Shadow Love (Yu Jin Chang An)

The day before the Pure Snow Festival, most of the Deer City's residents had already returned home and settled in. According to tradition, a lantern festival was to be held in the city on the eve of the festival.

This year, tensions outside the city walls had left the people unprepared after their hurried return from refuge, dampening the usual festive atmosphere. Yet their enthusiasm for the celebration was higher than ever.

Every household in Deer City was adorned with lanterns and decorations. Light snowflakes drifted from the sky, the quiet world outside making the red lanterns appear even more enchanting.

But while the citizens rejoiced, vigilance on the city walls could not be relaxed. Li Shuang led her personal guards on a patrol along the battlements. Finding nothing amiss, she descended and had just reached the main camp when she saw several generals roasting meat to share with the soldiers.

Luo Teng brought the largest portion to Li Shuang: "General, with our usual pay having nowhere to be spent, we pooled our resources and bought plenty of meat at the daytime market. We had the former city guard's cook prepare it for roasting. Tomorrow's the festival, so tonight we're giving the brothers some extra nourishment. Here—I saved the best cut for you."

Li Shuang looked at the piece of meat larger than her head and laughed. "What? Do I look like I can eat more than you?"

"Good appetite means good fortune!" Luo Teng said. "Those delicate ladies who eat less than a cat licks, always sickly looking—you wouldn't dare touch them for fear they'd break. Not like you, General, who can take a beating."

Qin Lan, standing behind Li Shuang, shot him a glance. "Luo Teng, you're overstepping."

Luo Teng waved a big hand dismissively. "Ah, our General doesn't mind such things. Here, General." He pushed the meat forward again. Li Shuang took it with an amused sigh. "Alright then. Everyone should eat their fill, but stay alert afterward."

"Aye, General!"

Carrying the enormous roast back to her tent, Li Shuang noted its excellent preparation—golden brown, neither too fatty nor greasy. She cut a piece with her knife: crispy skin giving way to tender, juicy meat with remarkable elasticity, clearly very fresh. Nodding in approval between bites, she thought the cook from Li Zhangyi's residence was indeed skilled—no wonder he'd grown so plump.

After finishing two portions, Li Shuang suddenly remembered Jin An. The boy was at an age where he needed ample nourishment—extra meat would do him good. She sent a soldier to summon him, then busied herself carving more meat, separating it from the bone into a bowl. Just as she finished, the soldier returned empty-handed. "General, the boy's gone missing again."

Li Shuang considered this. He must have slipped out to deliver another message.

But nothing noteworthy had occurred in the camp recently—what intelligence could he possibly report? Details of her daily routine? With a dismissive wave, she sent the soldier away. Outside, the lantern festival reached its peak, the growing clamor drawing her gaze toward the camp entrance just as Qin Lan entered and noticed her distraction.

Seeing rare interest from Li Shuang in such affairs, Qin Lan's lips curved slightly. "General, with the Deer City lantern festival tonight and no pressing matters in camp, perhaps you might take a stroll? Your nerves have been stretched taut these days—some relaxation would be beneficial."

The suggestion stirred something in Li Shuang's chest. "But the camp—"

Qin Lan's smile deepened. "Leave it to me, General. You needn't worry.""Alright." Li Shuang stood up. "I'll go out for a stroll and be back soon." As she left, she made sure to instruct someone to send the remaining roasted meat to the personal guards' camp, not wanting to waste this rare delicacy of the northern frontier.

Li Shuang's departure from camp was discreet, not suited for grand gestures, so she only took one personal guard with her. Qin Lan assigned Ji Ran to accompany her. Ji Ran was tall and imposing, one of the most striking figures in the entire Changfeng Battalion. With the lantern festival drawing large crowds outside, having Ji Ran clear the way for Li Shuang would surely ensure smooth passage.

And indeed, things unfolded just as Qin Lan had anticipated.

Lucheng's lantern festival, along with tomorrow's Pure Snow Festival, was not only a celebration but also the year's largest trading fair. People would stock up on most of what they needed for the coming months during this event, making the market especially lively and crowded.

As Li Shuang and Ji Ran entered the market, the sight of such a towering figure instinctively made the crowd part slightly, allowing Li Shuang to move through the throng with ease.

Browsing the roadside stalls, Li Shuang was initially just taking in the rare festive atmosphere, but suddenly her gaze fixed on a small stall. It was covered in masks—uniform black faceplates, strikingly similar to the one worn by that mysterious man. She stopped in her tracks.

"Shopkeeper," she called out, picking up one of the black faceplates. "I haven't seen these masks sold in previous years. Why are there so many this time? Has some new tribe or nation emerged beyond the frontier with a custom of wearing faceplates?"

"Ah, so you haven't heard, honored guest," the vendor replied, having just handed a packaged mask to a woman with a child. The child gleefully took the black faceplate and immediately put it on. The vendor pocketed the money and continued, "It's not about any tribe or nation. A while back, when the Xirong army pressed against our borders, everyone was terrified, fleeing for their lives. We thought there'd be no peace this year. But then—a hero emerged from our Changfeng Battalion!"

"A hero from Changfeng Battalion?" Li Shuang glanced at Ji Ran, who looked equally puzzled.

"Yes! A hero from Changfeng Battalion. They say he was strong and mighty, single-handedly rescuing General Li Shuang from the chaos of battle. You know General Li Shuang, right? The heroine! The commander of Changfeng Battalion! That woman is truly formidable—"

Li Shuang interrupted him, "Tell me about the hero first."

"Oh, right. The hero saved General Li Shuang from the battlefield, then shot the traitor Li Zhangyi dead from a hundred paces away with his bare hands. After that, he charged alone into the Xirong army, cut down their general with two swift strokes, and carried the head back in an instant, throwing it onto the battlefield. The sight of it scared their hundred-thousand-strong army into retreating thirty miles!"

The vendor had clearly told this tale many times, his animated storytelling quickly drawing a crowd.

Ji Ran coughed and leaned in to whisper to Li Shuang, "General... is that how it happened?"On the day of the battle at the city gates, Ji Ran had plunged headlong into the enemy camp, fighting with reckless abandon. By the time he came to his senses, the enemy forces had already retreated. Only after returning to Lucheng did he learn that someone had slain the Western Rong general.

The lower-ranking soldiers were buzzing with excitement, but since Ji Ran was Li Shuang's personal guard, ordinary soldiers dared not approach them to stir up trouble. Meanwhile, the tight-lipped higher-ranking officers were not to be questioned. Thus, the personal guards in the camp were likely the least informed about the day's events and the rumors circulating among the ranks.

"The sequence is a bit off, and the descriptions are exaggerated... but that's roughly what happened."

Talk of shrinking the earth to inches and conjuring sorcery—Li Shuang found it both amusing and exasperating.

Yet Ji Ran's eyes sparkled with astonishment.

The street vendor continued, "And that's not all! The hero went on to slay two more generals handpicked by the Western Rong, taking three heads in total—all high-ranking figures! Finally, on that same day, he single-handedly infiltrated the enemy camp, set their barracks ablaze, and sent those Western Rong jackals fleeing in terror, not daring to look back!"

"Bravo!" "Bravo!"

The onlookers erupted in applause and cheers...

Li Shuang: "..."

"And yet, such a hero—so mighty in martial prowess, so devoted to defending our homeland—left not even a name behind! The only thing people remember is that he wore half a face mask, like this..." The vendor picked up a black face mask from his stall. "Like this one!"

"Here! I'll take one!" someone immediately handed over money.

With the first sale, others quickly followed. One after another, the spectators who had been listening to the tale dug out coins to buy a black mask. The vendor soon found himself overwhelmed counting the money.

Li Shuang was soon pushed aside by the crowd.

Unfazed, she quietly plucked a black mask from the corner of the stall, toyed with it for a moment, then flicked her thumb, sending a silver fragment straight into the vendor's half-open pouch at his waist.

Taking the mask, Li Shuang slipped away unnoticed.

Ji Ran, puzzled, asked her, "General, why did you buy this?"

"I noticed someone's been wearing theirs for too long. Thought I'd get them a new one."

Ji Ran blinked. "General... when you say 'someone,' do you mean that mysterious masked figure?"

Li Shuang smiled without answering, her gaze briefly flickering to a shadowy corner beyond the crowd where tree branches swayed without wind. Understanding but saying nothing, she simply donned the mask and turned to Ji Ran. "How do I look?"

Ji Ran immediately straightened and saluted. "Yes! The general is majestic no matter what!"

His loud reply drew glances from nearby. Before Li Shuang could chide him, a soft, feminine voice called out, "Brother Ji?"

Li Shuang turned to see a sweet-faced young girl with delicate dimples—a rare gentleness among the frontier's women. Ji Ran also turned and grinned. "Ah, Miss Lu."

Miss Lu's eyes quickly swept over Li Shuang, who promptly asked, "You know my guard?""Personal guard?" She came to her senses. "Ah! You are..." She glanced around and lowered her voice, "General Li."

Li Shuang smiled politely. "Pleased to meet you."

"How dare I... I... I just heard Brother Ji's voice and came to say hello. I've offended the general..." Her head hung low in embarrassment. Ji Ran beside her quickly interjected, "This is the young lady from the Lu Family Pharmacy in town. Last time Jin An fell ill, I bought medicine from their shop. Master Lu refused to leave Deer City despite the war, saying he could use their medicine to treat wounded soldiers if fighting broke out. Truly admirable."

Li Shuang nodded. Noticing the blush on Miss Lu's face, she smiled knowingly. "Oh, that is indeed admirable. Miss Lu must be an excellent young lady as well. You two chat first—I'll go look at the lanterns over there."

As Li Shuang turned to leave, Miss Lu's eyes shone with starlight and gratitude. But then Ji Ran declared, "That won't do. Deputy General Qin specifically ordered me to accompany you, General. This subordinate absolutely will not leave your side, even at the cost of my life."

His resolute gaze left Li Shuang momentarily speechless. Glancing at the disappointed Miss Lu, she hatched a plan. "Very well. In that case, might I trouble Miss Lu for assistance? I'm unfamiliar with this lantern festival—would you kindly accompany me and explain the displays?"

The young girl eagerly agreed.

Li Shuang walked ahead, deliberately leaving space behind her for the pair.

She knew her personal guards well—all hopeless bachelors. Since marriage prospects were scarce for her, she couldn't let her subordinates remain single too. Every matched pair counted.

As they strolled, Li Shuang in her black armored mask casually observed the sights while listening to Miss Lu's occasional explanations and attempts to engage Ji Ran: "This snack is a Deer City specialty. Have you and Brother Ji tried it? If not, I could make some for you next time."

Li Shuang's vague nod in response mattered little, but Ji Ran earnestly replied, "The general cannot eat food from outside the military camp—poison risk."

"..."

Li Shuang turned back, shooting Ji Ran a look of utter exasperation. He met her gaze but failed to comprehend its meaning. She could only regard the suddenly silent young girl with sympathy, thinking her truly pitiful.

Her personal guards... No wonder none could find wives.

Just then, the distressed girl stumbled forward. Ji Ran reacted with remarkable speed, catching her effortlessly with one arm—strong enough to lift ten girls like her. Li Shuang mentally applauded.

Discreetly kicking a pebble to strike the girl's ankle, Li Shuang prompted when she gasped: "Did you twist it?"

Miss Lu began saying "No—" but meeting Li Shuang's earnest gaze through the black mask, she proved smarter than Ji Ran and amended: "Not... too seriously."

Ji Ran frowned. "Twisted?" He knelt to check, but Li Shuang stopped him."What kind of nonsense is this? She's a young lady—how can you have her take off her shoe in the middle of the street? Since her family runs an herbal medicine shop, they must know how to handle a minor sprain. Take her home now and let her family tend to her."

"Yes," Ji Ran replied, supporting Miss Lu. But then he hesitated, "But General, what about you—"

"I'll wait right here for you to return. These are ordinary townsfolk—what trouble could possibly happen?"

Ji Ran thought it over and finally had no choice but to agree.

Watching him carry Miss Lu away, Li Shuang clasped her hands behind her back and smiled, strolling forward a short distance. She lowered her gaze to the snow-covered ground when suddenly— bang! —fireworks burst into the sky at the very center of Lucheng. Li Shuang looked up but didn’t see the fireworks. Instead, her eyes met the figure standing directly in front of her.

The fireworks bloomed behind him, as if he had stepped out of that ethereal beauty—a legend, an illusion.

Every time he appeared, it was with this mysteriously, eerily perfect timing.

He wore a black mask, just like hers. Through the masks, they saw each other reflected in their eyes.

Li Shuang smiled. "Hero, have you been well?"

"Well enough," he answered, his eyes crinkling slightly at the sight of her smile. "Are you happy to see me?"

Happy? Well... maybe a little.

Knowing he was unharmed, knowing he was still alive and kicking—perhaps she was a little happy... maybe.