Where else can I go besides you?
After Qi Yuheng's burial, Qi Yuning dismissed all the servants in the mansion. As the willow trees sprouted new buds, she never rested and practiced the tactics of various weapons day and night.
Only extreme physical exhaustion can temporarily numb the heart that is wracked with pain day and night because of the departure of a loved one.
Before dawn, it was time for the military's armed conflict. On this day, before daybreak, Qi Yuning had already bathed and changed into a smart and practical outfit. She entered the quiet ancestral hall, slowly knelt down before her brother Qi Yuheng's memorial tablet, and solemnly kowtowed three times.
She mounted her horse, glanced back at the gate of the general's mansion one last time, then spurred her horse and resolutely galloped towards the martial arts testing ground outside the city.
The martial arts test was set up in the camp on the outskirts of the capital. Yellow sand covered the ground, forming a huge circle, which was already surrounded by a dense mass of soldiers.
When Qi Yuning, dressed in plain white and holding a long spear, entered the arena, all eyes fell on her.
There was curiosity, scrutiny, respect because of her surname, and contempt because of her gender.
As if unaware, she walked straight to the sidelines, drew her brother's sword, took out a plain white handkerchief, and carefully wiped it.
The sword reflected her cold, sharp features.
After wiping the sword clean, she sheathed it, strode confidently into the center of the battlefield, and glanced at everyone present: "Today is the martial arts test. Fellow heroes, please do not look down on me because I am a woman, nor give me any leeway because my surname is Qi!"
In the first few rounds, she used her agile movements and exquisite marksmanship to defeat several challengers in succession. The red tassel, as red as blood, danced in the swirling yellow sand, outlining a breathtaking trajectory. Although she was not as strong as the burly men in the army, she always managed to overcome strength with skill, finding openings to attack, drawing cheers from the watching soldiers.
However, the relentless battle eventually took a heavy toll on her; her breathing grew heavy, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth during one of the hard-hitting parries. She wiped it away with her sleeve, seemingly unconcerned, her gaze remaining resolute.
Just then, a man dressed in ordinary soldier's uniform and wearing a black iron mask stepped out from the crowd.
"Miss Qi, please enlighten me." His voice came through the mask, carrying a deliberately lowered tone.
The voice sounded strangely familiar, but Qi Yuning was focused on the battle and her mind was entirely on the spear in her hand, so she didn't think about it too much.
"please!"
The two instantly engaged in battle.
Swords clashed and clashed.
This masked man's skills far surpassed those of the previous ones; his moves were seasoned and his strength was formidable.
Qi Yuning felt the pressure increase dramatically and wielded her red-tasseled spear with impenetrable force, barely managing to defend herself.
During the fierce fight, she keenly noticed that whenever her opponent moved his left leg, his body would always pause almost imperceptibly.
Chance!
The moment his longsword came at him again, Qi Yuning advanced instead of retreating, feinting with the tip of her spear to lure him into blocking, while simultaneously twisting her waist and kicking him hard with her right leg.
"Well!"
With a muffled groan, the masked man lost his balance and suddenly fell to the ground. Due to the inertia, a wolf fang necklace tied with a red rope slipped out from his slightly open collar and fell onto the yellow sand.
Qi Yuning strode forward and picked up the wolf fang. The next moment, without hesitation, she reached out and ripped off the mask.
"Don't--"
It was too late. Beneath the mask lay Xia Chengen's face, slightly pale with pain, yet still undeniably handsome.
"As expected... it's you." Qi Yuning's voice instantly turned cold, and her fingers tightened around the wolf fang. The surrounding soldiers exchanged glances and whispered among themselves.
Despite the excruciating pain in his legs, Xia Chengen tried to sit up, his tone tinged with barely perceptible embarrassment: "Miss Qi... it's been a long time."
Because they were in the training camp, Qi Yuning didn't lash out. Instead, she glared fiercely at Xia Chengen and said, "What right do you have to bring it?" With tears in her eyes, Qi Yuning stepped forward and whispered to him, "Because of His Highness the Crown Prince, my brother died."
He instinctively grabbed Qi Yuning's wrist, but she forcefully shook him off.
“Miss Qi, regarding General Qi’s matter, I…” His Adam’s apple bobbed, his voice hoarse, “I will definitely fight for justice for you and for General Qi!”
"Heh." She sneered, her tone full of sarcasm: "You should just stick to your position as crown prince. My brother's justice is none of anyone else's business."
"If you're still angry, then fight me again, and I will not fight back."
Qi Yuning dropped the red-tasseled spear in her hand and grabbed Qi Yuheng's sword in the back: "Back in Liangchuan, I used that red-tasseled spear to save Your Highness. Today, I will use my brother's sword to strike you."
Xia Chengen stared at her red eyes and resolute expression, remained silent for a moment, and then slid the sword in his hand back into its sheath with a clang.
Qi Yuning remained on the offensive, while Xia Chengen, as expected, neither dodged nor evaded.
"Do you really want to kill me?" After a close call, Xia Chengen stared at her and asked softly.
“More than that,” Qi Yuning replied, then thrust the sword toward his chest again.
Xia Chengen dropped her sword, closed her eyes, and calmly accepted the judgment of her hatred.
The sword tip stopped abruptly just before it touched his robes. "Why didn't you dodge?!"
"Qi Yuning, we promised to work together to pacify the world."
"..."
"General Qi's death was not my intention. I'm sorry, it was my incompetence."
“You are indeed incompetent.” Qi Yuning took a deep breath, then sheathed her sword. “Your Highness, the next time we meet, we will be enemies. From now on, your empire has nothing to do with me.”
Her steps did not falter at all; her back remained ramrod straight, and she never looked back.
"Qi Yuning!"
She didn't stop or turn around because of his shouts.
"Is it really impossible for what we agreed on to be fulfilled?"
Qi Yuning took out the wolf tooth necklace she had just retrieved from Xia Chengen, threw it into the fire of the boiler next to her, and left gracefully.
Xia Chengen's breath hitched for a moment, then he ran towards the fire, reaching his bare hands into the scorching flames and ash, and a sharp, piercing pain shot through him.
His hands were instantly burned red and peeled. He trembled as he grasped the wolf tooth tightly in his palm, but unfortunately the red thread she had tied with her own hands had already been burned to ashes.
...
When Qi Yuning returned to the mansion, she saw a slender figure in the distance, holding a small bundle, sitting quietly on the stone steps in front of the mansion gate.
It is Wen Zhibai.
She dismounted and rushed forward, asking, "Zhibai? What happened?"
Wen Zhibai looked up at the sound, intending to say something, but his gaze first fell on Qi Yuning's clothes, which were covered in dusty footprints and looked slightly disheveled. He swallowed the words that were about to come out and instead asked, "Did you go to participate in the martial arts competition? Are you injured anywhere?"
Qi Yuning shook her head, trying to force a smile, but it was somewhat forced: "Don't worry, it's just a superficial injury. My bet with my brother... I won."
Seeing her trying to hold back her tears, Wen Zhibai understood. He didn't say anything, but simply reached out and gently hugged her.
"Why...are you here?" Qi Yuning asked cautiously. "Are you alright?"
Wen Zhibai slowly released her, lowered his eyelashes, stared at the tips of his shoes, and said softly, "Hmm. It's nothing serious. It's just that... I might have to trouble you to take me in for a while."
Seeing that Wen Zhibai was unwilling to talk about it, Qi Yuning did not intend to pry.
“Don’t say it’s troublesome.” Qi Yining grasped her hand. “I’m more than happy that you’re willing to come and keep me company. I’m not used to living alone in this empty mansion.” She paused, then asked hesitantly, “But… will Lord Pei mind?”
Upon hearing the words "Lord Pei," Wen Zhibai's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. She raised her head, her face expressionless, but her tone carried a deliberate coldness and resentment: "He and I are not husband and wife. What do my affairs have to do with him?"
She pulled Wen Zhibai to his feet: "It's windy outside, let's go inside first."
That night, the two lay side by side on the bed in Qi Yuning's room, but neither of them felt sleepy.
“By the way, Yu Ning,” Wen Zhibai’s voice rang out in the darkness, “have you ever heard of… the Spirit Binding Division?”
"The Spirit Binding Division?" Qi Yuning searched her mind for the name, then replied after a moment, "My brother mentioned it once by chance. It is said that many years ago, fox demons roamed the border of Liangchuan, and they were so rampant that they even disturbed the garrison. The small teams sent to investigate never returned. The court was shocked, and later the emperor personally mobilized the Spirit Binding Division to quell the chaos. What happened after that is unknown. All that is known is that those spirit binders seem to possess extraordinary skills, far beyond those of ordinary martial artists."
Wen Zhibai fell silent, and in the darkness, her breathing seemed to become heavier.
Qi Yuning waited for a while without getting a response, then couldn't help but reach out and wave her hand in front of her: "Zhibai? Why are you suddenly asking about this?"
Wen Zhibai seemed to snap out of her daze: "Hmm?" She turned over, facing Qi Yuning, though they couldn't see each other's expressions in the darkness. "Yuning, if I told you that there are indeed powers in this world that are beyond the comprehension of mortals, such as... non-human 'spirits,' such as... the dead coming back to life, would you think I'm crazy?"
For the next hour, Qi Yuning listened to Wen Zhibai recount the story of the Jiang family bloodline, the spirit ruler Pei Qinzhou, and the conspiracy stemming from the royal family's pursuit of immortality...
Qi Yuning felt a chill creep up her spine from the soles of her feet, making her shiver involuntarily.
The information was so shocking that she couldn't fully process it all at once.
"Yu Ning," Wen Zhibai's voice came through, tinged with weariness, "I know that what I'm about to say might be hard for you to believe, hard for you to accept..."
"Yes, all of this is indeed beyond my comprehension." Qi Yuning's voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet night. "But, Zhibai, I believe in you."
She clenched her fist and continued, "Because we all have to avenge our loved ones. This path is destined to be full of thorns, dark and cold... Fortunately, you are with me, my confidant. Otherwise, it would be too hard to walk alone."
"People say that true friends are hard to find." Wen Zhibai grasped her hand in return, his voice finally showing a hint of warmth. "Fortunately, you are here."
Although they couldn't see each other clearly, they could both feel the tearful smile spreading across each other's lips.
"Do you remember?" Qi Yuning tried to lighten the mood. "Back then, on the way to Liangchuan, you were very wary of me."
"Your martial arts skills are so good, of course I'm afraid."
"Actually, I wasn't following you guys back then entirely to hide from my brother," Qi Yuning confessed. "I also wanted to see for myself whether the rumored Lord Pei who deserted in the face of battle was really a coward."
"..." Mentioning Pei Qinzhou, Wen Zhibai fell silent again. After a long while, she finally spoke softly, "Yu Ning, I miss my mother so much."
“Me too… I can barely remember what my parents look like anymore.” Qi Yuning’s voice choked up. “Fortunately, from now on, I will never forget what my brother looks like.”
As soon as they finished speaking, the two could no longer hold back their tears, which silently streamed down their pillows.
"Revenge is nothing more than death," Qi Yuning said resolutely, wiping away her tears.
"Yes, I'm already prepared. As long as I can protect the Jiang family and... him, I'm not afraid of anything."
The next morning, as soon as Qi Yining opened the gate, she saw a tall, elegant man standing quietly in the dim morning light outside the gate, his clothes damp with dew, as if he had been waiting for a long time.
Lord Pei
Wen Zhibai had actually been awake for a while and was hiding behind the door, holding his breath and waiting for the commotion outside.
“Miss Qi,” Pei Qinzhou’s gaze swept over Qi Yuning, as if he wanted to look behind her, “I’m here to discuss important matters with you.”
Upon hearing this, Wen Zhibai, who was behind the door, felt a sinking feeling in his heart, and an indescribable sense of loss and bitterness welled up inside him.
As Pei Qinzhou stepped onto the stone steps, his gaze swept across the doorway and finally caught sight of the figure deliberately turning his head away, unwilling to look at him.
He paused slightly, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something to her.
However, Wen Zhibai preemptively turned his head sharply, interrupting his unspoken words.
Her face was expressionless, and her voice was as cold as ice: "Yu Ning, since you have important matters to discuss, I won't disturb you any longer. I'm going out for a walk."
"Zhibai." Pei Qinzhou subconsciously stepped forward, blocking her way. He looked at her deliberately aloof profile, his heart feeling as if it were blocked by a boulder, and all the words he wanted to say were finally reduced to just one sentence, "...I'm sorry."
"What apology? Lord Pei, aren't you being far too presumptuous? What makes you think I would actually like a monster who isn't even human?" Wen Zhibai seemed to have heard something utterly ridiculous, finally looking at him directly, a mocking smile curving his lips.
"It was just something I picked up on a whim when I was feeling sorry for you. I could throw it away whenever I wanted, but I was just teasing you out of pity. Lord Pei, you wouldn't really... take it seriously, would you?" Her words stunned Qi Yuning, who was standing to the side. She wanted to dissuade her but didn't know where to begin.
"Just a smile and you wag your tail and come crawling to me, you're so easily fooled. 'Pei Lang'? It's just a title to coax you into risking your life for me and taking the blame for me." Wen Zhibai wasn't satisfied yet, so he took out the half of the jasmine wood pendant from his pocket, waved it in front of him, and said with a contemptuous look, "And this, the thing you treasure, I've wanted to throw away for a long time. Looking at it constantly reminds me of what a foolish good deed I did, that I picked up such a huge problem as you!"
Every word felt like it was slowly torturing Pei Qinzhou's heart, and also like it was slowly torturing herself.
The courtyard was deathly silent.
"..." he began, his voice hoarse: "Is it a joke?"
Finally, in a suffocating silence, he took an extremely slow step back.
Seeing Pei Qinzhou's face darken instantly, Qi Yining felt a pang of pity and quickly stepped forward to smooth things over: "Zhibai! Are you... are you feeling unwell? Did you not sleep well last night? Should I go and fetch a doctor right away..."
Wen Zhibai abruptly shook off Qi Yining's hand that was trying to help her, his gaze sweeping over her, his tone colder and more distant than ever before: "Don't touch me. Miss Qi, are we that familiar?"
Having said that, she looked away from everyone, straightened her back, and walked out of the general's mansion.
Qi Yuning stood frozen in place, her face filled with astonishment and worry.
Pei Qinzhou stared in the direction she had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time. Finally, he concealed all the turbulent emotions in his eyes, took out a pre-prepared letter from his sleeve, and handed it to Qi Yining, who was still in a daze. His voice returned to its usual indifference, but it carried a deep weariness:
"Miss Qi, I have written down everything I need to discuss with you here."
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