"I'm relieved to see you safe and sound," he whispered in her ear. "Go back to the capital first thing tomorrow morning, promise me."

Qi Yue leaned against his chest, her tears soaking his clothes: "I can't lose you again."

Xin Suiyun gently stroked her hair: "I promise you, I will return safely after completing the mission. But the condition is that you must be safe."

The two embraced for a moment, then Xin Suiyun gently pushed her away: "I should go, staying any longer will expose my whereabouts."

"Wait," Qi Yue took out a sachet from her bosom, "This is a peace charm I prayed for; keep it with you."

Xin Suiyun accepted the sachet, a tender look in his eyes. He lowered his head and placed a light kiss on her forehead: "Take care."

With that, he turned and walked into the bamboo forest, his figure quickly disappearing into the night. Qi Yue stood there, clutching the small note he had slipped to her before he left.

Back in his room, he unfolded the note, which detailed the hiding places and action plans of the Northern Di spies. Clearly, Xin Suiyun had already ascertained the enemy's situation and was just waiting for the right moment to act.

After much deliberation, Qi Yue finally decided to hand the note to Xin Rui. She understood that although Xin Suiyun was unwilling to implicate others, in his current state, venturing into the lion's den alone was tantamount to courting death.

After reading the note, Xin Rui's expression turned grave: "This intelligence is extremely important, and I must make arrangements immediately. Sui Yun is taking too much of a risk; he plans to act alone in three days."

After examining the ink on the note, Qin Sang said, "Judging from the strength of the handwriting, his internal injuries have not healed and he is physically weak. It is indeed dangerous for him to act alone."

Qi Yue looked at them firmly: "We must help him, but we can't alert him."

The three discussed the matter late into the night and finally came up with a meticulous plan. They would cooperate with Xin Suiyun's actions, but would not interfere directly, only providing support at crucial moments.

Three days later, on a deserted manor in the northern suburbs of Linjiang Prefecture, a clandestine contest quietly unfolded. Qi Yue stood on a distant hilltop, nervously watching the manor's movements. Xin Rui and Qin Sang had already led their men to lie in ambush all around, awaiting the signal.

As midnight approached, flames suddenly erupted throughout the manor, accompanied by shouts of battle. Qi Yue's heart leaped into her throat as she clutched the jade pendant given to her by Xin Suiyun and silently prayed.

Suddenly, a dark figure leaped over the high wall of the manor, pursued closely by several people. Despite the distance, Qi Yue recognized Xin Suiyun at a glance. He was noticeably less agile than usual, clearly his injuries were affecting his skills.

The pursuers were getting closer and closer, and it looked like they were about to encircle them. Seeing this, Xin Rui immediately gave a signal, and the ambushing men rushed out from all sides, disrupting the pursuers' formation.

In the chaos, Xin Suiyun glanced back at the direction of the hill, as if he had sensed something. He hesitated for a moment, then quickly retreated towards the planned evacuation route.

Qi Yue breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him escape danger, but she knew in her heart that although the operation was successful, it had also made Xin Suiyun aware of their interference. She wondered how he would react.

Back in her courtyard in Yunze Town, Qi Yue spent a sleepless night. As dawn broke, the window rattled, and another dart struck a pillar. This time, the note was even shorter: "Thank you, return quickly."

Qi Yue held the note, feeling both relieved and disappointed. She was relieved that Xin Suiyun had accepted their help, but disappointed that he still insisted on her returning to the capital.

The next day, she told Xin Rui and Qin Sang that she wanted to return to Beijing. The two were quite surprised, but seeing that she was determined to leave, they did not try to persuade her to stay.

As she embarked on her journey home, Qi Yue glanced back at the picturesque landscape of Jiangnan. She knew that Xin Suiyun was watching over her from somewhere, protecting her. And she had to return to her place, waiting for his safe return.

The carriage slowly traveled north. Qi Yue stroked the jade pendant in her hand, a new decision forming in her heart. She would not wait passively, but would become someone who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Xin Suiyun. This journey south had allowed her to see her own heart clearly, and also to see the direction of her future.

Meanwhile, Xin Suiyun, far away in Jiangnan, stood in the bamboo forest watching the carriage depart, clutching the amulet she had given him tightly in her hand. A rare tenderness appeared on his face, which was still recovering from serious injuries.

"Wait for me, Yue'er," he murmured to himself. "Once I have cleared all obstacles, I will not let you down."