Chen Qing had long felt that Pei Er was no ordinary person. Back in the wounded soldiers’ camp, everyone slept on broken wooden plank beds and wore old clothes patched multiple times, even Pei Er’s clothes had been given to him by others after he woke up.
But when others wore them and sprawled on the broken plank beds in the tent, with their hair more disheveled, they looked like beggars on the street. Pei Er, however, was different. Even in patched clothes, he had broad shoulders and long legs; whether lying down or sitting, he was unlike the others.
This difference wasn’t only reflected in his outstanding appearance and taciturn nature, but more in an aura.
Chen Qing couldn’t quite describe it. If he had to, it was like an unsheathed sword, lying there cold and still, already emanating a chilling sharpness; once unsheathed one day, it would surely be piercingly formidable.
No wonder he was able to marry Miss Shen. Miss Shen was also a woman of uncommon vision, only, what a pity…
Chen Qing shrank in on himself, cautiously glancing at Pei Zhen before him. Frightened, he trembled again, unable to speak.
He had once guessed that before losing his memory, Pei Er must have had an extraordinary background, even guessing he might have been a young master from a once-wealthy family now fallen on hard times.
But he never expected that not only was his background extraordinary, he was actually a heir apparent, and one who held military power at that!
Before coming to Chang’an and Liangzhou, the highest-ranking official Chen Qing had ever seen in his life was General Chen, and even then, he had mostly only seen him from afar among the ranks of soldiers, rarely face-to-face.
Now, standing before the heir of Yan Wang who commanded great armies, even though the man was once the brother Pei Er he knew, he was so frightened that his legs trembled uncontrollably. Especially since what he was about to say was, was…
The more Chen Qing thought about it, the more afraid he became. His legs were already shaking so badly he could barely stand. Despite the cold weather, sweat poured from his forehead.
After asking his question, Pei Zhen saw that he remained silent for a long time. He couldn’t help frowning, growing somewhat anxious, and urged again, “Answer! Why aren’t you speaking?”
Beside them, Yang Yuanyi also looked curious.
Chen Qing trembled again in fright. He opened his mouth, about to speak, but suddenly, another commotion came from outside.
Pei Zhen felt a surge of displeasure and asked through the tent, “What is it now?”
A soldier outside quickly reported: “General, the enemy has come again to issue a challenge. This time the formation is larger than before, about five thousand men.”
Pei Zhen frowned and directly said to Yang Yuanyi, “Go make arrangements. Lead troops to drive them back.”
Yang Yuanyi quickly said “Alright,” but as he left, he kept looking back every few steps, still wanting to hear more.
As soon as he left, only Pei Zhen and Chen Qing remained in the tent. Chen Qing couldn’t help trembling even more.
Pei Zhen turned to look at him, his brows furrowing deeper, his tone already displeased: “What exactly is it? Speak! Is ‘Shen Xiu’ still at her parents’ home? Did she send you to deliver a letter? Is she doing well lately…?”
Before he could even finish saying the word “alright,” Chen Qing’s legs finally gave out. With a thud, he dropped to his knees, his voice trembling as he said, “Pei, Pei… brother, no, Your Highness Shizi, Miss…Miss Shen, she…”
Seeing his reaction, Pei Zhen already had a bad premonition. The expectation and faint smile in his eyes gradually froze, his expression becoming unreadable.
Under his increasingly cold gaze, Chen Qing felt as if thorns were pressing into his back. He simply shut his eyes, clenched his teeth, and forced himself to say, “Miss Shen, on her way to her parents’ home, was unfortunately attacked by bandits. Together with the carriage, she fell off a cliff. Not even her bones remain, she already… already…”
By the end, Chen Qing couldn’t help choking up. He wiped his tears before continuing, “She has already passed away.”
When the words fell, the tent sank into dead silence. It was as if time had stopped, as though everything had frozen.
Kneeling on the ground, Chen Qing felt that the gaze above him had not moved for a long time, yet gradually, it seemed to become distant and unreal.
His hands and feet went numb from kneeling, cold sweat streaming down him. He didn’t know how much time had passed, perhaps a long while, perhaps only a few breaths.
But no matter how long, all he could hear was that dead silence, so quiet it made one’s heart panic, so quiet he didn’t even dare breathe loudly.
After an unknown stretch of time, Chen Qing finally couldn’t hold back and cautiously lifted his head to look at Pei Zhen.
His gaze moved from bottom to top. He couldn’t clearly see the other’s expression, only that his jaw was clenched extremely tight, as if he might grind his teeth to pieces.
Summoning courage, he raised his gaze a little more and finally saw Pei Zhen’s entire face. His long brows and handsome eyes were unchanged, his eyes black as jade, and yet, there was almost no expression.
After a moment, the corners of his lips actually lifted slightly, and he let out a soft laugh.
Chen Qing’s heart sank slightly. Seeing this reaction, he couldn’t help feeling it wasn’t worth it for Miss Shen.
Of course, Pei Shizi must have already regained his memory. Could it be that after remembering he was a shizi, he no longer cared about Miss Shen? To actually… actually laugh?!
But then why had he seemed so anxious just now?
While his thoughts ran wildly, he saw Pei Zhen suddenly step back a few paces, sit down in a chair, and look at him expressionlessly as he said, “Chen Qing, you’re joking with me.”
His tone was certain, leaving no room for denial.
Yet the hand resting on his thigh was clenched tightly into a fist, the knuckles pale, trembling uncontrollably. If he hadn’t stepped back and sat down just now, he might not even have been able to stand.
Impossible! How could this be possible?
That very morning when he left, his wife’s eyes had still been smiling as she reluctantly saw him off at the door. Her vivid brows and eyes were still imprinted in his mind, as though he had only seen her not long ago, how could it be… how could it suddenly…
And Yongfeng Town, hadn’t the bandits in the nearby mountains already been cleared out? Besides, he had even sent Zhang Hu and others to escort her. Zhang Hu might not have been personally trained by him from the start, but he had still led him for a month, he knew his abilities well. For something as simple as an escort, how could he fail?
Especially since “Shen Xiu” was Zhang Hu’s benefactor, Zhang Hu would rather lose his life than fail to protect her.
Right, Zhang Hu! Call Zhang Hu here!
He didn’t believe it. Chen Qing was lying to him! It must be Chen Qing lying! That fellow had always been slick-tongued, his words couldn’t be trusted.
Pei Zhen clenched his fists tightly. Without realizing it, his eyes had already reddened. Suddenly, he sprang to his feet and strode quickly out of the tent.
He yanked open the obstructing tent flap in one motion, with such force it seemed it might tear.
“Where are the others? Get in here, all of you! And Zhang Hu, has Zhang Hu come?” he asked, his gaze icy, his voice trembling despite his effort to control it.
More than a dozen frontier soldiers were standing guard outside. Hearing this, they were so frightened they immediately dropped to their knees, calling out, “Greetings, Your High…”
Before they could finish, Pei Zhen cut them off: “Zhang Hu didn’t come?”
They looked at one another, then all lowered their heads together, panicking: “N-no, he didn’t.”
Pei Zhen couldn’t help closing his eyes. The hand gripping the tent cloth trembled uncontrollably.
After a moment, he opened his eyes again. His voice was tightly restrained, yet still carried a hoarse tremor: “What Chen Qing said, is it true? Shen Xiu, she…”
He clenched his teeth, unable, no matter what, to say those final words.
The frontier soldiers from Yongzhou hurriedly answered cautiously: “Y-yes. General Chen sent us to deliver the message. Miss Shen encountered bandits, fell off a cliff, and has… has already passed away. The general and Prefect Zhang personally went to search. They only found some bloodstains below the cliff and clothes torn apart by wild beasts. It’s presumed the remains were… were taken by wild wolves…”
“Silence!” Pei Zhen suddenly cut in sharply, anger flaring. “Get out, all of you, get out!”
Hearing the commotion, Yang Yuanyi hurried over. He saw Pei Zhen gripping the tent entrance so tightly that the veins on the back of his hand bulged, his eyes bloodshot, his figure swaying slightly.
Alarmed, Yang Yuanyi quickly stepped forward and asked the frontier soldiers, “What happened?”
No one dared answer.
Left with no choice, Yang Yuanyi turned to the camp soldiers instead.
One of them, braver than the rest, raised a hand to shield his mouth and quietly told him, “Young General Yang, those Yongzhou frontier soldiers said someone named ‘Shen Xiu’ died, fell off a cliff, and her remains were taken by wolves.”
“What?” Yang Yuanyi was shocked. Though he tried to restrain himself, he still let out a soft exclamation.
Hearing the sound, Pei Zhen seemed to finally come back to himself. He slowly turned his head, his gaze desolate yet inexplicably frightening as he looked over.
Yang Yuanyi’s heart tightened, and he finally understood why he was like this.
Thinking of how much his friend had cared about Miss Shen before, he sighed inwardly, feeling sympathy for the poor, ill-fated Miss Shen, and for his friend as well. Looking up at Pei Zhen, whose eyes were still red, he felt he should try to persuade him.
But before he could speak, Pei Zhen’s expression suddenly changed. His face turned exceptionally cold and severe. Releasing the tent flap, he strode off into the distance.
At first, Yang Yuanyi didn’t understand what he intended to do. But when he saw him walk to a dark brown warhorse and prepare to mount, he immediately realized and his face changed in alarm. He rushed forward to stop him, lowering his voice urgently: “Jianzhi, what are you doing?”
Pei Zhen seemed as though his soul had not yet fully returned. His eyes reddened as he murmured, “I’m going to bring her back…”
Before he could finish, he suddenly froze.
Bring her back? How? If she had truly been buried in the bellies of wolves, how could there still be a body to recover?
Moreover, with a great battle imminent and the two armies facing off, was he to just abandon the army and return alone to Yongzhou to search?
Emotionally, Pei Zhen wished he could return to Yongzhou at this very moment. But reason reminded him, he couldn’t go, he couldn’t leave… The two sides pulled back and forth within him until his mind suddenly throbbed with sharp pain.
At this moment, Yang Yuanyi’s voice came through, as if through a layer of film, muffled and indistinct. He could only see the other’s anxious expression and constantly moving mouth.
After an unknown amount of time, the ringing in his ears finally faded, and he gradually began to hear what the other was saying,
“…Jianzhi, I know your heart is in unbearable pain, but right now you truly cannot leave. We’ll immediately send people to Yongzhou to search, send as many as needed, but you must remain in the army to hold command. The rebel army has been provoking us repeatedly just to wear us down, to sap our morale, and then attack us. There may even be a major battle tomorrow. Besides, if you leave the army at a time like this, and His Majesty finds out…”
Before he could finish, several soldiers arrived in rapid succession to report.
“Report, General Zhan led five thousand men to engage the enemy at West Hill Slope but was defeated and forced to retreat.”
“Report, the enemy has reorganized five thousand troops and is once again issuing a challenge to our army.”
At the same time, the sound of drums outside drew nearer. Faintly, shouts of “Bingzhou brats” and “cowardly turtles hiding in their shells” could be heard.
Pei Zhen’s eyes were already red, but at this moment his expression suddenly turned cold and severe, even more terrifying. He closed his eyes, then opened them again, gritting his teeth as he said word by word, “Bring me my weapon!”
***
Inside the rebel camp, Li Chanxiu stood before the sand table, carefully reconstructing the battles fought from yesterday to today.
Yesterday’s three battles, the first one, the opponent had clearly been careless and underestimated them, so they won easily. But the enemy retreated in time and suffered no real losses. The next two battles, one loss, one win, overall, neither side gained an advantage.
As for today’s battle, the opposing side had changed commanders. This one was not as skilled as yesterday’s, so they had gained a slight advantage.
But Pei Zhen had not appeared at all, and it seemed these battles were not commanded by him. Why?
Could it really be as his father said, that Pei Zhen was “nurturing the enemy” to strengthen his own position?
Just as he was pondering, a soldier suddenly came to report: “Report, Young General, Pei Zhen is leading fifty thousand troops in a frontal attack against our army.”
Li Chanxiu was stunned and had not yet spoken when another soldier quickly reported: “Report, Young General, Pei Zhen is personally leading the charge on horseback. Captain Yi Xun is no match for him, she has been wounded and has retreated.”
“Report, Commander Zhou has retreated!”
Li Chanxiu sprang to his feet, his voice like cold jade as he said swiftly, “Bring me my armor.”
…
West Hill Slope, where the two armies clashed.
The sound of killing shook the heavens, drums and horns blared together, and everywhere rang the clash of weapons.
Though Pei Zhen had brought fifty thousand troops to attack, he had not committed them all.
Leading three thousand cavalry personally, he charged into five thousand rebel troops. His gaze was like fire, his long spear like a dragon, again and again he struck down enemy soldiers who rushed forward to block him, before driving straight toward the two enemy commanders.
After being wounded, Yi Xun recognized his face and froze for a moment.
Seeing this, Zhou Kai hurriedly pulled her away and shouted, “Fall back!”
With that, he raised his long blade horizontally, attempting to block the downward strike of Pei Zhen’s spear. The instant their weapons clashed, Zhou Kai felt his arms tremble violently, pain shooting through his palms, the web between his thumb and forefinger split open from the force.
Shock filled his heart. When he looked up again and met Pei Zhen’s cold, merciless eyes, eyes that seemed to look upon the dead, his heart jolted even more.
No wonder people said Pei Zhen was a hero of the age, a war god of the northern lands, truly unmatched in bravery!
Knowing he was no match for him, especially with fifty thousand troops still behind him, he made a swift decision. After forcing the other back with one strike, he yanked the reins and shouted, “Retreat, quickly retreat!”
Then he rode ahead to cover the others’ withdrawal.
Seeing him retreat, Pei Zhen did not pursue. He spun the silver spear in his hand, a cold smile forming at his lips: “Go back and tell your Little General, stop playing these petty skirmishing tricks. Bring your troops and fight properly. Pei will be waiting!”
With that, he turned his horse back toward his army. His long spear rested behind him, his body clad in dark black armor, his presence fierce and chilling, like a killing god emerging from h*ll.
***
Back in the rebel camp, after dismounting, Yi Xun ignored her injuries and clutched her right shoulder as she went to find Li Chanxiu.
Li Chanxiu was in the midst of organizing the troops. Knowing that Pei Zhen had personally arrived, he took the situation extremely seriously. Worried he might not be a match, he had specially invited Yan Xiaoming, one of Li Xuan’s trusted generals.
Additionally, as the commander and strategist, he did not need to charge at the very front. But knowing his own poor health and lack of martial skill, and to prevent any accidents, he also brought along Yu Xingfan, a guard specifically arranged for him by Li Xuan.
With everything prepared, clad in silver armor and a crimson robe, a long sword at his waist, his bearing elegant and upright, his expression slightly stern, he mounted his horse and said, “All generals, follow me.”
Just as his words fell, a clear female voice suddenly called out from behind, “Little General!”
Li Chanxiu turned his head and, against the light, saw Yi Xun hurrying toward him, clutching her right shoulder, her face anxious.
He frowned slightly, recalling that a soldier had reported earlier that she was injured. His tone softened as he said, “Yi Xun, go tend to your wound first. You need not take part in this battle.”
With that, he pressed his long legs against the horse’s flank and rode off ahead.
Yi Xun’s expression grew even more urgent, but by the time she tried to call him again, it was already too late.
Zhou Kai happened to come over. Seeing her anxious look, he also said, “Yi Xun, just listen to the young lord and tend to your wound first. Don’t worry, I’ll switch horses shortly and follow to protect him.”
Yi Xun: “…” That’s not the issue.
But remembering Li Chanxiu’s earlier instructions, not to let others know about the matter between him and Pei Er, she couldn’t ask Zhou Kai to pass on a message.
And even if she did, by the time Zhou Kai arrived, the young lord would likely have already met Pei Zhen.
…
West Hill Slope, Li Chanxiu personally arrived, leading thirty thousand troops.
After capturing Ningcheng, the prefectural city, and Anxing County, the rebel army had recruited prisoners and grown stronger again. The prefectural city alone now had a garrison of seventy thousand troops.
But naturally, he couldn’t bring all seventy thousand troops out, moreover, a portion of them were Cai Shu’s trusted men. Being able to take thirty thousand was already considered a lot.
To face the enemy’s fifty thousand troops head-on with these thirty thousand soldiers, the chances of victory were clearly not high, especially with Pei Zhen personally leading the opposing side.
But Li Chanxiu’s goal had never been to defeat Pei Zhen outright, but to wear him down.
Pei Zhen’s army had come from a long-distance campaign, and their provisions relied on supply from the rear. However, to prevent him from nurturing his forces to strengthen his own position, the emperor certainly would not provide provisions for more than a hundred thousand troops. Every bit he fought with, his forces would diminish.
Meanwhile, relying on the prefectural city, Ningcheng, and Anxing County, Li Chanxiu had abundant supplies. He could “strike when the enemy is weary, pursue when the enemy retreats, harass when the enemy camps”, if he could win, he would fight; if he couldn’t, he would immediately lead troops back to the prefectural city and ignore Pei Zhen’s army no matter how they provoked them; and once Pei Zhen’s army retreated, he could send troops out again to fight.
In this way, he didn’t need to truly defeat the opponent, he only needed to exhaust their army to force them into retreat.
Originally, Li Chanxiu could have stayed in the rear, simply issuing timely orders to his subordinate generals on how to fight.
But today was different. Today… Pei Zhen had come in person.
Li Chanxiu tightened his grip on the reins, his expression unconsciously tensing.
He was about to meet the General Pei Zhen he had corresponded with many times in his dreams, yet had never had the chance to see. His heartbeat quickened uncontrollably, and a trace of nervousness appeared on his refined face.
In his dreams, he had imagined countless times what this senior and friend, who had given him so much help, truly looked like. From the tone of the letters, he had even inferred that the other must be a gentle and courteous, elegant scholar-general, like Lu Zhi, or like his father.
But having never seen him, he did not know if his assumptions were correct.
Inevitably, he felt anticipation. His gaze passed over the cavalry ahead, trying to look toward the enemy formation.
However, his eyesight was limited, he still could not see clearly.
At this moment, Yan Xiaoming rode over and said, “Your Highness, both armies are already facing off. Shall we beat the drums and begin the attack?”
“Wait.” Li Chanxiu raised his hand to stop him. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Send word to the other side, before the attack, I hope the two commanders can meet once before the formation.”
“This…” Yan Xiaoming hesitated, clearly worried about his safety.
But Li Chanxiu said, “Pei Zhen is not someone who would launch a sneak attack. I’ve already heard about his battle with Yi Xun and Commander Zhou just now, after defeating them, he did not pursue, but instead had Commander Zhou pass a message, asking me to personally lead troops to fight. Since that is the case, I would like to meet him in person.”
Hearing this, Yan Xiaoming felt it was not unreasonable. As long as he arranged proper protection for the young lord, it would be fine.
So he turned and ordered someone to deliver the message.
On the opposing side…
After receiving the message, Yang Yuanyi immediately went to inform Pei Zhen.
Pei Zhen had just returned from battle. His expression was sharp and severe, like a blade that had drunk blood. The earlier charge through the enemy ranks had been less a battle than a release of pent-up emotion.
Hearing the message now, he let out a cold laugh and said, “Then we shall meet before the formation.”
That little general among the rebels had some ability. Meeting before the formation was a form of respect he was willing to give.
As for what came after.
Pei Zhen’s gaze hardened, today, he would have these thirty thousand enemy troops buried on West Hill Slope, then drive his army straight to the prefectural city and retake it within three days!
As for nurturing the enemy to strengthen himself, prolonging a stalemate… that would no longer happen. He had changed his mind, he would swiftly pacify the southwestern rebels, then immediately return with his army to Yongzhou and Bingzhou.
Expressionless, as he rode out from the formation, Pei Zhen subconsciously raised a hand to press against the right side of his chest.
There, he carried a small pouch. Inside the pouch was a string of ordinary Buddhist prayer beads, and two strands of hair tied together.
The pouch containing the hair had fallen from his body earlier while changing clothes, on their wedding night, they had tied their hair together as husband and wife.
At this moment, scenes from the past remained vivid in his mind, his wife’s smiling expression, her frown as she applied medicine for him, her dazed and adorable look when he lightly kissed her, her reluctant expression when they parted…
Pei Zhen closed his eyes. His clenched fist pressed tightly against his chest. Even though he had tried to use the fiercest slaughter on the battlefield to forget the pain, that place still ached as if pierced by countless needles.
He took a deep breath, biting the soft flesh inside his cheek, forcing down the dense, unrelenting waves of pain.
On the battlefield, the mountain wind rustled.
In the distant forest, a flock of birds suddenly took flight in alarm.
West Hill Slope, where nearly a hundred thousand troops stood, fell into silence as soldiers from both armies parted like water, opening a path down the middle.
The commanders of both sides, mounted on horseback, slowly rode out from their ranks.
At Li Chanxiu’s side were Yan Xiaoming, Yu Xingfan, the newly arrived Zhou Kai, and several personal guards.
He gripped the reins tightly. The more nervous he was, the calmer he appeared on the surface. His clear gaze looked straight ahead, wanting to see the opposing commander’s face at the very first moment.
On the opposite side, Pei Zhen’s gaze was cold and still, like a killing god forged from iron and blood, as he likewise looked toward the commander emerging from the rebel ranks.
Seeing that slender figure on horseback being subtly but closely protected by several people at his side, he gave a faint, mocking smile. He hadn’t expected that this somewhat capable enemy commander would be so afraid of death.
Did he think he would resort to underhanded means and launch a sneak attack before the formation? He was underestimating him. If he wanted to kill the other, why would he need to resort to sneak attacks,
Suddenly, as the distance closed and he saw the other’s figure and face clearly, he froze, his entire body going still.
Opposite him, as Li Chanxiu rode closer and saw Pei Zhen’s appearance clearly, he too froze, his clear and beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.
All along the way, he had been wondering what Pei Zhen would look like. The closer he got, the more nervous and curious he became.
Yet now, seeing the other’s face clearly, he fell into a rigid silence.
If he wasn’t mistaken, if he truly wasn’t mistaken, that enemy commander clad in black iron armor, mounted on a fine warhorse, his face cold as frost… seemed to be, should be… his husband, Pei Er, who had said he was going to trade furs to support the household?
But how could Pei Er be in the Bingzhou army? And even become its commander? Could it be that he was… Pei Zhen?!
Li Chanxiu froze completely, unable to recover for a long time.
Opposite him, seeing the rebel commander who had emerged from the rebel ranks, clad in crimson robes and silver armor, sitting tall on horseback with a jade-like bearing and refined features, Pei Zhen also stood stiffly in silence, as if his very soul had been struck by something, his gaze fixed in a daze.
If he wasn’t mistaken, if he truly wasn’t mistaken, then that person on the opposite side, that rebel commander on horseback, seemed to be… should be… his gentle and beautiful wife, who had said she was returning to her parents’ home to borrow money and grain, but had tragically fallen off a cliff and was said to be no longer alive…?
The wind swept fallen leaves, and the grass and trees swayed. From afar came a few harsh cries of crows.
Both of them stood stunned, their expressions frozen. The already silent West Hill Slope fell into an even deeper stillness.
Before the two armies, seeing that their own commander had suddenly begun staring blankly at the enemy commander, perhaps “staring blankly” wasn’t quite the right description, but the length of time they gazed at each other was indeed rather long,
Some soldiers, unable to understand the situation, began exchanging puzzled looks.
Yang Yuanyi, who had followed Pei Zhen to the front, also widened his eyes in shock. Th-this… wasn’t that enemy commander…
Although the other was dressed in men’s clothing, he couldn’t be mistaken. That face was clearly identical to Pei Zhen’s wife!
He couldn’t help but be astonished and turned to look at Pei Zhen.
After remaining frozen for a long while, Pei Zhen finally came back to himself. Suddenly, his eyes reddened, and he spurred his horse forward at speed, as if urgently needing to confirm something.
Yan Xiaoming was startled. Seeing him holding a long spear and suddenly charging forward, his blood-red eyes locked onto Li Chanxiu, he quickly rode forward to block him and shouted urgently, “Quick, protect the young lord!”
In an instant, Yu Xingfan, Zhou Kai, and the other guards all rushed in front of Li Chanxiu, shielding him as they tried to retreat. Yan Xiaoming directly stepped forward to engage Pei Zhen.
“Wait.” Li Chanxiu was also startled by this sudden turn of events, but seeing Pei Zhen’s reddened eyes, he still hesitated and spoke.
Pei Zhen saw people blocking his path, while “Shen Xiu” was being hurriedly escorted away. His eyes grew even redder, his voice like ice, unable to conceal the killing intent: “Move!”
With that, he swept his spear, directly knocking Yan Xiaoming, Zhou Kai, and the others back, then spurred his horse again straight toward Li Chanxiu.
Meeting his reddened eyes, Li Chanxiu was momentarily stunned.
The guards at his side were successively knocked aside by the opponent’s spear. Just as he, uncertain of the other’s intent, hesitated over whether to draw his sword to block,
Suddenly, a spear thrust in from the side, positioning itself between him and Pei Zhen, stopping Pei Zhen’s advance.
Pei Zhen’s anger was barely concealed, but the shaft of the spear rotated, forcing him to lean back.
Immediately, the newcomer rode up and placed himself in front of Li Chanxiu.
Li Chanxiu looked at the newcomer in astonishment and blurted out, “Lu Zhi?”
Pei Zhen steadied himself on horseback. Seeing clearly who it was, he was equally surprised, his tone cold and sharp: “Lu Zhi?!”
Lu Zhi’s expression was serious. He turned to Li Chanxiu and said, “Your Highness, withdraw first. Leave this to me.”
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