"Such a treacherous place. No wonder it's never been taken," Murong Jin said with a sigh, reining in her horse. "Signal the army to halt and set up a defensive formation. We wait for the scouts."
A signalman galloped back. Murong Jin loosened her reins, letting her horse drift forward.
Before them lay the narrow pass. Sheer cliffs rose on either side, dotted with twisted trees. The wind howled through them, a sound like the wailing of ghosts that sent a chill down the spine even in broad daylight. The soldiers of Sushen called it the Road of No Return.
"Report! A message from the scouts!"
"Report."
"No enemy forces sighted."
"No ambush?"
"None. The scouts have reached the end. They await the General's orders."
"Oh?" Her brow furrowed. After a moment, she said, "Send a small detachment to scout the path. The main force holds here. Be on alert."
"Yes, General."
She watched them ride off, then urged her horse to the mouth of the pass. The path stretched on, already falling into shadow. She looked up. Was that a thin wisp of smoke?
"Someone, here."
"General."
She pointed. "Send a team up there."
"Up there?" the soldier asked, stunned. The cliffs were nearly vertical.
"What?" her voice was sharp.
"There is a way, General, but I fear it would take too long."
"You can't climb from here?" She saw his gaze flicker to a lower section of the cliff and understood. A cold sneer touched her lips.
No wonder even a brilliant strategist like Gu Guoqing kept losing. How can you win without an army of iron discipline?
The soldier, sensing her anger, bowed his head.
"If you are not on that clifftop by sunset," she said, her voice like ice, "you will be dealt with according to military law."
With that, she turned her horse and rode back.
It was after sunset when the report reached Zuo Xunxiao's tent. He just smiled.
She still can't stand it when her soldiers are even a fraction less than perfect.
"Summon the vanguard commander," he said, tossing the report on the table.
Murong Jin arrived as the stars were coming out.
"Commander," she said with a crisp salute.
He sat at his desk, looking at her. She wore her favorite frost-white armor, her long hair in a knot. The lamplight softened her features but couldn't dim the fierce light in her eyes.
"You've had a long day, General," he said, gesturing to a chair. "An urgent matter."
She sat. "Please, speak."
"I heard you nearly invoked military law today."
She looked at him, then turned away. "That is a matter of my own command. It needn't concern the Commander."
"They are not the soldiers of Wuchuan. You shouldn't be so demanding. You haven't changed."
"They are not the soldiers of Wuchuan, but they will still die. If I am not strict now, they will have no chance." She met his gaze. "As for changes, your own are quite remarkable. Have you forgotten my father's teachings, now that you serve a new master?"
The words were sharp. He had no reply.
"If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."
"One more thing."
"Speak." She stood, waiting. For a moment, it was just like before. But then, they had trusted each other.
He rose. "Tomorrow's attack. Are you confident?"
His voice was soft, so soft it made her pause.
"I will hold them until you achieve victory."
"Jin, the Yanyun are skilled, and the terrain is against us. Be careful." The words were out before he could stop them. He was the one who couldn't let go. And she was the one who didn't care.
She hesitated, then smiled. "Of course. I had men scout the clifftop. The path is treacherous. You only have three hours. You should prepare."
She placed a silk handkerchief on his desk. "I had one of the men draw this. It's not detailed, but it's better than nothing."
He looked at her, and a smile touched his lips. "Thank you."
She shook her head. Just as she was about to speak, the camp erupted in chaos—shouts, the clash of steel, the screaming of horses.
"A night raid," she breathed. Their swords were already in their hands. They burst from the tent together. A flaming horse crashed past, its rider already dead; the smell of pitch filled the air. The camp was a whirlwind of shadows and fire.
"Split up," he yelled, pointing, and then vanished into the flames.
She took a step back just as a rider bore down on her. She leaped, tackling the man from his horse. In the next instant, her sword was at his throat.
A splash of red. She was on the horse, galloping after the retreating cavalry.
It was near dawn before the Yanyun withdrew.
"Report casualties!" Zuo Xunxiao yelled. He was covered in blood. He looked at the ravaged camp, and a cold fury rose in him.
How had they broken through so easily?
His eyes scanned the camp, then froze. He grabbed a passing signalman. "Where is General Murong?"
"I… haven't seen her."
He let the man go. The attack had been too precise. The Yanyun leader was no fool. But how did he know their formation so well?
A lone rider appeared through the morning mist. The soldiers tensed.
Zuo Xunxiao's hand went to his sword. But as the figure grew clearer, he saw it was her. A severed head hung from her saddle.
She reined in her horse and dismounted.
"You went after them alone?" His voice was cold, but his heart was pounding with relief.
She pointed to the head. "Better to eliminate the spy."
He looked her up and down. Her frost-white armor was now red. A long gash ran down her left arm, blood dripping from her fingertips.
"You're injured?" He closed his eyes, forcing the pain from his voice.
She glanced at her arm. "A scratch." She cut the head from the saddle and threw it to the ground. "Hang this on the flagpole."
He looked at the face. "Was this the man you sent up the cliff?"
"He was too agile. He moved like a Yanyun. At the time, I thought it was from his years on the frontier. Now I know." She took a deep breath. Only then did the searing pain in her arm hit her. "It's been too long. I grew careless—and paid for it."
But he had noticed something else. "You were with them? On the clifftop?"
"Hm?" She paused. "I need to see the physician. We can discuss the aftermath later."
He watched her walk away, a storm of emotions warring within him. The plan had been set. He had made his decision. And now, once again, she had made him doubt. He watched her blood trail fade into the dawn mist, his hand still clenched around the hilt.