Memories of Anzhou

That day was Chijin's birthday.

The date for the Cold Descent solar term had already been chosen, and she secretly followed a group of her senior brothers and sisters from Wenshan to Anzhou.

Anzhou was in chaos, and if Han Tian found out, he definitely wouldn't let Han Jiang out. She had no choice but to make an excuse to go down the mountain for a few days of travel before she managed to sneak out.

Han Jiang brought enough travel money and shared some with her fellow disciples. Everyone took good care of her along the way. From Sizhou Sect to Anzhou, Han Jiang didn't suffer any hardship.

She arrived in Anzhou ahead of time, counting down the days to give Chijin a surprise.

She even inquired about the location of Suzaku Pavilion's encampment, and just in case, she walked the route herself several times to ensure it was safe and fast.

She got up early, changed into a beautiful new dress, and brought a prepared gift—a token made of gold and jade, engraved with the name of a person named Crimson Gold.

"Junior sister, why don't we take you there? News came out last night that the rebels seem to have a new operation, and the area isn't very safe." Several of Wen Shan's senior sisters saw Han Jiang leave early in the morning.

Han Jiang thought that he had already caused trouble for his senior sister by coming to Anzhou, so how could he continue to trouble her for his own selfish reasons? So he shook his head and said, "It's okay, I've been there several times, there won't be any problems."

"Alright then, here you go." A senior sister handed Han Jiang a talisman and told her to keep it safe. If Han Jiang was injured, she should release the talisman, which would then quickly send a message to the senior sister.

"Have fun with your sweetheart!" several senior female students teased with smiles.

Han Jiang, embarrassed and shy, said, "What sweetheart? Don't you all know who it is?"

"Alright, alright, have fun with your Crimson Gold Senior Brother, okay?"

As Han Jiang had expected, she arrived at the Suzaku Pavilion's encampment without incident.

But the crimson gold is not here.

Fortunately, Han Jiang often appeared at the Vermilion Bird Pavilion, and many disciples recognized her. They pointed out Chi Jin's tent to her and told her to go in and rest until Chi Jin returned.

Chi Jin is no longer the greenhorn who just entered the Vermilion Bird Pavilion. Now, Chi Jin's status in the Vermilion Bird Pavilion has risen step by step, and he is highly valued by the Pavilion Master.

Han Jiang knew that Chi Jin could definitely do it, and she was happy for Chi Jin.

The tents of the Crimson Gold disciples were much larger than those of ordinary disciples, and a barrier was set up at the entrance, preventing unauthorized personnel from entering.

Han Jiang stood awkwardly at the door, unable to get in.

Later, a group of people saw that it was too hard for Hanjiang to wait outside in the sweltering heat at noon, and since they all knew that Hanjiang had a close relationship with Chijin, they invited an elder from the Vermilion Bird Pavilion to remove the barrier of Chijin's tent.

"Is your master Han Tian?" the man asked.

Han Jiang nodded timidly: "May I ask who you are—"

"My name is Li Fang, and I am the deputy head of the Vermilion Bird Pavilion. I had some friendship with your master in my early years and have always wanted your master to join the Vermilion Bird Pavilion."

"Greetings, Lord Li." Han Jiang bowed. "But my master has no such plans for the time being."

"I know, she has a temper. Alright, go inside, it's too sunny outside."

"Thank you." Han Jiang bowed again.

Back in the Four Continents Sect, Han Jiang had never been to Chi Jin's room. After all, not all disciples of the sect were like Han Shan, each with their own courtyard. Most disciples shared a courtyard with several others.

Several male disciples lived together, making it inconvenient for them to visit during the cold season.

Now, Han Jiang stood in the crimson tent, somewhat at a loss.

She didn't dare to look around, so she found a chair and sat down.

On the desk was a huge topographical map, with the red-marked areas marking the campsites of the Vermilion Bird Pavilion.

Han Jiang imagined Chi Jin sitting at his desk, strategizing and planning. His hand unconsciously touched the topographic map, and he suddenly noticed that a mark was different from the others.

At first glance, they look the same, but upon closer inspection, you can see slight differences.

Could it be that I didn't notice when I was marking it? Han Jiang leaned closer to take a look, and casually knocked the book on the table askew, revealing a page sandwiched in the middle.

Some symbols were scribbled on the paper.

However, a careful comparison reveals that the positions of the symbols on the paper correspond to the positions of some of the marked points on the topographic map.

Han Jiang seemed to have discovered something interesting, feeling as if he had become involved in Chi Jin's affairs and had become one of his people.

She became interested and continued analyzing the symbols.

By changing the angle of the paper, you can roughly distinguish that these symbols are probably dates.

And today happens to be one of them.

Could this be part of Senior Brother Chijin's daily tasks? Han Jiang became excited just thinking about it.

The campsite corresponding to today's symbol is nearby, so I might as well go check it out.

She wouldn't disturb her senior brother on his mission; she just wanted to see what Chi Jin was like when he was doing serious business.

Hanjiang restored the decorations on his desk, packed his things, and left the camp.

Without scouting the location beforehand, Han Jiang was definitely feeling uneasy.

I don't know where she got the courage; if she encountered rebels, she would be doomed.

This campsite was different from the previous one; it was guarded all around and could not be entered easily.

With the sun about to set, Hanjiang surveyed the area and found it to be a military stronghold. It seemed like he had made a wasted trip.

In the distance, a long line of people, seemingly refugees fleeing from their homes, was gradually approaching.

The team leader said something to the guard at the door, and then the guard signaled to let people in.

How could they get in? Does that mean only the victims are allowed in, and the heavy security is to protect the people?

Han Jiang scooped up some dirt and smeared it on herself. "My new dress," Han Jiang thought through gritted teeth. "It's just a dress, all for seeing my senior brother."

She mingled at the back of the line, mimicking the way those around her kept their heads down.

"Hey, did you guys flee here?" Han Jiang tried to strike up a conversation.

But no one paid any attention to her; everyone had their heads down, as if they had lost their souls, their eyes empty.

Why does this look like spiritual manipulation? Why would they use it on ordinary people? Could these people not be refugees, but rebels? But their clothes clearly belong to the people of Anzhou.

With the approach of the cold season, she had no time to think and quickly lowered her head, following the others into the campsite.

They were led to a tent, where everyone knelt down.

The leader said, "Come on, a few at a time, the rest of you keep quiet."

The man selected a few people and brought them out of the camp.

After he left, the people in the camp gradually returned to normal.

"What exactly is going on?" Han Jiang hurriedly asked the people around him.

A woman said, "My family was captured by the rebels, and then I was chosen to follow someone, and after that I don't remember anything."

"Captured by the rebels? But this is clearly the headquarters of the Vermilion Bird Pavilion!" Han Jiang said.

"What's all the noise in there!" Several guards stormed in, putting pressure on everyone and ordering them to squat down and shut up.

Han Jiang stood up and asked, "Who are you?"

“You don’t need to know.” The man grabbed Han Jiang, dragged her to the front, and hit her leg with a stick, forcing her to kneel down. “If you’re so disobedient, you’ll be next.”

"Why wait for the next batch? Send it over now," one of them said.

"She's quite pretty, and you just send her over like that?"

"Are you crazy! That lord said that you are not allowed to lay a hand on a woman, or you will die."

The group discussed Han Jiang's whereabouts in a lively discussion, but stopped abruptly when they mentioned "that person," and finally decided to leave Han Jiang for the next batch.

I broke out in a cold sweat as the cold air descended.

The leader returned to the camp and selected seven or eight people, including Han Jiang.

The man used his spiritual power to manipulate them, but Han Jiang knew he was unaffected by pure magic power, so he pretended to be manipulated and seized the opportunity to escape.

It was already dark when Han Jiang found a bend in the road and escaped from the back of the group.

The dress she was wearing became the biggest burden at this moment; the floral headdress swayed with every step, and the dress made it inconvenient to run.

She had no choice but to find a secluded spot, take out Hanshan's clothes from her storage bag, and change into them.

This stronghold is difficult to enter, and even more difficult to leave.

She dared not move around and could only stay in one place, looking around for a long time but still could not find the exit.

For some reason, the talisman her senior sister gave her couldn't be used; perhaps there was some kind of shielding spell in the camp. She already had little spiritual power, making it difficult to use talismans, and now it was even more difficult.

That's—pure gold!

There's no mistake! Overjoyed at the arrival of winter!

She brushed the dust off her clothes, tidied the stray hairs on her face, and tried to catch up with that figure, but the guard spotted her.

"Grab her!"

Han Jiang struggled, calling out, "Senior brother! Senior brother!"

She watched as Chijin walked into the tent without noticing her.

The guards escorted Han Jiang to a house. Unlike the temporary tents that had been set up, this house was properly built, and it wasn't even newly built.

Including Hanjiang, there were four people in total: a young girl, a woman, and a man.

There was another person lying on the stone platform, eyes closed, it was unclear whether they were dead or alive.

"What is this?" Han Jiang quietly asked the girl beside him.

The girl said, "They want to turn us into demons."

Another middle-aged woman said to Han Jiang, "You're not an ordinary person, are you?"

“Yes,” Han Jiang nodded gently, “I am a disciple of the Four Continents Sect.”

"That's great! I'll rush up there in a bit, and you figure out a way to escape and save us," the woman said.

The girl asked anxiously, "What about Mother?"

The woman said firmly, "Mother will be alright. Even if something happens, as long as you are alive, that's enough for me."

"This is the Vermilion Bird Pavilion's camp. There must be traitors using the Vermilion Bird Pavilion's reputation to commit evil deeds. I'll report to the Vermilion Bird Pavilion immediately after I leave!"

The person on the stone platform convulsed violently, and his arms began to swell as if filled with water, then quickly shrank back and stopped moving.

The spiritual energy and demonic energy of a person repel each other. When they merge, they expand within the body and then both break through the body, leaving only a withered body that will soon die.

Han Jiang watched helplessly as the person's eyes were reduced to whites, clinging to their last breath.

"Let's throw her into a human-demon fusion. Let's find another one!" the guard said nonchalantly.

The girl squeezed Han Jiang's cold hand, signaling her to get ready.

While the men were carrying the person off the stone platform and there were few people left in the house, the woman suddenly lunged at the guards at the door, and the men began to fight.

Han Jiang had no time to be sad; she immediately seized an opportunity to escape from the house. She didn't care if anyone was chasing her; she could only run for her life.

Turning around, he bumped into the red gold.

Chi Jin helped Han Jiang up: "Junior Sister, what are you doing here?"

"Grab her!"

Han Jiang didn't have time to explain, so she grabbed Chi Jin's hand and kept running.

Chi Jin pulled Han Jiang to a halt, his face serious.

Han Jiang, unable to pull Chi Jin, gasped for breath and said intermittently, "Senior brother, hurry, hurry... Senior brother, contact them, contact the people outside... contact Master..."

“I…can’t…” Akagin stammered.

"Are you being controlled by magic?" Han Jiang asked anxiously. "I have a talisman here, quick, quick—"

The talisman Han Jiang took out was snatched away by a hand. The person appeared behind Chi Jin and asked, "Chi Jin, who is this?"

"Reporting to Lord Liu, these are disciples of the Four Provinces Sect."

Han Jiang tried to take back the talisman, but Chi Jin held her hand firmly.

"The Four Continents Sect? I've never used a disciple of an immortal sect before for the human-demon transformation. Since she already knows so much, let her become a participant." Lord Liu crushed the talisman of cold descent, gave Chi Jin a look, and walked away.

"Senior brother!" Han Jiang didn't understand.

Isn't this the Vermilion Bird Pavilion? Isn't the Vermilion Bird Pavilion one of the three great immortal sects?

Having spent so many years together, Chi Jin could easily read Han Jiang's expression. He said, "Junior Sister, you must know that the Vermilion Bird Pavilion belongs first and foremost to His Majesty, and only secondly to all the immortal sects in the world."

Your Majesty? What does this have to do with Your Majesty?

Seeing Han Jiang's astonished expression, Chi Jin tried to keep his tone calm: "Junior sister, pretend you didn't see anything here, and I'll find a way to get you out of here."

Han Jiang was speechless.

Pretend she didn't see it? Then run back to report? With so many guards here, will they let her go?

Chi Jin's words were unbelievable to Han Jiang.

"Junior sister, trust me." Chi Jin understood Han Jiang's expression once again.