We galloped for dozens of miles. The sky was tinged with a faint indigo hue, and the cool mist dampened our clothes lightly. In the east, the first hints of dawn emerged, and the clear calls of birds urged the morning forward. I stretched my sore back, kicked my horse’s flank, and surged out of the morning fog toward the distant city gate that had just come into view.

“Boom... boom-boom... boom-boom-boom...” The sound of drums echoed through the stillness of early morning.

“We’ve now entered Lianzhou in the Qing Kingdom,” Elder Brother called back to me and Senior Sister loudly. “The morning drum has sounded—it’s just past the third watch, and the city gates will open soon.”

Lianzhou of the Qing Kingdom? The words felt particularly jarring. After all, the southeastern four states led by Lianzhou were once the ancestral lands of the Han family. I sighed deeply and nodded slightly. With the final beat of the drum, our group of five riders and six horses finally arrived at the foot of the city walls.

“Thud... thud-thud... thud-thud-thud...” The massive drawbridge slowly lowered, landing with a loud thud that sent clouds of dust swirling into the air. Early-rising citizens, carrying baskets on their shoulders or bundles on their backs, crossed the wooden drawbridge over the moat, which spanned about three zhang wide. Dismounting from our horses, we followed Elder Brother to the base of the city gate. I tilted my head upward, squinting against the faint morning light, and made out two powerful characters inscribed above the gate: Jiao Cheng (Fierce City).

The handwriting was so familiar. I tilted my head, searching my childhood memories. Suddenly, my eyes widened, my vision blurred slightly, and I stared intently again: It was...

“Yunqing, this is Lianzhou’s provincial capital, Jiao Cheng,” Liu Xunhe explained to me as he supported Big Sister. “The two characters above the gate were personally inscribed by the late legendary general of the six kingdoms—Han Baiqing.”

Indeed, it was Father’s handwriting. My fingers tightened slowly, and my heart raced wildly. Sixteen years later, I had finally returned to the place where Father’s dreams began.

With a loud creak, the heavy city gates finally opened. Following the flow of people, we slowly led our horses through the sturdy outer gate. The arched passageway evoked a sense of historical weight. After walking several dozen meters, we came upon an orderly-shaped barbican built between the inner and outer gates. Its curved walls, constructed of neatly stacked green bricks, formed a crescent shape. Above the barbican’s gate hung a thousand-jin counterweight and double wooden doors. Beyond the moon-shaped doorway, one could see more than twenty hidden troop bunkers beneath the city towers and along the horse paths. The entrances to these bunkers were tightly locked, banners fluttered in the breeze, and soldiers in full military regalia stood atop the walls, their discipline impeccable.

“Wow, what an impressive fortress!” Senior Sister looked up, curiously observing her surroundings. “It’s truly easy to defend but difficult to attack.”

“Hmm...” Elder Brother glanced at me meaningfully, his voice low and contemplative. “This was General Han’s homeland—its military defenses are naturally the most perfect.”

Yes, everything was orderly and meticulously planned, just like Father’s style. But judging solely by the soldiers guarding the city, the strict military discipline spoke volumes about the capabilities of Lianzhou’s governor and defense minister. At this thought, I couldn’t help but silently admire them.

Entering the inner city, we saw broad streets lined with sycamore trees. Their fluffy seeds danced in the wind, mischievously brushing against the necks of passersby, making them shake their collars to ward off the itch. The grid-like streets, the orderly hanging lanterns in front of houses, and the simple yet elegant pavilions and towers exuded a familiar charm. Jiao Cheng was unmistakably an enlarged version of the General’s Mansion—it felt like stepping into the backyard of my own home.

Following Elder Brother and the others, we entered South Street, bustling with inns and taverns. As we passed under the archway, an excited shout rang out: “Wu Yu! Xun He!”

Forcing my weary eyes open, I raised my head to see a tall figure striding quickly toward us.

“Sichen,” Elder Brother gave a slight bow and smiled warmly at the newcomer. “What a surprise to meet you here.”

The man raised his thick brows and clapped Elder Brother’s shoulder heartily. “This isn’t coincidence!” He glanced politely at us, then composed himself. “I was entrusted by the Martial Alliance Leader to await your arrival here.”

“The Martial Alliance Leader? Master Tang?” Liu Xunhe asked in surprise, looking at him quizzically.

“Yes.” The man nodded, helping Senior Sister take the reins of her horse and giving her a friendly smile. She snatched the reins from my hand and tossed them casually to him—it seemed they already knew each other well. Rubbing my shoulders and rolling my neck, I inadvertently noticed Ye Jinglan watching me indifferently from beside me. My heart fluttered nervously, but I forced myself to remain calm, smoothing my robes and lowering my head with a bitter smile: Surely last night’s misunderstanding must have made him think I’m some kind of pervert. All because of Senior Sister—how annoying!

Thinking of this, I wrinkled my nose and shot her a glare. But then I noticed Elder Brother watching the tall man walking alongside Senior Sister, a flicker of displeasure crossing his eyes. The next moment, his gentle smile returned, and he subtly inserted himself between the two, taking the man’s hand and introducing him to us: “This is Xie Sichen, the young master of Qianlong Gate, renowned as the first chivalrous hero of the jianghu.”

“Pfft!” Xie Sichen waved his hand dismissively. “These empty titles—they’re not worth mentioning.”

Elder Brother gestured openly and began introductions: “This is Ye Jinglan. He...”

Before Elder Brother could finish, Xie Sichen stepped forward eagerly. “You’re the son of the divine physician?”

Ye Jinglan raised his hand slightly, his expression aloof. “Pleased to meet you.”

“Ahh, pleased to meet you too!” The hearty man grabbed his hand enthusiastically. “As soon as I arrived at Meng Lake, I heard that Young Master Ye would be representing Elder Ye Fengju at this martial gathering. Everyone’s been eagerly awaiting your appearance, mysterious figure that you are.”

Ye Jinglan’s sharp brows furrowed slightly, and in the blink of an eye, he freed himself from Xie Sichen’s grip, retreating to stand apart from the group.

Far from being embarrassed, the impulsive man clapped his hands in admiration. “Young Master Ye has excellent skills!”

Noticing Ye Jinglan’s discomfort, Elder Brother stepped forward to block Xie Sichen and continued the introductions: “This is my junior sister, Feng Yunqing.” I curtsied politely and nodded.

“Feng Yunqing—a beautiful name,” he said kindly, smiling. “When you and Little Bird visit Yong Country in the future, Brother Xie will surely treat you well.” He glanced teasingly at Senior Sister, who flashed a radiant smile and playfully punched him. “Stop making promises you can’t keep! How many meals do you owe me now, Xie Sichen?”

Before Xie Sichen could protest, Elder Brother hurriedly introduced: “Brother Xie, this is my cousin, Rumen.”

Big Sister stepped out from behind Liu Xunhe and bowed gracefully.

Xie Sichen nodded and led us into a newly opened restaurant. Our weary group settled down to eat leisurely.

Senior Sister nibbled on a side dish, asking eagerly, “Xie Sichen, you haven’t told us why Martial Alliance Leader Tang sent you to meet us.”

Xie Sichen set down his chopsticks, his expression serious. “Ten days ago, Zhu Qi, the leader of the Kongming Sect, and six or seven of his disciples were killed in Taohua Hollow, twenty li away. Seven days ago, eight members of the Congzhen Sect were found brutally murdered in the dense forest south of Jiao Cheng. Three days ago, Master Chengming was ambushed on Lei River. Though compassionate, he refrained from killing, but was severely injured by a coordinated attack.” Frowning, he continued, “These three incidents were clearly carried out by the same group, aiming to disrupt this martial gathering. To prevent further tragedy, Master Tang decisively decided to divide those who arrived early into groups stationed at key locations to escort others.”

“I see,” Elder Brother nodded, looking directly at him. “Last night, we were ambushed by more than ten people in a dense forest north of Jiao Cheng.”

Xie Sichen’s eyes widened in shock. “Ambushed?”

“Yes,” Liu Xunhe took over the explanation. “They wore black robes, masked their faces, and arranged themselves in a strange formation—it was very peculiar.”

“And even worse, they grouped together in twos and threes, attacking simultaneously from all sides—one here, another there. They were unpredictable, more annoying than flies!”

Suddenly, a cold voice cut through the air beside me: “The Golden Cage Formation.”

Startled, I turned to look at Ye Jinglan. Why did he suddenly speak up, nearly choking me? The others at the table also gawked at him as if they’d heard a mute person talk. Ye Jinglan ignored their odd stares, lowering his head to continue eating calmly.

Elder Brother, seemingly accustomed to such behavior, asked warmly, “Young Master Ye, could you tell us more about the Golden Cage Formation? Which sect does it belong to?”

Ye Jinglan glanced at Elder Brother and explained briefly, “The Golden Cage Formation, along with the Silver Gong, Red Dragonfly, and White Butterfly formations, are known as the four great formations of the Riyao Sect.”

“So, it’s the Riyao Sect again!” Xie Sichen slapped his thigh, his tone angry. “Those three massacres must also be their doing!”

What was the Riyao Sect trying to achieve? Disappearing for eight years only to re-emerge boldly, slaughtering several prominent figures in the jianghu. And they left traces everywhere they went, as if deliberately drawing attention. It didn’t make sense—it truly baffled me. Shaking my head in confusion, I happened to glance at Ye Jinglan and caught a fleeting spark of understanding in his phoenix eyes before they reverted to their usual icy demeanor.

After finishing our meal, we stepped out of the restaurant. Above Jiao Cheng, red clouds floated lazily. Beneath the rosy glow and morning mist, pedestrians and carriages basked in the bright sunlight. The marketplace buzzed with activity; vendors eagerly called out to customers. The spring breeze wove through the crowd, gently playing with the pearl flowers adorning women’s hair and rustling the tavern banners. Everywhere, life pulsed vibrantly.

Rubbing my temples, I felt the fatigue of a sleepless night. Squinting drowsily, I trudged forward unenthusiastically when sweet, murmured conversations drifted from afar.

“Did you know? General Han arrived in Jiao Cheng the day before yesterday!”

“Ah! The general’s back?”

“I heard the general only has one wife and hasn’t taken any concubines yet.”

“What business is it of yours whether he has concubines or not? You already have two children—why are you daydreaming foolishly?”

“Hmph, General Han is so handsome and elegant. Even the old matchmaker on Front Street secretly admires him!”

Looking up, I saw a group of women selling snacks by the roadside, arguing animatedly. General Han? Was there another General Han in Jiao Cheng?

“Qingqing, what’s wrong?” Big Sister tugged my arm and whispered.

Exhaustion etched across my face, I shook my head. “Nothing, I’m just a bit tired.”

“Mmm!” Senior Sister yawned loudly, mumbling incoherently, “Sleepy~ it’s all my fault!”

“Hehe~” Elder Brother affectionately ruffled Senior Sister’s hair, soothing her gently. “Once we’re past the morning market, we’ll mount our horses. Just a dozen li east of Jiao Cheng, and we’ll reach Meng Lake.”

“Mm, mm.” Senior Sister mumbled incoherently, letting Elder Brother lead her with her eyes closed as she swayed unsteadily forward.

More and more people were coming out onto the streets. Leading our horses, we found ourselves stuck in the middle of the road, squeezed between snack stalls. “Hua’er’s mother, you keep going on about ‘General this’ and ‘General that.’ Do you even know the general’s real name?” The tea cake vendor leaned sideways, glaring at the woman across from her stubbornly.

“I know! Of course I know!” The wonton seller put down her dough and wiped her hands. “General Han is one of the outstanding members of the Han family’s ‘Moon’ generation. His name is Han Yue… Han Yue…”

“The Moon generation?” So he must be a cousin from one of the Han family’s branch houses. Distracted by their conversation, I let my guard down for a moment and was jostled by the crowd, nearly losing my balance. Just as I was about to fall, I felt a warm palm grip my right hand. With its support, I barely managed to steady myself. Letting out a sigh of relief, I looked up to see Ye Jinglan gazing at me indifferently. The golden morning light bathed his handsome face, giving him an unexpectedly warm aura. He released my hand and turned his gaze forward, expressionless.

Embarrassed, I pursed my lips slightly, being pushed along by the crowd while following behind him. After a while, I mustered the courage to murmur softly: “Thank you.” It was surprising—such a cold person had such a warm hand. Perhaps he was someone who appeared aloof but was kind-hearted underneath.

Perking up my ears again, I continued listening to the women’s chatter behind me: “Stop going on about ‘Han Yue this’ and ‘Han Yue that’—just admit you don’t know!” That cousin, like Father, had clearly won the affection of the common people—truly admirable. But if my brother were still alive, he would surely have surpassed him! Smiling at the rising sun, I pictured my brother in his fiery red battle robes, commanding with poise and confidence.

“No need.” Startled by this abrupt response, I blinked and stared blankly at the tall figure ahead of me. Had he just spoken?

While I was lost in thought, we finally made it out of the bustling morning market. From behind us came a triumphant shout: “You old gossip, I remember now—I’ve got it! The general’s name is Han Yuesha, right? Right?!”

Han Yuesha? What a perilous-sounding name—but what did it matter to me? Smiling self-deprecatingly, I mounted my horse. By rule, we could only ride slowly through the city. The spring sun was warm, making me feel drowsy. Lazily following behind Senior Sister, we approached Donghua Gate when suddenly a carriage thundered toward us, kicking up clouds of dust. The coachman stood halfway up on the footboard, gritting his teeth, veins bulging at his temples as he struggled to control the panicked horse. From inside the carriage came the cries of a child and urgent questioning.

The frenzied horse galloped wildly, causing chaos at the city gate. Suddenly, Elder Brother leapt forward, grabbing the frightened horse by the neck with one hand, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly as if exerting pressure. The horse reared up abruptly, then stopped.

“Yan’er!” A small figure flew out of the carriage with a cry.

“Hya!” I kicked my horse hard, leaning forward and swiftly snatching the child’s belt. Straightening up, I held him tightly in my arms.

“Auntie,” came a sweet, childish voice. Looking down, I saw the little boy with his peach-shaped hairstyle blinking his round eyes curiously at me. I couldn’t help but smile—what an adorable baby! He clapped his hands happily, laughing with only three or four tiny teeth showing. “Auntie! Auntie!”

Once Elder Brother had calmed the horse, an elegantly dressed young woman hurriedly jumped down from the carriage, tears in her eyes as she ran toward us. “Yan’er! Yan’er!”

“Lady~” Little Peach squirmed in my arms, reaching out. Carefully, I handed him over to his mother below. Cradling her child, she bowed deeply to me. “Thank you, noble lady, for saving my son!” Turning around, she also curtsied gracefully to Elder Brother. “And thank you, young master, for your timely assistance!”

Elder Brother nodded to her. “There’s no need for formalities, Lady. Please be more careful in the future.” With that, he mounted his horse and prepared to leave.

“If you wouldn’t mind, esteemed guests, please honor us with a visit to our residence,” the woman said gently, smiling softly. “Such great kindness deserves proper gratitude—if my husband hears of this and learns I failed to express our thanks properly, he will surely scold me for lacking manners.”

Looking at her sincerely, I replied, “Lady, we are truly pressed for time and cannot stay.”

She smiled tenderly and took two steps back. “Then allow me to bid farewell to our benefactors here. If you ever pass through Yundu, please do not forget to visit the Han residence on Dongyue Road.”

Her graceful composure and refined demeanor revealed her noble upbringing. I gave her a slight nod. “We’ll certainly remember.”

With that, I loosened the reins and spurred my horse onward. Behind me came a tender call: “Auntie!” Turning back with a smile, I saw Little Peach nestled in his mother’s arms, waving his tiny hand at me. “Auntie!”

Beyond Donghua Gate, three or four riders approached. The leader sported a thick beard that obscured his features. “Madam! Madam!” Their anxious cries vibrated against my eardrums. Covering my ears briefly, I rode off swiftly into the wind.

After galloping a hundred meters away from the city gate, a hesitant voice called out from behind: “Mistress...? Mistress? Mistress!”

The warm breeze swept across the lush fields of spring—it was the enchanting mid-spring season.

Willows swayed gently; cuckoos cooed softly.

The bright sun lingered lazily, carrying the scent of blossoms on the wind.

Another year, another green carpet of grass—the clouds knew that spring had once rested here.

But little did I realize then that amidst the bustling marketplace, a single sentence had slipped past unnoticed:

“General Han, named Yuesha, styled Zhusu.”