The Tiancheng court had always been remarkably tolerant toward the development of martial arts in the secular world, even showing a subtle inclination to support it. Though the original reasons for this had long been lost to time, this tradition had birthed many miraculous sects and organizations.
Among them was the Andao Academy.
The Andao Academy—as the name implied, an institution dedicated to securing the righteous path of the world—produced martial artists who received the truest essence of orthodox disciplines. Not only was their cultivation exceptionally high, but they were also trained with "loyalty and integrity" as their core tenets.
The founder of the Andao Academy was surnamed Xie. As for his given name, no one remembered it anymore. Every subsequent head of the academy would inherit this surname as a mark of respect for the founding master.
There were only two types of people in the Andao Academy: the Head and the disciples. Once the disciples completed their training, they were required to choose a worthy master for themselves and swear an oath of fealty. From that moment on, they were forbidden from returning to the academy to work for the rest of their lives.
Consequently, the people of Andao Academy were famous for their fierce loyalty. Regardless of whether their chosen master was rich or poor, living or dead, they would serve only that one person for their entire life. Many never left their master’s side until the day they died.
Within the walls of the Andao Academy, two legends were told year after year.
The first was a model of excellence. It told of the youngest martial artist to ever enter the academy—an orphan of a noble house. Through sheer talent and hard work, he became the earliest disciple to ever complete his training in the academy's history. Not only did he choose a master of noble status, but he also inherited the saber techniques passed down directly from the Head himself. It was, by all accounts, the pinnacle of a successful life.
The second was a cautionary tale. It told of the illegitimate daughter of a notorious bandit and a wealthy merchant’s daughter. She was so unruly and disrespectful that she was sent to the academy for discipline. After entering, she spent her days idling, eating, and picking fights. Despite having reached the level required to graduate long ago, she stubbornly refused to leave, insisting that the Head teach her his saber techniques. In the end, she was forcibly packed off to a destitute family of five to serve as a lowly maid. It was a true fall from grace, from the clouds into the mud.
Xiao Nanhui knew nothing of these legends. At this moment, she only felt a sense of injustice.
In her eyes, that old man Xie Li was nowhere near as noble or detached as the stories suggested; in fact, he was likely a snob. He had given his most loyal and powerful student to the Son of Heaven, and then foisted a "defective product" onto her.
Looking at Ding Weixiang, who was currently arguing his point until he was red in the face, and then thinking of her own short-tempered, master-betraying "Big-Headed Doll," her heart burned with indignation.
"Master, your servant has never been away from you for this long since I began following you. Moreover, these are extraordinary times. Never mind how many of the Bai rebels are waiting in the shadows to strike; once the battle truly begins, blades have no eyes. How can your servant allow you to be alone..."
Ding Weixiang had been grinding away for about a quarter of an hour. Truthfully, even if he ground on for another hour or two, Xiao Nanhui wouldn't have cared much.
But it was a different matter entirely if she was also being kept in the tent by the Emperor to listen in.
She truly did not want to watch this grand play of "deep master-servant devotion" any longer. She didn't understand how she had ended up wading into this muddy water. Had she known, perhaps she shouldn't have left the Green Frontier. Her mountain fortress had been quite comfortable to live in; even that lecherous and fierce A-Kuang didn't seem so annoying in hindsight.
Ding Weixiang seemed to talk incessantly for a long time before he was suddenly interrupted by the Emperor, who had remained silent until then.
"Who said I would be alone?"
Before Su Wei finished speaking, his gaze landed on the woman standing behind Ding Weixiang.
Xiao Nanhui hadn't slept much the previous night and was currently nodding off while standing. She only noticed that the back-and-forth chatter had suddenly ceased, followed by a heavy silence.
It took her a moment to reel in her consciousness, which had drifted outside the tent. She forced her heavy eyelids open and finally focused her gaze on the Emperor.
He had spoken that last sentence, hadn't he? Was this conversation finally ending?
She snapped to attention, sparing no effort to show her loyalty. "What are Your Majesty's orders? Your servant will not hesitate even at the cost of ten thousand deaths."
*Heh,* she knew how to say pretty words too. Anyway, the task of infiltrating the enemy nest and destroying the dam wouldn't fall on her head, so what other trouble could there be...
"Very well. I command you, from this moment forth, to attend to the Imperial Carriage and remain by My side. You are not to leave by even half a step."
These words fell upon Ding Weixiang's ears like a mountain collapsing. Xiao Nanhui felt as if she could see the word "breakdown" written in his pupils.
Of course, she likely didn't look much better, her face unable to hide her shock and confusion.
Keeping him company for one night had already left her unable to sleep. If she had to accompany him until the very end, wouldn't she die young?
No! Absolutely not!
"This... your servant believes my martial arts attainments cannot compare to Lieutenant Ding's, and my personality is somewhat careless. I fear there might be oversights when the time comes. Isn't that right, Lieutenant Ding?"
Xiao Nanhui finished speaking and blinked frantically at Ding Weixiang. Ding Weixiang thought she looked incredibly stupid and simply pretended not to see, echoing her sentiment: "The Right General speaks truly. The matter of protection seems simple, but in reality, one must attend to many details. I fear it is not something that can be done perfectly overnight."
"I am in no hurry for it to be done overnight," Su Wei said slowly and deliberately, as if he were merely chatting with a subordinate. "They say nothing in this world is difficult for one who sets their heart to it. I wonder if General Xiao can be such a person?"
The weight and implication of these words were highly unusual. Xiao Nanhui felt the muscles in her calves begin to cramp again.
"Your Majesty possesses a body of ten thousand gold; your servant fears I cannot shoulder such a heavy responsibility."
"Is it that you cannot, or that you are unwilling?"
Now it was perfect—not just her calves, but her stomach began to cramp as well.
Her sickly complexion looked like a picture of utter reluctance to Ding Weixiang, and immediately, two gazes like knives flew toward her head.
"The Right General is actually unwilling? Guarding the Imperial Carriage is a sacred duty. If you lack even this much resolve, why bother being a soldier of Tiancheng? You might as well resign and go home to farm."
Before Xiao Nanhui could open her mouth to defend herself against this unprovoked strike, the other man delivered a follow-up blow: "Or perhaps General Xiao admits her skills are inferior and fears she cannot handle the duty? I thought someone raised in the Great General's manor would be extraordinary, but in the end, you're just a shrinking turtle."
With things said to this point, Xiao Nanhui's eyes began to spit fire.
What turtle? Who's a turtle?!
He could insult anyone, but he could not insult Xiao Zhun!
"When have I ever shown myself to be afraid of death? On the contrary, Lieutenant Ding's passionate indignation makes him look exactly like a dog whose feeding trough has been snatched away."
"...You!" Ding Weixiang was furious, nearly drawing his blade against her.
Xiao Nanhui was not afraid in the slightest. She was thinking that if he drew his blade in the Imperial presence, she could pull out her *Pingxian* and fight him for three hundred rounds. Then she suddenly remembered: she had left her *Pingxian* in Mo Chunhua's tent.
She could almost feel her momentum wither in an instant, and she seemed to shrink an inch. Realizing the only person in the tent who could suppress the other man was standing right there, Xiao Nanhui hastily turned an earnest gaze toward Su Wei.
"What your servant said just now came from the bottom of my heart. I ask Your Majesty to judge clearly."
"Come closer."
Su Wei beckoned to her gently, a hint of a smile actually appearing on his face, as if he were calling over a well-behaved little mutt.
Xiao Nanhui reluctantly shuffled forward a few steps.
"Left hand."
She hesitantly raised her hand.
The Emperor slowly opened his palm. At some point, a pitch-black ring had appeared there.
Before she could react, she felt a chill around her wrist.
She looked down to see a smooth bracelet with a jade-like texture, yet it wasn't warm like ordinary jade; instead, it radiated a biting cold. There was a sharp protrusion on the ring, and a strange symbol was engraved upon the keen edge.
She hadn't seen how the ring had been fastened onto her hand, and no matter how she looked, she couldn't find any trace of a seam. She found it quite peculiar.
"Since you have no medallion, wear this. Only then may you come and go from My presence."
Hearing this, she felt even more like a dog that had been fitted with a collar.
Glancing at the now-displaced "Vicious Dog Ding," she suppressed the surging dissatisfaction in her heart and was forced to yield to the situation, bowing her head as "Vicious Dog Xiao."
Sometimes, the words of those in high positions weren't seeking an opinion at all; they were simply delivering orders. What use was her personal will?
"Your servant is willing to serve Your Majesty with the labor of a dog or horse. I shall do my utmost to ensure Your Majesty's safety."
****** ****** ******
Ding Weixiang was angry.
This wasn't surprising at all. During their previous trip to Huozhou, he had often been difficult.
But this time, it seemed more serious than before.
Xiao Nanhui wasn't one to hold grudges; she could forget small bickers and bumps in the blink of an eye. However, Ding Weixiang was clearly not that kind of person.
For the past half-hour since they had left the main tent, he had hardly said a word to her.
Normally, she wouldn't have bothered with him. But now she had to fulfill the task Su Wei had given her—to draw the internal topography and secret passages of the Green Frontier in detail for Ding Weixiang, explaining many specifics clearly.
Yet the man maintained a sour face from start to finish, showing no reaction to her "sharing everything she knew." It was as if she were the one begging to work with him, which made things very difficult for her and left a ball of fire smoldering in her chest.
Finally finishing the last route, Xiao Nanhui tossed the charcoal pencil aside and glanced sideways at him.
"Lieutenant Ding is so silent. Could it be you've contracted the same ailment as my maid?"
Ding Weixiang lifted his eyelids to look at her. He didn't speak, but his face clearly asked: *What ailment?*
She understood and said with a grin, "The ailment of being narrow-minded."
The flames in the depths of Ding Weixiang's eyes shot up high. He snatched the newly drawn map from the table and, charcoal pencil in hand, turned his back to her, sketching something on it.
Seeing his petty behavior, Xiao Nanhui rolled her eyes hard. "If you won't talk, then don't talk. If there's a problem later, don't come looking for me."
The other man still made no sound, seemingly determined to remain silent.
If this were any other time, she would have walked away long ago. Whether he was a Lieutenant of the Yan-Wing Battalion or the Emperor's favorite, she couldn't be bothered. Back then, when Xu Shu used his status to oppress her, she hadn't bowed her head even when her leg was broken.
But now, it wasn't a matter of whether she bowed her head or not.
The mission to destroy the dam was closely linked to the Northern Pacification Army's westward advance. If it failed, it would inevitably hinder Xiao Zhun.
He had lost once at Sanmu Pass; how could she let him lose a second time?
For that reason alone, she couldn't let Ding Weixiang remain unhappy.
Once she understood this, she suppressed her impatience and leaned in again, thick-skinned enough to try and counsel him. "Actually, it's not like I don't know what you're worried about."
This time, Ding Weixiang didn't even lift his eyelids. His charcoal pencil moved rapidly, though what route he was sketching was anyone's guess.
Xiao Nanhui clicked her tongue and spoke again. "As you said, this trip is only three days. Even with the extra time for your work there, the round trip might be seven or eight days at most. It'll pass in the blink of an eye; there's really no need to be overly concerned."
As she spoke, the words began to flow more smoothly. Regardless of whether he responded, she continued to ramble to herself: "Besides, you saw my skills back in Huozhou. Do you really distrust me that much? Even if you don't trust me, you should trust the Black Feather Battalion. And even if you don't trust them, you should trust your Emperor. His Majesty isn't a fool; since he's sending you, he's clearly considered all possibilities. If he's not worried, what are you worried about?"
Speaking of the Emperor, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind.
Perhaps the one who tied the knot must be the one to untie it; the problem lay with the Emperor himself.
As far as she knew, the Tiancheng generals had founded the dynasty, and every generation of monarchs was required to be proficient in riding and archery. The late Emperor Su Yin had been a great martial arts master in his youth. For some reason, he had passed the throne to a prince who had never practiced martial arts.
The current Emperor of Tiancheng was one of the few who excelled in civil matters but lacked martial prowess. Though he had the skill to govern people and the state, he was a "seated Emperor" who rarely even rode a horse. Xiao Nanhui was somewhat puzzled: why would such a fragile person insist on a personal expedition? On the battlefield, blades have no eyes. If a true danger arose, even ten Ding Weixiangs might not be able to provide a foolproof plan.
As she pondered this, the idea became clearer. To avoid being too abrupt, she decided to lay some groundwork for her suggestion.
"Lieutenant Ding, you should know Bolao, right?"
Ding Weixiang remained silent, but she saw the answer in his slightly raised eyebrow.
"She, like you, comes from the Andao Academy and is a guard my foster father officially requested from the academy. But since I've known her, she hasn't protected me many times. Not only has she not protected me, she's hit me quite a few times, and it's common for her to disappear for days on end. But look at me now—aren't I still alive and well? Hahaha..."
Ding Weixiang was deaf to her laughter, turning his head to stare at her until her laughter turned dry.
Xiao Nanhui pulled back her smile, cleared her throat, and decided to take it a step further.
"I know all of you from Andao Academy are loyal and dutiful, but sometimes, being too loyal isn't a good thing. Look, your master is already an adult. As a man with no disabilities and a decent build, he really should have learned some basic martial arts for self-defense long ago. Even the most meticulous plan can have a flaw; it's better to rely on oneself than others. If a life-or-death, critical moment truly comes, who knows, it might..."
"What... what the hell do you know!"
Ding Weixiang finally spoke, his tone filled with an irrepressible indignation, as if he had just heard something both heinous and incredibly stupid.
Xiao Nanhui was stunned and confused. "I haven't even finished yet, what's the rush?"
"There's no need to finish! It won't work!"
After all that fuss, this man didn't want to solve the problem at all; was he just waiting to argue with her?
She was so angry she laughed. "Then you tell me, why won't it work?"
"It just won't!"
Her good intentions were being treated like dirt, and she lost her temper too. "Do you think I want to take on this miserable chore?! That's the Emperor! If I teach him martial arts and something goes wrong, I'm the one who suffers! There's no such thing as a foolproof plan in this world. Even if the Black Feather men are ten times better than others, and even if my martial arts are peerless and I'm 'Invincible Under Heaven,' who can guarantee they'll never leave his side for a single moment in twenty-four hours? This is a battlefield. If there's a single oversight, whose master is the one who dies?!"
These words were blunt and lacked any tact, even bordering on treasonous.
But Xiao Nanhui couldn't care about that much now; she poured out everything in her heart like beans from a jar.
Ding Weixiang fell silent again.
Having said all that, her previous anger had dissipated. She waved her hand somewhat wearily.
Fine, fine. She'd just consider it her own unrequited meddling.
Life and death are fated, wealth and honor are in the hands of Heaven. Let it be.
However, just as she was about to step out of the tent, the person behind her finally spoke.
"What you said... isn't entirely impossible."
Xiao Nanhui stopped and turned her head, waiting for the next sentence.
"But before we begin, I must warn you about one thing."
***
**Glossary**
