“What’s going on?” Lu Yunting asked Xie Zhiyuan.
Xie Zhiyuan explained that a man nicknamed Red Beard was leading several thousand soldiers and heading straight for Lingcheng. Originally a bandit from Qingcui Mountain, Red Beard commanded four to five hundred men who committed every crime imaginable—murder, arson, and more.
With the chaos of war in the north, there were many scattered soldiers and deserters. Red Beard’s mountain stronghold was never short of food, and he gradually gathered these stragglers, eventually forming a considerable force and seizing a sizable territory.
Perhaps feeling powerful enough, he followed the example of Lu Tianguang and others, declaring himself a king—King Liang. Then, driven by the desire to experience being emperor, he attempted to march on the capital and clashed with the Yongsheng Army.
The troops of the Yongsheng Dynasty had been forged in the southern battles and were brimming with morale. Red Beard’s forces crumbled upon contact and fled northward, gathering bandits and defeated soldiers along the way. However, he never dared to engage the Yongsheng Army again.
Red Beard never abandoned his bandit ways. Wherever he passed through towns or cities, he would burn, kill, and loot—his atrocities too numerous to recount.
“If we go to Lingcheng, we’ll likely run into them,” Xie Zhiyuan said.
“Red Beard?!” Zhang Yuan gasped upon hearing this. He knew of Red Beard—cruel, ruthless, and utterly unyielding. For instance, when Zhang Yuan transported salt, he often encountered bandits and robbers on the road. Some bandits might let you pass if you offered them benefits or established some rapport. But Red Beard was different. Whoever passed through his territory and was caught by him would be executed without exception.
Whenever Zhang Yuan heard of Red Beard, he would steer clear from afar.
“We should take another route. It’s longer, but safer,” he immediately suggested.
“Where are the Yongsheng Dynasty’s troops now? That scoundrel deserves to die!” Lu Yunting said angrily.
“The northern army is closest, likely stationed in Huajiancheng, about ten days’ journey from Lingcheng,” Xie Zhiyuan estimated.
There was no chance at all. In fact, Red Beard had calculated that the army couldn’t catch up to him, which was why he was heading to Lingcheng.
“How despicable!” Lu Yunchuan said bitterly. At that moment, he wished he could mount a warhorse, charge into battle against Red Beard, and take the villain’s life.
“The people of Lingcheng are in for misfortune,” Zhang Yuan sighed.
Everyone fell silent for a moment.
Suddenly, Lu Yunxi asked, “What about Lingcheng’s defenses? If they could hold off Red Beard…”
“Don’t even think about it. I know the prefect of Lingcheng, Song. He’s a greedy, lustful weakling. By now, he’s probably fled with his wealth and concubines upon hearing Red Beard is coming,” Zhang Yuan said dismissively, his tone full of contempt. Though he himself was greedy, he looked down on someone like Prefect Song.
Holding a position of authority but neglecting his duties, his escape would leave the people of Lingcheng at Red Beard’s mercy.
Lu Yunxi bit her lip and looked up at Xie Zhiyuan. “How long would it take us to reach Lingcheng?”
Her question startled everyone. What did she mean?
Xie Zhiyuan, however, looked at her calmly and said, “If I ride there, it would take only a day and a half. I should arrive in Lingcheng a day ahead of Red Beard and his men.”
His reply sounded as if he had already considered this! Lu Yunxi shot him a glare and said to Lu Popo and the others, “We’ll take a detour, and let Xie Zhiyuan lead some men to Lingcheng. Lingcheng was once prosperous, and its city walls were built strong. If someone defends the city, Red Beard and his men lack siege equipment, so breaching the walls won’t be easy for them.”
“If we can delay them for just a day or two, Red Beard will surely flee, fearing the arrival of the Yongsheng Army. Then Lingcheng will be safe.”
“That makes sense. Actually, I’ve been thinking about it too. Red Beard must have known that Governor Song is a coward, which is why he targeted Lingcheng. Otherwise, why not go to Yucheng? Yucheng is far wealthier than Lingcheng. But Governor Wang of Yucheng loves his people like his own children and would never abandon them to flee.” Zhang Yuan said. Immediately afterward, he felt something was off. While that might be true, what did it have to do with them?
They were just ordinary civilians, fortunate enough to protect themselves. Yet Lu Yunxi actually wanted Xie Zhiyuan to defend Lingcheng?
That was no ordinary task. With no soldiers or generals, just relying on their handful of guards?
Chen Shi also thought of this. She was willing to let Xie Zhiyuan go, yet she felt it was putting him in an impossible situation. They had relied on Xie Zhiyuan’s care throughout this journey, and she did not want him to die.
Seeming to sense Chen Shi’s hesitation, Xie Zhiyuan said, “I will not fail in this mission!”
Chen Shi was half-convinced, but having witnessed the suffering of many commoners at the hands of bandits along the way, she truly pitied the people of Lingcheng. So she said, “If you wish to go, then go. But prioritize your own life above all else. Do not force yourself.”
“Thank you, Madam,” Xie Zhiyuan replied.
“I’ll go with him to Lingcheng,” Lu Yunchuan suddenly interjected anxiously from the side.
Chen Shi, already troubled in her heart, immediately snapped, “What are you stirring up trouble for!” and outright rejected his suggestion.
Thus it was decided. To save time, after dinner, Xie Zhiyuan set off immediately with twenty guards.
After they left, Zhang Yuan was still bewildered. Were they really going to defend Lingcheng? Something felt strange about it all. Could there really be such chivalrous people in the world?
Suddenly, there was some commotion within the Lu family caravan, but it quickly settled down.
It turned out that Lu Yunxi and Lu Yunchuan were missing. Lu Yunchuan had left a note saying he was determined to go to Lingcheng and told Chen Shi not to worry.
How could Chen Shi not worry? That reckless boy, did he really think war was fun? And not only did he leave, but he also took Lu Yunxi with him! When he returned, she would break his legs.
On a mountain path, Lu Yunchuan rode forward with Lu Yunxi behind him, complaining with a bitter face, “Sis, what are you stirring up trouble for?”
Just moments ago, as he was trying to sneak away on horseback to follow Xie Zhiyuan, Lu Yunxi had stopped him, demanding he take her along. Otherwise, she would shout and alert everyone, preventing him from leaving.
Lu Yunchuan had no choice but to bring Lu Yunxi along.
“Then what are you stirring up trouble for?” Lu Yunxi retorted.
Lu Yunchuan immediately declared, “I’m not stirring up trouble! I’m going to defend the city.”
“Have you studied martial arts?” Lu Yunxi asked.
“Not yet, but I will definitely learn in the future,” Lu Yunchuan said.
“That’s in the future. Right now, you’re also stirring up trouble,” Lu Yunxi said lightly, leaving Lu Yunchuan speechless. He hadn’t realized before how sharp-tongued his sister could be. No, he couldn’t accept this. He vowed then and there to diligently study martial arts and someday fight on the battlefield.
After riding quietly for a while, with no sign of Xie Zhiyuan and the others ahead, Lu Yunchuan said dejectedly, “This horse carrying both of us can’t run fast at all. How are we supposed to catch up with them?” It seemed they would have to return empty-handed.
Just then, a group of people appeared ahead, stopped as if waiting for someone.
As they drew closer, it was indeed Xie Zhiyuan and his men.
“Were you waiting here for us?” Lu Yunchuan asked joyfully.
Xie Zhiyuan looked at Lu Yunxi on his horse. “I was just resting here for a moment.” If no one had come within that moment, he would have left.
His words seemed a bit like an attempt to cover up the truth. Lu Yunchuan was convinced he had been waiting for them and immediately stepped forward, cupping his hands with a smile. “Thank you, thank you.” He treated him as if they were already close friends.
They set off again, but after riding for a while, Lu Yunchuan was clearly struggling. He had only been learning to ride for a short time, and with Lu Yunxi riding with him, how could he keep up with Xie Zhiyuan and the others?
“Let me take her,” Xie Zhiyuan said, gripping the reins.
Lu Yunchuan was reluctant, but there was no other choice. Continuing like this would indeed slow them down. Time was of the essence now.
Lu Yunxi wasn’t too keen on riding on the same horse with Xie Zhiyuan either, but she knew his horse was a rare and exceptional steed. This was no time for hesitation, so she nodded to Lu Yunchuan.
Dismounting, she climbed onto Xie Zhiyuan’s horse.
The group continued their journey. Xie Zhiyuan’s riding skills were far better than Lu Yunchuan’s, and Lu Yunxi found the ride much more comfortable on his horse.
The evening breeze brushed past her cheeks. “You wanted to go to Lingcheng, didn’t you?” she suddenly asked Xie Zhiyuan. She was referring to the evening’s events—Xie Zhiyuan had clearly wanted to go to Lingcheng to defend the city but hadn’t said so outright.
“You wanted to go too,” Xie Zhiyuan replied. He wanted to go to Lingcheng to prevent its people from suffering. But what about her?
Lu Yunxi fell silent. If she had the ability to help and didn’t, she wouldn’t be able to live with herself.
Neither of them spoke further.
They traveled through the night, and as the sun rose, its warmth enveloped them.
“Uncle, you must be tired too. Let me take her for a while,” Xie Heng caught up to Xie Zhiyuan and said, glancing at Lu Yunxi in his arms. Lu Yunxi had fallen asleep at some point, almost curled up against Xie Zhiyuan’s chest. In the morning light, her features looked soft and serene.
“No need,” Xie Zhiyuan continued urging his horse forward.
“But…” Xie Heng knew that Xie Zhiyuan’s posture allowed Lu Yunxi to rest comfortably, but it was exhausting for him.
“I said no need,” Xie Zhiyuan insisted.
Xie Heng watched his back, gritted his teeth, and followed.
That day, they only took a brief rest during the day, spending the rest of the time on the road.
In the evening, Xie Zhiyuan ordered everyone to rest properly for the night. Almost everyone fell asleep as soon as they lay down.
By the hour of Si the next day, they could already see Lingcheng in the distance, arriving half an hour earlier than Xie Zhiyuan had originally estimated.
Author’s Note: