yan Xun.
She did not know what storms awaited her ahead. That ancient capital, resplendent and opulent, seemed like a vast net slowly opening its maw, ensnaring all the world’s powers within. A great tempest was gradually approaching, mingling with the warm, pollen-and-rouge-scented breezes from Biantang, softly blowing from the south, making one unwittingly languid and intoxicated, sinking into its embrace without even realizing it.
Some gazes were destined to meet, some fists were destined to clash, and some figures were destined to overlap amid the bustling prosperity of feasts and revelry. Even if they evaded it for a time, they could never escape it forever. It was a fated entanglement—either both stars would fall together, or they would draw swords against each other, or they would shine brightly across the nine provinces as one.Two days later, Zhuge Yue reorganized his troops and departed from Xianyang City, entering Baizhi Pass and stepping onto the land of Biantang.
Simultaneously, a separate contingent quietly left Yanbei, swiftly advancing toward the southeast of the Ximeng Continent, their horses' hooves thundering and dust swirling in their wake.
The grand drama of Zhenhuang's imperial capital, which had been interrupted by Yanbei's independence, was finally set to resume and unfold once more—this time within the capital of Biantang.
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