Two women, their faces covered, suddenly dashed into the woods. They checked the trail and then hid behind a tree. One of the women drew her belt sword, ensuring they weren't followed before returning it to its U-shaped sheath.
Her belt sword, the lightest and most flexible weapon she owned, had become her favorite for covert assassinations.
After her twilight spying mission, she returned to her courtyard. Changing her attire, she transformed into the elegant Princess of the Liang Palace. As she pondered her upcoming wedding to the Prince of Yanbei, she wondered about its success, uncertain of the outcome.
She murmured to herself, "Who was the woman Yan Xun carried earlier?"
Without Tao Ye, one of Xiao Yu's spy wings is broken.
She cannot just move the way it used to be after Yuwen Yue captured her and imprisoned her at the Green Hills courtyard. Tao Ye holds all the secret spy locations of the Liang State whom Xiao Ce exposed to teach her sister a lesson by using Yuwen Yue.
But in the long run, it was Yuwen Yue who taught the Liang royals a hard lesson to learn: "Do not play fire with ice."
As the incense aroma of the burner gradually mixed in the cold air, the princess drifted away and her tired mind and spirit on rest, ready to begin another day.
The night has passed, and Chu Qiao woke up in the grasslands of Yanbei.
Smelling the fresh dew of the grass, she thought of a familiar feeling, a feeling of no boundaries, freedom, and beside her was a dark force. Suddenly startled, seeing her face she came in closer and looked at Viper sleeping sweetly beside the bed.
Viper did not change her clothes at all. She slept with messy hair and trace of saliva in her small pillow and thought: "She is an angel in human flesh."
Viper no sense of people and time, she moved a bit and shifted her head.
Chu Qiao was just looking at her with her funny face would like to make fun and poke her charming nose, her lips like hell, so dark it is she thought: "It would have been nice if they were red but why does she always have a wine-like color of lips.
This makes her so dark and scary but her eyes and brows so gentle like the wind and the sea.
Suddenly He Xiao rushed to their door as dawn is setting in the horizon, to fetch them but plans to explain later to Yan Xun.
The important thing is to let these two figures slip from Yanbei Prince's almost built Palace in time for his wedding. Yan Xun became busy not only with building the structures of Yan but also raised Yan's future with strategic concubines. These concubines were either provided Yan more sources to become filthy rich or allies to advance his troops to the West.
Yan Xun was also busy with one of his secret projects and often retreated at Xiu Xiu mountains and then come back to the military base once in a while to oversee the simultaneous construction structures such as the Yan Palace at the moment.
He Xiao peeked at the window and whispered: "Mimi Gongzhu, are you awake?"
He went to the door again and knocked gently. Good thing there were no standby Yanbian guards as Yan Xun thought it is not that needed, he thinks, they were He Xiao's beautiful slaves without more questions asked coming from the Yanbei Prince, they let them stay in one of the new VIP rooms built-in the Yan palace.
Chu Qiao heard He Xiao and replied: "I am, come in."
After a year of hibernation, Chu Qiao, like Yan Xun, had been diligently working to rebuild the Chu Jing kingdom from its ruins. The Qinghai Empire, wary of the poisoned walls surrounding Chu Jing, had avoided any involvement or observation of the kingdom's progress. Only the old residents of Chu Jing, familiar with secret passages known only to the kingdom's original inhabitants, had returned to witness the latest developments.
He Xiao arrived, breathless and hurried, and saw Viper sleeping beside Chu Qiao. Startled by his sudden appearance, Chu Qiao noticed that He Xiao was clad in his Yanbian General uniform, complete with stars and a formidable presence. Among the generals of Yanbei, He Xiao was renowned for his striking appearance. However, in the presence of Chu Qiao, the true beauty of the Xuili army, He Xiao willingly took a backseat.
Chu Qiao, with a touch of amusement, remarked, "Is a man hanging from a tree considered a stowaway general?"
He Xiao, setting down a bag wrapped in expensive silk cloth, replied with a hint of humor, "Flattery will only spoil me, won't it?"
He Xiao smiled at Chu Qiao and said, "You haven't taken off your scarf. What's hidden underneath? Here, change into one of these Yanbian General uniforms you wore during our important battles in the past. We'll head to Hong Chuan first, and if things aren't too chaotic, we might also visit Meilin and Changan."
Chu Qiao, surprised to see her old Yanbian General uniform still in good condition, felt a pang of nostalgia. It was touching to see that He Xiao had kept it, even though she could barely recall the details of her time as his commander.
As Viper stirred awake, she heard the commotion and opened one eye. Noticing the presence of the attractive man in front of her, she was momentarily startled. Reacting instinctively, she grabbed her whip and, with a swift motion, bound He Xiao's feet, pulling him towards her.
The man was caught, and startled went down on the expensive carpet, and he said: "At ease, girl, it is I, He Xiao."
Viper looked at him once again and opened wide her eyes she uttered: "Really?"
Then she unbinds the whip at his feet without feeling sorry.
He Xiao somewhat in between embarrassment and pride, the man stood on his knees and looked at Viper who is still sitting on the carpet. He bent a little to lift her perfect jaw from her small face and looked at her angel's eyes he said: "remember this man in your sight, so you don't have to ruin me when I am wearing this uniform."
And He Xiao gave away Viper a sparkle in his eyes that every woman would melt in front of this Xuili Army General with its ready to battle gear in front of her.
Viper caught those eyes from He Xiao but she frowned and spank his hand from her jaw, and He Xiao gave her a debonair smile.
While the two were having drama, Chu Qiao said: "I am ready, where are we heading again?" And the two, both moved their heads to see her, and they were mesmerized with the view.
Chu Qiao once again wore her Yanbian General uniform, but that is all.
Inside those uniforms were lost memories of her battles, the Xuili army she once saved and fought and almost died fighting at Hong Chuan is about to meet them again.
He Xiao swallowed on his throat and said: "Perfect outfit, come on let's go, and runaway here before the Prince of Yanbei finds us."
Viper nodded.
Hee..!
Sound of horse hooves was quickly running away from the majestic Yan Palace.
All three horses hissed at every whip of their master's beat on their side leaving the horse mouths saliva dripping.
After a full night's rest, both the horses and their riders were invigorated by the fresh air of the Yanbei grasslands. The trio was excited about their brief stop in Hong Chuan and the subsequent tour of the Xuili mountains, where the Xuili army headquarters was situated.
Meanwhile, not far from the Meilin border, Yan Xun had established a foothold on the way to Chang'an city. His previous battles with the Xuili armies, which had been dubbed the "Dry Bones," were proving to be a significant challenge. Yet, he felt a sense of rejuvenation as if the dry bones were on the verge of being revived.
As Yan Xun awoke, he experienced a rare feeling of lightness and well-being. For the first time in a long while, he felt genuinely at ease. Taking a deep breath of the fresh morning air, he realized with a sense of contentment that he was beginning to embrace a newfound goodness in his heart.
Perhaps it was the visit to the site where he had found a semblance of peace, or the process of confronting and letting go of the dark memories from his past, but something within Yan Xun was beginning to change. The once-hidden shadows seemed to be lifting, allowing a new light to emerge.
For the first time in a long while, Yan Xun found himself able to smile genuinely at his servants. He listened to the melodies of the morning birds, inhaled the fresh dew of the land, and experienced a moment of tranquility. The relentless echoes of bloodshed, lamentation, and silent grief that had weighed him down seemed to be fading into the distance. He felt unburdened by hatred and revenge, as if the shackles of his troubled past were loosening.
As Yan Xun watched the sunrise, his thoughts wandered to the woman he had rescued from the lake. Her presence had stirred something deep within him, a profound sensation that flowed through his veins, revitalizing him in ways he struggled to articulate. The power she radiated had touched him deeply, unearthing long-suppressed emotions. Her vulnerability had softened his hardened heart, infusing him with a sense of relief and hope he had not experienced in years.
At last, Yan Xun felt ready to embrace the present moment and remain open to whatever the future might hold. The burdens of past regrets and the thirst for revenge seemed to be melting away, replaced by a newfound sense of peace and possibility.
The trauma and darkness from the frozen lake had once turned him into a numb, relentless conqueror, spreading bloodshed across every land he claimed. The blood he spilled was heavy and dark, a constant reminder of the violence that defined his existence.
Now, dressed in his elegant light purple Jinhua robe, Yan Xun looked out at the golden horizon with bright eyes and a serene expression. His handsome features, framed by his sword-like eyebrows, softened into a slight smile. He called out to A'Jing, "Send He Xiao to my office right away."
A'Jing, slightly puzzled, asked, "He Xiao, Your Highness?"
"Yes," Yan Xun said with excitement. "Call him now!"
He looked at A'Jing, who was still standing there when he should have been gone already.
A'Jing, with a concerned expression, said, "He Xiao left this morning and gave me this letter to deliver to you instead."
"What?" Yan Xun's gaze turned icy as he squinted at A'Jing, his frown deepening.
A'Jing continued, "He Xiao left with his company, including two women. One dressed like a barbarian and the other, who appeared important to him. Before they left, the guards saw the woman in Yanbian General uniform with an indigo scarf covering her face, showing only her eyes. They think she might be He Xiao's woman."
Yan Xun's anger flared like a boiling teapot, but along with his frustration, he also felt a surprising surge of excitement.
Yan Xun's emotions surged with intensity with a mix of envy and excitement. He admired He Xiao for having such a beautiful and delicate woman by his side, something he himself lacked. As his own wedding day approached, Yan Xun felt a strong urge to meet this woman one last time. He was curious about why she stirred such feelings in him and, for the first time, found himself genuinely interested in someone connected to his General.
Yan Xun knew he could simply issue an order to have the woman brought to him, if he desired. He could indulge in lust and then let her go, winning over He Xiao in the process. But if he pursued this feeling further, it would mean conceding to He Xiao.
His thoughts darkened with the possibility of causing chaos and becoming a destructive force in both their lives. He felt an unsettling urge to involve himself in their lives to understand where he stood with the woman he had once held in his arms on a fateful night.
It felt as if he had already been intertwined with her countless times over the years, but he couldn't grasp the origin of these feelings. Faced with the pressing urgency to act or remain passive, he felt compelled to choose.
The prospect of taking action seemed more appealing to him, giving him a sense of satisfaction he hadn't felt in a long time.
"A'jing, I need my horse," he commanded.
"The Prince, you haven't read the letter," A'jing said, holding out the unopened letter, but Yan Xun dismissed it with a wave. "Read it yourself. I need to see He Xiao again," he insisted. Quickly, he rang a bell, and maidservants hurried in to assist him with dressing.
A'jing, puzzled, wondered, "What could have happened last night that would make the Prince so eager to see He Xiao today?" He knew He Xiao was usually not a priority for Yan Xun and had not even reviewed the letter himself.
The letter remained unopened, yet Yan Xun was determined to meet He Xiao personally and travel to the Meilin border, a place he had neglected for some time. His strategy involved overextending the Xuili army while redistributing resources to other military forces to expand his empire.
Yan Xun had trained the Xuili army to act independently, with loyalty being the key to earning his trust and resources. They had to atone for their betrayal and the bloodshed of Yanbei citizens. He demanded sevenfold reparation, and only when the Xuili army had paid in full would they prove their loyalty to the dark Prince of Yanbei.
As Yan Xun's entourage traveled along a quiet forest road, an eerie feeling of an unknown presence hung in the air. Suddenly, the horses, despite their previous vigor, grew dizzy. Without any command, they dropped to their knees and fell asleep.
Chu Qiao and Viper, as well as He Xiao, didn't have much any choice but to let their horses sleep and they got off from their horses and put aside their saddle bags.
Viper is sensing some dark energy at the place and believes someone may have followed them when suddenly three ropes were thrown on where they stand, the three look up to the trees while at their side were three assassins coming forward and a crossbow sniper is hidden somewhere the forest's tree.
The three killers threw some star darts to the three to disperse them.
While they were successful at doing it, Chu Qiao caught all three-star darts and closed her eyes and feeling the cold hunting wind she threw and took down the first one at a fast and far distance all three-star darts bulls-eye on the crossbow sniper head.
And did not even have any chance to react.
Viper impressed on her Mimi Gonzhu, and He Xiao on his busy eyes took out his sword and began to attack the three ninja assassins.
Viper leaped and jumped to one of the forest trees and waiting patiently for her opportunity.
Chu Qiao standing there watching He Xiao hungry of sword fight gave his might and finished the three without help from his company. Viper clapped at her hands, and He Xiao looked at her, but the clap was not meant that she was impressed instead Viper jumped back to the ground and dusting herself off.
He Xiao thinks Viper did not see his moves, cold and wasn't impressed at all.
Chu Qiao did not put her guard down when suddenly another three ninja assassins came from the heavens and slowly went down on the rope like an acrobat exchanging their places on air.
Suddenly He Xiao was caught and Viper about to help He Xiao when a belt sword reached her whip and Viper was not able to maneuver. The other ninja assassin caught her feet with the rope.
Now she is upside down hanging in the air, unable to break out.
What's left was Chu Qiao.
The ninja pro assassin stopped being defensive and she suddenly hid the sword around her waist. Chu Qiao although her eyes are closed, she is just waiting for her enemies to exhaust themselves and she thinks, the ninja left has a very strong Skyshadow martial arts and felt its moves even if her eyes is closed and just stood there.
Chu Qiao stood her ground, despite being weaponless, with only her scarf covering her face and her bow and arrows at her back. Her Higanbana flower began to cut into her, akin to being stabbed in the back. She managed to control the pain through an ancient oracle chant, using its power to prevent her from succumbing to the flower's effects.
The black-clad ninja assassin, with his face concealed, spoke: "I did not come to kill, but to observe you."
As he reached for Chu Qiao's scarf, another group suddenly intervened, attacking the black ninja. The two parties clashed with intricate martial arts, their movements creating a complex and beautiful scene.
Amidst the chaos, a third party summoned a powerful wind. As the black ninja's belt sword slashed through the air, blue feathers began to drift down, adding to the confusion of the battle. The feathers floated gracefully, reminiscent of peacock plumes, creating a mesmerizing and disorienting spectacle.
The black ninja, unfazed, continued his assault. The third party, despite their intervention, sustained a shallow cut on her palm, which began to bleed dark red.
Suddenly, the ninja assassins retreated, leaving He Xiao and Viper suspended and dizzy, circling around on their ropes.
Chu Qiao, having observed the scene, opened her eyes and recognized a familiar face among the third party. She chose not to reveal herself yet. Instead, she retrieved a small celadon bottle and approached the injured fighter. Applying the balm from the bottle to the cut, she watched as the wound began to heal, though it left a dark brown scar.
"This poison will stabilize today," Chu Qiao said coldly, "and in three days, the wound will be fully healed, as the poison was neutralized by another."
With a final cold glance at the third party, Chu Qiao turned away, leaving the mysterious figure with her healing promise.
Chu Qiao used He Xiao's sword to cut the ropes binding him, and Viper, while still suspended in the air, deftly caught him as he fell. True to her reputation as a skilled and reliable protector, Viper saved He Xiao with her acrobatic prowess.
However, when it was Viper's turn to be rescued, Chu Qiao cut her rope, expecting He Xiao to catch her. Instead of falling into his arms, Viper leaped from a tree branch and landed gracefully on the ground. He Xiao watched in amazement as Viper executed the impressive maneuver with agility and strength.
He Xiao, impressed by Viper's abilities, turned his attention to Zhong Yu, who looked somewhat furious upon seeing her sister.
He Xiao approached Zhong Yu, concerned. "Are you injured, General Zhong?"
Zhong Yu shook her head, "I'm fine, just a bit dizzy."
He Xiao then asked, "Why are you here? Are you escorting Yan Xun on his tour today?"
Zhong Yu replied, "Yes, I'm part of the advance party. The Prince is heading to Meilin to meet you."
In He Xiao's mind, he wondered if Yan Xun had read his letter, but he also suspected that the prince might not fully understand its contents.
He Xiao glanced at Viper and Zhong Yu. Zhong Yu had already known that Viper was with Chu Qiao, though she had kept this information to herself and only shared it with Mr. Wu. The reasons behind this secrecy were understood only by Zhong Yu and Mr. Wu.
Turning to Viper, He Xiao said, "I can't accompany you. Take this map and trek the Xuili mountains with Mimi Gongzhu. I've arranged for an advance party, and another Xuili Lieutenant is waiting for your arrival."
Chu Qiao and Viper nodded in agreement. Zhong Yu added, "A'Chu, we have much to catch up on. See you on the other side. Viper, please take good care of her… She's more valuable than anything else."
Chu Qiao acknowledged Zhong Yu's words, recalling that she used to call her A'Yu. Memories of their battles and shared experiences resurfaced, bringing a sense of nostalgia.
Zhong Yu gave Chu Qiao a warm smile and a respectful bow. As He Xiao and Zhong Yu departed, Chu Qiao and Viper set off on their journey to the Xuili mountains. Meanwhile, He Xiao planned to head to Hong Chuan, aiming to divert the Prince of Yanbei's tour to Meilin. This would buy Chu Qiao time to meet with the Xuili army and stay with them.
By the time Chu Qiao and Viper arrived at Xuili Mountain, it was deep into the night. They found Xuili Lieutenant Ge Qi, who had been left behind by Du Wei's troops, sleeping without any guard. He appeared unprepared and somewhat careless.
Seeing this, Chu Qiao and Viper exchanged knowing glances, understanding what needed to be done.
Ge Qi suddenly woke, alarmed. He grabbed his dagger and pointed it into the darkness, but no one attacked him. He sensed a chilling presence passing nearby, moving towards an abandoned structure. The figure was draped in a long black hooded cloak, with a dark, almost blood-red interior.
In the dim light, Ge Qi could barely make out whether the figure was a man or a woman, only seeing a shadowy outline on the ground.
Ge Qi jumped up and shouted into the darkness, "Hey, you! What are you doing here?" Suddenly, there was a loud slam, and the figure vanished from view.
Feeling a mix of fear and curiosity, Ge Qi approached the spot where the figure had been. As he moved forward, Viper quickly grabbed his foot, causing him to fall and lose his knife.
Ge Qi shouted for help as Viper pulled her whip, and the dark figure reappeared like a ghost. Ge Qi, seeing the shadow, pleaded, "Help me! Who told you to sleep on duty?"
A feminine voice responded, "No one. I haven't slept in days and didn't realize I had fallen asleep. I think a vine caught my foot, but I'm not sure."
Viper glanced at Chu Qiao, who signaled her to release Ge Qi. Viper then pulled her whip away, freeing him.
Ge Qi scrambled up, brandishing his dagger in an attempt to capture the shadowy figure. Chu Qiao effortlessly tumbled back, while Viper leaped in front of her, blocking Ge Qi's way. With only a small dagger for defense and no other resources, Ge Qi's strength waned quickly. Dazed and disoriented, he fell to the ground, unconscious.
Viper kept her guard up until Ge Qi showed no signs of regaining consciousness. Chu Qiao approached, checking the man's nose and pulse. "He's alive," she confirmed. "His Chi is weak. He needs water and nourishment. We'll wait for him to wake up."
Viper nodded and remarked, "I pity him."
Chu Qiao replied, "We'll let him rest for now."
I remember He Xiao, this is the same exact scenario we found him although they were not wasting away yet their restlessness is evident said Viper who sat beside the youngLieutenant.
Chu Qiao, lost in thought, gathered some driftwood and started a bonfire to warm herself. She then moved Ge Qi closer to the fire.
Chu Qiao reflected on how He Xiao hadn't yet seen his Xuili troops. The absence of reinforcements for the Wei troops hinted at a lack of support from the Prince of Yanbei. Anger surged within her as she clenched her fist. Seizing a small piece of driftwood, she tossed it onto the fire.
The flames surged high, and its yellow flame is waving so high enough to burn a person alive.