The cold wind brushed through the valley, howling as if sobbing.

A procession wound its way along the steep, bare rocks of the mountain path; with formidable peaks rising abruptly and towering cliffs, their progress was slow. Despite their numbers, which from a distance resembled a line of ants draped across the midsection of the mountain range.

Above them, no tall trees graced the mountainside—barren yellow dirt as far as the eye could see.

Midway up the mountainside, an elder clad in a sheepskin coat emerged from the valley, his back hunched but his voice booming.

"Are those approaching envoys from Jin?"

Ao Qi didn’t speak but tilted his head in acknowledgment.

The guard holding the reins, Ding Cong, swiftly raised his voice and shouted:

"Indeed, this is General Ao from our household. Are you a man of the Mahe chieftain, old sir?"

The elder’s face immediately broke into a smile, and he stepped forward to bow and pay his respects. "Exactly, exactly. The great chieftain sent me here to await the noble guests. General Ao, I’ve long admired your illustrious name, my apologies for any disrespect."

"No need for formalities." Tasked with a mission to Cangyan Mountain, Ao Qi had been eating and sleeping on the wind, relentlessly on the move, already frantic, with little patience for such pleasantries.

Noting that the elder’s features were not those of the Northern Rong tribes, he quickly helped the old man to his feet, returning the gesture before asking:

"Might I inquire, elder sir, if you’ve seen the Prince of Yonghuai, and may you know of his whereabouts?"

The smiling elder said, "Please, General Ao, enter the valley first and speak with the great chieftain in person."

This very tribe resided in the gorge to the north of Cangyan Mountain and was quite influential among the several Northern Rong tribes, yet it had not taken part in the twelve-tribe alliance that harassed the borders of Jin, choosing instead to watch from the sidelines.

Despite messages reaching Central Capital claiming that Pei Jue had likely perished, Ao Qi did not believe his uncle would act so recklessly, pursuing an unknown enemy for hundreds of miles, let alone the idea that such a large force could vanish without a trace in Heibei Gorge.

"Please."

At this point, what will be shall be.

Ao Qi signaled with his eyes for the main force to wait outside and then followed the elder into the valley with only a dozen attendants in tow.

In times of war, the transmission of information is exceptionally challenging and fraught with errors, particularly in a place like Cangyan Mountain.

General Ao was well aware of the perils of Heibei Gorge. With his uncle’s army going deep into it and now without any news, and his own unfamiliarity with the Northern Rong’s terrain and climate, how could he dare to recklessly enter Heibei Gorge—the so-called valley of death?

Therefore, he intended to sway the chieftain into forging an alliance with Dajin.

The reason the Mahe chieftain did not join the twelve-tribe alliance was due to long-standing turf disputes. As such, Ao Qi’s approach to win over the chieftain was to make a promise: once the Jin Army eradicated the tribal alliance, the lands would be dominated solely by the Mahe Tribe. With the support of the Jin Court, the Mahe chieftain would become the uncontested emperor of this territory.

No one can resist the lure of power.

The Mahe chieftain welcomed him warmly, offering water, wine, and beef upon the table, suggesting a hearty drinking session was in order.

Ao Qi went along amiably.

He had never realized he possessed such a talent for eloquence.

Truly the son of Ao Zheng, he had fully inherited his father’s silver tongue.

The young general, clad in iron armor and speaking easily, bore the ardor of youth on his face, yet his demeanor and composure betrayed a coolness and decisiveness one would not expect from one so young—handsome, tall, and straight as a pine. Such a figure was impossible to find in the Mahe Tribe.

During the feast, he was accompanied by over a dozen young women; one with the largest eyes and fairest skin was seated closest to the chieftain. From the moment Ao Qi entered the grand tent, her curious eyes were fixed on him, unblinkingly watching.

Ao Qi felt uncomfortable under her intense gaze.

Glancing up awkwardly, he caught the Mahe chieftain’s eye.

The chieftain laughed heartily, gesturing toward the young women. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"General Ao, choose any you fancy, and she shall attend to you tonight. There’s no need for politeness in my tent, no need at all..."

Ao Qi’s brow furrowed slightly, and he responded with a bow. "The purpose of General Ao’s visit to the Mahe Tribe should be clear to the great chieftain. Let us not beat around the bush and ask the chieftain to please tell me the truth: How do the current circumstances stand after the battle at Cangyan Mountain? Where might my liege currently be?"

"Don’t be hasty, General Ao," responded the Mahe chieftain while stroking his thick, matted beard, smiling yet with a hint of sadness in his eyes.

"For many years the Northern Rong tribes have been submissive to Dajin, with no intention of being enemies of the Jin Court. But alas, last winter was bitterly cold, with many livestock frozen to death, and people unable to survive, forcing us to go out and scavenge for grain. Scattered soldiers and ruffians we were, no match for the Prince of Yonghuai’s formidable forces."

Ao Qi replied, "The chieftain speaks incorrectly. Li Zongxun, disloyal to the late Emperor, has mixed the imperial bloodline and proclaimed a New Dynasty in Yecheng, raising an army and gathering forces. The twelve tribes, once subjects of Dajin colluded with the rebels, crossed Cangyan, broke covenants, and ravaged the lands of Jin, thus forcing the Prince of Yonghuai to engage in battle. The chieftain of the Mahe Tribe values loyalty and reason; it is time to stand with the Jin Army in common enmity, rather than making excuses for the traitors."

The youthful general stood tall and assertive, forthright to a fault, his eyes steadfast and resolute, like a young lion ready to unsheathe its claws and clear all obstacles in its path.

Ao Qi carried not a trace of fear on his person.

After a brief pause, Mahe, the great chieftain, lifted his cup and drank deeply with a tilt of his head. Only then did he smile and use his sleeve to wipe his mouth.

"In the battle of Cangyan Mountain, the army of the Yonghuai Prince heavily damaged the twelve Northern Rong tribes, resulting in a complete and utter defeat, leaving them no choice but to escape north into the deeper recesses of Heibei Gorge..."

Ao Qi said, "However, we received news that Li Zongxun’s secret forces lay in ambush in the depths of the gorge, having already set an inescapable trap..."

Mahe, the great chieftain, shook his head with a wry smile, then pointed towards the sky.

"If there’s a trap set by the heavens, then that is the doing of the gods. Judging by the situation between the two armies, even if Li Zongxun’s troops are lying in ambush, the Prince of Yonghuai’s forces wouldn’t be annihilated to the last man..."

Ao Qi let out a long sigh after hearing this.

"So, is the Yonghuai Prince now safe and sound?"

Mahe, the great chieftain, furrowed his brows. "That I cannot guarantee. In recent days, a sudden sandstorm with howling winds and cries rose as if to cover the sky and block out the sun. With such extreme and harsh weather, even the locals may not survive, let alone the Yonghuai Prince’s army. If no reinforcements arrive, I’m afraid their chances of peril far outweigh their chances of fortune..."

Ao Qi noticed that the great chieftain frequently exchanged glances with the elderly Mr. Xie during the conversation.

His gaze flashed subtly as he smiled and gave a respectful bow. "May I know if the great chieftain Mahe has any insights to offer? I would be grateful for your guidance."

Ao Qi guessed that the great chieftain Mahe had other requests.

Nonetheless, the words of the Mahe chieftain were beyond his expectations.

The chieftain glanced at the girl beside him, revealing a trace of a smile.

"My Mahe Tribe has always kept well clear of the twelve tribes’ affairs. Although I am willing to escort General Ao into the gorge to search for the king, this will no doubt offend the twelve tribes. When that time comes... we can leave my own life out of it for now, but what about my daughter Amir? What is to become of her..."

Ao Qi responded, "With the support of Dajin, the expansive territory of the Northern Rong is more than enough for the great chieftain Mahe to make a display of his might. Why fear the twelve tribes?"

Mahe, the great chieftain, stroked his beard and shook his head. "General Ao might not understand. I have never desired to see war spread to Cangyan Mountain. You have seen it yourself, how clear our air is, how pure-hearted our people are. They should not be burdened by war..."

Ao Qi smiled faintly, saying nothing.

Words like that, one could listen to and then forget about; they were not worth taking to heart.

Seeing that Ao Qi remained silent, the great chieftain Mahe sighed.

"The Northern Rong territory is vast, but the climate is harsh, unsuitable for farming, hardly a place for people to live. Even if the Jin Army helps me conquer the twelve tribes, I cannot occupy such a vast land. Your people couldn’t survive here either. Before long, you’d have to return to the south of Cangyan Mountain, and I would be left to clean up the mess..."

He shook his head.

"It’s just not worth it, not worth it at all."

Ao Qi hummed lowly.

He was specifically summoned by messenger to discuss important plans.

And now, being "tactfully rejected" to his face, it was nothing more than a matter of the offer not being enough.

Ao Qi asked, "The great chieftain’s concerns are justified. What do you suggest as the best course of action?"

Mahe, the great chieftain, looked to his side.

The girl named Amir had already shyly lowered her head, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.

The chieftain said, "My daughter is yet unmarried. If General Ao is willing to take her as a wife, with the marriage bond between us, I would naturally be bound by duty, with no further hesitation or concern. Even if the twelve tribes come looking for trouble, I will have justification."

-

In recent days, Feng Yun had been sleeping lightly, so even a slight noise in the middle of the night would startle her awake.

Everyone in the manor knew that the mistress had been in a poor mood these past few days, so they all spoke and acted with extra care.

Having returned from Tiger’s Mouth that day, without yet hearing news from Xijing, Feng Yun’s face was glum as she locked herself in her room for a good hot bath, then slept with her head covered, hoping to catch up on sleep until dawn. Surely enough, good news arrived at her doorstep by morning.

"Mistress." Xiaoman yawned from outside. "Someone claiming to be from Taiping Garden has come, saying that the Princess has sent for you, inviting you to visit her residence."

Feng Yun sat on the bed in silence for a moment, then slowly began to smile.

"Come in and help me change."