Chapter 40

This sudden group of newcomers belonged to Yu Manzhen.

After Li Yi stepped down from his post as Chief Military Supervisor, he was appointed as one of the Grain Route Supervisors, responsible for logistics and transportation during the great war. Within the Northern Army, undercurrents surged between Lu Xinyi, Zheng Shoufang, and Qin Xian, with Xie Ci caught in the middle; Li Yi watched and observed the situation closely.

He had long said that his intention to plant confidants and gather military power within the Northern Army might ultimately be realized through Xie Ci—provided Xie Ci was not defeated by Lu Xinyi.

Thinking of this, Li Yi felt a pang of regret. "What a pity," he murmured.

Sitting on a large stone by the campfire, tall and clad in dark armor with boots the color of a tempest, Li Yi looked weary, his sleeves half rolled up, yet his bearing remained elegant and martial.

He still regretted not being able to save the Xie family in time. The more he thought of it, the more it pained him. At that time, he had not been able to lend a helping hand when it mattered most, and now the opportunity was lost; it was unlikely Xie Ci would ever serve under him.

Hearing this, Yu Manzhen’s heart stirred. She spoke at once: "If it weren’t for that Gu woman, things would not have come to this."

"He still bears us some hostility—I suspect that is in part thanks to that Gu woman."

Seven or eight people sat around the fire. Yu Manzhen was seated on Li Yi’s lower left. She continued, "Now is the perfect opportunity... Should we take advantage of this to deal with Gu?"

A pile of intelligence reports lay at the end of a cart. Standing at his vantage point, Li Yi quickly discerned from various clues that Xun Xun might be planning to act against Xun Xiao.

The front lines were locked in fierce battle, while the rear never slept. Whenever there was a lull, they discussed these matters. But at Yu Manzhen’s suggestion, Li Yi frowned deeply. "Absolutely not!"

Li Yi harbored no ill will toward Gu Wan; on the contrary, he admired her greatly. Of course, his frown was not simply due to personal appreciation. "Perhaps Gu has had some influence, but now, whether she is present or not, it makes little difference. On the other hand, if we lay a hand on her, it will become a major hidden danger in the future."

There was no need to take such risk, and it would only plant a landmine between him and Xie Ci, an absolute loss.

Although Li Yi had not pinned all his hopes on Xie Ci, he undeniably had high expectations for him.

Li Yi smiled. "If he can successfully unmask and eliminate Lu Xinyi, that will be the time for our cooperation."

Yu Manzhen hesitated: "You’re right, that’s true."

A wave of disappointment welled up within her. She had been waiting for a chance to bring up Gu Wan, always hoping to push Li Yi to act, knowing well how decisive and deadly this man could be when he chose to strike.

Tonight she had finally found her opportunity, only to have Li Yi firmly refuse.

She forced a smile, pretending it was of no great consequence, nodded lightly, and let the matter drift away as if it were nothing.

But after Li Yi rose to attend to his duties, her expression changed. Gu Xuan, Gu Xuan—she paced restlessly for some time before finally gritting her teeth. "Yu Ming, bring Xin Chou to me!"

Gu Xuan’s return from the dead, and the series of changes in the Xie family, convinced her utterly that Gu Xuan had indeed returned.

In these years, besides maneuvering to become the Princess Consort of Mount Xiao and offering counsel to Li Yi, Yu Manzhen had also used her knowledge from her previous life to bestow favors on many capable individuals.

Some efforts succeeded, some did not, but she had forged many good connections and loyal allies. Xin Chou was one of them.

Xin Chou was an outstanding warrior, able even to stand toe-to-toe with Xie Ci and Li Yi in their prime. In her previous life, Xin Chou’s family had been destroyed by the corruption of the court and the Northern Army. He assassinated a high-ranking general who was also a court official, was captured by Xie Ci, and after the truth was revealed, Xie Ci executed the real culprit and released Xin Chou. After kowtowing three times in gratitude, Xin Chou drowned himself.

Thus, Yu Manzhen had established some of her own network within the Northern Army.

Xin Chou soon arrived. Yu Manzhen instructed: "Take men and find this Gu Xuan. She’s likely near Xun Xiao!"

"At all costs, kill her!"

"If she isn’t there, then kill Xun Xiao."

Yu Manzhen lowered her gaze. She felt something had changed, which filled her with fear. Was Xun Xiao really the Ghost Hand? The Ghost Hand was Xun Xiao! Had he joined Xie Ci so soon? Still, something felt off. With him present, would Xie Ci still turn to Li Yi? If not, would the future play out as it once had?

Yu Manzhen was gripped by urgency.

She told herself this was for Xie Ci, that with Xun Xiao’s prominence, he would expose Xie Ci sooner or later.

She had been searching for Gu Wan for a long time. Xin Chou, of course, knew who Gu Wan was. He knelt on one knee. "Yes!" Turning swiftly, he melted into the darkness.

Yu Manzhen watched his retreating figure, clenching her fists, a killing intent flashing across her heart, yet tormented with anxiety.

The wind suddenly picked up, howling through the night as Gu Wan raced to the edge of the cliff in East Gorge.

Good heavens!

A fierce melee raged before her, blood splattering everywhere. Xun Xiao’s horse, spooked and out of control, had bolted to the very brink. A tall, gaunt man in the armor of a centurion, mounted on a black horse, was advancing on him from the direction of Gu Wan.

At a glance, this man seemed formidable; a three-meter radius around him was a vacuum. He wielded paired short sabers, his movements swift as a hawk, as if lightning itself lashed toward Xun Xiao’s throat.

Xun Xiao fought to remain conscious, flinging Luo Qian aside in desperation. His hand trembled violently as he parried a few blows, forced back to the very edge. If his horse took even one more step, both man and beast would plunge to their deaths.

The black horseman pressed forward, knocking Xun Xiao’s longsword aside with a saber, then struck with lightning speed!

"Master—!"

Luo Qian, unable to rise, cried out in anguish.

The first thing Gu Wan saw as she arrived was this dire scene—Xun Xiao hanging on the edge of death! Who was this attacker?!

But Gu Wan’s hand moved faster than her thoughts—without hesitation, she raised her left hand and triggered the mechanism. "Swish!" A steel dart shot forth!

This was a relic Qin Xian had left to Xie Ci for self-defense. Such sleeve darts demanded the highest craftsmanship; even the Xie and Qin families had struggled to obtain so exquisite a device that did not hinder movement.

Xie Xinchong, upon acquiring it, had not used it himself but gave it to his eldest son, newly arrived at the battlefield. After the Bluefield Treason, Qin Xian retrieved only this dart from the scene.

When Xie Ci received it, he examined it all night, then carefully fastened it to Gu Wan’s wrist. "I have no use for it—you should keep it."

He had hoped it would keep Gu Wan safe.

This was her first time using it. There was only one dart, and in a flash it flew straight for her opponent’s heart. Xin Chou’s ear twitched; in an instant, he dodged back.

Gu Wan charged forward on horseback, colliding with the man. She braced her legs and, at the last moment, reached out, seized Xun Xiao’s hand, and with a shout, flung herself and him in the opposite direction!

They crashed to the ground; Gu Wan gasped in pain, half her body numb. The three horses collided and, with Xin Chou at the fore, horse and rider together were hurled off the cliff, their screams echoing into the abyss.

Yet, in the next moment, Xin Chou, agile as a bird, landed on a crooked pine at the cliff’s edge and leapt back up into the fray. Gu Wan turned, shocked.

Their eyes met. Xin Chou, who had studied Gu Wan’s portrait for some time, recognized her at once—his eyes lit up.

Gu Wan watched in horror as he came straight for her. "Damn it, damn it!"

She immediately thought of Li Yi and Yu Manzhen. But Li Yi was not so reckless—only that woman would use foreknowledge to recruit such a formidable expert.

Gu Wan scrambled desperately, half her body aching and unresponsive. Against these internal experts, she was at a severe disadvantage.

"Xun Xiao! Brother, wake up! Help—!"

Gu Wan rolled aside as Luo Qian crawled over to help. She glanced at Xun Xiao, who lay trembling and unconscious, agony etched across his face.

She shouted. Xun Xiao forced his eyes open, saw a gaunt figure attacking Luo Qian, and then lunging at Gu Wan. Blood spattered across her face as she retreated.

For a heartbeat, Xun Xiao was fully awake. In a flash, he flipped to his feet, sword in hand, deflecting the saber aimed at Gu Wan’s face with a ringing clash, then unleashed three rapid strikes, forcing Xin Chou back.

Indeed, against an opponent of this caliber, only Xun Xiao could stand his ground.

But Xun Xiao was in bad shape, breathing heavily, his sword hand still trembling. Xin Chou, pausing only to glance at him, attacked again with blinding speed.

Within a few exchanges, Xun Xiao and Gu Wan were being forced steadily back. Fighting and retreating, Gu Wan grew frantic, scanning the terrain until she spotted a steep slope near the cliff. At the last moment, as Xun Xiao faltered, she gritted her teeth and pulled him down with her.

All three tumbled over the edge.

...

The night was pitch black; nothing was visible.

Luo Qian was terrified. Several others rushed over, frantic, hurriedly fastening ropes and searching for a way down. By the second half of the night, they had found a route. But at the bottom, there was nothing.

At dawn, only a few bloodstains were found on the high slope—of Gu Wan, Xun Xiao, or Xin Chou, there was no trace.

At the base of the gorge, a small stream murmured through the mist. The drum of war and thunder of hooves echoed in Luo Qian’s chest.

The Northern Rong had breached the northern mouth of Guihuan; the Wei army was making a strategic retreat.

Luo Qian, panic-stricken, ran the length of the gorge, searching everywhere, but found nothing. He was so anxious he wept.

Gu Wan and Xun Xiao were missing!

No sign of them, alive or dead.

In the ranks of the Wei army at Suzhou—

Having just retreated and now locked in standoff with the Northern Rong, the Wei army’s Xun Xun was having his wounds dressed, bare-chested. He fought more bravely than any, leading countless charges, the Suzhou troops ever at the fore.

This made it difficult for Lu Xinyi to sideline him, try as he might.

Wang Sheng burst in, whispered a few words, and Xun Xun’s eyes blazed.

Good, very good!

He quickly dismissed the medics and strode a few steps, laughing aloud. "Send this news to Lu Xinyi at once!"

He paused, his eyes wild with satisfaction. "And once you’re sure he’s received it, send word back immediately."

"Yes!"

...

By this time, news of Gu Wan and Xun Xiao’s disappearance had already spread.

Xie Ci had just come off the battlefield after three days and two nights of fierce combat. The baptism of blood had transformed him—no trace of youthful hesitation remained. In the face of death and carnage, the heart swiftly hardens; many things become insignificant.

But Gu Wan was not one of them.

He swung down from his black horse, armor stained with blood, his long blade dripping red. The horse panted heavily.

Xie Ci nearly collapsed as he dismounted, instantly losing all composure, his eyes wild. He seized the messenger by the collar—what did you say? What did you say?

After three days and two nights with little water, his voice was hoarse, nearly breaking as he grabbed Qin Guan’s clothes. "Say that again—who fell from the cliff and disappeared?"

Qin Wenxuan could not help but weep.

A buzzing filled Xie Ci’s head, his bloodshot eyes swimming with red mist. Qin Ying was anxious as well. She hurriedly pried his hands away, shaking him hard. "Xie Ci! Xie Ci! Little Fourth, wake up!"

He snapped out of it.

His ears rang. He stared at his sister-in-law.

In that moment, love or affection, whatever name it bore, he could no longer distinguish. His heart burned as if on fire, his hands shaking, his breath ragged. He broke free, "Go look for her! Go, now!"

Xie Ci spun and rushed away.

All he could think was—he could not let anything happen to Gu Wan!

In a flash, he remembered that day in the little courtyard in Suzhou, when he had said to her: if you die, I will follow you. The evening sun was long, her eyes shone like stars, she smiled radiantly, and tears welled suddenly in Xie Ci’s eyes.

Nothing will happen to her!

If anything does, heaven and earth bear witness—he will follow. He would never leave her alone in this world.

Tears streamed down, uncontrollable. Once, it was mere emotion—now, it was heartbreak, his soul wracked with pain. His heart felt clenched, as if madness gripped him, just as when he learned of his father and brothers’ deaths—no sign of them, alive or dead.

"Stop!"

Qin Ying rushed to block his way. "If you go out now, you’ll be playing right into their hands!" She enunciated every word: "Do you want all her effort to be wasted? Her sacrifice to come to nothing?"

The sky was overcast, smoke of battle thick in the air, the clatter of hooves and boots, the groans of the dying everywhere.

Xie Ci stood on the trampled, chaotic earth, the wind whipping his shoulder, half his face caked with dried blood. His striking eyes, now fierce and bloodshot, were set ablaze in the red-tinted haze.

He met Qin Ying’s gaze, pain twisting his features, but he forced himself to halt.

Qin Ying breathed a sigh of relief.

She was worried too, but all she could say was: "Little Fourth, she’ll be all right."

"She’s with Xun Xiao—they may have already left the gorge. Whether being chased, or for some other reason—it’s unlikely anyone would carry two bodies that far. I’ll go now, and bring her back, all right? You must trust Yuan Niang—she can do it!"

The implication was clear; Xie Ci understood. His frantic anxiety eased slightly.

He closed his eyes, then opened them, the lingering night faint on his face. "I know she can—but I… I can’t help but worry."

He should trust Gu Wan; she was so capable, so brilliant, leading him out of darkness hand in hand. She was so clever, so strong.

But those words—no sign of them, alive or dead—struck him hard, his heart clenching with unspeakable fear.

"I just… remembered some bad memories," he murmured.

Qin Ying’s eyes filled with tears. Only now did she realize that the past had left deep wounds in Xie Ci as well. Unlike Xun Xiao, he did not show it, but buried it deep in his heart.

She too thought of Magistrate Xie and his son—the gentle features, the dazzling smile lost to time, their bodies lost who knows where. She wiped her tears away fiercely.

"One day, we will bring them home," she whispered.

Xie Ci was stunned, then, as if blessed, nodded, his voice choked.

Qin Ying smiled at him.

Xie Ci grasped her hand. "Second sister-in-law, you must find her. Safe and sound."

"Yes!"

Without hesitation: "I will."

She released his hand, wiped her face, barely pausing to tidy herself, then hurriedly gathered her things and pulled Qin Wenzhi with her.

Xie Ci stood where he was, unmoving, until her figure vanished into the gray morning and darkness, beyond sight.