The night was deep and heavy, the stars and moon devoid of light, as Gu Chang'an stepped into Sky Wind Martial Hall with steady strides.
The hall doors were not yet closed, and lamplight streamed through paper windows to cast familiar silhouettes—the place where belonging and conviction resided.
No sooner had he stepped inside than hurried footsteps sounded, several figures rushing over from the direction of the training ground.
"Junior Brother Gu!"
Li Hongye took the lead, her brow tightly furrowed and a thin red robe draped over her shoulders, her eyes brimming with concern.
Accompanying her were Xie Lanzhi and Wang Xiaojuan, both with grave expressions as their gazes swept over Gu Chang'an's blood-stained garments, causing them to draw sharp breaths.
"Brother Gu, you're hurt?" Wang Xiaojuan could not help asking.
Gu Chang'an waved a hand. "It's nothing."
Li Hongye bit her lip, speaking softly, "I heard you confronted Zhang Yuying..."
"She swallowed a Blood Pill and went mad. But I've already slain her."
Slain her?
Li Hongye was shocked.
She knew Zhang Yuying's strength all too well, lacking even a hundred-percent certainty of taking her down herself.
Let alone a Zhang Yuying who had consumed a Blood Pill and entered a state of madness...
Junior brother, has your strength... surpassed mine so quickly?
A moment later, she let out a breath.
"Then your return is already a supreme fortune."
At that moment, the lamplight in the training ground flickered, and a figure slowly emerged.
It was none other than Li Tianfeng.
His gaze fell upon Gu Chang'an, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes that seemed both gratified and heavy.
"Chang'an."
Gu Chang'an immediately cupped his fists. "Master."
Li Tianfeng nodded, his tone low. "Wang Hao summoned you back to the yamen on account of the Firewood Gang?"
"Precisely," Gu Chang'an replied. "Director Wang has made his decision to launch the offensive at dawn tomorrow, ordering me to lead the first column in a surprise attack straight through the outer mountain paths of the Firewood Gang."
Before his voice faded, the surrounding atmosphere suddenly congealed.
Li Hongye furrowed her brow, blurting out,
"You're going tomorrow?"
Gu Chang'an gave a slight nod.
"It's my duty; I cannot retreat."
Li Hongye bit her lip, her tone resolute.
"Then I'm going too."
Gu Chang'an started. "Your injuries aren't fully healed."
"My body isn't that delicate," she said, her gaze calm yet concealing an unyielding stubbornness. "I've completed my breath circulation for days, and my body is basically recovered."
"We'll go together tomorrow so we can look out for one another and coordinate well."
Upon hearing this, Gu Chang'an felt a touch of hesitation.
At that moment, Li Tianfeng, who had remained silent all this time, slowly spoke, his voice deep like a bell and chime.
"Go together."
"I once fought Daoist Chai. At that time he hadn't yet cultivated the blood path, but his arts were uncanny and his killing strikes fierce."
"My defeat was no injustice... but it was from that battle that I learned the aura on him was no righteous path."
"In tomorrow's battle, you may strike, but do not push yourselves beyond your limits."
"Daoist Chai is ruthless and merciless—leave him for Wang Hao to deal with in person."
"Your mission is to smash through the outer perimeter, sever his wings, and clear a path to the decisive battle for Wang Hao."
Gu Chang'an and Li Hongye both nodded solemnly.
"We bear Master's orders in mind."
Li Tianfeng looked at them, finally revealing a trace of fatigued amusement.
"Go. Rest well tonight. Tomorrow is the day of slaughter."
No sooner had the words fallen than a soft sigh sounded from behind.
"Old man, this..."
It was Xie Lanzhi speaking, her brow tightly furrowed and her gaze filled with worry as she looked at Gu Chang'an and Li Hongye, an unhidden unease in her tone.
"Chang'an is still young, and Hongye only just recovered from her injuries—are they going to face that Daoist Chai? Isn't... isn't this a bit too soon?"
She was afraid.
Afraid that they would not return.
Li Tianfeng was silent for a moment before turning around, his gaze like iron.
"Lanzhi."
He softly called her name, his tone even yet carrying an unquestionable firmness.
"When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact."
"If that Daoist Chai truly succeeds in refining that Blood Pill, the victims then will not merely be a few members of the Martial Guard Division... it will be the entirety of Nanning County."
"These children must eventually undergo tempering."
"Chang'an walks the path of the blade; a path that touches no blood cannot forge an edge. Hongye's heart is no longer soft; her request to fight tonight is not out of bravado, but because she knows—if we do not kill this time, there will be no way back."
"It's time to let them go."
Xie Lanzhi fell silent, lowering her head without a word. She gripped her sleeves tightly, finally sighing softly,
"Then... let them carry more medicine. They must at least come back alive."
Li Tianfeng's gaze softened somewhat as he reached out to pat her shoulder.
"Rest assured. The two of them are no longer children."
The night breeze was slightly cool, the streets and alleys serene.
Gu Chang'an held the scabbard in one hand and grasped Wang Xiaojuan's hand with the other, walking slowly home along the familiar path.
Dark clouds rolled across the sky, the night as dark as ink, as if paving a heavy foundation for the impending bloody battle.
The two walked in silence all the way until they pushed open the courtyard gate. Wang Xiaojuan finally pressed her lips together and stopped, her small figure standing in the moonlight as she stubbornly raised her head.
"Brother Gu..."
Her voice was as light as the wind, yet her gaze was exceptionally earnest.
"Are you... really going tomorrow?"
Gu Chang'an halted, looking into those clear eyes of hers.
Though young, the maiden was no longer an ignorant child.
"Mn. Your Sister Hongye is coming with me as well."
Wang Xiaojuan's eyes instantly reddened and her lips trembled, yet she bit down hard to keep herself from crying out.
She wanted to say "don't go," but she knew she lacked the qualification, nor did she wish to become his burden.
"Then you... you must return safely."
She lowered her head, her hands clutching tightly to the corner of Gu Chang'an's garment as if afraid he would vanish should she loosen her grip.
A pang of sorrow struck Gu Chang'an's heart, and he reached out to pull her into his arms, speaking in a low voice to comfort her.
"Rest assured."
"Your Sister Hongye and I will definitely return safely tomorrow."
"We still have to come back and keep you company to eat the steamed buns you make; not a single one of us will be missing."
Nestled in his embrace, Wang Xiaojuan nodded as tears finally slipped past her cheeks.
Yet she made no sound, only holding him tightly as if desperately trying to engrave this warm moment into her memory.
Long after, Gu Chang'an gently pulled her apart, squatted down, and looked at her earnestly.
"Xiaojuan, after I leave tomorrow, this home is entrusted to you."
"Before Sister Hongye and I return, take good care of yourself. If anything comes up, you can go find Master and Mistress, understand?"
Wang Xiaojuan bit her lip and nodded vigorously.
Before you continue