Chapter 67

Nan Yi was sleeping soundly when someone shook her awake.

“Your friend is here,” a voice whispered in her ear.

Still groggy, Nan Yi brushed the person’s hand away. “I don’t have any friends.”

“It’s Mr. Song.”

“I don’t know him...” Nan Yi mumbled, her eyes still closed, her mind foggy as she spoke casually, then suddenly it clicked—Mr. Song?!

She immediately sat up, fully awake in an instant.

“Where is he?”

Her gaze collided with a person standing in front of her. He was crouching, dressed in a black hooded cloak, his appearance sharp and imposing. But the smile in his eyes, gentle as always, softened his fierce demeanor.

She didn’t need to look up to see him; he always placed himself in a position that made her feel at ease.

Having survived the ordeal, she felt an overwhelming sense of comfort. In an instant, Nan Yi felt her eyes well up with tears. She looked down at herself, realizing she was in tattered, disheveled clothes, and felt a bit self-conscious.

“Mr. Song,” she called softly.

Song Mu Chuan took off his outer robe and draped it over her shoulders, wrapping it securely around her. “Madam, I received your clothes. Thank you.”

Nan Yi felt a sense of reassurance wash over her.

“I’ve already informed Captain Ying about the situation outside. I have a plan to help the Yucheng Army escape unnoticed, once and for all. The situation is urgent; we’ll discuss the details once we’re safe. Please, follow me.”

Without hesitation, Nan Yi nodded in agreement.

In her heart, she felt that ever since Song Mu Chuan’s transformation, he had become exceedingly capable. He had infiltrated the Qi army, working for the Bingzhu Division. This man was undoubtedly filled with wisdom. With him around, she was certain that any problem could be solved.

Nan Yi and the Yucheng Army followed Song Mu Chuan along the dark mountain road. The group dared not light a single flame, moving cautiously in the darkness, careful not to make any noise.

Suddenly, a loud explosion rang out from behind them, and a burst of fire illuminated half of the mountainside. The ground trembled, and rocks began to tumble down the mountain.

Nan Yi was sleeping soundly when someone woke her up.

“Your friend has arrived.” A voice spoke near her ear.

Drowsily, Nan Yi pushed the hand away. “I don’t have any friends.”

“It’s Mr. Song.”

“Don’t know him...” Nan Yi was still half-asleep, her mind foggy, and she replied absentmindedly before suddenly realizing—Mr. Song?!

She instantly woke up and sat up abruptly.

“Where is he?”

Her gaze immediately landed on the person in front of her. He was crouching there, wearing a black hooded cloak that covered him entirely. His grim appearance made his face look sharp, but the gentle smile in his eyes remained the same as always.

She didn’t need to look up at him; he always placed himself in a position that made her feel comfortable.

Surviving the ordeal, she felt an overwhelming sense of relief. In an instant, Nan Yi’s eyes turned red, and looking down at her ragged clothes, she suddenly felt awkward.

“Mr. Song.” She called softly.

Song Muchen took off his outer robe and draped it over Nan Yi, making sure she was covered. “Madam, I received your clothes. Thank you very much.”

Nan Yi immediately felt reassured.

“I’ve already spoken with Commander Ying. I have a plan to help the Yucheng army pass through this danger and ensure their safety for good. It’s urgent, and we’ll explain everything in detail once we’re safe. Follow me.”

Nan Yi nodded without hesitation.

In her heart, she felt that ever since Song Muchen had undergone his transformation, he had become extremely capable. He was now hidden among the Qiren, working for the Bingzhu Si. This man was undoubtedly full of wisdom. With him around, everything would be resolved.

Nan Yi and the Yucheng army followed Song Muchen through the mountain road under the cover of night. They dared not light a single flame, moving cautiously in the dark without making a sound.

Suddenly, a violent explosion was heard from behind, and the firelight illuminated half of the mountainside for an instant. The earth trembled, and rocks began to tumble down.

________________________________________

Gusha had been waiting for good news from the mountain but was instead met with the light of an explosion. He was stunned—he hadn’t ordered any explosives to be brought.

Could it have been a fierce battle with Wanyan Jun’s forces? Could a group of deserters have such combat power?

Anxiously, though he should have been reflecting at home and avoiding involvement in military matters, Gusha couldn’t hold himself back. He rushed to the ferry to investigate what had happened.

When he arrived at the ferry, he saw Wanyan Jun already returning with his troops.

Wanyan Jun had a triumphant look on his face, clearly pleased with himself, which left Gusha bewildered.

Where were his men?

Wanyan Jun got off the boat and, feigning surprise, said, “General Gusha, why are you here so late? Oh—I know, you must be here to celebrate our victory in eliminating the Yucheng army, right?”

“You’ve eliminated the Yucheng army?” Gusha asked in disbelief.

Wanyan Jun smugly replied, “We found their hiding place in a secret tunnel in the mountains. To end things quickly, we threw explosives into the tunnel, wiping them out without losing a single soldier. The Yucheng army is completely destroyed.”

Gusha was stunned.

All of them were blown up? If his men had entered earlier, would they have...?

Suddenly, he realized—damn it, Wanyan Jun had been playing the mantis stalking the cicada, with the yellow bird waiting behind.

He had worked so hard to find the Yucheng army and sent men to eliminate them, but Wanyan Jun’s explosives had buried both his men and the Yucheng army in that tunnel.

That bastard! I’ll kill you!

Gusha was about to explode with rage!

—The soldiers he had sent tonight were his most trusted subordinates! Now they were all dead, with no bodies left to bury!

Gusha glared at Wanyan Jun’s smiling face, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, and the fury in his chest was almost about to erupt.

Wanyan Jun, seeing Gusha’s expression, looked puzzled. “What’s wrong? The Yucheng army has been destroyed, and you’re not happy?”

One of Gusha’s trusted soldiers quickly stepped forward to restrain him, making an excuse. “The general is, of course, happy for Lord Wanyan, but he suspects there’s something suspicious about this matter…”

Wanyan Jun replied, “The landslide was severe, and all we found were pieces of armor and mangled limbs, but it’s enough to confirm it was the Yucheng army.”

In his furious state, Gusha still retained a trace of reason. He realized that since everything was buried under the mountain, there would be no evidence to refute the claim.

He had no way to argue this—because his operation had never been reported and lacked legitimacy! If anyone were to pursue it, he would be punished, and he might even be reassigned back to the great Qi state.

If he killed Wanyan Jun out of anger, it would only stir up more trouble in Lidu Mansion. If King Ling’an escaped in the process, he would become a traitor to the great Qi.

Suppress it, suppress it.

Despite this, after parting ways with Wanyan Jun’s group, once he was sure no one was around, Gusha could no longer hold back. He vented his anger wildly, slashing at a roadside statue of the Earth God, splitting the incense burner in two.

A gust of wind blew past, carrying the incense ash from the ground, and it blew straight into Gusha’s face.

________________________________________

Wanyan Jun returned to his mansion just before dawn. Xu Kouyue had waited the entire night and, upon hearing footsteps outside, quickly lay back down, pretending to be asleep.

After a rustling sound of clothes, the man, still carrying the cold air from outside, lay down behind her without any malicious intent. Xu Kouyue instinctively sensed that Wanyan Jun’s mission had gone smoothly, but this was not good news for her. She wanted to know the outcome, so she pretended to wake up, opening her sleepy eyes.

“My lord... you’re back.”

The lie made her heart race, but thankfully, the dim light in the room made her expression harder to notice.

Wanyan Jun was indeed pleased. He gently stroked Xu Kouyue’s face. “Tonight, we destroyed the Yucheng army and had a great victory.”

Xu Kouyue’s face revealed a trace of panic. For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. She couldn’t bring herself to say congratulations.

Wanyan Jun smiled, clearly in a good mood, and didn’t seem ready to argue with Xu Kouyue. “Don’t worry. The Yucheng army is completely wiped out in the mountains, not a single survivor. It won’t implicate your aunt.”

Xu Kouyue forced a smile, following Wanyan Jun’s lead. “Thank you, my lord…”

Wanyan Jun pulled Xu Kouyue into his arms and lay down. “I’m exhausted, going to sleep.”

Before long, Wanyan Jun fell asleep holding Xu Kouyue, but she remained restless, her mind in turmoil. It seemed like there was something off about the situation.

Had Xie Que Shan truly betrayed the Yucheng army...?

But the fact that over a hundred soldiers had vanished without a trace was very strange. A bold and unfounded thought crossed her mind—could the Yucheng army have already escaped, like a cicada shedding its shell?

She was more inclined to believe that the army was still hiding in some corner of Huguishan.

She had a strange intuition that Xie Que Shan wouldn’t harm his own people so mercilessly. The secret letter she had helped deliver to Xie Que Shan must have played some role.

With that thought, Xu Kouyue fell into a restless sleep.

________________________________________

The Yucheng army had retreated to the Taoist temple where they had originally been stationed to rest. The place had already been searched by the Qiren soldiers, and they wouldn’t think to return soon for another attack.

The plan had worked perfectly in coordination, and timing was crucial. Not only did they have to outwit the enemy, but they also had to manage human hearts—any misstep could lead to suspicion. Ying Huai couldn’t help but admire the scholar who had arrived late at night. With a light touch, he had defused a potential disaster.

Song Muchen couldn’t stay there for long. The next day, he had to go to the Shipyard Division for some adjustments before returning to the city.

He had initially planned to take Nan Yi back with him, but he saw her hesitating.

“I want to stay here.” She said something that surprised everyone.

Ying Huai widened his eyes. “Aren’t you the young madam of the Xie family?”

“I’m not. I lied to you,” Nan Yi replied stubbornly. “But you’ve done me a favor by helping me escape danger. What’s wrong with letting me stay with you? I just need three meals a day, and I’m still capable. I can do some menial work and won’t be a burden.”

“This is a military camp.” Ying Huai stood there, speechless for a while, struggling to find the right words. Finally, he managed, “But this is a military camp…”

“I know it’s a military camp,” Nan Yi said. “I want to stay and learn some martial arts from you. Once I have some skills, I’ll leave.”

Song Muchen listened quietly for a while, then turned to Ying Huai. “Commander Ying, may I speak with the madam for a moment?”

Ying Huai, relieved, practically rushed out of the room, his tone almost expressing gratitude. “Of course, please.”

Once Ying Huai left, only Nan Yi and Song Muchen remained in the room. To avoid drawing attention, they didn’t light many candles, and the room was dimly lit.

“Madam, can you tell me what exactly happened that night?” Song Muchen asked calmly.

Though he had countless questions in his mind, he respected Nan Yi’s choice to speak or remain silent.

Nan Yi was in a daze. So many things had happened that night. She was full of hatred and anger, but as she was about to speak, she remembered that shocking kiss, and suddenly felt guilty.

She was at a loss for words, unsure how to respond.