Chapter 65

It wasn’t until Nan Yi revealed the bruise around her neck and the wounds on her wrists that the crowd showed expressions of sympathy.

“How do I know? Of course, I risked my life to find out! See this? I almost died at the hands of the Qimen soldiers!” Nan Yi cursed fiercely, her tone full of conviction. “I came to warn you! If you keep hesitating, there won’t be time to escape.”

Ying Huai didn’t speak. The situation had come too suddenly, and he wasn’t sure whether to trust this woman. His gaze remained suspicious as he spoke slowly, “This matter... we can’t just take the lady’s word for it. We’ll need to investigate further.”

“Investigate? By the time you figure it out, the Qimen will have already wiped out your stronghold,” Nan Yi said, growing more anxious. “Do you think I’m a woman, so my words are not credible? During the New Year, Lady Gantang arranged the provisions for you, and it was I who organized them! And on that day, someone nearly followed us here, but I shot an arrow to warn you!”

Ying Huai froze. She was telling the truth. Lady Gantang had mentioned that the provisions were arranged under the guise of a spring banquet hosted by the Xie family, and indeed, an arrow had been shot into the camp that day. When they investigated, they captured a group of suspicious spies.

But the soldier’s caution made Ying Huai tense up.

“The Qimen spies might know these things too—how can you prove you’re from the Xie family?”

Nan Yi shot Ying Huai an amused glance. “If you don’t believe me, then go ahead and kill me. Anyway, you’ll all have to bury me with you.”

She stood straight in front of Ying Huai, neither humble nor servile.

Her mentality had changed drastically during that long night of suffering. She had already died once, and any extra time she had was something she had earned, a “profit” she had won from fate. Since she had preserved her life, whether the profit was large or small, it was hers to keep. Suddenly, she wasn’t afraid of death anymore. Her attitude toward the world had become arrogant and fearless—whatever happens, happens.

After a long pause, the mountain breeze made the military flags flutter. More and more soldiers gathered around.

Ying Huai was overwhelmed by the certainty in this woman’s eyes. She was so confident that her presence seemed to suppress him. That gaze reminded him of the night they left Yucheng, when Lady Gantang had stood before the army in a similar manner.

Women could shake mountains too.

Ying Huai understood that he couldn’t afford to gamble. The risk of moving the camp and the risk of exposure were both significant, and the balance was clear once he thought about it.

“Pack up the camp.”

There was no turning back. Ying Huai gave the order firmly.

Nan Yi felt a sense of relief wash over her, and her body relaxed.

“Do you have any food?” She patted her stomach.

Ying Huai looked at her and, for the first time, saw some real emotion on her face. She had a somewhat cunning yet sincere look. It was a contradiction in her temperament.

“Get her some dry rations,” Ying Huai instructed a nearby soldier.

“And hot soup,” Nan Yi added.

Ying Huai was speechless. She certainly wasn’t being shy about it.

While waiting for the Yucheng army to pack up, Nan Yi crouched in a small corner and began munching on the flatbread.

She was really starving.

The Yucheng army, well-trained, finished packing in less than two incense sticks’ worth of time. The spies keeping watch were silently dealt with as well.

Nan Yi was still drinking the hot soup with satisfaction when she put down the bowl and looked up, only to see a sea of men standing in front of her.

Seeing her eating without any distractions, Ying Huai couldn’t help but lower his guard slightly.

“Madam, will you come with us?” After a moment of hesitation, Ying Huai asked.

“Of course,” Nan Yi wiped her mouth. “I came to warn you, and now I’m being hunted by the Qimen. You have to protect me.”

Nan Yi had already made up her mind. For now, she would stay with the Yucheng army to avoid danger. Once things calmed down in Lidu, and Xie Que Shan thought she was dead, she would make her next move.

“We plan to head north. The terrain is complicated, making it easier to hide.”

“Then let’s hurry up. It’ll be harder to walk once the sun sets,” Nan Yi said, standing up and joining the group.

Ying Huai was momentarily speechless. He had planned to suggest sending her back to Lidu, considering the mountain roads would be hard to traverse, but she didn’t seem the least bit concerned. Instead, she looked eager to get going. This didn’t seem like the behavior of a lady from a noble family—had they been deceived?

In that brief pause, Nan Yi realized she had perhaps been too unconcerned with her image. She quickly cleared her throat and said, “Sir, please lead the way.”

At this moment, Nan Yi had nowhere else to go. Following the Yucheng army was the safest option. With a group of men around, even if danger arose, she wouldn’t be the first to face it. However, she still felt a little uneasy—what if Xie Que Shan hadn’t betrayed the Yucheng army? In that case, wouldn’t she have passed along false information? Would the Yucheng army tear her apart?

After walking for a while along the mountain path, a scout arrived with news that four routes of Qimen soldiers were advancing, surrounding them in an encircling attack.

Nan Yi wasn’t sure whether to feel happy or to cry. The good news was that her intelligence had been accurate, but the bad news was... it had come too quickly. Xie Que Shan really didn’t disappoint her.

Would they really face them head-on?

“Prepare for battle,” Ying Huai frowned. His words were always few, but they were direct and commanding.

“Wait!” Nan Yi suddenly had an idea and hurriedly pushed through the crowd to stand in front of Ying Huai.

“I just remembered a place where we can hide temporarily. Don’t rush to fight—let’s retreat and see if we can escape.”

Ying Huai instinctively frowned. —What nonsense! Soldiers didn’t hide; they fought, simple as that.

Nan Yi didn’t bother to explain. She walked straight ahead, “If you want to die for no reason, I won’t stop you. But I don’t want to die, so I’m going.”

Ying Huai: “...”

How arrogant was this woman? She was acting as if she were the leader of the army!

But after a moment of calm thinking, he realized that a direct confrontation would result in heavy casualties. They had traveled so far from Yucheng to get here; if they led their brothers to die for nothing, it would be foolish. And with no better options at hand, they could either face the Qimen army directly or trust this woman.

“Follow her.”

Ying Huai gritted his teeth. If this woman was lying, he would make sure she paid for it.

Nan Yi led the Yucheng army through the mountains, twisting and turning, eventually bringing them to a hidden cave leading to an underground river.

It was the same place where she had first met Pang Yu.

At this moment, Nan Yi felt a little disoriented. The scene of Pang Yu’s death was still vivid in her mind. Although it had only been about a month, it felt like a lifetime had passed.

Fate seemed like a finely crafted circle, with the beginning and end linking together. She had no doubt that she was trapped in fate’s game, but at this moment, she felt at peace.

What nonsense fate. If it’s going to kill me, then so be it.

Nan Yi strode into the cave. After passing through a narrow passage, they arrived at the underground river, spacious enough to hold hundreds of people.

Ying Huai sent a few men outside to set up traps and obstacles, ordering everyone to rest in place. Meanwhile, he anxiously eyed Nan Yi, who was sitting on the ground. How was she so familiar with the terrain in the mountains?

Was that reasonable?

If there was an ambush here, they were walking right into a trap. But it was too late for regrets now. He could only choose to trust this woman.

Nan Yi sat in a corner, propping up her chin and thinking. Hiding here wasn’t a long-term solution… She remembered that General Husa had once searched the mountains day and night for King Ling’an, so he must be very familiar with the terrain. It would only be a matter of time before they found this place.

I wonder... has Song Muchuan received the token I sent?

________________________________________

Wanyan Jun thought his surprise attack was flawless and was in a good mood, waiting for the news of victory in the ship’s office. But to his surprise, the people he sent out returned with nothing.

The previous night, the Yucheng army had stayed in place. The time for the attack had been set for the afternoon, and only his trusted generals knew about it, with the river locked down. He had kept the information tightly sealed. It should have been an easy win—how could the Yucheng army have predicted the attack and fled before they arrived?

Unless someone interfered, transmitting information.

Who was so powerful?

Wanyan Jun realized things were getting tricky. Not only was there a leak in the information, but if his surprise tactic failed, it would alert the enemy, putting them in a stalemate.

He couldn’t send all his soldiers to pursue the Yucheng army in Tiger Kneel Mountain, or the defense of Lidu would be weakened. So, he gritted his teeth and ordered the search to continue, willing to pay any price to destroy the Yucheng army.

Although he didn’t show his wrath, Xu Kouyue could feel the pressure around him drop significantly.

She didn’t know what had happened, but it seemed that something had made Wanyan Jun angry, which was likely good news for her. It seemed that Xie Que Shan really hadn’t lied to her. Had something happened with Song Muchuan?

At that moment, Song Muchuan was standing with a man dressed as a hunter, examining a terrain map of Tiger Kneel Mountain. The hunter was a hidden agent from the Candle Holders, very familiar with the terrain of the mountain. He had previously helped King Ling’an hide in the mountains.

Song Muchuan was making plans to see if he could send some men to help the Yucheng army break through, using the terrain to their advantage.

At this time, a spy returned with news that the Yucheng army had already fled. Song Muchuan was shocked.

Recent events had turned out well, but the process had far exceeded his control. He still had no idea who was behind the scenes. Was this person an enemy or an ally?

The spy also reported, “By the way, sir, I’ve found out that the man who delivered your clothes is a boatman traveling between Tiger Kneel Mountain and Lidu. The clothes he brought were from the mountains.”

Song Muchuan’s gaze fell on the clothes left aside. He opened the cloak again and carefully examined it, feeling a strange sensation rising within him.

This clothing... seemed to be delivering some kind of message.

It was dirty, and the hem had scorch marks. Judging by the length, it was likely a woman’s robe. He looked at the patterns and colors repeatedly and finally recognized them.

It was the same robe Nan Yi had worn before she left. She wore it during the Spring Banquet and the Lantern Festival. It was beautiful, making her look radiant. Even he, someone who didn’t normally pay attention to women’s clothing, had unconsciously glanced at it a few times.

Yes, it was the same cloak.

His heart skipped a beat. She was sending him a hint. She hadn’t left; she was in Tiger Kneel Mountain? Why didn’t she return to the city to find him, but instead sent back a cloak?