At the foot of the Yichun Mountains, deep within the dense forest.
Looking toward the valley in the west, the sky was stained a dark, bruised red. It was still at least an hour before dawn, and that was not the direction of the rising sun.
Flocks of birds took flight above the woods, a vast, oppressive shadow against the sky. All living things possess a spiritual intuition, especially when danger looms. The horses tethered in the forest felt the unusual disturbance in the air; they shifted their hooves, restless and agitated. From the depths of the trees, a stag with massive antlers stepped forth. A barefoot young man sat upon its back. He removed a bone flute from around his neck, pressed it to his lips, and after a moment of focused concentration, began to play a low melody.
His breath was exceptionally long and full, yet the sound of the bone flute was deep and coarse, consisting of only two or three simple notes. Even the most patient listener would have frowned. But the flutist did not care, for this music was never intended for human ears.
The restless horses gradually quieted. They flicked their ears and drew closer to the flutist.
"I agreed to play only three songs. If no one appears after three, we are going home."
Jiufang Qingqing spoke these words, though it was unclear if he was talking to himself or his four-legged friends.
They were currently upwind. Even if the fire surged out of the valley, it would not reach them for some time. As for whether those people could make it here, that depended on his senior brother’s luck.
Jiufang Qingqing yawned and stroked the stag’s furry, sleek hide. He was about to steal a nap in the drowsy pre-dawn hours when his mount suddenly snorted. Realizing something, he sat up straight. Against the dim, blurred ridgeline, several swaying grey figures were faintly visible. A familiar light flashed briefly in the gloom.
It was the glow of the Jitian Sword. The people he was waiting for had arrived.
The wait was finally over. Jiufang Qingqing let out a cheerful whistle. The stag and the horses, receiving their command, galloped down the slope with joy, reaching the group in the blink of an eye.
"Why are there so many people?" Jiufang Qingqing, the fourth disciple of Kunxu, didn't bother with pleasantries, his voice tinged with dissatisfaction. "You look like you crawled out of a mud pit. I just brushed these horses yesterday; my hands were nearly broken from the effort."
Qiu Ling paused. He did not seem surprised by the man’s appearance, nor did he answer the question.
"In the midst of desperation, I suddenly heard celestial music drifting from afar and followed the sound. It seems my junior brother’s musical skill has improved yet again."
The praise was so stiff it made Qin Jiuye’s toes curl, yet the Kunxu disciple’s face suddenly brightened, the clouds of annoyance vanishing.
"If San-lang says so, then it must be true. It seems this flute made from black vulture bone is indeed different. I’ll polish it some more another day; perhaps there will be even more gains." He fiddled with the short bone flute, instantly tossing his previous displeasure to the back of his mind. "Master told me to pick you up. Your horses are on the other side of the mountain; they’re useless now. There are many of you, but for safety’s sake, do not split into two groups. The heavily injured shall ride; the rest must keep up. If you fall behind slightly, do not worry—just follow the markers I leave. You will be out of the mountains by daybreak."
As his voice fell, another explosion echoed from the distance. The disciples of the World’s Number One Villa, covered in mud, shuddered violently. None dared to look back. Among the crowd, only Xie Xiu seemed to suddenly wake from a massive nightmare; he let out a sharp cry and collapsed to the ground, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.
Among the group, Jiang Xin’er and Teng Hu were the most severely injured. Qiu Ling originally wanted Lu Zican to lead them away first, but Teng Hu refused to mount a horse, insisting on staying behind. Qin Jiuye guessed his reasons but did not voice them, walking at the rear with Li Qiao.
The forest before dawn was pitch black, and the group walked in silence.
"Where is the item my master left behind?" Teng Hu’s voice finally rang out, ragged and breathless, yet filled with stubborn persistence. "The people from Kunxu are here now. Lord Jade Breaker need not worry that I will snatch the item and flee. Can you finally bring it out for a look?"
He was accustomed to running rampant in the martial world under the name of the White Ghost Umbrella. If it weren't for the fact that his master’s legacy was not yet in his hands, he would have summoned his disciples to carry him out of this wilderness long ago. Why would he suffer alongside them otherwise?
Qin Jiuye said nothing, only stealing a glance at Qiu Ling’s expression. For some reason, she felt that Zuo Ci’s final letter was not what they imagined, and that Qiu Ling had known something all along, which was why he hadn't produced it earlier.
Qiu Ling’s figure paused. After a long moment, he drew a leather-wrapped tube from his sleeve.
Seeing this, Teng Hu ignored his broken bones and rushed forward, taking the object with both hands and impatiently tearing it open.
The tube bore slight scorch marks. The leather seal fell away, and only a thin sheet of paper slipped out. It could hardly even be called a formal letter.
The surroundings fell into a collective silence. Teng Hu’s feet seemed frozen to the spot.
Even outside the West Offering Tower, his face had not shown such a look of despair. It was as if he might dissolve into a pool of black water at any moment.
"Is Lord Jade Breaker playing me for a fool?" His hand gripping the tube began to shake, his voice twisting. "Where is my master’s final testament? Where is the content of this tube?"
"This is exactly what I obtained from Di Mo. Even if I intended to slight you, I wouldn't have prepared a fake document to carry on me from the start."
Qiu Ling’s voice was calm, but to Teng Hu’s ears, it only fueled his frenzy.
"That old thief Di Mo! Even in death, he had to cross me! He must have swapped my master’s things, it must be him..."
"Perhaps this truly is what Zuo Ci left behind, just not the notes you desired." Qin Jiuye interrupted Teng Hu’s shouting. She picked up the thin paper that had fallen to the ground and handed it over. "No matter what is written inside, these were the words your master wished to say in the final moments of his life."
Teng Hu did not move. He didn't even dare look at the paper, as if reaching out to take it would mean accepting a certain reality—that the dust long swirling in his heart would finally settle.
Qin Jiuye said no more. She simply placed the letter in his hand, then took Li Qiao’s hand and turned to leave.
She had seen Zuo Ci’s annotations in the *Secret Records of Guifang* given to her by Madam Feng and recognized the handwriting. She did not believe it was a forgery by Di Mo. The letter was very short, the language unrefined—just a few lines that could be read at a glance. It looked like a casual note left for an old friend.
In a way, it *was* a note left for an old friend.
Di Mo had lied to Qiu Ling, yet he hadn't. He had indeed given Qiu Ling the so-called "Zuo Ci’s Testament," but the contents had nothing to do with Ye Fuzi or the formula.
The person who understood Di Mo best in this world was not in the martial arts community, but within the Black Moon. At certain moments, those old friends who had once faced life and death together and discussed their ideals understood him better than the Master of the World’s Number One Villa, who had lost himself in the shadows of the past.
Long ago, when he sent out those three letters, Zuo Ci had guessed that someone might arrive first on the appointed day. That person would be Di Mo, who had originally stolen the secret formula from Ju Chao. Di Mo might have strayed because of the formula, and fearing that Zuo Ci would reveal, expose, or solve something, he would want to arrive first to bury everything in a dark tomb.
However, Zuo Ci had failed to solve the mystery of Ye Fuzi even unto death.
He died beneath the waters of Lixin Lake, passing away amidst endless exploration, sleeping forever with the regret of his concern for the Black Moon’s fate.
*When obsession runs deep, let it go. Let this life’s lessons end with this life.*
This was Zuo Ci’s final realization, and his final advice to Di Mo. Although he ultimately failed to touch the truth of it all, he did not believe that what he couldn't achieve would be impossible for the younger generation. If Di Mo had felt even a moment of regret for his past actions, Zuo Ci did not ask him to help these young people, but at least not to block their path forward.
After all, the Four Gentlemen of the Black Moon had once fought side-by-side in pursuit of truth and righteousness.
Di Mo was dead. No one knew with what heart the Master of the World’s Number One Villa had gone to the place of his old friend’s death, or with what thoughts he had taken that letter. But Qin Jiuye felt that this seemingly thin and brief testament had perhaps invisibly rewritten everyone’s fate.
If Di Mo truly held his old friend’s last words in contempt, he could have burned them and put them out of his mind. Instead, he kept them. And while Ding Miao’s intentions in tampering with the wine during the Sword Appreciation Assembly were clear, if Di Mo had intended to aid the villain or profit from the chaos, he could have secretly lent Ding Miao his strength. He did not. In the process of tracing the secret formula, they had not encountered much resistance from the Villa.
Perhaps in the final stage of his life, Di Mo chose to become Wen Dimuo once again.
After walking a dozen paces, Qin Jiuye couldn't help but look back.
Teng Hu’s figure stood frozen in the woods. He seemed to have used all his strength just to turn that thin piece of paper over; after seeing the contents, he no longer had the power to move forward. However much he had idolized his master was how much hope he had pinned on this testament. At the moment those hopes shattered, the solitary lamp lit for him in the mountains went out. He had completely lost the motivation to cross the peaks.
From ahead came the faint, urgent voice of Jiufang Qingqing, sounding strangely uneasy.
"Don't dawdle. This is no place to linger. It will be trouble if we run into the authorities."
He shivered as he spoke, as if remembering some terrifying person or event. Yet, as if to confirm his premonition, the stag beneath him twitched its nose and took a half-step back.
"We were eating dust in the mountains while you were riding horses outside. How leisurely indeed." Chengyu stood with her arms crossed, her figure half-hidden in the shadows of the mountain slope like a mountain deity taking form. It was impossible to tell how long she had been waiting there. "My little junior brother has certainly improved, daring to steal people from right under my nose."
The ranking of the four Kunxu disciples existed for a reason. Chengyu was ranked second; she would overshadow her two juniors no matter what.
"Master’s orders cannot be disobeyed! If Senior Sister is dissatisfied, she can take it up with Master!"
Before Jiufang Qingqing had even finished speaking, he had vanished, fleeing with his stag. It was unclear if he was going down the mountain to fetch Master for help or if he intended to completely extricate himself from this clash between the officials and the martial world.
Even the top martial masters feared heavy arrows, let alone a group that had just escaped the tiger's den—wounded and crippled as they were. Rather than struggle, it was better to surrender quietly.
Di Mo had wanted to go down in flames, but the Jinshi Bureau was not merely brave; they were not so reckless as to charge in blindly. Still, they had suffered some hardships. Each of them looked even more solemn and terrifying than they had back in Xingshou Town. They set up a military tent unique to the Jinshi Bureau in the forest. With felt blankets reaching the ground on all four sides, it was airtight; not even a small insect could fly in.
Now, the letter tube was presented like evidence of a crime, and the young Commander was surrounded by the Jingcheng Guards. Chengyu sat before him. The silver armor she wore was so caked in grime its original color was invisible, looking as if it could shake out several ounces of dust. Only her grey eyes remained as cold and piercing as ever. An ordinary person would have trembled under her gaze, but the narrator remained perfectly calm, never once avoiding her eyes.
"...That is how it happened. Afterward, we escaped through the undercurrent beneath the mud of the lotus pond, met Jiufang Qingqing’s support outside the valley, and encountered all of you upon reaching this place."
As Qiu Ling’s final word fell, a long silence filled the tent.
Chengyu’s eyes narrowed slightly, clearly calculating something. After a long while, she spoke tonelessly.
"You say you infiltrated the West Offering Tower alone, and Di Mo burned himself in shame and indignation, giving you the items before he died?"
"Correct." There was not the slightest hint of retreat or guilt in Qiu Ling’s brow. The scrutinizing, oppressive gazes around him couldn't pry even a single crack in his composure. "Every word I have spoken is the truth. If Investigating Envoy An does not believe me, you may take your men inside to investigate once the fire is extinguished."
By the time the fire died down, the World’s Number One Villa would likely be nothing but ash. How could any evidence or clues possibly remain?
The suppressed suspicion in the air grew thicker. Chengyu did not speak again, but the commander of the Jingcheng Guards beside her began the interrogation in her stead.
"Commander Qiu enjoys the deep trust of General Du of the South, and has traveled far and wide investigating countless cases. You should know that words alone are not proof. Our confrontation with you now is merely in the hope that you can provide more evidence and clues."
The questioner still maintained some decorum, but the pressure in his words was obvious. He was certain the eldest son of the Qiu family would understand: if he didn't provide a satisfactory answer, it would confirm their suspicions.
"If Commander Wei cannot even fully believe my words, would he truly be convinced by any evidence I find? Di Mo had planted thunder-fire and oil throughout the villa long ago, proving he had intended to perish with his enemies from the start. It had little to do with whether I infiltrated first. It is only a pity I did not discover this information sooner, otherwise the Jinshi Bureau might have saved a great deal of effort."
Di Mo had set the fire himself to destroy all traces. The Jinshi Bureau’s three thousand heavy arrows had not only been useless, but they hadn't even salvaged a speck of ash from start to finish. Qiu Ling seemed to be taking the responsibility upon himself, but his words carried a sharp undertone of mockery. Commander Wei’s face immediately darkened, and his tone grew sharp.
"The Jinshi Bureau’s operations and layouts have always been top secret, yet Di Mo acted as if he had caught wind of it, preparing to die with us early on. The timing of your private infiltration is far too coincidental, and there are no others in the West Offering Tower who can corroborate what you just said. I am merely voicing the doubts of others."
Both sides were experienced in investigations; there was no need for circular rhetoric. After a few opening moves, they went straight to the heart of the matter.
Qiu Ling slowly looked up, a sharp intensity in his gaze that could not be ignored.
"Does Commander Wei’s statement imply a suspicion that I leaked word to Di Mo? If that were truly my intent, why would I personally make this trip and invite your suspicion? Would it not have been better to travel peacefully with you and then question others afterward, as Commander Wei is doing now?"
Commander Wei grew increasingly flustered and annoyed. He knew the relationship between this Qiu scion and his own Investigating Envoy through their sect, and assumed Chengyu had been "betrayed" by one of her own. He pressed on even harder.
"I have no prior acquaintance with Di Mo and no connection to the martial world. I am always at the front during operations. I can swear to the heavens that my conscience is clear, both publicly and privately. I wonder if the Commander can say the same?"
This Commander Wei was clearly a veteran of the Jinshi Bureau, possessing both seniority and experience. His questioning seemed blunt but was actually incredibly sharp, aimed directly at Qiu Ling’s complex background and the Qiu family’s murky past. If Qiu Ling were provoked into anger, Wei would have achieved his goal.
However, the emotion he hoped for did not appear on the other man’s face.
Qiu Ling looked around, his gaze sweeping over each armored figure as if identifying them, or perhaps memorizing their faces. Only then did he speak slowly.
"Before I came south this time, Zhou Yaxian, the Inspector of Yuzhou, delivered a silk pouch on behalf of General Du Li. He told me to open it only before entering the World’s Number One Villa. Inside that pouch was half of a Ju Chao military report. My father personally entrusted this half-report to him years ago as the final piece of evidence to prove the Black Moon’s innocence. If the matters regarding the Black Moon were to fade away, this report would never need to be shown. But if someone were to use the Black Moon’s name to attempt a 'resurrection,' someone would have to stand forth and declare the truth—and that task could only be done by General Du, who was never part of the Black Moon. General Du was a close friend of my father for many years and understood the people of the Black Moon well. He knew Di Mo’s obsession ran deep and that he would not easily yield, so he shared this past with me to help me deliver a fatal blow at the final moment. As it turns out, Di Mo was indeed broken by this matter. I wonder if this explanation can dispel your doubts."
Silence instantly filled the tent.
The Jinshi Bureau had come with hearts full of suspicion, vowing to dig some secrets out of this Qiu scion. They never expected him to reveal such hidden matters so easily, even speaking of the Black Moon’s past without evasion. This instead made them feel outmatched.
Qiu Ling’s gaze swept over the hesitant, guarded faces, clearly having anticipated their reactions.
"This matter is top secret and should not have been mentioned. But as you are all working for the crown and have ventured deep into the enemy’s nest, you deserve to know the full truth. Thus, I have told you everything."
After a long while, Commander Wei spoke dryly.
"Where is this military report now?"
"General Du instructed that the contents of the pouch be burned after reading. Even if I had kept it, you likely would not wish to see what was inside."
The Jinshi Bureau followed the law strictly and struck where they were told; they understood best the principle of not looking for extra trouble, especially regarding dark, ancient secrets. No one would voluntarily touch them. Sure enough, Commander Wei’s expression froze, and he did not speak for a time.
He had long heard rumors that General Du Li looked after the Qiu family, but most agreed with the court’s view: it was merely a gesture Du Li needed to make as the premier general of Xiangliang. But if what this Qiu scion said was true, the relationship between the two families was far more entangled than imagined. Even Prince Yu’an was likely in the know; after the rebellion of Prince Xiaoling, his status as a royal relative made it difficult for him to offer protection openly, but his silence and efforts to keep the peace regarding Black Moon matters over the years were, in themselves, a form of stance.
No one expected that an interrogation centered on a martial villa master would lead to such forbidden topics. Commander Wei was agonizing over how to retreat gracefully when Chengyu suddenly spoke.
"Where is your jade?" Chengyu’s sharp gaze swept over his waist, her voice turning cold instantly. "You acted without authorization and lost your jade. How do you intend to explain this to the General?"
This Investigating Envoy from Kunxu had inherited half of Yuan Zhi’s temperament, never playing by the rules. Even as her junior brother, Qiu Ling could not withstand her. He understood that while he could endure the questioning of the rest of the Jinshi Bureau, he could not dodge this.
"I will take responsibility for my own actions. I am willing to accept punishment."
As soon as he said this, a murmur went through the crowd.
To prove his innocence, this Qiu scion had just revealed the secrets of the Black Moon. Now, regarding the Water-Cang Jade, he didn't even offer an explanation and simply accepted guilt. Could there truly be some reason that couldn't be scrutinized?
Chengyu clearly sensed it too. But she was no ordinary hunter; she never pursued a cornered prey, waiting instead for the prey to reveal its own flaw.
"A jade-wearing Commander of Xiangliang is equivalent to being personally appointed by the Emperor. As an Investigating Envoy, I have no authority to deal with you. Please accompany us back to the capital to face the Emperor and give your account."
Sure enough, as soon as she spoke, the calm, self-possessed face of the man before her changed.
Setting aside the fact that the Emperor was not someone one could see just by asking, he would have to go through the Court of Judicial Review. The interrogation process would be complex, and if he fell into the hands of the Prison Bureau, it could take months or even half a year. He would have to stay in the capital awaiting trial—how could he then handle the matter of the secret formula?
"Di Mo is dead, but the Shadow Envoys of the Villa are still at large. I cannot let go at this time..."
"I am not negotiating with you." Chengyu’s patience seemed to have completely run out. She stood up, her presence exerting a powerful pressure. "Even if Master were here, I would not stay my hand. If I continue to let you act willfully, you will eventually commit a catastrophic error..."
"Who said he lost his jade?"
A woman’s voice rang out from outside the tent, and a swaying shadow was cast against the fabric. She seemed unable to find the entrance through the heavy felt curtains, circling twice before ducking inside. Every eye in the tent focused on her, but she only looked at the young Commander kneeling on the ground.
He was still wearing the same half-charred robes. The burns hadn't been treated, looking terrifying to behold. Yet no one in the tent seemed to see them, their minds entirely set on digging out his faults and finding his flaws.
No wonder Lu Zican was so fussy, constantly acting like a mother hen protecting him; it was truly because his Commander didn't know how to cry out in pain or complain of hardship.
Qin Jiuye took a deep breath and walked to Qiu Ling. She untied her personal coin pouch and poured the contents onto the ground with a clatter.
Broken silver and copper coins scattered everywhere. She squatted down, huffing as she picked out half a piece of Water-Cang Jade. The surrounding Jingcheng Guards stared with wide eyes as she carefully put her life savings back into the pouch before solemnly handing the jade over.
"I just heard General Lu mention it and came to deliver the item. Fortunately, I made it in time, otherwise I would have ruined the Commander’s great task."
Jade was noble; how could it be placed with something as vulgar as money? The onlookers couldn't hide their disgust, but the young Commander kneeling in the center was momentarily stunned into immobility.
Only he knew what that coin pouch meant to her. She had placed his jade together with her most important possession; that was how she had managed to return it to his hands through a thousand hardships.
Qiu Ling stared at the jade in her hand, neither speaking nor taking it for a long moment.
Qin Jiuye grew anxious. Sensing the situation was dire and that any delay would allow others to see through them, she simply stepped forward and, without a word, tied the jade back onto his waist.
A collective gasp filled the tent.
They said this Qiu scion was a cold-faced Commander, famous in the martial world for his "Jade" and his lofty pride. How could he allow a village girl from nowhere to put her hands all over him in front of everyone?
Qiu Ling heard those meaningful murmurs. But he still didn't move, nor did he push her away, letting the woman fuss over him.
When he had first given her that half-piece of Water-Cang Jade, she hadn't even known where to hang it. Now, she had learned to tie the knots, and she did it quickly and well.
"How is the handiwork? I practiced for a long time."
She looked up at him as if seeking credit, the vivid emotions in the depths of her eyes dancing like sunlight on water.
He said nothing, only raising a hand to stroke the half-jade, feeling her warmth slowly dissipate from the stone that should have been cold, until nothing was left.
"Why was the Water-Cang Jade bestowed by the General of the South in your hands?"
Commander Wei finally spoke, seemingly unable to endure it any longer. Qiu Ling immediately shifted his body slightly, blocking her.
"This was something I previously..."
He was about to explain when he was subtly pressed down.
Qin Jiuye gently tugged his sleeve, then peeked out from behind him, her face wearing a perfectly timed look of lingering fear.
"The officer might not know, but that villa was truly perilous. The Commander was fighting a bloody battle at the front, heroically slaying enemies; he truly couldn't attend to anything else. I was hiding behind him and happened to pick it up. I could tell at a glance it was no ordinary object, so I kept it with great care. I went through a thousand hardships to bring it out. You could say I have worked hard even if I have no merit."
As she spoke, she rubbed her hands with a fawning smile. Commander Wei immediately looked at her with a gaze that said he had seen right through her, his eyes filled with unconcealed contempt.
"This is a bestowed object. Keeping it privately is a capital offense. Do you dare ask for a reward at a time like this? Do you even see where you are..."
"Commander Wei is wise. Since the matter is clear, leaving an outsider here is only a hindrance. I shall see her out."
Qiu Ling spoke and, without allowing for argument, pulled the person behind him away. The "outsider" Qin Jiuye wanted to protest, but she was no match for him and was dragged out.
Commander Wei was cut off before he could finish. Seeing the other man act as if he didn't exist, he froze, his face turning an ugly shade of red.
In the next moment, Chengyu’s laughter rang out, adding fuel to the fire.
"It is truly a pity Master couldn't see this scene." Her laughter didn't last long, her tone turning somewhat sorrowful. "I just wonder if there will be another chance to see it in the future."
Faint sounds of a low-voiced argument came from outside the tent before falling silent. A moment later, Qiu Ling returned to the tent, looking up to meet Chengyu’s teasing gaze.
Having been fortunate enough to witness the "returning the jade" show, her mood had brightened considerably, and her voice was much softer.
"Why were you in such a hurry to chase her out? I wasn't going to eat her."
"She is neither of the military nor the court; it is not appropriate for her to hear the discussions in this tent. I was also considering the Investigating Envoy’s position."
Qiu Ling’s answer was seamless, just like his flawless protection of the woman.
The lingering footsteps outside hadn't completely faded. Chengyu’s eyes flickered, and she waved a hand tiredly.
"My little junior brother must have gone down the mountain to tattle. Before Master arrives, clean yourself up. The Imperial Sacrifice went wrong, and the capital is a mess right now; no one has the leisure to deal with you. But leaving your post without authorization is a fact; you cannot dodge this charge. Accept your punishment early to avoid becoming a target for others to use against you later. By then, it won't be as simple as twenty strokes."
Commander Wei had thought Chengyu was going to show favoritism and let her junior brother off, but he hadn't expected her to be so impartial. He immediately stepped forward to take on the task of punishing the Lord of Broken Jade. But as the staff was placed in his hand, he hesitated, remembering the man was a confidant of General Du. He whispered cautiously to Chengyu.
"Should we find a secluded place for the punishment? After all, there are martial artists here. If word gets out..."
Chengyu’s eyes shifted toward the outside of the tent.
"A mistake requires punishment; those are the rules. Do it right here. Make it loud, so the people outside the tent can hear it too."
Having received his orders, Commander Wei no longer hesitated. He stepped forward, stripped the man’s upper garments, and began the military discipline. Though he was difficult, he was a fair man; he deliberately avoided the burns on Qiu Ling’s shoulders and back, but he did not hold back on the force of the blows.
The sound of the staff hitting flesh drifted out of the tent, making the listeners' hearts tighten.
Lu Zican squatted in a tree hollow, his fists clenched. Every time the staff landed, his beard twitched.
Qin Jiuye was right behind him. Every time Lu Zican’s beard twitched, she shuddered.
"What should we do? Those people are truly unreasonable. I already returned the jade to the Commander, so why are they still beating him?"
Lu Zican’s broad shoulders suddenly turned. His small eyes were filled with a complex emotion she couldn't understand, and when he spoke, his voice was as high-pitched as a bird’s cry.
"A jade missing half—how can it be considered whole?!"
Qin Jiuye was speechless. She didn't know the deeper meaning behind Lu Zican’s words, but thinking of the scene in the East Prayer Pavilion, she still felt an indescribable guilt.
"The half your Commander had did indeed break because of me, but fortunately I saved the other half for him, didn't I? General Lu, do not grieve. Your Commander is in his prime. Once the matter of the secret formula is over, he can return to the capital, show his skills, and earn countless more military merits. Then that General Du can just bestow a few new ones upon him."
Lu Zican stared at the woman’s earnest face, feeling both stifled and dejected.
She undoubtedly believed Qiu Ling was exceptional, which was why she said those words. But she was not of the court; she didn't know that some rules were far more unbreakable than gold or stone. The fret-patterned Water-Cang Jade was carved from a single piece of jade, a natural masterpiece; a recipient was given only one pair in their lifetime. If it was damaged, military law applied. Wearing a broken jade was like walking with shame; no matter how much merit one earned or how much punishment one endured, it could never replace the original wholeness.
If the first time he gave her half the jade meant entrusting her with half his trust and half his sincere heart, then the moment Qiu Ling chose to give the jade away—knowing full well she already had someone else in her heart—he had decided his own fate. Perhaps the title "Kunxu’s Broken Jade" had long ago written his sentence, and today was the day he met his tribulation.
"Brother Lu, you aren't the one getting beaten. Why are you crying..."
Lu Zican glared, as if that could make the tears in his eyes vanish faster.
"The wind blew dust in my eyes!"
The sensitive man shouted this and refused to say another word, standing up and stomping away in a huff.
Qin Jiuye watched his sorrowful back, her expression turning somber.
Dawn would come soon, but the mountain forest was still shrouded in gloom.
The people in the tent dispersed, leaving only a single lamp.
Chengyu led the Jinshi Bureau men out, perhaps intentionally leaving the punished man to reflect in solitude. For the man in the tent, such moments of being alone with his wounds were not unfamiliar.
When he was very young, his father had taught him through his own experiences: a commander must never show a weak side to others. Even if the wounds were severe and blood soaked the armor, one must never show signs of defeat. Thus, when treating wounds during a campaign, he never allowed others into his tent; even close subordinates had to announce themselves and receive permission before approaching.
There was another rustling sound outside the tent, like a small animal foraging in the early morning, testing the surroundings before finally poking its head in hesitantly.
She was not a martial artist, and she had hesitated outside for a long time. He had discovered her long ago, but he remained there with his wounds exposed, waiting for her to enter. He didn't know what he was hoping for, and he felt powerless and ashamed of that hope.
"Did something happen outside?"
His voice was polite and distant, but his body grew hot from his accelerating heartbeat.
The woman stood far away, unable to feel his temperature. After a moment of hesitation, she took a small bottle from her person.
"I gathered some herbs and mixed some medicine. It’s a bit crude, but it can at least offer some relief."
Qiu Ling said nothing, only watching her quietly.
The marks of the staff punishment crisscrossed his shoulders and back, and at the edges were the crimson burns. Qin Jiuye tried to control her gaze, but her instincts as a healer wouldn't let her be at peace. The wounds from the staff were likely not a major issue, but the burns on his back were troublesome. That was the hardest place to clean and apply medicine to oneself, and he had been soaked in that filthy mud earlier; it had to be treated as soon as possible...
Her fingers tightened, but in the end, she only placed the medicine on the table, then stood three paces away and spoke softly.
"Even though I returned the jade to the Commander, our previous agreement still stands."
When she said "our," his heart leaped uncontrollably, but when he thought of the agreement regarding friends and old acquaintances, his heart returned to a dead silence.
"Is there anything else?"
He stared at her, waiting for her, hoping for her. He saw her hesitate for a moment before finally saying with concern:
"The Commander has something on his mind."
She had noticed after all.
Even though he hadn't let a single trace show on his face, even though everyone was currently worried about their own affairs, and even though he had sect-mates who had been with him much longer, she was the only one who sensed his unease.
After a long silence, Qiu Ling lowered his gaze, then casually pulled a cloak over his shoulders to hide the gruesome wounds.
"Senior Sister is merely angry, but the Jinshi Bureau won't let it go easily. Although we barely passed for now, they will certainly pursue it later..."
"You know that isn't what I’m asking about." She was persistent, ignoring his evasion. "Matters of officialdom wouldn't make you this unsettled. You clearly have other worries. What happened at the Villa? Or what did Di Mo say to you? Otherwise, why..."
Otherwise, why would someone who had already resolved to perish with his enemies so easily hand over the items at the end? Would a person who didn't even care for life or death truly be willing to help others before his suicide?
She didn't voice these questions. But for the man before her, she didn't need to ask everything.
A moment later, Qiu Ling’s voice finally rang out again.
"Do you suspect me?"
This "interrogation" felt somewhat familiar, like when she had come to the manor alone to find him for her grandfather. Only last time he had been blustering to hide his weakness, while this time, his voice was weary and even slightly hurt.
He tried his best to hide it, fearing she would hear something. She only took half a step forward and looked at him with sincere eyes.
"I came to find the Commander precisely because I believe in the Commander. I believe that even if the Commander is hiding something, there must be a reason and a hardship behind it. It’s just that some things shouldn't be your responsibility alone. Even if you take everything upon yourself until you can't breathe, others won't be grateful to you; in the end, it’s only you who exhausts your heart’s blood. I don't want the Commander to fall deeper because of this. You still have many people around you..." As she reached the end, perhaps realizing she was overstepping, she cut herself off, her voice turning low. "I hold no official rank. I am only asking you this as a friend. If I am indeed overthinking, or if you still feel this is the safer way after careful consideration, then do not mind what I just said... I will go call General Lu to apply the medicine for you."
Having said that, she lowered her head and prepared to leave, never once looking up at him.
In truth, if she had only looked up and seen the expression on his face, some things could no longer be glossed over, and their "agreement of old friends" would have been torn up on the spot.
He did indeed have many people around him. But the person who understood him best in this world was right before him, yet he couldn't step forward to hold her and tell her of the pain in his heart. Because she had already given that listening, comforting heart to someone else.
"Before Di Mo set fire to the West Offering Tower, he whispered a sentence in my ear." Just before she stepped out of the tent, he finally spoke in a low voice. "He told me he had been keeping an eye on Ding Miao. When the Sword Appreciation Assembly ended, Ding Miao had arranged a total of eight ships near Jiugao."
Qin Jiuye stopped. It took only an instant for her to understand the meaning, and she spun around.
"But didn't General Lu and the others only intercept seven..."
"Correct. So we missed one, and that ship is likely already somewhere within Jiugao City."
Her hands and feet went cold instantly. When she spoke again, her lips felt numb.
"Is it... is it possible Di Mo said that to deceive you? To disrupt your arrangements, or perhaps to use you to deal with Ding Miao? After all, Ding Miao was a traitor to him too..."
"I had the same suspicion in my heart before, but I no longer thought so after seeing the letter Zuo Ci left behind."
As the Master of the World’s Number One Villa and a former general of the Black Moon, he had countless ways to tell him this information in a more subtle, less suspicious manner. In the end, he chose the simplest, most direct, and most uncompromising way. Perhaps it was because, until the very last moment, Di Mo still couldn't see his own heart clearly.
Qin Jiuye fell into silence. Qiu Ling understood her silence, and when he spoke again, he cut off all lucky fantasies.
"I just received a message from Lin Fang. The contents of the letter also indicate that Di Mo was likely not lying."
An urgent message from Lin Fang could only mean something had happened in Jiugao City.
The previous nightmares crawled out of the depths of her mind uncontrollably. Terrifying fantasies stretched out tentacles to grip her heart. Qin Jiuye adjusted her breathing, forcing herself to calm down.
"More than three months have passed since the Sword Appreciation Assembly. During this time, no terrifying news has come from the city. This means Ding Miao might not have started his final move yet. We still have a chance to fix this."
Qiu Ling nodded but didn't speak, only staring at her intently.
Qin Jiuye read that gaze. Recalling how he had hesitated repeatedly before telling her the truth, she murmured:
"The Commander doesn't want me to go back?"
Qiu Ling lowered his head. This was the first time since they met that he didn't dare look into her eyes.
"You have already completed your task. The mystery of the secret formula has been solved. Leave the rest to others."
The air was silent for a moment. Her voice rang out again.
"If that’s the case, then why tell me all this?"
He shouldn't have told her any of it. But just when he had decided to hide everything, she had told him she was willing to believe him. He didn't dare defile that trust. Even if he stained himself, he wanted to keep the last bit of purity between them.
He clenched his fists, trying to make his voice sound normal.
"Didn't we agree to be friends? I don't want you to think back on this in the future and feel resentment because of my concealment."
If she argued with him over this, it would seem like she was in the wrong. He prided himself on being upright, yet every time he was before her, he would involuntarily become selfish and base. As clever as she was, she wouldn't fail to see this. He waited for her to question him, mock him, or even curse him. But she only sighed softly and asked:
"If I insist on going back, will the Commander stop me?"
The woman looked troubled, but there was not a hint of blame for him. This, however, stung him even more.
"Why throw this difficult problem only to me? Why not ask him? Why not ask him if he would..."
"Because I know he won't stop me." Qin Jiuye spoke softly, but her tone was incredibly firm. "No matter where I go or what choice I make, he will follow in my footsteps."
Qiu Ling’s outstretched hand froze in place, then slumped dejectedly.
For a moment just now, he had almost crossed the final line between them, pouring out his resentful, unrequited feelings. But the moment she spoke, he knew he had utterly lost.
"What I want to do... is merely to protect you."
From a villager outside Jiugao, to a commoner within the city, to a comrade-in-arms fighting side-by-side, to a sincere confidant, and finally to a desired but unattainable intimate lover—he had let her walk into his world bit by bit, only to watch her walk away until she returned to the starting point where they began.
He clenched his fists and kept his head down, not looking at her, until she spoke again, her voice softer than ever before.
"The Commander has things he wants to protect, and so do I. Besides, it is only natural for a person to go home." She looked at the jade she had personally tied to his waist and said word by word, "A broken mirror does not change its light; a dead orchid does not change its fragrance. I firmly believe the Commander’s heart has never changed. Even knowing the road ahead is difficult and no one will accompany us, we will both continue to walk firmly."
He fell silent. The woman did not stay, turning to leave. The moment the tent flap was lifted, he saw the youth waiting in the morning light. In the next moment, the curtain fell, obscuring the two departing figures. He sat alone in the tent until the temporary candle was about to go out.
He slowly took a piece of white silk from where it was kept close to his body. The silk was a foot wide and three feet long; it didn't look large, yet it could hold the names of hundreds and the crimes of thousands.
He gripped the silk and brought it close to the candle flame. The fire began to burn along the edge of the silk, crawling upward bit by bit... His hand suddenly jerked back, and he quickly slapped the fire out.
The fine ash fell. Qiu Ling stared intently at the scorched silk, as if looking at Di Mo’s body, which had been burned by the fire but hadn't quite died.
This was what Di Mo had been so intent on entrusting to him back on Qionghu Island. If he hadn't listened to his master and abandoned his post to break into the World’s Number One Villa, then Di Mo and his secrets might have become ash in the fire. Yet the truth was that everything had gone as Di Mo expected. To retrieve Zuo Ci’s testament, Qiu Ling had not only personally saved this list from the fire and brought it out of the villa, but at the final moment before handing it over, he had chosen to keep it for himself.
He didn't know why he had done this, nor did he want to think about whether this counted as a win or loss for Di Mo. But he truly felt the so-called inescapable fate, pulling him back onto that muddy, dark path where he couldn't catch his breath. He didn't know how long he could hold on, but the half-jade she had returned to him would always remind him: even if broken, one must not twist their original will.
The medicine the woman left was in a small bottle. The craftsmanship was crude, and it was a bit crooked, unable to even stand straight on the table, as if she were standing there with her hands on her hips, looking at him sideways.
He stroked the medicine bottle, his fingertips filled with infinite longing. He smelled the fragrance of the medicine through the mouth of the bottle, but in the end, he didn't use it. Instead, he wrapped it in the scorched silk and tucked it away close to his body.
The white silk filled with secrets was pressed against his chest, and her medicine bottle was hidden within it, becoming his deepest secret.
As the sunlight grew stronger, the shadows grew darker, and the skin on his back burned by the fire throbbed with pain.
The person who had passed the secret to him had found release in the fire, but his own burning had only just begun.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 九方青青 | Jiufang Qingqing | The fourth disciple of the Kunxu Sect. |
| 呈羽 | Chengyu | The second disciple of the Kunxu Sect and an official of the Jinshi Bureau. |
| 安谏使 | Investigating Envoy An | Chengyu's official title (An is her surname). |
| 魏统领 | Commander Wei | A high-ranking officer in the Jingcheng Guards/Jinshi Bureau. |
| 镜破不改光，兰死不改香 | A broken mirror does not change its light; a dead orchid does not change its fragrance | A poetic expression of unchanging integrity. |
| 昆山玉碎不改志 | Kunshan jade breaks but does not change its resolve | The chapter title's source; refers to maintaining one's spirit even in destruction. |
| 回字纹 | Fret-pattern / Meander pattern | A traditional Chinese decorative border pattern found on the jade. |
