Translator: Ink Hub

Editor: Yoog

Night descended, and outside Yunyang Pass, the firelight from the enemy camp set the horizon ablaze, tinting half the sky a deep, bruised red.

Four thousand Western Qiang troops were encamped just ten li from the city. Their tents were scattered like stars, their torches formed a glowing dragon, and scouts prowled in all directions. It was a scene of grim, suffocating solemnity.

Inside the central command tent, a burly middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back, staring at a map. A jagged scar ran down the right side of his face, looking particularly hideous in the flickering candlelight.

This was Wanyan Chang, a Western Qiang general of terrifying renown. He had breached Yunyang Pass twice before, leading his men to ravage the interior. The previous two lead commanders of Yunyang Pass had both died by his hand. It was said the scar on his face was a gift from a lowly soldier during his first breach, and since then, every time he took the city, he ordered a massacre to vent his lingering rage.

The people of Yunyang Pass feared his name like a tiger.

A lieutenant in the tent asked respectfully, “General, the army has finished encamping. The siege machines, grain, and supplies have all arrived at the front line. We have also blockaded all exits to the west of Yunyang Pass to ensure the enemy cannot send scouts. According to our intelligence, no reinforcements will reach the city in the short term. Shall we begin the assault tomorrow?”

“Assault? Why should we assault the walls?”

Wanyan Chang flashed a thin smile. “Since there are no reinforcements, it is a lonely, isolated city. It matters not if we besiege it for a month or two. Besides, do we not have an inside ally? The gates of Yunyang Pass will eventually open on their own. The sons of the grasslands are masters of the bow and horse. They are first-class warriors who should not be wasted in a meat-grinder siege.”

“Hehe, this is all thanks to the general’s fearsome reputation.” The lieutenant laughed, shamelessly flattering him. “Our main army hadn’t even arrived before the surrender letter from a Qian general was delivered. This war is far too easy.”

“They are nothing but rats. How could they hope to contend with our Great Qiang’s celestial soldiers?”

Wanyan Chang gave a cold sneer. “Once we break Yunyang Pass this time, we must loot it thoroughly. Tell the warriors, no resting blades for half a month!”

“Thank you, General!”

The officers were invigorated. The term “no resting blades” meant there would be no military discipline to restrain them—they could rape, pillage, and slaughter to their heart’s content.

“One more thing. Was the man who shot Lai’erhua on the battlements today named Luo Yu? That name sounds familiar.” Wanyan Chang’s brow furrowed slightly. “A few days ago, two of our squads were wiped out at Jiming Fortress and Black Ditch Fortress. Was it not also this man’s doing?”

Those two arrows on the wall had been far too accurate. Even Wanyan Chang had been momentarily stunned, so he had taken special note of the name. In his eyes, it was a blatant provocation to the Great Qiang’s military might.

“Ahem, yes,” the lieutenant replied awkwardly. “We lost over two hundred brothers and two centurions to this man. It is said he only joined the army a month ago and has already risen to the rank of centurion.”

“What? A greenhorn recruit who joined just a month ago? Does that not mean he climbed over the heads of our Great Qiang warriors to get his promotion? Are you all so useless that you cannot handle a single recruit?!”

The roar made the officers lower their heads in fear as they scrambled to apologize, “Please forgive us, General! Next time, this subordinate will personally behead that thief!”

“This boy is a bit strange, it is better to be cautious.” Wanyan Chang’s gaze chilled. “Send a message into the city. Find an opportunity to eliminate this person. Do not let him remain an eyesore!”

“Yes, sir!”

* * *

“Wow! The wooden knife big brother made is so beautiful! Yang’er loves it!

“The pattern on the handle is so pretty! There’s a sun, a moon, and a word too. Big brother, what does this word say?”

Back at the roadside stall selling mutton soup, Luo Yu had fulfilled his promise and made a wooden knife for Yang’er. The pattern on the handle was carved in the likeness of Breaking Dawn.

Luo Yu pointed gently at the character on the hilt. “This word is read as Yang. It is your name. It means to be born toward the sun.”

A boy of seven or eight was at the age where he loved knives and swords. He hugged the small wooden knife, cheering and jumping with excitement. His grandfather, Old Li, watched from the side with red eyes. It was the first time he had seen his grandson this happy since his son died in battle.

“I didn’t expect it. Centurion Luo’s craftsmanship is quite exquisite.”

Xiao Shaoyou teased him, “When are you going to make one for me?”

“If you want one, make it yourself! Don’t come looking for me!”

Luo Yu couldn’t understand when Xiao Shaoyou had developed a taste for joking with him, and even seemed to be getting addicted to it. However, being around him was somewhat relaxing, like the feeling of having a comrade from his past life.

“All joking aside, those two arrows of yours two days ago were magnificent. First, they boosted the army’s morale; second, they managed to secure grain and pay for fifty extra men. A true case of killing two birds with one stone.”

Xiao Shaoyou crossed his legs and tapped his fingers on the table. “In the blink of an eye, you’ve become a celebrity in Yunyang Pass. Look at all this food, it’s all thanks to you.”

On the table, besides the two bowls of mutton soup from Old Li, there were small pickled cucumbers from Auntie Zhang next door and rice wine brewed by Third Auntie Wang across the street. The table was packed full.

Luo Yu had become famous overnight. The people of Yunyang Pass were simple: “if you fight off the enemy, you are protecting us, so we must thank you.” Over the past two days, when the commoners in the streets saw Luo Yu, they would approach him to say hello, and the more enthusiastic ones would offer food, making him quite embarrassed.

I wasn’t actually thinking about protecting the people back then. It was purely to squeeze a few more rations out of Kong Xian.

“Just eat. All this food still can’t shut your mouth.”

Luo Yu rolled his eyes at him again. “Let’s talk business. How is the investigation into the traitor going?”

“Difficult. No clues at all.”

Xiao Shaoyou’s face darkened. “I’ve compared the handwriting, but none of the officers at the rank of commandant or above match. The secret letter must have been ghostwritten by someone else on the traitor’s behalf. There is no trail to follow.”

“Then our only lead is broken.”

Luo Yu analyzed the situation methodically. “When the enemy arrived at the gates, I observed the expressions of the three lead generals. General Kong insisted on fighting and lost many men, so he can be excluded. Li Chengxiao and Jun Yi reacted similarly, nothing out of the ordinary. But a few days ago, when Li Chengxiao came to see me, he mentioned Walige out of the blue.”

“Walige? The one from whom you recovered the secret letter?”

Xiao Shaoyou’s gaze turned cold. “Why would Li Chengxiao mention Walige for no reason? Could he have been testing you?”

“I’m not sure yet. It could have been a casual remark, or he could have been trying to see if I discovered the letter.”

Luo Yu narrowed his eyes. “At least for now, his suspicion is the greatest.”

“We can’t convict him on that alone.”

Xiao Shaoyou furrowed his brow. “In my opinion, if we can’t find a lead, we can only report this to General Kong. At the very least, the garrison should be prepared to prevent a Qiang sneak attack on New Year’s Eve. Our two units alone cannot handle this.”

“Mm, I agree.”

Luo Yu nodded slightly, but then his gaze drifted toward the street, and his brow instantly knitted together.

“What is it?”

“Look over there.”

A group of men happened to be passing by on the street. They were dressed in rags like any other refugees, but strangely, these men were all strong and sturdy, unlike the other emaciated refugees.

“What a strange lot.”

Xiao Shaoyou sneered. “Other refugees have fear, numbness, or vacancy in their eyes. Look at them, their gazes are steady, and they keep looking around like thieves.”

Their eyes met, and the same words left their lips at once, “Qiang spies!”

“Old Li.” Xiao Shaoyou’s mouth curled slightly. “Please go to the military camp for us and deliver a message.”