Chapter 39

North of the Yin Mountains, the murky yellow wind and sand swept across the grasslands just beginning to show a tinge of green. The massive encampment of the Northern Rong lay in wait, silent as tigers and wolves, crouched in the darkness.

Within the royal tent sat the new king of the Northern Rong, Hu Yan De, renowned for his strength and cunning. He unfolded the secret letter, his sharp gaze scanning it swiftly before he spoke, “Reply that I will wait for him.”

It didn’t matter if Xun Xun could not act rashly; as long as the main course of war unfolded as they anticipated, that was enough.

“Pass my orders: when the sandstorm ceases, launch an urgent assault on Baichuan Pass, Greater Green Mountain, and the northern entrance to Guihuan, as planned.”

“Yes!”

Back in Qizhou city—

By coincidence, Xie Ci, Qin Xian, and their companions were also discussing the matter. Upon learning Xun Xun had returned safely from Lu Xinyi, Qin Xian exhaled a breath he’d been holding, but he spoke honestly, “The most Lu Xinyi can do is assign him to an insignificant post during battle preparations; he doesn’t have the authority to remove Xun Xun.”

Even as commander-in-chief.

That was the utmost Qin Xian could accomplish.

Gu Wan remained silent. In the original timeline, descriptions of this great war referenced several key terms: “Doro, Zhuosuo, Wushui Gorge, the rebellion at Guiyi River.” She could now decipher military maps, but after poring over them repeatedly, she could only connect the last key term; the rest left her utterly bewildered, unable to weave them into a coherent picture of the early battles.

Alas.

How vexing.

But soon, her thoughts turned to Xun Xiao.

If she could not see the whole, what about “the Demon,” famed for his near-supernatural cunning, intimately familiar with both the Northern Army and the Northern Rong? As the others discussed Xun Xun, an idea sparked in Gu Wan’s mind, and she raised her hand, drawing everyone’s attention. “...I have a thought.”

“But it’s just one step.”

Scratching her head, she admitted, “It’s too difficult—I can’t think further ahead for now.”

Qin Xian, pacing back and forth, halted at her words and said directly, “Nonsense, of course it’s difficult. Who knows how long that bastard’s been laying his plans?”

Years of preparations—who could guess how many traps Xun Xun had left for this war?

Tearing open even a single gap would be a victory.

Qin Xian continued, “At worst, we’ll take things one step at a time. Whatever you’re thinking, just say it.”

“We’re all men here—surely you, a young woman, don’t have to bear the burden alone?” Gu Wan couldn’t help but laugh—so open and forthright, just to her liking!

Xie Ci turned and nodded, “Go ahead and speak.”

Gu Wan cleared her throat. “Xun Xiao.”

“With such a gap between us and the mastermind, surely he’ll focus on exploiting it, right?” This needed no explanation—it was as plain as a louse on a bald man’s head.

Gu Wan went on, “I suspect his first move will be to seek out Xie Ci.”

Xie Ci was well hidden, but Xun Xiao was conspicuous. Find Xun Xiao, and Xie Ci would be close by.

Everyone immediately understood. “So you mean to turn his plot against him?”

Yet at the mention of Xun Xiao, the room grew quiet. Chen Yan glanced at Qin Xian. Qin Xian, standing before the long table, was silent for a moment. “I see what you mean, but...”

Xun Xiao.

A complicated look passed across his face. “Ask him first. It must be his own willingness.” Gu Wan replied, “Of course!”

She, too, was concerned about Xun Xiao’s state of mind; it had to be his own choice.

Yunzhou military quarters.

Night had deepened; a few stars flickered in the vast darkness. After adjusting her disguise and fixing the false Adam’s apple, Qin Ying picked up her sword. “Xuan-niang, I’m heading to Yuan-niang’s. Lock up and don’t wait for me.”

Qin Ying was going to confer with Gu Wan.

Qin Xian and the others were too conspicuous, their time consumed by military affairs. After the first meeting, their discussions were often conducted separately, then messages relayed.

Gu Wan and her companions had just returned from Qin Xian.

Qin Wenxuan, sitting at the bedside folding clothes, paused and stood up. “...Big sister, can I come with you?”

Qin Ying turned back. In the lamplight, Qin Wenxuan summoned her courage, her eyes stubborn though her face was tense—on the verge of tears should she be refused.

Qin Ying hesitated, then relented. “...If you want to, come.”

Qin Wenxuan was overjoyed and promised, “Don’t worry, I won’t cause trouble or speak out of turn!” She hurriedly belted her sword at her side, imitating Qin Ying’s efficient motions.

The sisters slipped out together.

...

Upon returning, Gu Wan tidied the large table in the barracks, set out a dozen large tea mugs, filled them, and placed the teapot at the center.

Chen Luo and Chen Lang arrived together; Su Wei slipped in quietly, followed by Kou Zhongyun and his cousin Yuan Wenzhao. Chen Lang, entering, poured tea over a kerchief and wiped the yellow dust from his face. “Phew—just one round on the city walls leaves you filthier than a mud pit.”

Everyone chatted as they waited.

Qin Ying was the second-to-last to arrive. At that moment, Xie Ci was pouring Gu Wan more tea. She glanced at him, her features bright and youthful in the lamplight, her smile girlish and charming.

Xie Ci, caught off guard, returned her smile. Though troubled by Qin Ying’s questions and anxious about their separation, just being near Gu Wan, especially when she smiled at him, filled him with joy. Sitting beside her, hands wrapped around her tea mug, she gazed toward the door. He could see the fine down on her cheek, the gentle light cloaking her face and form—her every glance and word warmed the room.

Great matters and private feelings interwove openly and in secret.

Still, Xie Ci forced himself to focus. The situation was rapidly changing; now was not the time for sentiment, however urgent his feelings.

Soon, Qin Ying, Qin Wenxuan, and Xun Xiao arrived one after the other.

As the door opened, Gu Wan looked up and was surprised to see Qin Wenxuan following her sister in. The girl’s face had been touched up, but her features were still clear. She kept her head slightly bowed, trailing behind Qin Ying.

Gu Wan shot Qin Ying a questioning look.

Qin Ying answered with a long, silent sigh. Truth be told, she was not pleased. Xun Xiao was pitiful, a victim, yes—but as family, as an elder sister, Qin Ying dearly wished her sister would move on, find someone new—no need for greatness, just someone whole in body and spirit.

She shook her head at Gu Wan, who took the hint and said nothing more. Quickly, Gu Wan poured two cups of tea and beckoned, “Ying-jie, Wenxuan, come sit here.”

“Wenxuan, over here, come!”

Everyone chimed in. Qin Wenxuan smiled shyly and greeted them all.

The atmosphere brimmed with youthful energy. Despite their elders’ warnings of difficulties ahead, their confidence and spirit remained undimmed.

Then, as the door opened again and Xun Xiao entered, all voices fell silent. Cloaked in thick grey wool, his tall form filled the doorway, and only the scrape of a chair broke the hush as Qin Wenxuan rose alone, then slowly sat again, gripping her sword tassel tightly.

The hood of Xun Xiao’s cloak concealed most of his face; he paused, then moved forward to sit opposite Gu Wan.

Sensing the tension, Gu Wan cleared her throat. “All right. Let’s discuss our business.”

Tonight’s meeting was to ask Xun Xiao’s opinion.

To turn the tables, to make passivity part of their strategy—now, with several burned advisers at the side of Qin Xian and Chen Yan, those who truly knew their faces were few. Xun Xiao could switch places as needed.

“Here’s our situation: the Northern Rong threaten from without, while Lu Xinyi and Xun Xun work within. We already discussed with Uncle Qin—Xun Xun’s first step must be to find Xie Ci. Xie Ci is a small target, but you stand out more. Find Xun Xiao, and Xie Ci is near. Even narrowing the range suffices—on the battlefield, a small target area is rare.”

Gu Wan spoke in veiled terms, but she guessed Xun Xun’s so-called “tricks” for finding Xun Xiao—perhaps, for instance, his mother’s relics.

After all, should news emerge that Xun Xiao lives, it would not be hard to trace further—if even Cao Yong could, how much more the Governor of Suzhou, Xun Xun?

Xun Xiao’s mind was unstable, and strong stimuli could cause him to lose control.

But the other advisers were not so afflicted.

“What do you think? If not, we’ll find another way.” Gu Wan’s concern was genuine. “This is just a rough idea—don’t force yourself.”

Half his form was cast in shadow, the hood obscuring most of his face; only a bit of jaw was visible in the dim light as he raised his head. Gu Wan finally saw his eyes.

That twisted, blood-red eye moved—bait?

Xun Xiao was no fool. Direct and unhesitating, his features contorted as he replied, “All right.” Conversation with the clever is always easier.

Gu Wan wanted to say more, but Xun Xiao cut her off. “Then it’s settled.” His mind worked swiftly—there was no simpler or more effective way. Xun Xun.

The name rolled on his tongue, tasting of blood.

A cold laugh escaped him. “That bastard has been in the army for years—who knows how many contingencies he’s hidden for the Northern Rong?” Outside, the sky was ashen, like a vast net over the Wei encampment. Perhaps a risk would tear open a gap.

Otherwise, who could say victory was certain?

Xun Xiao’s gaze was cold and fierce. He cared little for Wei’s fate, but as long as Xun Xun lived, he would not let that bastard succeed again.

He would shatter all Xun Xun’s careful plots!

Grind his bones to dust, leave him with no corpse to bury!

But—how could that be?

Qin Wenxuan could not help but stand, unable to see Xun Xiao’s face but hearing the rasp of his voice, as if each word scraped over stone. She tried to hold back, but her eyes glistened with tears.

Gu Wan whispered, “Are you sure you can control yourself?”

She knew Xun Xiao took medicine regularly, and the campaign had no doubt stirred many bad memories—Luo Qian had been preparing medicine more often than before.

She wasn’t well-versed in mental illness, but she understood that some with stress disorders could maintain clarity by willpower, while others could not. She didn’t know which camp Xun Xiao belonged to.

Survival came first—there would always be a day to seek justice together. Don’t take unnecessary risks.

Gu Wan was sincere. Xun Xiao glanced at her, then after a moment, replied, “I should manage.”

With that, Xun Xiao stood, his hood hiding his face; he didn’t glance at Qin Wenxuan, but left at once.

Chen Luo frowned. “What’s with him?”

Gu Wan hurried to smooth things over. “Don’t mind him, his temper isn’t the best—pah, we’ll surely win!”

“He’s still ill, we shouldn’t hold it against him.”

After a few more words, the group calmed down. Gu Wan wiped the sweat from her brow—communicating with Xun Xiao was never easy.

And so, their first step was decided.

As for what came next, they would have to improvise.

But Gu Wan was confident—roads are made by walking. Now, all sides probed one another; eventually, the path would be clear. Xun Xun was searching for an opportunity, and half a month later, that chance finally arose.

In that month, the battlefield at Yin Mountain was ablaze with conflict.

Northern Rong cavalry broke through Guihuan North Pass, and all lines were thrown into war.

Great Wei’s defenses differed from other dynasties—instead of relying on great walls, they seldom built them. The Yin Mountains stretched over two thousand li, and at the height of Wei’s power, all nations came to pay tribute, the borderlands flourished, and the imperial court provided ample supplies and support to the border armies. The mobile field armies were so formidable that nomadic invaders were routed again and again.

Later emperors began to build walls and fortresses, but the terrain at passes through the Yin Mountains made it easy for the Northern Rong to break through. Whenever they launched a full-scale invasion south, it became a war of the highest order.

The event occurred on the night Guihuan North Pass was breached.

It was late. After days and nights of fierce battle, Gu Wan’s eyes could barely stay open. Such brutal, large-scale combat was still hard for her to adjust to. Qin Ying pulled her aside: “The first time is always like this!”

On the battlefield, she had to shout to be heard over the din. Qin Ying pushed her, “Just handle Xun Xiao’s matter—leave the rest to us.”

So Gu Wan rode toward Xun Xiao’s position.

Chen Huan was playing the role of Xie Ci; with the Yunzhou and Suzhou armies united, Xun Xiao was stationed with Su Zhen’s troops, armored in black, his face covered by a thin iron mask like the others. He was only a few dozen yards away.

Gu Wan said she was going to Xun Xiao, but really just changed her spot; she couldn’t get too close, for Xun Xun also knew her well. Faces could be disguised, but within armor, there was little room to pad one’s shape—body type and movement were easy to recognize.

Then, late that night—

The drumming of hooves—Zhang Qing galloped over. “They’ve made their move!”

In the dark, a pale indigo undergarment flashed by, carried by the wind, revealing a cracked, bluish-white skull. Instantly, Xun Xiao’s expression changed—his face twisted, jaw clenched so tightly his teeth ground audibly.

His vision swam in bloody haze, and only by sheer will did he retain a shred of clarity.

—For all his mental preparation, seeing this intimate belonging of his mother and the clearly female skull, he broke in an instant.

Xun Xiao fought to hold on, knees gripping his horse until it bolted out of control, galloping wildly.

He charged to the army’s edge, to the farthest eastern gorge. The enemy swept their gaze, then drew swords and closed in on Xun Xiao!

—They had anticipated Xun Xun’s attempt to kill Xun Xiao, and had arranged for his protection.

Zheng Ying and others drew swords and rushed to defend him, surrounding him on horseback.

But no one expected that, in the midst of their fierce clash, a third, unknown group would suddenly burst in and join the fray.

Both sides were caught off guard.

The newcomers, after a brief exchange, charged straight for Xun Xiao!

Qin Wenxuan raced up, panic in her voice, “This is bad! Another group—many of them—attacking without warning!”

No one knew who they were, but they struck to kill.

Xun Xiao, already on the verge of collapse, was forced toward the edge of the gorge.

Gu Wan was aghast. “Damn it! This can’t be!”

Who? Who were they?!

It couldn’t be Lu Xinyi or Zheng Shoufang.

Damn it all—curse their entire lineage!

Gu Wan had no time to reply, only spurred her horse and her people to race forward.

Xun Xiao, hold on—nothing must happen to you!