By the riverbank, amid the deep night and wild grass, Lin Chaoying blocked Wang Shixiong’s path, saying, "You wish to go to the Jin camp to rescue Wen Yu?"
Wang Shixiong replied regretfully, "Although Brother Wei erred, considering his ten years of defending this territory, his lineage should be saved from the Jin's abuse."
Lin Chaoying chuckled coldly, "Wasting your strength."
Wang Shixiong, indignant, stated, "Though my strength is weak, my resolve is firm. Please do not obstruct me."
Lin Chaoying retorted, "I saw this woman in the camp. She was not pregnant at all."
Wang Shixiong’s anger surged, "The demon is too base! He used this to trick Brother Wei, making him their pawn."
Lin Chaoying corrected him, "You are the one who was deceived, not him."
Wang Shixiong asked, surprised, "What do you mean?"
Lin Chaoying pressed, "Are you blinded by self-deception, or are you deluding yourself? Did you truly not consider, did you not sense, that Wei, on his deathbed, was employing a stratagem to send you to the Jin camp to die in vain?"
Wang Shixiong slumped to the ground, sighing, "For five years, we faced life and death together. And yet he..." He cast a dejected glance at Lin Chaoying. "I always thought I did everything right, but in reality, my efforts were always superficial." Lin Chaoying remarked, "Everyone makes mistakes. One learns from experience..." Wang Shixiong waved his hand, let out a long sigh, and dejectedly walked away. "Allow me some time to myself." Just then, Zhou Botong ran up and bumped into Wang Shixiong. Seeing his expression, he quickly moved aside. After Wang Shixiong passed, he grabbed Lin Chaoying's arm, exclaiming, "Dog’s mother is dying!"
Lin Chaoying watched his receding figure, deeply concerned. Yet, letting him calm his emotions was also beneficial. With Zhou Botong urging her, she followed him to the cave.
She examined Su Dama's injuries, applying acupuncture and medicine. After a long while, Su Dama sighed deeply and slowly opened her eyes. Unable to speak, she pointed to her daughter beside her. Lin Chaoying understood her meaning and, after a moment’s thought, said, "I will ensure Dog’s safe arrival in Nanyang." Su Dama continued to point. Lin Chaoying’s brows furrowed slightly. She bit her lip and declared, "I will take her as my servant." Only then did Su Dama lower her hand, passing away peacefully.
Guan Zumei came looking for Lin Chaoying. Though feeling it was presumptuous, he pressed on, "Have you seen Brother Shixiong?"
Upon hearing he had vanished, Lin Chaoying joined the others in searching for over an hour without success. She worried, "Could he truly be so stubborn as to go to the Jin camp to rescue Wen Yu?" She intended to set off immediately to stop him, but as she looked back at the wounded scattered throughout the cave, with only Guan Zumei to manage, she questioned the safety of the remaining people on their journey to Nanyang. Given his martial prowess, he could likely infiltrate the camp and escape unharmed. Once he uncovered the truth, he would surely worry about the welfare of the villagers and plan their next move, potentially pursuing Guan Zumei’s group.
However, after escorting the villagers to Nanyang, he still hadn't appeared, as if he had vanished.
She waited at Guan Zumei’s home. On this late autumn night, cold and bleak, the room was filled with a chilling air, making the sleepless night unbearable for her troubled thoughts. Leaning on the railing, she gazed up at the vast sky, recalling the night they first met half a year ago. Lin Chaoying told Dog’er, "I am going to a very dangerous place. For now, you will follow General Guan. Practice what I have taught you diligently. Within six months at the latest, I will return to fetch you, unlike someone who takes no responsibility and disappears without a trace."
On the shortcut to Daxing Prefecture, Lin Chaoying saw Wu Nanyong waiting for her, as if he had received intelligence. She began by asking, "Do you truly believe those rumors and are going to Yong'an to rescue that rebel leader surnamed Wang?"
Daxing Prefecture was also called "Yong'an." When the capital city was built, an inscription of ancient coins reading "Yong'an One Thousand" was unearthed. The officials considered it an auspicious omen, and thus, imitating "Chang'an," they named the capital "Yong'an."
Earlier, Lin Chaoying had investigated the camp in Chuzhou and heard rumors that Wang Shixiong had infiltrated the camp to assassinate Mao Ya. Li Wanxue had intervened, severely injuring him before capturing and escorting him to Daxing Prefecture. Though she harbored many doubts, she went with the intention of "seeing for herself." At this moment, she confided this intention to Wu Nanyong.
Wu Nanyong confessed, "Dai Jia did indeed visit the camp, but only after my senior brother outwitted and repelled that rebel leader Wang who attempted assassination. Those were deliberate falsehoods spread by him, and you should understand his intentions."
"He..." Lin Chaoying asked, "Has Grandmother returned to Daxing Prefecture to command?" Wu Nanyong replied, "She returned to Shanluan. Before she left, she instructed me that if I had the chance to meet you, whether as friend or foe, to relay her message: you must not fail the ancestors' legacy." Lin Chaoying realized what her grandmother was referring to – her research notes. Ah… perhaps she had foreseen that I would…
Wu Nanyong bit her lip and continued, "That rebel leader Wang fled south and is likely hiding in Song territory. You should pursue him quickly." Lin Chaoying gazed at her. "I wish you success in catching up to him as well." Wu Nanyong arrogantly uttered an old proverb among the Dark Knights, "The sweetness tasted in the mouth, the blood licked from the sword, it all depends on one's own ability." Seeing that she nodded in agreement, appearing to share her sentiment, and turned to march forward with confidence, Wu Nanyong couldn't help but call out, "Ying, we shall never see each other again in this life." Her figure paused slightly before continuing forward, thinking that for her own sake, she must press on.
On the way south, she was blocked by Mao Ya again. Mao Ya said, "Come back! As I said before, I am willing to give up everything here and return with you to the unchanging Xuexue Valley, assist Dai Jia in training new recruits, handle logistics, and live a quiet life together."
Lin Chaoying lowered her head, thought for a moment, and finally looked up, stating directly, "I am not interested."
Mao Ya scoffed, "Is chasing after the tail of a mongrel so interesting?"
Lin Chaoying replied indifferently, "It's none of your concern."
Mao Ya declared, "Let me catch up and lop off that dog’s head."
Lin Chaoying sneered, "Let us settle this with a duel."
Mao Ya finally raised his head and glared at Lin Chaoying, saying, "Since childhood, I've always followed you, listened to you. When have I ever had the chance to make my own decisions?"
Lin Chaoying met his gaze directly, "Since childhood, you, I, and Nan grew up together. It was she who loved living in Xuexue Valley…"
Mao Ya interrupted her, "Fine! Let’s have a match. If I cut off his head first, you’ll marry me!"
She understood that Brother Li had made this pact precisely because he knew she was wary of his access to vast intelligence, which would allow him to track and preempt her actions, thereby giving him leverage to persuade her. Parting ways signified her no longer relying on him and the unlikelihood of them being together again. By failing him, she also failed her grandmother's plan—her grandmother had cultivated Mao Ya, intending to use his strength to help her reclaim the Li surname and succeed to the family’s position. Previously, she had feigned ignorance; now, she refused to comply.
Lin Chaoying gazed at the interlocking ditches of the Huai River. Wang Shixiong's smiling face appeared on the river’s surface, then instantly shifted to his sorrowful expression. As she reached out to comfort him, he suddenly vanished. She felt an emptiness in her entire being, her mind vacant, unable to distinguish directions or reason about right and wrong, truth and falsehood. Since childhood, she had only followed the path laid out by her missions. For the past half-year, she had been guided by him. Now, she was lost, her direction unknown, like river water simply flowing with the current.
"Yes! Catch up and lop off his dog head!" She closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and suppressed the tears welling up. "He doesn't want to live under the Jin, perhaps he has truly returned to Song territory."
Returning to Nanyang, she learned Wang Shixiong had not appeared. Guan Zumei commented, "The events in Chuzhou have dealt him a severe blow. He needs time to recover his spirits. Hopefully, after a period, he will regain his resolve." Lin Chaoying then bid farewell.
Dog’er bid farewell to Guan Zumei and left with her, carrying her belongings.