At the border of Tianmen Commandery, beside the Li River, the great army camped for the night, stars hanging low beyond the tents.
Wang Yang was listening to local people and scouts describe the terrain and customs when a report suddenly arrived: a woman surnamed Chen was requesting an audience.
Startled, Wang Yang guessed who it might be, yet scarcely dared believe it. He immediately ordered them to bring her in!
They had agreed to rendezvous with Chen Qing Shan at Mountain Pass two days from now. What was this...
After a moment's thought, Wang Yang also told the cooks to prepare some late-night snacks, bring out the dried fruit they had stored, and serve the same fruit juice he had drunk the day before yesterday. While he was still giving instructions, a voice came from outside the tent-
"Young Master!"
The voice was soft.
Yet it was like a firework crossing the long night, falling gently into his heart.
Wang Yang froze for a moment, then turned to look-
Chen Qing Shan stood outside the tent, travel-worn, her long hair tied high. A few strands, blown by the mountain wind, clung to her cheeks. Her usually cool phoenix eyes now held the starlight gathered over countless nights, like a volcano beneath frost and snow, like spring waters briefly sealed beneath ice. All her restraint, all the feelings she had silently endured, melted in that instant into breathtaking colors filling her eyes.
These stars were not the stars of yesternight; for whom had she stood through wind and dew till midnight?
"Xiao Shan!"
Wang Yang could not keep the delighted surprise out of his voice!
Chen Qing Shan moved, charging straight into the tent!
Before the guards could stop her, before Wang Yang could react, she crashed straight into his