They rode north from Yang Pass, galloping through the night.
A dozen or so riders reached the riverbank.
The middle-aged man leading them swung down from his horse. He was Qi Shanguo, Northern Liang's deputy commander-in-chief.
Last night, he had seen a golden waist token engraved with a Python Dragon.
Was Thousand-Household Commander Jia of the Northern Commandant Office still alive?
Had he feigned death to defy an order?
That was the grave crime of deceiving the sovereign!
With the war situation in ruins, he could no longer spare any concern for the Embroidered Uniform Guard's safety. He had come only because he had heard that they had uncovered crucial intelligence.
"Where is Thousand-Household Commander Jia?"
Qi Shanguo looked around.
"General Qi."
A hoarse voice came from beside a boulder.
Qi Shanguo turned toward the voice, his usually composed face clouding with shock and doubt.
His trusted men exchanged looks, scarcely able to believe their eyes.
Who was that?
His entire body was covered in crusted blood. From his shoulders to his waist and abdomen, his flesh was riddled with wounds-densely packed arrow holes and crisscrossing scars. Even his loose hair was scarlet.
Though they were veterans of countless battles, they had never seen a body so horribly ravaged. Surviving those injuries was nothing short of a miracle!
How could he possibly be Thousand-Household Commander Jia?
Thousand-Household Commander Jia had always been spirited and dazzling. When had he ever looked remotely bedraggled?
What was this man after, falsely conveying the commander's orders?
Qi Shanguo's expression grew grave. After a moment's thought, he strode toward the boulder.
Just as he made out Thousand-Household Commander Jia's utterly haggard face, he spotted a captive.
His pupils contracted sharply.
"Don't kill me! I'm Ashina Silu, Northern Mang's third prince!"
The blond, deep-set-eyed young man