“Young Master, there’s something…”

Yan Ruchu, who had been sketching a city map, looked toward the old man. “Go ahead,” he said.

The old man replied respectfully, “Earlier, Your Highness ordered an investigation into corruption. I discovered that a shed officer named Peng Tiancai and three of his subordinates had been poisoned. When they were found, it was horrible. Their bodies had deteriorated. There was not a single patch of skin untouched.”

Hearing this, Yan Ruchu lifted his head. “When did they die?” he asked.

“They were found five days ago, Your Highness,” the old man said.

Yan Ruchu frowned slightly. “Do we know who did it? Was the culprit caught?”

The old man shook his head. “The bodies were found too long after death. Even with the army coroner helping to examine them… no clues could be found.”

A heavy feeling settled in Yan Ruchu’s chest. “Could it be people from Jianghu?”

“Possibly,” the old man admitted.

He added, “The poison used was extraordinary. To rot down to the bones in just five days… This incident shouldn’t be taken lightly, nor blown out of proportion. Young Master must remain cautious.”

Yan Ruchu waved his hand dismissively. “I shouldn’t need to worry here…”

A suspicion began to form in the old man’s mind. Not daring to speak further, he silently withdrew.

After the old man left, Yan Ruchu entered his study.

A scholar inside was reading a bamboo scroll. Seeing Yan Ruchu enter, he said, “I heard everything, Your Highness. Rest assured, the poisoner poses no threat to you. It was merely about revenge.”

“Is that so?” Yan Ruchu relaxed slightly. “Does Master Zhu know who it was?”

The scholar looked at him. “It was a woman.”

“A woman?” Yan Ruchu paused, then spoke frankly, “Master Zhu, honestly… having a poison master under my command could be very useful. I’m considering trying to recruit her.”

Master Zhu shook his head. “If Your Highness wishes to recruit her… it’s very unlikely to succeed.”

“It might be worth trying,” Yan Ruchu countered.

“I don’t advise it,” Master Zhu said firmly. “Your Highness could seek out an alchemist. But a poison master? Do not try to recruit one. It… could well cost you your life.”

Hearing this, especially from Master Zhu, gave Yan Ruchu pause. So this poisoner genuinely possessed significant skill.

“It seems you are right. I understand.” Yan Ruchu let go of the idea and soon left.

Master Zhu set down his scroll after Yan Ruchu departed. He walked over to his desk.

On the desk lay a drawing of a pair of eyes and brows. Beside it sat a set of the Yin Yang fish.

Master Zhu glanced at the drawing. Then, he picked up the Yin Yang fish and cast them like dice.

Seeing the results of the divination, he sighed heavily.

“Even Sir Lian’s divination techniques… cannot reveal this person’s appearance…”

“Perhaps it’s best not to become involved.”

He put away the drawing of the eyes and brows, tucked the Yin Yang fish back into his sleeve, picked up his scroll, and resumed reading.

…

Outside Qingshan City, mountains stretched endlessly. Deep within them, winding paths twisted, and travelers often lost their way.

Yet, a woman wearing a veil followed behind a man.

That woman was Aqing, though she looked vastly different from before.

The man walking ahead of Aqing carried a bamboo basket on his back. It was filled with medicinal herbs.

He wasn’t old himself, perhaps only twenty-one or twenty-two. Yet worry lines marked his face above a sparse beard; his inner energy felt strong. He had an air of vitality.

The man carrying the basket glanced back. Seeing the veiled young woman walking silently with her head down, he asked, “You’ve killed the people you sought. Your revenge is done. Why can’t you find closure?”

Aqing lifted her head. “Dad… isn’t here anymore,” she said softly.

“Such partings are part of life,” the man said, shaking his head. “The more you cling to the past, the faster it devours you from within.”

“Those cursed techniques… the arts of gu poison… they violate the natural way. The longer you practice them, the more they twist both body and soul. Why do you think I brought you away? To prevent you from falling beyond redemption! But mark my words—if you insist on walking that path, I will have to cut ties! Do you understand me?” His gaze pierced hers, sharp and unyielding.

Aqing visibly flinched. She couldn’t meet his eyes.

“Time to enter the mountains,” the man declared.

“Yes,” Aqing murmured.

She followed the man into the deep mountains before them. Looking back over her shoulder at the path they came from, she knew the life she once knew… was gone forevermore.

…

Spring of the 13th year of the Xinglong Era.

The Da Xiang army approached Abyss River, intending to push through the Everview Mountain pass into Qingshan City.

Abyss River’s terrain was treacherous, easily defended, hard to attack. Tens of thousands of soldiers halted outside the river gorge, surveying the scene, shaking their heads in dismay.

Strategists in the Da Xiang command tent pondered for days without finding a solution. One sighed heavily, “Having studied Jing histories… I recall a Prince Yu of Great Jing who was banished here. He garrisoned troops, bought warhorses… Yet the Jing king of that time breached these mountains and forced his surrender at Qingshan City. What kind of mud brick mutt was that Prince Yu? Holding such an advantage, how could he lose utterly?”

“Breaking this Abyss River… it’s difficult…”

“Sigh.”

The prolonged journey, coupled with their current helplessness, stirred unrest amongst the troops. Seeing the wavering morale, the senior commander knew things were unfavorable. Rash action had to be avoided.

Because of these mountains, the two armies stalemated there.

“We cannot wait any longer!” the commander finally announced.

“Tomorrow, we storm Everview Mountain pass! Wait for their reinforcements, and we lose the initiative for good!”

“Ready the whole army!”

At dawn the next day, the sound of fierce fighting erupted along the Everview Mountain pass.

Massive rocks tumbled down from the mountain peaks, crushing men into pulp.

“Kill!”

Using the terrain savagely, the Righteous Army held their ground for hours. They even gained the upper hand.

The army commanded by the Prince of Xiang suffered repeated setbacks, its morale plummeting.

The very first battle… ended in defeat.

A messenger raced the three hundred miles to Shangjing at top speed.

Prince Xiang, Zhao Zhen, flew into a rage upon hearing the news. He overturned his table right there in court. “Useless fools!” he roared.

He gritted his teeth, his furious gaze sweeping across the court officials, all standing silent and fearfully bowed, not daring to risk provoking the Heavenly Might.

“Ha!”

Zhao Zhen bellowed, “So you all think I’m old? Is that it?”

He sneered coldly. “Bring me my armor! Bring me my halberd!”

He issued stark commands: “Three thousand men from the Elite Mystic Guard! Twenty thousand from the Capital Defense Garrison! Draw another ten thousand from Wanjiang!”

“I shall lead this campaign personally! To shatter those enemy forces!”

The ministers below could no longer remain seated.

“Your Majesty! Personal command is unthinkable!” one cried. “The land cannot be without its sovereign for even a day!”

Zhao Zhen scoffed coldly. “Court affairs… shall be temporarily delegated to the Crown Prince!”

“ONE MORE WORD… AND I CUT DOWN THE NEXT MAN WHO SPEAKS!”

Those words froze any officials daring to approach or object. They knew the King’s temper. That threat wasn’t empty. Heads had rolled in this very court before.

“Assemble the armies! Prepare to march!”

Zhao Zhen donned his war armor, mounted his warhorse immediately, and set off for the camps.

Instantly, the whole of Shangjing City was thrown into turmoil.

Zhao Zhen leading the expedition south personally… his courage undimmed by age!

Boom! Boom! Boom!…

The drums on the city wall shook the soldiers’ hearts.

Zhao Zhen raised his halberd high, pointing south.

“Warriors of the Empire! Follow me into battle!”

“AND ANNIHILATE THAT REBEL ARMY!”

“KILL!!”

A deafening roar of “KILL!” shook the heavens.

Clouds of dust bloomed as the armies of Da Xiang converged, surging southward.