breaking Dawn
The morning light pierced through the mist in the dense forests of southern Vietnam, elongating the shadows of the two people holding hands.
Xiao Zhouyan's palm was warm and strong, completely enveloping Xu Qingyao's slightly cool fingers, as if he wanted to anchor her in this "true story" forever.
Xu Qingyao looked down at their clasped hands, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
The system remained silent, offering no further predictions or suggestions, as if tacitly acquiescing to this deviation from its original path.
She is no longer a pawn forced to act according to a script, but she has also lost her advantage as a prophet, and the road ahead is shrouded in mystery.
“General,” she began softly, using the old title, her tone tentative, “Chen Rou…”
“She can’t escape.” Xiao Zhouyan said calmly, leading her steadily forward, but not towards the valley’s exit, but towards a hidden path deeper into Ghost Cry Valley.
"The Southern Yue royal court is not monolithic, and the Third Prince has long been dissatisfied with Yan Zhan's infiltration of power. This Spirit Serpent Festival was originally a trap to lure him into a trap."
Xu Qingyao's heart stirred slightly.
It turns out that he didn't come for her alone. His trip to Nanyue was actually a carefully planned scheme targeting Shen Rou and the forces behind her.
She thought she had orchestrated her own death, unaware that she was also a pawn in his game, perhaps even... bait?
The thought made her fingertips tremble slightly.
Xiao Zhouyan immediately noticed, tightened his grip on her hand, turned his head to look at her, and said with deep eyes, "I won't use you as bait."
He seemed to be able to see through her thoughts, "But your death did make Shen Rou lower her guard, which is why she came here personally to activate the altar. I just didn't expect..." He paused, his voice lowering, "...that you would break into this place first."
The lingering fear in his voice seemed genuine.
Xu Qingyao silently processed this information, so her feigned death inadvertently facilitated his plan?
Could this be considered... another form of collaboration?
**
Meanwhile, in the capital of Nanyue.
The secret chamber of the Third Prince's residence was brightly lit by candlelight.
The Third Prince Basong looked at the secret report presented to him with a delighted expression: "General Xiao is indeed a man of his word! Ghost Cry Valley has been successfully surrounded, and that vixen Shen Rou will have no chance of escaping this time!"
The trusted advisor below pondered, "Your Highness, it is certainly a good thing that Xiao Zhouyan is using us to eliminate Yan Zhan's influence in Nanyue. However, for a general of Great Zhou to act in this way within our own territory, I'm afraid..."
Basong waved his hand to interrupt, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes: "My father is seriously ill, and the High Priest is colluding with Yan Zhan to install my good elder brother on the throne. Without external help, how can I resist? Xiao Zhouyan wants Shen Rou and Yan Zhan's lives, and I want the throne. We each get what we need. We'll talk about other things after this is done."
He paused, then sneered, "Moreover, his wife died within our borders. The Great Zhou royal family may well hold this against him. Xiao Zhouyan has a favor to ask of me."
**
Ghost Cry Valley, abandoned altar cave.
Under the protection of a group of assassins, Shen Rou retreated to the depths of the cave. Her face was so gloomy it could drip water.
Xu Qingyao is not dead! Xiao Zhouyan has also come!
This completely disrupted her plan to use the energy of the Southern Yue altar to repair the damaged origins of Wolf Howling Valley.
"Your Majesty, the exits are all blocked. It's the Third Prince of Nan Yue's men!" a bodyguard staggered in to report.
Shen Rou gripped the bone bell in her sleeve tightly, her knuckles turning white.
Having been reborn, she knew the future trends and thought she could manipulate everyone with her foresight, but she was repeatedly thwarted by Xu Qingyao and Xiao Zhouyan.
Xiao Zhouyan is one thing, but Xu Qingyao, who should have been dead long ago according to her original destiny, why is she able to escape every time, and even... become her nemesis?
"Initiate the blood sacrifice." A ruthless glint flashed in Shen Rou's eyes. "Use our people to forcibly activate the altar fragments and open the passage!"
She cannot die here. Yan Zhan is still waiting for her in Li Kingdom. Their great cause is not yet accomplished!
**
Temporary camp outside the valley.
Xiao Zhouyan settled Xu Qingyao in a tent and ordered his personal guards to protect her closely.
"Wait here for a moment, I'll be right back."
His tone was gentle, yet carried an undeniable determination.
Xu Qingyao nodded without asking any further questions.
She watched as Xiao Zhouyan walked out of the tent, his dark figure quickly disappearing into the depths of the forest.
He didn't need her to take action, or even provide any prophecy. He had already laid everything in place and was just waiting to reap the rewards.
She, who knew the original work, had become a true spectator at this moment.
She sat in the tent, and could vaguely hear the sounds of fighting and some strange energy humming coming from afar.
The system remained silent, as if reassessing the current level of danger in the world and the host's chances of survival.
About an hour later, the commotion outside gradually subsided.
A guard entered the tent and reported: "Madam, the remaining enemies who stubbornly resisted in the valley have all been wiped out, but... that witch Chen Rou disappeared without a trace when the altar exploded, and it is suspected that she used a secret method to escape. The general has sent people to investigate."
Xu Qingyao was not surprised.
Shen Rou, after all, was a reborn person, and she always had some trump cards to protect herself. She just didn't expect Xiao Zhouyan's actions to be so swift and ruthless, ending the battle so quickly.
A moment later, Xiao Zhouyan returned.
His robes were slightly dusty, and there was a cut on his cuff from a sharp blade, but his expression remained calm and showed no sign of dishevelment.
"Resolved?" Xu Qingyao looked up at him.
"Hmm." Xiao Zhouyan sat down beside her and naturally picked up the water pouch and took a sip. "The Third Prince of Nan Yue will handle the aftermath. The altar here has been destroyed, and Shen Rou won't be able to cause any trouble in the short term."
He spoke lightly, but Xu Qingyao could imagine the thrilling events involved.
She looked at the tear in his cuff and suddenly asked, "You knew all along that Shen Rou was a reincarnated person?"
Xiao Zhouyan paused, put down the water pouch, and looked at her with a deep gaze: "It's not important. What's important is that she hates you."
He reached out and brushed away a small blade of grass that had somehow gotten stuck in her hair. "And I won't let her succeed."
Xu Qingyao looked at him and suddenly understood.
Xiao Zhouyan didn't care whether Shen Rou was reborn or not, nor did he care where Xu Qingyao came from.
What he cared about was the reality of the present moment, the path he had chosen, and the people he wanted to protect. This almost domineering focus and powerful execution strangely calmed her long-standing anxiety and unease.
"Where to next?" she asked.
“Return to the capital.” Xiao Zhouyan’s lips curled slightly. “The play has already begun, and we must go back to finish it. Besides…” He looked at her meaningfully, “The deceased Lady of Zhenyuan Marquis needs a reasonable way to return.”
Xu Qingyao remained silent.
Yes, how can this "dead person" reappear in front of the world?
This is probably even more difficult than faking death.
But looking at Xiao Zhouyan's confident gaze, she suddenly felt that perhaps... he had already planned this out.
As an observer, she seemed to have no choice but to continue watching and see where fate would lead in this story dominated by him.
Shen Rou's escape undoubtedly means that the storm is far from over, and even greater waves may be brewing in the capital.
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