"My surname is Lü, my given name Jue, and my courtesy name is Shou Sheng. Shou Sheng..."
The leader snatched the intelligence report from the assassin's hand.
The assassin noticed the leader's knuckles had gone white from gripping it so tightly. He ventured, "We don't know this man's true strength, but with this subordinate's abilities, I'm afraid it won't be easy to bring him over."
If the other party had merely been an ordinary scout, that would have been one thing. They could have worked things out in secret, waited until he was alone, then beaten him half to death and brought him back. But the other party was a general—and one with plenty of military merit.
They didn't have enough men. They were unlikely to get past the enemy's battle formation.
The leader seemed not to have heard him.
She murmured the words "Shou Sheng" over and over.
A resemblance in appearance alone couldn't prove it was the same person. But after hearing Lü Jue's courtesy name, she could be almost certain: this man was the Lili of years past, the one she had pined for over so many years. She had always thought he was dead. After all, he was only an ordinary man, and Sibao Prefecture had changed hands several times, suffering the ravages of war. He had been no more than a lowly slave. Though he had strength to spare and knew a few moves of fist and foot, he was still just an ordinary man who could not cultivate.
She had never imagined he was still alive—and living well, at that.
Her gaze lingered on the portrait, steeped in memories.
The assassin's call finally brought her back to her senses.
He ventured softly, "Leader?"
She came to herself with a start, only then realizing she