The horizon revealed the pale light of dawn as the war drums gradually fell silent. No one knew who let out the first mournful cry.
"Prince Xuan is dead—Cangzhou is about to fall—"
Chaos erupted instantly in Cangzhou City. The common people, with no time to gather their belongings, fled their homes in panic.
The Great Zhou army, a mix of soldiers and demonic creatures, followed their young emperor who was both terrifying and cruel. In moments, Cangzhou descended into utter disorder.
Inside a carriage, the curtain was drawn back, revealing a face frozen in disbelief.
Ye Bingshang gripped her maid Xiao Hui’s wrist, her face deathly pale. "What are they saying? Tell me I misheard."
Xiao Hui looked at her with sorrow. "My lady..."
Xiao Hui watched as Ye Bingshang’s eyes reddened at the corners, filled with disbelief, shock, and grief. It was as if her soul had been abruptly torn away. The delicate hand clutching hers unconsciously tightened with immense force.
Xiao Hui said, "My lady, your servant’s hand..."
Ye Bingshang released her in a daze. "How can this be? How could His Highness..."
"Reporting to the consort, Cangzhou has fallen into chaos. General Ye and the others cannot hold the city much longer. The Zhou Kingdom’s army will break through soon. This subordinate will escort you to safety now!" A commander in blood-stained armor rushed down from the chaotic city walls, fully aware of the dire situation.
Prince Xuan had defended the city until the first light of dawn broke.
Clad in white armor, his face already ashen, Xiao Lin had been Great Xia’s hope since birth. He fought to his last breath, finally gripping his silver sword and dying on the battlefield alongside his warhorse.
From afar, the commander saw the young emperor standing in his nine-headed bird chariot, coldly watching Xiao Lin fall.
Behind the little tyrant, the flags on the chariot fluttered wildly like two icy wings.
Corpse Demons were hacked apart by Great Xia’s soldiers and Monster Exterminators, but the well-rested Zhou troops advanced like tigers, scaling the city walls with unstoppable force.
Following close behind, tiger demons roared as they charged toward the city gates.
In that moment, everyone understood—Cangzhou could not be held.
Ye Bingshang’s hands and feet turned icy cold, tears streaming down her face as Xiao Hui supported her. The carriage driver quickly took his position, ready to flee Cangzhou with them.
Everyone knew the peril of remaining in a fallen city.
Just before lowering the carriage curtain, Ye Bingshang spotted a young woman approaching from the end of the long street.
It was her third younger sister—
The golden hem of the girl’s dress seemed woven with sunlight, yet her gaze was frigid as she watched the panicked citizens flee. A sword was strapped to her back. She stared distantly at the fallen banners, quietly listening to the mournful cries filling the air, her eyes like deep pools in the twelfth lunar month.
Noticing Ye Bingshang’s gaze, Su Su looked up and met her eyes across the distance.
Ye Bingshang couldn’t explain it, but in that instant, she felt a chill—as if an emotionless cultivator had glanced at her without feeling. Yet quickly, as the girl walked toward her, that bone-deep coldness vanished.
Su Su said, "Cangzhou is about to fall. It’s dangerous here. Return to the capital."
Ye Bingshang instinctively asked, "What about you?"
Su Su looked at her.
Ye Bingshang pressed her lips together and whispered timidly, "You couldn’t possibly mean to stay and fight... but... you’re a woman..."Su Su remained silent. She took out a talisman paper from her bosom used to conceal one's aura and placed it in Ye Bingshang's palm. "Take this. Demons won't easily find you. Follow Commander Zhang and the others back to Shangjing."
Ye Bingshang still wanted to say something, but Su Su ignored her and turned back toward Cangzhou.
Countless people were fleeing outward, while she alone walked inward.
Amidst thousands, she moved against the tide.
Xiao Hui watched as Ye Bingshang's hand tightly gripped her skirt, anxiously calling out, "Your Highness..."
Ye Bingshang's hand loosened, and she said dazedly, "Return to Shangjing."
A long spear shot over. Ye Xiao had been fighting all night and, seeing he couldn't dodge it, was about to take the hit directly.
A silver sword reflected the sunlight as it collided with the spear, the long sword snapping with the impact.
Ye Xiao was helped up from the ground. When he saw who it was, a vein bulged on his forehead. "Third girl!"
Su Su's face was covered in blood as she helped Ye Xiao up, guiding him toward the city. "Father, the retreat order has been given. Why haven't you left yet?"
Ye Xiao said, "What I do is my business, you wretched girl! Didn't I tell you to return to Shangjing! Are you trying to worry your grandmother to death!"
He seemed to have aged many years. "Prince Xuan died on the battlefield. If I return to Shangjing alive and well, I won't be able to explain myself."
Su Su wiped the blood from her face and said calmly, "You can't die. Great Xia has already lost one hero. Father, you are Great Xia's War God. As long as you live, Tantai Jin won't be able to invade Great Xia so quickly."
The curved jade thought she would be deeply saddened, but unexpectedly, she recovered quickly. It was as if she had matured overnight, becoming resilient throughout.
Back in Hengyang Sect, she had been protected by her sect, cherished by her senior and junior brothers, accompanied by the curved jade, which taught her the ways of cultivation. Su Su had great talent and had faced few setbacks.
But now, under Tantai Jin's Puppet Technique, she had personally killed Xiao Lin.
The curved jade couldn't peer into the pain in her heart but understood the gravity of the matter.
Great Xia's Sixth Prince, Xiao Lin—
From birth, the court astrologer had read his fate, declaring Xiao Lin connected to the dragon vein. Xiao Lin's fall meant Great Xia's national fortune was beginning to decline.
It would have been different if Su Su had no connection to this matter, but fate was particularly cruel.
That dagger had been pushed into Xiao Lin's heart by her own hand. Xiao Lin had told her not to look back, to keep moving forward. In the end, what kind of determination had allowed him to die on the battlefield, protecting Su Su and the entire Ye family?
Even the curved jade felt heavy-hearted. If it hadn't been negligent before, its young master wouldn't have fallen under the Puppet Technique either.
Su Su's words convinced Ye Xiao. Being someone who understood priorities, Ye Xiao had no choice but to retreat with the army for now.
Su Su glanced into the distance at the dark mass of the advancing Great Zhou army. There, parked among them, was a majestic black nine-headed bird carriage, upon which the young man sat solemnly. She suddenly asked, "Father, do you have a bow and arrows?"
Ye Xiao said, "What?"
Su Su took a soldier's bow and arrows. A sharp arrow pierced her index finger. With an indifferent expression, she drew the bow and nocked the arrow—
A whistling arrow cut through the sky, heading straight toward the black-clad youth against the rising sun.
The curved jade shouted, "Su Su! No!"
She condensed immortal power, the arrow carrying a faint golden glow as it passed through both armies, finally striking the Great Zhou flag behind Tantai Jin.
The flag fell with a snap.
Nian Muning exclaimed in shock, "Your Majesty, be careful!"
She quickly leaped up, carrying Tantai Jin away from the falling flag.
When she looked up, she saw Tantai Jin's face was frighteningly pale.The young man looked up in disarray toward the battlefield and murmured to himself, "Does she want me dead?"
Nian Muning helped him up. With her sharp eyesight, she quickly deduced where the arrow had come from.
Tantai Jin let out a low chuckle, pressing his fingers to his lips as he spoke rapidly, as if trying to convince himself: "It doesn’t matter. Xiao Lin is already dead anyway."
With Xiao Lin gone, Great Xia wouldn’t last much longer.
The emperor of Great Xia was weak, and the Prince of Zhao was a coward who bullied the weak and feared the strong. Over a decade of peace and indulgence had bred a nest of parasites in Great Xia.
Xiao Lin’s death had broken Great Xia’s backbone.
He spoke these words with a tone of mockery and disdain, but Nian Muning, watching his tightly pressed lips, knew His Majesty was in a foul mood.
Capturing Cangzhou hadn’t brought him the joy he had anticipated.
Though he himself might not realize it, this discontent had a source.
Nian Muning drew her sword and looked toward Great Xia—the young woman was already gone.
The war had dragged on from July to November.
Autumn’s chill was giving way to the onset of winter.
As Su Su, draped in a cloak, helped her grandmother out, the commoners of Shangjing wore worried expressions.
The Old Madam’s voice carried unease as she grasped Su Su’s hand. "Xi Wu, how long do you think Feicheng can hold out this time? Will your father and brother be safe?"
Su Su remained silent for a moment before smiling reassuringly. "Don’t worry, Grandmother. You must trust Father. He’s spent half his life on the battlefield—his experience surpasses anyone’s. You pray to the Gods every day; they will protect Father and Brother."
The Old Madam said nothing.
Everyone knew all too well: over the past four months, Tantai Jin’s forces had been unstoppable. After taking Cangzhou, he had successively captured Yuanzhou, Chuanwufu, and last month, the defending general of Yuanpeicheng had even opened the city gates and surrendered.
What a terrifying momentum.
Ye Xiao and Su Su’s eldest brother had retreated to Feicheng to continue defending it.
If Tantai Jin captured Feicheng as well, the fall of Great Xia would only be a matter of time.
Su Su accompanied the Old Madam to offer incense.
The carriage moved at a steady pace, but the pressure of Tantai Jin’s advancing army cast a pall over all of Shangjing.
Leaning back in the carriage, Su Su suddenly realized how quickly time had flown—she had already been in this world for a year.
Last year, around this time, she had entered Ye Xi Wu’s body after offering incense. She had narrowly escaped bandits and met Tantai Jin for the first time.
Perhaps haunted by last year’s events, the Old Madam had chosen a different temple this time.
As soon as Su Su stepped out of the carriage, she heard the temple bell ringing beside her, its echoes lingering.
A young monk in gray robes was striking the bell.
The Old Madam went inside to offer incense while Su Su waited for her on the steps below.
A palace-dressed young woman, her face pale, descended the steps. The moment she spotted Su Su, her eyes widened in shock, and she rushed over furiously. "Ye Xi Wu!"
Su Su looked at her in surprise, finding her somewhat familiar.
It was Chun Tao, behind her, who reminded, "Why is the Ninth Princess here?"
So it was the Ninth Princess.
The princess glared at Su Su as if facing her father’s murderer, grabbing the collar of Su Su’s cloak. "Ye Xi Wu, do you have some grudge against me?"
Su Su brushed her hand away.
"Speak properly. If you lay hands on me again, I won’t be polite either."
The Ninth Princess, looking haggard, snapped with a sharp tone, "It’s all your fault for letting the wolf in—helping Tantai Jin return to the Zhou Kingdom and become its emperor. And you, fool, couldn’t even keep his heart. Otherwise... otherwise I wouldn’t have had to..."
Su Su asked, "Had to what?"The Ninth Princess stamped her foot and said resentfully, "Father would never make this princess marry Tantai Jin for a peace alliance!"
These words came as a surprise not only to Su Su, but even Chun Tao widened her eyes in astonishment.
Since ancient times, when a nation couldn't win a war, the only option was to seek peace. After Xiao Lin's death, Great Xia had suffered repeated defeats. The Emperor's desire for reconciliation actually included plans to marry the Ninth Princess to Tantai Jin.
"You also know... how I treated him before," the Ninth Princess said, her delicate face pale. "He will definitely torture me to death."
Indeed, aside from the Prince of Zhao, it had been the arrogant Ninth Princess who had treated Tantai Jin like a dog for her amusement.
If she truly fell into Tantai Jin's hands, she would certainly meet a terrible end.
"I don't care! You... you have to think of a solution for me!"
"This is your father's decision. What does it have to do with me?" Su Su said.
"You useless woman! And you call yourself his wife!"
Su Su replied expressionlessly, "You're right, I am useless."
"You!"
After taking two steps, Su Su noticed how pale with fear the Ninth Princess had become. Remembering she was Xiao Lin's most beloved younger sister, she sighed and said, "Don't worry, Ninth Princess. He won't agree."
The Ninth Princess looked at her in surprise. "Wh-what?"
Su Su thought to herself, because what he wants is Ye Bingshang.
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