I no longer have a hometown; you are my home.

—That was my plan at the time.

But I didn’t expect this day to come so quickly. I had hoped to take away Prince Duan for you. Tomorrow, I will do my best. If I succeed, your burden will be lighter. If I fail, follow the instructions on the last piece of paper, and you should be able to escape safely.

After that, you will have to walk the road alone. The world is vast and treacherous, be very careful.

Although I have lied to you many times, this statement is not a lie: you are the most formidable and courageous person I have ever met in my two lifetimes. You will surely laugh until the end and bring peace to the land.

By then, if you forgive me, have a hotpot meal during the New Year and festivals. Just consider it as me accompanying you.

Zhang San

……

Besides this, there was another piece of paper filled with writing and a small item inside the envelope.

Yu Wanyin finished reading the last word just as the twilight disappeared completely. The shadow guards covered the entrance of the cave with vines and gently advised her to rest early.

She tucked the letter into her chest and lay down fully clothed for the night. The mountain nights were cold, and she gradually felt the chill from her feet, eventually becoming as cold as a stone. She feared not waking up if she fell asleep, so she silently counted, hearing the faint sounds of the shadow guards changing shifts and the distant, mournful cries of foxes.

The next morning, they set out again, finding a small stream where they washed off the bloodstains.

Yu Wanyin was wearing simple men’s clothing, which must have been given to her by Xiahou Dan for her escape. The bundle also contained tools she often used for disguises, spare clothes, firestones, and daggers.

Yu Wanyin applied makeup by the stream, attached a fake beard, then stood by the bank and burned the letter. She watched it curl up in the flames and turn into tiny ashes that fell into the water and drifted away.

She noticed a few shadow guards watching her with concern, and she realized she hadn’t said a word since reading the letter the previous night.

She cleared her dry throat, “How are your injuries?”

The shadow guards responded, “Just minor injuries, already healed.”

“Good. We need to reach a populated area to gather information about the capital.”

The shadow guards, seeing her calm demeanor, were relieved and replied, “We are under orders to protect you, Lady. The situation is unpredictable, but as long as Prince Duan is alive, the three border armies he arranged will converge here, suppressing the imperial guards to help him ascend. These forces are coming from the north, east, and south. We believe we can find a gap before they converge—”

“We head south.” Yu Wanyin picked up her bundle and set off.

The shadow guards were stunned and quickly followed to take her bundle, “Lady, the right army is coming from the south.”

Yu Wanyin replied without looking back, “South, to Peiyang. It’s His Majesty’s wish.”

Peiyang was just an ordinary small town with nothing special about its terrain. The shadow guards couldn’t understand why they were going there.

Could Xiahou Dan have arranged reinforcements there? But if there were reinforcements, they should have been used yesterday, not now.

Yu Wanyin kept her intentions secret and continued walking, “It’s hard on you all, escorting me there. Is there any food left?”

She took the dry rations, ate them as she walked, forcing herself to chew and swallow.

The shadow guards exchanged worried glances behind her. They didn’t know the contents of the letter and wondered if showing it to her early was a mistake.

They traveled in silence for half a day and eventually saw scattered villages ahead.

Apart from their group, there were few people on the road, and those they saw were hurried and looked frightened.

The shadow guards tried to talk to the villagers, who, upon seeing strangers, asked for news in return. Both sides were equally clueless, only knowing that the capital was in chaos yesterday with rivers of blood; today, it was sealed off and silent. The villagers didn’t know who won or lost, or who was fighting whom.

By evening, Yu Wanyin felt increasingly cold, dizzy, and unable to walk. She belatedly realized she had a fever.

The shadow guards were alarmed, but she remained expressionless, “It’s nothing, a night’s sleep will help. We can’t go to an inn; it will expose us. Find a place to stay.”

After walking another half a mile, the sky darkened, and they saw faint firelight from a courtyard ahead.

A shadow guard knocked on the door, and an elderly woman with swollen eyes answered, “Who is it?”

The shadow guard smiled apologetically, “Ma’am, we are visiting relatives in the capital but were robbed on the way. We heard about the trouble in the capital and can’t go further. Now my companion is sick, and we have no choice but to ask for a meal.”

He handed her some copper coins.

The old woman sighed, “Come in, we are all suffering people. Many families in the village have been robbed recently; it seems there are skilled thieves around…”

She muttered as she led them inside. The firelight came from a clay pot in the yard. She guided them into the house and returned to the pot to burn paper money.

A shadow guard asked, “Ma’am, this is…?”

The old woman shook her head, crying softly. An old man emerged from the inner room, “Her brother lived near Beishan. He got caught in the chaos when Prince Duan rebelled and didn’t make it.”

Yu Wanyin’s heart skipped a beat, and she hoarsely asked, “Did Prince Duan succeed in his rebellion?”

The old man shook his head repeatedly, “The messenger only said many died, mostly imperial guards, nothing else.”

Yu Wanyin felt faint and swayed.

Most of the dead were imperial guards…

Either internal strife or Prince Duan had hidden forces. Either way, Xiahou Dan’s fate was grim.

A shadow guard quickly supported her, “Sir, we are deeply sorry to trouble you, but our brother is very ill. Could you cook some noodles for her?”

Moments later, they were gulping down bowls of noodles, the dim oil lamp reflecting in the soup.

The peasant family was quite well-off; Yu Wanyin’s bowl even had an egg. She drank some hot soup, her shaking hands steadied, and her sluggish mind started working again.

If Prince Duan won, Xiahou Dan might already be dead or imprisoned in the palace, waiting to be executed for Prince Duan to secure his position. They could only hope for the latter.

The old woman finished burning the paper and returned, wiping her tears and cursing, “That damned Prince Duan, even Heaven can’t stand him, causing an earthquake to take him.”

“Keep your voice down,” the old man whispered, “And what kind of emperor is any better? People always say, when the ruler is immoral, the earth quakes! That tyrant even killed the Empress Dowager…”

Yu Wanyin’s chopsticks paused.

The old woman argued, “How do we know the Empress Dowager was killed by him? Royal affairs are beyond us.”

The old man waved his hand, “Enough, you don’t understand. Remember Elder Xu…”

Yes, Elder Xu.

Yu Wanyin recalled that after Xu Yao’s death, Xiahou Dan had asked her, “What was Xu Yao’s fate in the original text?”

“He seemed to always follow Prince Duan and eventually became a civil official.”

Xiahou Dan had been silent for a moment, then smiled, “So, we caused his death.”

After that, he no longer asked about the original fates of the characters. He pushed forward with his plans without hesitation, deciding matters of life and death with a blank expression. He said, “If you ever need to eliminate someone, tell me, and I will handle it.”

He also said, “I’ll repay their debts when I descend into hell.”

—He denied that characters in a story could have souls, yet he believed that a hell existed in a fictional world.

At this moment, she rather wished he didn’t believe in it.

Old Woman: “…In any case, if the emperor is replaced, we won’t have the life we have now, do you believe it?—Hey, what’s wrong with this young man?”

The shadow guard shielded Yu Wanyin and said, “He might be worried about his relatives in the capital.”

The old woman muttered a Buddhist chant, then got up to serve her another bowl of soup.

After finishing the noodles, the shadow guards helped to clean up the dishes. Not wanting to reveal her special status, Yu Wanyin stood up too, but her legs gave way, and she had to lean on the table to steady herself.

The old woman touched her forehead, “Oh dear, such a high fever, you need a doctor.”

Yu Wanyin quickly stopped her, saying she was just exhausted from the journey and asked to stay for the night.

The old woman hesitated, but the old man was not pleased, “It’s not that we are not kind, but there are so many of you young men, and we only have one bed, and not enough bedding.”

The shadow guard handed over more copper coins, “Sir, we just need one bed for the sick person to sleep on the floor. The rest of us can sit up.”

The old man pulled the old woman aside, “Who knows where they came from? Don’t forget, many families in the village have been robbed lately.”

His voice wasn’t very low, and everyone heard it.

The shadow guard’s face changed slightly, glancing at Yu Wanyin.

Yu Wanyin forced a smile, “In that case, we won’t trouble you any further. Thank you for the meal.”

She forced herself to walk to the door.

Just then, a faint noise came from the kitchen direction, as if a window sash had been moved by the wind.

The old couple noticed nothing, but the shadow guards tensed up, silently signaling to each other. They quickly headed towards the kitchen.

The old man shouted, “Hey, what are you doing—”

Yu Wanyin, surprised, turned back, hand on the gun hidden in her sleeve.

There was a commotion in the kitchen, followed by unfamiliar cries of pain. The shadow guards emerged, dragging a struggling small figure.

Shadow Guard: “This person was climbing through the window and we caught him in the act.”

The person they caught was small and monkey-like, dirty, with protruding eyes glaring fiercely at them. Yu Wanyin felt a strange discomfort as his gaze swept over her.

He clutched a bundle tightly, which the shadow guard opened to reveal a mix of items like money bags, jade pendants, and cured meat.

Old Woman: “Ah, that’s our New Year’s meat!” She looked closer, “Isn’t that jade pendant from Old Wang’s house?”

The thief started screaming and struggling violently, his voice hoarse and sharp, but the shadow guards held him firmly on the ground.

The old man: “…”

Having just accused the guests of being thieves, they now watched the guests catch a thief. The old man’s face turned red as he stammered apologies, but Yu Wanyin gently reassured him.

The couple, simple and honest, showed their gratitude by preparing hot water and bedding for Yu Wanyin. They also had the shadow guards tie up the thief and lock him in the woodshed, planning to report to the authorities in the morning.

Yu Wanyin drank a bowl of ginger soup and, for the first time in two days, finally lay down in a warm bed, falling asleep almost immediately.

She hadn’t slept long when she felt someone shaking her.

The lights were out, the old couple had gone to their room, and the shadow guards were meditating against the wall beside her mat.

The shadow guard who woke her said, “Please forgive me, Lady. When we were tying up the thief in the woodshed, the noise attracted some villagers. The old man also returned some stolen goods to the neighbors. Now, five or six households know we are here.”

Strangers with exceptional skills catching a thief would surely be the talk of the village by morning.

They hadn’t stayed at an inn to keep a low profile. Now, their exposure risk had multiplied.

The shadow guard lowered his voice further, “Lady, should we kill them?”

Yu Wanyin, feverish and foggy-brained, was stunned for a moment.

The shadow guard continued, “We can kill these families while it’s still dark, framing the thief to erase our traces.”

Yu Wanyin instinctively said, “No.”

After a few seconds, she collected her thoughts, “We leave now, heading to Peiyang as quickly as possible.”

She tried to get up, but her body felt stiff and weak.

The shadow guard pressed her back down, “Please rest for a while longer, Lady.”

Yu Wanyin knew her condition; forcing herself to travel would only slow them down, “Two hours, wake me in two hours.”

But she didn’t sleep for two hours.

In the dead of night, the sound of hooves invaded her dreams, pulling her into an endless nightmare of slaughter. It felt like she was back at the foot of Beishan, watching the rebel army engulf Xiahou Dan. Swords and knives struck his body, stripping flesh to the bone, yet he seemed impervious to pain, his gaze calm and tender as he looked at her through the crowd.

He mouthed the word, “Run.”

Yu Wanyin jolted awake, dragging her consciousness back to reality.

The hoofbeats were real, coming from the ground. A few breaths later, all the village dogs started barking.

The shadow guards helped her up and grabbed their bundles, pointing to the door in the dim light.

A voice from the direction of the village entrance shouted, amplified by inner strength, “Any household with suspicious guests, report immediately, reward of ten taels of silver—”

After a few seconds, the voice repeated.

Yu Wanyin cursed silently.

By the third shout, Yu Wanyin had cracked open the courtyard gate, and the sound of multiple doors opening nearby followed by hurried footsteps heading towards the village entrance indicated everyone was eager for the reward.

She cursed again internally and said, “Escape through the back!”

Without hesitation, they ran towards the back of the house. As they passed the main house, the old couple’s window glowed with light.

The shadow guards didn’t stop, leaping over the back fence and reaching back to help Yu Wanyin over.

Hundreds of footsteps approached, and torchlight flickered at the front gate.

One shadow guard carried Yu Wanyin and ran.

The old couple’s house was on the village edge, with a forest not far behind. In the darkness, it was hard to tell how far the forest extended or in which direction.

Cold wind hit her face, and Yu Wanyin squinted, ready to direct the shadow guard to hide in the woods, when a dark figure caught her eye.

She focused on the figure, recognizing the small, monkey-like shape— the thief had escaped the woodshed.

The thief, pulling at the ropes on his body, froze at the sight of them, then dashed into the shadows of a neighbor’s house.

Yu Wanyin quickly decided, “Follow that thief!”

The shadow guards entered the narrow path, catching a glimpse of the thief’s disappearing silhouette. They sped up, turning sharply at the same spot.

Thief: “?”

The thief ran for his life.

The shadow guards pursued relentlessly.

The thief’s route was tricky, indicating familiarity with the village terrain, slipping through walls and dog holes, moving as slick as an eel. Despite their keen eyesight, the shadow guards almost lost him several times.

Suddenly, the thief stopped and glared at them, shaking his clothes to show he had no stolen goods, bewildered by their relentless chase.

Yu Wanyin: “We’re not after you, lead the way!”

Thief: “???”

The shouts from behind grew louder, and the thief instinctively turned and ran again, realizing his pursuers weren’t after him.

He almost went mad, rolling his eyes and changing direction again.

The commotion had awakened the whole village, lights flickering in every house as people peered out.

The shadow guard carrying Yu Wanyin suddenly whispered, “Where are you taking us?”

The thief’s zigzagging route had led them in a circle, right towards the pursuers!

Caught, the thief tried to slip away again.

A shadow guard lunged to grab him.

Behind them, torches and shouting approached, someone yelling, “I see them, over here—”

Shadow Guard: “Split up.”

Four shadow guards dispersed without hesitation, two staying with Yu Wanyin while the others took different routes, deliberately heading towards the visible pursuers.

The shadow guard caught the thief, crushed his wrist with a loud crack, and muffled his cries of pain. He whispered harshly, “If you try any tricks, you’ll be the first to die. Understand?”

The thief, trembling with fear, nodded in humiliation.

The two shadow guards who ran away drew the pursuers’ attention, and the sounds of pursuit gradually faded.

The thief led them further into the outskirts, eventually climbing into the yard of an abandoned house. Yu Wanyin hesitated but signaled to follow.

The yard was dark and overgrown with wild grass, indicating it had been uninhabited for some time. The thief quickly crawled into the waist-high weeds and disappeared.

The shadow guard put Yu Wanyin down and investigated, then whispered, “A burrow.”

The three of them quickly crawled into the burrow and covered the entrance with the wild grass.

The burrow was extremely small, its original purpose unknown, but it could have been dug by the thief for his own hiding. With the addition of three more people, it became cramped and difficult to move.

The thief was held at knifepoint by the shadow guard, squeezed into the corner, and didn’t dare make a sound.

After a while, voices approached.

A small team of pursuers searched the yard, turning things over. Yu Wanyin held her gun, holding her breath.

Above, voices exchanged, “They’re probably not here. The others are chasing into the woods.”

“Didn’t that village woman say there were several men? I think we’ve got the wrong people again. How many villages is this now?”

“Maybe they’re disguised.”

“Ha, those women sure know how to run. The higher-ups said dead or alive, if we catch them, why not let the brothers have a taste first…” The rest of the sentence was too faint to hear, followed by laughter.

Footsteps trampled just inches above them, then gradually moved away.

After a long time, ensuring the coast was clear, Yu Wanyin’s tense body slowly relaxed, but she was shaking with chills.

The fever had not subsided, and the exertion made her see stars. She slumped against the burrow wall.

She had held onto a last shred of hope that their pursuers were not Prince Duan’s men. But after hearing their conversation, the situation was crystal clear.

Prince Duan was now in control of the capital.

What about Xiahou Dan? Could he still be alive?

The shadow guard took off his cloak and draped it over her.

Yu Wanyin: “Thank you.” She shivered and tightened the cloak around her. “Those two brothers who separated from us earlier—”

“They’ll likely use the forest cover to exhaust some pursuers. They’ll commit suicide before being captured, leaving no clues behind.”

Of the twenty who set out to protect her, only two were left.

Yu Wanyin was silent for a moment, “It’s my fault.”

She spared the five villagers, but two shadow guards lost their lives.

The shadow guard was startled, trying to find words to comfort her. But Yu Wanyin suddenly asked, “What are your names?”

Since the day she arrived, she had avoided this question. According to the original story, these young men were all destined to die. She didn’t want to know their names, as if keeping them faceless would lessen her burden.

The shadow guard: “I am Twelve, he is Forty-seven. The ones who left were Sixty-five and…”

Yu Wanyin: “Your real names.”

“We have no real names. His M—” The shadow guard glanced at the thief, quickly changing his words, “Our master said our real names were inscribed on tombstones the day we received our numbers. All past debts are erased, never to be mentioned again.”

Yu Wanyin hugged her knees, burying her face.

In this vast world, there was someone who could see all her pain.

As she walked alone, she found every step followed in his footprints. That long, dark road he had traversed far ahead, so far that even his shadow was nowhere to be seen.

The burrow was silent, except for the thief’s labored breathing.

Yu Wanyin’s throat tightened, “Your real names.”

The shadow guard hesitated, seemingly smiling, “I am Twelve.”

Beside him, Forty-seven was interrogating the thief, trying to find out the escape route, but got no answer. He slashed the thief with a knife, causing him to cry out in pain.

Forty-seven: “Turns out she’s mute.”

Yu Wanyin: “Search her. If she escaped the woodshed, she must have tools on her.”

After some rustling, Forty-seven found a blade and a new piece of information, “…It’s a mute woman.”

Lin Xuanying led his troops towards the capital, encountering some resistance on the first day, which they crushed effortlessly.

From the second day, opposition dwindled to negligible levels. Some prefectures even surrendered without a fight, opening their gates to hasten their departure.

Soon, they learned the reason. The capital was in chaos, the emperor “suddenly gravely ill,” and now Prince Duan was regent.

Prince Duan claimed that the demon queen Yu Wanyin had attempted to assassinate the emperor and was wanted everywhere.

Meanwhile, a new secret message reached Lin Xuanying.

After reading it quickly, he tore it up, “Prince Duan is urging us again, wanting us to watch for and help catch someone along the way.”

His subordinate frowned, “Strange, if Prince Duan has already won, why the rush?”

Could he be facing some unknown trouble?

Lin Xuanying spurred his horse forward, squinting, “Do you hope for his victory or defeat?”

The young subordinate was stunned, “We only serve the lieutenant general. Whoever you want dead, we will kill.”

Lin Xuanying chuckled, “Is everyone ready?”

The subordinate swallowed, “Ready.”

Lin Xuanying spurred his horse, “Then let’s go.”

By dawn, the village was quiet again, with no sign of the pursuers.

Twelve climbed out to scout and returned, “The pursuers are gone, but some villagers are still lurking around, probably hoping to catch us for the reward.”

Yu Wanyin cleared her throat, “Hey, girl.”

In the dim light, she could see the mute thief girl looking at her.

Yu Wanyin: “Peiyang isn’t far from here. Have you been there?”

Seeing the girl’s nomadic lifestyle, she likely roamed and stole for a living, and Yu Wanyin made a plan.

The mute girl didn’t move until Forty-seven raised his knife, then she cautiously nodded.

Yu Wanyin tried to sound kind, “We need to get there, using hidden routes. If you guide us, there will be a generous reward. You won’t need to steal again. How about it?”

The mute girl remained silent.

Forty-seven: “Or do you want to die here?”

Yu Wanyin quickly intervened, “Put the knife down and talk nicely.”

After much back and forth, they suddenly heard a stomach growl.

The mute girl: “…”

She slowly extended her hand, mimicking a begging gesture.

Yu Wanyin smiled kindly, “Do we have any rations left? Give her something to eat.”

A moment later, the mute girl silently led them out of the village, heading south.

The mute girl chose routes that avoided populated areas, but a small town still blocked their way. Worried about encountering last night’s pursuers, Yu Wanyin disguised herself and the shadow guards as an elderly woman.

The town’s setup was more daunting than she imagined.

Wanted posters plastered the streets, her likeness fluttering in the wind, labeled with terms like “fox demon reincarnate” and “nation’s scourge.”

Several patrols marched around, their leader shouting, “Report any suspicious men or women, big rewards!”

The mute girl led them through twists and turns, avoiding the patrols. After hearing the shouts several times, she glanced thoughtfully at Yu Wanyin.

Twelve, following behind, whispered, “Be wary of her, Lady.”

“Yes, she might betray us for the reward.”

After three days of walking, Yu Wanyin’s feet were blistered. She felt waves of cold, knowing she was at her limit but biting her lip to avoid showing it. Her steps inevitably slowed.

She watched ahead, “Keep an eye on her. If necessary, kill her.”

Perhaps sensing the danger, the mute girl behaved, dutifully leading the way.

As they were about to leave the town, the mute girl suddenly vanished. The shadow guards were alarmed and about to chase her when she returned, sitting on a donkey cart.

Yu Wanyin: “…You stole this? For us?”

The mute girl rolled her eyes and gestured for them to get on quickly and escape.

With a shadow guard watching the mute girl, Yu Wanyin finally lay down in the cart, catching her breath.

Her body was exhausted, but her mind was racing.

Prince Duan’s exaggerated efforts to catch her seemed suspicious.

Logically, as a woman with no army and not carrying a royal heir, she posed no immediate threat. Prince Duan, having just seized power, should focus on stabilizing the capital. Why divert so many troops to hunt her down?

Unless…

A glimmer of hope reignited.

What if he wasn’t just searching for her?

The patrols called for “suspicious men or women,” why emphasize men? Was it to prevent disguises or because they were originally after both genders?

Could Xiahou Dan have escaped?

This is less her speculation and more her prayer.

If she could stand in front of him again… what would be the first thing she would say?

As she pondered this question, a bitter tranquility like night snow slowly fell over her, covering her completely. On this perilous journey, she miraculously fell asleep for a moment.

When they reached terrain where the donkey cart could not pass, the group disembarked and continued on foot.

Yu Wanyin sincerely thanked the mute girl and had the shadow guard treat her wrist injury. To show goodwill, she even took out some silver fragments as an advance payment.

The mute girl, holding the silver, gave her first smile since they had met.

In return, the mute girl snuck out again at night and stole an ox cart from a farmer’s house along the way.

Yu Wanyin: “…”

After several changes of transportation, they finally arrived outside Peiyang city at dusk the next day without any major incidents.

As expected, there were guards at the city gate, checking the wanted posters and carefully inspecting the people entering the city. These guards were particularly stern, standing straight and looking fierce, like living Yama kings.

Twelve’s eyelids twitched, “Those men are wearing the border army’s armor.”

Peiyang city was not just occupied; it was completely controlled by the border army!

But why would the border army, occupying Peiyang, still open the city gates and allow people to enter and leave? Did they hope to catch the wanted empress this way?

While he was pondering this, Yu Wanyin joined the queue of people entering the city.

Twelve: “…”

He whispered urgently, “Lady, if we enter the city and get trapped, we will have no way to escape.”

Yu Wanyin: “Don’t worry.”

She took an item from her sleeve.

This was the small object in Xiahou Dan’s envelope, which she had kept hidden all this time, and now she placed it in her hair.

Twelve: “What is that?”

“A token.”

Yu Wanyin walked forward, instructing, “Don’t make any sudden moves.”

The soldiers at the gate scrutinized Yu Wanyin from head to toe, then waved her through.

Yu Wanyin, hunched over, supported by Twelve, had just taken a few steps when she heard one of the soldiers call out, “Stop.”

Twelve and Forty-seven instinctively prepared to draw their weapons, but Yu Wanyin said firmly, “Do not move.”

She turned slowly, meeting the soldier’s probing gaze with calm resolve.

The soldier paused, “Please follow me.”

The others were left behind as the soldier led Yu Wanyin alone to the county magistrate’s residence.

The original magistrate had gone into hiding, and this luxurious residence was now occupied by the border army, guarded tightly.

The study was brightly lit.

Lin Xuanying sat slouched in a grand chair, reading military reports, when he heard a report from outside, “Deputy General, the person has been found.”

He glanced at Yu Wanyin indifferently, “Bring them in and leave us.”

The door closed.

Lin Xuanying tossed aside the report and approached Yu Wanyin, staring intently at her disguised face.

Yu Wanyin smiled, removed the trembling object from her hair, and handed it to him.

It was a silver hairpin, carved into the shape of a bird in flight, with two long lark feathers hanging from the end instead of tassels.

Lin Xuanying’s eyes instantly reddened.

Yu Wanyin: “…Ah Bai, how have you been?”

The person in front of her subtly differed from the “Ah Bai” in her memory. Although the face was the same, it seemed as though he had shed his youthful disguise, revealing a more mature appearance.

His eyes were still the same, glowing brightly in the dark, like tempered glass. But with his current attire, those clear eyes took on an inexplicable sharpness.

Yu Wanyin was momentarily unsure of how to speak to him.

Xiahou Dan had mentioned in his letter that there were reinforcements in Peiyang, but perhaps fearing the letter would be intercepted, he had not directly stated Ah Bai’s identity. When she received the hairpin, she suspected Ah Bai was mixed in with the army, but she hadn’t expected him to become the leader.

What happened to the carefree young swordsman? Could that wild, unrestrained spirit still be an act?

Did Xiahou Dan fully understand his background? Could she trust him completely? Even if he was a friend and not a foe, what about the soldiers in the city?

Before she could think further, Lin Xuanying grasped her shoulders, “You’re alive, that’s what matters…”

Yu Wanyin had never been in such a sorry state since she transmigrated. She smelled of sweat and grime, but Lin Xuanying seemed oblivious, speaking with the same familiar tone as Ah Bai.

Yu Wanyin stared at him blankly, memories of the cold palace’s courtyard fireflies and watermelons flooding her mind. Countless questions stuck in her throat, unable to come out.

Lin Xuanying didn’t give her a chance, feeling her pulse with a frown, “You’re sick?”

“It’s nothing.”

“No, you’ll get worse if untreated.” Lin Xuanying turned and called for assistance.

There were no maidservants in the army, so a few soldiers were sent to boil water and prepare medicine. They led Yu Wanyin to a guest room with a bath, then bowed and left without looking at her directly.

This was clearly a disciplined unit.

After all, whoever the visitor was, if they wanted her dead, they wouldn’t need to go to such lengths.

Yu Wanyin didn’t hesitate, locking the door and soaking in the medicinal bath, washing away the dirt and blood.

A set of clean men’s clothes was placed by the tub. She put them on and was about to inspect the surroundings when there was a knock on the door.

Lin Xuanying stood outside, holding a bowl of medicine, “Go sit in bed.”

He sat on the bed, scooping a spoonful of medicine, “Drink it yourself or should I feed you?”

Yu Wanyin thought for a moment, then took the bowl and drank it in one gulp, “Thank you, General Lin.”

Lin Xuanying paused, then smiled wryly, “I thought you wouldn’t sleep until you understood the situation. Ask away, I’ll answer.”

Yu Wanyin: “…”

Since he was so straightforward, Yu Wanyin got straight to the point, “Are you General Lin or Ah Bai?”

As she soaked in the bath, a new possibility occurred to her: the real Lin Xuanying had been replaced, and Ah Bai was impersonating him. This would explain his sudden change of identity.

But he replied, “I am Lin Xuanying.”

Seeing Yu Wanyin’s puzzled expression, he grinned, showing his white teeth, “Xuanying means ‘dark jade,’ and Ah Bai is a nickname given by my master. Considering my complexion, who do you think was more mean-spirited, my parents or my master?”

Yu Wanyin was even more confused, “So you really are from the martial world? But how did you become a deputy general so quickly?”

Lin Xuanying coughed, his gaze shifting, “Well…”

In those two seconds, Yu Wanyin figured it out herself, “Oh, because you didn’t just recently finish your training.”

At that moment, Yu Wanyin remembered many things.

The first time Ah Bai appeared before her was when General You returned to the capital to report.

Ah Bai had detailed knowledge of Yan and Qiang countries.

Ah Bai had once told her, “I know a lot of things. I’ve even killed…” but was interrupted by Xiahou Dan.

Ah Bai had suggested placing Wang Zhao in the right army, offering to escort him to Yan. But Xiahou Dan refused, keeping him in his position. Despite this, Wang Zhao eventually took the southwest route.

Ah Bai had acted his part with them and then disappeared with General You when he left the capital, claiming to have another task from the emperor—something she had wondered why Xiahou Dan trusted him so much.

She had an epiphany, “Our first meeting wasn’t actually your first meeting with the emperor, was it? How long have you known each other?”

Lin Xuanying scratched his head, “That involves some secrets.”

“If you mean the emperor’s past, he left me a letter explaining everything.”

Lin Xuanying’s eyes widened in surprise, “He actually told you? He went to great lengths to hide it from you, afraid you’d run away.”

Mentioning Xiahou Dan, both of their expressions grew heavy.

Lin Xuanying squinted, reminiscing, “Five years ago—actually, it’s six years now—my master, Wuming Ke, cast a heavenly divination and foresaw the arrival of a child from another world who would change the fate of the country. He intended to personally come out of seclusion to assist, but the divination drained his vitality, forcing him to rest in seclusion. Thus, he sent me out to find the emperor.

“The emperor said he had already cultivated a group of shadow guards loyal to him within the palace, so my protection was redundant. But he urgently needed control over military power, without which he couldn’t overthrow his enemies in the court regardless of his maneuvering.”

Lin Xuanying thus infiltrated the Right Army.

They chose the Right Army because it had the least connection with Prince Duan, and its leader, General You, was an incompetent figurehead, incapable of managing the troops. This allowed them to carry out their plans without alerting Prince Duan.

Truly commanding tens of thousands of soldiers required more than a military token; it also required strength and prestige.

This couldn’t be rushed and took years of careful planning.

Fortunately, Lin Xuanying was already highly skilled. Through numerous battles, he gradually made a name for himself and earned the soldiers’ respect. He and Xiahou Dan, one in the light and one in the dark, used all kinds of strategies to sideline General You, making Lin Xuanying the de facto leader of the Right Army.

“By last year, we were almost ready to cleanse the Right Army and then launch an attack. Although we still weren’t certain of victory, we planned to take the enemy by surprise. Even if we died, we could at least take the Empress Dowager and Prince Duan with us—that’s what the emperor said. But just then,” Lin Xuanying smiled, “you appeared.”

Lin Xuanying had first heard about Yu Wanyin before he set out. Wuming Ke had predicted Xiahou Dan’s arrival and also foresaw another person from another world intertwined with his fate. It was unclear if their relationship was a blessing or a curse.

Later, he asked Xiahou Dan about it. Xiahou Dan seemed to remember suddenly, offhandedly saying, “There is such a person.”

Lin Xuanying: “…How could you be so nonchalant about something so significant?”

The young emperor had lowered his head, mumbling, “Perhaps they won’t come after all.”

They never mentioned it again for years.

Just when Lin Xuanying himself almost forgot, a new name appeared in Xiahou Dan’s secret letters.

Despite both being souls from another world, this mysterious Consort Yu was entirely different from Xiahou Dan.

Their original plan was a desperate, all-out attack. But she arrived with grand schemes, intricate plans, and a meticulous desire to minimize sacrifices. To her, every commoner’s life was precious.

Lin Xuanying was very resistant.

He had seen many such idealistic do-gooders. On the battlefield, a general’s success was built on countless bones. If everyone were so hesitant, they’d have died a hundred times over. Moreover, the situation was constantly changing, and dragging it out could destroy their last chance of success.

But Xiahou Dan fully embraced her idealistic dreams, abandoning their existing plans and ordering Lin Xuanying to lie low.

There were days when Lin Xuanying seriously considered quitting.

Then he returned to the capital and finally met Yu Wanyin in person.

He understood her, but also underestimated her.

She had disguised herself as a commoner, shedding her bewitching appearance, standing beside the perpetually shrouded Xiahou Dan, so light, so beautiful. She looked like a small lark caught in a storm.

She clearly didn’t belong in that deep palace and should have been free, a carefree wanderer.

When Lin Xuanying tried to persuade Xiahou Dan to let her go, he expected anger or refusal.

Instead, Xiahou Dan’s response was beyond his comprehension: “She has her ambitions.”

What happened next shattered his expectations.

Yu Wanyin’s seemingly fanciful plan succeeded step by step.

In the capital, there were power struggles and coups, but outside the capital, peace reigned. According to the tales from the borderlands, the emperor had suddenly gained divine favor, effortlessly resolving conflicts and disasters.

Who could have guessed that this divine intervention was named Yu?

Hearing this, Yu Wanyin finally had a huge question answered.

Yu Wanyin: “Before negotiating with Tur, the emperor said he would lend him troops to remove King Yan. I never understood where he got the soldiers! He said it was Ah Bai, and I naively asked him how Ah Bai alone could manage.”

Lin Xuanying couldn’t help but laugh, “Indeed, that wouldn’t have worked. I lent a group of elite soldiers to Tur. To avoid drawing attention, the number wasn’t large. Fortunately, Tur was capable and managed to rally his own forces upon returning to Yan.”

He looked at her with mixed emotions, his voice tinged with an unknown sorrow, “I misjudged you, but the emperor did not. He said you were naturally this way because, in your world, every life mattered.”

Yu Wanyin was silent for a long time.

When she first read that letter, she had thought that Xiahou Dan had likely given up during those long, dark years. That’s why she encountered such a broken world and a ruler who was almost a tyrant.

But it wasn’t so.

If he hadn’t painstakingly cultivated Lin Xuanying as a powerful ally, she would have been constantly restrained and struggled to realize her initial plans, even with the knowledge of the original story.

She could hardly imagine how a poisoned young boy had survived. He probably didn’t want to know whether the survivor was a man or a ghost. Perhaps every conversation about the past, identity, and the characters from the book after her arrival was excruciating for him.

Yet, almost at their first meeting, he had placed everything in her hands.

When Yu Wanyin spoke, her voice trembled slightly, “Is there any news of him?”

Lin Xuanying shook his head, “We agreed that if he survived, we would meet in Peiyang. I hurried here and took over the place to wait for you, but only you arrived. Prince Duan claims the emperor is gravely ill and recovering in the palace, but the truth is unknown. The capital is impenetrable now, and my spies are still trying to find a way in.”

He stood up and patted Yu Wanyin’s shoulder, “Get some rest. I’ll take care of the people you brought. Tomorrow morning, I’ll show you something good.”

Yu Wanyin: “…What?”

But Lin Xuanying had already left, closing the door behind him.

Whether intentionally or not, Lin Xuanying left her with a bit of suspense. It kept Yu Wanyin from sinking into despair, and as she drifted off to sleep, she held onto a sliver of hope for whatever he promised to show her.

Before dawn, she woke up suddenly, momentarily thinking she was still on the run, and sat up, staring at the opulent paintings in the guest room.

Two guards stood outside. After she dressed and washed, they knocked and brought in breakfast.

Yu Wanyin ate mechanically, “Can you inform General Lin that I’m ready?”

“I’m here.” Lin Xuanying plopped down opposite her.

Yu Wanyin: “What is it you want to show me?”

Lin Xuanying, enjoying her curiosity, shook his head, “No rush, finish your porridge first. You can’t afford to fall ill now…”

Yu Wanyin picked up the porridge bowl and downed it in one gulp.

Lin Xuanying: “…”

Lin Xuanying led her to the study in the magistrate’s residence, stopping to let her enter first.

As Yu Wanyin stepped in, several scrutinizing gazes immediately focused on her.

Four or five burly soldiers, each over eight feet tall and seemingly capable of punching through walls, stood inside.

Yu Wanyin: “…”

Lin Xuanying followed her in, closed the door, then suddenly knelt on one knee, “Forgive my late arrival to escort you, Your Majesty.”

The giants hesitated for half a second before also kneeling, chorusing, “Please forgive us, Your Majesty!”

Yu Wanyin: “.”

Understanding that Lin Xuanying was establishing her authority, Yu Wanyin calmly accepted their salute, then spoke unhurriedly, “Rise, all of you. There is no fault in saving your ruler from afar.”

Lin Xuanying stood, still solemn, “Your Majesty, I delayed our departure because, by the emperor’s order, I had a batch of weapons secretly manufactured.”

Yu Wanyin’s heart skipped a beat.

Lin Xuanying signaled two soldiers to bring over a heavy wooden chest, which they opened for her inspection.

It was filled with guns.

A whole chest of guns.

Yu Wanyin quickly assessed their lethality in her mind, “This batch… what is it called?”

“Jiutian Xuanhuo Repeating Crossbow,” Lin Xuanying reminded with a celebratory tone.

“How many of these Jiutian Xuanhuo Repeating Crossbows do we have?”

The giants carrying the chest answered, “Your Majesty, we have a thousand of these, along with dozens of boxes of ammunition.”

Yu Wanyin was stunned.

Lin Xuanying continued, “The designs were sent by the emperor. To avoid interception, they were divided into countless components and delivered in over ten shipments. We then had the best craftsmen, after many failures, create the first crossbow. These repeating cross

“……”

Lin Xuanying: “The emperor left this secret edict to force us to consider the bigger picture and act quickly.” His tone was calm, “In fact, our vanguard has already set out to intercept the rebels outside the capital.”

Yu Wanyin’s chest heaved, still staring intently at Lin Xuanying.

She had never truly understood him. Until yesterday, she didn’t even know his real name. Now, this man held a powerful army, a large arsenal of deadly weapons, and even a decree from the emperor. If he wished, all the power in the world could be his.

—If he wished.

Lin Xuanying seemed to guess her thoughts from her gaze, his expression darkening, “Whether you believe it or not, I have no interest in any of this. I am here because my master ordered me to assist the emperor, and the emperor commanded me to obey you.”

He spoke each word deliberately, “Don’t you understand? He wants to remove all obstacles for you, to ensure you ascend to the highest position, living a long and carefree life. What he couldn’t achieve, he believes you can. Once everything is settled, whether you choose to elevate the crown prince with both civil and military prowess or to leave and roam the world freely, it’s entirely up to you.”

……

Yu Wanyin: “Was that last part his words or yours?”

Lin Xuanying: “……”

Lin Xuanying: “It was mine.”

The magistrate’s residence fell silent.

In the absence of voices, a faint tremor could be felt underfoot. The main force in the city was mobilizing.

As Yu Wanyin and Lin Xuanying faced off, a soldier nearby couldn’t wait any longer and stepped forward to whisper, “General, should we distribute these repeating crossbows to the army and prepare for battle?”

Lin Xuanying stood in the shadow of the bookcase, not answering, raising an eyebrow at Yu Wanyin.

Thus, everyone in the room turned to Yu Wanyin.

An invisible tide surged, pushing her to a high place. She opened her mouth, realizing that the lives of tens of thousands hung on her next words. This was no drill, and there was no room for failure.