Under the gently swaying firelight, the letter read:

"...It's been almost a year since our parting in the south. I wonder how the family around you has changed, and if you're still as willful as before. Searching: \(¨Complete¨Book¨God¨Station¨) to read quality literature for free. Since our separation, I've occasionally heard news about you from various sources, but I don't know the details. My position also makes it difficult for me to inquire further about your affairs, as that would bring you trouble. Of course, I know you always understand the bigger picture.

The road ahead is not easy, this is something we agreed on long ago, so even if you're having a hard time, I won't comfort you. Since returning home, things haven't gone as smoothly as I imagined. I've encountered some troubles, big and small, but don't worry, I've taken care of them all one by one. Many enemies have already died by my hand. You've probably heard about how amazing I am, anyway, you knew it all along, didn't you?"

When her eyes fell on the phrase "won't comfort you," the girl under the firelight wrinkled her nose. She didn't need comfort, but in fact, this phrase "I won't comfort you" somehow felt like the man was gently patting her head, giving her a sense of comfort, making her feel like something heart-warming was entering her heart. When she saw the narcissistic "didn't you" later on, she couldn't help but laugh, wanting to scoff at him.

"I don't know..." she said softly.

"...Now I've just gained a foothold here, and I think you have too. Friends from the north have brought me news of you, and what you're doing now, the same as your father did many years ago. I really want to come and see you, but the situation doesn't allow it. He's probably already told you my opinion, and I know that even after hearing it, you won't back down. So I just want to make my expectations clear to you.

Cowardly as I am, I know that there are times in life when some things cannot be retreated from. Now is probably the time when you feel you can't retreat, and I agree. Agua, righteousness, faith, and determination are all good things. Many times, even at great risk, we shouldn't abandon them, and I don't plan on letting you abandon them. That's the you I knew in the first place. I just want to remind you to always remember what you're doing, and think clearly about the difference between danger and courting death.

I really want to know what your endeavors in the south have developed into, even if they're just starting out, I'm eager to see what they look like now.

I can remember the way you looked when we talked about these things in those days. You smiled very happily, and now I want to admit to you that I felt guilty at the time. You're a smart person, perhaps you noticed it when we parted, my enthusiasm for this matter wasn't enough. The reason for this wasn't because it was deceptive, but because I understood how difficult it was.

What you want, a world where everyone is independent, confident, and has the ability and opportunity to seize their own destiny, may be possible. But before reaching that point, it may require unimaginable sacrifices from one generation, several generations, or even more than a dozen generations. I don't have much hope for this, but you've chosen to do it, even though you're smart enough to know how difficult it is.

This is what you want to do, but please forgive my detachment. An equally capable me has chosen to deal with another pressing matter. I've imagined your failure countless times, for various reasons, and I've only left you with a sliver of luck in my heart. Maybe there's a one in ten thousand chance that many years later, you'll overcome many difficulties, and I'll see the seeds you've planted begin to sprout, and that's the possibility I want to see the most.

That possibility, like the upheaval you're facing right now, I want to remind you of the difference between danger and courting death. You're smart, but after all, you're young, with vigor, vitality, and anger. You'll think of what your father went through, you'll see the miserable state of those who failed, you'll see the enemies you want to kill no matter what, you can rush over and take risks, but you can't rush over to court death, don't be impulsive.

Taking the risk of dying to fight for the slimmest chance of victory, that's the attitude of doing things. But striving to die, and trying to make yourself die, that's just the act of a coward.

There may already be many people like this around you, including that friend from the north, who probably already have such preparations in their hearts. Smart as you are, you can clearly see these things. I have no intention of criticizing these people for not being brave enough. In life, there are always times when you feel tired, when you feel powerless. Sometimes, they feel that those who survive will be condemned by thousands of people, will be despised by others or themselves, will feel that living is more humiliating, and they would rather die with dignity, and be a good man again in eighteen years. These people are already braver than ordinary people, but not brave enough.

An immature person will bravely die for a great cause, a mature person will live in humiliation for a great cause. The important thing is not the meaning of survival, but whether the matter is done well in the end.

Me, I've said so much, I don't know if you understand, but the last few things I want to say are not for any great cause. In the whole matter, what I've said is mostly for my own selfish reasons. This matter, or those things you're going to do in the future, you can take risks, you can fight, and do your best to find a chance of victory. But you will definitely experience failure, and if you fail, you must live for me.

At that time, please live.

Come find me.

This is what I really want to say in my heart. I also want to say: don't let this idea make your head spin, this is a cold, hard reality. All great things cannot be achieved by one person. If I fail, I will also come to you and ask for your help. We have sworn an oath to heaven and earth, you are my person, and even if I have deceived you, we are partners, there is no shame in that."

The signature was a very arrogant and obnoxious cross.

After that, there was a postscript: "Watch that friend, don't let him die, let those who deserve to live, live."

***************

The mountain wind blew over, and the girl sitting in the firelight read the letter once, then again, her expression changing occasionally. But in the end, the restless aura surrounding her calmed down. She looked at the handwriting on the letter, sometimes wanting to laugh, but her gaze remained calm. The letter was like the knife in her arms, even though it carried a cold aura, it made her feel at peace. The flames burned hotly in her heart, but didn't spread to her mind.

After reading the letter over and over again many times, she sat for a while before slowly standing up. The scenery below the mountain, the undulating mountains and winding roads and rivers in the night, were shrouded in the clear light of the stars and moon. She tilted her head and smiled, involuntarily muttering, "Damn man... Ning Yi..." His name wasn't written in the letter, which she found regrettable.

But she finally returned to the small house, took out the long box, put the large knife inside, and then strapped it to her back. She walked not far and found Du Sha. Chen Fan was also there, talking in low voices with Fang Shuchang and others. When Xigua arrived, everyone came over.

"Uncle Du, get out the map, I want to see the surrounding area... We've already crossed the Yangtze River, this is all government territory, the further we go, the harder it will be to escape. Whether we can rescue Fo Shuai (Buddha General) or kill Tie Tianying (Iron Sky Eagle) and Zong Feixiao, we have to think about our retreat first..." She paused here, adding, "Think about it clearly."

For the past few days, Fang Baihua and others had been chasing the team escorting Fang Qifo to the capital, although they hadn't encountered any major crises, everyone knew that the situation wasn't optimistic.

The plan of Tie Tianying and Zong Feixiao, the two chief constables of the Ministry of Justice, was obvious. Although they hadn't taken any action against Fang Baihua and others, the further north they went, the deeper they fell into the densely populated areas of government and aristocratic families. Once the other side made a move, it would be harder to escape. They were also using a blatant *yangmou* (a strategy that is obvious and difficult to counter). Before arriving in the capital, you can come and rescue him as much as you want, but every day that passes, it will be harder for you to have a way out.

Fang Qifo had wide social connections in his day, and those who could be gathered now were either direct descendants of Fang La or martial artists who had received favors from Fang Qifo. For them, even if the hope was slim, rescuing Fang Qifo was a matter of *daoyi* (righteousness). Some who were straightforward in nature were ready to say, "A good man will be again in eighteen years." What Fang Baihua hoped was to really find a chance from the opponent's formation, take the bait, and throw the hook back, while also sinking herself deeper and deeper.

Liu Xigua and others could naturally see all of this clearly, but with Fang Qifo's friendship with the Badao Ying (Tyrant Blade Camp), this matter was enough to make their heads spin. Now that Xigua could regain a bit of calm, everyone could think more. Chen Fan, with his hands crossed in front of his chest, could now smile, looking at the girl rather strangely. Xigua returned the look with a sharp gaze.

In the end, the two didn't start fighting here. Du Sha brought the map, and after everyone studied it and had some ideas, Xigua asked Fang Shuchang to bring some writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. As she left, Chen Fan came over: "I'm suddenly very curious, what did that bastard Ning Yi write in his letter?"

"Get out! Or we'll fight!" Xigua raised her chin, but Chen Fan knew that in her eyes, there was already the familiarity and affection of the past. He stopped, folded his hands in front of him, and tilted his head and smiled. Xigua knew he was mocking her and walked away unhappily.

Chen Fan stood there for a while, watching Xigua's back as she walked towards the end of the mountain path. He looked up at the light and shadows in the sky, and then at the light and shadows below the mountain, smiling to himself, "I should have peeked."

After a moment, he sighed and repeated in a soft whisper, "Should have peeked..."

***************

Back in the dilapidated small house, Xigua found a place to sit, and then set up the wooden box containing her blade as a table. After grinding the ink, she looked out the door: "Waiting for things to screw up and then crying and begging me for help..."

Then she held up the writing brush and thought for a long time.

A-something?

She had quite a bit of resentment towards Ning Yi's nickname "Agua". She thought for a long time, calling him A-Cha (Cross) was obviously too cheap for him... Without knowing when, she put pen to paper.

"A-Sha (Fool)." She wrote the address, then took out Ning Yi's letter and glanced at it.

"Seeing the words is like seeing the face..."

The starry night was cold, and at this moment, as the girl, as one of the two members of the "Fool Duo", was writing a letter at her desk. A huge and silent black curtain was closing in on this small piece of the world and its people like a sky-covering net.

A few days later, the first thing Ning Yi received in Muyuan County wasn't the girl's letter, but the news that Fang Baihua's leadership, the last remaining force of the Yongle Dynasty, had finally fallen into a deadly trap...