Li Yi removed General Xiao Pei's armor, changed into light clothes, and silently cut a small hole in the bottom of the tent with his dagger before slipping out into the night.
The army camp was heavy with tension. Gongs and drums echoed through the darkness, guards on constant watch. Yet Li Yi, the most skilled scout of the Zhenxi Army, moved like shadow and mist. His steps made no sound as he passed through most of the camp and reached the back of Captain He’s tent.
He cut open the oilcloth with his dagger and slipped inside. A thick candle burned on the table, its flame casting sharp light on an open book and a half-used inkstone. But the tent was empty. Li Yi’s instincts stirred — something was wrong. Just as he turned to leave, a sting touched his lower back, like the bite of a mosquito. Cold numbness spread quickly down his limbs. He stayed conscious, but his body went limp and fell to the ground.
Captain He stepped out from behind the screen, smiling. She wore a plain outfit this time — still masculine in style, yet her tied-up hair and light clothing revealed a youthful elegance. The candlelight danced in her eyes like twin stars. With a faint smile, she prodded him with disdain before taking out a strip of tendon and binding his hands and feet tightly. Still uneasy, she fetched a thin iron chain and wound it several times around his wrists, then picked up his fallen dagger. Tilting it toward his neck, she said,
“It’s the middle of the night, General Pei. Did you enjoy your last bath in the well so much that you came looking for me again?”
They were close enough for Li Yi to see his reflection in her eyes. Though bound, he remained calm.
“How could I forget such kindness? I think of it day and night,” he said with a teasing smile.
She laughed. “Oh, I know you think of it all the time — because you’re still plotting to kick me into the well again. Such a petty man, aren’t you?”
Li Yi smiled faintly. “We’ve only met a few times, young lady. How can you tell I’m vindictive? You’re from the Cui family’s Dingsheng Army — allies of my Zhenxi Army. Naturally, I’d never hold a grudge.”
She laughed softly. “You may forgive others easily, but not me. You’ll repay every slight.”
For a moment, both fell silent. They had fought several times before — always ending in her favor — yet each recognized the other as a rare equal. Her dagger remained pressed firmly to his throat; one slip, and it would be over.
Li Yi met her gaze. “Let me ask you — the pearl you took from me at Zhilu Hall. Could I have it back?”
A blush crept up her pale neck, flooding her cheeks. She pressed the dagger closer.
“What about my hairpin? You stole it — and I haven’t settled that score!”
Seeing her flustered, Li Yi grinned. “Return my pearl, and I’ll gladly return your hairpin.”
“You dare bargain with me when you’re my prisoner?” she scoffed.
“I’m a prisoner,” he replied mildly, “yet you still hold a blade to me. Who’s really afraid?”
The candlelight glinted on the dagger’s edge. She narrowed her eyes.
“Then tell me, General Pei — sneaking into my tent in the dead of night, dagger in hand… what did you intend to do?”
Instead, Li Yi asked, “You came to Guo Zhi’s army with only a few followers. Did Master Cui approve?”
Her expression froze. “Master—” she began, then stopped. Li Yi’s faint smile told her she’d been tricked. She exhaled slowly, her voice cooling. “How did you guess?”
“If your young master were still in Xiangzhou, you’d never act so recklessly. You only brought a few men into Guo Zhi’s camp — clearly, your young master’s forces are already near Wangzhou.”
She replied coldly, “And you? You dared come here because the Imperial Grandson is stationed in Wangzhou, commanding the army. That’s why you’re so bold.”
Li Yi smiled. “Indeed. His Highness admires General Cui greatly. Since your young master is nearby, why not take me to meet him? His Highness has matters to discuss.”
“Our young master isn’t someone you can just see,” she said sharply. “Besides, in the matter of succession, the true heir is the Crown Prince — not your Seventeenth Imperial Grandson.”
The Cui family’s Dingsheng Army had long harbored resentment toward the Li royal clan. Though bound by loyalty, they despised the court’s suspicion toward their merits. Yet Li Yi only smiled.
“Of course,” he said lightly. “Righteousness lies with the rightful heir.”
Both thought of the same thing — the well. The moment she’d mentioned the Crown Prince, he had tried to seize her and ended up kicked in instead. His teeth ached at the memory.
Li Yi laughed softly. “You’ve tied me up like this, what are you still afraid of?”
“After fighting you several times, I’ve learned you’re dangerous,” she replied. “Even tied, you make me uneasy—”
Before she could finish, Li Yi twisted sharply, snapping the tendons around his wrists. He dodged her dagger, the chain clattering as the blade sliced it apart. In a flash, he seized her wrist, disarmed her, and turned the dagger in his hand. She leapt back, firing several hidden bolts, but Li Yi swept them aside. The candles blew out, plunging the tent into darkness.
He moved swiftly, seizing her waist and binding her with the cowhide rope she’d used earlier. When he relit the candles, the tables had turned. She met his gaze without fear.
Li Yi smiled. “It’s rude not to return a favor.” He traced the dagger along her neck. “So, Captain He, should I throw you into the well, or will you tell me where Master Cui is?”
“You’ll never let go of your grudges,” she murmured.
Li Yi caught a flicker of movement — he grabbed her chin and forced her to spit out a tiny bamboo tube. Inside, several blue-tipped needles gleamed faintly.
He examined it with admiration. “Well-crafted. I’ll take it.”
“If you have any more tricks,” he added, “take them out now, or I’ll have to search you.”
Footsteps sounded outside. A voice called, “Captain He, General Guo sent some snacks!”
The girl lunged, a blade springing from her shoe. Li Yi dodged just in time — the blade grazed his throat. He pinned her again, whispering, “Send them away.”
With forced calm, she called, “Thank you, General Guo. Leave the tray outside; I’ll get it shortly.”
The soldier obeyed. Li Yi listened as the steps faded, then hurled his dagger, cutting the candlelight. A rain of arrows suddenly tore through the tent walls.
Li Yi pulled her down, shielding them behind a chest.
She asked coldly, “Where are your men?”
“Where are yours?” he shot back.
Before either could answer, soldiers stormed in. The girl hissed, “You broke into my tent — leaving won’t be so easy.”
“If you take me to Master Cui, I’ll take you with me,” Li Yi replied.
She said quietly, “If you take me, he might meet you. If not, you’ll be his enemy forever.”
He had no choice. Cutting open the tent, he lifted her out first, then followed. The sky was star-filled, the night moonless. They weaved through the camp, slipping past layers of ambush. Shouts and flames erupted in the distance.
Seeing her eyes gleam in the starlight, he thought she looked just like a cat — stealthy, sharp, full of mischief. He nearly laughed at the thought.
But as the fire spread, shouts rose: “Put out the fire!” “The Zhenxi Army is attacking!”
Li Yi sneered. “Is this your doing?”
She widened her eyes innocently. “My people just shouted to stir confusion. You’re the one who set the fires.”
He had no words.
“How do you plan to escape?” she asked.
“I’ll follow you,” he replied.
She frowned. “You didn’t even prepare horses?”
He grinned. “Why should I? You did.”
She snorted and led the way toward the northwest corner. There, Chen Xing waited with two horses. She mounted quickly. “Tell the young master I’ve escaped,” she told Chen Xing. He nodded and rode off.
Li Yi barely had time to react before a crossbow bolt whizzed past — she had fired at him! But she was already galloping away. Arrows rained after her. Li Yi sighed, slashing them from the air, covering her retreat before vanishing into the dark.
Moments later, he landed behind her on the saddle.
She drew her dagger, but his voice murmured, “It’s me.”
Pursuers thundered behind. She laughed softly. “So skilled, General Pei, yet you still let them catch up?”
“If they didn’t, you’d never let me come,” he replied.
“Perhaps,” she said dryly.
Arrows hissed around them. “It’s your fault,” he said, “riding a white horse — too bright for the night.”
“Xiaobai!” she called angrily. The horse reared, but Li Yi stayed firm, catching arrows mid-air and hurling them back. The screams behind proved his aim true.
By dawn, they had finally escaped. At a riverside, the white horse drank while the girl washed her face in the cool stream.
“This horse is truly fine,” Li Yi said. “Without it, we’d still be surrounded.”
She said nothing.
“But you forgot food,” he added with a grin.
She turned away.
He laughed. “If I hadn’t followed, you’d be home by now.”
She replied coldly, “Two riders on one horse slow the pace. You’d better leave before Guo Zhi’s men return.”
“If you’re not afraid, neither am I.” He eyed her. “You must have a signal to summon help.”
“I have none,” she said. “I’ll return alone.”
“Foxes have nine tails,” he said. “Don’t make me search you.”
Fuming, she threw a small bamboo tube at his feet.
“Then use it,” he said.
She opened it. A thick smoke burst forth. When it cleared, she was gone. Only the white horse, Xiaobai, remained, staring at him with wet, bright eyes.
Li Yi chuckled. “She left you behind too.”
Captain He rode through the forest, exhausted but relieved. She thought of Li Yi — that infuriating, brilliant young general. Her teeth ached again at his memory.
A faint chill traced down his spine, silent yet unshakable. Pei Yuan paused in thought, then ordered the patrols to be doubled — no shadow, no whisper, must breach Wangzhou’s walls.
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