Chapter 43

Xie Ci did not disappoint Gu Wan.

The rain poured down harder and harder, drumming relentlessly on the black iron armor, splashing up bursts of water. The downpour made it impossible to keep one’s eyes open. The fierce battle at Maliao Pass had lasted a full day and night—from cloudy skies to a torrential storm, from the dusk of yesterday to broad daylight. At one point, the thunderous northern Rong cavalry broke through the pass and surged in from the river valley. Before parting from them, Kou Wenshao had said, “Leave Maliao Pass to me. You must hold off the northern Rong soldiers and then find a way to reach Guiyi Prefecture!”

Kou Wenshao led his troops to block the pass, but the dangers to the rear were only just beginning. There remained large numbers of fierce northern Rong cavalry, along with the governors of Liang Prefecture, Cao Zhao, and of Chen Prefecture, Yan Zongze.

Li Ping, the governor of Western Prefecture, had gone to the front lines with Kou Wenshao. Before leaving, Li Ping urgently sent word to Cao Zhao and Yan Zongze: “This place is in your hands now!”

Once trusted generals, now turned hostile, their expressions were even more twisted than those of Lu Xinyi and the rest. Cao Zhao was responsible for covering Kou Wenshao and Li Ping’s withdrawal, while joining forces with Yan Zongze and Qin Guan in the rear to encircle and annihilate the northern Rong cavalry who had broken through the pass.

The northern Rong cavalry, desperate, launched a violent counterattack. Their onslaught swept the field, but Yan Zongze and Cao Zhao quickly adjusted their formations, ruthlessly sending Xie Ci’s Lingzhou and Yunzhou troops to face the northern Rong on the front lines, sealing off their retreat completely.

But Xie Ci was really Chen Huan. Qin Guan, Wei Zhen, and Chen Lang protected him closely, but the northern Rong cavalry, ferocious as wolves, sensing the pass was gradually being blocked, went mad, while the rear remained impenetrable.

Cursing at the top of his lungs, Chen Lang shouted, “You sons of bitches! I’ll kill your whole clan—!”

Their group led their men in a desperate charge left and right, but were finally forced into a side ravine east of the pass, where they engaged in close combat with the northern Rong, while the rear was still blocked. The torrential rain pounded down, mingling with the spray of blood and the chaos of trampling hooves.

“What do we do?” Seeing Qin Guan and the others ahead trapped in a pincer, Chen Huang panicked. Xie Ci’s mind raced: “We’ll feint east, strike west.”

They charged twice, but both times were driven back by the well-prepared Chen Prefecture troops. This could not continue!

The rain soaked through their helmets and armor, drumming on the scattered weeds and tree branches at the mountain’s base, a deafening cacophony. The weather hampered them greatly, but at the same time, offered opportunity—every advantage comes with a drawback.

In a flash, Xie Ci had an idea. He immediately ordered his forces to split: the main force would continue their charge, while a detachment would circle around the mountain.

The battlefield shifted constantly. In the midst of the charge, they were pushed toward the mountain’s edge. Using the cover of the rain, Xie Ci, who had prepared in advance, personally led troops into the foothills.

They finally caught sight of Qin Guan’s group. In the melee, they had been pushed to the very front against the northern Rong cavalry. The brothers Qin Guan and Qin Yong, their faces covered in blood, shouted and fought at the vanguard, their spirits fierce and wrathful, their killing power surging. But if Xie Ci had arrived a moment later, the tide would have turned against them after their peak.

Amid the chaos, Chen Lang cursed wildly, “You bastards! Northern Rong scum, die—!” He slashed and cursed, all the while glancing around, when suddenly he saw a large tree at the mountain’s crest shake violently.

A thought struck Chen Lang.

Then a fierce shout rang out. From the hillside above, a contingent of Wei cavalry charged down!

The path had been laid with gravel and grass; temporary trenches were dug at the crest to redirect water. The warhorses galloped down without slipping, and with a tug on the reins, they led the charge from the mountainside.

This cavalry burst between the Chen Prefecture and northern Rong troops, catching them off guard and throwing the ranks into chaos. Wei Zhen cried out with joy, “It’s the Fourth Young Master!”

“Yes!” Qin Guan’s eyes lit up. He shouted, “Quick, let’s go!” Chen Huang seized the moment to launch another charge.

All three groups attacked in unison, fighting fiercely for nearly fifteen minutes before finally reuniting and rescuing Qin Guan, Chen Huan, and the others.

“To the left!” Xie Ci ordered coldly. “Push through—”

In that instant, he was the very image of his father: grave, composed, his commands sharp as arrows, his eyes as deep as a chasm. The battle’s flow changed in a heartbeat at his word.

“To the left” meant towards Yan Zongze’s position.

Yan Zongze, too eager, personally led his troops to press the northern Rong and cut off Xie Ci. But as the situation shifted, his position became exposed, and Xie Ci ordered his own troops to push him forward.

Qin Guan, Wei Zhen, and Chen Lang’s voices rose, “Yes, Fourth Young Master—!”

That damned dog!

The three forces pressed together, driving Yan Zongze’s own men to the very front.

At last, Maliao Pass was securely blocked. The shouts and screams of battle shook the heavens. The northern Rong cavalry, trapped, fought to their last. At the very front was Hamuzha, famed as one of the “Ten Wolf Generals” under Huyan De, his eyes blazing with fury in the rain. When Yan Zongze was forced forward, Hamuzha saw him, and after thirty exchanges, struck him down with a scimitar, cleaving him from face to throat.

Yan Zongze’s guards screamed in horror. Stunned, Yan Zongze spewed blood and toppled from his horse.

“All right, you must set out at once!” Amid the din, Qin Guan called out, “If we secure Maliao Pass, we’ll likely head to the main battlefield.” By now, Qin Xian’s army should be in position; the great battle at Qingshui Valley was about to begin.

Guiyi Prefecture was crucial!

“With luck, all will go well!”

With Yan Zongze dealt with, the iron triangle of Li Ping, Cao Zhao, and Yan Zongze could no longer form, and another pincer attack was unlikely. But the Wei side must not descend into chaos; Qin Guan had to stay and stabilize the Chen Prefecture troops.

Now was the best moment for Xie Ci’s group to make for Guiyi Prefecture.

Xie Ci nodded.

Thus, he resolved the crisis at Maliao Pass and quickly set out for Guiyi Prefecture.

They released a unit of northern Rong cavalry, then used the pursuit as cover to break away, chasing along the Maliao path before eliminating the northern Rong soldiers. One man was sent as decoy to lead the returning troops, bringing the infantry as well.

Chen Lang immediately protested, “I’m not going back!”

Wei Zhen: “Me neither!”

All the young officers were full of hot blood; none would leave. Finally, Qin Guan and Chen Luo exchanged glances, and Chen Luo, resigned, said, “Fine, I’ll go back.”

With Chen Luo leading a small force back, the parties split, and Xie Ci’s group marched northeast at full speed.

When the rain finally began to lessen, they neared Guiyi Prefecture. Seventy or eighty more miles along the foothills and they would arrive.

Now everyone’s nerves were taut, and the talking ceased. Scouts were sent out, and their pace slowed. They advanced quietly, making as little noise as possible.

Xie Ci’s thoughts turned to Gu Wan; he had heard nothing from her, and his heart ached with worry.

He was anxious not only about the unknown situation in Guiyi Prefecture, but also that Xun Xiao, acting rashly, might implicate Gu Wan. Thinking of Xun Xiao, he pressed his lips grimly.

By now, they were about equidistant from Maliao Pass and Qingshui Valley; looking south, they could see in the direction of the valley’s mouth.

They skirted the mountainside. The light rain fell, and the yellow earth path was a mire. The Liang River wound through the mountains, swollen and turbid from the storm.

It was at this moment that disaster struck.

A scout raced back in urgent alarm. Before the cavalry had reached them, Xie Ci’s group sensed the disturbance. Looking up, they saw trees and leaves shaking violently ahead, and out of the silent forest rushed a mass of men—unarmored, in a mix of Han and Hu clothing, weapons in hand.

—These were, without a doubt, the people of Guiyi Prefecture!

There were tens of thousands, surging out of the riverside woods, the vanguard composed of the prefecture’s strongest youth, their faces set with a desperate resolve, charging straight at Xie Ci’s group.

Both sides were caught completely off guard.

Guiyi Prefecture had waited in silence for the right moment, but suddenly found thousands of Wei cavalry before them. The thundering hooves tore up the mud. The northern Rong hidden within Guiyi Prefecture felt their hearts sink—why were these Wei troops here?

But the reason didn’t matter; they had to be eliminated immediately!

The northern Rong feared both exposure and that their king’s plan would be affected. Their leader, Huyan Han, quickly ordered the Guiyi Prefecture chief, He Yuan, to lead his men in a charge to wipe them out.

—The breached levee was two miles away, the hilltops by the river had been dug down to a shallow line, but the intended devastation was aimed at the Qingshui Valley battlefield; it was neither the right time nor place to waste effort here.

Chen Huang panicked: “Fourth Young Master, should we retreat?”

No one had expected Guiyi Prefecture to be so well-prepared, waiting here in ambush. The sudden turn of events left everyone cold.

To retreat would mean entering more open ground, better for cavalry charges. Though Xie Ci had only a few thousand men, they were all elite cavalry, able to fight ten to one. Arrayed properly, they could make a stand. The rain fell, tension thick in the air.

But before Chen Huang finished, Xie Ci raised his hand to halt him: “No need!” His mind raced. “Look, those Hu men are unnaturally thin.”

His eyesight was excellent; he quickly spotted that the men charging at the front, though fierce and desperate, were all gaunt and skeletal.

Two years of starvation had emaciated these men, yet their bodies and fighting spirit were not exhausted. Descendants of fierce ancestors, the Hu people were still brave and combative; if willing to fight to the death, they could be a mighty force. The northern Rong had chosen their moment well.

Xie Ci’s eyes flashed. In a heartbeat, he understood the cause of Guiyi Prefecture’s rebellion. Fixing his gaze for a moment, he made a bold decision. Sheathing his blade, he spurred his horse forward rather than back.

Qin Guan, Chen Lang, and the others were stunned, but hurried after him.

The cavalry advanced slowly, not withdrawing to open ground but moving to meet the oncoming force.

He Yuan hesitated.

But in that instant, from a distance, he glimpsed a familiar young face.

Sword brows and starry eyes, tall and upright, riding forward at a measured pace; for a split second, the young general’s features, especially his brow and eyes, overlapped with those of that legendary, stern commander.

Blood ties are wondrous things.

Xie Xinchong was unforgettable.

It was as if a wandering ascetic, lost in the desert, suddenly glimpsed the golden spire of his old temple.

These were upright men. If they had any hope, they would never have chosen this path. But in that instant, something struck their hearts.

“General, it’s General Xie! General Xie—”

Suddenly, He Yuan and his men halted, rain streaming down, tears filling their eyes. At once, they recognized the son of Xie Xinchong. For a moment, they were at a loss, overcome with emotion.

Qin Guan, Wei Zhen, and the rest exchanged glances. On approaching, it was plain to see how thin and gaunt many of these men were. They could not hide their shock.

The matter of Guiyi Prefecture was resolved on the spot. These men, fighting with their lives for a little food to leave their women and children, had rebelled only out of desperation.

Once they rebelled, the women and children would scatter into the mountains, or, if forced, climb over Yinshan to try to survive on the steppe, though perhaps only one in ten would make it.

But they truly had no other choice. Last winter, many elders and children in Guiyi Prefecture had died. All their hope rested on spring, but conditions only worsened.

They could endure no more.

The men of Guiyi Prefecture had taken this desperate step, but it pained them deeply. This was the land that had raised them for generations. If there had been any other way, they would not have done this.

Xie Ci’s appearance struck a chord deep inside them. In a moment, tears streamed down their faces as they knelt and sobbed.

Blood-stained and sharp-eyed, Xie Ci instantly spotted the northern Rong among He Yuan’s men. Their faces changed, and they immediately tried to flee toward the river.

With a flash, Xie Ci drew his blade and cut down the two northern Rong men.

He Yuan and the others saw this, and after a moment’s shock, sprang to their feet, seized their blades, and quickly dispatched the remaining northern Rong as well—to prevent exposure of Xie Ci’s identity.

He Yuan’s grip on his sword tightened and loosened repeatedly. He didn’t know how to explain—they truly hadn’t wanted to rebel, but, thinking of their clansfolk…

This confirmed Xie Ci’s guess. The tension eased, and hands relaxed their grip on weapons and reins. Xie Ci dismounted and helped He Yuan up. “Why has it come to this?”

He Yuan wept bitterly. “We didn’t want this! But the past two years have been disastrous. Ever since the Marshal died, the prefecture has not received a single grain of relief! The game in the mountains grows scarcer; our people can’t even manage one meal a day!”

Guiyi Prefecture was home to Qiang, Di, and Litte tribes, as well as Hu, Han, and various mixed groups. Friction was not unknown, but Xie Xinchong had encouraged unity and healthy competition. Yet these two years of hardship had truly bound them together.

Xie Ci clenched his fists, anger rising to the crown of his head.

The Protector-General of the North had once been Zhao Heng, Xie Xinchong’s right hand just as Qin Xian was. After Xie Xinchong’s death, Zhao Heng, furious and determined to clear the Xie family’s name, soon followed his commander in death.

After Zhao Heng’s fall, the Protectorate was split: two prefectures under the control of Zheng Shoufang’s confidant Wang Quan, the other under the governor of Ningshuo Prefecture, Si Xin, Lu Xinyi’s brother-in-law.

Since then, Guiyi Prefecture had received no relief grain. Several attempts to petition for aid ended in beatings; on the last attempt, a man was killed. Only then did He Yuan lose hope and choose this desperate path.

Marshal Xie, oh Marshal Xie—

A man in his forties, He Yuan knelt and wept, full of shame before Xie Ci, overwhelmed by grief. Life in Guiyi Prefecture was simply too hard.

Even Chen Lang, usually so irrepressible, fell silent, head bowed, blinking hard, cursing quietly to himself that he ever joined the army.

After a moment’s thought, Qin Guan gritted his teeth and said softly to Xie Ci, “There’s still grain in the Lingzhou granaries, enough to help Guiyi Prefecture through this crisis.”

“Good!”

Xie Ci took a deep breath and helped He Yuan up. “Qin Guan, send men to Lingzhou at once to arrange for grain delivery.”

He turned to He Yuan. “Go back immediately and clean out all the northern Rong!”

He Yuan had already planned to do so. Overjoyed, he and his men fell to their knees, sobbing with relief. He Yuan, trembling with excitement, knelt and saluted. “Guiyi Prefecture is at your command, General! We will die a thousand deaths if you but order it!”

“We will die a thousand deaths if you but order it—!”

All were overcome, answering in unison.

Forced to betray once, they would never do so again. They pledged without hesitation to follow Xie Ci—the son of their beloved commander, a young general no less decisive than his father, worthy of their trust, even unto death. The despair they had tasted once, they would never endure again.

Qin Guan and Chen Luo exchanged glances and finally let out a long breath. The crisis at Guiyi Prefecture was resolved. At last, they could smile.

Qin Guan turned to send word to Dou Wu. He Yuan quickly assigned men to fill in the breached hills and riverbanks.

Then, they headed straight for Guiyi Prefecture.

After days of fierce battle and forced marches, not only the soldiers but the horses needed rest. He Yuan’s people, after digging and starving in the rain, were shivering with cold, their lips blue.

Now that they followed Xie Ci, the women and children need not be involved in fighting. They needed a hot meal and proper arrangements.

So the two groups merged and headed swiftly to Guiyi Prefecture.

He Yuan spoke of the northern Rong’s whereabouts and their story, Xie Ci listening, though his thoughts wandered—now that the tension had eased, his mind turned at once to Gu Wan.

Suddenly, his heart stirred. He looked up—

From the wet forest path came the sound of hoofbeats; two swift horses burst forth. Under brown rain capes and conical hats, the foremost rider was a woman, long-limbed and slender.

Gu Wan and Xun Xiao had emerged from the ravine, a waterfall cascading behind them. From above, they looked down at the Wei cavalry and the Guiyi Prefecture troops below. Gu Wan laughed aloud, “I told you so!” She raised her brows triumphantly, shooting Xun Xiao a sidelong glance.

Xun Xiao merely grunted.

Below, at the very center of the crowd, a young, valiant figure in black armor suddenly looked up, as if sensing something.

Across the distance, their eyes met.

Xie Ci, overjoyed, spurred his horse forward. His scarlet cloak, soaked through with rain, billowed dramatically behind him—a vision of heroic beauty. Gu Wan, too, rode down to meet him, her slender posture like the wind. At last, the two were reunited in victory.

Xie Ci, his heart bursting with joy, called out, “Wanwan—”

Gu Wan, elated, didn’t notice. She laughed into the wind, “Xie Ci! I knew you’d be all right. And you are!”

The rain had nearly stopped.

Guiyi Prefecture, with dark clouds rolling overhead, saw a patch of clear sky shine down upon the distant green hills.

The horses were led away to be washed and rested. The main matters in Guiyi Prefecture were being handled by He Yuan. Xie Ci and Gu Wan strolled along the pebbled path by the stream.

Not far from the storehouse, the road led to the mountain’s edge, where a stream wound by. Small children, carefree and innocent, splashed in the water, while older ones washed clothes and watched over their siblings, glancing around warily like startled birds.

Xie Ci watched for a while, exhaling a long, heavy breath.

“Why did it come to this?” He still could not understand; destroying his father’s legacy was one thing, but there was no benefit for Si Xin and the others. Left unchecked, Guiyi Prefecture would have fallen into chaos even without this crisis—Si Xin and Lu Xinyi would have suffered.

Gu Wan shrugged. “That’s how it is at the end of a dynasty.”

She was not surprised. In the original novel, things ended this way; it wasn’t just the northern Rong that caused it.

She glanced at Xie Ci, who had not removed his armor—only his helmet, which he carried. Rain had washed away his disguise, his black hair gleaming, his skin pale and handsome, his features striking with a cold, rose-like beauty, the black armor making him all the more dazzling, both ruthless and captivating.

This young man, who would one day become a legendary hero, did not yet understand, his brows furrowed in frustration and confusion.

She sighed softly, feeling pity. “Enough, let it go. The matter is resolved.”

Xie Ci nodded at once. “You’re right.”

He turned, meeting Gu Wan’s gentle gaze, her face and hair still damp, her eyes soft as a mountain stream after rain.

She was worried for him.

The realization filled Xie Ci with honeyed sweetness, his heart blooming with joy, his lips almost curving up uncontrollably.

He coughed, sneaking a glance at her. Gu Wan had already turned away, strolling along the stream, admiring the rain-washed landscape.

Xie Ci quickly caught up. “Wan, are you tired?”

Today, he was happy. After so much hardship, they were finally reunited and had a moment’s peace. He smiled at her.

This helmet-in-hand Xie Ci, when he smiled, was breathtakingly handsome.

—No matter how Xie Ci changed, in front of her, he was always the earnest youth who looked up to her, who would travel a thousand miles hand in hand. Only with her did his heart truly rejoice, especially now that he understood his own feelings.

“Tired, of course I’m tired!”

So tired she could barely walk. Gu Wan plopped down on a dry stone, stretching until her bones cracked, and flopped back with a groan.

“Fourth, you were really handsome today.”

She looked up at Xie Ci, head tilted, studying him for a while before bursting out laughing: “Someday I have to tell Second Sister-in-law—Fourth has grown up.”

Caught off guard by the compliment, Xie Ci blushed. Though he knew she didn’t mean it that way, he was still delighted.

“Really?”

He couldn’t help glancing at himself, then at her, smiling: “You look very pretty today too.” Sitting down beside her, he offered, “Shall I give you a massage?”

His earnestness was adorable, and Gu Wan laughed, immediately offering her shoulder. She glanced down at her red shirt and green pants, still a bit muddy from earlier, and rolled her eyes: “Good grief, what’s wrong with your eyes!”

She was amused, and Xie Ci’s lips curled up too. He had wanted to say “you look pretty” to her.

He knelt beside the stone, his beloved just in front of him.

The rain-washed air was fresh, the mountains rolling into the distance, the sky broad and high. He thought of every day and night he’d shared with Gu Wan—just the two of them, hand in hand, running through the snow, from mountain to river, winter to summer, east to northwest, as the sun rose and the moon set.

Sunlight spilled over green hills and white stones; Xie Ci smiled, his eyes, no longer sharp, were bright as the stars.

—She may not love me now, but I love her. Someday, she’ll love me too!

Xie Ci was certain.

As for the divorce papers—never mind those, he’d play the scoundrel! His inner imp did a triumphant somersault.

They had always massaged each other, especially after days of hard travel. If muscles weren’t loosened in time, Gu Wan would be unable to move the next day.

But today, Xie Ci, in his excitement, pressed a bit too hard, making Gu Wan yelp. She spun around, “Hey, easy…”

She found herself staring into Xie Ci’s star-bright eyes.

—Xie Ci’s eyes were like stars: clear and gentle. Once, he’d been wild and dazzling; later, his brow became severe, his presence cold and proud as a pine atop a mountain, then, on the battlefield, dazzling and ruthless as a blade.

But now all that had faded.

He looked at her, a little surprised, squatting by the stone—still the earnest youth who had once offered her a steamed bun under the eaves on a rainy day. The only difference was that his eyes now shone with all the light in the world.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Gu Wan blinked, their eyes meeting. For a moment, she felt something was off, as if a gear had slipped, or a drop of water touched her skin, hinting at the vast sea beyond.

She was momentarily dazed.

But before she could process it, the swish of clothing was heard and a gray figure dropped beside the stone. “You two have time to sit here?”

The origins of the northern Rong had already been interrogated—they were from the Tuoedun tribe.

Under his gray hood, Xun Xiao’s voice was hoarse and faster than usual. “We may have a shortcut. If all goes well, we’ll soon know who’s behind all this.

“And as for Qin Xian, I fear he’s in grave danger!”

“What?!”

“And why only mention Qin Xian? What about Su Zhen and Chen Yan?”

Both looked up in surprise to see Xun Xiao, in his gray robe, standing silently by the stream.

Gu Wan cursed under her breath; whatever strange feeling she’d had was instantly swept away. Xie Ci, already a little annoyed, sprang to his feet, exchanging glances with Gu Wan. “What did you say?!”

Xun Xiao replied coldly, “To the back mountain—we’ll circle Guzang Mountain first.” With a sweep of his cloak, he was gone.

Xie Ci and Gu Wan had no time for words and hurried after him.

Author’s note:

Xun Dao: If I’m not happy, no one else gets to be happy, either. (→→)
Gu Wan: Good grief, Xun Xiao, why do you only mention Wenxuan’s father?!
Just kidding—Xun Xiao isn’t deliberately interrupting at key moments. Of course, he’s been through it and knows exactly what he’s doing, and he’s perfectly happy to break things up. Wanwan won’t be kept in the dark about Xie Ci’s feelings for long—when emotions burn this bright, they can’t be hidden.
Ashu will hurry up, but for now let’s let our boy grow stronger; the first wave of the human cheat code is about to be activated. This chapter is quite meaty; tomorrow’s might be shorter. Ashu needs to work on the outline, haha (Ashu will come back to edit later, work has been so busy lately ahhh).