As soon as Lu Songping spoke, it was Xiao Nanhui’s turn to wear a strange expression.
She knew Xiao Zhun was a master of the spear, but she had no idea he was also an expert in archery.
After a moment of silence, she offered a perfunctory response.
"Now that you mention it, I remember." Her gaze shifted to the slender Bijiang bow. Suddenly, she spoke up. "Could I borrow this bow?"
"For what?"
"I spent some time in the Bijiang villages; I still have some impression of their craftsmen's techniques. Perhaps I can replicate a bit of it. In time, I might even have a new bow to test out."
This was, of course, an excuse. She drew her salary from the Guangyao Camp; why should she trouble herself for the Black Feather Camp?
But if she could create a new bow that matched the Black Feather Arrows and see it distributed among the ranks, it would be as if she and Xiao Zhun had accomplished something great together.
Lu Songping’s gaze traveled from her neck to her shoulders, then from her shoulders to her waist and abdomen. His eyes held an unmasked, insolent scrutiny.
Xiao Nanhui felt instinctively uneasy, almost fearing she was about to be exposed.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Lu Songping remained silent for a moment before delivering his conclusion.
"You lack the natural constitution for it. There is likely no future for you if you abandon the spear for the bow."
He spat out the venomous remark with casual indifference. Xiao Nanhui took a deep breath and forced a smile.
Who said anything about abandoning the spear for the bow? Bah! As if she cared!
"Whether it works or not, one only knows after trying."
With that, she snatched up the bow, intending to seize the opportunity to make a quick escape, but Lu Songping’s voice rang out unexpectedly.
"Wait."
The cold sweat that had just begun to recede broke out on Xiao Nanhui’s skin once more. This man was far too difficult to deal with. She had thought that after entertaining him for so long, this chapter would finally be closed.
She stood by the entrance, ready to bolt at any moment.
"Does Lieutenant Lu have something else?"
Lu Songping wore a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Wasn't the Right General here to discuss the matter of the assassin?"
Xiao Nanhui froze for a moment before realizing he was circling back to the topic she had diverted earlier. She couldn't quite fathom his intentions.
"Has Lieutenant Lu noticed any suspicious activity?" Fearing she wasn't being specific enough, she added, "That assassin likely has ties to the Bai clan. I'm worried..."
"The Right General need not worry about the woman of the Bai clan. The villa where the Bais are staying is located right within the camp. The Black Feather Camp is most adept at setting hidden sentries; if we wish it, not even a fly can enter. The Right General witnessed this herself back on the ancient path of the Tianmu River."
That casual sentence left Xiao Nanhui stunned where she stood, so much so that she had no time to register the sarcasm in his tone.
The Black Feather Camp had actually surrounded the villa where Bai Yun stayed with their own camp?!
No wonder there hadn't been much chaos in Jiaosong after such a major incident yesterday. It turned out the pieces had already been set on the board.
As long as the white piece that was Bai Yun remained surrounded by black pieces, other white pieces would eventually come to the rescue. All the black pieces had to do was hold their ground and wait for the situation to change.
Coming back to her senses, Xiao Nanhui felt a surge of inexplicable anger. If she had known it was just a matter of a single sentence from him, why had she bothered rummaging through that pile of junk on his desk for so long?!
Looking at Lu Songping’s face—innocent yet tinged with a hint of malice—she suddenly felt that he might have known her purpose from the moment she entered the tent. He had deliberately led her in circles just to watch her struggle to justify herself.
She couldn't quite swallow this slight, but Lu Songping didn't seem inclined to give her a chance to even the score. He moved directly to dismiss her. "Does the Right General have anything else?"
Xiao Nanhui refused to admit defeat. With a flick of her hand, she swiped three Black Feather Arrows from the quiver and said with righteous indignation, "I'll borrow three arrows. Don't be stingy, Brother Lu."
Fearing he might make another move, she slipped away as fast as the wind.
However, Lu Songping did not speak again, nor did he give chase. He looked up at the jade hooks on the felt curtain, which were still clinking from her exit. The corners of his mouth curled slightly as he lowered his head to continue tinkering with the bowstring.
****** ****** ******
Finding a villa in a military camp was much easier than finding a specific tent.
But even though she had found the right place, Xiao Nanhui didn't dare approach rashly.
Lu Songping’s words still echoed in her ears. Back in Lingxi, when she had been sneaking around to find the Emperor, she had taken an arrow to the thigh.
The surroundings were deathly quiet. Not a single patrolling soldier was in sight, nor was there any trace of hidden sentries.
It was truly Lu Songping’s handiwork.
Xiao Nanhui crouched in a shallow pit for a while. Unable to think of a better plan and feeling that delaying any further was useless, she simply stood up and walked into the open.
She was wearing the casual uniform of the Martial Guards, but on her head was the black-plumed military cap reserved for commissioned officers, all so she could move more freely within the camp's boundaries.
After walking dozens of paces, there was still no movement around her.
The gray courtyard walls of the villa were right before her eyes. Xiao Nanhui felt a bit apprehensive. She adjusted the bow and arrows in her hand, striking a few poses as if she were there to practice, then cleared her throat to set the stage.
"This place is quite spacious; it truly is a fine spot for archery practice."
As soon as she finished speaking, a crow in a nearby tree suddenly let out two harsh "caws," startling her.
She waited a moment, but the surroundings remained silent.
Xiao Nanhui felt that her "nothing to see here" performance was reeking of stupidity, but since the play had begun and she didn't know if anyone was watching from the shadows, she had to keep going.
After carefully observing the villa's courtyard wall, Xiao Nanhui made up her mind.
She drew the bow to full extension, aiming at a damaged spot on the wall. The next moment, the arrow left the string. With a *thwack*, it shattered the decaying white plaster on the wall's edge and shot into the courtyard.
Xiao Nanhui lowered the bow and muttered to herself, "Oh dear, the arrow actually went through the wall! What if it hit someone?"
The cold wind swirled dead leaves past her. The crow in the tree "cawed" twice more before flapping its wings and flying away.
The last "audience member" had left the scene, and the surroundings fell into total silence. Xiao Nanhui’s eyes darted around. Unsure if her timing was right, she resolved to sling the bow over her shoulder and suddenly leaped forward. Using the gap in the wall, she flipped over and into the courtyard.
Inside the wall was just as quiet as outside. Xiao Nanhui crouched at the base of the wall and listened for a moment. Finding that no one was pursuing her, she stood up, feeling somewhat uncertain.
The security of the Black Feather Camp was truly baffling. Previously, she had hidden and dodged only to be shot through, yet now she had climbed over the wall in broad daylight and nothing had happened.
Had Xiao Zhun come here last night? Had he come under orders through the front gate, or had he... like her...
Xiao Nanhui didn't want to keep guessing. She forced herself to look around, thinking that seeing for herself was better than anything else.
Everywhere she looked in the villa was desolate. The courtyard was bare—not even a withered branch or a few strands of wild grass could be seen. This was rare even in winter. It was likely that someone had deliberately removed the greenery and rockeries to expose the original layout of the buildings, preventing anyone from hiding undetected.
Xiao Nanhui walked along the nearest corridor for a distance before suddenly coming to a halt.
Somewhere behind her, there was the sound of shallow breathing. Though faint, it did not escape her ears.
The next instant, a small pebble hit the back of her leg with a *pop*.
She turned around and saw a young child wearing only inner robes, peeking out from behind a pillar not far away.
Seeing Xiao Nanhui turn, the child quickly pulled back, but the small conical topknot on his head stuck out from behind the pillar like a garlic sprout, looking rather comical.
Wasn't this where the Bai woman lived? Why was there a brat here?
Xiao Nanhui pretended not to see him and turned to leave.
*Pop.* Another pebble. This time, it landed right on her backside.
She whipped around, glaring at the culprit.
The "garlic-sprout head" realized he was exposed and turned to flee, but Xiao Nanhui took several large strides and grabbed him by the ear.
"You hit someone and then try to run? Whose child are you? Why so rude?"
The "garlic-sprout head" twisted in her grip like a loach, yet he remained stubborn, stammering out his anger: "Bad... bad person, bullying a child..."
The brat wasn't very old, but his temper was terrible.
He continued to struggle, but he couldn't break free no matter what.
Xiao Nanhui gave a wicked smile.
She had learned this craft from Cuckoo; how could she let a mere brat escape so easily?
"What, it's fine for you to throw stones at others, but not for others to strike back? I *am* bullying you, so what are you going to do about it?"
Just as she finished speaking, the harsh sound of metal scraping against stone rang out, accompanied by hurried footsteps.
Xiao Nanhui looked up and saw a woman in white, dressed in thin robes and barefoot, rushing from the other end of the corridor.
Heavy chains were attached to her feet; the sound from before was the chains dragging against the ground. Because of the weight, her gait was somewhat stumbling, but even so, her expression showed little distress—as if the person Xiao Nanhui held was not her kin, but merely a stalk of garlic.
As soon as "garlic-sprout head" saw his savior, he twisted even more vigorously. "Sister, save me! She... she's bullying me!"
"A-Qi, stop this nonsense," the woman called out softly. Her voice wasn't particularly stern, but the child instantly ceased his tantrum, hanging from Xiao Nanhui’s hand like a deflated skin.
Xiao Nanhui hadn't intended to make things difficult for a child anyway, so she let go. The child walked over with his head down to take the woman's hand, using his other hand to rub his reddened ear while secretly baring his teeth at her.
But Xiao Nanhui had no interest in dealing with him at the moment. Her attention was entirely on the woman in white.
"Miss Bai, it's been a long time."
Bai Yun’s misty eyes swept lightly over her face, showing a moment of confusion.
Xiao Nanhui’s tense hostility suddenly felt as if it had nowhere to go.
The woman didn't recognize her.
"In Xiao Zhun’s tent, we met."
She couldn't help but offer a reminder. The dazed look on Bai Yun’s face finally faded slightly, replaced by a cold, detached expression.
"This sinful woman greets the General." Even though she was bowing in apology, her posture didn't seem lowered in the slightest. "My younger brother is young. He recently lost his wet nurse and has become increasingly willful. It is my lack of discipline; if the General wishes to punish someone, punish me."
He's this much of a bastard just from losing a wet nurse? If he loses his father later, won't he become a world-ending demon?
Xiao Nanhui felt a bit uncomfortable, though she couldn't tell if it was because of those words or simply because she disliked the person in front of her.
"He was the one being naughty; why would I punish you?"
"He is seven years old now, yet his mind is like that of a two or three-year-old. He cannot even speak clearly, let alone understand reason. Please, General, have pity on him and spare him this once."
These words took Xiao Nanhui by surprise.
Both of Bai Heliu’s sons had died on the battlefield; the only remaining sprout was actually a simpleton.
If she insisted on blaming him now, it would make her look petty.
"I won't pursue the matter."
Every moment she spent in this woman's presence made her heart ache a little more. Xiao Nanhui decided to get straight to the point of her visit.
"I have one thing to ask you. My fos—" She paused, adjusting the title. "Marquis Qinghuai, Xiao Zhun... has he come to see you?"
Upon hearing this, Bai Yun clearly faltered, but in the end, she calmly shook her head.
"He has not."
It would have been better if she hadn't answered; now that she had, Xiao Nanhui believed her even less.
"Truly never?"
Bai Yun fell silent.
A surge of anger flared in Xiao Nanhui’s chest. If Bai Yun had spoken clearly and openly, she might have respected the Bai family for having some backbone. But this act of looking like she had suffered a great grievance while refusing to say a word was truly infuriating.
"If you don't want to say, then forget it. I'll go ask him myself..."
Hearing this, Bai Yun’s expression finally showed some movement.
"Where are you going?"
Xiao Nanhui stood with her arms crossed. "Since I've come in, I'll go wherever I please."
The air stagnated for a moment as the two women stood facing each other, neither willing to yield.
After a long while, Bai Yun’s face returned to its former cold arrogance.
"Is the General looking for this?" She drew a familiar arrow from her wide sleeve. "The General shot an arrow into my courtyard, merely seeking an excuse to enter legitimately. Now that I am returning the arrow with both hands, the General has no reason to remain here."
Xiao Nanhui’s heart trembled. She could hardly believe her repeatedly veiled intentions had been exposed so easily.
She tried to maintain her composure, but her voice was unconsciously defensive. "It's just an arrow. If I don't take it, what can you do to me?"
"The Black Feather Arrows were made by Prince Shuo for the personal guards. Even when used for duty, losing even one is difficult to account for, let alone having it appear in the courtyard of a rebel. If the General is not afraid of bringing trouble to the Marquis's manor, then leave the arrow here."
The woman’s words were as light as willow catkins, yet they fell upon Xiao Nanhui’s ears like a thunder god swinging a great hammer.
The Black Feather Arrows were created by the Xiao father and son. Even she, a member of the Xiao household, hadn't known, yet the woman before her did.
But why? She had clearly betrayed Xiao Zhun, betrayed Tiancheng—what right did she have to worry for the Marquis's manor or for Xiao Zhun?
Xiao Nanhui’s anger rushed to her face in an instant. No longer bothering to maintain a facade of peace, she blurted out, "What do the Black Feather Arrows or the Xiao family have to do with you?! Was hurting him once not enough? Do you want to hurt him a second time?"
She was someone who had spent years on the battlefield; these few sentences naturally carried a hint of killing intent.
The "garlic-sprout head" beside Bai Yun had been looking down and biting his finger, but now he was so frightened he burst into tears.
Seeing this, Bai Yun did not comfort him; she seemed long accustomed to such scenes. She simply half-knelt and used her sleeve to wipe the tears from the child's face, murmuring to herself—though it was unclear who she was speaking to: "How could I... how could I... how could I ever hurt him?"
Xiao Nanhui watched coldly, not believing a single word that came out of the woman's mouth.
"Give me back the arrow. I don't care to stay here any longer."
Bai Yun, however, seemed to change her mind. She stood up and looked at her steadily.
"The General’s arrow just now pierced the gap in the wall. You used ten parts of your strength, yet it only entered the wooden railing by three parts. Do you know why?"
Xiao Nanhui didn't want to engage, but for some reason, she remembered her bet with Xiao Zhun and spoke subconsciously: "The arrow was worn down by the stone wall; naturally, its force would weaken."
"Not so. When the Black Feather Arrows were first made, to stabilize the force of the arrow breaking through the wind, the shaft was deliberately lengthened. This, however, made its accuracy lacking, requiring a fine bow to match it." She extended her hand toward Xiao Nanhui. "The General shot an arrow at me; I shall return a bow to the General. Is the General willing to lend me her bow?"
The shot from the battlefield watchtower was still fresh in her memory. Xiao Nanhui knew this woman was a veteran archer, not nearly as weak and harmless as she appeared.
Reason told her she shouldn't easily hand over a weapon just because the other woman asked. Yet at this moment, she felt a stubborn, spiteful resolve.
Xiao Nanhui handed the bow on her back to Bai Yun.
The woman’s slender fingers lightly gripped the bow's arm. She flashed a cold smile at her.
"General, look closely at the difference between you and me."
Xiao Nanhui stood there dazed, watching as the woman in white drew the arrow, nocked it, aimed, and fired in one fluid motion. Her speed was startling.
This was the first time she had seen Bai Yun’s archery up close. It was an extremely rare reverse-hand, small-frame stance—exactly the same as Xiao Zhun’s.
The pitch-black arrow flew from the silver-white bowstring, grazing Xiao Nanhui’s ear. Like a spirit snake, it threaded through a small decorative hole in the carved woodwork of the corridor a hundred paces away. When it thudded into the tree trunk, its force remained undiminished.
That bow had a draw weight of only one *dan*. To fire with such force meant only one thing: the arrow had passed through the hole without the slightest friction or loss of momentum. It was a clean, decisive strike.
"This is a White Horn Bow. It was originally made by my hand. It is only natural that you are not used to it."
With every word the woman spoke, Xiao Nanhui felt a corner of some temple within her heart collapse.
She stared at the White Horn Bow, its arms polished smooth from use, and suddenly felt a chill run through her entire body.
In a corner of her deep memory, she had seen such a bow and arrow before.
The slender, elegant curve; the simple, exquisite design.
Unfortunately, her mind hadn't been on the bow itself back then; she had only thought of fulfilling her promise and hadn't noticed the details.
The bow that no one else was allowed to touch. The bow that had been used as a wager. The bow that, in the end, did not belong to her.
It hung on the innermost wall of Xiao Zhun’s room. Having gone unused for years, it had dimmed considerably. But if one were to take a soft cloth dipped in fine powder and give it a good rub, she should be able to see that the bow's surface was like a crescent moon, made of natural white buffalo horn.
Black Feather Arrows, White Horn Bow.
They were always meant to be a pair.
***
