The entire time, Xiao Che had remained silent.
Only now did he finally speak.
His voice was calm and measured, carrying the composure and decisiveness of an emperor. In a few concise sentences, he laid bare every one of A’Li’s defining traits.
“Bold.”
“She acts in ways no one expects.”
“Intelligent.”
“She knows how to exploit both timing and terrain.”
“And above all…”
“She understands people.”
“She manipulates her opponent’s emotions as skillfully as she commands the battlefield.”
His gaze drifted toward the torrential rain outside the tent, his expression unreadable.
“An opponent like this…”
“…must never be given a second opportunity.”
“Once she understands our methods…”
“Once she adapts to our rhythm…”
“Each counterattack will come faster than the last.”
“Sharper.”
“And far more difficult to withstand.”
“We must…”
“…end it in a single decisive strike.”
Just then, an Imperial Guard announced loudly from outside the tent.
“Your Majesty!”
“Someone outside the camp has shot over a letter…”
“…and a jar of medicinal ointment.”
“They specifically requested that it be delivered to Young General Xie and Heir Shen.”
Everyone in the tent froze.
Shen Yi and Xie Yan immediately flared with anger again.
“Medicinal ointment?”
“What is she trying to imply?”
“Slap us first and then offer us candy?”
“She’s mocking us outright!”
The guard stepped forward and presented both the letter and the medicine.
Xiao Che merely glanced at the ointment before slowly picking up the letter.
He unfolded it.
His eyes swept over the contents.
Then he quietly placed it back onto the table without saying a word.
Shen Changliu and Xie Qiu exchanged puzzled looks.
Finally, Shen Changliu asked cautiously,
“Your Majesty…”
“What did the letter say?”
Xiao Che raised his eyes.
His gaze swept slowly across everyone present.
His voice carried neither anger nor pleasure.
Only finality.
“It is not a provocation.”
“It is…”
“…a declaration of war.”
The others immediately relaxed.
So…
They had finally forced her out into the open.
It seemed Qinglong Stronghold had exhausted all other options.
Only Xiao Che’s hand tightened ever so slightly beneath the table.
Although the handwriting had clearly been deliberately altered…
The habit of ending her brushstrokes…
Was exactly the same as her mother’s.
After the night’s torrential rain, the air was fresh.
Yet beneath that freshness lingered the unmistakable scent of impending bloodshed.
During the night, the women, children, and elderly had quietly departed through the hidden tunnels.
Those remaining…
Were all prepared to fight to the death.
Returning to her room, A’Li removed the practical clothes she usually wore.
In their place, she donned a suit of black battle robes.
The door opened.
Xiao Yu stepped inside.
Seeing how she was dressed, his eyes shifted slightly.
But he said nothing.
Hearing him enter, A’Li turned around.
She withdrew a small jade bottle from her robes, tipped out a crimson pill, and held it toward him.
“Here.”
“Take it.”
Xiao Yu made no move to accept it.
Instead, he simply looked at her.
His gaze was deep.
“What does this mean?”
For some reason, his heart suddenly tightened.
Is she planning to drug me?
Leave me behind…
Face the danger alone…
Or disappear again…
A’Li snorted.
“Relax.”
“It’s not poison.”
“It’s the antidote.”
“The one that removes the seal on your internal energy.”
Before he could react, she stepped closer.
Her fingertips lightly brushed several major acupoints on his chest.
A gentle stream of internal energy flowed into his meridians, breaking through the final blockage.
Almost instantly, Xiao Yu felt the familiar circulation of qi return to his dantian.
Strength flooded back through every limb.
“Right now, every capable fighter counts.”
A’Li withdrew her hand as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
“There aren’t many people in the stronghold who can actually fight.”
“It would be a waste not to make use of a healthy grown man like you.”
She paused.
Then slowly looked him up and down with an oddly appraising expression.
“Besides…”
“As long as you stand there…”
“You don’t even have to lift a finger.”
“Your mere presence is enough to shake the morale of the army below.”
“With such an excellent ‘guardian treasure’…”
“I’d be a fool not to use you.”
Xiao Yu didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh.
So…
In her eyes…
He was merely a useful tool.
One who could fight…
And conveniently disrupt the enemy’s morale.
Still…
Being able to recover his martial arts…
Being able to stand beside her…
Was enough.
He accepted the pill without hesitation and swallowed it.
As his internal energy rapidly returned, warmth spread through his entire body.
“Very well.”
“I’ll help you.”
After a moment’s thought, he asked,
“Should I disguise myself?”
“Or wear a mask?”
“Perhaps it would confuse them.”
To his surprise, A’Li actually turned around, opened a drawer, and tossed him an ordinary mask.
Xiao Yu caught it and put it on, suppressing his presence as much as possible.
Unfortunately…
Even with his face hidden…
The elegant gentleness that radiated naturally from him was impossible to conceal.
A’Li circled him once.
Then clicked her tongue.
Without the slightest ceremony, she reached up and pulled the mask right back off.
“Forget it.”
“Don’t wear it.”
“With your bearing…”
“Wearing a mask only makes you stand out even more.”
She gestured between them with amusement.
“When the two of us stand together…”
“Anyone with functioning eyes will immediately know who’s the pitiful Crown Prince who was ‘kidnapped’ up the mountain…”
“…and who’s the tyrannical bandit chief forcing him into submission.”
As she spoke, she casually fastened the mask onto her own face instead.
“I might as well keep it for myself.”
Xiao Yu: “…”
His little sister had rendered him completely speechless.
Just then, hurried footsteps approached.
From outside the door came Qing Ren’s steady voice.
“Chief.”
“The brothers have assembled.”
A’Li’s expression immediately became solemn.
She took one last glance at her masked reflection in the mirror.
Drew a slow breath.
Then turned and strode out.
Xiao Yu followed immediately behind her.
Qinglong Stronghold was packed with people.
Towering, broad-shouldered men.
Women gripping gleaming blades.
A’Li walked to the very front.
Her gaze slowly swept across every familiar face.
Some had followed her for more than a year.
Others for only a few months.
Many of them…
Had once been people with nowhere else to go.
People driven to desperation.
Qinglong Stronghold had become the place where they found a life again.
Clearing her throat, she spoke.
Her voice was clear.
Calm.
“Brothers.”
“Sisters.”
“You all know what’s happening below the mountain.”
“The Imperial Court has sent a massive army.”
“And this time…”
“They’ve brought someone truly formidable.”
“They’re determined to wipe out Qinglong Stronghold.”
The crowd remained utterly silent.
Only the sound of heavy breathing filled the air.
“This battle…”
“…may very well be our last.”
Her voice wasn’t loud.
Yet every word struck their hearts.
“So tell me…”
“Are you afraid?”
For a brief moment—
Silence.
Then the crowd erupted.
“NO!”
“We’ll follow the Chief to the death!”
“Let’s fight those Imperial dogs!”
“We’ve lived well under the Chief!”
“No regrets!”
Behind her mask, the corners of A’Li’s lips curved ever so slightly.
Warmth welled quietly within her heart.
She raised a hand.
The shouting gradually subsided.
“Good.”
“Every one of you…”
“…is a true son…”
“…and daughter…”
“…of Qinglong Stronghold.”
Her voice rose, filled with a power that stirred every heart present.
“We do not fight today for glory.”
“We do not fight merely to survive.”
“We fight…”
“…to cover the retreat of our parents.”
“…our children.”
“…our brothers.”
“…our sisters.”
“So that they can leave safely.”
Her next words rang out like steel.
“So today…”
“We advance.”
“We do not retreat.”
“Not one step.”
“No one is allowed to falter.”
“We’ll show the army below…”
“That Qinglong Stronghold…”
“…has no cowards!”
“NO COWARDS!”
“We’ll follow the Chief to the death!”
A’Li nodded in satisfaction.
There was nothing more that needed to be said.
With one fluid motion, she mounted her horse.
She turned for one last look at the stronghold she had spent so long building.
Complex emotions flickered in her eyes.
Then—
She wheeled her horse around.
Her sword pointed straight toward the mountain road.
Her clear voice rang across the fortress.
“Open the gates!”
“Follow me!”
“We ride down the mountain!”