As night fell, messengers ran back and forth several times, and the troops and horses, having been on the move all day, began to set up camp.
In truth, they hadn’t gotten very far yet.
After a round of formal ceremonies to express thanks to the emperor, their departure had already been delayed until noon.
Although the group numbered fewer than a hundred, their pace was not quick.
Their main task was not to fight in the northwest, but to escort imperial officials to their new posts.
Most of the military commanders being reassigned, including the military commissioner, were heading directly from their current locations; those departing from the capital were the supervisory officials sent by imperial decree to investigate military affairs in the northwest.
Of course, there were also people like Zhou Liu-lang and Xu Maoxiu, who were reinforcements for the northwest military line—but most of them were negligible in the presence of these high-ranking military officers.
It wasn’t that the senior officers from the capital were incapable of traveling quickly, but rather that some preferred to move faster, while others preferred a slower pace.
So, amid the push and pull, the starts and stops, it had taken them half a day just to get a little way out of the city.
“Damn it, why are we setting up camp tonight?”
Sitting by the campfire, Xu Bangchui couldn’t help but curse in a low voice.
“It’s not like we’ve been marching for three days and nights straight—what’s there to rest for?”
“Shut up. Mind your own business. Do what you’re told,” Xu Maoxiu shot him a glare.
“I’m just saying ‘cause I’m anxious,” Xu Bangchui muttered, then turned to Fan Jianglin. “Brother, you’re carrying three bows by yourself—that’s gotta be exhausting…”
“It is a bit tiring. You can carry the standard-issue bows for me,” Fan Jianglin said.
Xu Bangchui immediately pulled a long face, and the other men burst out laughing, teasing him and trying to hand over their own bows for him to carry as well.
“Fourth Brother, come take a look at my horse,” Xu Bangchui called out again, turning his head but seeing no one.
“Fourth Brother already went to check on the horses,” one of the men said. “He’s so good at fixing hooves that now a bunch of people are asking him to do theirs…”
They were still joking when Xu Maoxiu suddenly stood up, a slight frown on his face as he looked back in the direction they had come from.
“Someone’s coming,” he said.
Fan Jianglin immediately reached for the bow and arrows that never left his side, and the other men stood up as well.
Just then, the scouts stationed at the front and rear sent a signal.
“It’s fine, it’s one of ours.”
A dispatch rider sped past, reassuring the now-alert soldiers as he headed toward the main command tent. Outside the tent, several officers were already standing.
There wasn’t much worry on their faces. This close to the capital, on an official road, with imperial troops—if someone really dared to cause trouble here, all the officials in the capital might as well retire and go home.
The leading officer took the document handed over by the dispatch rider and read it for a moment, his expression turning somewhat strange. Then he passed it to the next person.
Each officer who read it showed a similarly odd expression.
“Ridiculous,” one of them muttered under his breath, clearly displeased, and with a flick of his sleeve, he walked into the tent.
The other officers who had read the document either shook their heads or said nothing at all, each entering the tent in turn.
The tense atmosphere instantly dissipated, and the soldiers who had stood up sat back down again.
“…Who was it?”
“…What are they here for?”
Everyone began whispering, curious, glancing in the direction the visitor had come from.
The night in the open countryside was much darker than in the capital—thick and heavy, with nothing unusual visible.
“They said… they came to see someone off…”
Hearing that, Xu Maoxiu instinctively turned around, looking at the group next to him who were discussing the newly arrived news.
“Who are they here to see off?” he couldn’t help but ask.
“At this hour, catching up with us like this, and with official travel permits and orders—definitely not ordinary folks. No way they’re here to see off people like you or me,” the man replied with a chuckle, gesturing subtly toward the officers’ tent. “There are a lot of young ones on this trip—sons of generals, pampered and coddled. Plenty of families who can’t bear to let them go…”
As he spoke, faint torchlights began to flicker in the pitch-black night, and the clamor of hooves gradually grew clearer.
It seemed the incoming group wasn’t small.
The soldiers in the camp couldn’t help but stand up, curious, craning their necks to look.
The group drew closer, and under the flickering torchlight in the sharp night wind, about a dozen people and a carriage came into view.
No—besides the dozen or so escorts, there were also several riderless horses.
“No way… who brings spare horses for their guards on a trip?”
Some of the soldiers couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise.
Long-distance travel is hardest on horses, so the best method is to rotate between three horses.
But such a luxurious setup is unrealistic in the Central Plains, where horses are scarce. Even in the northwest army, it’s rarely seen—only elite scouts are ever equipped like that.
Because word of their arrival had been sent ahead, the group wasn’t stopped and came to a halt just outside the camp.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and a girl stepped down.
A low murmur rippled through the camp.
“See? I knew it—it’s some noble family’s lady who couldn’t bear to see her kin go off…” someone beside Xu Maoxiu said with a chuckle, but then noticed Xu Maoxiu’s expression—he looked stunned. The others around him looked as if their eyes might fall out of their sockets.
What’s so shocking about this? Have they never seen a woman before?
The young soldier was just about to mock them, when Xu Maoxiu suddenly strode off in large steps—heading straight toward the newcomers outside the camp.
“She’s not here for you. Don’t go sticking your nose in for fun—you might get beaten…”
The soldier hurriedly called out, but before he could finish, Xu Bangchui let out a loud shout and bolted after him.
In the next instant, five or six others also dashed off in that direction.
The soldier jumped in surprise, and everyone else turned to look as well, their faces full of astonishment. But what surprised them even more was that the guards didn’t knock the men to the ground—instead, they let them come right up to the carriage.
Even more shocking was that the young lady actually bowed to them.
Bowed!
A collective gasp rippled through the watching crowd—their eyes nearly popped out of their heads.
“She… she’s not here to see off those poor footsoldiers, is she?” the young soldier murmured.
Ban Qin lifted the carriage curtain, and Cheng Jiao-niang, cloaked completely in her cape, stepped down.
“Sister, what’s going on?”
“Did something happen?”
The seven brothers all spoke at once, full of concern and urgency.
“I’m here to deliver a gift,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Everyone was momentarily stunned.
“There really is a third gift?” Xu Bangchui shouted.
“Of course. When have I ever gone back on my word?” Cheng Jiao-niang replied, then pointed to the side. “There it is.”
Off to the side, seven horses were standing, snorting softly.
So—she had come to deliver horses.
“The one with the white spot on its nose is mine!” Xu Bangchui was the first to shout, rushing over.
The other brothers all laughed and followed after him.
“There’s really no need,” Xu Maoxiu said. “We won’t be traveling fast anyway, and besides, none of us are cavalry—we won’t need them once we reach the west. Why did you come all this way in the middle of the night?”
As he spoke, he frowned and looked around.
“Did you come on your own?”
Were these guards from the Zhou family?
Noticing his gaze, someone wrapped in a heavy cloak dismounted from a nearby horse.
“You don’t need to worry, sir—I came with her,” the figure said.
The hood was pulled back, and under the torchlight appeared the handsome face of a young man.
The tent flap was suddenly thrown open, and an attendant burst in.
“Young Master! Young Master!” he shouted loudly.
This tent was shared by four people, but at the moment, the others were all outside around the campfire, chatting and laughing—only Zhou Liu-lang was inside.
“What are you yelling for!”
Zhou Liu-lang snapped, annoyed, looking up from his book under the torchlight.
“Young Master, Young Master, Lady Cheng is here!” the attendant cried out excitedly.
Zhou Liu-lang shot to his feet, his face full of disbelief.
“Who?” he asked.
“Lady Cheng! Lady Cheng—she’s come to see you off!” the attendant shouted, still thrilled.
Come to see him off…
She came to see him off!
Zhou Liu-lang suddenly felt like his whole body had sprouted thorns—he wanted to throw himself on the ground and roll around to get rid of the unbearable feeling.
This… this…
“Ridiculous!” he shouted, face flushed red, and rushed outside.
“And Young Master Qin is here too…” the attendant called after him.
Zhou Liu-lang rushed out of the tent with gleaming eyes and spotted the crowd gathered in the distance. Despite the flickering torchlight and swaying figures, his gaze immediately landed on the girl standing by the carriage, her face obscured by a large cloak, and Qin Shi’san-lang beside her, who had removed his hood and was chatting and laughing about something.
Those two!
“…Did they really come just to see these few people off?”
“…What are they delivering? Seven horses?”
“…What kind of fine horses could be worth chasing after in the middle of the night?”
As he moved through the camp, listening to the murmurs around him, Zhou Liu-lang’s steps gradually slowed—until he came to a complete stop.
“…They say it’s their sister and brother-in-law coming to bid farewell…”
What sister and brother-in-law?!
Zhou Liu-lang turned his head sharply and glared at the men who had spoken. They noticed him too.
Gathering around like this is improper—this young officer must be furious…
Look, his eyes are practically blazing…
The men quickly lowered their heads, nudged each other, and shuffled aside to avoid him.
Standing in place, Zhou Liu-lang stared ahead, then clenched his fists—only to realize something was off. He looked down and saw that he was still gripping the book scroll in his hand.
“Alright, go back now,” Xu Maoxiu said, then reconsidered—traveling late at night wasn’t safe either. “Or why not rest in the carriage overnight? Don’t go running around.”
“Light a bonfire,” Fan Jianglin added.
Cheng Jiao-niang shook her head.
“No need. I only came to deliver the horses—I’ll head back now,” she replied.
“Don’t act so recklessly in the future. This kind of behavior makes it seem like you’re treating us as outsiders,” Xu Maixiu said sternly, his expression still grim.
“I had planned to come earlier, but the preparations took longer than expected, so it was delayed,” Cheng Jiao-niang explained, bowing slightly. “I’ve worried you all.”
“No need to worry—I’m here with her. Besides, she’s not the type to take reckless risks,” Qin Shi’san-lang interjected with a light laugh.
Xu Maoxiu and Fan Jianglin both turned to him and bowed respectfully.
“We appreciate your trouble, Young Master Qin,” they said in unison.
“The honor is mine,” Qin Shi’san-lang replied with a smile, returning a slight nod.
They really do look like a sister and brother-in-law…
Zhou Liu-lang clenched the book in his hand so tightly it creaked.
The one truly related to her is right here!
“Fourth Brother,” Cheng Jiao-niang suddenly called out.
Xu Sigen, who had been standing to the side, quickly responded and stepped forward.
“Actually, this third gift is mainly for you,” she said.
Everyone was taken aback, especially Xu Sigen, who looked both surprised and flustered.
“For me?” he asked.
“Fourth Brother, keep a close eye on these horses. In some time, you’ll see the results,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Horses? Results?
Xu Sigen couldn’t help but glance at the horses again. He had briefly inspected them earlier—truth be told, they weren’t particularly exceptional, at least not worth his sister rushing out in the middle of the night to deliver them.
Of course, that was purely from a monetary standpoint. The thought behind the gift mattered far more than its value.
But now she mentioned there was something more to it?
“What kind of results?” he asked, unable to suppress his curiosity.
“This is something you’ll have to observe for yourself, Fourth Brother. Watch them closely on the journey, and in time, you’ll understand. There’s no need to explain—words wouldn’t do it justice anyway,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied with a faint smile. She bowed to them once more. “This is a military camp, and as a woman, it’s improper for me to linger. I must take my leave now.”
“It’s so late—you shouldn’t travel now,” Xu Maoxiu and the others urged.
“It’s fine. With all of us here, and the official road back to the capital, there’s nothing to worry about,” Qin Shi’san-lang said with a chuckle.
“Then we’ll trouble you once more, Young Master Qin,” Xu Maoxiu and the others said, bowing respectfully.
Watching as the group mounted their horses and carriages, swiftly turning around, Zhou Liu-lang couldn’t help but take a few steps forward.
Those two!
“We wish all you brave soldiers a smooth journey and triumphant success!” Qin Shi’san-lang called out loudly, cupping his hands around his mouth.
His voice carried far into the night.
Following his lead, his guards echoed the cheer in unison.
Regardless of whom the farewell was for, the blessing brought smiles to the faces of the soldiers in the camp.
“Well said!” someone drawled in response.
Soon, more voices joined in, scattered at first but quickly merging into a boisterous chorus.
Qin Shi’san-lang raised his hands in a final salute from afar before turning his horse around.
The entourage slowly departed into the darkness.
As they departed, the clamor in the camp only grew louder. Many soldiers surged toward Xu Maoxiu and his group, some out of curiosity, others with questions, and still others eager to see the horses.
Amidst the commotion, Zhou Liu-lang stood silently, watching the receding figures.
“Shh.” Someone suddenly hushed.
The boisterous crowd paused in surprise.
“Listen!” the person urged.
Listen to what?
The noise in the camp gradually quieted, and the sound carried by the night wind grew clearer.
“…A man in this world… should aspire to nobility…”
A girl’s husky voice drifted through the darkness, accompanied by the rhythmic beating of a drum, slow at first but steadily rising.
“…A true man’s destiny… is to achieve glory…”
Xu Maoxiu instinctively took a few steps forward. The song was both familiar and strange—familiar because he had once witnessed a similar scene, yet strange because the girl’s voice now carried far more strength and resonance, stretching deep and far into the night.
“Sister is singing for us!”
Xu Bangchui shouted excitedly.
His voice was immediately met with a chorus of shushing.
“Quiet! We can’t hear her!”
Xu Bangchui chuckled sheepishly.
“It’s my sister singing for us…” he muttered again, though this time he kept his voice low, stretching his neck to peer in the direction of the song.
The scattered torchlights grew fainter and fainter into the distance of the night.
“…Recruited to march to Jimen… The army moves without delay…”
“…A thousand gold for horsewhips… A hundred gold to adorn spearheads…”
“…Ten thousand hearts united as one… Sharing vengeance as their own…”
“…Loyalty and righteous fury… Soaring up to the stars…”
“…Each warrior worth a thousand… Facing death as but slumber…”
“…Serve the nation, save the people… Slay the rebels, earn your honors…”
At first only the girl’s voice could be heard, but soon a male voice joined in harmony. Though just one girl, one guy and one drum, their voices seemed to pierce straight through the heavens. As the drumbeats grew more intense, though the girl’s melody remained steady and unhurried, everyone listening couldn’t help but feel their hearts stirred with passion.
No one could tell who started it first, but the soldiers in camp gradually joined in the chanting, their voices swelling louder and louder until they shook the very heavens.
“…Ten thousand hearts united as one… Sharing vengeance as their own…”
“…Loyalty and righteous fury… Soaring up to the stars…”
“…Each warrior worth a thousand… Facing death as but slumber…”
“…Serve the nation, save the people… Slay the rebels, earn your honors…”
The girl’s voice had long faded into the distance, yet the soldiers’ resonant chorus still reverberated through the night-cloaked camp.
Amidst the singing, Zhou Liu-lang suddenly grinned. He tapped the book scroll against his palm, then turned and strode back toward his tent.
Serve the nation, save the people. Slay the rebels, earn your honors.
