Shadow Love (Yu Jin Chang An)

There were three generals accompanying Li Shuang on her southern campaign.

All three were borrowed from the military command, each with backgrounds in the martial world. The most capable among them was undoubtedly Fu Changqing, former leader of the Qinglin Sect.

Years ago, when Fu Changqing was being hunted by enemies, he was saved by General Li Lan. At the time, Li Lan was leading troops to the border. To repay this life-saving grace, Fu Changqing enlisted under Li Lan's banner. Over the years, he followed the general through countless battles, becoming a renowned commander of the Great Jin Dynasty.

When Li Shuang requested assistance from Li Lan, before Li Lan could speak, Fu Changqing volunteered to follow Li Shuang. His former Qinglin Sect had been located near the southwest, making him most familiar with the region's conditions.

When they were dozens of miles from Nanchang Mountain, Li Shuang ordered the troops to rest and set up camp. Compared to the northern frontier, their tents here were much lighter, mainly using gauze curtains to guard against snakes and insects.

As soon as they stopped, Li Shuang had insect-repelling incense burned throughout the camp. When Fu Changqing came to find her, she was lighting another stick in her tent. "General," Fu Changqing said with concern, "burning incense on such a large scale will reveal our position to observers on Nanchang Mountain. This seems unwise."

"No matter," Li Shuang set down the incense. "What we fear from the Wuling Sect isn't their people, but these very insects. Let them see us—I don't intend to fight them anyway."

Fu Changqing was taken aback. "Not fight?" He glanced outside. "Then these fifty thousand soldiers—"

Li Shuang waved dismissively before summoning the other two generals. Unfolding a map, she asked Fu Changqing, "Given your familiarity with this area, do you know which mountain the Wuling Sect occupies?"

"I've never approached their territory. They're extremely secretive—few who enter their domain return alive. From what we've learned over the years, anyone who went here, or this area, almost never came back."

Li Shuang traced these regions with a pointer. "All within Nanchang Mountain?"

"Correct."

After consideration, Li Shuang said, "The Wuling Sect is a martial arts faction that controls venomous insects. I've seen their methods—they're unlike ordinary combat. In close quarters, our soldiers would suffer."

Fu Changqing nodded. "The Wuling Sect likely has few members. If we take time to train our troops in avoiding and repelling insects, we could force our way in—"

"We don't have that time, General Fu." Li Shuang pointed at the map. "Fifty thousand troops will divide three ways: General Zuo takes twenty thousand east, General Qian takes twenty thousand west, encircling Nanchang Mountain. Cut down every tree you see, isolating the mountain from its surroundings. General Fu will keep ten thousand to guard camp. I'll first negotiate with the Wuling Sect leader. If talks fail—" she tapped the mountain on the map, "burn it down."

The killing intent in Li Shuang's words startled the three generals.

Only then did Fu Changqing realize Li Shuang's true purpose in bringing fifty thousand soldiers—not to storm Nanchang Mountain, but to strengthen her bargaining position.

The Wuling Sect had deep roots in Nanchang Mountain—to them, it was home. Li Shuang was willing to gamble whether they'd surrender the person she wanted, but the Wuling Sect might not dare take that bet against her.Moreover, it avoided contact with the Five Spirits Sect, ensuring the safety of the soldiers to the greatest extent.

This was a brilliant move, befitting the daughter of a great general.

Fu Changqing silently approved. Before long, Li Shuang had already issued her orders: "Time waits for no one. Starting today, we work through the night. Do the three generals have any objections?"

"At your command!" The three answered in unison before turning and leaving the tent.

Li Shuang gazed into the distance, where the main peak of the Southern Long Mountain stood tall and majestic under the warm southern breeze.

This journey had taken her from the northern frontier, through frost and wind, to the warmth of spring, and finally to this almost midsummer-like south. She had crossed the entire expanse of the Great Jin, yet even now, she dared not let her guard down. Not for a moment did she stop wondering—was that person still alive? Still suffering? Or had he already been subdued by Wu Yin, or even killed?

If he were dead, then what purpose would her reckless, thousand-mile journey serve? To whom could she confide these turbulent emotions?

The warm breeze drifted into the tent, as if descending from the mountain peak, brushing against her cheeks like a gentle hand. For an instant, Li Shuang felt an inexplicable flutter in her heart—so sudden, so fleeting, as though it had been nothing more than a momentary illusion.

Two days later, a ring of trees had been felled around the base of the Southern Long Mountain. A messenger was sent to Wu Yin, proposing a meeting at noon the next day at the foot of the mountain.

What Li Shuang hadn’t expected, however, was that when the messenger returned… Wu Yin had come with him.

Dressed in silk robes, a jade fan in hand, his hair loosely tied as always, Wu Yin strolled into the camp with an utterly harmless expression, following the wooden-faced messenger.

Upon receiving the news, Li Shuang went out to meet him. When Wu Yin saw her, his eyes brightened with what seemed like genuine delight at encountering an old friend. He closed his fan and waved it at her. "Ah, General Li, it’s been quite a while." His demeanor showed no trace of someone who had ever harmed another.

The surrounding soldiers, unaware of the circumstances, eyed him with curiosity.

Li Shuang knew full well how dangerous this man was—his mastery of gu sorcery could strike at any moment. She fixed him with a cold stare, then glanced at the messenger beside him. "Remove the gu, and we can talk properly."

Wu Yin chuckled. "Naturally. I’m not here to harm anyone." With that, he turned his palm and pressed it against the messenger’s ear. Moments later, a black worm crawled out of the messenger’s ear. The messenger’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

The soldiers nearby gasped in shock. Wu Yin retrieved the gu and smiled at Li Shuang, his expression almost ingratiating.

Li Shuang regarded him coldly before gesturing toward the tent. "After you."

Once inside, Li Shuang took her seat at the head of the table, suppressing the urgency to ask about the mysterious man’s fate. Instead, she said, "The leader of the Five Spirits Sect is quite prompt. You didn’t even give me time to prepare a proper welcome."

"Those trenches you dug around the Southern Long Mountain—wouldn’t you call that a grand enough welcome for me?"

Li Shuang took a sip of tea, unperturbed. "The fire hasn’t been lit yet. That’s hardly a welcome."

Wu Yin laughed. "General Li is as decisive as ever. I thought you’d sent fifty thousand men to their deaths. Little did I know you intended to slaughter my Southern Long Mountain instead.""Leader, you flatter me. Li Shuang is merely here to find someone." Li Shuang set down the teacup, her eyes sharp as the icy blades of winter in the northern frontier. "If the person is here, South Long Mountain remains. If the person is gone... this mountain of withered trees would be an eyesore to behold."