Su Fengyao threw the damned eunuch in front of Fan Zian and explained the whole situation.

Fan Zian was furious and conducted a thorough investigation, capturing everyone who had bullied Su Xinwu.

He Wanyu kept Su Xinwu by her side, showering him with care.

As she lifted her gaze, she spotted the soft and delicate Fan Qiujin in Fan Zhi’s arms. She was stunned-Fan Qiujin’s features were strikingly similar to Chu Yue’s.

He Wanyu subconsciously stood up, tears brimming with affection, and started to walk forward.

Fan Zhi sensed something unusual and looked towards He Wanyu.

Just in time, Hu Ji stepped between them, cutting off their nearly connecting stares.

Hu Ji quickly called out to He Wanyu, snapping her back to reality. She noticed Hu Ji frantically winking at her.

He Wanyu whispered, “What are you doing here?”

Hu Ji loudly covered, “Long time no see, little darling!” Then, leaning close to He Wanyu’s ear, he softly reminded her, “If I hadn’t come, your identity would have been exposed!”

The two pretended to be old friends reunited, putting on a performance of joyful reunion.

Shuiyang and Shi Zhao crouched in a corner, observing everything.

Shuiyang, with her keen eyes, immediately saw through the relationship between He Wanyu and Fan Zhi.

“They know each other! And it’s not a simple relationship!”

Thinking she would earn Shi Zhao’s praise, Shuiyang was surprised when he rolled his eyes and knocked on her head, “Even a blind person could see that!”

Shuiyang, face full of frustration, closed her mouth angrily.

Seeing her angry expression, Shi Zhao covered his mouth and chuckled.

Soon enough, Fan Zian’s health had improved significantly, and He Wanyu and her companions were preparing to leave.

At the Fengyang Sect.

Fan Zhi, along with Empress Ning Zhirou and Bai Tan, personally saw them off, giving them the utmost respect.

If Fan Zian himself wasn’t the Emperor, whose presence could cause disturbances, he would have certainly come.

“On behalf of His Majesty, I thank the four sage doctors. Without your help, if you ever face difficulties, you can seek me in the palace, or even Prince Yan Xuan. Here, take this.”

Ning Zhirou handed He Wanyu a finely crafted Copper Coin Pendant. He Wanyu paused, remembering that time when she had given Ning Zhirou a copper coin.

Chu Yue, the woman branded as a demoness by all sects in the martial world, had once saved a dying person with the same resolute determination. That person had merely been a beggar.

She often said that all lives were equal and of paramount importance; she would give her all regardless of who needed saving.

It was almost as if they could see her again.

Their eyes began to redden, and their gazes never left He Wanyu.

He Wanyu, utterly exhausted, only dared to step outside after confirming the person was out of danger. It was then she noticed them.

Two intense stares pierced through He Wanyu, burning her heart. She hesitated for a moment, managing a pale smile before feeling a wave of dizziness and losing consciousness.

Fan Zhi and Su Fengyao rushed forward almost simultaneously, catching the collapsing He Wanyu. Their eyes met guiltily, then they looked down at He Wanyu in confusion, hearts in turmoil.

Hu Ji arrived a moment too late, stopping about a meter away. The anxious expressions on their faces almost made Hu Ji think they had uncovered He Wanyu’s true identity.

Years ago, Ning Zhirou’s father was a general in the Long Xia Kingdom. Unfortunately, he was falsely accused of treason-a crime punishable by death. Defiantly determined to prove his innocence, Ning Zhirou sought evidence. Knowing that the Ning Family had been framed and that the Former Emperor was enraged and intent on executing General Ning, Ning Zhirou was left with no choice but to seek out Chu Yue and propose a deal: have the Xiyan Sect stage a jailbreak and rescue General Ning, then gather evidence later.

At that time, General Ning steadfastly refused to leave, so Chu Yue knocked him out and carried him away.

With the help of Fan Zhi and others, Ning Zhirou eventually found the evidence needed to exonerate General Ning.

To fulfill her promise to Chu Yue, Ning Zhirou offered to repay the favor. In truth, Chu Yue never intended to collect on that debt, but Ning Zhirou’s persistence left her no choice but to take a silver coin from Ning Zhirou’s possession.

“The debt remains for now. When I figure out what I need from you, I’ll use this silver coin to find you.”

Afterward, Chu Yue waved her off and left. Until her death, she never called upon Ning Zhirou for that debt, and no one seems to know what happened to the silver coin.

He Wanyu couldn’t help but laugh. Ning Zhirou was puzzled, “Miss He, what are you laughing at?”

He Wanyu snapped back to reality and casually explained, “It’s nothing, I just thought of an old friend.”

Then she put the Copper Coin Pendant away.

“Thank you, Empress.”

Bai Tan stepped forward, taking He Wanyu aside.

Bai Tan bowed to He Wanyu, who quickly helped her up.

“What are you doing?”

Bai Tan smiled gently, “I know that Miss He has been using her own blood to treat Your Majesty’s wounds these past few days.”

He Wanyu wasn’t too surprised. After all, Bai Tan was also known as the Gracejade Sage Doctor. If she couldn’t distinguish between human blood and chicken blood, she wouldn’t deserve her title.

He Wanyu nodded with a smile, “As expected, I couldn’t hide it from the Gracejade Sage Doctor.”

He Wanyu made a request, “But I must ask that you and Miss Xu keep this a secret. My identity is somewhat special and could attract unnecessary trouble.”

Bai Tan nodded, “Naturally, we will keep your secret.”

Bai Tan suddenly gazed at He Wanyu with a nostalgic look. He Wanyu checked herself, finding nothing amiss.

“Miss Bai, what are you looking at?”

Snapping back to reality, Bai Tan smiled lightly, “I’m sorry, Miss He. You just seem familiar to me, and I feel a certain warmth.”

He Wanyu felt her heart tighten as if gripped by an iron fist. She quickly diverted her gaze. “Oh! It’s getting late. Sage Doctor Bai, we should be going.”

Hurriedly, she made her way to He Shiwen, urging the group to leave.

“Shiwen, it’s time to go.”

The four of them bid their farewells solemnly and mounted their horses, only to find another horse beside He Wanyu.

He Wanyu glanced sideways and felt her temper rising to its peak.

“Hu! Ji!” she spat through gritted teeth.

Hu Ji smiled brightly, his grin wide.

“Let’s get going, He. How about I accompany you on your journey?”

“No!” He Wanyu clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white.

He Shiwen and He Qing’an burst out laughing at the interaction between the two.

“Come on, Wanyu, the more, the merrier. Young Master Hu is so enthusiastic, don’t dampen his spirit,” He Yi advised earnestly, trying to matchmake.

Hu Ji quickly jumped at the opportunity.

“Exactly, little darling. I’m so good to you, and you repay me with cold indifference.”

He Wanyu didn’t want to waste any more words. If she spoke even one more sentence, she feared she might explode.

“Hyah!” With a loud call and the spirited whinnies of horses, along with He Wanyu’s angry shouts, the six figures disappeared into the hues of the afternoon sun.

Ning Zhirou and Bai Tan couldn’t help but laugh, while Fan Zhi sensed something off but couldn’t quite place it.

The group returned to the inn where they had stayed before entering the palace and retrieved their weapons.

He Wanyu wielded twin short swords, which she found heavy and often had her Eldest Senior brother and Second Senior brother carry for her.

Six days later…

Hu Ji was still stubbornly trailing behind the group.

“Did you hear? There’s a battle in Ning Town. Feng Lin’s forces have invaded, and they’ve taken five of our cities.”

“Sigh! Once the war begins, our good days are over. It’s always us common folk who suffer.”

“Hey! Do you know how the battle is going?”

“It’s bleak. Our casualties are heavy, and I’ve heard we’re out of medical supplies.”

“Oh no! Does that mean we’re going to lose?”

“Hard to say. It depends on who the Imperial Court sends to lead our forces.”

…

Every word of the commoners’ conversation floated into the ears of the six people. He Wanyu exchanged glances with the others. He Shiwen stood up and picked up his sword, “Let’s go to Ning Town!”

The three others eagerly mounted their horses.

Seeing their expressions, Hu Ji knew they had committed to this cause. With a resigned sigh, he followed.

Imperial Palace.

In the solemn and majestic Jin Hua Hall, the courtiers stood in silence, their voices resounding powerfully as they reported.

“Your Majesty! Feng Lin Kingdom has invaded, and we have already lost five cities. The battle is fierce. Just the other day, Xie Wanying, the defending officer in Ning Town, fell in battle. Ning Town is in imminent danger. We request Your Majesty to send reinforcements immediately!”

Fan Zian, seated on the throne, was overwhelmed with worry and asked, “Whom do you all suggest I send for this task?”

Silence reigned as the courtiers looked at one another, none daring to shoulder the responsibility. Just then, Fan Zhi’s robust voice echoed through The Great Hall.

“I request permission to lead our forces and defend Ning Town!”

Fan Zhi strode in confidently, kneeling in the hall as he passionately spoke.

“Although I rarely involve myself in matters of the court, there is no one better suited to lead troops and fend off our enemies. I request to lead our forces to Ning Town and relieve its crisis!”

Fan Zian, deeply moved, descended from his throne to personally help him up.

“Very well, then I hereby appoint you as great general. You may command any and all troops as needed and head to Ning Town!”

Fan Zhi cupped his hands in a bow, “I accept the order!”

Ning Town.

Ruins and broken walls, thick smoke from signal fires, and white bones scattered everywhere. The scent of blood permeated the air.

He Wanyu, covered in grime, wandered among the heaps of corpses. She turned over each horribly disfigured body, and the stench of decay made her stomach churn to the point of nearly vomiting bile.

After confirming there were no survivors, He Wanyu traversed the slushy, blood-soaked earth and shouted to her left.

“Shiwen! Are there no living soldiers over there?”

A voice from the right echoed, “No survivors here either!”

He Qing’an, equally disheveled and reeking, walked forward.

He Shiwen and He Yi approached at the same time. The four of them now looked little different from the dead scattered around-except they were still able to move.

He Shiwen gestured with his hand, “Let’s go back to camp!”

Unmindful of the filth, they supported each other as they trudged through the blood-muddied ground.

Ning Town Military Camp.

The four of them cleaned up quickly and headed straight to the medical camp. The camp was overwhelmed with injured soldiers, but there were too few medical personnel. Ning City’s medicine supplies were nearly exhausted, and more wounded soldiers were expected. The situation added significant strain to the already precarious state of Ning Town.

He Wanyu entered the commander’s tent, where Hu Ji was alone, studying the battle details on a sand table. When he saw He Wanyu, he quickly tried to hide his urgency.

Since Ning Town’s commander Xie Wanying had died, the soldiers were like lost stars, disorganized and unable to fight. Hu Ji had reluctantly taken over this fragmented army, holding the line to the brink.

He Wanyu sighed and asked, “The situation is dire. We have no more soldiers and no commanders to lead. When will the Imperial Court send reinforcements?”

Hu Ji stopped concealing his anxiety and slumped onto He Wanyu’s shoulder, whining like a child, “Little darling! Being a soldier is so hard, and fighting a war is even harder!”

He Wanyu pushed him away in annoyance, but Hu Ji clung to her like a mountain. She eventually gave up, allowing him to lean on her limply.

“Talk business!” she gritted her teeth.

Hu Ji, satisfied, hugged He Wanyu’s arm. “The Imperial Court has already dispatched troops. They will arrive tomorrow.”

He Wanyu secretly heaved a sigh of relief. “Then we are saved.”

Suddenly, Hu Ji released He Wanyu and stood up, his sharp gaze sweeping across the sand table. His face darkened, and with a low, raspy voice, he said, “I’m afraid we won’t make it through the night.”

He Wanyu’s heart tightened. She focused intently on the sand table, her long lashes casting shadows over her eyes, masking her expression.

The next day.

He Wanyu was jolted awake by loud noises outside the tent. She sprang up from the bed just as He Shiwen rushed in and grabbed her hand, pulling her to hurry outside.

“Shiwen! What’s happening?”

He Wanyu halted He Shiwen’s frantic steps. He Shiwen, short of breath, said urgently, “Feng Lin’s forces have breached the camp. We need to leave now!”

“Wait! Where’s Hu Ji?”

He Shiwen stopped in his tracks, yanked back by her question.

“He’s leading the remaining soldiers to fight them off…”

Before he could finish his sentence, He Wanyu darted out, so fast that He Shiwen couldn’t catch her.

On the city wall, Hu Ji commanded the soldiers to shoot arrows in defense, but Feng Lin’s forces were too overwhelming. Unable to hold them off, Hu Ji had no choice but to lead his men down to the battlefield.

Feng Lin’s soldiers were strong, well-trained, and numerous. In contrast, Ning Town’s army consisted mostly of injured or fatigued soldiers, already demoralized.

If not for Hu Ji’s exceptional martial skills, fearlessly leading the troops, Ning Town might have already fallen.

He Wanyu rushed to the city gate. Ning Town’s soldiers were retreating in defeat. Hu Ji maneuvered desperately among them, but even his prowess couldn’t counter the overwhelming numbers.

Without a second thought, He Wanyu was about to charge into the fray when He Shiwen grabbed her in time.

He Shiwen, He Qing’an, and He Yi stood before He Wanyu, all smiling warmly. He Wanyu was both surprised and touched. “You’re all here!”

He Shiwen gently patted her head, his tone tender. “Silly Wanyu, how could we ever leave you alone?”

He Qing’an crossed his arms, mixing a hint of reproach with indulgence. “We knew you’re always loyal and wouldn’t run away. So, here we are to join you.”

He Shiwen turned to He Yi. “Have the civilians been evacuated?”

He Yi nodded. “I directed all the civilians to the next town. Now, the only ones left in Ning Town are us brave souls who aren’t afraid of death.”

He Shiwen and He Qing’an simultaneously drew their swords and handed one to He Wanyu. Instantly, her confidence soared. She was no longer fighting alone, no longer feeling the helplessness of facing death by herself.

Grasping the dual swords, He Wanyu radiated energy and determination. The four of them dove into the fierce battle together.

With a powerful kick, He Wanyu sent one enemy flying. She slashed through several others, twirling to stab another with her sword. One sword sliced overhead, cutting a throat. Blood splattered like jewels in the air around them. They moved like boulders thrown into water, the splashed droplets shimmering beautifully.

Seizing the opportunity, He Wanyu flung one of her swords straight through an enemy soldier behind Hu Ji. She spun around and fought her way to his side. Their eyes met, and Hu Ji paused, a smile spreading across his face, his gaze filled with hopeful longing.

Fighting side by side, both hadn’t felt this sensation for five years. Hu Ji and He Wanyu were now fighting like the Hu Ji and Chu Yue of years past.

She was herself, yet she wasn’t.

Neither was he the young man he once was.

Those adventurous days as young wanderers seemed forever lost, yet they also felt so close, just within reach.

Hu Ji and He Wanyu didn’t exchange words; just a glance was enough. They passed each other by and targeted the enemies behind one another.

Enemies fell, and the two stood back-to-back, their eyes focused forward, filled with long-lost determination, trust, and fearless resolve.

In this life-or-death battle, they carved a bloody path through the enemy ranks. Feng Lin’s soldiers grew hesitant, unwilling to approach.

The five of them lined up in a row, resembling an immovable high wall, withstanding all swords and artillery.

Feng Lin’s general didn’t order a retreat but instead sent reinforcements for a desperate fight. The five tightened their grip on their swords and bolted forward with unwavering roars.

He Shiwen’s sword moved swiftly, seamlessly combining flips, thrusts, and parries. His body floated like a drifting cloud, thus he created a unique martial art, the “Twelve Cloud Techniques,” known for speed and agility.

He Qing’an wielded a fan as sharp as a blade. His internal energy was profound, controlling the fan effortlessly. Though his martial skills weren’t top-notch, he used the fan as a concealed weapon, capable of striking down opponents twice as strong through surprise attacks.

He Yi’s martial skills were below He Shiwen and He Qing’an’s, and her internal energy wasn’t powerful. Thus, she excelled at leveraging strength. Her expertise lay in the bow and arrow, with which she could easily hit the highest leaf on a tree from several yards away. Hence, she dominated the high ground.

A piercing arrow whizzed down from the city wall, striking through three enemies in one shot. Even after they fell, the afterimage of the arrow lingered in the air.

This technique was “Whisper of Fallen Leaves,” a move He Yi perfected over years, inspired by the sound of wind and falling leaves to shoot down flowers from a hundred yards away—a display of profound artistry.

He Wanyu and Hu Ji had reached their limits, with multiple scrapes and bleeding wounds covering their bodies. Their stamina was nearly depleted.

He Wanyu glanced at Hu Ji with a serene and relaxed expression. Instantly understanding her intention, Hu Ji frantically shook his head.

He Wanyu smiled, her bright eyes beaming like crystals.

If there was no breakthrough by the end, He Wanyu would have to use her final ace—Guanyin Hand.

She was no longer her former self; this body was not hers. She lacked the deep internal energy that Chu Yue possessed and could only use a fraction of the power of Guanyin Hand. But it was enough to deal with these minor soldiers.

Hu Ji had seen through her plan, which made him incredibly anxious.

At the critical moment, the sound of distant battle approached. The military flag of the Long Xia Kingdom appeared, straight and proud. They knew reinforcements had arrived.

He Wanyu breathed a sigh of relief, using her dual swords to support her nearly collapsing body, but her smile was radiantly joyful.

Hu Ji, dragging his exhausted body, walked toward her. Seeing her smile, he felt that all their desperate efforts had been worth it.

Fan Zhi’s arrival brought a huge relief to Hu Ji.

Bai Tan bandaged Hu Ji’s wounds, to which Hu Ji responded with a word of thanks, while Fan Zhi stood by, looking smug.

Fan Zhi’s laugh was subtle, but Hu Ji caught every bit of it.

Frustrated, Hu Ji picked up the nearby teacup and hurled it at Fan Zhi. Fan Zhi deftly dodged, and the teacup shattered into pieces.

Seeing that Hu Ji had noticed him, Fan Zhi didn’t bother hiding and burst into laughter, nearly doubling over with glee as he continued to taunt him.

“Hu Ji, oh Hu Ji, look at you now! Hahaha…”

Yuexia Yu Shu and Su Fengyao walked in just in time, seeing Hu Ji’s face as dark as coal, while Fan Zhi was laughing merrily beside him. They quickly assessed the situation.

Yuexia Yu Shu cleared his throat theatrically and moved to Hu Ji’s side, speaking in a soothing voice.

“Hu Ji, you’ve been through so much. But here we are now, no need to worry!”

Although his words seemed comforting, they were actually drenched in mockery. Hu Ji shot a sidelong glare at Yuexia Yu Shu, regretful that he didn’t have a sword; otherwise, he might have sliced him down.

Not to be outdone, Su Fengyao added with a sardonic tone, “Just a few days ago, Hu was all smiles. How did he become so disheveled in such a short time? This doesn’t fit your image of a charming wanderer at all!”

Yuexia Yu Shu quickly corrected, “Hey, Fengyao, you misspoke. Hu acted for a righteous cause! If he hadn’t led the troops against Feng Lin, Ning Town wouldn’t be standing today.”

Yuexia Yu Shu and Su Fengyao’s banter made Hu Ji’s face turn red with rage. His chest heaved strongly, as if a blazing fire was about to erupt.

Bai Tan could only smile helplessly.

Xu Shaoqing suddenly burst in, grabbing Bai Tan and pulling her outside. “There are too many wounded, we’re overwhelmed! Come help!”

The two hurried out, and only then did Hu Ji remember He Wanyu. With long strides, he rushed towards the medical camp.

“Hey! Hu Ji!”

Fan Zhi’s call couldn’t stop him. Suddenly serious, he exchanged a glance with Yuexia Yu Shu and Su Fengyao, and the three of them chased after him.

Medical Camp.

He Wanyu didn’t have time to rest and immediately joined the efforts to save lives.

The entire medical camp was bustling with activity, not a moment’s rest. Bai Tan and Xu Shaoqing, seeing the sheer number of wounded, wasted no time and began helping immediately.

When Su Fengyao and the others arrived, they were taken aback by the gruesome scene. They slowed their pace, walking past soldier after soldier, each more grievously injured than the last. Fan Zhi felt a pang of guilt. If they hadn’t been delayed, fewer lives would have been lost, and Feng Lin wouldn’t have pushed them to such a dire situation.

Moments ago, they had mocked Hu Ji for his shortcomings, but if not for Hu Ji’s desperate defense, Ning Town might have been reduced to ashes.

Yuexia Yu Shu ran to assist Bai Tan, while Su Fengyao and Fan Zhi walked through the camp and stopped in front of a tent. Inside, the sounds of anguished screams were heard, chilling to the bone. They entered to find a man, covered in wounds, with both arms and a leg severed, being held down on a bed. Hu Ji was among those restraining him, while He Wanyu was focused entirely on treating his injuries.

The ground was already slick with blood. He Wanyu carefully stitched his wounds, but the intense pain drove the soldier to near despair. He wailed and begged He Wanyu to end his suffering. He Wanyu ignored his pleas, concentrating on stopping the bleeding.

Seeing no response from He Wanyu, the soldier began struggling desperately. Her hand slipped, causing a gush of blood to spurt from the wound, splattering all over He Wanyu’s face.

Those holding the soldier down recoiled in horror, collapsing to the ground. The soldier on the bed fainted, but Hu Ji, unaffected, gently wiped the blood off He Wanyu’s face with concern.

He Wanyu remained unwavering and calmly completed the procedure flawlessly.

Fan Zhi and Su Fengyao stood there, their minds drifting back to five years ago, lost in a daze.