She understood. Beiyuan Kingdom was the strongest of the seven kingdoms, so how could it show weakness to Ye Kingdom, which was at the bottom? Even if there were difficulties, it would never back down. It would fight to the end and uphold its self-respect and self-reliance.

As the two were talking, the last rays of sunlight disappeared on the horizon, and thousands of mountains and ridges were shrouded in boundless darkness.

Zheng Quchi felt a cool sensation on the back of her hand. She glanced down and touched it; it was melted snow water…

"Yuwen Sheng, it's snowing."

She looked up, unable to see clearly, but could feel the cold, interwoven snow net enveloping her. In the distance, illuminated by the firelight, snowflakes fell, bringing an infinitely tranquil and beautiful snow scene to the entire valley and forest.

Yuwen Sheng pulled Zheng Quchi's hand closer, and with her small face tilted up, he stroked her cold cheek with his fingertips: "Your clothes can protect you from sharp weapons, but can they protect you from snow?"

"Of course." Zheng Quchi thought he was wiping away the snow water for her and didn't care about the posture. Instead, she said with a proud look, "This is a one-piece armor, seamlessly spliced. Although it looks strange, its function is extremely powerful. In addition to basic protection against swords, it is also waterproof, fireproof and can prevent hidden weapons."

Yuwen Sheng tilted his head slightly and smiled, "It is indeed strange, but I dare not say it, for fear that you will be unhappy."

Zheng Quchi was stunned for a moment, and after realizing what he was talking about, he glared at him: "A one-of-a-kind item is called rare or special. My strange way of saying it is to accommodate your standards, not because it is really strange, understand?"

"I understand, it's my fault for being blind."

Laugh, laugh, all you do is laugh, what's so funny?

"It's bound to snow heavily tonight. How should the soldiers prepare?" Zheng Quchi sighed, then recalled their earlier conversation. She said seriously, "Since you're certain that the Beiyuan Army will attack even without reinforcements, when will they choose to do so? Will they attack tonight or wait until the snow stops?"

"The same harsh trials we endured are also theirs, but I was prepared, while they were not." With one sentence, Yuwen Sheng answered both her first and second questions.

The snowfall was not a problem; he had anticipated it and made preparations accordingly, so he had a countermeasure no matter when they chose to attack.

"...They probably wouldn't dare to act rashly in the snow tonight, would they?" Zheng Quchi murmured.

"I can't guess."

He took her hand with one hand and gripped the reins with the other, heading down the slope to avoid the wind.

Zheng Quchi followed his long legs with small, quick steps, tilting his head back to ask, "What do you mean by 'can't guess'?"

He simply said, "You can only prepare for two things at once; you can't go all the way with just one plan."

After hearing this, Zheng Quchi remained silent for a long time.

Seeing her troubled and worried expression, Yuwen Sheng paused and silently asked her a question.

Zheng Quchi confessed, "Actually... I hope they can wait until dawn before making their move, so that I can deal with Gongshu Jiruo's iron cavalry."

Yuwen Sheng nodded, and asked considerately, "Do you need my help?"

Zheng Quchi's eyes snapped open, and he nodded emphatically: "Yes, it is."

It is especially needed.

"Alright, regardless of whether the Northern Abyss Army mutinis tonight, I will ensure they have no time to act."

He spoke with such certainty, as if everything was under his control. Although Zheng Quchi inwardly complained, she couldn't deny that no matter how exaggerated his words were, she still believed him.

“You hold them off for me tonight, and I’ll deal with that troublesome iron horse machine for you tomorrow. I wish us a pleasant working relationship.” She naturally extended her small hand.

Yuwen Sheng didn't understand this kind of "etiquette," but he still took her other small hand in his, then slowly pulled it apart from her palm, inserted it between her fingers, and finally interlocked their fingers.

Zheng Quchi looked at him with a puzzled expression, but he asked with "innocence," "Is this kind of cooperation pleasant?"

"...Don't pretend to be innocent with me, you're clearly full of bad intentions."

She pulled her hand out of his palm, then grabbed his fingertips and shook them twice: "That's what I call a pleasant collaboration."

Yuwen Sheng simply looked at her and smiled, as if he was happy no matter what she said or did.

——

As the snow fell heavier and heavier, the campfire that had just been lit gradually went out. Without the light of the fire and the heat source for warmth, the surroundings were pitch black.

"Now that the fire is out, can they go and seek shelter from the snow?" Zheng Quchi asked Yuwen Sheng.

Yuwen Sheng replied, "There's nowhere to take shelter from the snow here."

"So they... just stood there in the snow all night?" She frowned.

"Otherwise what?" he asked with a smile.

Zheng Quchi knew that the soldiers could not leave their posts without orders. Without orders from above, they could not even move, let alone seek shelter from the snow.

"At least let them warm up a bit..."

Yuwen Sheng swept his hand away, clearing the snowflakes that had accumulated on Zheng Quchi's head and shoulders: "With such heavy snow, no fire can remain unextinguished."

Zheng Quchi was suddenly enlightened, and she clapped her hands: "I have a way."

Zheng Quchi left Yuwen Sheng behind, called over his men to work, and piled the firewood high again. Then he pulled a bamboo tube from his waist, poured the black, viscous liquid inside onto it, and blew on a tinderbox to light it.

Unlike other campfires that were extinguished by wind and snow, this one slowly ignited into a blazing fire in such harsh weather, instantly illuminating a large area around it.

Attracted by the firelight, many soldiers turned their heads to look in this direction, exclaiming in surprise, "What... what's going on?"

They were all surprised.

"Why doesn't the fire go out despite the heavy snow and wind?"

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