Shadow Love (Yu Jin Chang An)

In March, the northern frontier finally welcomed early spring, leaving behind the icy and snowy depths of winter. Tender green sprouts emerged from the remnants of snow in the wilderness.

After the quiet period following the Qingxue Festival, Lucheng gradually began to bustle with life once more.

Over the three harsh winter months, the Western Rong had attempted to attack Lucheng no fewer than ten times. Fortunately, by the grace of heaven, the battle in early winter had cost them two of their top generals, severely damaging their morale. By the time they rallied for another assault, their supply lines were already strained, making large-scale military operations impossible. Though minor skirmishes persisted, they were nothing Li Shuang couldn’t handle.

After a series of inconsequential battles, the three months passed without major incident.

The Western Rong forces withdrew completely, retreating to their capital and ceasing their harassment of the Great Jin’s borders. The unusually brutal winter had left their country in dire straits, and with spring’s arrival, they needed time to recuperate. The other tribes beyond the frontier fared no better. Across the northern frontier, only Lucheng remained strong and well-equipped. For the next three years, it was unlikely any foreign enemy would dare to invade again.

As spring approached, a succession of good news arrived one after another.

Li Shuang had just descended the city walls and returned to her tent, removing her sturdy helmet, when an urgent letter was delivered to her.

After reading it, she gazed at the sky beyond the tent and let out a long sigh.

"The situation in the capital has stabilized. The Eastern Palace now holds full authority."

By the time this letter reached the northern frontier, it meant the new emperor had already been on the throne for at least half a month. Sima Yang had transitioned from Crown Prince to Emperor. The young man she had once beaten until he bled had vanished completely from memory, replaced now by a face growing ever more imposing—one few would dare to meet with a direct gaze.

But perhaps this was for the best.

Hearing Li Shuang’s words, Qin Lan clasped his hands in congratulations. "My felicitations, General." This was indeed cause for celebration. With Sima Yang’s ascension, the status of the General’s estate would undoubtedly rise even higher, its glory the envy of the realm.

"There is joy, but also news that may not be so welcome," Li Shuang said as she spread a sheet of paper on the table. "Father says the frontier situation is now settled and has ordered me to return to the capital to pay homage to the new emperor."

Qin Lan’s brow furrowed slightly.

The old general had always missed his daughter dearly, yet he had never before asked Li Shuang to return to the capital. He had always respected her own wishes. Now, with the new emperor’s ascension, summoning her back to pay respects was reasonable on the surface, but the underlying implications were worth pondering.

After all, Sima Yang had feelings for Li Shuang...

Qin Lan still remembered vividly how, three months ago, when they had found Li Shuang in that stone cave and brought her back, Sima Yang’s gaze as he looked at her near-lifeless form had been filled with unmistakable emotion.

Though he had rushed back to the capital due to urgent matters, his final command had been to ensure Li Shuang’s safety.

Qin Lan had understood the Crown Prince’s expression then. His sharp, hawk-like eyes had seemed to burn with a solemn vow—he did not want to lose Li Shuang again. That was why he had emphasized:

"Protect Li Shuang at all costs. No matter what."

Now, with the capital’s situation barely settled, the old general’s letter ordering Li Shuang’s return made one wonder—was this truly the old general’s will, or the new emperor’s?

Moreover...With Sima Yang ascending the throne, the General's Manor enjoyed unprecedented favor. Li Shuang had single-handedly guarded the northern frontier city, earning the unwavering loyalty of the Great Jin's most valiant Changfeng Battalion soldiers. Throughout history, emperors had always disposed of their hunting dogs once the cunning hares were caught. This time when Li Shuang returned to the capital, the military power...

Qin Lan's mind was filled with countless thoughts. As he pondered deeply, Li Shuang had already finished writing a letter and handed it to him. "I'm unwell and cannot make the journey back to the capital from the northern frontier anytime soon. Qin Lan, take this letter back to the capital for me. Also, please pay my respects to the new emperor on my behalf."

Qin Lan took the letter, both amused and exasperated.

He hadn't expected Li Shuang to refuse so decisively and straightforwardly. Moreover, the thankless task of returning to the capital—where he was bound to face reprimands from the general and cold stares from the emperor—had fallen on his shoulders. But... truth be told, no one was more suited for this than him.

As Li Shuang's personal guard captain and her highest-ranking deputy, if she didn't return, he would naturally be the first in line.

"Understood," Qin Lan said with a fist salute. After a moment's hesitation, he voiced his concern, "But General, with the new emperor on the throne and the General's Manor at the height of favor, the Changfeng Battalion—"

"I know what worries you," Li Shuang smiled. "It's all in the letter. I simply don't wish to return to the capital, not that I'm unwilling to relinquish power."

Qin Lan couldn't help but look up at Li Shuang. She understood everything. She was just afraid that once she returned to the capital, she might never leave again—because the person she faced now was an emperor wielding absolute power.

Qin Lan left the tent and began handing over his duties, preparing to depart for the capital the next day.

As evening approached, another piece of news arrived. Li Shuang happened to be dining in the camp when sudden commotion erupted outside. She stepped out to see soldiers gathered around a horse slowly plodding forward.

The horse panted heavily, its breath forming puffs of steam in the chilly evening air. The messenger on its back lay motionless, face buried in the mane, making it impossible to see his features. But blood dripped steadily from his hand. Upon closer inspection, the veins on the back of his hand were pitch-black, and the dripping blood was as dark as mud.

The sight was eerily unsettling.

"Who is this?" Li Shuang frowned and asked. A nearby soldier mustered the courage to grab the reins, halting the horse. The man on its back slumped to the ground, unconscious.

Blood-matted hair tangled across his face, but it didn't obscure his features—lips tinged blue, eyes wide open. He was still breathing, but barely.

"Chang Wanshan!" Li Shuang recognized him. Three months ago, when she had just awakened from unconsciousness, Qin Lan had sent Chang Wanshan—a former martial artist—to investigate the mysterious black-armored figure. For three months, there had been no word from Chang Wanshan, and Li Shuang had assumed...

Yet here he was, returned at last.

"General Chang? How did this happen..." someone nearby exclaimed. "Medic! Fetch the medic!"

Chang Wanshan stared at Li Shuang, mustering the last of his strength to raise his hand. Clutched tightly in his grip was a crumpled letter, stained with his blackened blood. No one dared to take it.

Impatient, Li Shuang pushed past the soldiers blocking her way and reached out to take the paper her guard had seemingly traded his life for.

Unfolding it, she saw just eight words:

Southern Chang Mountain, Five Spirits Sect, Gu Sect.

It was a clue about the mysterious figure!South Changshan, the Five Spirits Sect—Li Shuang had heard of this martial arts sect before. It was said that the Five Spirits Sect secluded themselves deep within the southern mountains, shrouded in mystery, yet their numbers were not few. More than a martial sect, they resembled an isolated, enigmatic tribe. However, due to their extreme seclusion, the imperial court knew little about this southernmost sect of the Great Jin, and they had never caused any trouble.

Thus, the court and the sect kept to their own domains, rarely crossing paths.

Yet it was this very quiet and mysterious sect that had now resorted to scheming against the crown prince to capture that enigmatic man...

That enigmatic man...

The tangled emotions suppressed for three months were suddenly swept away like dust in the wind by this inadvertent reminder.

That unexpected kiss on the snowy mountain peak, the intimate moments by the hot spring, the embrace that saved her from the midst of thousands of soldiers—their conversations, their conflicts, their enmity, even the tears he shed upon her face at the end—all surged into her heart in an instant.

She had thought of him. Over these three months, Li Shuang had recalled more than once the man who only appeared with the moon at night.

But the awaited news never came, and those she sent out found no trace of him.

She had finally been forced to admit that even the reach of power had its limits. After waiting three months, she had believed she might never receive the news she longed for. Yet now, it had finally arrived.

Li Shuang tucked away the letter, suppressing the whirlwind of emotions in her heart, and knelt beside Chang Wanshan to check his pulse. "You've been poisoned?"

Chang Wanshan shook his head with difficulty. "A... gu... General, don't... touch... this subordinate..."

Yet as he spoke, the black marks creeping along his meridians seemed to recoil in fear from Li Shuang's touch, retreating abruptly from where her fingers made contact, leaving his skin there restored to its normal color.

Noticing this, Li Shuang narrowed her eyes slightly and shifted her hand forward. Indeed! The dark energy retreated again, avoiding the spot she touched.

"Where are your worst injuries?" she asked him.

Chang Wanshan gritted his teeth, as if enduring immense pain. "My... my chest."

"You'll have to bear with it." Li Shuang placed her hand over Chang Wanshan's heart. Suddenly, his eyes flew wide, his mouth gaping soundlessly, his face drained of color—as though the pain had robbed him even of the ability to scream.

In that moment of rigid agony, his chest convulsed violently, as if countless worms were writhing beneath his skin, surging toward his throat. Chang Wanshan twisted to the side and vomited a mass of black, viscous fluid.

Within the thick fluid, something squirmed like insects. The onlookers gasped, stepping back in alarm. Yet the creatures seemed to fear the air, burrowing swiftly into the earth and vanishing.

After expelling the mass, Chang Wanshan gasped raggedly for breath before collapsing limply to the ground, his eyes closing, his breathing faint as a thread.

Only then did the army physician push through the crowd, medical kit in hand. He pinched Chang Wanshan's philtrum, inserted a few needles, and finally took his pulse.

"Hmm..." The physician frowned in confusion. "His qi is weak, but there are no major injuries. With some recuperation, he should recover."The crowd exchanged puzzled glances. "Medic, he's covered in blood but has no injuries?"

"No injuries at all."

Luo Teng, who had been watching intently nearby, scratched his head. "Did the general heal him? General, what kind of internal energy technique was that? It actually forced all those strange things out of his body."

Li Shuang remained silent upon hearing this. As the soldiers carried Chang Wanshan back to the tent, she simply stared at her own hands without speaking.

She knew better than anyone—she hadn't used any internal energy at all. If what Chang Wanshan said about being poisoned by gu was true, then it meant those gu insects had been terrified of her very presence... so terrified they'd fled their host's body...

She...

It seemed something within her had changed without her knowledge.