Night deepened, and the Jin army launched another offensive against the stronghold, this time not only with infantry but also with siege engines.
Volleys of fire arrows streaked across the dark sky like talons, raining down upon the residential areas.
The distant shouts of battle filled the air. Lin Chaoying, standing for the first time on the side of the defenders, felt an inexplicable sense of humiliation and worry. Watching him and the defenders resist like ants, she wanted to help but feared she would only add to his troubles. "You must be thinking the same as me, looking for a chance to take down a few Jin soldiers and stretch your limbs, right?" Zhou Botong appeared out of nowhere. Before Lin Chaoying could react, she heard him exclaim excitedly, "Destroying mountains and rocks!" Lin Chaoying also shouted, "That's Gou'er's home!" She leaped forward, cutting through the flames, and rushed into the house.
Meng and Zhou arrived with their neighbors. They saw her emerge, smoke billowing from her body, carrying mother and child Gou'er. After handing the mother and child to them, she turned and began dismantling the fence. A neighbor cried out in alarm, "You demoness, what are you doing?" Meng Han Guang tried to stop him, saying, "Don't misunderstand, she's stopping the fire from spreading." Lin Chaoying, while instructing Meng Han Guang, "Quickly take them away," pulled down clothes from the drying rack, spliced them into long strips, attached a jar to one end, and tossed it into the water缸. She then leaped up, drawing out the soaked strips and the water-filled jar, and flung them towards the fire. She repeated this process rapidly, eventually controlling the blaze. Her movements were graceful, and as the people fled, they couldn't help but look back, feeling as though a water dragon sent by the Rain Master was suppressing a fire wolf. Zhou Botong was most interested, attempting to do the same but failing, so he simply hefted one of the water jars and poured it onto the fire.
Lin Chaoying stroked and stroked the damaged parts of her beloved hair, which had been scorched. After the soldiers retreated, Wang Shixiong rushed over to check on her. Seeing the scene, his nose twitched, and he sat down beside her with a pang of guilt. The moment he sat down, Lin Chaoying was startled to feel as though she had been filled with his strength, finding a source of support, and then felt bound. The night seemed to fear disturbing them, becoming even more still.
Yin, Wei, and Meng arrived together. Yin Pingzhi blurted out, "The Jin soldiers are preparing to attack again, Mao Ya is like a madman!" His eyes were fixed on Lin Chaoying. Meng Han Guang continued, "Even though our lives are worthless, the righteous men have already sacrificed theirs and are holding the line; but the civilians are also suffering, worse than before they joined the stronghold!" Wang Shixiong said, "We need to relocate the civilians elsewhere." Yin Pingzhi grumbled, "Where? Back to the deep caves of Qinling?" Wang Shixiong said, "Have you forgotten the purpose of 'Shadow Stronghold'?" Wei Jietui said, "It's only just been developed there." Wang Shixiong said, "If we explain clearly to everyone and implore their understanding and cooperation in building it, it should be fine." Yin Pingzhi said, "To avoid further complications, let's discuss it again in the council hall, my brothers." Wang Shixiong had no choice but to let them leave.
As he left, Lin Chaoying felt like a withered leaf about to fall to the ground, feeling an unspeakable annoyance. She wandered around, trying to dispel her pent-up emotions, thinking, "This… I believe he'd rather have his head cut off than feel this uncomfortable… I'll go back and confess to grandmother."
After much deliberation, she found herself outside Granny Su's house. Granny Su, busy cleaning, hurried over and said, "Come inside to wash up and rest." Without his warmth, it felt somewhat like grandmother's kindness. Granny Su offered her a set of clothes. Lin Chaoying wanted to refuse, but seeing it was black, she looked down at herself and changed into it. Granny Su took the discarded clothes. To prevent her from getting into trouble, Lin Chaoying said, "No need to wash them." Granny Su understood and asked, "Burn them in the stove?" Lin Chaoying hesitated for a moment and nodded. Granny Su said, "Sit down, let me fix your hair bun." Lin Chaoying sat in the chair, letting Granny Su undo her bun, trim it, and re-style it. Gou'er nestled at Lin Chaoying's feet, playing with the pebbles she had found. Lin Chaoying watched her bobbing pigtails, remembering her grandmother, and couldn't help but reach out to stroke them. After finishing, Granny Su said, "I've made some pastries, go try them." As she turned towards the stove, she heard Gou'er exclaim, "This is fun!" She looked back to find Lin Chaoying gone.
Lin Chaoying found her way to Mao Ya's camp. Dressed again in her dark warrior attire, she felt grounded. She headed towards Mao Ya's command tent, intending to confess her fault and hoping to calm his "madness." Distantly observing the shadows in the tent, a sudden thought struck her, and she circled around to the back to eavesdrop.
Mao Ya was deploying troops and said, "The bandit Wang wants to move the main force of the rebels to the so-called 'Shadow Stronghold,' making us waste our strength on an empty base. Nan, first lead the dark warriors to annihilate the main resistance, and I will personally lead the army to deal with the remnants."
Lin Chaoying thought for a moment and then quietly drifted away. She circled the camp once, gathered some supplies, and then left.
According to plan, Wang Yin was responsible for escorting the civilians to "Shadow Stronghold," while Wei and Meng stayed behind to create a diversion at the stronghold. As night fell in the dense forest, Lin Chaoying tracked the warriors led by Wu Nanyong. Seeing them take a circuitous route, she became suspicious, wondering if it was a trap to lure the tiger away from its mountain. While guessing, she saw Wang Yin's convoy. The Wu squad ahead suddenly disappeared. At this moment, she heard Yin Pingzhi exclaim, "Demoness, as expected, you've led the demons to attack!"
Lin Chaoying turned back abruptly. Another squad of dark warriors emerged from behind her, firing "Butterfly Love Flower Needles" at Wang Yin's convoy. These needles were composed of mother and son needles; the mother needle, "flower needle," equipped with barbs, was shot first to hit the target, followed by the "butterfly needle" that pursued densely, making it difficult to dodge and causing continuous injuries. Lin Chaoying threw the "Private Transmission Notes" "Pine Leaf Ball" to counteract these needles, knocking down most of the flower needles and disrupting the butterfly needles. The dark warriors knew her prowess and identity, and with Wang Shixiong rushing to their aid, and their objective achieved, they exchanged a dozen moves and scattered.
Lin Chaoying asked, "You three agreed that Wei Jietui would remain at the stronghold?" Wang Shixiong nodded. Lin Chaoying let out a cold laugh and drifted towards the direction of the stronghold.
Meng Han Guang secretly followed Wei Jietui to the east gate of the stronghold. Seeing his suspicious demeanor, he couldn't help but reveal himself to stop him, questioning in a playful tone, "Brother Wei, you wouldn't open the east gate to let the Jin dogs crawl in, would you?" Wei Jietui replied with a smile, "Of course not, I just want… Brother Shixiong, why…" As Meng Han Guang turned to look, Wei Jietui ruthlessly attacked, drawing his sword and thrusting at his temples, throat, and heart. Suddenly, a "squeak" sounded from behind, and Wei Jietui dodged sideways. A long needle grazed his face.
"After waiting for so long and still not opening the main gate, General Mao Ya is getting impatient," Lin Chaoying said with a cold smile.
Wei Jietui rebuked, "Demoness, don't try to sow discord!"
Lin Chaoying said, "The plan to 'capture the badger by following its burrow' was taught to you by Mao Ya. The Jin soldiers were 'caught in a net,' it was the perfect opportunity to sneak into the stronghold and act as inside informants. You became so angry when I burned the ropes and nets, ruining the plan…"
Wei Jietui's sword struck left and right, attacking with feints and thrusts, his mouth only spitting, "Utter nonsense."
Lin Chaoying circled and stepped in the four directions, revealing the truth in a single sentence, "Wen Yu is still in his hands."
Wei Jietui said nothing more, swinging his sword relentlessly. After a few moves, Wei Jietui saw an opening and thrust directly at her throat. Just as he was about to hit, a sword came from the side and deflected it. "Brother Shixiong…"
Wang Shixiong's face was livid as he said, "Why did you betray us?" Wei Jietui, filled with shame and anger, said, "From the moment you arrived here, Han Shizhong let you decide everything, and I was already sold out by you! I painstakingly spent over ten years of effort…" He covered his face and wept bitterly. Wang Shixiong stepped forward to comfort him, but Wei Jietui backhanded him, drawing his sword and stabbing towards his brow. The sword stopped two inches from Wang Shixiong's brow, and Wei Jietui slumped down softly.
It turned out he had been stabbed through the chest from behind by Lin Chaoying.
Seeing that he could not live, Wang Shixiong picked him up with great reluctance. Wei Jietui, using his last strength, said, "I had an affair with a woman… named Wen Yu… she's carrying my… child… imprisoned by Jin…"
A righteous man rushed to report urgently: the Jin army was taking advantage of the situation and had broken through the west gate.
Although Wang Shixiong tried his best to contain his grief and anger, his mind was filled with confusion, causing his moves to be somewhat erratic. Lin Chaoying filled in the gaps from the side and ordered Meng Han Guang and the others to retreat from the rear. This was the first time the two fought side by side, but their coordination was incredibly tight and precise. Lin Chaoying couldn't suppress her growing delight, and Wang Shixiong gradually focused on his moves. Wang, Lin, and Meng, with the remnants of their forces, fought and retreated to the dense forest of a tributary a hundred miles away before they could catch their breath.
Guan Zumei, who had arrived from Nanyang with reinforcements, reached them earlier. With him taking over the responsibility of escorting the relocated Shadow Stronghold, Wang Shixiong felt at ease to return to the stronghold with Lin Chaoying to investigate and learn about Wei Jietui's affairs. At this moment, he received the report and came to meet them. Upon seeing Lin Chaoying, he was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Are you that Miss Lin?"
Lin Chaoying nodded slightly. Wang Shixiong turned his face slightly, not daring to meet her gaze directly, and asked, "How is the situation on your end?" Guan Zumei couldn't help but glare at Lin Chaoying and said, "Alas, the Jin dogs are relentless, and the demons are merciless. Some are dead, some injured, some fled. Only less than twenty households remain. Brother Yin is severely wounded, his limbs might be crippled… I am truly incapable…" He choked, unable to speak. Wang Shixiong also began to cry, saying, "Marshal Han's efforts are ruined… He publicly announced his abdication and offered to yield, and I truly… I never expected such deep-seated enmity to be sown…" Guan Zumei comforted him, "Brother Shixiong, your dedication of your family fortune and efforts to develop the deep caves of Qinling, and your promotion of the anti-Jin forces in Nanyang, are truly admirable. Marshal Han's urgent plea should be the priority, and his yielding to the capable truly shows his foresight and broadmindedness. If only heaven had not denied us this time!" Wang Shixiong cried out to the heavens, "Heaven! This place was once a paradise for the Song dynasty, now trampled by the savage army. If you do not pity us, I am ashamed to be under you and to coexist with these wicked thieves!" Guan and Meng stepped forward to support and console him.
Lin Chaoying said, "Then let's send the civilians across the border, let them live in the green skies of Song territory." Meng Han Guang said, "Don't you know that according to the 'Treaty of Shaoxing,' northerners fleeing south are subject to punishment?" Guan Zumei said, "Let's regroup, and everyone return to the Nanyang stronghold to make further plans." Wang Shizu said, "Everything depends on my brother's ideas."