Having changed his attire, Qin Shaozong walked along the path leading down the mountain, stopping people along the way to ask for directions.
"Where is Commander Feng? I have urgent military intelligence to report to him," Qin Shaozong said.
The night was dark and the wind high. The branches and leaves of the dense undergrowth seemed to coalesce into large patches of shadow, falling impartially on the faces and bodies of all who passed, rendering them even darker.
Of those questioned by Qin Shaozong, eight or nine out of ten would truthfully tell him, with the remaining one or two simply too busy to attend to him.
Suspicion?
None existed.
Although features were hard to distinguish in the dark night, the round, crimson headpiece just barely visible on the other man's head was enough to mark him as one of their own.
If still uneasy, one could spend a little more effort examining his military uniform—clearly identical to their own. What was there to doubt?
"Commander Feng is this way," those in the know all directed this comrade from the front lines.
Qin Shaozong: "My thanks."
Miserable screams echoed through the mountains, one after another. Each cry fueled Feng Liang's rage, twisting his features and making him gnash his teeth.
Despite their numbers, visibility was poor in the mountains at night, and their opponent was as slippery as a loach, disappearing into the densest thickets.
Qin Shaozong was so close, yet they couldn't lay hands on him. How could this not infuriate him!
Just as Feng Liang was considering whether to adjust tactics, a voice suddenly came from not far away: "Commander Feng, moments ago Qin Shaozong was seriously wounded by the brothers in our squad. He fled northeastward and seemed to duck into a small cave over there."
From Qin Shaozong's perspective, after he shouted this, one particularly agitated figure among the group hastily pushed aside those beside him to look in his direction.
"Who spoke just now? Come forward at once," Feng Liang said urgently.
Qin Shaozong stared unblinkingly at that figure, slowly curving his thin lips into a smile.
So you are Commander Feng!
A path opened ahead. Qin Shaozong strode forward, his hands empty, the ring-pommeled sword hanging properly at his waist.
"Was it you who spoke just now?" Feng Liang was so anxious he even took two steps forward to meet him. "You say Qin Shaozong was seriously wounded by you and ducked into a cave to the northeast. Is this true?"
Qin Shaozong: "Naturally. That man, believing his innate divine strength made him invincible, grew overconfident and reckless, venturing alone into our camp. While several of our brothers worked together to pin him down, we had one man sneak up from behind and stab him in the back."
In the chilly depths of this spring night, a gust of wind swept through, pulling apart the thick cloud layer overhead. The moon beneath finally peeked out. Faint moonlight spilled down, seeming to brighten the mountains a fraction.
Qin Shaozong happened to be standing in an open area, with no dense thickets around him. The moonlight fell unimpeded on his profile, casting the contours of his face into sharper relief—his high nose, deep-set eyes, and long brows giving him a very imposing appearance.
Feng Liang had now come to a place about three paces from Qin Shaozong. Looking at the man wearing the round crimson headpiece, he felt a strange sense of unease well up inexplicably in his heart.
But the next moment, Feng Liang saw the man before him point toward the northeast. "Commander Feng, follow this direction for about two hundred and fifty paces, and you'll see a steep slope. There's a cave on the slope, covered with dense vines, quite inconspicuous. I saw that Qin fellow slip inside. His injuries must be severe, forcing him to hide there and wait for his subordinates to rescue him."
These words were highly compelling. Not only was the location precise, but they also revealed that the target was seriously wounded and currently isolated and helpless.
Feng Liang couldn't afford to overthink; he just wanted to strike while his enemy was weak and finish him off quickly. He turned and waved his hand. "Men, head northeast! Search every cave carefully. We must capture Qin..."
Before he could finish his sentence, a sudden bolt of lightning seemed to flash through Feng Liang's mind. This thought came abruptly, yet it struck him like a thunderclap, making his whole body tremble and sending a chill of horror down his spine in an instant.
Qin Shaozong of the North, the Marquis of Wu'an personally enfeoffed by the court, the only nobleman guarding the border who also served as the Regional Inspector of two provinces. Rumors said this man possessed divine strength but was born with broken eyebrows, having brought misfortune upon his father and elder brother.
Broken eyebrows!
The soldier who just reported the intelligence clearly had a disconnected tail on his left eyebrow.
"You are Qin..."
"Shlick." A long blade swept across his neck. Feng Liang's round head flew clean off.
Following Feng Liang's earlier order, the guards around him had all turned, facing northeast, ready to advance. Consequently, when this sudden change occurred, no one reacted in time, let alone rushed forward to rescue him.
Qin Shaozong shouted loudly: "The Marquis is wounded, Feng the traitor accompanies him in death! Your commander has perished!"
His voice, resonant as a bell, carried far, causing the surrounding soldiers who heard the news to panic.
Capture the leader first to cripple the gang. Now that the rebel leader had fallen, the army was left without a head. This force of a thousand men instantly fell into chaos.
Qin Shaozong took advantage of the confusion to slip into the jungle. As he made his way up the mountain, he dealt with any soldiers he encountered along the way.
"Preeeet— Preeeet—"
Several long whistles sounded. Hearing the signal, Qin Shaozong's personal guards fought a rearguard action, swiftly withdrawing upward.
With Feng Liang dead, his deputy commander gritted his teeth and struggled on, sustained solely by the phrase "the Marquis is wounded" as he continued to organize the fight.
Due to the withdrawal of Qin Shaozong's side, the speed of Li Zan's army's ascent also increased considerably. The deputy commander led his troops in pursuit all the way to the mountain stronghold at the peak, then chased them down the mountain, finally reaching the edge of a lake.
From a distance, the deputy commander saw two figures ahead supporting a third by the arms, helping him onto a plank connecting the shore to a tower ship.
They intended to escape by boat!
"Hurry, stop them! Qin Shaozong is wounded; we cannot let him escape!" the deputy commander shouted hoarsely. "Whoever takes his head, the Grand Marshal will ensure his entire clan enjoys wealth and honor!"
The soldiers' spirits were roused. One after another, they charged forward as if injected with adrenaline. However, it was regrettable; the distance separating them was no small matter. No matter how hard they ran until they were breathless, a large gap still remained between them and the tower ship.
Watching Qin Shaozong board the ship and his guards retract the plank, the deputy commander's eyes nearly burst from their sockets. "Loose arrows!"
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—"
A rain of arrows flew forth, menacing in momentum, but ultimately fell short of their range, embedding themselves in the ground. They didn't even reach the tower ship, let alone the people on board.
By the time the deputy commander finally led his men to the lakeshore, the two tower ships had long since sailed to the center of the lake.
Arrows couldn't reach them, and there were no boats to use. Success had slipped from their grasp at the final moment.
The deputy commander vented his fury by throwing his longbow to the ground, his gaze turning venomous. "We were so close! How utterly hateful!"
"Deputy Commander Chen, what should we do now?" a soldier asked.
The deputy commander took a deep breath. "The news of Commander Feng's death and Qin Shaozong's wounded escape must be sent to the Grand Marshal immediately. They are taking the Qi River. The Qi River runs north-south longitudinally and west-east latitudinally. They will surely head upstream—that is, toward the area closer to Nankang Commandery."
A nearby aide's eyes lit up. "Ximen Commandery! The upper reaches of the Qi River connect to Ximen Commandery."
The deputy general gnashed his teeth in fury. "Qin Shaozong is gravely wounded and will certainly need a physician and medicine to treat his injuries. If we rush to Ximen County immediately, we can capture him there."
When a general is in the field, he does not always follow his sovereign's commands.
This Deputy General Chen, eager to see his entire clan enjoy wealth and honor, had his own calculations. After hastily writing a letter and entrusting it to a subordinate to deliver, he led the remaining troops and rushed headlong towards Ximen County.
The tower ship.
When Qin Shaozong was helped aboard, appearing "on the brink of death," Dai Li was surprised, yet not entirely so. She thought to herself that their course would definitely have to change now.
They would surely rush to another county to find a physician to treat Qin Shaozong in the dead of night. In the ensuing chaos, perhaps she could...
Her little scheme was only half-formed when she watched, wide-eyed, as the man who had seemed half-dead just moments before suddenly straightened up once he was helped into the cabin.
His spine was ramrod straight, his gaze sharp and bright as he looked over. That fierce, vital energy of his was strikingly conspicuous even in the night, leaving no trace of his earlier feigned weakness.
Before she could react, their eyes met.
Dai Li: "..."
Qin Shaozong walked straight towards her.
He advanced; she retreated until her back was against the cabin wall, with nowhere left to go.
"What little scheme are you plotting now, my lady?" Qin Shaozong asked with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, which held a cold sharpness.
The moment he looked up, he had seen her big eyes darting around. This little vixen was probably thinking of putting on her rabbit disguise to do something mischievous again. He really couldn't take his eyes off her for even a moment.
Dai Li, of course, denied it. "I wasn't."
"The sound of your abacus beads is ringing in my ears. How could you not be scheming? Besides, if you weren't, why are you retreating?" Qin Shaozong continued his advance step by step.
Dai Li said softly, "The smell of blood on you is strong. I'm not accustomed to it."
This wasn't a lie. The moment he returned, she had caught the thick scent of blood, which had swept through the cabin like a gust of wind.
As he drew closer, the smell grew even stronger. It was like a cloth thrown into a bucket full of blood, every fiber saturated with a heavy, metallic scent, so much so that it seemed it would still drip wetly when pulled out.
For a moment, this dense, almost viscous smell of blood gave Dai Li the illusion that what stood before her was a ferocious tiger that had just returned from the hunt, its long fangs and the crevices of its sharp claws still carrying bits of un-cleaned flesh.
"How delicate you are," Qin Shaozong clicked his tongue lightly but did not press further.
Both tower ships had three decks. Originally used for passengers, they not only had many rooms but also basic amenities in each.
Seeing that they seemed to have matters to discuss, Dai Li went upstairs alone. She went to the third floor and chose the room at the end of the corridor.
Enter, lock the door, all in one smooth motion.
Only when she was alone did Dai Li take out a cloth pouch from each of her sleeves.
Her monthly cycle was approaching, so she carried menstrual cloths with her. The other pouch contained silver and some delicate, easily pawned jewelry.
That was all she had. Her bundle was left at Lin Erniang's house, and there had been no time to retrieve it when they fled.
As for the most important thing, the heirloom...
Dai Li sighed.
Downstairs, in a cabin.
Qin Shaozong sat in a chair, facing Mo Yanyun, who was writing furiously about three paces away. His hand rested on a small table beside him, his long fingers tapping idly.
He was waiting, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
While Mo Yanyun could be foolish when it came to women and sometimes slower than his comrades, he possessed a rare talent: he was exceptionally skilled at drawing maps.
Mountain paths traversed, bridges crossed, rivers forded, even maps glimpsed months ago—all these were etched in Mo Yanyun's mind. Whenever he wished, he could recall and piece them together.
"My lord, it's done," Mo Yanyun said, setting down his brush.
Qin Shaozong collected his thoughts, lowered his gaze, and reached out to take the still-damp silk map.
The map depicted the mountains and rivers near Ximen County and Taiping County, with particular detail given to the flow and tributaries of the Qi River, its confluence with other rivers, and the counties it passed through.
"At our current speed," Mo Yanyun said, "we will reach Ximen County in two and a half hours at the latest. By then, it will be broad daylight, and we can enter the city without exposing our identities."
Qin Shaozong looked at the Qi River on the map, a glint of calculation in his eyes.
The Qi River flowed roughly from north to south, with a slight westward-to-eastward bend, resulting in a southwestern course. This southwestern waterway passed near several counties, including Taiping County, which had the Zhuya Ferry, and Ximen County, their destination.
Further upstream was the third: Guhan County.
Guhan County happened to be directly west of Nankang County. It was as if he had taken a southwestern route, making a wide detour to end up west of Nankang County. What was particularly interesting was that Guhan County was near the Hutuo River, which had a small tributary beside Peach Blossom Ridge.
"I am 'gravely wounded,'" Qin Shaozong said. "This trip to Ximen County for a physician is unavoidable. They are traveling by land, and with that Commander Feng dead, I doubt they will pursue too closely. Let's lead them on a little chase first."
The recent battle had been in the mountains, where horses were useless, so everyone had dismounted. The difference was that his side had left directly by ship, while the enemy had to cross the mountains again to retrieve their horses. This back-and-forth meant his ship had gained a significant lead.
He continued, "Send a message to Su Xiuzhu. Tell him he will soon receive news of my grave injury. He is to enter the Jiang residence and take Yan San and the others away. After waiting one full day, they are to seek out Li Zan to avenge me. The Dark Cavalry is to be temporarily led by Yan San. The general marching plan remains largely unchanged. However, since I am in critical condition, there is no need for excessive secrecy now. Have them march directly along the upper road. The success of this plan hinges entirely on speed. Order Yan San to advance swiftly without delay."
From his perspective, Jiang Chonghai's collusion with Li Zan, and Li Zan's attempt to ambush the Dark Cavalry at Peach Blossom Ridge, were now clear.
As for Li Zan, he only knew that the Dark Cavalry would take the upper road past Peach Blossom Ridge. Based on this, he would likely choose to set an ambush there.
Both sides wanted to seize this ambush point. The difference lay in one side knowing the full picture and thus rushing to gain the advantage, while the other, feeling confident of victory, might proceed more leisurely.
The Su Xiuzhu Qin Shaozong mentioned was the Dark Cavalry's quartermaster and secretary, handling provisions and documents—a civil position within the army. When they entered the city, he had remained outside the walls with the three thousand Dark Cavalry troops.
Mo Yanyun nodded and began writing furiously again.
Half an hour later, the cabin door opened. The meeting was over.
Outside, the sky showed a faint, hazy light. A sliver of white appeared on the horizon as the darkest hour before dawn quietly passed.
Soon, the sky would be fully bright.
Climbing mountains, engaging in battle, boarding the ship, discussing plans. Qin Shaozong hadn't closed his eyes all night, but it didn't stop him from being full of energy. "Hu Bao, have the ship pull ashore for now."
"Lord, why is that?" Mo Yanyun stopped his steps on his way back to his room to catch up on sleep, thinking that this wasn't part of the plan they had just discussed.
Qin Shaozong glanced at him faintly. "What's with the fuss? Just going down to the river to wash up. You come too. If you don't bathe soon, the dung beetles from the mountains will smell you and come to roll you away."
Mo Yanyun: "..."
Mo Yanyun was greatly shocked.
Wait, since when was he smelly?
Last night, he had been left at the stronghold to prepare for the retreat and hadn't participated in the bloody battle. Compared to the Lord, whose robes were caked with blood thick enough to form clots and who was thoroughly marinated in the scent, he had at most just sweated a little.
But fine, since his superior ordered it, he couldn't not go. Mo Yanyun simply called out, "Come on, everyone, let's all go wash up."
The moon set, the sun rose, daylight returned, and a new day began.
Dai Li was awakened by the sunlight streaming through the window. She had been too exhausted after returning to her room last night and had forgotten to draw the curtains before sleeping.
Now, the sunlight outside was strong. Judging by the sun's height, Dai Li estimated the time to be around Chenshi (7-9 AM). She usually woke at this hour, but having rested late last night, she was still very tired.
Since no one had come to call her, why not draw the curtains and go back to sleep? Thinking this, Dai Li got off the bed, slipped on her wooden clogs, and went to the window to pull the curtains. But with one look, she was surprised to find the ship had docked.
It wasn't just pulled up to any random riverbank; it was moored at a ferry.
In the early morning, other ships were also at the ferry. Boats, both new and old, were moored quite orderly at the piers, disgorging and taking on passengers carrying large and small bundles.
If one looked further into the distance, one could see many covered boats gathered near the ferry, where fishermen wearing straw hats were unloading baskets of river catch.
The ferry was bustling with a constant stream of people coming and going.
Dai Li remembered the cart driver who had sent her out of the city saying the Qi River generally flowed from north to south. Since Qin Shaozong was fleeing, wouldn't he possibly choose the faster route of going downstream with the current?
If so, hadn't she gotten a step closer to Hangzhou?
Even though she knew perfectly well that Qin Shaozong wouldn't take her back to Hangzhou, Dai Li couldn't help but feel her spirits lift.
She wasn't sleepy anymore, couldn't sleep at all.
Just as she was about to push the window open wider to let the breeze in, a familiar warm surge rushed downwards. Dai Li froze, then hurried to fetch her menstrual cloth.
Her monthly courses had arrived.
Perhaps due to her constitution, Dai Li's cycle was quite regular. During her period, she only felt more easily fatigued than usual. Other negative effects, such as menstrual pain, backaches, or being prone to diarrhea, she didn't experience at all.
After changing into the menstrual cloth and washing up, Dai Li went out.
The entire third floor was quiet. Walking from one end to the other, Dai Li saw all the other guest rooms had their doors tightly shut, showing no signs of use, as if she were the only one staying on this floor.
She went downstairs.
It was livelier downstairs. Mo Yanyun and Hu Bao were talking beside the staircase.
"Later, when you get to the clinic, put the silver on the table, then just grab the physician on duty and carry him off, to show the urgency of the situation," Mo Yanyun said, pounding his right fist into his left palm.
Hu Bao nodded and continued, "And have people sweep through the medicine cabinets, take as many medicinal herbs as possible. Like locusts passing through, leaving not a blade of grass."
Listening to their plan, it sounded more like preparing for a raid.
"Lady Dai?" Mo Yanyun caught sight of Dai Li from the corner of his eye.
Dai Li descended the stairs. "Are you planning to go into the city? Could I possibly go with you? I'd like to buy some things."
Upon hearing this, both Mo Yanyun and Hu Bao's pupils constricted. Then, they actually both simultaneously made a motion of turning their heads away, pretending not to have heard.
Dai Li: "..."
For a moment, a faint awkwardness hung in the air.
"What are you all doing blocking the staircase?" A tall figure emerged from a room.
Hu Bao immediately said, "Lord, Lady Dai has something to discuss with you."
"Right, she has important matters to discuss with you. She was just passing by earlier," Mo Yanyun secretly gave Hu Bao an approving look. Good fellow, his mind was really sharp.
The gaze that had originally held a hint of evasion now settled firmly upon her, as invasive as ever. Dai Li paused for two breaths before meeting those brown eyes. "Yes, it's me. I have something I wish to discuss with you."
"Come here." Qin Shaozong turned and went back into his room.
Meaning the conversation was to be held inside the room.
Dai Li followed without hesitation. If it had been half an hour ago, she would certainly have felt nervous, but not now.
The two entered the room one after the other, with Dai Li, who was behind, casually closing the door.
Seeing this, Qin Shaozong raised a brow. This little fox had grown quite a bit bolder after a night's sleep.
Dai Li walked up to him and got straight to the point. "Lord, I just overheard Commandant Mo and the others discussing fetching a physician from the commandery. May I accompany them into the commandery to purchase some items?"
Qin Shaozong let out a soft, derisive sound.
This wasn't just a little bolder. Clearly, her courage had grown yet again, trending towards the audacity of a leopard.